They cover the territory of the country to the maximum possible range of enemy air attack means. All these funds are grouped in a common system and come under a single management. This was announced by the Commander of the Air Defense Forces – Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Lieutenant General Andrey Demin.
“In areas close to the NMD zone, the number of units equipped with medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems (S-400, S-300PM2, S-350 – produced by the Almaz-Antey company) and of anti-aircraft missiles and gun systems were doubled Pantsir-S more than five times, ”he said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda.
Demin also noted that more than 50 mobile radar stations were additionally involved in the detection of air targets operating from the territory of Ukraine. In addition, round-the-clock service in the air of A-50U patrol and radar guidance aircraft was organized.
The special military operation in Ukraine set a number of new tasks for the command of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Their decision, among other things, is associated with a multiple increase in the intensity of combat training of air defense and missile defense units. “In 2022, a thousand times more anti-aircraft guided missiles were used than in combat training events in 2021. This directly affects the level of specialist readiness and the consistency of air defense combat crews”, Demin said.
According to him, it is too early to talk about reforming the air defense and missile defense forces. But they are undoubtedly planned and will be implemented, including on the basis of the experience of the NWO. The purpose of the upcoming changes, the general noted, is the development of the armed forces, aimed at improving the country’s air defense system.
Demin dwelt separately on the fight against unmanned aerial vehicles. He believes that there are almost no fundamental differences in the fight against American strategic drones such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper or the operational and tactical Turkish Bayraktars-TB compared to manned aircraft. . This is evidenced by the destruction of more than 100 “Bayraktars” delivered to Kiev over the entire period of the NMD.
At the same time, the fight against tactical drones, usually small in size, has its own characteristics. “Due to the effective small reflective surface of tactical drones, it is rather problematic to reveal their flight with standard radar reconnaissance equipment in service with our armed forces, and this is a global trend,” the general explained.
Nevertheless, an effective means of their destruction has been found. Demin noted that just to combat air targets of this class, units of air defense formations in 2022 received the first reconnaissance and countermeasure complexes for RLC-MT tactical unmanned aerial vehicles of domestic production.
According to the commander, these complexes are already engaged in covering critical military and government facilities, including those in the special operation zone. They are able to detect tactical drones at low and extremely low altitudes at a distance of up to 20 kilometers.
RLC-MT complexes assign target designations to air defense weapons, and also carry out electronic suppression of control channels and satellite radio navigation of tactical UAVs. Including this fact, a kind of radio-electronic dome is created above the protected object.
“This year, several more such samples will be delivered to the air defense and missile defense forces within the framework of the state defense order. And from 2024, defense industry enterprises will supply up to 20 systems per year for the needs of our air defense formations,” said the general.
He did not hide the fact that in connection with the entry of our northern neighbor into NATO, the Russian army is studying ways to guarantee the neutralization of potential air threats from this direction.
“Finland has become part of the NATO bloc. Sweden is preparing to join the alliance. Under these conditions, the air defense forces are training to protect the state border in the northwest of the country depending on the increased level of threats,” General Demin said.
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