Air defense - Russian air defense systems. Air defense - Russian air defense systems Interaction with the Russian Aerospace Forces

In the military construction of many states of the world, there is an increasingly stable trend towards the priority development of air attack means, forms and methods of their use, which fundamentally changes the nature of modern wars. The massive use of manned aircraft and cruise missiles (CR) against the most important military, administrative and economic facilities, infrastructure elements and groupings of troops became one of the most characteristic features of military operations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. There is a kind of shift in the center of gravity of the armed struggle to the air sphere. Along with aviation and the Kyrgyz Republic, there has been a steady trend towards an ever wider use of tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles in regional armed conflicts.

Under these conditions, the problem of ensuring air security becomes one of the most important components national security of the state, which necessitates a comprehensive improvement of the forces and means of air defense, an increase in the volume of tasks assigned to the air defense forces. The intensity of the development of air attack weapons, the constant improvement of their performance characteristics leads to an increase in the complexity of the tasks of combating them.

The wars in Iraq (1991, 2003) and Yugoslavia (1999) clearly demonstrated the need for a well-established and effectively functioning air defense system of the country and troops, the weakness or absence of which in the conditions of the massive use of various means of air attack inevitably leads to large casualties and material losses, and ultimately to military defeat.

Taking into account the recent experience of wars and armed conflicts, one of the important areas of military development in the leading Arab countries is the development of air defense forces, equipping them with more effective means of detecting and destroying air targets at various ranges and heights, systems for controlling and processing information about the air situation.

To date, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have the largest and most technically well-equipped air defense forces. Syria and Libya have significant air defense forces, but the quality indicators of their technical equipment leave much to be desired. Much attention is paid to the development of air defense by such countries as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, and recently Yemen.

At the same time, despite the efforts made, the quantity, and in many cases the quality of air defense systems, the level of training of the personnel of air defense formations in most Arab states does not allow to effectively solve the tasks of combating modern air attack weapons and thereby reliably cover even the most important administrative, economic and military facilities. None of the Arab countries has so far succeeded in creating an integrated air defense and missile defense system that would simultaneously solve both traditional air defense tasks and new tasks to combat various types of missile weapons.

It is possible that with the adoption by the Armed Forces Saudi Arabia and Egypt of the American anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) "Patriot" and in the event that Algeria, Syria and Yemen acquire Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) of the S-300 or S-400 type, the armed forces of these countries will be able to solve individual missile defense tasks.

The weak side of the air defense of the Arab countries is that almost all air defense systems (air defense systems, anti-aircraft artillery, radar, electronic warfare equipment (EW), etc.), which are in service with their aircraft, are foreign-made (Russian, American, French, English, Swedish, Swiss, Chinese, Italian, German and South African). Only in Egypt has its own production of certain types of air defense weapons been established, and even then under foreign licenses or based on foreign models.

Algeria. The air defense troops of the ANDR are a separate branch of the armed forces and organizationally consist of three anti-aircraft missile regiments (zrp) armed with S-125 Pechora, Kvadrat and Osa air defense systems (total 100 to launchers). In addition, there are three anti-aircraft artillery brigades (725 guns of 130, 100 and 85 mm caliber) and units of radio engineering troops (RTV). In general, the air defense forces of the country have handicapped, and the equipment in their arsenal for the most part is outdated.

At present, in addition to the air defense units that are part of the combined arms formations and units, the Algerian ground forces have one anti-aircraft missile (zrdn) and six anti-aircraft artillery battalions. The ground forces are armed with the Osa and Strela-1 air defense systems; portable air defense systems "Strela-2"; as well as 900 anti-aircraft artillery guns (130-mm - 10, 100-mm S-19 - 150, 85-mm - 20, 57-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns (AZP) S-60 - 70, 37-mm AZP - 145, ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" - 330, ZU-23-2 - 75, 20-mm - 100).

In 1995-2000, with the participation of Russian specialists, work was carried out to assess the technical condition and metrological maintenance of the control and measuring equipment of the S-125 Pechora air defense system. Work on the modernization of the complex continues. The issue of modernizing existing and purchasing new Osa short-range air defense systems is being considered. Negotiations are underway with the American company Northrop on the purchase of electronic equipment for air defense systems and new radars. It is planned to create a unified integrated electronic warfare system for the Air Force and Air Defense Forces. The Algerian side is showing interest in acquiring Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems.

Personnel for the air defense forces of Algeria are trained at the air defense school (training period is four years). The ground forces have a field and anti-aircraft artillery school. Part of the specialists for the air defense forces is supposed to be trained in Russia.

Bahrain. Air defense units are part of the ground forces. They are represented by a mixed anti-aircraft division, consisting of two batteries of anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) and an anti-aircraft artillery battery. There are also air defense units in the combined arms units. In total, the Bahrain Armed Forces are armed with 15 missile launchers (Improved Hawk - 8, Crotal - 7), 78 MANPADS (RBS-70 - 60, Stinger - 18), 27 anti-aircraft guns (40-mm L / 70 - 12, 35-mm "Oerlikon" - 15). In the coming years, it is planned to modernize the “Improved Hawk” and “Krotal” air defense systems available in the troops, and additionally purchase 100 MANPADS.

Egypt. The Air Defense Forces (75 thousand people, including 50 thousand conscripts, the reserve component - 70 thousand people) were separated into an independent branch of the armed forces in 1968. They include anti-aircraft missile troops (ZRV), anti-aircraft artillery (ZA) and radio engineering units. The air defense forces carry out their tasks of defending the country from an attack by an air enemy in cooperation with the fighter aircraft of the Air Force and parts of the military air defense. The Egyptian Air Defense Forces is one of the largest and most complex military systems in the Middle East.

The highest organizational unit of the type of armed forces is the air defense division, which, depending on the nature of the tasks performed, may include several anti-aircraft missile brigades (4-8 missiles each), anti-aircraft artillery regiments and divisions, as well as parts of the RTV. There are five divisions in total (according to the number of air defense zones: Central, Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern). There are also separate anti-aircraft missile brigades and up to 100 ZA divisions. The basis of the air defense forces and means of the ARE is still made up of anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems, delivered in the 1970s from the USSR. Currently, Egypt is taking measures to gradually modernize the air defense forces and increase their combat capability.

The air defense missile system is armed with 40 S-75 air defense systems, 50 S-125 air defense systems, 14 Kvadrat air defense systems, 12 batteries of the Improved Hawk missile defense system, 12 batteries of the Chaparel missile defense system, 14 batteries of the Crotal missile defense system. In total, the troops have 875 missile launchers (S-75 - 300, S-125 - 232, "Square" - 200, "Improved Hawk" - 78, "Chaparel" - 33, "Krotal" - 32). The air defense units also have 18 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems (ZRPK) "Amon" (short-range air defense system "Skygard" RIM-7F "Sparow" and 35-mm anti-aircraft guns) and 36 ZRPK national production "Sinai-23" (paired 23 -mm ZU and MANPADS "Ain Sakr"). The anti-aircraft artillery units are armed with up to 2000 guns of 100, 85, 57, 37, 35, 30 and 23 mm caliber, Strela-2 and Ain Saqr MANPADS. The radio engineering troops are equipped with radars of Russian, English, American and Chinese production: P-11, P-12, P-14, P-18, P-15, P-35, Oborona-14, Tiger, Lion Systems ", AN / TPS-59, AN / TPS-63, JY-9A.

Anti-aircraft missile units serve to cover important military installations, industrial zones, administrative centers and groupings of troops. They are designed to destroy air targets at all altitudes. Anti-aircraft artillery units are designed mainly to deal with low-flying air targets. The radio engineering troops control the airspace, collect and process data on the air situation, control the air defense forces and means.

With the help of the United States, a unified air defense control system has been created in Egypt, which combines air defense fire weapons, fighter aircraft, automated radar surveillance and warning centers, as well as long-range radar surveillance aircraft (AWACS) E-2C Hawkeye. Particular attention is paid to improving the capabilities of air defense systems to detect and destroy air targets at low altitudes.

The main grouping of forces and means of the country's air defense forces is located in the areas of Cairo, Bilbeis, Beni Suef, Luxor, El Minya, Ras Banas, Hurghada, Inshas, ​​Fayyad, Giancalis, Tanta and El Mansoura.

In the second half of the 1990s, with Russian assistance, repairs and modernization of part of the air defense weapons were carried out. Deliveries of the Volga-3 air defense system, equipment for technical divisions, 5Ya23 missiles for the Kvadrat air defense system, Oborona-14 and P-18 radars were carried out. Deliveries of spare parts, new operational documentation and individual components were also made. Personnel were trained on the maintenance and use of the supplied equipment. In the period from 2001 to 2003, 50 S-125 "Pechora" air defense systems should be upgraded to the level of "Pechora-2" (replacement of electronics, supply of new launchers, etc.). According to experts, after modernization, the effectiveness of air defense systems will increase by 250-300%. At the same time, under pressure from the United States, the Egyptians refused to purchase S-300 air defense systems from Russia.

Air defense forces are to receive six batteries (48 launchers) of Patriot missiles and 384 RAK-2 missiles from the United States. However, the Egyptians postponed the final decision on this issue until 2006 for financial reasons. The Egyptian side is also showing interest in acquiring a ground version of the American AMRAAM missile for use in the interests of air defense. In particular, it is planned to replace the Russian Kvadrat air defense systems with AMRAAM missiles. In 1996, a contract was signed with the United States for the modernization of the Advanced Hawk air defense system. An agreement was concluded with the United States on the modernization of the AN / TPS-59 / M39 early warning radar, which were delivered in 1991.

The ARE ground forces are armed with 96 short-range air defense systems (M54 Chaparel - 26, Strela-1 - 20, Avenger - 50), Sinai-23 air defense systems - 36, MANPADS - over 600 (Strela- 2", "Ain Sakr", "Stinger"), anti-aircraft artillery guns (ZSU-57-2 - 40, ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" - 118, 57-mm AZP S-60, 37-mm AZP - 200 , 23 mm ZU-23-2 - 280).

Each mechanized division has an anti-aircraft artillery regiment and an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and a tank division has an anti-aircraft artillery regiment or a mixed anti-aircraft rocket-artillery battalion. A separate mechanized (infantry) brigade has an anti-aircraft division.

The country's enterprises produce and repair the Sinai-23 and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, the Ain Sakr MANPADS (a variant of the Soviet Strela-2 MANPADS), and radar.

Officers for the Air Defense Forces of the ARE are trained at the Air Defense College (Alexandria), founded in 1974. The training period for command personnel is 4 years, for engineering personnel - 5 years. The advanced training of officers is carried out at the Air Defense Institute (established in 1967).

Jordan. The air defense forces are subordinate to a separate command (organizationally part of the Air Force headquarters) and are represented by two brigades of the Improved Hawk missile defense system (14 batteries, 80 launchers) and several anti-aircraft artillery batteries. They cover the most important administrative, economic and military facilities, mainly around the capital Amman. The Jordanian air defense system needs modernization. Currently, its radar facilities have insufficient capabilities to detect low-flying targets. This is largely due to the mountainous terrain, which allows enemy aircraft to covertly approach at low altitudes the most important centers of the country. Moreover, the latter are located near the border.

Armament and equipment of the air defense forces are maintained in combat readiness. Their maintenance is at an appropriate level. In the coming years, it is planned to modernize the Advanced Hawk air defense system and purchase three new radars.

The combat structure of the Jordanian ground forces has three air defense brigades, subordinate respectively to the Northern Central and Eastern Commands. The armored division also has an anti-aircraft missile brigade. The ground forces are armed with 144 air defense systems (Osa-AK - 52, Strela-10 - 92), MANPADS (Strela-2, Igla - 300, Redai - 260) and 416 anti-aircraft artillery guns (40-mm ZSU M42 - 264, ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" - 52, 20-mm ZSU M161 "Volcano" - 100). Air defense units and subunits of the ground forces as a whole are well armed and high level personnel training.

Yemen. At present, the military-political leadership of the country is placing the main emphasis in building up the combat power of the national armed forces, increasing their combat capability and combat readiness on strengthening and developing the Air Force and Air Defense. Air defense units are part of the Air Force and number 2,000 people. They are armed with S-75, S-125 and Kvadrat air defense systems. The government intends to purchase 5 S-300 PMU-1 air defense divisions from Russia.

The combat composition of the ground forces includes 2 air defense brigades, 4 separate anti-aircraft artillery battalions, and an anti-aircraft missile battalion. Each mechanized brigade has an anti-aircraft battery. The ground forces are armed with the Strela-10 air defense system, 800 Strela-2 and Strela-3 MANPADS, 530 anti-aircraft guns and installations (85-mm KS-12 - 40, 57-mm AZP S-60 - 120 , 37 mm AZP - 150, ZSU-23-4 Shilka - 50, ZU-23-2 - 100, 20 mm ZSU M163 - Vulkan - 20, 20 mm ZU M167 - 50).

Qatar. The Qatari Air Force has air defense units, which are armed with short-range air defense systems "Roland-2" (9 launchers) and "Mistral" (24 launchers), 42 MANPADS ("Stinger" - 12, "Strela-2" - 20, Blowpipe - 10). For the ground forces, it is planned to purchase a batch of MANPADS in the near future.

Kuwait. The national air force includes air defense units armed with 4 Advanced Hawk air defense systems (24 launchers), 6 batteries of Amon air defense systems (each has two Aspid short-range missile launchers, a Skygard fire control system, a radar station and two twin 35 mm Oerlikon guns), 48 Starburst MANPADS.

The Kuwaiti side is showing interest in acquiring Russian short-range air defense systems "Tor-1M" and air defense missile systems "Pantsir".

Based on the 1991 agreement, Kuwait participates in the creation of a joint early warning radar network as a component of the joint command and control system in the structure of the GCC defense forces.

Libya. The Air Defense Forces are part of the unified branch of the armed forces - the Air Force and Air Defense. At the same time, a special air defense command was organized after the events of 1986 associated with US air raids on Libyan targets. It has 4 air defense missile systems equipped with S-200VE Vega air defense systems (each brigade has 2 missile batteries of 6 launchers, 4 anti-aircraft artillery batteries, a radar company), 6 air defense missile systems equipped with S-75M Desna air defense systems, 3 air defense missile systems equipped with S-125M Neva-M air defense systems, and 3 air defense missile systems equipped with Kvadrat and Osa air defense systems (20-24 self-propelled launchers in each). The Russian system "Senezh" is used to control the forces and means of air defense. A significant part of the weapons and air defense equipment is physically and morally obsolete, which, along with the poor training of personnel, does not allow them to be effectively used to counter modern means air attack.

At present, the Libyan command expresses a desire to acquire 80 S-300PMU-1 (PMU-2) air defense launchers in Russia.

The air defense units of the Libyan ground forces are armed with the Strela-1, Strela-10 air defense systems, 24 Crotal missile launchers, MANPADS various types, 600 anti-aircraft guns and SPAAGs (57-mm AZP S-60, 30-mm ZP, ZU-23-2, 40-mm ZSU M53, ZSU-23-4 "Shilka").

Officers are being trained at military air defense colleges in Tripoli and Misurata. There is also an air defense officer school. The term of study in colleges and schools is from three to five years (for engineers).

Morocco. The territory of Morocco is divided into five air defense zones. Back in 1982, an automated control system for air defense forces and means was put into operation. It includes an underground control and warning center and up to 10 stationary and mobile radar posts (RLP). 63 AN / TPS-43 radars, communications equipment and computers are deployed on stationary radars. Mobile radars are placed on three trailers each and must take up pre-prepared positions during the threatened period by special decision. All control system equipment was manufactured in the USA, and Moroccan specialists were also trained there. The air defense radio engineering units are organizationally part of the Royal Air Force.

In the combat composition of the Moroccan ground forces there is an air defense group. In total, the air defense units of the ground forces are armed with 37 M54 Chaparel missile launchers, 70 Strela-2 MANPADS, 205 anti-aircraft artillery guns (100-mm KS-19 - 15, ZU-23-2 - 90, 20-mm - 100 (M167 - 40, ZSU M163 "Volcano" - 60).

UAE. Currently, the country does not have a unified air defense system. The main part of the available air defense forces and means is organizationally part of the Air Force and performs the tasks of covering administrative centers, oil complex facilities, airfields, and various military facilities.

The air defense forces are represented by a brigade, which consists of three divisions armed with 21 Rapira (12 launchers) and Crotal (9 launchers) short-range missile launchers, and 5 Improved Hawk missile batteries. In addition, the air defense units have 13 RBS-70 MANPADS and 100 Mistral MANPADS, as well as Igla and Javelin MANPADS.

All air defense systems are deployed in positions and are on combat duty. To ensure the operation of air defense weapons, a network of stationary radar posts equipped with radars manufactured in the USA, Great Britain and Germany has been deployed in the country.

The air defense units of the UAE ground forces are armed with 40 MANPADS (Mistral - 20, Bluepipe - 20), 62 anti-aircraft guns (30-mm - 20, 20-mm ZSU М3VDA - 42).

Taking into account the fact that at the present stage the air defense forces and means are only able to perform the tasks assigned to them to a limited extent, the Emirati leadership provides for the implementation of a set of measures to further develop the capabilities of the air defense forces. In particular, it is planned to purchase an additional number of "Improved Hawk" air defense systems. In August 2000, a contract was signed with Russia for the supply of Pantsir-1 anti-aircraft missile systems (50 launchers) in the amount of 734 million dollars. The UAE is participating in the creation of a unified GCC air defense system.

Oman. Air defense units (two squadrons of Rapira short-range missiles, 28 launchers) are organizationally part of the Air Force. Four batteries of 35-mm anti-aircraft guns were additionally purchased from South Africa. The Rapira air defense system is being upgraded to the level of the Rapira B1 (X) model with a new Matra-2 missile with infrared guidance and a proximity fuse. Negotiations are underway to supply an additional batch of Rapira missiles. In 2001, deliveries of Italian S793D radars were completed. It is planned to create a network of early warning radars and modernize the air defense communications system. The Italian side undertook to assist in the training of personnel of radio engineering units.

The air defense units of the ground forces of Oman are armed with MANPADS "Blowpipe", "Javelin" (14), "Strela-2" (34), 26 anti-aircraft guns (40-mm L / 60 "Bofors" - 12, 35-mm GDF- 005 - 10, ZU-23-2 - 4). In the event of further improvement in the financial situation, it is planned to purchase MANPADS, other weapons and equipment for military air defense.

Saudi Arabia. Air defense troops (16 thousand people) are an independent branch of the armed forces. They are led by a commander who has his own headquarters. The air defense forces consist of anti-aircraft missile troops, anti-aircraft artillery and RTV units. Fighter-interceptors are in the operational subordination of the air defense.

Organizationally, the air defense forces are divided into six groups. The 1st group (headquarters in Riyadh) includes three batteries of the Improved Hawk SAM and two batteries of the Oerlikon SAM; 2nd group (Jeddah) - three batteries of missiles "Us. Khok, a Krotal SAM battery, two Shakhin SAM batteries, a 30-mm ZU battery and two Oerlikon ZU batteries, as well as an air defense training center; 3rd group - (Tabuk) - two batteries of missiles "Us. Hok, Shahin SAM battery; 4th group (Khamis-Mushayt) - SAM battery "Us. Hok, Shakhin SAM battery, two 30-mm ZU batteries, Oerlikon ZU battery; 5th group (Dahran) - six batteries of missiles "Us. Hawk”, two batteries of the Shakhin missile defense system, five batteries of the Oerlikon missile defense system; 6th group (Khafr el-Batin) - two batteries of missiles "Us. Hawk, four Oerlikon memory batteries. In total, the air defense forces have 33 batteries of missiles (16 - "Us. Hawk" and 17 - "Shahin").

In total, the air defense forces are armed with 128 MIM-23V Advanced Hawk missile launchers, 141 Shahin self-propelled launchers (SPU) and 40 Krotal SPU, as well as 270 anti-aircraft guns and installations: 35-mm Oerlikon - 128, 30-mm ZSU AMX-30SA - 50, 20-mm ZSU M163 "Volcano" - 92. In addition, there are 70 40-mm L / 70 anti-aircraft guns in the warehouses.

The war in the Persian Gulf gave a strong impetus to the development of Saudi air defense, while generally maintaining the general concept of their improvement, which provides for the creation of a multi-level integrated air defense system of the kingdom. In the 1990s, 21 Patriot SAM batteries (including 2 training batteries) with 1055 missiles were purchased for the Air Defense Forces. Further improvement of the country's air defense system is one of the priority areas of national military development. In the future, the country's air defense system, the command intends to bring its effectiveness closer to Western models.

Currently, the air defense forces are entrusted with covering important administrative, economic and military facilities: the capital of the country, oil production areas, groupings of troops, air force and missile bases.

The air defense of Saudi Arabia forms the basis of the GCC air defense system "Peace Shield". Its creation was basically completed in 1995. The Peace Shield includes 17 AN/FPS-117(V)3 early warning radars, three D radar systems coupled to AN-PPS-43 and AN-TPS-72 short and medium-range radars. The system's control center is located in Riyadh. He governs the five sectors, command posts which are located in Dhahran (East), Al-Kharj (Centre), Khamis Mushait (South), Taif (West) and Tabuk (North-West). Air bases have operational centers that are integrated with AWACS aircraft (5 units) E-3A AWACS, fighter aircraft, batteries of missiles and anti-aircraft artillery.

Saudi troops take part in the regularly held joint exercises of the Air Force and Air Defense of the GCC member countries "Falcon of the Peninsula".

The air defense systems of the ground forces are represented by the Shahin (Krotal) short-range air defense systems and 1000 MANPADS (Stinger - 500, Redai - 500). The modernization of the Shahin air defense system continues. Each mechanized and armored brigade has an anti-aircraft division.

Officers for the air defense forces are trained in the largest and oldest military educational institution of the kingdom, the military college named after. King Abdulaziz in the Riyadh suburb of Al Ain.

Syria. The Air Force and the Air Defense Forces (100,000 men, including 40,000 in the Air Force and 60,000 in the Air Defense) constitute a single branch of the armed forces. At the same time, the air defense forces have a separate command subordinate to the commander of the unified branch of the armed forces.

The territory of Syria is divided into Northern and Southern zone air defense. To control the forces and means of air defense, there are three fully computerized command posts.

Air defense formations and units are represented by two air defense divisions, 25 anti-aircraft missile brigades (individual and as part of air defense divisions, up to 150 batteries in total) and units of radio engineering troops. They are armed with 908 SAM launchers (600 S-75 and S-125, 200 Kvadrat, 48 S-200 long-range SAM launchers, 60 Osa SAM launchers, as well as up to 4,000 anti-aircraft artillery guns.

The S-200 SAM regiment consists of two missile battalions with two batteries each.

The air defense units of the Syrian ground forces are armed with 55 short-range air defense systems ("Strela-10" - 35, "Strela-1" - 20); 4000 MANPADS "Strela-2" and "Igla"; 2050 anti-aircraft artillery guns (100-mm KS-19 - 25, 57-mm AZP S-60 - 675, 37-mm AZP - 300, ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" - 400, ZU-23-2 - 650) .

The Syrian air defense is mainly armed with outdated S-75, S-125 and Kvadrat air defense systems (partial modernization work has been carried out on the latter) and radio equipment, which are not able to effectively counteract modern air attack weapons. There are problems with the training of personnel. The command, given the significant role played by aviation in combat operations in the zone Persian Gulf, in the war in Yugoslavia and a number of other local conflicts, pays special attention to strengthening and improving the forces and means of air defense.

Syria expresses its desire to carry out purchases of S-300PMU air defense systems, Buk-M1 and Tor-M1 air defense systems in Russia.

Officers for the Air Defense Forces are trained at the Air Defense College.

Sudan. The air defense troops are singled out as a separate branch of the armed forces, which include five S-75 SAM batteries (18 launchers) and anti-aircraft artillery units. All equipment is morally and physically obsolete and is not able to effectively counteract modern means of air attack.

The Sudanese ground forces are armed with 54 Strela-2 MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns (85-mm, 57-mm AZP S-60 and Type-59, 37-mm AZP, ZU-23-2).

Tunisia. The tasks of the country's air defense are entrusted to the ground forces. However, the air defense systems available in their arsenal have limited capabilities for hitting air targets only at low altitudes and are able to cover only individual objects.

The Tunisian ground forces are armed with 25 M48 Chaparel air defense systems, 48 ​​RBS-70 MANPADS, 115 anti-aircraft artillery guns (37-mm AZP Type 55/65 - 15, 20-mm M55 - 100). Each mechanized brigade has an anti-aircraft division. In the near future, it is planned to increase the number of MANPADS.

Mauritania. The combat composition of the ground forces has 4 anti-aircraft batteries. Air defense systems are represented by 30 Strela-2 MANPADS, 100 mm anti-aircraft guns KS-19 (12), 57 mm AZP S-60 (2), 37 mm AZP (10), 23 mm ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns (20). The troops also have ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 anti-aircraft machine gun mounts.

Lebanon. The ground forces are armed with 10 40-mm ZSU M42 and anti-aircraft installations caliber 23 and 20 mm.

Djibouti. The ground forces are armed with 15 anti-aircraft guns (40-mm L / 70 - 5, ZU-23-2 - 5, 20-mm - 5).

Air and Missile Defense Troops

air defense

Air defense troops Russian Federation- until 1998, an independent type of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces). In 1998, the Air Defense Forces of the country were merged with the Air Force in a new form of the RF Armed Forces - the Air Force of the Russian Federation. In 2009-2010 All air defense formations of the Russian Air Force (4 corps and 7 air defense divisions) were reorganized into 11 aerospace defense brigades. In 2011, 3 air defense brigades of the Russian Air Force became part of a new branch of the Russian Armed Forces - the Aerospace Defense Troops.

It is necessary to distinguish between the Air Defense Forces of the Air Force of the Russian Federation and the brigades of the Aerospace Defense of the Russian Federation, which were previously organizationally part of the Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation, from the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces.

The abbreviated name is VPVO of the Armed Forces of Russia.

The tasks of the Russian Air Defense Forces (both as an independent type of the RF Armed Forces and as part of the Russian Air Force, VVKO RF, VKS RF) are: repelling aggression in the air sphere and protecting command posts of the highest levels of state and military administration, administrative and political centers from air strikes , industrial and economic regions, the most important objects of the economy and infrastructure of the country and groupings of troops (forces).

In 2015, the Air Force of the Russian Federation was merged with the Aerospace Defense Forces of the Russian Federation in a new form of the RF Armed Forces - the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, which organizationally included a new branch of the military - the Air Defense Forces and missile defense(PVO-PRO troops).

Story

The date of formation is the date of creation of the Petrograd air defense system - December 8 (November 25), 1914.

In 1930, the Directorate (since 1940 - the Main Directorate) of Air Defense was created.

Since 1941 - air defense troops.

In 1948, the Air Defense Forces of the country were withdrawn from the subordination of the artillery commander and transformed into an independent branch of the Armed Forces.

In 1954, the High Command of the Air Defense Forces was formed.

In 1978, the transportable S-300PT air defense system was adopted (it replaced the older S-25, S-75 and S-125 air defense systems). In the mid-80s, the complex underwent a series of upgrades, receiving the designation S-300PT-1. In 1982, a new version of the S-300P air defense system was adopted for service with the air defense forces - the S-300PS self-propelled system, new complex had a record short deployment time - 5 minutes, making it invulnerable to enemy aircraft.

1987 became a "black" year in the history of the Air Defense Forces. May 28, 1987 at 18.55 the plane of Matthias Rust landed in Moscow on Red Square. Serious imperfection became obvious legal basis for the actions of the duty forces of the Air Defense Forces of the country and, as a result, the contradiction between the tasks assigned to the Air Defense Forces and the limited rights of the leadership in the use of forces and means. After the passage of Rust, three Marshals were removed from their posts Soviet Union(including Minister of Defense of the USSR Sokolov S.L., Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces Koldunov A.I.), about three hundred generals and officers. The army has not known such a personnel pogrom since 1937.

In 1991, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, the Air Defense Forces of the USSR were transformed into the Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation.

In 1993, an improved version of the S-300PS complex, the S-300PM, was adopted. In 1997, the S-300PM2 Favorit air defense system was adopted.

Assessing the process of accelerating the physical aging of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Committee State Duma Russian Federation came to disappointing conclusions. As a result, a new concept military development, where before 2000 it was planned to reorganize the branches of the Armed Forces, reducing their number from five to three. As part of this reorganization, two independent branches of the Armed Forces were to be united in one form: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation (RF) dated July 16, 1997 No. 725 "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure" determined the formation of a new type of Armed Forces (AF). By March 1, 1998, on the basis of the control bodies of the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and the Main Headquarters of the Air Force were formed, and the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force were merged into the new kind RF Armed Forces - Air Force.

By the time of the unification into a single branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Air Defense Forces included: an operational-strategic formation, 2 operational, 4 operational-tactical formations, 5 air defense corps, 10 air defense divisions, 63 units of anti-aircraft missile troops, 25 fighter aviation regiments, 35 units of radio engineering troops, 6 intelligence formations and units and 5 electronic warfare units. In service there were: 20 aircraft of the A-50 radar patrol and guidance aviation complex, more than 700 air defense fighters, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile battalions and 420 radio engineering units with radar stations various modifications.

As a result of the measures taken, a new organizational structure of the Air Force was created. Instead of air armies front-line aviation, the Air Force and Air Defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate to the commanders of the military districts. The Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense was created in the Western strategic direction.

In 2005–2006 part of the formations and units of the military air defense, equipped with anti-aircraft guns, was transferred to the Air Force missile systems(ZRS) S-300V and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the new-generation S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the Air Force, designed to destroy all modern and promising funds aerospace attack.

At the beginning of 2008, the Air Force included: an operational-strategic association (KSpN) (the former Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense), 8 operational and 5 operational-tactical associations (air defense corps), 15 formations and 165 units. In 2008, a transition began to the formation of a new image of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (including the Air Force). In the course of the measures taken, the Air Force switched to a new organizational and staffing structure. The Air Force and Air Defense Commands were formed, subordinate to the newly created operational-strategic commands: Western (headquarters - St. Petersburg), Southern (headquarters - Rostov-on-Don), Central (headquarters - Yekaterinburg) and Eastern ( headquarters - Khabarovsk). In 2009–2010 A transition was made to a two-level (brigade-battalion) command and control system of the Air Force. As a result total Air Force formations were reduced from 8 to 6, all air defense formations (4 corps and 7 air defense divisions) were reorganized into 11 aerospace defense brigades.

In December 2011, 3 brigades (4th, 5th, 6th) of the air defense of the troops of the operational-strategic command of the aerospace defense (former Command special purpose Air Force, the former Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense) became part of a new branch of the Armed Forces - the Aerospace Defense Troops.

In 2015, the troops of the Aerospace Defense Forces were merged with the Air Force and made up a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.

As part of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, a new type of troops has been organizationally allocated - the Air and Anti-Missile Defense Troops (PVO-PRO Troops). The air defense and anti-missile defense troops will be represented by air defense brigades and an anti-missile defense unit.

As part of the further improvement of the air (aerospace) defense system, a new generation of S-500 air defense systems is currently being developed, in which it is planned to apply the principle of separate solution of the tasks of destroying ballistic and aerodynamic targets. The main task of the complex is the fight against combat equipment of ballistic missiles medium range, and, if necessary, with intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final section of the trajectory and, within certain limits, in the middle section.

The Day of the Air Defense Forces of the country was celebrated in the USSR and is celebrated in the Armed Forces of Russia on the second Sunday of April.

Operational-strategic associations of air defense forces of the USSR and Russia

Air defense districts - associations of air defense forces designed to protect the most important administrative, industrial centers and regions of the country, groupings of the armed forces from air strikes. important military and other facilities within the established boundaries. In the armed forces of the USSR, air defense districts were created after the Great Patriotic War on the basis of air defense fronts. In 1948 the districts were reorganized into air defense districts, and in 1954 the air defense districts were recreated.
Moscow Air Defense District (since August 20, 1954):
Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District (since 1998);
Special Forces Command (since September 1, 2002);
Joint Strategic Aerospace Defense Command (since July 1, 2009);
Air and Missile Defense Command (since December 1, 2011);
1st Army of Air and Missile Defense (since 2015).
1st Air Force and Air Defense Command
2nd Air Force and Air Defense Command
3rd Air Force and Air Defense Command
4th Air Force and Air Defense Command
Baku Air Defense District - formed in 1945 on the basis of the Baku Air Defense Army, in 1948 it was transformed into a district. Since 1954 - again the district. Abolished January 5, 1980.

Compound

The Air Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces included:
management (headquarters);
Radio engineering troops;
Anti-aircraft missile troops;
Fighter aircraft;
Forces of electronic warfare.

The location of the Main Air Defense Headquarters of Russia (USSR) is the village of Zarya, near the village of Fedurnovo, Balashikha district of the Moscow region (electric train from the Kursk railway station towards the Petushki station), or from the Gorky highway, outside the city of Balashikha and the division. Dzerzhinsky.

Air defense systems in service with the Russian Air Defense Forces
ZRS S-400 (since April 2007)
S-300 air defense system (Until 2007, the S-300P medium-range anti-aircraft missile system was the basis anti-aircraft missile troops Russian Air Force.)
The S-350 Vityaz air defense system (The S-350E Vityaz medium-range anti-aircraft missile system will enter the Russian troops by 2016. The new system is designed to replace the S-300PS air defense system with V55R missiles, the service life of which ends in 2015.)
ZRPK Pantsir-S1
ZRPK "Pantsir-S2" (since June 2015, the complex will begin to enter the air defense forces of the Air Force)

missile defense

Anti-missile defense (ABM) - a set of measures of reconnaissance, radio engineering and fire or any other nature (balloon anti-missile defense, etc.), designed to protect (defend) protected objects from missile weapons. Missile defense is very closely related to air defense and is often carried out by the same systems.

The concept of "anti-missile defense" includes protection against a missile threat of any kind and all means that carry out this (including active protection of tanks, air defense systems that fight cruise missiles, etc.), but at the household level, speaking of missile defense, they usually have mind "strategic missile defense" - protection against the ballistic missile component of strategic nuclear forces (ICBMs and SLBMs).

Speaking of missile defense, one can single out self-defense against missiles, tactical and strategic missile defense.

Self defense against missiles

Self-defense against missiles is the minimum unit of anti-missile defense. It provides protection against attacking missiles only for the military equipment on which it is installed. characteristic feature self-defense systems is the placement of all missile defense systems directly on the protected equipment, and all deployed systems are auxiliary (not the main functional purpose) for this equipment. Self-protection systems against missiles are cost-effective for use only on expensive types of military equipment that suffer heavy losses from missile fire. Currently, two types of self-defense systems against missiles are being actively developed: complexes active protection tanks and anti-missile defense of warships.

Active defense of tanks (and other armored vehicles) is a set of measures to counter attacking projectiles and missiles. The action of the complex can mask the protected object (for example, by releasing an aerosol cloud), or it can also physically destroy the threat by a close detonation of an anti-projectile, shrapnel, a directed blast wave, or in another way.

Active defense systems are characterized by an extremely short reaction time (up to fractions of a second), since the flight time of weapons, especially in urban combat, is very short.

An interesting feature is that, in order to overcome the active protection systems of armored vehicles, the developers of anti-tank grenade launchers use the same strategy as the developers of intercontinental ballistic missiles to break through a strategic missile defense system - false targets.

Tactical PRO

Tactical missile defense is designed to protect limited areas of the territory and objects located on it (troop groups, industry and settlements) from missile threats. The goals of such missile defense include: maneuvering (mainly high-precision aviation) and non-maneuvering (ballistic) missiles with relatively low speeds (up to 3-5 km / s) and not having the means to overcome missile defense. The reaction time of tactical missile defense systems ranges from several seconds to several minutes, depending on the type of threat. The radius of the protected area, as a rule, does not exceed several tens of kilometers. Complexes with a significantly larger radius of the protected area - up to several hundred kilometers, are often referred to as strategic missile defense, although they are not capable of intercepting high-speed intercontinental ballistic missiles, covered by powerful means of penetrating missile defense.

Existing tactical missile defense systems

short range

Tunguska (only for external target designation through an external Command Post).
Thor
Pantsir-S1

Medium and long range:

Beech
S-300P all variants
S-300V all options
S-400 with any missiles

Strategic missile defense

The most complex, modernized and expensive category of missile defense systems. The task of strategic missile defense is to fight strategic missiles - their design and tactics of use specifically provide for means that make it difficult to intercept - a large number of light and heavy decoys, maneuvering warheads, as well as jamming systems, including high-altitude nuclear explosions.

At present, only Russia and the United States have strategic missile defense systems, while the existing systems are capable of protecting only against a limited strike (a few missiles), and for the most part, over a limited area. In the foreseeable future, there are no prospects for the emergence of systems that can guarantee and completely protect the country's territory from a massive strike by strategic missiles. However, since all more countries have, are developing, or may potentially acquire a number of long-range missiles, the development of missile defense systems that can effectively protect the country's territory from a small number of missiles seems necessary.

Types of strategic missile defense

Interception on takeoff (Boost-phase intercept)

Intercept on takeoff means that the missile defense system tries to intercept the ballistic missile immediately after launch, when it accelerates with the engines on.

Destroying a ballistic missile on takeoff is a relatively simple task. Advantages of this method:

A missile (unlike warheads) is large, highly visible on radar, and its engine produces a powerful infrared beam that cannot be masked. It is not particularly difficult to aim an interceptor at such a large, visible and vulnerable target as an accelerating missile.

It is also impossible to cover an accelerating missile with decoys or chaff.

Finally, the destruction of a rocket on takeoff leads to the destruction of all its warheads along with it in one blow.

However, takeoff interception has two fundamental disadvantages:

Limited reaction time. The duration of acceleration takes 60-110 seconds, and during this time the interceptor must have time to track the target and hit it.

Difficulty deploying interceptors in range. Ballistic missiles, as a rule, start from the depths of the enemy's territory and are well covered by his defense systems. Deploying interceptors close enough to hit incoming missiles is usually extremely difficult or impossible.

Based on this, space-based or mobile interceptors (deployed on ships or mobile installations). At this stage, the use of laser systems with their short reaction times can also be effective. Thus, the SDI system considered orbital platforms with chemical lasers and systems of thousands of tiny Diamond Pebble satellites, designed to hit rockets taking off with the kinetic energy of collision at orbital speeds, as means of interception on takeoff.

Interception on the middle section of the trajectory (Midcourse intercept)

Mid-trajectory interception means that the interception occurs outside the atmosphere, at the moment when the warheads have already separated from the missile and are flying by inertia.

Advantages:

Long interception time. The flight of warheads outside the atmosphere takes from 20 to 40 minutes, which significantly expands the ability to respond to missile defense.

Flaws:

Tracking warheads flying outside the atmosphere is difficult task, since their dimensions are small and they are not sources of radiation.

The high cost of interceptors.

Warheads flying outside the atmosphere can be covered with penetration means with maximum efficiency. Distinguishing out-of-atmosphere warheads from decoys is extremely difficult.

Interception at atmospheric entry (Terminal phase intercept)

Re-entry interception means that the missile defense system tries to intercept the warheads in the last stage of the flight - during re-entry close to the target.

Advantages:

Technical convenience of deploying missile defense systems on its territory.

Short distance from radars to warheads, which greatly increases the effectiveness of the tracking system.

Low cost anti-missiles.

Reducing the effectiveness of decoys and re-entry interference: Lighter than the warheads themselves, decoys are more retarded by air friction. Accordingly, decoy selection can be performed by the difference in deceleration speed.

Flaws:

Extremely limited (up to tens of seconds) interception time

The small size of the warheads and the difficulty of tracking them

No redundancy: if the warheads are not intercepted at this stage, no subsequent layer of defense can exist

Limited range of interception systems at the terminal stage, which allows the enemy to overcome such defenses by simply directing more missiles at the target than there are near the anti-missile target.

History of strategic missile defense

Despite the great difficulties and shortcomings, the development of missile defense systems in the USSR proceeded quite systematically and systematically.

First experiences

Research into the possibility of countering ballistic missiles in the USSR began in 1945 as part of the Anti-V project at the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy (Georgy Mironovich Mozharovsky's group) and at several research institutes (the theme was Pluto). During the creation of the Berkut air defense system (1949-1953), work was suspended, then sharply intensified.

In 1956, 2 projects of the missile defense system were considered:

Zonal missile defense system "Barrier" (Alexander Lvovich Mints)

Three radar stations with antennas looking straight up were installed one after the other with an interval of 100 km in a missile-prone direction. The attacking warhead sequentially crossed three narrow radar beams, its trajectory was built from three notches and the point of impact was determined.

System based on three ranges "System A" (Grigory Vasilyevich Kisunko)

The project was based on a complex of heavy-duty early warning radar and three precision guidance radars located along the perimeter of the defended area.

The control computer continuously processed the reflected signals, pointing the anti-missile at the target.

The project of G. V. Kisunko was chosen for execution.

The first missile defense system in the USSR, chief designer G. V. Kisunko. It was deployed in the period 1956-1960 at the GNIIP-10 (Sary-Shagan) training ground specially built for this purpose in the Betpak-Dala desert. Ballistic missiles were launched into the interception area from the Kapustin Yar and, later, Plesetsk test sites into a triangle with a side of 170 km, at the tops of which (sites No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) precision guidance radars were located. The launcher of the V-1000 anti-missiles was located in the center of the triangle (site No. 6), the interception was carried out on the atmospheric section of the trajectory (altitude 25 km) on a collision course. The control was carried out by a computer center with two computers, M-40 (implementation of the automatic cycle) and M-50 (processing of system information), designer S. A. Lebedev.

On March 4, 1961, after a series of unsuccessful attempts, the V-1000 anti-missile, equipped with a fragmentation warhead, destroyed the warhead of the R-12 ballistic missile with the weight equivalent of a nuclear charge. The miss was 31.2 meters to the left and 2.2 meters in height. This is the first real interception of a target by a missile defense system in world practice. Until now, ballistic missiles were considered ultimate weapon with no countermeasures.

Subsequently, 16 more interception attempts were made, 11 of which were successful. Research was also carried out on wiring and measuring the trajectories of satellites. The work of System "A" ended in 1962 with a series of tests K1 - K5, as a result of which 5 nuclear explosions at altitudes from 80 to 300 km and studied their influence on the functioning of missile defense and early warning systems.

System "A" did not enter service due to low reliability and low efficiency: the system ensured the destruction of only single ballistic missiles of short and medium range at short distances from the protected object, however, as a result of work on it, a specialized training ground was built and vast experience was accumulated, which served further development of missile defense systems in the USSR/Russia.

ABM systems of the Moscow industrial region

A-35

The creation began in 1958 with the decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU. G. V. Kisunko was appointed chief designer. According to the tactical and technical requirements, the system was supposed to provide defense of an area of ​​400 km² from the attack of the Titan-2 and Minuteman-2 ICBMs. In connection with the use of more advanced radars and anti-missiles with nuclear warheads, the interception was carried out at a distance of 350 km in range and 350 km in height, guidance was carried out by a single-station method. The computer center worked on the basis of a two-processor computer 5E92b (developer V. S. Burtsev). The construction of A-35 facilities in the Moscow region began in 1962, however, putting on combat duty was delayed for a number of reasons:

The advanced improvement of the means of attack required a number of serious improvements.

The promotion of competing projects of the Taran missile defense system by V.N. Chelomey and S-225 KB-1 led to a temporary halt in construction.

The growth of intrigues in the upper echelons of the scientific and technical leadership led in 1975 to the removal of Grigory Kisunko from the post of chief designer of the A-35.

Upgraded A-35 system. Chief designer I. D. Omelchenko. Put on combat duty on May 15, 1978 and was in service until December 1990, the Danube-3U early warning radar continued to operate in the A-135 system until the early 2000s. At the same time, the A-35 Aldan firing range complex (site No. 52) was built at the Sary-Shagan training ground, which was used as a prototype and for training the calculations of the Moscow missile defense system on real live firing.

A-135

Further development of the missile defense system of the Moscow industrial region. General designer A. G. Basistov. Draft design in 1966, start of development in 1971, start of construction in 1980. Commissioned in December 1990. Early warning radar "Danube-3U" and multifunctional radar "Don-2" had phased antenna arrays. Two interception echelons, long-range transatmospheric and short-range atmospheric with two types of anti-missiles. The Argun firing range complex (sites No. 38 No. 51 of the Sary-Shagan firing range) was envisaged, but it was not completed. In accordance with the addendum to the ABM treaty between the USA and the USSR of 1974 and the change of leadership, the TsNPO Vympel recognized this object as unpromising, work on it was stopped, and launchers destroyed. The complex continued to function in a truncated version as a measuring "Argun-I" until 1994.

A-235 "Airplane-M"

A promising missile defense system to replace the A-135. The contract for the creation was concluded in 1991. In August 2014, it was announced the start of testing anti-missiles for the A-235 complex, the completion of work on the project is scheduled for 2015.

Also in the USSR there were several unrealized projects of missile defense systems. The most significant of them are:

ABM system of the territory of the country "Taran"

In 1961, on his own initiative, Chelomey proposed a system of defense of the entire territory of the USSR from a nuclear missile attack by the United States.

The project was based on the interception in the middle section of the trajectory with the help of a super-heavy anti-missile, which Chelomey proposed to create on the basis of the UR-100 intercontinental missile. It was assumed that the radar system deployed in the far North would have to detect warheads approaching along transpolar trajectories and calculate approximate points of interception. Then the anti-missiles based on the UR-100 were to be launched on inertial guidance to these calculated points. Accurate guidance was supposed to be carried out using radar systems target designation and radio command guidance installed on anti-missiles. The interception was supposed to be using a 10-megaton thermonuclear warhead. According to Chelomey's calculations, to intercept 100 Minuteman-type ICBMs, 200 anti-missiles would be required.

The development of the system was carried out from 1961 to 1964, but in 1964, by decision of the government, it was closed. The reason was the outstripping growth of the American nuclear arsenal: Between 1962 and 1965, the United States deployed eight hundred Minuteman-class ICBMs, which would require 1,600 UR-100 interceptor missiles to intercept them.

In addition, the system was subject to the effect of self-blinding, since numerous detonations of 10-megaton warheads in outer space would create huge clouds of radio-opaque plasma and powerful EMP that disrupted the operation of the radar, which made subsequent interceptions extremely difficult. The enemy could easily overcome the "Taran" system by dividing their ICBMs into two successive waves. The system was also vulnerable to the means of overcoming missile defense. Finally, the front-line early warning radars, a key component of the system, were themselves extremely vulnerable to a possible preemptive strike that would render the entire system useless. In this regard, Vladimir Chelomey proposed using the A-35 and S-225 being created as part of his Taran system, receiving, in the future, leadership over all anti-missile issues in the USSR. I must say that the project "Taran" was considered by many to be unfinished and adventurous. Chelomey enjoyed strong support from the leadership of the USSR, the son of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Sergey Khrushchev worked in his design bureau, this explains the closure of the project after the removal of N.S. Khrushchev in 1964.

S-225

Start of work in 1961. General designer A.A. Raspletin.

Air defense, missile defense complex for protecting relatively small-sized objects from single ICBMs equipped with means to overcome missile defense and promising aerodynamic targets. Active development phase from 1968 to 1978.

Distinctive features were a container transportable and quick-mounted design, the use of a RTN with a phased antenna array RSN-225, new high-speed short-range interception missiles PRS-1 (5Ya26) of the Novator Design Bureau (designer Lyulyev). 2 polygon complexes were built, "Azov" (site No. 35 Sary-Shagan) and a measuring complex in Kamchatka. The first successful interception of a ballistic target (an 8K65 missile warhead) was made in 1984. Presumably, due to the delay in the development of anti-missiles and the insufficient energy of the RTN for missile defense purposes, the topic was closed. The PRS-1 missile subsequently entered the short-range interception echelon of the A-135 complex.

To write this article, I was largely inspired by the excessive jingoistic moods of a significant part of the visitors to the site I respect " Military Review”, as well as the slyness of the domestic media, which regularly publishes materials about the strengthening of our military power, unprecedented since Soviet times, including the Air Force and Air Defense.

For example, in a number of media outlets, including on "VO", in the section "" not so long ago an article was published entitled: "Two air defense divisions began to protect the airspace of Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region."

It says: “The assistant commander of the troops of the Central Military District, Colonel Yaroslav Roshchupkin, said that two air defense divisions took up combat duty, starting to protect the airspace of Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region.

“The duty forces of two divisions of air defense took up combat duty to cover administrative, industrial and military facilities in the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia. New formations were formed on the basis of the Novosibirsk and Samara aerospace defense brigades, ”RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.

Combat crews equipped with S-300PS anti-aircraft missile systems will cover the airspace over the territory of 29 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which are included in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the Central Military District.

After such news, an inexperienced reader may get the impression that our air defense anti-aircraft missile units have received qualitative and quantitative reinforcement with new anti-aircraft systems.

In practice, in this case, no quantitative, much less qualitative strengthening of our air defense has happened. It all comes down to just changing the organizational structure. New equipment did not enter the troops.

The S-300PS anti-aircraft missile system mentioned in the publication, with all its advantages, cannot be considered new in any way.

S-300PS with 5V55R missiles was put into service back in 1983. That is, more than 30 years have passed since the adoption of this system. But at present, in the anti-aircraft missile units of air defense, more than half of the air defense systems long range S-300P belong to this modification.

In the near future (two or three years), most of the S-300PS will either have to be written off or overhauled. However, it is not known which option is economically preferable, the modernization of old or the construction of new anti-aircraft systems.

The earlier towed version of the S-300PT has either been decommissioned or transferred "for storage" without any chance of returning to the troops.

The most "fresh" complex from the "three hundredth" S-300PM family was delivered to the Russian army in the mid-90s. Most of the anti-aircraft missiles currently in service were produced at the same time.

The new, widely advertised S-400 anti-aircraft missile system has just begun to enter service. In total, as of 2014, 10 regimental kits were delivered to the troops. Taking into account the upcoming mass write-off of military equipment that has exhausted its resource, this amount is absolutely not enough.

Of course, experts, of whom there are many on the site, can reasonably object that the S-400 is significantly superior in its capabilities to the systems it is replacing. However, one should not forget that the means of air attack of the main "potential partner" are constantly being improved qualitatively. In addition, as follows from "open sources", mass production of promising 9M96E and 9M96E2 missiles and 40N6E ultra-long-range missiles has not yet been established. Currently, the S-400 uses 48N6E, 48N6E2, 48N6E3 SAM S-300PM missiles, as well as 48N6DM missiles modified for the S-400.

In total, according to "open sources", in our country there are about 1500 launchers of the S-300 family of air defense systems - this, apparently, taking into account the air defense units of the ground forces that are "in storage" and in service.

Today, Russian air defense forces (those that are part of the Air Force and Air Defense) have 34 regiments with S-300PS, S-300PM and S-400 air defense systems. In addition, not so long ago, several anti-aircraft missile brigades converted into regiments were transferred to the Air Force and Air Defense from the air defense of the ground forces - two 2-divisional S-300V and Buk brigades and one mixed (two S-300V divisions , one Buk division). Thus, in the troops we have 38 regiments, including 105 divisions.

However, these forces are distributed extremely unevenly throughout the country, Moscow is best protected, around which there are ten regiments of S-300P air defense systems (two of them have two S-400 divisions each).

The northern capital, St. Petersburg, is well covered. The sky above it is protected by two regiments of S-300PS and two regiments of S-300PM.

Satellite image of Google Earth. Scheme of placement of air defense systems around St. Petersburg

The bases of the Northern Fleet in Murmansk, Severomorsk and Polyarny are covered by three S-300PS and S-300PM regiments, at the Pacific Fleet near Vladivostok and Nakhodka - two S-300PS regiments, and the Nakhodka regiment received two S-400 divisions. Avachinsky Bay in Kamchatka, where SSBNs are based, is covered by one S-300PS regiment.

Satellite image of Google Earth. ZRS S-400 in the vicinity of Nakhodka

The Kaliningrad region and the BF base in Baltiysk are protected from air attack by the S-300PS/S-400 mixed regiment.

Satellite image of Google Earth. S-400 air defense system in the Kaliningrad region at the former positions of the S-200 air defense system

Recently, there has been an increase in the anti-aircraft cover of the Black Sea Fleet. Before famous events associated with Ukraine, a mixed regiment with S-300PM and S-400 divisions was deployed in the Novorossiysk region.

At present, there is a significant strengthening of the air defense of the main naval base of the Black Sea Fleet - Sevastopol. It is reported that in November the peninsula's air defense group was replenished with S-300PM air defense systems. Taking into account the fact that complexes of this type are currently not produced by industry for their own needs, most likely they were transferred from another region of the country.

In terms of air defense cover, the central region of our country resembles a "patchwork quilt" in which there are more holes than patches. One S-300PS regiment is available in Novgorod region, near Voronezh, Samara and Saratov. The Rostov region is covered by one regiment of S-300PM and Buk.

In the Urals, near Yekaterinburg, there are positions of an anti-aircraft missile regiment armed with S-300PS. Beyond the Urals, in Siberia, only three regiments are deployed on a gigantic territory, one S-300PS regiment each near Novosibirsk, in Irkutsk and Achinsk. In Buryatia, not far from the Dzhida station, one regiment of the Buk air defense system is deployed.

Satellite image of Google Earth. ZRS S-300PS near Irkutsk

In addition to anti-aircraft systems protecting the fleet bases in Primorye and Kamchatka, in the Far East there are two more S-300PS regiments covering Khabarovsk (Knyaz-Volkonskoye) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Lian), respectively, one S-300PS regiment is deployed in the vicinity of Birobidzhan. 300V.

That is, the entire huge Far Eastern federal district protect: one regiment of mixed S-300PS / S-400, four regiments of S-300PS, one regiment of S-300V. This is all that remains of the once powerful 11th Air Defense Army.

The "holes" between the air defense facilities in the east of the country are several thousand kilometers long, anyone and anything can fly into them. However, not only in Siberia and the Far East, but throughout the country, a huge number of critical industrial and infrastructure facilities are not covered by any air defense systems.

In a significant part of the country's territory, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants remain unprotected, air strikes on which can lead to catastrophic consequences. Vulnerability from air attack of the deployment points of Russian strategic nuclear forces provokes “potential partners” to attempt a “disarming strike” with high-precision means of destroying non-nuclear equipment.

In addition, long-range anti-aircraft systems themselves need protection. They need to be covered from the air with short-range air defense systems. Today, regiments with S-400s receive Pantsir-S air defense systems for this (2 per division), but S-300P and B are not covered by anything, except, of course, for effective protection of anti-aircraft machine gun installations of 12.7 mm caliber.

"Pantsir-S"

The situation with the lighting of the air situation is no better. This should be done by the radio engineering troops, their functional duty is to issue in advance information about the beginning of an enemy air attack, provide target designation for anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense aviation, as well as information for controlling air defense formations, units and subunits.

During the years of “reforms”, the continuous radar field formed during the Soviet era was partially, and in some places completely lost.
At present, there is practically no possibility of controlling the air situation over the polar latitudes.

Until recently, our political and former military leadership appears to have been preoccupied with other more pressing issues, such as downsizing the military and selling off "surplus" military property and real estate.

Only recently, at the end of 2014, the Minister of Defense, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, announced measures that should help correct the existing situation in this area.

As part of the expansion of our military presence in the Arctic, it is planned to build and reconstruct existing facilities on the New Siberian Islands and Franz Josef Land, reconstruct airfields and deploy modern radar stations in Tiksi, Naryan-Mar, Alykel, Vorkuta, Anadyr and Rogachevo. The creation of a continuous radar field over the territory of Russia should be completed by 2018. At the same time, it is planned to upgrade radar stations and data processing and transmission facilities by 30%.

Separate mention deserves fighter aircraft, designed to deal with enemy air attack weapons and carry out tasks to gain air superiority. Currently, the Russian Air Force formally has (taking into account those in "storage") about 900 fighters, of which: Su-27 of all modifications - more than 300, Su-30 of all modifications - about 50, Su-35S - 34, MiG -29 of all modifications - about 250, MiG-31 of all modifications - about 250.

It should be noted that a significant part of the park Russian fighters is listed in the Air Force only nominally. Many aircraft produced in the late 80s and early 90s require major repairs and modernization. In addition, due to problems with the supply of spare parts and the replacement of failed avionics units, some of the upgraded fighters are in fact, as the aviators put it, "doves of peace." They can still take to the air, but they can no longer fully complete a combat mission.

The past year 2014 was notable for the volumes of deliveries of aviation equipment to the Russian armed forces that were unprecedented since the times of the USSR.

In 2014, our Air Force received 24 Su-35S multifunctional fighters manufactured by the Yu.A. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (branch of Sukhoi Company OJSC):

Twenty of them became part of the reconstituted 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Guards Mixed Aviation Division of the 3rd Air Force and Air Defense Command of Russia at the Dzemgi airfield (Khabarovsk Territory) joint with the plant.

All these fighters were built under a contract dated August 2009 with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the construction of 48 Su-35S fighters. Thus, the total number of vehicles manufactured under this contract by the beginning of 2015 reached 34.

The production of Su-30SM fighters for the Russian Air Force is carried out by the Irkut Corporation under two contracts for 30 aircraft each, concluded with the Russian Ministry of Defense in March and December 2012. After the delivery of 18 vehicles in 2014, the total number of Su-30SMs delivered to the Russian Air Force reached 34 units.

Eight more Su-30M2 fighters were produced by the Yu.A. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Three fighters of this type entered the newly formed 38th fighter aviation regiment of the 27th mixed aviation division of the 4th command of the Russian Air Force and Air Defense at the Belbek airfield (Crimea).

The Su-30M2 aircraft were built under a contract dated December 2012 for the supply of 16 Su-30M2 fighters, bringing the total number of aircraft built under this contract to 12, and the total number of Su-30M2 in the Russian Air Force to 16.

However, this significant amount by today's standards is absolutely not enough to replace in the fighter regiments written off due to the complete physical deterioration of the aircraft.

Even if the current pace of deliveries of aircraft to the troops is maintained, according to forecasts, in five years the fighter fleet of the Russian Air Force will be reduced to about 600 aircraft.

During the next five years, about 400 Russian fighters will probably be written off - up to 40% of the current payroll.

This is primarily due to the upcoming decommissioning of the old-built MiG-29s (about 200 units) in the very near future. Due to problems with the airframe, about 100 aircraft have already been rejected.

The non-modernized Su-27s, whose flight life is ending in the near future, will also be decommissioned. The number of MiG-31 interceptors will be reduced by more than half. As part of the Air Force, it is planned to leave 30-40 MiG-31s ​​in DZ and BS modifications, another 60 MiG-31s ​​will be upgraded to the BM version. The remaining MiG-31s ​​(about 150 units) are planned to be written off.

Partially, the shortage of long-range interceptors should be resolved after the start of mass deliveries of the PAK FA. It was announced that it is planned to purchase up to 60 PAK FA units by 2020, but so far these are only plans that are likely to undergo significant adjustments.

The Russian Air Force has 15 AWACS A-50 aircraft (another 4 are in “storage”), recently they were supplemented by 3 modernized A-50U.
The first A-50U was delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2011.

As a result of the work carried out as part of the modernization, the functionality of the airborne early warning and control complex has significantly increased. The number of simultaneously tracked targets and simultaneously guided fighters has been increased, the detection range of various aircraft has been increased.

The A-50 should be replaced by the A-100 AWACS aircraft based on the Il-76MD-90A with the PS-90A-76 engine. The antenna complex is built on the basis of an antenna with an active phased array.

At the end of November 2014 TANTK them. G. M. Beriev received the first Il-76MD-90A aircraft for conversion into A-100 AWACS aircraft. Deliveries to the Russian Air Force are scheduled to begin in 2016.

All domestic aircraft AWACS are based on a permanent basis in the European part of the country. Beyond the Urals, they appear quite rarely, for the most part during large-scale exercises.

Unfortunately, loud statements from high tribunes about the revival of our Air Force and Air Defense often have little in common with reality. Absolute irresponsibility for the promises made by high-ranking civil and military officials has become an unpleasant tradition in the "new" Russia.

As part of the state armaments program, it was supposed to have twenty-eight 2-divisional S-400 regiments and up to ten divisions of the latest S-500 air defense system (the latter should perform tasks not only for air defense and tactical missile defense, but also for strategic missile defense) by 2020. Now there is no doubt that these plans will be thwarted. The same fully applies to plans for the production of PAK FA.

However, no one, as usual, will be seriously punished for disrupting the state program. After all, we “do not hand over our own”, and “we are not in our 37th year”, right?

P.S. All information provided in the article regarding Russian Air Force and air defense, taken from open public sources, a list of which is given. The same applies to possible inaccuracies and errors.

Information sources:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru
http://bmpd.livejournal.com
http://geimint.blogspot.ru
Satellite imagery courtesy of Google Earth

In 2011, three air defense brigades of the Air Force became part of a new branch of the Armed Forces - the Aerospace Defense Forces.

In 2015, the Air Force was merged with the Aerospace Defense Forces in a new type of armed forces - the Aerospace Forces (VKS), which included a new type of troops organizationally - (Air Defense-ABM Forces).

The Air Defense Forces of the Aerospace Forces should be distinguished from the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (Military Air Defense Forces).

In 1978, the transportable S-300PT air defense system was adopted (it replaced the older S-25, S-75 and S-125 air defense systems). In the mid-80s, the complex went through a series of upgrades, receiving the designation S-300PT-1. In 1982, a new version of the S-300P air defense system, the S-300PS self-propelled system, was adopted by the air defense forces, the new complex had a record short deployment time of 5 minutes, making it difficult for enemy aircraft.

Assessing the process of accelerating the physical aging of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation came to disappointing conclusions. As a result, a new concept of military construction was developed, where it was supposed to reorganize the types of armed forces by 2000, reducing their number from five to three. As part of this reorganization, two independent types of armed forces were to be united in one form: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation (RF) dated July 16, 1997 No. 725 "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure" determined the formation of a new type of armed forces. By March 1, 1998, on the basis of the control bodies of the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and the Main Headquarters of the Air Force were formed, and the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force were merged into a new type - the Air Force.

By the time of unification into a single branch of the armed forces, the Air Defense Forces included: an operational-strategic association, 2 operational, 4 operational-tactical formations, 5 air defense corps, 10 air defense divisions, 63 units of anti-aircraft missile troops, 25 fighter aviation regiments, 35 units of radio engineering troops , 6 intelligence formations and units and 5 electronic warfare units. It was armed with: 20 aircraft of the A-50 radar patrol and guidance aviation complex, more than 700 air defense fighters, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile divisions and 420 radio engineering units with radar stations of various modifications.

As a result of the measures taken, a new organizational structure of the Air Force was created. Instead of the air armies of front-line aviation, the Air Force and Air Defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate to the commanders of the military districts. The Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense was created in the Western strategic direction.

In December 2011, 3 brigades (4th, 5th, 6th) of the air defense of the troops of the operational-strategic command of the aerospace defense (the former Air Force Special Forces Command, the former Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense) became part of the new type of troops - Troops of the East Kazakhstan region.

As part of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, a new type of troops has been organizationally allocated - Air and Missile Defense Troops (Air Defense Forces). Air defense-missile defense troops are represented by air defense divisions and an anti-missile defense formation.

As part of the further improvement of the air defense (aerospace) defense system, a new generation of S-500 air defense systems is currently being developed, in which it is supposed to apply the principle of separate solution of the tasks of destroying ballistic and aerodynamic targets. The main task of the complex is to combat the combat equipment of medium-range ballistic missiles, and, if necessary, with intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final section of the trajectory and, within certain limits, in the middle section.

The Day of the Air Defense Forces of the country was celebrated in the USSR and is celebrated in the Russian Armed Forces on the second Sunday of April.

Troop leaders

• 1987-1991 - General of the Army I. M. Tretyak,
• 1991-1997 - Colonel General (until 1996), General of the Army V. A. Prudnikov.
• 2015-2018 - Lieutenant General V. V. Gumenny
• 2018 - present V. - Lieutenant General Yu. N. Grekhov

Educational institutions of air defense of the Armed Forces of the USSR and Russia

academies

• Military Academy of Aerospace Defense named after Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov (Tver)
• Military Engineering Radio Engineering Academy of Air Defense. Marshal of the Soviet Union L. A. Govorov (Kharkov)

RTV schools

• relocated to the LVVPU air defense base and converted to - disbanded in 2011.
• Kiev Higher Engineering Radio Engineering School of Air Defense
• Krasnoyarsk Higher Command School of Air Defense Radio Electronics - disbanded in 1999.

RKO schools

• Pushkin Higher Command School of Air Defense Radio Electronics (also trained for the ZRV) - disbanded.
• Zhytomyr Higher Command School of Air Defense Radio Electronics - disbanded.

ZRV schools

• St. Petersburg Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of the Order of the Red Star (in 1941-1968 - "LATUZA") - disbanded in the 1990s.
• Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile Air Defense School
• Dnepropetrovsk Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Air Defense Command School - disbanded in 1995.
• Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Air Defense Command School - disbanded in 1999.
• Ordzhonikidze Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Air Defense Command School named after General of the Army Issa Aleksandrovich Pliev - disbanded in 1990.
• Engels Higher Air Defense Missile Command School - disbanded in 1994.
• Military Training Center at RGRTU

Air Defense Aviation School

• Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots and Navigators named after Marshal of Aviation Sudts V.A. - disbanded in 1993.
• Armavir Higher Military Aviation School of the Red Banner Pilots named after Chief Marshal of Aviation P. Kutakhov, since 2002, the training aviation center of the Krasnodar VVAUL - disbanded in 2012.
• The Daugavpils Higher Military Aviation Engineering School named after Jan Fabricius in 1993 was transferred to the base of the disbanded Stavropol School of Pilots and Navigators and transformed into the Stavropol Higher Aviation Engineering School of Air Defense - disbanded in 2010.
• Lomonosov military aviation technical school, in the Air Defense Forces since 1989 - disbanded in 1993.

Other

• The Leningrad Higher Military-Political School of Air Defense was disbanded in 1992;
• Center for training specialists (crews) of the radio engineering troops of the Air Force (Vladimir)

Operational-strategic associations of air defense forces of the USSR and Russia

The S-400 Triumph air defense system of the 584th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the 4th Air Defense Division entered combat duty.

• Air defense districts - associations of air defense forces designed to protect the most important administrative, industrial centers and regions of the country, groupings of the armed forces from air strikes. important military and other facilities within the established boundaries. In the armed forces of the USSR, air defense districts were created after the Great Patriotic War on the basis of air defense fronts. The districts were reorganized into air defense areas, and air defense districts were re-created in the year.
• Baku Air Defense District - formed in 1945 on the basis of the Baku Air Defense Army, it was transformed into a district. Since 1954 - again the district. Abolished January 5, 1980.
• Moscow Air Defense District (since August 20, 1954):
  • Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District (since 1998);
  • Special Forces Command (since September 1, 2002);
  • Joint Strategic Aerospace Defense Command (since July 1, 2009);
  • Air and Missile Defense Command (since December 1, 2011):
    • 1st Air Force and Air Defense Command (abolished)
    • 2nd Air Force and Air Defense Command (abolished)
    • 3rd Air Force and Air Defense Command (abolished)
    • 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command (abolished)
• 1st Army Air Defense-PRO (Special Purpose) (since 2015):
  • 4th Air Defense Division, military unit 52116 (Moscow region, Dolgoprudny)
  • 5th air defense division, military unit 52096 (Moscow region, Leninsky district, village of Petrovskoye)
  • 9th missile defense division, military unit 75555 (Moscow region, town of Sofrino)
  • 590th separate radio engineering unit for over-the-horizon detection of air targets, military unit 84680 (Mordovia, Kovylkino settlement)
  • 54th communication center, military unit 74129 (Moscow)
  • Construction and quartering department, military unit 58122 (Moscow)
  • 1786th central base of measuring equipment, military unit 74143 (Moscow region, Shchelkovo)

Military equipment in service with the Air Defense Forces of Russia

PRO complexes

Type	Image	Production	Purpose	Quantity	Notes
A-135		USSR	Anti-missile complex	n/a

Air defense systems

Type	Image	Production	Purpose	Quantity	Notes
S-400		Russia	Long range anti-aircraft missile system	n/a
S-300		USSR Russia	Long range anti-aircraft missile system	n/a
Pantsir-S1

Air defense is a set of steps and b / actions of troops to combat enemy air attack means in order to avert (reduce) losses among the population, damage to objects and military groups from air strikes. To repel (disrupt) attacks (strike) of an air enemy, air defense systems are formed.

The full air defense complex covers systems:

• Reconnaissance of an air enemy, notification actions about him by troops;
• Fighter Air Force Screening;
• Anti-aircraft missile and artillery barrier;
• EW organizations;
• masking;
• Managerial, etc.

Air defense happens:

• Zonal - to protect individual areas within which cover objects are located;
• Zonal-objective - for combining zonal air defense with a direct barrier of especially important objects;
• Object - for the defense of individual especially important objects.

The world experience of wars has turned air defense into one of the most important components in combined arms combat. In August 1958, the air defense troops of the ground forces were formed, and later the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces was organized from them.

Until the end of the fifties, the air defense of the SV were equipped with anti-aircraft artillery systems of that time, as well as specially designed transportable anti-aircraft missile systems. Along with this, in order to reliably cover the troops in combat operations of a mobile form, it was necessary to have highly mobile and highly effective air defense systems, due to the increase in the b / capabilities of air attack weapons.

Along with the fight against tactical aviation, the air defense forces of the ground forces also hit combat helicopters, unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft, cruise missiles, as well as enemy strategic aviation.

In the mid-seventies, the organization of the first generation of anti-aircraft missile weapons of the air defense forces was completed. Troops received latest missiles Air defense and famous: "Circles", "Kuba", "Osy-AK", "Arrows-1 and 2", "Shilka", new radars and many other latest technology at that time. The formed anti-aircraft missile systems easily hit almost all aerodynamic targets, so they took part in local wars and armed conflicts.

By that time, the latest means of air attacks were already rapidly developing and improving. These were tactical, operational-tactical, strategic ballistic missiles and high-precision weapons. Unfortunately, the weapons systems of the first generation of the air defense forces did not provide solutions to the tasks of covering military groups from attacks with these weapons.

There is a need to develop and apply systems approaches to the argumentation of the classification and properties of weapons of the second generation. It was necessary to create weapons systems balanced in terms of classifications and types of objects to be struck and a list of air defense systems, combined into a single control system, equipped with radar reconnaissance, communications and technical equipment. And such weapons systems were created. In the eighties, the air defense forces were fully provided with S-300V, Tors, Bukami-M1, Strelami-10M2, Tunguska, Needles and the latest radars.

Changes have taken place in anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft missile and artillery units, units and formations. They have become integral components in combined arms formations from battalions to front-line formations and have become a unified air defense system in military districts. This increased the effectiveness of combat applications in the groupings of air defense forces of military districts and ensured the power of fire action against the enemy with a high density of fire from anti-aircraft guns, layered at altitudes and at ranges.

In the late nineties, in order to improve command, in the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the Coast Guard of the Navy, military units and air defense units of the Airborne Forces, in formations and military units of the Air Defense Reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, changes took place. They were united in the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Military air defense missions

Formations and units of military air defense carry out the tasks entrusted to them for interaction with the forces and means of the Armed Forces and the Navy.

The following tasks are assigned to military air defense:

In peacetime:

• Measures to maintain the air defense forces of military districts, formations, units and subunits of the Air Defense of the Coast Guard of the Naval Forces, units and subunits of the air defense of the Airborne Forces in combat readiness for advanced deployments and reflections, together with the forces and means of air defense of the types of the RF Armed Forces attacks by means of air attacks;
• Carrying out second-hand duty within the zone of operation of military districts and in common systems air defense of the state;
• The sequence of building up combat strengths in air defense formations and units that perform tasks on combat duty when the highest degrees of b / readiness are introduced.

In wartime:

• Measures for complex, echeloned in depth cover from attacks by means of air attacks by the enemy on groupings of troops, military districts (fronts) and military facilities throughout the depth of their operational formations, while interacting with air defense forces and means and other types and branches of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces;
• Measures for direct cover, which include combined arms formations and formations, as well as formations, units and subunits of the Coast Guard of the Navy, formations and units of the Airborne Forces, rocket troops and artillery in the form of groupings, aviation airfields, command posts, the most important rear facilities in areas of concentration, when advancing, occupying the indicated zones and during operations (b / actions).

Directions for the improvement and development of military air defense

Today, the air defense troops of the SV are the main and most numerous component of the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces. They are united by a harmonious hierarchical structure with the inclusion of front-line, army (corps) complexes of air defense forces, as well as air defense units, motorized rifle (tank) divisions, motorized rifle brigades, air defense units, motorized rifle and tank regiments, battalions.

Air defense forces in military districts have air defense formations, units and subunits, which have at their disposal anti-aircraft missile systems / complexes of various purposes and potentials.

They are connected by reconnaissance and information complexes and control complexes. This makes it possible, under certain circumstances, to form effective multifunctional air defense systems. Until now, the weapons of the Russian military air defense are among the best on the planet.

The most important areas in the improvement and development of military air defense in total include:

• Optimization of organizational and staffing structures in the governing bodies, formations and air defense units, in accordance with the assigned tasks;
• Modernization in anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes, intelligence equipment in order to extend the terms of operation and their integration into a single air defense system in the state and in the Armed Forces, endowing them with the functions of non-strategic anti-missile weapons in theaters of military operations;
• Development and maintenance of a unified technical policy to reduce the types of weapons, military equipment, their unification and avoidance of duplication in development;
• Security advanced systems air defense weapons the latest means automation of control, communications, active, passive and other non-traditional types of intelligence activities, multifunctional anti-aircraft missile systems and new generation air defense systems using the criteria of "efficiency - cost - feasibility";
• Conducting a complex of collective used training of military air defense with other troops, taking into account the upcoming combat missions and the characteristics of the areas of deployment, while concentrating the main efforts in the preparation of formations, units and subunits of high-level air defense;
• Formation, provision and training of reserves for a flexible response to changing circumstances, strengthening the groupings of air defense forces, replenishing the losses of personnel, weapons and military equipment;
• Improving the training of officers in the structure of the military training system, increasing the level of their fundamental (basic) knowledge and practical training and consistency in the transition to continuous military education.

It is planned that in the near future the aerospace defense system will occupy one of the leading directions in strategic defense state and in the Armed Forces, will become one of the constituent parts, and in the future - it will become almost the main deterrent in unleashing wars.

Air defense systems are one of the fundamental in the aerospace defense system. To date, military air defense units are able to effectively resolve the tasks of anti-aircraft and, to some extent, non-strategic anti-missile defensive measures in groupings of troops along operational-strategic directions. As practice shows, in tactical exercises using live fire, all available means of Russian military air defense are able to hit cruise missiles.

Air defense in the air defense system of the state and in its Armed Forces tend to grow in proportion to the increase in the threat of air attacks. When resolving the tasks of the aerospace defense, it will be necessary to coordinate the general use of the various types of air defense forces and missile and space defense in operational-strategic areas as the most effective than separate. This will happen as a result of the possibility of combining force with the advantages of various types of weapons and mutual compensation of their shortcomings and weaknesses with a single plan and under one command.

Improving air defense systems is impossible without further modernization of existing weapons, re-equipment of air defense forces in military districts with the most modern air defense systems and air defense systems, with the supply of the latest automated control and communication systems.

The main direction in the development of Russian air defense systems today is:

• Continue development work in order to create highly effective weapons that will have quality indicators that could not be surpassed by foreign counterparts for 10-15 years;
• To create a promising multifunctional system of armaments of military air defense. This will give impetus to create a flexible organizational and staffing structure for the performance of specific b/tasks. Such a system must be integrated with the main weapons of the ground forces, and act in an integrated manner with other types of troops in the course of solving air defense tasks;
• Introduce automated control systems with robotics and artificial intelligence to reflect further buildup of enemy capabilities and increase the effectiveness of non-use applications by air defense forces;
• Provide models of air defense weapons with electron-optical devices, television systems, thermal imagers in order to ensure the combat capability of air defense systems and air defense systems in conditions of intense interference, which will make it possible to minimize the dependence of air defense systems on the weather;
• Widely apply passive location and electronic warfare equipment;
• Reorient the concept of the prospects for the development of weapons and military equipment for air defense, carry out a radical modernization of existing weapons and military equipment in order to give a significant increase in performance combat use at low cost.

Air Defense Day

Air Defense Day is a memorable day in the RF Armed Forces. It is celebrated every year, every second Sunday in April, in accordance with the Decree Russian President dated May 31, 2006.

For the first time this holiday was determined by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in the Decree of February 20, 1975. It was established for the outstanding merits that the air defense forces of the Soviet state showed during the Second World War, as well as for the fact that they carried out especially important tasks in peacetime. It was originally celebrated on April 11, but in October 1980 Air Defense Day was moved to be celebrated every second Sunday in April.

The history of establishing the date of the holiday is connected with the fact that, in fact, in the days of April, the most important government decrees on the organization of air defense of the state were adopted, which became the basis for the construction of air defense systems, determined the organizational structure of the troops included in it, their formation and further development.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that as the threat of air attacks increases, the role and importance of military air defense will only increase, which has already been confirmed by time.

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