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Feb 19, 2025

Air Defense System Disguised as Shipping Container Is Headed to Ukraine - Newsweek

Jesus is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, his focus is reporting on politics, current affairs and trending news. He has covered current affairs, healthcare, pop

Jesus is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, his focus is reporting on politics, current affairs and trending news. He has covered current affairs, healthcare, pop culture, and sports. Jesus joined Newsweek's U.S. bureau in 2024, and has previously worked for The Financial Times and served as an international reporter and newsletter editor for El Espectador in Colombia. He graduated with an M.A. in Journalism and Digital Innovation from New York University. Languages: English, Spanish. You can get in touch with Jesus by emailing [email protected]

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

The United Kingdom has begun supplying Ukraine with the Gravehawk, a newly developed air defense system designed to integrate Soviet-era missiles into a modern, ground-based platform that is disguised as a common shipping container.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), two Gravehawk units have already been shipped to Ukraine and are in active use, with 15 more scheduled for delivery throughout the year.

Uncertainty looms over Ukraine following negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders spoke on Wednesday in a lengthy phone call, agreeing to begin immediate peace talks.

The next day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the NATO summit in Brussels, called the restoration of Ukraine's pre-2014 borders "unrealistic" and suggested that territorial concessions might be necessary for peace. He also downplayed Ukraine's chances of joining NATO, arguing that Europe should take on a greater role in ensuring Ukraine's security.

Despite these remarks, British Defense Secretary John Healey reaffirmed the UK's military support for Ukraine, calling 2025 a "critical year for the war" and pledging continued assistance.

The Gravehawk system, developed within the past year, is designed to launch R-73 air-to-air missiles from a ground-based platform. Housed in a standard shipping container, it can be covertly deployed using existing transport infrastructure. This innovation allows Ukraine to repurpose its stockpile of Soviet-designed missiles without requiring complex logistics or the production of new weaponry.

"The system can use Ukrainian missiles to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. It can complement Ukraine's existing air defense system, which includes anti-aircraft guns," a British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said in Brussels.

The missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.5 and engage targets at a range of approximately 12 miles, making them effective against drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft—including the Iranian-designed Shahed suicide drone.

One of the system's key advantages is its passive infrared guidance, which eliminates the need for radar emissions that could expose its location to enemy forces. This makes it significantly harder for Russian forces to detect and neutralize Gravehawk launch sites.

The containerized launch system also incorporates electro-optical and infrared targeting cameras, allowing remote operation so that operators can fire missiles from a safe distance.

The R-73 missile recently demonstrated its effectiveness when a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel equipped with two R-73s shot down a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter. The successful downing of the chopper may have influenced Ukraine's growing interest in the Gravehawk system.

The UK's MoD developed Gravehawk through Taskforce Kindred, a specialized unit focusing on military innovations for Ukraine. The project was completed in just 12 months at a total cost of $7.5 million, with each unit costing approximately $1.2 million. Denmark has also contributed funding for the Gravehawk.

U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey told reporters at NATO headquarters: "There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine. And Ukraine's voice must be at the heart of any talks."

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said: "To say that it's the biggest and most robust alliance in history is true, historically speaking. But the real question is, will that still be the case in 10 or 15 years?"

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement."

The introduction of the Gravehawk system follows other major air defense contributions from the UK. In addition to Gravehawk, Britain has committed to supplying Ukraine with a $190 million military aid package, which includes additional air-to-air missiles, tanks and artillery. The UK has also pledged to deliver 10,000 drones and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition.

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