Air defense forces. Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Military equipment in service with the Russian Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces

Alexey Leonkov

The Russian Federation is the only country in the world that has a full-scale, layered, integrated aerospace defense system. The technical basis of aerospace defense are complexes and systems of air defense and missile defense, designed to solve all types of problems: from tactical to operational-strategic. The technical parameters of aerospace defense complexes and systems make it possible to organize reliable cover for troops, the most important public administration facilities, industry, energy and transport.

2016 turned out to be a “fruitful” year for news about anti-inflammatory complexes. air defense, which enter service within the framework of the State Armaments Program (GPV-2020). Many experts and military specialists call them the best among existing air defense systems. The Russian Aerospace Defense Concern Almaz-Antey, the lead developer and manufacturer of aerospace defense complexes and systems, does not stop there; it has begun developing fifth-generation anti-aircraft missile systems and is creating a scientific and technical foundation for the future.
In 2016, the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine devoted a number of articles to the topic air defense, starting with the history of its creation (see “Military Academy in the 100-year history of military air defense” in No. 1 (21) 2016), spoke about the basics of the combat use of military air defense (see “Military air defense: the basics of combat use” in No. 4 (24) 2016) and military air defense systems of the armies of the world (see “Military air defense systems of the armies of the world” in No. 3 (23) 2016).
Such attention is paid to this type of defense for a reason. The fact is that, within the framework of the Military Doctrine adopted in 2008, air defense systems and complexes occupy one of the key places in defense construction and modernization of the Russian army.
Interim results of building a modern layered air defense were discussed at the XXIV Military Scientific Conference of Military Air Defense, held in May 2016 in Smolensk. In the report of the head of the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces, Lieutenant General A. P. Leonov, “Development of the theory and practice of using military air defense of the Armed Forces Russian Federation in modern conditions,” it was noted that the combat potential of military air defense has increased significantly with the supply of the latest highly effective anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes. These are, first of all, the S-300V4 air defense system, the Buk-M2/M3 air defense system and the Tor-M2/M2U air defense system. These systems differ from their predecessors in higher noise immunity and effectiveness in defeating various air attack weapons (AEA), multi-channel, increased rate of fire and increased ammunition capacity of anti-aircraft missiles.
Doctor of Military Sciences, Lieutenant General A. D. Gavrilov, in the article “Military Air Defense: Fundamentals of Combat Use” noted the following: “No matter how highly effective technical means the air defense system possesses, the achievement of the assigned tasks is achieved by the skillful combat use of formations, units and subunits in battle and operations. The entire 100-year history of the existence of military air defense testifies to the high level of professionalism of commanders and staffs, the awareness of personal responsibility of each anti-aircraft gunner for the assigned task of protecting the peaceful sky.”
Development and production of highly efficient equipment in parallel with participation in personnel training military units Air defense is distinctive feature practical work Russian defense association - Concern VKO "Almaz-Antey".

Results of the work of Almaz-Antey

In November 2016, Almaz-Antey summed up the results of the year. As part of the fulfillment of state defense orders (GOZ), the Ministry of Defense received five regiments of the S-400 Triumph air defense system and three divisions of the air defense system medium range"Buk-M2", four divisions of the short-range air defense system "Tor-M2", a brigade set of the latest air defense systems "Buk-M3", as well as a number of different radars. In addition, in the past year, Almaz-Antey specialists carried out the necessary service activities for the maintenance and repair of more than two thousand weapons, military and special equipment (VVST) previously transferred to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and also supplied simulators for training combat crews of the complexes Air defense.
“Already, the annual targets for the supply of basic weapons have been completed by 70 percent, and for the purchase of missiles and ammunition - by more than 85 percent.
The troops received over 5.5 thousand units of weapons and military equipment, including more than 60 new and 130 modernized aircraft and helicopters, multi-purpose Submarine, more than 60 anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes, 55 radar stations, 310 new and 460 modernized tanks and armored vehicles,” Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin noted in his speech at a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, federal departments and defense industry enterprises , which took place on November 15, 2016 in Sochi.
At the same meeting, the Concern’s contribution to ensuring the security of the Khmeimim airbase and naval base Tartus, after the deployment of the S-400 air defense system and the S-300V4 air defense system. According to the Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, these systems reliably protect our bases in Syria both from sea and from land. In addition, the Concern’s specialists restored the Syrian S-200 air defense systems.
The concern continued work on supplying the troops with the modernized and latest air defense systems of the S-300V4 air defense system, the Buk-M3 air defense system and the Tor-M2U air defense system. Without going into listing technical characteristics of these complexes, we will briefly highlight their key features.

ZRS S-300V4
This air defense system represents a deep modernization of the S-300 complex, which has been produced by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern since 1978. The heavy 9M83VM missile of the modernized S-300V4 is capable of reaching a speed of Mach 7.5 and can hit air targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers. The “small” missile has a range of up to 150 km. Ensures the defeat of all existing and future means of aerospace attack, including tactical ballistic missiles(at a range of up to 200 km). In general, the combat effectiveness of the S-300V4 has increased by 2.3 times compared to previous generations of the S-300.
Another feature of the system is increased mobility. Elements of the S-300V4 are placed on a tracked chassis, which allows for maneuver and deployment in the operational formation of formations, marching and combat formation of Ground Forces formations off roads, on rough terrain.
The anti-aircraft missile division is capable of simultaneously firing at up to 24 targets, aiming 48 missiles at them. The rate of fire of each launcher is 1.5 seconds. The entire complex is transferred from standby mode to combat mode in 40 seconds, and the deployment time from the march takes 5 minutes. The battalion's ammunition load is 96–192 anti-aircraft missiles.
According to data from open sources, one of the first S-300V4s was received by the recently formed 77th separate anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Southern Military District, based in Krasnodar region. In the fall of 2016, the S-300V4 air defense system was relocated to Syria at the Khmeimim airbase to strengthen the air defense potential of the Russian Aerospace Forces group.

Buk-M3 air defense system
The Buk-M3 target detection station (STS) now tracks up to 36 targets at a distance of up to 70 kilometers across the entire altitude range. The new 9Р31М (9М317М) missile has more high speed and maneuverability characteristics. It is placed in a transport and launch container (TPC), which provides additional protection missile and improves the camouflage characteristics of the launcher. The number of missiles on one launcher has increased from 4 to 6. In addition, 9A316M transport-launchers can also hit targets; they carry 12 missiles in a TPK.
The Buk-M3 equipment is built on a new element base; digital communications ensure a stable exchange of voice and combat information, as well as integration into the air defense technical control system.
The Buk-M3 air defense system intercepts almost all modern air defense systems that fly at speeds of up to 3000 m/s, thereby exceeding the capabilities of the Patriot air defense system (USA) by almost two times. In addition, the “American” is inferior to the “Buk” in terms of the lower limit of target fire (60 meters versus 10 meters) and in the duration of the target detection cycle at distant approaches. The Buk-M3 can do this in 10 seconds, and the Patriot in 90 seconds, while requiring target designation from a reconnaissance satellite.

SAM Tor-M2U
Tor-M2U short-range air defense missiles effectively destroy targets flying at extremely low, low and medium altitudes at speeds of up to 700 m/s, including in conditions of a massive air attack and active counteraction to enemy electronic warfare.
The complex's SOC can detect and track up to 48 targets at a range of up to 32 kilometers. The complex's launcher can simultaneously fire at 4 targets at an azimuth of 3600, i.e., all around. A special feature of the Tor-M2U air defense system is the fact that combat work it can drive on the move at speeds up to 45 km/h. Modern Tora equipment automatically identifies the ten most dangerous targets, and the operator only has to give the command to defeat them. Moreover, our newest Tor-M2U detects aircraft created using stealth technology.
The Tor-M2U air defense system battery consists of six launchers that can exchange combat information with each other automatically. Thus, by receiving information from one launcher, the others can repel a massive air attack from any direction. Retargeting time takes no more than 5 seconds.

Reaction of Western “partners” to the development of Russian aerospace defense
The successes of Russian air defense, which operates the products of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern, have long worried the minds of military leaders of NATO countries. In the early 2000s, they did not believe that Russia would be able to create effective complexes Air defense and continued to purchase “reliable and time-tested” air attack weapons (AEA) from defense industry enterprises of their countries. The development of new aviation systems, such as the fifth-generation fighter F-35 and the promising B-21 bomber, proceeded at a leisurely pace.
The first alarming signals for NATO members sounded after 2010, when the revival began military power Russia. Since 2012, military exercises began to occur much more frequently, and new military air defense systems were actively involved in these exercises. They regularly hit complex, high-speed and maneuvering targets with 100% results, at maximum ranges and without the use of additional target designation equipment. Thanks to the S-400 and S-300V4 air defense systems, the long-range line of destruction at the operational-tactical level has increased to 400 kilometers, which means that modern and promising air defense systems of NATO countries are guaranteed to fall into the firing zone of Russian air defense systems. NATO generals sounded the alarm. At the same time, purely defensive air defense systems in Western media characterized as “means of aggression.” True, there were also more pragmatic assessments.
In 2015, American military expert Tyler Rogoway discussed the topic of countering Russian air defense systems on his Foxtrot Alpha blog. In particular, he paid a lot of attention to working at a safe distance beyond the reach of weapons: “The capabilities of air defense detection devices (Russia - author’s note) are only getting better, just as the range of destruction of surface-to-air missiles is growing.” Therefore, it may be necessary to use long-range stealth missiles combined into one information network. Or long-range stealth aircraft and other techniques, including suppression (at a distance), to weaken and ultimately destroy the air defense system. As a result, working outside the range of enemy weapons, you can weaken his air defense. Then, for example, you can fly closer and use a fighter with medium-range stealth missiles, instead of launching long-range missiles. At the same time, regular (non-stealth) aircraft can attack with long-range missiles, thus freeing up space for the stealth aircraft to attack. And drones, decoys with electronic warfare equipment on board, can be used together with attacking combat units to delve deeper into enemy territory, disabling air defense systems along the way.”
In addition to the widespread use of “stealth technologies,” the Americans are relying on electronic warfare and electronic warfare systems. For example, naval forces The US is working to create a countermeasure modern systems Air defense with radars equipped with a phased antenna array (PAA), such as the S-400 or the Chinese FD-2000 air defense system. They are going to equip EA-18G Growler aircraft (a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft based on the F/A-18 Super Hornet) with Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) electronic countermeasures systems. It is assumed that such electronic warfare systems will allow American strike aircraft to destroy enemy targets without the risk of being noticed anti-aircraft missile systems, the American magazine The National Interest reported in October 2016. The development of a new version of NGJ is being carried out by Raytheon, which has already received a contract from the US Department of Defense for one billion dollars.
American experts believe that the electronic warfare system will be able to jam signals at any frequency in which the phased array operates, and that this will be enough to be able to freely attack Russian air defense systems. According to plans, the NGJ should enter service in 2021.
In the next 5–10 years, the military-industrial complex of NATO countries intends to develop means of overcoming and suppressing our air defense systems. However, the scientific and technical groundwork implemented in air defense systems by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern makes it possible to neutralize the efforts of Western specialists.

Prospects for the development of Russian air defense systems
Fourth generation air defense automated control system
Currently, automated control systems for troops (ACCS), air defense forces and means (ACS) are at the fourth technological stage of development. In conditions of the rapidity of enemy air defense attacks, modern air defense cannot be effective without automated systems for controlling forces and means.
This stage of rearmament is taking place in the context of organizational and staffing changes in the structure of the command and control system of the Russian Armed Forces. Requirements for efficiency, continuity, stability and secrecy of command and control of troops are being tightened, new combat and information means for air defense, air defense, radio and electronic warfare with higher capabilities are being developed and put into service.
Enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern are already supplying the armed forces with systems and complexes that are integrated with automated control systems and ESU TK, information from which is sent to the National Defense Control Center (NDCUO RF).
Currently, the means and complexes that ensure information interaction are undergoing field testing from the level of the anti-aircraft missile division to the district air defense automated control system. Numerous military and command post exercises make it possible to identify “weak points” in information exchange, which are transformed into specific technical assignments to eliminate them and are sent to the Concern’s enterprises. This allows you to quickly and efficiently make changes to manufactured kits and carry out work to modernize existing air defense systems.
Fifth generation air defense system
In addition to improving information interaction systems in the near future, anti-aircraft missile forces Fifth generation air defense systems will begin to arrive. We are talking, first of all, about the continuation of the Buk line of medium-range air defense systems, developed by NIIP named after. Tikhomirov (part of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern).
This is how they are characterized by a military expert, member of the expert council of the Russian military-industrial complex, editor-in-chief of our magazine Viktor Ivanovich Murakhovsky: “If we talk about the principles on which the next generation systems will be developed, then, in my opinion, they will combine the properties of fire systems , primarily the ability to fire targets, and means of electronic destruction. Those functions that we currently have divided between air defense and electronic warfare systems will be integrated into one system.
And secondly, the fifth generation air defense system will feature almost complete automation and robotization of all reconnaissance, control and fire cycles. In fact, a person will only make a decision whether to open the fire cycle or not.”
The Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern has already reported that the fifth-generation medium-range air defense system will have the ability to be deeply integrated into a single layered air defense system.

Interaction with the Russian Aerospace Forces
Russia's layered air defense system, in addition to electronic warfare and electronic warfare systems, will actively interact with air strike and reconnaissance complexes Russian Aerospace Forces. We are talking about the interaction of the air defense automated control system and the Postscriptum automated control system.
ACS "Postscriptum" is a unique Information system, which transmits to the fighter aircraft all information about the air and ground enemy. Information about all objects and targets located in the area of ​​the aircraft’s combat zone is received in real time. At the same time, the aircraft will receive information not only from long-range radar detection (AWACS) aircraft, but also from ground-based air defense radar stations, as well as from ground-based complexes RTR ground forces.

Brief conclusions
The results of the work of the Almaz-Antey Concern in 2016 are generally assessed as successful. The plans for the supply of equipment and the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation are being met, which does not exclude “working on mistakes” that are inevitably revealed during intensive testing and military operation of air defense systems, including in combat conditions. Next year, taking into account the prospects for the development of air defense systems of NATO countries, the intense tasks of implementing the state defense order and creating a scientific and technical reserve, the management and team of the Concern will have to go through a difficult path. There is no doubt that the assigned tasks will be completed successfully, which is guaranteed by the glorious traditions of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern.

Today marks the centenary of the formation of the Ground Forces Air Defense Forces.

The beginning of the formation of military air defense units was the order of General Alekseev, Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, dated December 13 (26), 1915, No. 368, which announced the formation of separate four-gun light batteries for firing at air fleet. According to Order No. 50 of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation dated February 9, 2007, December 26 is considered the date of creation of military air defense.

1. Launcher 9A83 S-300V air defense system - long-range universal anti-aircraft air defense system with theater missile defense capability

August 16, 1958 by order (No. 0069) of the USSR Minister of Defense Marshal Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky created the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces - a branch of the military that became an integral part of the Ground Forces.


2. Combat vehicles of the Tor-M2U air defense system provide multi-channel fire at air targets, including high-tech weapons elements

In 1997, in order to improve the leadership of air defense troops, the air defense forces of the Ground Forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the Coastal Forces of the Navy, military units and air defense units of the Airborne Forces, as well as formations and military units of the air defense reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief were united into military air defense forces Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.


3. ZRPK "Tunguska-M1" ensures the destruction of air and ground targets in the near zone

Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (Air Defense Forces) - a branch of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, designed to cover troops and objects from the actions of enemy air attack weapons when combined-arms formations and formations conduct operations (combat operations), perform regroupings (march) and are positioned on the spot . It is necessary to distinguish the Military Air Defense from the Air Defense Forces (aerospace defense brigades) of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, which until 1998 were part of an independent branch of the Armed Forces - the country's Air Defense Forces (USSR Air Defense and Russian Air Defense).

The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces are entrusted with the following main tasks:

• carrying out combat duty in air defense;


• conducting reconnaissance of enemy air and alerting covered troops;


• destruction of enemy air attack weapons in flight;


• participation in the conduct of missile defense in theaters of military operations.

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), within which a new branch of the military was organizationally allocated - (Air Defense Troops-ABM).

It is necessary to distinguish the Air Defense Forces of the VKS from the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (Military Air Defense).

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 number of upgrades, receiving the designation S-300PT-1. In 1982, a new version of the S-300P air defense system was adopted into service with the air defense forces - the self-propelled complex S-300PS, new complex had a record short deployment time of 5 minutes, making it difficult to attack by 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, it was developed new concept military construction, where it was planned to reorganize the branches of the armed forces by 2000, 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. By March 1, 1998, on the basis of the control bodies of the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force, the Directorate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and the Main Headquarters of the Air Force were formed, and the Air Defense and Air Force Forces were united into a new service - Air Force.

By the time of unification into a single branch of the armed forces, 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 forces, 25 fighter air regiments, 35 units of radio engineering troops , 6 formations and reconnaissance units and 5 electronic warfare units. It was armed with: 20 aircraft of the A-50 radar surveillance and guidance 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 air armies of front-line aviation, air force and air defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate to the commanders of the military districts. The Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District was created in the Western strategic direction.

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

A new branch of troops has been organizationally allocated within the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation - Air and Missile Defense Troops (Air defense troops). The air defense-missile defense troops are represented by air defense divisions and a missile defense formation.

As part of the further improvement of the air defense (aerospace) defense system, the development of a new generation of S-500 air defense systems is currently underway, in which it is planned to apply the principle of separately solving the problems 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, intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final part of the trajectory and, within certain limits, in the middle part.

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

Troop leaders

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

Air defense educational institutions of the USSR and Russian Armed Forces

Academy

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

RTV schools

• redeployed 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 Radioelectronics - disbanded in 1999.

RKO schools

• Pushkin Higher Command School of Air Defense Radioelectronics (also provided training for air defense systems) - disbanded.
• Zhytomyr Higher Command School of Air Defense Radioelectronics - 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 School of Air Defense
• Dnepropetrovsk Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense - disbanded in 1995.
• Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense - disbanded in 1999.
• Ordzhonikidze Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense named after Army General Issa Aleksandrovich Pliev - disbanded in 1990.
• Engels Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School of Air Defense - disbanded in 1994.
• Military training center at RGRTU

Air Defense Aviation Schools

• Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots and Navigators named after Air Marshal V. A. Sudets - disbanded in 1993.
• Armavir Higher Military Aviation Red Banner School of Pilots named after Chief Marshal of Aviation Kutakhov P.S., since 2002, the training aviation center of the Krasnodar VVAUL - disbanded in 2012.
• In 1993, the Daugavpils Higher Military Aviation Engineering School named after Jan Fabricius 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, the VVKURE Air Defense was transferred to the LVVPU Air Defense base and the St. Petersburg Higher Military School of Radio Electronics was created - disbanded in 2011.
• Center for training specialists (calculations) of radio technical troops of the Air Force (Vladimir)

Operational-strategic formations 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 goes on combat duty.

• Air defense districts are associations of air defense troops designed to protect the most important administrative, industrial centers and regions of the country, and armed forces groups, from air strikes. important military and other facilities within 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 districts, and air defense districts were re-created in 2007.
• Baku Air Defense District - formed in 1945 on the basis of the Baku Air Defense Army, and transformed into a district. Since 1954 - again a district. Abolished on 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 Air Defense-Missile Defense Army (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, Petrovskoye village)
  • 9th Missile Defense Division, military unit 75555 (Moscow region, Sofrino town)
  • 590th separate radio engineering unit for over-the-horizon detection of air targets, military unit 84680 (Mordovia, Kovylkino village)
  • 54th communications center, military unit 74129 (Moscow)
  • Construction and Cantonment Department, military unit 58122 (Moscow)
  • 1786th central base of measuring equipment, military unit 74143 (Moscow region, Shchelkovo)

Military equipment in service with the Russian Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces

Missile defense systems

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

"Russian Ministry of Defense"

Air defense troops appeared during the First World War. On December 26, 1915, the first four separate four-gun light batteries were formed and sent to the Western Front for firing at air targets. In accordance with the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation dated February 9, 2007, this memorable date began to be celebrated in Russia as Military Air Defense Day.

Organizationally, these formations are part of the formations, formations and units of the Ground Forces, Airborne troops, coastal troops Navy(Navy) and perform tasks in the country’s unified air defense system. They are equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, anti-aircraft gun and missile systems (systems) of different ranges and methods of missile guidance, as well as portable weapons. Depending on the range of destruction of air targets, they are divided into short-range systems - up to 10 km, short-range - up to 30 km, medium-range - up to 100 km and long-range - more than 100 km.

At the final board meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense held on December 22, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces Oleg Salyukov said that Russian military air defense is capable of repelling any means of air attack existing in the world. He emphasized that the development of military threats in the aerospace sphere necessitates “coordinated development of missile, space and air defense systems, taking into account qualitatively new requirements.”

The modern weapons of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces are in many ways superior to their predecessors and have no analogues in the world, which is confirmed by their high competitiveness in the arms market

Oleg Salyukov

Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General

The military air defense systems are equipped with S-300V4 air defense systems (interception range - up to 400 km) and Tor-M1 (up to 15 km), Buk-M1 air defense systems (up to 45 km), Strela-10M4 (up to 8 km ), "OSA-AKM" (up to 10 km), anti-aircraft gun-missile systems "Tunguska-M1" (up to 10 km), anti-aircraft artillery systems"Shilka-M5" (up to 6 km), all-weather tactical missile systems "Tor-M2U" and others. Currently, the troops have already formed new anti-aircraft missile formations armed with the S-300V4 and the Buk-M2 complex. Re-equipment is being carried out with new Buk-MZ, Tor-M2 and Verba man-portable air defense systems.

New weapons have absorbed the best qualities of their predecessors and are capable of hitting both aerodynamic and ballistic targets, cruise missiles, aerial reconnaissance and electronic warfare, to combat airborne assaults. Military air defense should not be confused with the Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces (PVO-ABM), which are part of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Progress of rearmament

S-300V4, Buk-MZ and Tor-M2 are included in the list of priority weapons and military equipment that determine the appearance of promising weapons systems for the Russian army. As the head of the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, told the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, in 2017 the main efforts were focused on equipping formations and units of the Southern and Western military districts with this equipment.

As a result of this, the following were rearmed and retrained: the anti-aircraft missile brigade - with the Buk-MZ medium-range air defense system; anti-aircraft missile regiments of combined arms formations - on the short-range air defense system "Tor-M2"; air defense units of combined arms formations - on the Verba MANPADS

Alexander Leonov

The Buk-MZ air defense system was delivered to join the Western Military District, whose military personnel next year will have to undergo retraining for new systems and perform live firing in specialized training centers of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces.

In 2018, it is planned to equip two military air defense formations with Tor-M2 complexes; air defense units operating in the Arctic and Far North should receive the Tor-M2DT short-range air defense system; air defense units of combined arms formations - MANPADS "Verba".

Thus, the systematic and annual increase in the combat strength of troops, the implementation of complete rearmament with modern anti-aircraft missile systems will make it possible by 2020 to increase the combat capabilities of air defense forces by almost 1.3 times

Alexander Leonov

Chief of Military Air Defense of the RF Armed Forces, Lieutenant General

Compared to previous generation systems, it has a two to three times expanded area covered from air strikes and an increased range of the border of the zone of destruction of air targets. These parameters, in particular, ensure guaranteed interception of the warheads of medium-range ballistic missiles. S-300V4 is a modification of the S-300VM system, which has higher tactical and technical characteristics due to the introduction of modern computing tools and element base, and the use of new components. The new system is capable of hitting ballistic and aerodynamic targets at ranges of up to 400 km. The supply contract was concluded in 2012. The first set was delivered to the customer in December 2014.

Continuation

Evolution of "Thor"

According to open sources, the first modification of the Tor family of air defense systems entered service in 1986. Since 2011, the troops have been receiving a modification of the Tor-M2U complex. Fighting machine ensures all-angle engagement of air targets, including submunitions precision weapons. The air defense system allows reconnaissance on the move over any terrain and simultaneous firing of four air targets in a given sector.

The modern Tor-M2 began to enter service with the troops in 2016. Compared to previous modifications, it has improved the characteristics of the affected area, the transportable stock of anti-aircraft guided missiles, noise immunity, and others by one and a half to two times. It is capable of destroying targets flying at speeds of up to 700 m/s, at a range of up to 12 km and an altitude of up to 10 km. A battery consisting of four vehicles can simultaneously attack 16 targets.

In 2016, the Almaz-Antey concern began work on the Arctic version of the short-range air defense system - Tor-M2DT. A new version installed on the chassis of a two-link tracked tractor DT-30PM-T1 (DT - two-link tractor).

A naval version of the Thor may already appear in 2018–2019. This was reported by the press service of the Almaz-Antey concern during the KADEX 2016 exhibition. At the same time, in a number of parameters, the ship version of the complex will be superior to existing representatives of the Thor family.

This issue has been studied by the concern, and taking into account the experience of cooperation enterprises in the production and installation of complexes such as "Osa", "Dagger" and others on Navy ships, as well as the possibility of using components of mass-produced land-based models of the Tor air defense system, we can conclude that the creation of a "marine" "Tor version in the shortest possible time (the first samples of air defense systems may appear in 2018-2019), and at minimal cost

press service of the concern VKO "Almaz-Antey"

In 2016 chief designer anti-aircraft missile systems Izhevsk electromechanical plant "Kupol" (part of the Almaz-Antey concern) Joseph Drize (creator of a number of modern air defense systems, died in November 2016 - TASS note) stated that in the future "Tor" will become completely robotic and will be able to shoot down targets without human intervention. As Drize said, the air defense system can still operate without human intervention, but in some cases an operator is needed in conditions of strong interference. In addition, the company is working on increasing the Thor's capabilities to destroy cruise missiles created using stealth technologies.

New military "Gadfly"

"Buk-M2" (according to NATO codification - SA-11 Gadfly, "Gadfly") is considered one of the most effective representatives of its class. Its development was completed back in 1988, but serial production was launched only 15 years later.

In 2016, the military received the first brigade kit of the new Buk - Buk-M3. The characteristics of the complex are unknown, but its predecessor is capable of hitting air targets with solid fuel missiles at a range of 3 km to 45 km and at an altitude of up to 15 m to 25 km. In addition, it can destroy ballistic missiles with a launch range of up to 150–200 km. Thanks to the new Buk-M3 missile, it is almost twice as powerful as previous models and has no analogues in the world. In addition, due to the smaller mass of the rocket, it was possible to increase the ammunition load by one and a half times. Another feature of the complex is the placement of the missile in a launch container.

The transport and launch containers (complex) contain six missiles on each self-propelled firing unit. Rockets have become more compact, but nevertheless they fly faster, further and more accurately. That is, a new unique missile has been created that will make it more likely to destroy air targets

Alexander Leonov

Chief of Military Air Defense of the RF Armed Forces, Lieutenant General

In 2015, it was reported that the new product surpassed the system in a number of parameters long range S-300. "First of all we're talking about about the probability of hitting targets, which for the Buk-M3 is 0.9999, which the S-300 does not have,” a TASS source said. In addition, the maximum range of destruction of the complex has been increased by 25 km compared to its predecessor and increased to 70 km.

"Verba" for landing

The supply of Verba MANPADS to the troops continues. In August of this year, it became known that all airborne and airborne assault divisions of the Airborne Forces had already been re-equipped with Verba. According to the commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Andrei Serdyukov, "Verba" is capable of hitting tactical aircraft, attack helicopters, cruise missiles and remotely piloted aircraft on oncoming and catch-up courses, in day and night conditions with visual visibility of the target, including conditions of background and artificial interference.

Among the advantages of "Verba" is the ability to fire on a collision course at low-emitting infrared range targets on the far border of the affected area at extremely low altitudes. The new short-range systems, unlike their predecessors (Igla MANPADS), have expanded combat capabilities and provide high efficiency in hitting targets, despite powerful optical countermeasures.

Compared to previous MANPADS, the Verba has a several-fold increased firing zone for targets with low thermal radiation and tens of times increased immunity from powerful pyrotechnic interference. While the procedure for the combat use of new MANPADS is similar to the procedure for using the previous generation systems, Verba has reduced the consumption of missiles to hit one target and expanded the temperature range of use to minus 50 degrees. MANPADS are capable of hitting stealth targets of a mock enemy at altitudes from 10 m to 4.5 km and at ranges from 500 m to 6.5 km.

Roman Azanov

In the military development of many countries of the world, there is an increasingly stable trend of 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 (CM) against the most important military, administrative and economic facilities, infrastructure elements and troop groups became one of the most characteristic features of military operations at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 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 toward the increasingly widespread use of tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles in regional armed conflicts.

In these conditions, the problem of ensuring air safety becomes one of the most important components national security state, which necessitates a comprehensive improvement of air defense forces and means, and an increase in the volume of tasks assigned to the air defense forces. The intensity of development of air attack weapons and the constant improvement of their tactical and technical characteristics lead 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 for the country and troops, the weakness or absence of which, in 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 experience of recent wars and armed conflicts, one of the important areas of military development in 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 altitudes, control systems and processing information about the air situation.

Today, 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 of their technical equipment leaves much to be desired. Countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, and, more recently, Yemen are paying great attention to the development of air defense.

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 air defense personnel in most Arab states does not allow them to effectively solve the problems of combating modern air attack weapons and thereby reliably cover even the most important administrative, economic and military facilities. Not a single Arab country has so far managed to create 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 adoption into service in the Armed Forces Saudi Arabia and Egypt of American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), and in the event of Algeria, Syria and Yemen acquiring Russian S-300 or S-400 type anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), the armed forces of these countries will be able to solve individual missile defense tasks.

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

Algeria. The air defense forces of the Andr are a separate branch of the armed forces and organizationally consist of three anti-aircraft missile regiments (ZRP), armed with the S-125 Pechora, Kvadrat and Osa air defense systems (a total of 100 up to PU). In addition, there are three brigades anti-aircraft artillery(725 guns of 130, 100 and 85 mm caliber) and units of radio technical troops (RTV). In general, the country's air defense forces have limited capabilities, and the majority of their equipment is outdated.

Currently, in the Algerian ground forces, in addition to the air defense units that are part of the combined arms formations and units, there is one anti-aircraft missile (ZRDN) and six anti-aircraft artillery divisions. 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 to modernize 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 purchasing Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems.

Personnel for the Algerian air defense forces are trained at the Air Defense School (training period is four years). The ground forces have a field and anti-aircraft artillery school. Some specialists for the air defense troops are expected 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. Air defense units are also included in combined arms units. In total, the Bahrain Armed Forces have 15 missile launchers (Advanced 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 “Advanced Hawk” and “Crotal” air defense systems available to the troops, and to additionally purchase 100 MANPADS.

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

The highest organizational unit of a branch of the armed forces is an air defense division, which, depending on the nature of the tasks performed, may include several anti-aircraft missile brigades (4-8 missile brigades in each), anti-aircraft artillery regiments and divisions, as well as RTV units. 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 Egypt's air defense forces and means still consists of anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems supplied in the 1970s from the USSR. Currently, Egypt is taking measures to gradually modernize its air defense forces and increase their combat effectiveness.

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 Advanced Hawk missile defense batteries, 12 Chaparel missile defense batteries, 14 Crotal missile defense batteries. In total, the troops have 875 missile launchers (S-75 - 300, S-125 - 232, Kvadrat - 200, Improved Hawk - 78, Chaparral - 33, Crotal - 32). Air defense units also have 18 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems(ZRPK) “Amon” (short-range air defense missile system “Skygard” RIM-7F “Sparou” and 35-mm anti-aircraft guns) and 36 air defense missile systems of national production “Sinai-23” (twin 23-mm charger and MANPADS “Ain Sakr”). The anti-aircraft artillery units are armed with up to 2,000 guns of 100, 85, 57, 37, 35, 30 and 23 mm caliber, as well as Strela-2 and Ain Sakr MANPADS. The radio technical troops are equipped with radars of Russian, English, American and Chinese production: P-11, P-12, P-14, P-18, P-15, P-35, “Obora-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 troop groups. They are designed to engage air targets at all altitudes. Anti-aircraft artillery units are designed primarily to combat low-flying air targets. The radio technical troops monitor airspace, collect and process data on the air situation, and control air defense forces and means.

With the help of the United States, Egypt has created a unified air defense control system that unites air defense firepower, fighter aircraft, automated radar surveillance and warning centers, as well as E-2C Hawkeye long-range radar surveillance aircraft (AWACS). Particular attention is paid to increasing the capabilities of air defense systems to detect and engage air targets at low altitudes.

The main grouping of forces and assets of the country's air defense forces is located in the areas of Cairo, Bilbeis, Beni Sueif, Luxor, El Minya, Ras Banas, Hurghada, Inshas, ​​Fayyad, Giankalis, Tanta and El Mansura.

In the second half of the 1990s, with Russian help, some air defense weapons were repaired and modernized. 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. Spare parts, new operational documentation and individual components were also supplied. 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 modernized to the Pechora-2 level (replacement of electronics, supply of new launchers, etc.). According to experts, after modernization the effectiveness of the air defense system will increase by 250-300%. At the same time, under US pressure, the Egyptians refused to purchase S-300 air defense systems from Russia.

The air defense forces should receive from the United States six batteries (48 launchers) of the Patriot missile defense system and 384 RAK-2 missiles. However, the Egyptians postponed the final resolution of this issue until 2006 for financial reasons. The Egyptian side is also showing interest in acquiring a ground-based version of the American AMRAAM missile for use in the interests of air defense. In particular, it is planned to replace Russian Kvadrat air defense systems with AMRAAM missiles. In 1996, a contract was signed with the United States to modernize 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 ground forces of Egypt are armed with 96 short-range air defense systems (M54 Chaparral - 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 in tank division- anti-aircraft artillery regiment or mixed anti-aircraft missile and artillery division. A separate mechanized (infantry) brigade has an anti-aircraft division.

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

Officers for the Egyptian Air Defense Forces 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. Advanced training for 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 Advanced Hawk missile defense system (14 batteries, 80 launchers) and several anti-aircraft artillery batteries. They cover the most important administrative, economic and military installations, mainly around the capital Amman. The Jordanian air defense system requires modernization. Currently her radar equipment have insufficient capabilities to detect low-flying targets. This is largely due to the mountainous terrain, which allows enemy aircraft to covertly approach the most important centers of the country at low altitudes. Moreover, the latter are located close to the border.

The armament and equipment of the air defense forces are maintained in combat-ready condition. Their technical 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.

IN combat strength The Jordanian ground forces have three air defense brigades, subordinate to the Northern Central and Eastern Commands, respectively. The armored division also includes 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 "Vulcan" - 100). Air defense units of the ground forces generally have good weapons and high level training of personnel.

Yemen. Currently, the military-political leadership of the country is placing the main emphasis in increasing 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 thousand people. They are armed with S-75, S-125 and Kvadrat air defense systems. The government intends to purchase 5 divisions of the S-300 PMU-1 air defense system from Russia.

The ground forces have 2 air defense brigades, 4 separate anti-aircraft artillery divisions, and an anti-aircraft missile division. 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 - "Vulcan" - 20, 20-mm ZU M167 - 50).

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

Kuwait. The national air force includes air defense units armed with 4 Advanced Hawk air defense systems (24 launchers), 6 Amon air defense missile systems batteries (each with two Aspid short-range missile launchers, a Skygard fire control system, a radar 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 systems "Pantsir".

Based on the 1991 agreement, Kuwait is participating 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 troops are part of the combined 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 American air raids on Libyan targets. It has under its command 4 air defense brigades equipped with the S-200VE "Vega" air defense system (each brigade has 2 missile batteries of 6 launchers, 4 anti-aircraft artillery batteries, a radar company), 6 air defense brigades equipped with the S-75M "Desna" air defense system, 3 air defense brigades , equipped with the S-125M Neva-M air defense system, and 3 air defense missile systems equipped with the Kvadrat and Osa air defense systems (20-24 self-propelled launchers in each). To control air defense forces and means it is used Russian system"Senezh". A significant part of the air defense weapons and equipment is physically and morally outdated, which, along with poor training of personnel, does not allow them to be effectively used to counter modern means air attack.

Currently, the Libyan command expresses a desire to purchase 80 S-300PMU-1 (PMU-2) air defense missile launchers from Russia.

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

Officers are trained at air defense military colleges in Tripoli and Misurata. There is also an air defense officer school. The duration 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 came 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 at the stationary radar stations. Mobile radars are placed on three trailers each and must, during a period of threat, by special decision, occupy pre-prepared positions. All control system equipment was manufactured in the USA, and Moroccan specialists were also trained there. Air defense radio units are organizationally part of the Royal Air Force.

The Moroccan ground forces have an air defense group. In total, the air defense units of the ground forces are armed with 37 M54 Chaparral 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 "Vulcan" - 60).

UAE. Currently, the country does not have a unified air defense system. The bulk of the available air defense forces and means are organizationally part of the Air Force and perform tasks to cover administrative centers, oil complex facilities, airfields, and various military installations.

The air defense forces are represented by a brigade, which consists of three divisions armed with 21 short-range missile launchers "Rapier" (12 launchers) and "Crotal" (9 launchers), and 5 batteries of the "Advanced Hawk" missile defense system. In addition, air defense units have 13 RBS-70 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 support the activities of air defense fire 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, Blowpipe - 20), 62 anti-aircraft guns (30-mm - 20, 20-mm ZSU M3VDA - 42).

Considering the fact that at the present stage air defense forces and means are only able to carry out the tasks assigned to them to a limited extent, the Emirati leadership provides for the implementation of a set of measures to further development capabilities of air defense forces. In particular, it is planned to purchase additional quantities of the Advanced Hawk air defense system. In August 2000, a contract was signed with Russia for the supply of Pantsir-1 air defense systems (50 launchers) in the amount of $734 million. The UAE is participating in the creation of a unified GCC air defense system.

Oman. Air defense units (two squadrons of short-range missiles "Rapier", 28 launchers) are organizationally part of the Air Force. Four additional batteries of 35-mm anti-aircraft guns were purchased from South Africa. The Rapira air defense system is being modernized to the level of the Rapier B1 (X) model with the new Matra-2 missile with infrared guidance and a proximity fuse. Negotiations are underway on the supply of an additional batch of Rapier 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 pledged to provide assistance in training personnel of radio engineering units.

The air defense units of the Omani ground forces 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). If the financial situation further improves, it is planned to purchase MANPADS, other weapons and equipment for military air defense.

Saudi Arabia. The air defense troops (16 thousand people) are an independent branch of the armed forces. They are headed by a commander who has his own headquarters. Air defense forces consist of anti-aircraft missile forces, anti-aircraft artillery and RTV units. Interceptor fighters are operationally subordinate to air defense.

Organizationally, the air defense forces are divided into six groups. The 1st group (headquarters in Riyadh) includes three batteries of the Advanced Hawk missile defense system and two batteries of the Oerlikon missile system; 2nd group (Jeddah) - three batteries of Us. Hawk", a battery of Krotal missile defense systems, two batteries of Shahin missile defense systems, a battery of 30-mm charger and two batteries of Oerlikon charger, as well as The educational center air defense troops; 3rd group - (Tabuk) - two batteries of Us. Hawk”, battery of “Shakhin” missile defense systems; 4th group (Khamis-Mushayt) - battery of Us. Hawk", a battery of "Shakhin" missile defense systems, two batteries of a 30-mm charger, a battery of "Oerlikon" charger; 5th group (Dhahran) - six batteries of Us. Hawk", two batteries of the "Shakhin" missile defense system, five batteries of the "Oerlikon" missile launcher; 6th group (Hafr el-Batin) - two batteries of Us. Hawk", four Oerlikon batteries. In total, the air defense forces have 33 missile defense batteries (16 - "Us. Hawk" and 17 - "Shakhin").

In total, the air defense forces are armed with 128 MIM-23B "Advanced Hawk" missile launchers, 141 "Shakhin" 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 "Vulcan" - 92. In addition, there are 70 40-mm L/70 anti-aircraft guns in warehouses.

The Gulf War gave a strong impetus to the development of Saudi air defenses, generally maintaining the general concept of their improvement, which included the creation of a multi-level integrated air defense system for the kingdom. In the 1990s, 21 batteries of Patriot missile defense systems (including 2 training ones) with 1055 missiles were purchased for the air defense forces. Further improvement of the country's air defense system is a priority area of ​​national military development. In the future, the command intends to bring the country's air defense system closer in efficiency to Western models.

Currently, air defense troops are entrusted with covering important administrative, economic and military facilities: the country's capital, oil production areas, troop groups, air force and missile bases.

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

Saudi troops are taking part in the regularly held joint air force and air defense exercises of the GCC countries "Peninsula Falcon".

Air defense systems of the ground forces are represented by the short-range air defense system "Shakhin" ("Krotal") 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.

Officer cadres for the air defense forces are trained at the largest and oldest military educational institution in the kingdom, the Military College named after. King Abdulaziz in the Riyadh suburb of Al Ain.

Syria. The Air Force and Air Defense Forces (100 thousand people, including 40 thousand in the Air Force and 60 thousand in the Air Defense) represent 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 combined branch of the armed forces.

The territory of Syria is divided into Northern and Southern air defense zones. To control air defense forces and assets, 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 technical 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 missile defense regiment consists of two missile divisions 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 system is armed mainly with outdated S-75, S-125 and Kvadrat air defense systems (the latter have undergone partial modernization work) and radio equipment that are not able to effectively counteract modern air attack weapons. There are problems with personnel training. The command, given the significant role that aviation played in the fighting in the zone Persian Gulf, in the war in Yugoslavia and a number of other local conflicts, pays special attention to strengthening and improving air defense forces and means.

Syria expresses a desire to purchase S-300PMU air defense systems, Buk-M1 and Tor-M1 air defense systems from Russia.

Officers for the air defense forces are trained at the Air Defense College.

Sudan. The air defense troops are separated into a separate type of armed forces, which include five S-75 missile defense batteries (18 launchers) and anti-aircraft artillery units. All equipment is morally and physically outdated 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 country's air defense tasks are assigned to the ground forces. However, the air defense systems they have in their arsenal have limited capabilities to hit air targets only at low altitudes and are able to cover only individual objects.

The Tunisian ground forces are armed with 25 M48 Chaparral air defense systems, 48 ​​RBS-70 MANPADS, 115 anti-aircraft artillery guns (37-mm Type 55/65 AZP - 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 ground forces have 4 anti-aircraft batteries. Air defense systems are represented by 30 Strela-2 MANPADS, 100-mm KS-19 anti-aircraft guns (12), 57-mm S-60 AZP (2), 37-mm AZP (10), 23-mm ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns -2 (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 M42 ZSU 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).