Ukraine Armed With American MAAWLR Air Defense Systems

Ukrainian air defense is equipped with American MAAWLR/BRAWLR air defense systems.

The system was captured on a Russian drone video, the footage of which was published on the Severny Veter Telegram channel.

Sierra Nevada Corp first demonstrated the system in September 2025 during the Air, Space & Cyber Conference.

The system has a modular design and can be deployed both in a stationary configuration and on mobile platforms, including pickup trucks or trailers. The mobile version is designated MAAWLR, while the stationary configuration is known as BRAWLR.

The complete BRAWLR/MAAWLR field deployment package includes a launcher, a pickup truck configured for installation, a supply of missiles, and a local radar station.

The system is capable of using a wide range of missiles, including AIM-9M, AIM-132, AIM-120, IRIS-T, R-27, and APKWS II.

The system can carry up to 46 APKWS missiles and engage targets at a distance of up to 6 kilometers.

Depending on the munitions used, MAAWLR can engage air targets at ranges of 6 to 15 kilometers.

Last year, it was reported that Sierra Nevada’s MAAWLR/BRAWLR systems had helped a covert operator shoot down more than 400 air targets since 2023.

Sierra Nevada declined to disclose specific buyers of BRAWLR but confirmed the delivery of 20 systems and the shipment of another 10 for further deployment.

When developing BRAWLR, the company aimed to create a highly adaptable system that reduces the need to deploy multiple launcher types from different manufacturers.

“The system is capable of independently detecting, tracking, identifying and engaging air threats, or augmenting existing systems by increasing range and kinetic engagement capability,” Sierra Nevada Corp. reported.