The main mystery of the new $300 million US aid package: AIM-7 missiles
AIM-7 are air-launched missiles that can destroy targets at a range of up to 70 km
The latest $300 million arms aid package to Ukraine from the United States, which was allocated on May 31, contains a real mystery in addition to traditional ammunition for 105- and 155-mm artillery systems, as well as 105-mm tank missiles and missiles for HIMARS and Patriot.
And of course, we are not talking about the new short-range Avenger SAMs, unspecified precision air munitions, most likely JDAM-ER, or Zuni air missiles, but AIM-7 missiles.
In the list itself, it is listed as AIM-7 missiles for air defense, i.e. a missile for air defense. At the same time, the AIM-7 index directly refers to an air-launched missile. But before that, the United States had provided RIM-7 missiles, which are a version of the same missile, but for air defense systems. Most likely, they were integrated into the Buk system.
Technically, AIM-7 and RIM-7 differ in the plumage, which is opened after the anti-aircraft missile leaves the container. In all other respects, the RIM-7 is identical to the AIM-7 air-launched missile in all major components.
This leaves two options: either the missile will be integrated into the Buk or another system, such as the Kub, or it will be integrated into the wing of Soviet aircraft, such as the MiG-29 and Su-27. In any case, you can use the note “for air defense” for both options.
However, it is extremely difficult to integrate AIM-7 and RIM-7 missiles into a Soviet air defense system and a Soviet fighter. Because these missiles use semi-active radar guidance. That is, the frequencies of the radar illumination and homing head must match. So far, the method of solving the technical problem remains a secret.
It should be noted that the range of air targets for the AIM-7 missile during an air launch is 70 km, and for the RIM-7 ground launch – 26 km.
In general, the full list of weapons under this package, which is allocated under the Presidential Decommissioning Program (PDA), i.e. from the US Armed Forces’ stockpiles, is as follows:
- additional ammunition for the Patriot air defense system
- AIM-7 missiles
- Avenger air defense systems
- Stinger man-portable air defense system
- additional ammunition for HIMARS
- artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber
- 105-mm tank ammunition
- high-precision aviation munitions
- Zuni aircraft missiles
- Ammunition for unmanned aerial systems
- AT-4 anti-tank systems
- more than 30 million rounds of ammunition for small arms
- Equipment and systems for demining
- explosive munitions for clearing obstacles
- night vision devices
- Spare parts, generators and other field equipment.
