Ukraine Touts Role of U.S. HARM Missiles in Strikes on Russian Defenses

Ukraine's Air Force says it's successfully using a U.S.-provided radar-targeting missile system to cut through Russian air defenses in carrying out strikes on the invading military.

Speaking on a national broadcast, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat highlighted what he called the service branch's effective use of the high-speed, anti-radiation missile (HARM) against Russia. The weapon is designed to destroy radar-quipped air defense systems. Ihnat said they're bolstering support for Ukrainian ground forces as the Pentagon promised more HARM missiles for Ukraine.

Developed in the 1980s, the air-to-surface tactical missile is "designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems" and works by homing in on enemy radar, according to a U.S. Air Force fact sheet.

Ihnat said that "more than one such air defense system has been destroyed by these missiles," allowing the Ukrainian Air Force's strike planes, including the Su-25 attack aircraft and Su-24M bombers, to blitz Russian forces.

"With the support of artillery and other units, our ground forces can be more confident while advancing in the directions where the battles to liberate our lands are currently being fought," he said.

Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, first confirmed during a press briefing in August that the U.S. had provided HARM missiles in previous security packages to Ukraine.

The Pentagon on Thursday unveiled a $675 million security package for Ukraine that included additional HARM missiles, on top of more ammunition and other military equipment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press conference Thursday in describing the package that the U.S. is focused on the dynamics of the conflict and helping Ukraine be "one or two steps ahead."

Ukrainian forces are amid a counteroffensive that aims to retake the Russian-occupied city of Kherson and other surrounding areas in Ukraine's south. Military officials and others have pointed to early successes in the counteroffensive and have made surprise advances in Russian-occupied territory near Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine.

U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said during the briefing that "we are seeing real and measurable gains from Ukraine" from previous military aid packages.

Included in the package are more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a system that can easily be transported and used to strike at Russian targets from behind enemy lines. Milley said Ukrainian forces have struck over 400 targets with U.S.-provided HIMARS.

"And they've had devastating effect," said Milley. "Russian lines of communication and supply channels are severely strained. It is having a direct impact on the Russian ability to project and sustain combat power. Russian command and control and headquarters have been disrupted. And they're having great difficulty with supplying their forces and replacing their combat losses."

Newsweek has reached out to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for comment.