Does air defense belong to the air force. Russian Air Defense: Prospects and Challenges. The reaction of Western "partners" to the development of the East Kazakhstan region of Russia

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 long-range S-300P air defense systems 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 family of "three hundredth" S-300PM was delivered to 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. Avacha 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

IN Lately there was an increase in 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. Rostov region cover one S-300PM and Buk regiment each.

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, they themselves anti-aircraft systems long range 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), which is 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, total manufactured machines according to 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 the information provided in the article regarding the Russian Air Force and Air Defense is taken from open public sources, the 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

Air and Missile Defense Troops

air defense

Air defense troops Russian Federation- until 1998 independent view 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 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 branch 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 and Anti-Missile Defense Forces (PVO-PRO Forces).

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, 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.

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. The serious imperfection of the 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 has become obvious. After the passage of Rust, three Marshals of the Soviet Union were removed from their posts (including the Minister of Defense of the USSR S. L. Sokolov, the commander-in-chief of the Air Defense Forces A. I. Koldunov), 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 of the State Duma of the 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 formations and units of intelligence and 5 units electronic warfare. 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 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 was transferred to the Air Force military air defense equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS) S-300V and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the new-generation S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the Air Force, designed to destroy all modern and promising means of 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, the total number of Air Force formations was 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 air defense brigades (4th, 5th, 6th) of the air defense 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 VS - 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 of the Russian Air Force anti-aircraft missile forces.)
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 (aerostatic 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: active tank protection systems 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 (groupings of troops, 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 combat strategic missiles- in their design and tactics of use, means are specially provided 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, as more and more countries have, develop, or have the potential to acquire some long-range missiles, the development of missile defense systems that can effectively protect a country's territory from a small number of missiles seems necessary.

Types of strategic missile defense

Intercept 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 creates 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) are considered as the main means of interception on takeoff. 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 exoatmospheric warheads is difficult because they are small and do not emit 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 air defense system "Berkut" (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 serifs 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. Before this moment 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 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 addition to the ABM treaty between the US and the USSR of 1974 and the change of leadership, the Vympel Central Research and Production Association recognized this object as unpromising, work on it was stopped, and the launchers were 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 outpacing growth of the American nuclear arsenal: from 1962 to 1965, the United States deployed eight hundred Minuteman-type ICBMs, which would require 1600 UR-100 anti-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 RTN with a phased antenna array RSN-225, new ultra-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 range of the A-135 complex.

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

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

1. Launcher 9A83 ZRK S-300V - long-range universal anti-aircraft defense system SV with the possibility of theater missile defense

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


2. Combat vehicles SAM "Tor-M2U" provide multi-channel shelling of air targets, including elements of the WTO

In 1997, in order to improve the leadership of the air defense forces, the air defense troops 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 were merged into military air defense troops Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.


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

Air Defense Troops of the Ground Forces (Air Defense SV) - 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 conducting operations (combat operations) by combined arms formations and formations, regrouping (march) and deployed on the spot . It is necessary to distinguish the Air Defense Troops from the Air Defense Forces (VKO brigades) of the Air Force and VVKO, which until 1998 were part of an independent branch of the Armed Forces - the Air Defense Forces of the country (Air Defense of the USSR and Air Defense of the Russian Federation).

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

• combat duty for air defense;


• conducting reconnaissance of an air enemy and alerting the covered troops;


• destruction of enemy air attack means in flight;


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

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

In the mid-seventies, the organization of the first generation of anti-aircraft missile weapons of the air defense forces was completed. The troops received the latest air defense missiles and the famous Krugi, Kuba, Wasp-AK, Strela-1 and 2, Shilka, new radars and many other state-of-the-art equipment at that time. formed anti-aircraft missile systems almost all aerodynamic targets were easily hit, 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 was a need to develop and apply systematic 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, air defense units and subunits 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 the general air defense systems 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;
• Direct cover measures, 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.

To the most important directions in the improvement and development of military air defense in total include:

• Optimization of organizational and staff 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;
• Provision of advanced air defense weapon systems with the latest automated control, communication, active, passive and other non-traditional types of intelligence activities, multifunctional anti-aircraft missile systems and and air defense systems of new generation using the criteria of "efficiency - cost - feasibility";
• Conducting a complex of collective b / training of military air defense with other troops, taking into account the upcoming combat missions and features of the areas of deployment, with the concentration of the main efforts in the preparation of formations, units and subunits of air defense of high readiness;
• 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 the strategic defense of the state and in the Armed Forces, it will become one of the components, 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 Russian funds Air defense 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 installed for the outstanding services that the air defense forces showed Soviet state 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 resolutions of the Government on the organization of air defense of the state were adopted, which became the basis for the construction of air defense systems, determined organizational structure 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.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

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 the aerospace defense are complexes and systems of air and missile defense, designed to solve all types of tasks: from tactical to operational-strategic. The technical parameters of the complexes and systems of the aerospace defense make it possible to organize a reliable cover for the troops, the most important objects of state administration, industry, energy and transport.

2016 turned out to be a “fruitful” year for news about air defense systems that are being put into service under the State Armaments Program (SAP-2020). Many experts and military specialists call them the best among the existing air defense systems. The Russian concern VKO Almaz-Antey, the leading developer and manufacturer of VKO complexes and systems, does not stop there, has begun to develop fifth-generation anti-aircraft missile systems, and creates a scientific and technical reserve for the future.
The Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine in 2016 devoted a number of articles to the topic of 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 to this type of defense is paid 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 the defense construction and modernization of the Russian army.
The intermediate results of building a modern layered air defense were discussed at the XXIV Military Scientific Conference of the Military Air Defense, held in May 2016 in Smolensk. In the report of the head of the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Leonov A. P. "Development of the theory and practice of using the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in modern conditions," it was noted that the combat potential of the military air defense has increased significantly with the supply of the latest high-performance 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 destroying various air attack weapons (AOS), multi-channel, increased rate of fire and increased anti-aircraft missile ammunition.
Doctor of Military Sciences, Lieutenant-General Gavrilov A. D. in the article "Military air defense: the basics of combat use" noted the following: "No matter how highly effective technical means the air defense system possesses, the achievement of the tasks set 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 indicates high level professionalism of commanders and staffs, awareness of the personal responsibility of each anti-aircraft gunner for the task of protecting the peaceful sky.
The development and production of highly efficient equipment in parallel with participation in the training of personnel of air defense military units is a distinctive feature practical work Russian defense association - Concern VKO "Almaz-Antey".

The results of the work of Almaz-Antey

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

ZRS S-300V4
This air defense system is a deep modernization of the S-300 complex, which has been produced by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Concern since 1978. The heavy 9M83VM missile of the modernized S-300V4 is capable of reaching speeds 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. It is ensured that all existing and future means of aerospace attack are destroyed, 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 order of battle formations of the Ground Forces off the roads, on rough terrain.
The anti-aircraft missile division is capable of simultaneously firing up to 24 targets, directing 48 missiles at them. The rate of fire of each launcher is 1.5 seconds. The entire complex is transferred from standby to combat mode in 40 seconds, and the deployment time from the march takes 5 minutes. Ammunition division 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 the Krasnodar Territory. 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.

SAM Buk-M3
The Buk-M3 target detection station (SOC) now accompanies up to 36 targets at a distance of up to 70 kilometers in the entire altitude range. New rocket 9R31M (9M317M), compared to the Buk-M2 air defense missiles, has a higher speed and maneuverability characteristics. It is placed in a transport and launch container (TLC), which provides additional protection rocket 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 and launchers can also hit targets, they accommodate 12 missiles in the TPK.
The Buk-M3 equipment is built on a new element base, digital communications ensure a stable exchange of speech and combat information, as well as integration into the ESU TK air defense.
The Buk-M3 air defense system intercepts almost all modern air defense systems that fly at speeds 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 the parameter of the lower limit of shelling targets (60 meters versus 10 meters) and in the duration of the target detection cycle on distant approaches. The Buk-M3 manages this in 10 seconds, and the Patriot in 90 seconds, while it requires target designation from a reconnaissance satellite.

SAM Tor-M2U
Short-range air defense missiles "Tor-M2U" effectively destroy targets flying at extremely low, low and medium altitudes at speeds up to 700 m / s, including in conditions of a massive airborne attack and active opposition to enemy electronic warfare.
The SOC of the complex can detect and track up to 48 targets at a distance of up to 32 kilometers. The launcher of the complex can simultaneously fire at 4 targets at an azimuth equal to 3600, i.e. round. A feature of the Tor-M2U air defense system is the fact that it can carry out combat work on the go, at speeds up to 45 km / h. Modern equipment "Torah" automatically determines the ten most dangerous targets, the operator only needs to give a command to defeat them. Moreover, our latest "Tor-M2U" detects aircraft created using stealth technology.
The battery of the Tor-M2U air defense missile system consists of six launchers that can automatically exchange combat information with each other. Thus, receiving information from one launcher, the rest can repel a massive AOS attack from any direction. Retargeting time takes no more than 5 seconds.

The reaction of Western "partners" to development East Kazakhstan region of Russia
The successes of the Russian air defense, which operates the products of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern, have long disturbed the minds of the military leaders of the NATO countries. In the early 2000s, they did not believe that Russia could create effective complexes Air Defense and continued to purchase from the enterprises of the defense industry of their countries "reliable and time-tested" means of air attack (AOS). The development of new aviation systems, such as the fifth-generation F-35 fighter and the promising B-21 bomber, proceeded at a leisurely pace.
The first alarming signals for NATO members sounded after 2010, when the revival of Russia's military power began. Since 2012, military exercises have become much more frequent, 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 extreme ranges and without the involvement of additional target designation tools. Thanks to the S-400 and S-300V4 air defense systems, the long-range engagement line at the operational-tactical level has increased to 400 kilometers, which means that modern and promising AOS of NATO countries are guaranteed to fall into the zone of fire of Russian air defense systems. NATO generals sounded the alarm. At the same time, purely defensive air defense systems in Western media characterized as "aggressive". True, there were also more pragmatic assessments.
In 2015, American military expert Tyler Rogoway discussed countering Russian air defense systems on his Foxtrot Alpha blog. In particular, he paid much attention to work at a safe distance outside the reach of weapons: “The capabilities of air defense detection devices (of Russia - author's note) are only getting better, as well as the radius of destruction of ground-to-air missiles. 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 eventually destroy the air defense system. As a result, working outside the reach of the enemy's weapons, you can weaken his air defense. Then, for example, you can fly up close and use a fighter with medium-range stealth missiles, instead of launching long-range missiles. At the same time, conventional (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 go deeper into enemy territory, disabling air defenses along the way.
In addition to the widespread use of "stealth technologies", the Americans rely on electronic warfare and electronic warfare. For example, naval forces The US is working on creating a countermeasures method modern systems Air defense with radars equipped with a phased antenna array (PAR), such as the S-400 or the Chinese FD-2000 air defense system. They are going to equip the EA-18G Growler aircraft (electronic warfare aircraft based on the F / A-18 Super Hornet) with Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) electronic countermeasure systems. It is assumed that such electronic warfare systems will allow American attack aircraft to destroy enemy targets without the risk of being noticed by anti-aircraft missile systems, the American magazine The National Interest reported in October 2016. The new version of NGJ is being developed 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 frequencies in which the phased array operates, and that this will be enough to be able to attack without hindrance Russian systems air defense. According to plans, the NGJ should enter service in 2021.
The military-industrial complex of the NATO countries in the next 5-10 years 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 Concern VKO Almaz-Antey makes it possible to neutralize the efforts of Western specialists.

Prospects for the development of air defense systems in Russia
The fourth generation of ACS air defense
Currently, automated command and control systems for troops (ACCS), air defense forces and means (ACS) are at the fourth technological stage of development. In the context of the transience of an enemy AOS attack, modern air defense cannot be effective without automated control systems for forces and assets.
This stage of rearmament is taking place in the context of organizational and staffing changes in the structure of the control system of the Russian Armed Forces. The requirements for efficiency, continuity, stability and secrecy of command and control are being tightened, new combat and information means for air defense systems, IA, RTV and electronic warfare with higher capabilities are being developed and put into service.
The enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern are already supplying the armed forces with systems and complexes that are integrated with the ACS and ESU TZ, information from which is sent to the National Defense Control Center (NTsUO RF).
At present, the means and complexes that provide information interaction are undergoing a stage of field testing from the level of an anti-aircraft missile division to the air defense automated control system of the district. Numerous military and command and staff exercises make it possible to identify "weak points" in information exchange, which are transformed into specific technical tasks for their elimination and are sent to the Concern's enterprises. This allows you to quickly and efficiently make changes to the manufactured kits and carry out work on the modernization of existing air defense systems.
Fifth generation SAM
In addition to improving information interaction systems, in the near future, fifth-generation air defense systems will begin to enter service with the anti-aircraft missile forces. It's about, first of all, about the continuation of the line of medium-range air defense systems "Buk", developed by NIIP them. Tikhomirov (part of the Almaz-Antey Concern).
Here is how they are characterized by a military expert, member expert council collegium of the military-industrial complex of Russia, Chief Editor 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 now have divided between air defense and electronic warfare systems will be integrated into one system.
And secondly, the fifth generation air defense systems are waiting for almost complete automation and robotization of all cycles of reconnaissance, control and fire destruction. In fact, a person will only make a decision - to open a cycle of fire damage or not.
The Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern has already reported that the fifth-generation medium-range air defense system will be able to be deeply integrated into a single layered air defense system.

Interaction with the Russian Aerospace Forces
The layered air defense system of Russia, in addition to the electronic warfare and electronic warfare systems, will actively interact with aviation strike and reconnaissance complexes of the Russian Aerospace Forces. We are talking about the interaction of the air defense ACS and the Postscript ACS.
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 combat zone of the aircraft is received in real time. At the same time, the aircraft will receive information not only from early warning aircraft (AWACS), but also from ground-based air defense radar stations, as well as from ground-based RTR systems of the 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 fulfilled, which does not exclude "work on the bugs" 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 the NATO countries' air defense forces, the intense tasks of fulfilling the state defense order and creating a scientific and technical reserve, the management and staff of the Concern will have to go through a difficult path. There is no doubt that the tasks set will be completed successfully, which is guaranteed by the glorious traditions of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern.