Ukrainian MiG‑29 captures dramatic AGM‑88 missile launch
On social media, photos and videos from the front are appearing like mushrooms after a rainstorm. Many of them are so striking that it's difficult to ignore them. A photograph showing the launch of an AGM-88 HARM missile from a Ukrainian MiG-29 is one such image worth seeing.
Ukrainian pilots are actively participating in the defense of Ukraine's airspace, utilizing every aircraft available. Although their arsenal includes F-16s, there is no shortage of MiG-29s flying over Ukraine. One of these aircraft is featured in the photo shared online by profiles like OSINT Technical on platform X.
Missile launch from Ukrainian aircraft
The shot featuring the MiG-29 is exceptional primarily because the photographer captured the launch of an AGM-88 HARM missile on camera. According to information on X, the missile was aimed at a Russian radar. This ammunition is valuable for Ukrainians as it allows them to disable enemy reconnaissance. The AGM-88 is essentially a precision weapon designed to destroy enemy radar equipment.
This means that the missile is used to attack targets that enable the Russian Federation to track the movements of their opponents. The AGM-88 targets emissions from systems like anti-aircraft defenses, allowing Ukrainians to maneuver their troops in threatened areas or conduct operations that should remain undetected by the Russian armed forces.
AGM-88 missile in service
It's worth noting that the AGM-88 HARM was developed in 1983 and entered service two years later. A single missile measures over 13 feet in length, with a diameter of about 10 inches and a wingspan of slightly over 3 feet. This type of weapon weighs 794 pounds.
The maximum speed of this U.S.-manufactured weapon (by Raytheon) is 1,417 mph, with a range of just under 31 miles. The warhead, which is a shrapnel type, weighs about 154 pounds.
The MiG-29 aircraft, from which the AGM-88 missile was launched at the Russian radar, are primarily fighter jets. MiG-29s are designed for air combat and for attacking ground targets in flight. They can accelerate to speeds of about 1,491 mph and operate at altitudes up to 57,415 feet. The primary armament of these aircraft is the standard GSh-30-1 aircraft cannon with a 30 mm caliber, while additional weapons can be mounted on under-fuselage pylons, including various bombs and missiles.
