Air defense of Czechoslovakia.
By the mid-1950s, due to the increase in the speed and altitude of jet combat aircraft, medium and large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery ceased to be an effective means of air defense. The problem was aggravated by the fact that a single bomber carrying an atomic bomb that broke through the air defense lines could cause critical damage to the defending side. Simultaneously with the creation of jet all-weather interceptor fighters with supersonic flight speed and equipped with airborne radar stations, automated guidance lines and guided missiles, work began in our country on the development of mobile anti-aircraft missile systems.
The first mobile air defense system, which entered service with the USSR Air Defense Forces in 1958, was the SA-75 "Dvina". To destroy air targets, V-750 (1D) radio command anti-aircraft missiles were used. The SAM engine ran on kerosene, nitrogen tetroxide was the oxidizer. The rocket was launched from an inclined launcher with a variable launch angle and an electric drive for turning in angle and azimuth with the help of a detachable solid-propellant first stage. The guidance station, which operated in the 10-cm range, was capable of tracking one target and pointing up to three missiles at it. In total, the anti-aircraft missile division had 6 launchers, which were located at a distance of up to 75 meters from the guidance station. Due to the fact that the air defense system used its own radar means of detecting air targets: the P-12 radar and the PRV-10 radio altimeter, the anti-aircraft missile battalion was able to conduct combat operations autonomously.
Soon after the adoption of the 10-cm modification, the 6-cm range complex, which received the designation C-75 "Desna", entered service for testing. The transition to a higher frequency made it possible to reduce the dimensions of the guidance station antennas and in the future made it possible to improve the accuracy of the missile defense and noise immunity. In the missile guidance station of the S-75 "Desna" air defense missile system, a system for selecting moving targets was used, which made it possible to facilitate targeting to targets flying at low altitudes and in conditions of passive jamming by the enemy. In the 1960s, the modernized SA-75M and S-75 air defense systems were produced in parallel. But after the adoption of a complex with a guidance station operating in the 6-cm frequency range, the SA-75M air defense system was built only for export. These complexes differed in the SNR-75 equipment, state identification equipment and the type of missiles used. As part of the S-75 and S-75M air defense systems, the V-750VN / V-755 missiles were used, and the V-750V was supplied for export until the end of the 1960s.
SAM S-75 in the air defense system of Czechoslovakia
In June 1962, the formation of the first Czechoslovak air defense unit equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems began - the 185th anti-aircraft missile brigade "Prykarpattya" with its headquarters in the village of Dobrzhany. It was assumed that the SA-75M missile positions would cover Prague from the southwest direction from air attack weapons based in the FRG. In the summer of 1963, the 71st anti-aircraft missile brigade was deployed in the vicinity of the town of Kralovice, halfway between the Czech-German border and Prague. Thus, complexes with guided anti-aircraft missiles appeared in service with the Czechoslovak army just five years after they began to enter the USSR air defense forces. American intelligence quickly revealed the fact of the deployment of an air defense system in Czechoslovakia. By that time, American reconnaissance aircraft already had a sad experience of dealing with anti-aircraft missiles of the Dvina anti-aircraft complex, and NATO pilots were ordered not to fly deep into the territory of Czechoslovakia.
According to archival data, 16 SA-75M "Dvina" air defense systems, 5 technical positions and 689 B-750V missiles were delivered to Czechoslovakia. In the period from 1969 to 1975, the SA-75M air defense systems available in Czechoslovakia underwent modernization of stages 1, 2 and 3. Maintenance of the B-750V missiles was carried out in 1972 and 1975. For this, with the support of the USSR, a repair enterprise was built in the town of Prostev in the east of the Czech Republic, where the maintenance of the SAM for the S-75M / M3 and S-125M / M1A air defense systems was also carried out. SAM SA-75M in Czechoslovakia were in service until 1990. After the development of the C-75M3 air defense system by the Czechoslovak calculations, the SA-75M complexes did not carry constant combat duty, they were used as backup ones, and were partially sent to storage bases.
In 1964, the air defense forces of Czechoslovakia received the first three divisional sets of the S-75M Volkhov air defense system. In total, until 1976, 13 air defense systems and 617 B-755 missiles were delivered to Czechoslovakia. Compared to the SA-75M, in the S-75M complexes, the maximum range of destruction of air targets was increased from 34 to 43 km, the accuracy of missile guidance, the likelihood of damage and noise immunity were improved. Shortly before the termination of serial construction in the USSR of complexes of the S-75 family, in the period from 1983 to 1985, 5 S-75M3 Volkhov air defense systems and 406 B-759 missiles with a firing range of 54 km were transferred.
The commissioning of the S-75M3 air defense system made it possible to abandon the outdated SA-75M, the maintenance of which required considerable effort. Along with the delivery of the S-75M3 air defense system, with the help of Soviet specialists, the repair and modernization of the previously received C-75M air defense systems was carried out. In the period from 1970 to 1984, the S-75M were modernized in stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. After the modernization, it was possible to increase the noise immunity, and long-range missiles were included in the ammunition load. The western direction from the border with the FRG in the mid-1980s was defended by five anti-aircraft missile divisions equipped with modernized S-75M from the 186th anti-aircraft missile brigade with headquarters in Pilsen, which was part of the 3rd Air Defense Division. In total, in Czechoslovakia, by the end of the 1980s, 18 anti-aircraft missile divisions C-75M / M3 were on combat duty. Another 8 SA-75M air defense systems were in the "hot" reserve.
Model complex for equipping false positions
Talking about the service of the S-75 air defense system in Czechoslovakia, it is worth mentioning the original development of Czechoslovak engineers - prefabricated models and special simulators, which were supposed to serve as false targets for enemy aircraft. The creation of false positions of the S-75 air defense system was initiated by the leadership of the Czechoslovak army after comprehending the results of the Arab-Israeli "Six Day War" in 1967. Cheap, easily collapsible copies of the components of the SA-75M and S-75M air defense systems were made on a 1: 1 scale from non-scarce materials. Scale models placed on false positions, when observed from the air, were supposed not only to create a visual illusion of a real complex, but also to simulate a rocket launch with the help of pyrotechnic devices. In addition, Tesla specialists have created generators that reproduce the operation of detection radars and guidance stations.
The set consisted of six mock-ups of anti-aircraft missiles on launchers, three mock-ups of cabins, three mock-ups of transport-charging machines of the PR-11A machine, simulators of P-12 and SNR-75 radars, two diesel power generators, three devices for playing back missile launches and camouflage nets, which The layouts were "made up". To transport the mock-up complex, 4 Tatra 141 trucks, 6 Praga V3S and a crane on a truck chassis were required. The false position was maintained by a team of 25 people. Installation time of layouts, depending on local conditions, is 120-180 minutes.
Military tests of the false position of the S-75 air defense system were carried out in 1969, in the vicinity of the Zhatets airfield. In 1970, the mock-up complex was shown to the command of the ATS countries, after which it earned high marks. The need of the air defense forces of Czechoslovakia for the models of the S-75 air defense system was estimated at 20 units. The production of models began in 1972. Apparently, the mock-up complex created in Czechoslovakia became the first serial model in the ATS countries, specially designed for equipping the false position of the S-75 air defense system and simulating the combat operation modes of radio technical components.
SAM S-125M / M1A in the air defense system of Czechoslovakia
With a good range and the possibility of hitting high-altitude targets, the S-75 air defense system had a number of significant disadvantages. In the course of preparing missiles for combat use, it was required to refuel with liquid fuel and a caustic, easily evaporated oxidizer. After finding a certain time in a filled state, the fuel and oxidizer had to be drained, and the rocket had to be sent for preventive maintenance to the technical division. When transporting fueled missiles, they demanded a very careful attitude, since even a small leak of an oxidizer that ignited flammable substances could lead to a fire and an explosion. In addition, even modified missiles of the latest modifications were not capable of hitting air targets flying below 300-100 meters.
In the early 1960s, in connection with the emergence of interceptors equipped with radars and guided missiles, and anti-aircraft missile systems capable of successfully fighting supersonic high-altitude targets, there was a tendency for combat aviation to move to operations at low altitudes. In this regard, an emergency development of a low-altitude air defense system began in the USSR. Compared with the purely stationary S-25 and the very limited mobility of the S-75, the combat assets of which were often deployed on capital concreted positions, when creating the S-125 air defense system with radio command solid-propellant missiles, much attention was paid to increasing fire performance and mobility. When forming the technical appearance of the new Soviet low-altitude complex, the accumulated experience in the creation and operation of previously created anti-aircraft systems was used, and also the changes that occurred in the tactics of using combat aircraft were taken into account.
Thanks to the introduction of a number of previously unused technical solutions, the designers managed to reduce the lower boundary of the affected area in the first version of the complex to 200 meters, later on the upgraded C-125M1 (C-125M1A) "Neva-M1" with 5V27D anti-aircraft guided missiles, this figure was 25 meters … The S-125 became the first anti-aircraft complex of the country's air defense forces with solid-propellant anti-aircraft missiles. The use of solid fuel in SAM engines has a number of significant advantages over anti-aircraft missiles fueled with liquid fuel and an oxidizer. It is known that the first Soviet air defense systems S-25 and S-75 with missiles operating on liquid fuel were very expensive to operate. Filling the missile defense system with toxic fuel and a caustic oxidizer was associated with a considerable risk and required the use of personal protective equipment for the skin and respiratory organs by personnel.
Formally, the S-125 air defense system was adopted by the USSR air defense forces in 1961, but its massive deliveries to the troops began three years later. The S-125 air defense missile system included: a missile guidance station (CHR-125), transported launchers, transport-charging vehicles with missiles, an interface cabin and diesel generator sets. For independent actions, the division was assigned P-12 (P-18) and P-15 (P-19) radars.
In the first versions of the S-125, launchers were used for two missiles. For the upgraded S-125M1A air defense system, a transportable four-beam PU 5P73 (SM-106) was adopted, which doubled the number of missiles ready for use in the air defense missile system. In order to increase combat efficiency and improve service and operational properties, the complex has been repeatedly modernized. At the same time, noise immunity was improved and the launch range was increased. In the S-125M1 (S-125M1A) "Neva-M1" air defense system, the possibility of tracking and firing visually observed aerial targets was introduced using the "Karat-2" television-optical sighting equipment. This made it possible to carry out launches in conditions of powerful electronic jamming, and improved the survivability of the complex.
The first S-125M Neva air defense systems entered Czechoslovakia in 1973. According to archival data, in total, until the mid-1980s, 18 S-125M / S-125M1A air defense systems and 812 V-601PD air defense systems were received. Like the S-75M / M3 medium-range air defense systems, the S-125M / M1A low-altitude air defense systems during the Cold War formed the basis of the Czechoslovak anti-aircraft missile forces. To increase the combat capabilities of the S-125M air defense system, from 1974 to 1983, modernization was carried out in stages 1, 2 and 3. To prepare the calculations of the S-75 and S-125 air defense systems in the face of enemy countermeasures (maneuvers and electronic suppression), Czechoslovakia had 11 Akkord-75/125 simulators.
SAM S-200VE in the air defense system of Czechoslovakia
The S-200A Angara long-range air defense system, adopted by the USSR Air Defense Forces in 1967, became a "long arm" that made it possible to destroy high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and strategic bombers at ranges of up to 180 km. Unlike the S-75 and S-125 complexes, in which guidance commands were issued by the SNR-75 and SNR-125 missile guidance stations, the S-200 air defense system used a target illumination radar. The ROC could capture a target and switch to its auto-tracking with a semi-active missile homing head at a distance of more than 300 km. The most massive modification was the S-200VM "Vega" air defense missile system, with a firing range of a unified V-880 missile of 240 km and a defeat height of 0.3-40 km. As in the air defense system of the C-75 family, air defense missiles with a liquid jet engine were used as part of the C-200 complexes of all modifications. The engine ran on a caustic oxidizer AK-27 - based on nitrogen oxides and fuel - TG-02. Both components posed a threat to human health and required the use of personal protective equipment. To accelerate the rocket to cruising speed, four solid-propellant boosters served.
The S-200 complex included a target illumination radar, a command post, and diesel power generators. At the prepared starting position with roads for the delivery of missiles and loading of the launching "guns" were located the sites of six launchers. They were served by twelve charging machines, launch preparation booths. The combination of a command post and two or three ROCs was called a group of fire divisions.
Although the S-200 air defense system was considered transportable, changing firing positions for him was a very difficult and time-consuming business. To relocate the complex, several dozen trailers, tractors and heavy off-road trucks were required. S-200, as a rule, were deployed on a long-term basis, in engineering-equipped positions. To accommodate a part of the radio technical battery's combat equipment at a prepared stationary position of fire battalions, concrete structures with an earthen bulk shelter were built to protect equipment and personnel.
Despite the high cost of the elements of the complex, the complex and very costly maintenance of the missiles, the need to equip engineering positions - the S-200 air defense systems were highly valued for their ability to hit targets located hundreds of kilometers from the launch position and good noise immunity. Russian open sources say that in 1985, 3 S-200VE air defense systems, one technical position and 36 V-880E missiles were delivered to Czechoslovakia. However, judging by the satellite images, the air defense forces of Czechoslovakia received 5 air defense systems (target channels).
According to Czech sources and declassified data from American intelligence, the S-200VE long-range air defense systems were in service with the 9th and 10th air defense missiles, which were part of the 76th air defense missile brigade of the 2nd air defense division. Complexes with heavy anti-aircraft missiles weighing about 8 tons were deployed in the vicinity of the village of Raportice, 30 km west of Brno. In addition to the engineering-prepared starting and technical positions, a military town with barracks, dwelling houses for officers and numerous technical hangars was built here. At the moment, this infrastructure is still used by the Czech military. Although the S-200VE air defense systems have long been removed from service, equipped anti-aircraft positions were used to place mobile air defense systems "Kub", and command posts were located in the bunkers.
Three more S-200VE air defense systems were deployed in the vicinity of the village of Dobris, 20 km south-west of Prague. The complexes were operated by the 17th, 18th, 19th air defense forces of the 71st anti-aircraft missile brigade from the 3rd air defense division. In contrast to the position in Raportitsa, the military left the area and expensive fortified positions, bunkers, and also a residential town are currently in a state of disrepair. After the transfer of the military town to the civil administration, in 2010, solar panels were placed on the territory of the former military unit.
SAM S-300PMU in the air defense system of Czechoslovakia
In the late 1980s, the Soviet military leadership planned to bring the air defense systems of the ATS countries to a qualitatively new level. For this, along with the 4th generation fighters, the USSR's closest Eastern European allies began deliveries of the S-300PMU anti-aircraft missile system with a firing range at high-altitude targets of up to 75 km. Height reach - 27 km.
According to the Soviet plan for the development of air defense in the member states of the Warsaw Pact, the S-300PMU air defense systems were supposed to replace the outdated and exhausted SA-75M and C-75M air defense systems. C-300PMU air defense systems before the collapse of the "Eastern Bloc" managed to get Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. The planned delivery of the S-300PMU to the GDR was canceled at the last moment. One anti-aircraft missile division S-300PMU in 1990 was deployed in the vicinity of the village of Lisek, 22 km west of Prague, where it was until mid-1993.
Automated control systems for air defense of Czechoslovakia
In 1968, the automated control system ASURK-1ME was supplied to control the actions of the Czechoslovak anti-aircraft missile brigades armed with the SA-75M and S-75M air defense systems. The ASURK-1ME system was made in a transportable version and included the command post equipment and means of interfacing and communication with anti-aircraft missile battalions. It provided automated control of 8 S-75 air defense systems.
A few years after the development of ASURK-1ME, the air defense forces of Czechoslovakia received the Vector-2VE automated control system. This automated control system was intended for the automated issuance of target designation and guidance of the combat work of the S-125 low-altitude air defense systems. Commands from the Vector-2VE automated control system were transmitted directly to the anti-aircraft missile guidance station. At the same time, the target acquisition range for tracking reached 50 km.
It was not possible to establish in what year the air defense forces of Czechoslovakia began operating the Almaz-2 automated control complex. Apparently, the supply of the equipment used at the central command post of the country was linked to the receipt by Czechoslovakia of the MiG-21MF fighters, as well as the C-75M and C-125M air defense systems. The Almaz-2 complex provided automated information exchange via closed telegraph, telephone and radio channels of the central command post with the command post of the brigade and regimental level. At the same time, the reception, processing, storage and display of information on 80 targets, including cruise missiles in flight, was ensured by means of collective and individual use. The scoreboard displayed information about readiness, capabilities, current hostilities and the results of hostilities of the subordinate air defense forces. From subordinates of the command post, data was received on nuclear strikes, chemical, radiation and meteorological conditions. To process and store operational information, a computer complex was used, consisting of two computers of the 5363-1 type, with memory on ferrite cores. In the 1980s, four Almaz-3 automated control systems were also delivered to Czechoslovakia. The new complex differed from "Almaz-2" by the use of high-speed processors with new storage devices, color monitors for displaying information and a greater degree of automation of operators' workplaces. "Almaz-3" could be used both autonomously and as part of several complexes connected by a computer network. Thanks to the introduction of the Almaz-3 automated systems, the air defense system of the Czechoslovakia gained greater combat stability. Automated complexes were installed not only in the central air defense command post, located in a large underground bunker in the vicinity of the city of Stara Boleslav, but also at the command posts of the 2nd and 3rd air defense divisions, erected in the vicinity of the cities of Brno and Zatec. Also, "Almaz-3" was installed in the underground command post of the 71st anti-aircraft missile brigade in Drnov. This command post, built in accordance with the achievements of fortification and equipped with communication and automation facilities that were quite modern for the early 1980s, could, if necessary, take over the functions of the central control center of the air defense system of the Czechoslovakia. The total area of the object was 5500 m².
The command post functioned from 1985 to 2003. Currently, in the bunker of the 71st air defense brigade, from where during the Cold War the actions of the battalions defending Prague were controlled, there is a museum of the Czechoslovak air defense forces, known as the "Drnov Bunker". The equipment and interiors have been largely preserved at the command post, and samples of equipment and weapons are displayed in the courtyard.
At the end of 1984, the command post of the 3rd Air Defense Division in Vetrushitsy received the Senezh-E automated control system, which allows autonomous control of the combat actions of an anti-aircraft missile brigade, distribute targets between individual divisions, taking into account their characteristics and capabilities of the air defense system. Compared to previous models of ACS, thanks to the use of a new high-speed element base, it was possible to significantly increase the processing speed and bring information to the consumer, increase the MTBF and power consumption. Also, at the brigade and regimental level, it became possible to interact with fighter aircraft. The system, when using the Lazur (Lazur-M) equipment, provided simultaneous guidance of 6 MiG-21MF and MiG-23MF fighters. The system components were housed in standard towed and self-propelled equipment rooms on a cargo chassis. After putting the Senezh-E system into operation, it united under its control 8 S-75M / M3 and 8 S-125M / M1A missiles. Later, three C-200VE divisions deployed in the Dobris area were connected to the system. In the late 1980s, a modernized Senezh-ME automated control system was delivered to Czechoslovakia, which could interact with the command guidance equipment of the MiG-23ML, MiG-29A fighters and with the command post of the S-300PMU air defense system.
The complex of automation equipment for the command post of the Osnova-1E radio technical battalion in real time provided reception, processing, display and documentation of information about the air situation from subordinate radar posts. As well as managing the actions of subordinate radars, determining the nationality and types of air targets, issuing information to command posts of radio-technical and anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aircraft and electronic warfare units. To automate the process of combat work, the control of standard means of radar companies and the issuance of data to higher and supported command posts in Czechoslovakia was used by the Pole-E automated control system. Radar stations Oborona-14, P-37M and ST-68U were used as a source of radar information in the air defense of Czechoslovakia for Osnova-1E. At the subordinate level, interaction with the "Pole-E" automated control system was carried out. Upstream - with the Senezh-E and Senezh-ME automated control systems.
Assessment of the combat potential of the air defense system of Czechoslovakia
By the end of the 1980s, the air defense system of Czechoslovakia was equipped with quite modern air situation control stations, automated means of combat control and data transmission, supersonic interceptor fighters and anti-aircraft missile systems capable of destroying air targets in the entire range of altitudes. In service there were more than 80 circular radars, providing multiple overlap of the radar field. As of 1989, approximately 40 S-125M / M1A, S-75M / M3 and S-200VE air defense systems were deployed at stationary positions in Czechoslovakia. For a medium-sized European country, this is a very solid amount. Although the long-range S-200VE air defense systems not only controlled most of Czechoslovakia and the adjacent areas of neighboring states, the figure below shows that the air defense of the Czechoslovakia had a pronounced focal character. The main positions of the air defense missile systems were located along the western border and around the cities: Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Bratislava. But even in this case, the air defense system of Czechoslovakia could inflict very serious losses on the combat aviation of NATO countries. Unlike the air defense forces of the USSR, all Czechoslovak positions of the air defense forces were covered with towed and self-propelled 30-mm anti-aircraft guns, which increased their combat resistance against air attack weapons that broke through at low altitude.
According to the well-known western expert in the field of air defense, Sean O'Connor, significant gaps in the affected areas of the C-125M / M1A and C-75M / M3 air defense systems in the central and western parts of Czechoslovakia made it possible for combat aircraft to break through from the southeast of Germany and Austria. For the sake of fairness, it should be said that during the "threatened period", medium-range military mobile complexes "Krug" and "Kvadrat" could be deployed in open directions. The air defense command of Czechoslovakia also had at its disposal: three squadrons of MiG-21MF fighters, three squadrons of MiG-23MF, one MiG-23ML and three MiG-29A.
Despite significant investments, the Soviet leadership failed to create an insurmountable barrier to NATO air attack in Eastern Europe and to implement an ambitious plan to unify the national air defense systems of the ATS countries under a single operational command from Moscow. To do this, at the airfields of the Eastern European allies of the USSR, it was planned to deploy additional communication channels, automated control systems and one and a half to two dozen A-50 AWACS aircraft - which could alternately carry out round-the-clock patrolling. Also, the program of replacing the early modifications of the S-75 air defense system with the C-300P multi-channel air defense system with solid-propellant anti-aircraft missiles remained unrealized.
