Ukraine and the US are mixing weapon systems that weren't built to play together to up Kyiv's defenses, and apparently they work

Tue, 11/14/2023 - 15:41

A BUK air defence missile system (R) moves on April 29, 2015 in Moscow for the Victory Day military parade night training. — A BUK air defence missile system (R) moves on April 29, 2015, in Moscow for the Victory Day military parade night training.
VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine and the US have been adapting unusual weapons systems pairings to work together.
They've seen success in using US missiles with Buk-M1 systems and HARM missiles on Soviet fighter jets.
Combining Western and Soviet air-defense systems is known as the FrankenSAM program.

With its air defenses working overtime to defend against constant Russian strikes, Ukraine is working with the US to create new capabilities by cobbling together Western and Soviet systems that weren't built to play together.