Just One Raven AA Missile System Claims 108 Kills in Ukraine

One Raven AA Missile Unit in Ukraine has 108 kills and the unit's are running out of space to paint the decals

Raven: The basics

The Raven is a bespoke, short-range air defence system developed in the United Kingdom and rapidly supplied to Ukraine to address the urgent requirement for mobile protection against Russian aerial threats.

This innovative ground-based system is an integration of existing military components, primarily featuring the highly capable AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) adapted for surface launch. It is mounted on the widely used Supacat HMT-600 six-by-six high-mobility military vehicle chassis.

The system first entered service in Ukraine during the spring of 2023. Reports indicate that Raven has been surprisingly effective, with high reported success rates against an array of targets, initially drones, but later extending to Russian cruise and guided missiles. The system’s deployment significantly enhances the short-range element of Ukraine’s layered air defence network.

Design Concept

The concept behind the Raven system is one of ingenious, rapid improvisation, sometimes referred to as a ‘FrankenSAM’ due to its combination of disparate technologies.

The design process, led by the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Centre, achieved deployment in approximately four months.

The core design mounts a twin-rail launcher, repurposing missile rails taken from retired RAF Tornado, Hawk, and Jaguar aircraft, onto the Supacat HMT-600 chassis. Target acquisition is facilitated by an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) turret, likely a Chess Dynamics Hawkeye, which allows for passive search and tracking.

Crucially, the system can be operated remotely from a short stand-off distance, enhancing crew survivability in ‘shoot-and-scoot’ scenarios. The design prioritises mobility, a small visual signature, and passive engagement capability to minimise detection risks.

This ‘never throw anything away, it might come in handy’ approach is dear to my own heart, the reason why I’ve got about three tons of ‘junk’ on my boat!

Performance

The Raven system’s performance has reportedly exceeded initial expectations. It was primarily intended for counter-UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) operations, yet it has demonstrated efficacy against faster, more sophisticated threats.

The AIM-132 ASRAAM missile is the main effector, an 88-kilogram missile with a 10-kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead. Powered by a dual-thrust solid rocket motor, the missile achieves speeds in excess of Mach 3.

When ground-launched, the effective range is commonly cited as up to 15 kilometres. As of late 2025, reports suggest the Raven systems have conducted over 400 combat engagements with an estimated overall success rate of around 70 per cent. This success is a testament to the missile’s speed, the quality of its guidance, and the rapid, close-in reaction time the mobile platform provides.

Recycled components

The system uses readily available, in-service military components: the Supacat HMT-600 chassis and surplus air-to-air missiles. Furthermore, even the launch rails were repurposed from decommissioned RAF fighter and training aircraft.

This ‘recycling’ of mature, proven technology circumvents immense research and development expenditure and streamlines the supply chain to a degree. The financial burden of supplying the missiles is also being mitigated by using interest accrued from seized Russian assets to fund additional ASRAAM deliveries. Wonderful!

How many?

Information regarding the total quantity of Raven systems delivered to Ukraine has become progressively clearer following initial secrecy. Early reports confirmed the delivery of eight systems.

Subsequently, the UK pledged an additional five units, bringing the total number of Raven systems committed to Ukraine to 13. This limited quantity underscores the system’s role as a niche, high-value asset intended to plug specific, critical gaps in Ukraine’s short-range air defence coverage.

Beyond the launchers themselves, the UK has also committed to providing significant numbers of the necessary ASRAAM missiles, with a delivery of 350 air defence missiles announced to sustain the Raven’s operational usage against the sustained Russian air campaign.

Result!

And now we see the results of this platform's work.

One unit, 108 kills.

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This is an edited version of a story originally published on medium.com

Additional material from Special Kherson Cat on twitter.