Ukraine has successfully fielded a domestically engineered mobile air defense launcher, created using the chassis of the American Humvee. This vehicle emphasizes mobility and tactical agility, having stripped the original Humvee down to its frame and rebuilt it with modern systems tailored for combat operations. The standout feature of the upgraded platform is its “fire-and-forget” missile launcher, designed to autonomously seek targets post-launch, allowing the crew to vacate the area without tracking the missile or remaining exposed.
Alongside this, Ukraine has installed a custom-made cabin, improving operator protection and interface with the weapons system. The goal of this design is to avoid counterattacks by quickly firing and retreating, a necessity on the current battlefield. This platform has now been assigned to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 3rd Assault Brigade, which operates in key zones of conflict with Russian forces. The vehicle highlights Ukraine’s increasing capability to locally upgrade Western military hardware to fit fast-evolving demands in the ongoing full-scale war.
