US sends Avenger ‘air shields’ to defend the skies

FOUR US Avenger air defence systems are being sent to Ukraine to create a protective “net” around civilian areas, the Pentagon has announced.

The systems, which are mounted on a Humvee, giving them enhanced offroad mobility, are armed with Stinger surface-to-air missiles and a heavy machine gun to help Ukraine fend off swarms of Iranian-made kamikaze drones.

The Avenger features a sighting system that includes an infrared camera, optical sight and laser rangefinder. It is capable of shooting down targets up to five miles away.

Volodomyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, thanked Joe Biden’s administration for the military assistance that is part of an additional $400 million (£340 million) package including

Stinger missiles and ammunition for Hawk medium-range air defence systems.

“Together we’re building an air shield to protect Ukrainian civilians. We’re bringing victory over the aggressor closer,” Mr Zelensky said on Twitter.

The highly capable air defence systems are similar to ones used to protect the White House in Washington DC.

The announcement led to concern from US military experts over America’s diminishing air defence capabilities, according to The Washington Post.

Highly mobile air defence systems such as the German Gepard and US Avenger are particularly sought after by Ukraine.

Kyiv has been making repeated pleas for help shoring up its air defences since Russia began targeting Ukrainian energy facilities with drone and cruise missile attacks more than a month ago.

The Russian onslaught has destroyed more than a third of Ukraine’s facilities, leading to rolling blackouts in the capital and other cities.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said Moscow’s continued strikes on Ukraine’s “critical national infrastructure over military targets strongly implies Russian intent to strike at civilian morale” ahead of winter.

Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesman, yesterday told reporters the Avenger systems “will provide Ukraine with capability to protect troops and critical infrastructure against unmanned aerial systems and helicopters”.

She also told the press conference that the system can be used to defend against incoming cruise missiles.

Ukrainian armed forces already employ Stingers using shoulder-fired launchers.