The UK has provided updated information about the assistance it is providing to Ukraine and communicated the start of deliveries of a mysterious ground-based air defence missile launcher named GRAVEHAWK.

This system has been designed and developed in the UK and has been jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. The information provided about this new launcher are scarce: it has the footprint of a 20-foot standard container and “is able to retrofit air-air missiles for ground-based air defence, meaning it can use Ukrainian missiles already in their Armed Forces’ possession”.

Two prototype GRAVEHAWK systems have already been handed over and have first been tested in Ukraine in September. 15 more systems will be delivered this year. It is possible that GRAVEHAWK capitalizes on work done earlier to adapt ASRAAM air to air missiles for ground launch.

Ukraine has been using Supacat High Mobility Transporter-mounted ASRAAM launchers since the summer of 2023 but these are understood to be available in very small numbers. The vehicle base used is understood to be HMT trucks that had remained in MOD possession following the cancellation years ago of the SOOTHSAYER programme for an Electronic Warfare capability that the Supacat vehicle was due to move on the battlefield.

The ASRAAM launcher is a twin ramp launcher equipped with a electro-optic sensor (believed to be Chess Dynamics' HAWKEYE) for targeting. The ASRAAM is a missile with a native Lock-On After Launch capability, however, which has undoubtedly simplified its adaptation.

The MOD language suggests that GRAVEHAWK might offer compatibility with a wider range of missiles, possibly including old short range infrared guided AAMs of soviet origin still in Ukraine’s arsenal. The UK will supply military aid worth £4.5 billion in the current financial year.

This amount will be reached by summing the £3-billion lethal aid budget to a first £1.5 billion from a planned £2.26 billion loan the UK had agreed as part of the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration scheme. This particular loan is to be repaid using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets, as per G7-agreed mechanism.

The UK’s loan is earmarked as budgetary support for Ukraine’s military spending, enabling them to invest in key equipment, including British equipment, to support their efforts against Russia. It is necessary here to remember that the UK capital budget for military aid is used essentially to procure new equipment and capabilities directly from suppliers.

Material that is transferred directly from UK armed forces stock is not directly counted within this capital figure. Where applicable, the MOD supplies kit directly from its stock and uses the capital lethal aid budget for restocking.

The UK has also announced that “30,000 drones” will be sent to Ukraine after £45 million worth of contracts have signed through the international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia. These latest contracts are funded jointly by UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden and will see the supply of First Person View suicide drones in 3 different sizes (rotor diameter) going from 7 to 10 inches. The FPV drones have been selected competitively in a rapid procurement process initiated last year.

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