New British Gravehawk system producton ramps up for Ukraine

The Gravehawk system, a recently developed air defence project jointly funded by the UK and Denmark, has entered its final testing phase.

In a Written Question answered on 4 February 2025, Luke Akehurst (Labour – North Durham) requested an update on the programme’s progress.

Maria Eagle, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, explained:

“The Gravehawk system is a rapidly developed bespoke air defence system, jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. This innovative system, which is able to retrofit air-air missiles for ground-based air defence, can use Ukrainian missiles already in their armed forces’ possession.

With Ukraine under constant Russian bombardment, the Gravehawk system will boost Ukraine’s air defences, allowing them to defend their cities, troops and critical infrastructure. Two prototypes of the air defence capability system were tested in Ukraine in September 2024, and a further 15 will follow this year.”

While no additional technical details were provided, the announcement indicates ongoing bilateral efforts to strengthen Ukrainian air defence capabilities. Gravehawk’s ability to repurpose existing stockpiles of air-to-air missiles for ground-based use could expedite its operational readiness. The system’s future deployment timeline remains subject to the outcomes of the current testing process.