Click to see full-size image
On May 7, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian Lancet UAV destroyed the US-made Avenger anti-aircraft missile system, which the Pentagon had recently sent to Kiev to protect against Russian drones.
Russian media published a video of a strike on the Avenger air defense system, which is reportedly the first case of the destruction of this US system which was confirmed in Ukraine. Moreover, this is reportedly the first such case in more than 30 years after the Avenger was put into service with the US military.
The strike reportedly hit the Avenger deployed in the area of Ugledar. The head of the press center of the Russian Vostok grouping clarified that the American air defense system was blown up near the settlement of Vodiane.
In November 2022, amid the Russian large-scale attacks on the Ukrainian energy and military infrastructure facilities, WAshington promised to transfer various air defense systems to Kiev, including the M1097 Avenger. In November, four systems were included as part of a $400 million military aid package. Eight were included in a $2.5 billion package in January of this year.
On April 5, the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Sergei Nabiev, reported that the Avenger short-range air defense systems from the US had already been deployed with the Ukrainian troops. He clarified that the AFU servicemen were previously trained to use the systems on the territory of Germany. LINK
The Avenger short range air defense missile system mounted on a HMMWV.
The Avenger was developed by Boeing to provide mobile, short-range air defense protection against cruise missiles, drones as well as low-flying aircraft. The system’s main armament is the FIM-92 Stinger infrared homing missile, which has a range of up to five kilometers. Up to eight systems can be loaded. The system is also armed with a secondary .50 FN M3P machine gun with around 600 rounds. The optical targeting system of the Avenger is based on a FLIR [Forward Looking Infrared Receiver] and a laser rangefinder.
The system was first used in combat during the conflict in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Due to its limited range, the system is not effective enough to achieve its tasks in Ukraine.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
