As world experience in warfare has shown, air defense (air defense) is considered the most important component of combined arms combat. For the first time, this formation appeared in 1958 as part of the ground forces. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian air defense forces were created. Air defense is a set of military operations aimed at repulsing enemy attacks in the event of an attack. In addition, through special air defense equipment, Russia can inflict serious damage to enemy military installations and groups from the air. Initially, back in Soviet times, anti-aircraft artillery missile systems were used, which were only effective at that time. Due to the rapid development and improvement of the latest means for air attacks, namely tactical, tactical, strategic ballistic missiles and high-precision weapons, Russian designers have to create new air defense systems. You will learn more about Russian air defense systems from this article.
Acquaintance with the military formation
From August 1988 to 1998, air defense was an independent type of aircraft. In 1998, the air defense forces combined with the Air Force. Until 2010, the Air Force Air Force of the Russian Federation consisted of 4 corps and 7 divisions. Soon, the structure of the Russian air defense system underwent changes: the formations were reorganized into 11 aerospace defense brigades (aerospace defense). Since 2011, only three of them are members of this military family. In 2015, the Air Force combined with East Kazakhstan Oblast. Thus, a new type of troops appeared in the Russian Armed Forces, namely, anti-aircraft defense.
Tasks
In peacetime, Russian air defense forces are on combat duty and support air defense forces in military districts (VO), units, units and units of the Coast Guard, namely air defense of the navy and airborne forces. The purpose of such measures is to proactively deploy and further repel enemy strikes. In wartime, the air defense systems of Russia, in addition to the destruction of flying enemy missiles, planes and helicopters, are designed to provide cover for ground forces and strategically important objects. According to experts, anti-aircraft missile systems and systems are the most complex military vehicles. In addition to laser and radio equipment, they are equipped with special means for aerial reconnaissance, guidance and tracking. Read more about air defense systems of Russia further.
Antey 2500 S-300
According to experts, this is the only mobile anti-aircraft missile defense system in the world that can intercept a short-range and medium-range ballistic missile. In addition, the goal of Antei may be the Staelth stealth aircraft. The system destroys the object using 4 or 2 9M83 anti-aircraft guided missiles. This air defense system is manufactured by Almaz-Antey for air defense units of Russia, Venezuela and Egypt. Until 2015, SAMs were also exported to Iran.
SAM S-300V
It is a military self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system. It is equipped with two types of missiles: 9M82 and 9M83 missiles. The former are used to destroy ballistic Pershing, far-flying aircraft and SRAM missiles. Through missiles 9M83 destroy aircraft and ballistic missiles R-17 "Scud" and "Lance".
About the autonomous air defense system "Tor"
The Russian gunsmiths named this system in honor of the Scandinavian god. An air defense system was created to cover infantry, equipment, buildings and industrial facilities in the state. According to experts, "Tor" can protect against unmanned aerial vehicles, guided bombs and precision weapons. The system is considered to be autonomous, since it can independently determine and then shoot down an air target, independently control airspace.
SAM "Osa", MD-PS, "Tunguska" and "Pine-RA"
This SAM went to Russia and other CIS countries as a legacy from the USSR. In Soviet times, it was used back in the 1960s. The purpose of the "Wasp" is flying enemy objects: airplanes, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles. The defense of the ground forces of the air defense system is ensured if the aircraft is designed for small and medium altitude.
A feature of the anti-aircraft missile system MD-PS is the possibility of its covert functioning. For this purpose, air defense systems were equipped with optical means by which the MD-PS, using infrared radiation from an object, detects it and induces SAM. The advantage of the complex is that, thanks to the round-robin review, it can immediately identify up to 50 targets. Next, several of the most dangerous are selected from them. Then there is their elimination. When aiming the guns, the principle of "shot and forgot" is used. The missile is equipped with homing heads that can see the target independently.
By means of the Tunguska anti-aircraft cannon missile system, air defense is carried out in the near radius. Since helicopters and attack aircraft operate mainly at low altitudes, the Tunguska works against them. Thus, during the battle provides cover for the infantry. In addition, the purpose of this SAM can be lightly armored land and floating military equipment. If there is no snow or fog, then the Tunguska can be fired both in place and in motion. Equipped with 9M311 missiles. Additionally, the complex provides 2A38 anti-aircraft guns operating at an angle of 85 degrees.
With the help of the light mobile towed anti-aircraft gun-missile system Sosna-RA, targets at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters are destroyed. Unlike the Tunguska, Sosna-RA is equipped with a 9M337 hypersonic missile, which can be used to shoot down an enemy object at an altitude of 3 , 5 km. The radius of action varies from 1300 to 8 thousand meters. Due to the fact that Sosna-RA weighs relatively little, it can be transported on any platform. Mostly the Russian military transports the complex with KamAZ-4310 and Ural-4320 trucks.
SAM "Buk" and modifications
Since 1970, the Soviet army had at its disposal this complex. Now this anti-aircraft missile system is in service with Russia. In the technical documentation is listed as 9K37 "Buk". The composition of the complex is represented by the following components:
- Self-propelled firing system 9A310.
- Command post 9C470.
- Charger 9A39.
- Station to identify the target 9C18.
Parts of the complex are installed on standard tracked platforms, which are characterized by high cross-country ability. Fires a "Buk" 9M38 anti-aircraft missiles. According to military experts, with the help of this SAM it is possible to hit a target at an altitude of up to 18 km and a distance from the system of up to 25 km. The probability of an accurate hit is 0.6. After the modernization, they created a new, more advanced air defense system, which is known as "Buk-M1". When compared with the analogue, this option has an increased area and the probability of destruction. In addition, “Buk-M1” has a function that allows you to recognize a flying object. The new model is more protected from anti-radar missiles. The purpose of the air defense system is to shoot down planes, helicopters, cruise missiles and enemy drones.
In 1980 A new variant was designed, firing modern 9M317 missiles. The use of such missiles required Soviet engineers to make improvements to the design of the complex. A missile with smaller wings and an increased range (45 km) at an altitude of 25 km. The advantage of 9M317 is that its fuse operates in two modes. The target will be destroyed upon contact with the rocket, as well as at a certain distance from it. Self-propelled firing system was equipped with new equipment, which made it possible to simultaneously detect 10 targets with the further elimination of 4 of which are recognized as the most dangerous.
In order to completely replace all outdated electronics with modern digital equipment, Russian military engineers created the Buk-M3 air defense system. The rocket was also subject to replacement. Now firing is conducted by the modern 9M317M, which is characterized by higher characteristics. Despite the fact that there is no specific information about this complex yet, some experts suggest that a flying object from such an air defense system with a probability of 0.96 can be shot down at an altitude of more than 7 thousand meters.
The latest air defense systems of Russia
The Russian military can intercept the target at a long range (over 200 km) using the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system. The S-400 complex entered service in 2007. This air defense system was created specifically to protect in the event of a possible attack from both air and space. The S-400 complex, according to experts, destroys the target at an altitude of not more than 30 thousand meters.
In 2012, the Russian army entered service with a new anti-aircraft missile system. In the technical documentation it is listed as ZRPK "Shell C1". With the help of automatic guns and guided missiles, for which radio command guidance, infrared and radar tracking are provided, the target is neutralized wherever it is. "Shell C1" has 2 anti-aircraft guns and 12 ground-to-air missiles.
SAM "Sosna" is considered the last Russian novelty. The complex operates in the near radius. According to experts, this SAM is designed for armor-piercing and fragmentation-rod impact. Missiles are capable of destroying enemy ships, armored vehicles, fortifications and ships. An effective complex in the fight against cruise missiles, drones and precision weapons. A laser is used for guidance: a rocket will fly onto a beam.
About country distribution
Today, the Russian air defense structure is represented by 34 regiments armed with S-300, S-300PS, S-400 and other anti-aircraft missile systems. Not so long ago, two brigades from the Air Force and SV were converted into regiments and transferred to air defense. Thus, in the composition of this military kind there are regiments (38) and divisions (105). According to experts, the distribution of air defense forces in the country is uneven. Most protect Moscow. Around this city there are 10 regiments, armed with S-300. Near the capital there are 4 more divisions with S-400. Saint Petersburg is fairly well covered by 4 regiments with S-300 and S-400. The SF bases in Polyarny, Murmansk and Severomorsk are covered with three regiments, Pacific Fleet in the area of Nakhodka and Vladivostok - with two regiments. One regiment is provided for Avacha Bay in Kamchatka, where the SSBN is based. The Kaliningrad Region and the Baltic Fleet are covered from the air by a mixed regiment, which has the S-300 and S-400 systems. There are Russian air defense in the Crimea. In order to protect the Black Sea Fleet, the military command reinforced the Sevastopol air defense group with additional S-300 systems. It has air defense systems in Russia and radar stations, more about which below.
Radar P-15 and P-19
Using these air defense systems of Russia low-flying targets are identified. In service since 1955. These radars are equipped with radio engineering, artillery and anti-aircraft formations, points of operational and managerial air defense units. The station is transported using one car with a trailer. Deployment of the radar produced within 10 minutes The station operates in amplitude and coherent-pulse modes.
Having engaged the P-19 radar, the military reconnaissance at low and medium altitudes. Further, the received information is transmitted to the command post. This radar is a mobile two-coordinate radar station, for the transportation of which two cars are involved. The first is used to transport transceiver, indicator equipment, means for protection against interference, the second is an antenna-rotary device and units that provide power to the system.
Radar P-18
With the help of this modernized station, aircraft are detected, namely, their current coordinates are determined, and then the target is issued. According to experts, at the moment, the operational resource of these air defense systems of Russia has exhausted itself. To extend it and improve the performance characteristics, they use an installation kit for modernization with a resource of at least 20 years and wear of no more than 12 years. Thus, the outdated element base of the P-18 is changed to a modern one, the tube transmitter is solid state. In addition, radars are equipped with systems with digital processes that process the signal and suppress active noise interference. As a result of the work performed, the equipment in this radar is less voluminous. Also, the system has become more reliable, more protected from interference, with improved accuracy and performance.
Radar P-40A
It is a radar range finder, which in the technical documentation is listed as “Armor” 1RL128. This air defense system performs the following tasks:
- Detects aerial targets.
- Defines slant range and bearing.
- Antennas to the target are automatically displayed and the height to it is calculated.
- Thanks to the built-in program "friend or foe" "Armor" state property of the object.
The complex is equipped with radio engineering formations and anti-aircraft defense units, anti-aircraft missile and artillery units. "Armor" has an antenna-feeder design. The location of all the equipment, ground radar interrogator and accessories became a self-propelled tracked chassis 426U. There is also a place for two gas turbine units that provide power to the system.
"Sky-NE"
To identify an enemy target in airspace, use a two-coordinate radar, which operates in standby mode. The system is presented in the form of a moving coherent-pulse station. They are transported by four vehicles, namely three cars and a trailer. On the first machine, transceiver and indicator equipment is transported, as well as means for automatically removing and transmitting information obtained by radar. The second machine is used to transport the antenna-rotary device, the third - a diesel power station. On the trailer there is a place for the antenna-rotary device NRZ. Interfacing cables and two remote indicators with a circular view are attached to the radar system.