Avenger air defense systems came in service with the Ukrainian army

The Ukrainian air defense forces have strengthened with the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger self-propelled surface-to-air missile systems.

The footage featuring the Ukrainian military with these systems was published by Ukraine Weapons Tracker analysts.

This is the first footage of the recently delivered American short-range air-defense system.

In total, Ukraine will receive 12 such surface-to-air missile systems from the United States.

These SAMs arrived from the USA to Germany in the first half of February. The systems was delivered to the German port of Bremerhaven.

The system is designed to hit air targets at altitudes of 0.5-3.8 km and ranges of 0.5-5.5 km.

The US-made air defense missile system is mounted on the chassis of the HMMWV vehicle.

Two containers of 4 FIM-92 Stinger missiles, a 12.7 mm Browning M2 anti-aircraft machine gun and an optical-electronic station are installed on the air defense system.

Potential

The delivery includes a remote control. The detection system is all-weather and provides detection of targets in any visibility conditions due to the built-in thermal imager.

Owing to highly maneuverable missiles capable of self-targeting, a large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun and a high level of automation, this system should become an effective and affordable means of air defense of Ukraine.

The surface-to-air missile system uses relatively cheap and widespread missiles from the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense system, which are massively supplied to Ukraine by Western partner countries, allowing it to be quickly integrated into Ukrainian logistics and put on combat duty.

This surface-to-air missile system can also reinforce the air defense of front-line ground forces, protecting them from enemy army aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Besides, the new air defense system can work while moving in a column of equipment: to protect itself and other combat vehicles. This is a significant advantage over the usual infantry missile systems with a portable anti-aircraft system. Avenger can also operate equally well in any weather conditions and at any time of the day, while bad weather and dusk are a weak spot for MANPADS infantry crews.