See U.S. Avenger In Ukraine for the First Time: The first video footage of Avenger air defense systems being used in Ukraine emerged this week, showing how the advanced short-range defense system has proven a valuable addition to Ukraine’s weapons roster.
In the video, the air defense system is operated on agricultural field with a team of Ukrainian soldiers who were trained to use the equipment.
The clip also featured Serhiy Nayev, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Nayev shared the video on his Telegram channel this week.
“The protection of the airspace of the Northern Operational Zone has been strengthened by weapons provided by NATO member states. Anti-aircraft missile complex “Avenger” (Avenger) – already on combat duty,” Nayev wrote in a post accompanying the video.
“We thank our partners for their effective help! Together we will win!”
What Is the Avenger?
The Avenger short-range air defense system, manufactured by Boeing, is used by both the U.S. Marine Corps and Army as a mobile platform that provides effective air defense against aerial threats. Equipped with a Detroit Diesel V-8 engine, it reaches a top speed of 55 mph and a range of 275 miles. The system is armed with eight FIM-92 Stinger missiles, proven effective in multiple conflicts around the world.
The first Avenger production unit arrived in 1988 and it quickly became one of the U.S. military’s preferred air defense systems, with more than 1,100 Avenger units manufactured and sent to the National Guard, Army, and Marine Corps by 2002.
Mounted on a high-mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicle (Humvee), the Avenger can operate in extreme weather conditions. It features an infrared system, onboard computer, a laser range finger, and communications equipment designed to help operators locate targets at all times of day.
The turret can also be fitted to different combat vehicles, including track vehicles, trucks, and trailers.
Захист повітряного простору Північної операційної зони підсилено озброєнням, яке надано від країн-членів НАТО. Зенітно-ракетний комплекс «Еве́нджер» (Месник) – вже на бойовому чергуванні. Дякуємо партнерам за дієву допомогу!
Разом переможемо!https://t.co/SvYXy9jYFt pic.twitter.com/jASpLubWfd— Анатолій Штефан (Штірліц) (@Shtirlitz53) April 5, 2023
On November 10, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a $400 million aid package that included four Avenger air defense systems.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said that the Avenger systems will provide Ukraine with the “capability to protect Ukrainian troops and critical infrastructure against unmanned aerial systems and helicopters.”
Four Avenger systems were sent to Ukraine in November, and an additional eight were sent in January of this year.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
