A formidable deterrent.
Threatened in the Black Sea by the powerful Russian fleet, Ukraine announced, through the voice of its Defense Minister, Oleksiï Reznikov, that it had received Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
If he did not specify which country these American-made weapons came from, Denmark had announced its intentions to deliver them to Ukraine in May.
But the minister instead wanted to thank in particular, in a long message posted on Facebook, "
the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland and our Baltic friends
" for their latest arms deliveries.
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These ultra-efficient missiles are already playing an important role, according to OleksiI Reznikov.
“
In addition to our Neptune missiles, the Harpoons are forcing the enemy fleet to keep their distance, to avoid the fate of the Russian flagship of the Black Sea Fleet,
the Moskva
,” he said in his message.
By pushing the Russian navy away from the coast, Ukraine could thus calmly export its wheat, loosening the vice of enemy ships around the Black Sea ports, in particular that of Odessa.
Capable of repelling the Russian Navy more than 300 km
Especially since the Harpoon missile is today one of the most sophisticated systems equipping Western navies.
With a usual range of 140 to 280 kilometers, it can, in its best version, hit a target within a range of more than 300 kilometers.
Enough to reach the port of Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea... Versatile missiles, Harpoons can be launched from an airplane, a surface ship, a submarine, or even mounted on a truck.
Only Denmark has acquired this last modified version, which is thus transformed into a coastal battery.
A Harpoon missile.
U.S. Navy
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These missiles can measure more than four meters, weigh nearly 700 kg, and are capable of carrying a payload of 221 kg.
Equipped with an autonomous radar and a sophisticated navigation system, they fly at low altitude to avoid enemy radars, at a subsonic speed of 850 km/h.
A constant threat, which the Russians will have to be wary of.