The US Business Insider website reported on May 11 that Ukrainian pilots are utilizing a high-risk tactic pioneered by the US Air Force to counter Russian aviation assets. This tactic involves flying in areas known to be covered by Russian air defenses to provoke them to activate their target acquisition radars. Once a Ukrainian aircraft is detected, it quickly identifies the source of the emissions and launches a missile, such as the AGM-88 HARM, supplied by the US to Ukraine since 2022, to neutralize the air defense system.
Known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) or Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD), this tactic was developed during the Vietnam War and is now being implemented by Ukrainian pilots facing Russian threats. Recently, videos posted by OSINTtechnical highlight the successful execution of this tactic by Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft.
Despite initial integration challenges, Ukraine has found innovative solutions, such as using iPad tablets to control Western-supplied missiles, to effectively implement the tactic. Analysts believe that Ukraine’s adoption of Western military practices, though high-risk, is a strategic move given their current situation.
