In an aerial cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of Cold War-era strategies, Ukrainian pilots have been conducting what are known as “wild weasel” missions. This maneuver, first developed by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, has seen a resurrection on the battlefields of Ukraine, as pilots operating Soviet-era aircraft use US-supplied missiles to suppress and destruction of enemy air defenses.
The missions involve pilots drawing the fire of Russian anti-aircraft defenses, tracking radar emissions back to their source, and then targeting those sources with missiles before the Russian surface-to-air systems can respond. HARM has been used in wars in Libya, Iraq, and former Yugoslavia.
Frederik Mertens, a Strategic Analyst at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, observed, “Ukraine clearly is learning from Western military thought,” emphasizing the country’s emphasis on Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD). These are indeed perilous missions, but as Mertens asserts, “This game is worth the candle,” the Russian air defenses are a “key target”.
However, despite their success in using HARMs, Ukrainian pilots have faced challenges adapting the advanced weaponry to their older MIG-29 and Su-27 jets. The innovation displayed, utilizing devices as commonplace as iPads to bridge the technological divide, has been notable. US Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante has described the speed and ingenuity of these adaptations as remarkable, with Ukrainian pilots able to employ Western weapons in conflict shortly after they receive them.
Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Airpower & Technology at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), notes that the tactics have evolved. The missiles now primarily serve a suppressive role, compelling Russian operators to switch off their radars and move, thus briefly rendering the skies safer for other strike systems.
Earlier this week, the Netherlands announced plans to start delivering its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this autumn, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said during a press briefing in Vilnius. Denmark previously said it would begin transferring its aircraft in the summer, “Dealing with Russian GBAD [Ground Based Air Defense] will be crucial to enable future Ukrainian air strikes once the F-16 fighters arrive,” Mertens said.
While the delivery of such a small number of F-16s should not be overestimated, Mertens believes they could significantly impact Crimea. “Crimea is vulnerable: the Russians have relatively limited maneuver space on the Peninsula, resupply is dependent on the Kerch bridge, and here Putin has a lot to lose both politically and militarily,” he said.
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine’s Pilots Fly ‘Wild Weasel’ Missions That USAF Invented in Vietnam War , Business Insider, 05/12/2024
– How the Israeli Air Force once destroyed over 60 enemy jets and dozens of Soviet missile systems in battle without losing a single fighter, Yahoo Singapore News, 05/09/2024
– First batch of tech aid worth nearly $1 million arrives in Ukraine from IT Coalition, Yahoo Singapore News, 05/10/2024
– Japan defense chief urges higher security after drone video of warship posted on China social media, Yahoo Singapore News, 05/10/2024
– China is untangling its economy from the West. It could be preparing for long-term tensions — and an invasion of Taiwan., Yahoo Singapore News, 05/10/2024