Belgium will provide Ukraine with Sea Sparrow missiles: what is known about them
Belgium has purchased RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles from Germany, which it will transfer to Ukraine.
The country has purchased eight RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, each costing about €7,000. These missiles were previously used by Germany on its Bremen frigates, but they are now decommissioned.
The RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a short-range American naval anti-aircraft and anti-missile system designed primarily to protect ships from anti-ship missiles. The Sea Sparrow missile itself weighs approximately 230 kg and can fly up to 19 km at a speed of up to 4.256 km per hour. Taiwan has begun using Sea Sparrow from land-based launchers. Ukraine also uses this system for its defense.
Earlier this year, Politico reported that the Ukrainian military managed to modernize its Soviet-made Buk anti-aircraft missile systems to be able to launch Sea Sparrow missiles. Ukraine has already received these missiles from the United States.