38th Regiment Received Skyguard/Aspide Air Defense Missile Systems

The 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, named after General-Horunzhy Yuriy Tyutyunnik, has received the Italian-Swiss Skyguard/Aspide air defense missile system.

A video showing the system being loaded and on combat duty was posted on the regiment’s social media accounts. This marks the first public appearance of this SAM system as part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

In November 2022, former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov reported that Skyguard systems from Spain had arrived in Ukraine.

A month earlier, in Zaragoza, Ukrainian military personnel underwent training on the use of this air defense missile system.

19 Ukrainian servicemen arrived for training as part of the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s commitment to provide support to Ukraine.

In addition, Spain requested that Switzerland authorize the re-export to Ukraine of Aspide missiles, which are part of the Skyguard system developed and manufactured by the Swiss company Oerlikon Contraves (now Rheinmetall Air Defense).

Later, in February 2023, as part of a new military aid package, Italy promised Ukraine additional Skyguard systems. It is worth noting that the Italian versions of the system are distinguished by the presence of a target-illumination radar and a television unit mounted directly on the launcher.

Skyguard/Aspide (also known as Spada) is an Italian-Swiss short-range air defense missile system designed to protect military facilities and critical infrastructure against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.

The system combines the Swiss Skyguard fire control system (manufactured by Oerlikon Contraves) with Italian Aspide anti-aircraft guided missiles (developed by Selenia, now MBDA).

The Aspide is an Italian air-to-air and surface-to-air guided missile developed based on the American AIM-7 Sparrow.

The system was later upgraded to the Spada 2000 standard using the Aspide 2000 missile, which significantly increased its range and resistance to electronic countermeasures. The 220-kg missile is equipped with a 33-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead and a semi-active radar homing seeker.

The system’s launcher holds four missiles in transport-launch containers and is capable of engaging targets at ranges of 12–25 km and altitudes ranging from 15 to 6,000 m. The missile’s maximum flight speed reaches Mach 4.