The Raven, Ukraine’s new air defense system, shot down four reconnaissance drones in its first combat, revealed the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
In a video shared on social media, Ukrainian defenders detailed the use of this British air defense system and the types of aerial targets they destroyed with its help.
“In its first combat mission, the crew successfully destroyed four Orlan and Zala reconnaissance drones — all in just eight hours,” reported Oleksandr, commander of the air defense missile platoon, noting that the team also shot down a Russian cruise missile.
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According to Volodymyr, the air defense system operator, the Raven is controlled by a panel equipped with four switches and a “launch” button. “It’s very simple,” explained the military.
The Raven systems arrived in Ukraine in the first half of 2023 and, by May 2025, had already launched more than 400 missiles against enemy aerial targets, with an overall interception success rate of 70%.
The system was developed based on an idea from the Royal Air Force’s Space and Air Force Centre in just four months, during which Ukrainian officers were trained.
Photo and video: YouTube @ukrainianairforce9041. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
