Russian Federation. Anti-aircraft missile and radio-technical troops
Unlike the United States and European NATO countries, a significant number of anti-aircraft missile systems and medium and long-range systems are on alert in our country. But in comparison with Soviet times, their number has been reduced several times. The anti-aircraft missile system was tasked with repelling an air attack. The main staff units of these troops were separate divisions, which were reduced to regiments and brigades. Moreover, mixed brigades began to be created in the 1960s, they included both divisions armed with medium or long-range complexes (S-75 or S-200) and divisions of low-altitude complexes (C-125). Complexes S-200, S-75 and S-125 complemented each other, significantly complicating the task of conducting reconnaissance and electronic warfare for the enemy, and blocked the "dead zones".
In the USSR, air defense systems defended almost all industrial and administrative-political important cities, as well as nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, transport hubs, ports and airfields, large military facilities, places of permanent deployment of troops, etc. The position of the air defense missile system was deployed both in the far south and in the far north of our vast country. At the same time, the level of combat readiness and professional training in the anti-aircraft missile forces, as a rule, was very high. At least once every 2 years, the calculations took part in real training and control firing at the range. At the same time, if it was possible to shoot at an estimate lower than "good", tough conclusions followed both in relation to the direct command of the anti-aircraft missile battalion and in relation to the higher leadership.
The northernmost anti-aircraft missile units in the USSR were: in the European part of the 406th air defense missile regiment from the 4th air defense defense on Novaya Zemlya, and in the Far East the 762 air defense missile regiment from the 25th air defense coalition coal mines, in Chukotka. Both regiments were armed with the most massive S-75 air defense systems in the USSR Air Defense Forces. If the withdrawal of equipment and planting of the 762th air defense missile system began in the late 80s, then the mothballed positions with launchers on Novaya Zemlya could be observed back in 2005.
By 1995, most of the S-75 and S-125 air defense systems were decommissioned, and the number of long-range S-200s decreased significantly. All this was justified by the fact that these complexes were supposedly hopelessly outdated and replaced by the S-300P air defense system. The scale of the destruction of the anti-aircraft missile cover system only for the period from 1992 to 1999 looks like this: the composition of the air defense missile system decreased by 5, 8 times in size, and by 6, 8 times in the number of personnel.
If we can partly agree with the arguments about the obsolescence of the C-75, although the few new C-75M4s with 5Ya23 extended-range missiles, equipped with a television-optical sight with an optical target tracking channel and "Doubler" equipment with external simulators of the SNR, could have at least another 10 years guarding the sky in secondary directions or complementing more modern systems, the hasty abandonment of the S-125 and S-200 was absolutely unjustified. When writing off the "hundred twenty fives", the following circumstances were not taken into account: the S-300P air defense system was created to replace the stationary C-25 and single-channel C-75, the three hundred missiles are much heavier and more expensive, the complete replacement of the C-125 C-300PS air defense system is too wasteful. The experience of hostilities in Iraq and Yugoslavia showed that an increase in the density of anti-aircraft defense is required, if the purchases of the S-300P stopped, and the S-125 was removed from service, then the saturation of the air defense with anti-aircraft systems fell, according to the logic of the S-300P they should have taken under their protection the most important objects, and the S-125 secondary or cover the positions of the S-300P. As subsequent events showed, the latest modifications of the C-125 had a huge modernization potential. For export deliveries in our country, a modernized version has been created on the mobile chassis S-125 "Pechera-2M" with several times increased combat efficiency.
As for the S-200 air defense system, the following shortcomings were blamed on him: cumbersomeness, complexity of relocation and equipment of firing positions, which made this complex virtually stationary and the need to refuel the air defense missile system with fuel and an oxidizer. But at the same time, the "dvuhsotka" had significant advantages: a long launch range - 240 km for the S-200V and 300 km for the S-200D, and the ability to work on active noise jamming aircraft. Thanks to the use of anti-aircraft missiles with a semi-active seeker as part of the S-200 air defense system, the radio interference previously used to blind the S-75 and S-125 became ineffective against it. After the adoption of the S-200 air defense system, the US and NATO aviation began to treat the inviolability of the USSR air borders more respectfully. Often, the capture of an approaching Orion or CR-135 for tracking by radar target illumination (ROC) was enough for a potential intruder to quickly retreat.
For comparison: the range of the S-300PS, which until recently formed the basis of the air defense missile system, was 90 km, only in the 2000s, missiles with a launch range of 200 km began to arrive for the relatively few S-300PMs. Until now, the S-400 air defense missile system uses 48N6M and 48N6DM missiles, originally created for the S-300PM.
PU ZRS S-300PT
It is worth recalling that initially the S-300PT with the 5V55K radio command solid-propellant missile system, which was put into service in 1978, was intended to replace the S-75 single-channel air defense system. In the S-300PT air defense system, launchers with four anti-aircraft missiles in transport and launch containers (TPK) were located on trailers towed by tractors. The affected area of the first version of the S-300PT was 5-47 km, which was even less than that of the S-75M3 air defense missile system with the 5Ya23 missile defense system. Subsequently, new missiles of the 5V55R type with an increased launch range and a semi-active seeker were introduced into the anti-aircraft missile system. In 1983, a new version of the anti-aircraft system appeared - the S-300PS. Its main difference was the placement of launchers on the MAZ-543 self-propelled chassis. Due to this, it was possible to achieve a record short deployment time - 5 minutes.
It was the S-300PS that became the basis of the anti-aircraft missile forces for many years. The S-300PS air defense systems became the most massive in the S-300P family, their production in the 80s was carried out at an accelerated pace. The S-300PS and even more advanced S-300PMs with high noise immunity and improved combat characteristics were supposed to replace the first-generation S-75 complexes in a 1: 1 ratio. This would allow the USSR's air defense system, already the most powerful in the world, to reach a qualitatively new level. Unfortunately, these plans were not destined to come true.
The tests of the S-300PM were completed in 1989, and the collapse of the USSR had the most negative impact on the production of this anti-aircraft system. Thanks to the introduction of a new 48N6 missile and an increase in the power of the multifunctional radar, the target destruction range has increased to 150 km. Officially, the S-300PM was put into service in 1993; deliveries of this complex to the Russian armed forces continued until the mid-90s. After 1996, the S-300P family air defense systems were built only for export. Part of the S-300PS air defense systems underwent refurbishment, which made it possible to extend their service life, and the S-300PM were upgraded to the level of the C-300PM1 / PM2. For these modifications, new missiles were adopted with a launch range of up to 250 km.
From 1994 to 2007, despite loud statements about the "revival" of the army, our air defense forces did not receive a single new long-range anti-aircraft system. Moreover, due to the extreme wear and tear and the lack of conditioned missiles, they were written off or transferred to the storage bases of the S-300PT and S-300PS, built in the 80s. For this reason, many strategically important objects were left without anti-aircraft cover. Such as nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, airfields for basing strategic bombers and facilities of the Strategic Missile Forces. "Holes" between air defense objects beyond the Urals are several thousand kilometers each, 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 means. Simulation based on the results of real range firing in a difficult jamming environment showed that our long-range anti-aircraft systems, while protecting covered objects, are capable of intercepting 70-80% of air attack weapons. It should be borne in mind that beyond the Urals we have significant gaps in the air defense system, especially from the northern direction.
The new widely advertised S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, by and large, has just begun to enter service en masse. The pace of deliveries of the S-400 to the troops is not bad, but so far we are talking only about replacing the S-300PS to be written off. As of September 2016, the RF Aerospace Forces had 29 zrdn as part of 14 zrp. All in all, according to data taken from "open sources" in the videoconferencing there are 38 zrp, including 105 zrdn. At the same time, some units are in the process of rearmament or reorganization and are not ready for combat. During the period of "Serdyukovschina" in the combined Air Force and Air Defense, there was an increase in anti-aircraft missile regiments due to the transfer from the air defense of the ground forces of several brigades armed with the S-300V air defense system and the Buk air defense system and the association with the VKO. The withdrawal of long and medium-range anti-aircraft systems significantly worsened the capabilities of the air defense of the ground.
The S-300V long-range military anti-aircraft system and its subsequent modifications are mainly designed to protect troop and headquarters concentrations from tactical and operational-tactical missiles. The S-300V air defense system mounted on a tracked chassis significantly surpasses the S-300P of all modifications in cross-country cross-country ability, but when fighting air attack weapons it is inferior in fire performance and ammunition reloading speed.
ZRS S-300V
Among the inhabitants, the S-300P and S-400 air defense systems are considered to be "superweapons" capable of equally successfully fighting both aerodynamic and ballistic targets. And the number of anti-aircraft systems available in the Russian Aerospace Forces is more than enough to "in case of something" knock down all enemy airplanes and missiles. I also had to hear statements that cause nothing but a grin that in the "bins of the homeland" there are a huge number of "hidden" or "sleeping" anti-aircraft complexes hidden under the ground or in remote, remote taiga corners. And this despite the fact that in order to issue target designation to any anti-aircraft systems, air reconnaissance radars and communication centers are needed. As well as residential townships with appropriate infrastructure for the residence of military personnel and their families, unless, of course, the officers serving on these "hidden" anti-aircraft systems are not monks and do not live in dugouts and caves, hunting and gathering food for themselves. Conscripts, based on the conspiracy theories of supporters of "underground" air defense systems, cannot be there, since after being retired to the reserve they will "declassify" their places of deployment, and they are unlikely to agree to live in caves for a long time. But seriously, I think that it is unnecessary for most readers to remind that modern reconnaissance satellites are capable of conducting electronic reconnaissance and taking pictures in high resolution. The positions of all medium and long-range anti-aircraft systems are well known and are quickly revealed in peacetime, even on commercial satellite imagery. Naturally, after the onset of the "special period", the anti-aircraft systems will be redeployed to reserve positions as soon as possible. At the same time, special technical and organizational measures are carried out, but this is a completely different story and the story about this is beyond the scope of this publication.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the position of the C-300PS in the area of the village of Verkhnyaya Econ near Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Well, by themselves, no one needs anti-aircraft systems in the middle of the deep taiga, only in the Soviet Union they could afford to build air defense missile systems on the path of the alleged flight of enemy aircraft, although even then most of the anti-aircraft systems defended specific objects. But unlike the USSR, our air defense has a pronounced focal character. Moreover, the city of Moscow and the Moscow region are best covered.
The S-300P and S-400 air defense systems are often associated only with launchers, from which a spectacular missile launch is carried out at the range. In fact, the air defense missile system includes about two dozen multi-ton vehicles for various purposes: combat control points, radar detection and guidance, launchers, antenna posts, transport-charging vehicles and mobile diesel generators. In addition to the indisputable advantages, the S-300P and S-400 also have weak points. The main drawback that will inevitably manifest itself in the event of participation in repelling massive raids of enemy air attack weapons is the long reload time. With a high fire performance of the S-300P and S-400 air defense systems, in a real combat situation, a situation may arise when all the ammunition on the launchers will be used up. Even if there are spare missiles and transport-loading vehicles at the starting position, it will take a lot of time to replenish the ammunition load. Therefore, it is very important that anti-aircraft systems mutually cover and complement each other, which is far from always possible to implement in practice.
With the weight of the main launcher 5P85S of the S-300PS air defense system on the MAZ-543M chassis with four missiles of more than 42 tons and with a length of 13 and a width of 3.8 meters, its cross-country ability on soft soils and rough terrain is very limited. Most of the launchers of the S-300PM air defense systems and almost all of the S-400 are made in a trailed version, which, of course, further reduces mobility.
About half of the air defense systems available in the troops are S-300PS, whose age is approaching critical. Many of them can only be considered combat-ready. It is common practice to carry out combat duty with a reduced composition of military equipment. Most of the 5V55R / 5V55RM air defense systems of the S-300PS air defense system is beyond the service life and their stocks are limited. This circumstance is confirmed by the fact that when the five S-300PS air defense systems were transferred to Kazakhstan from the RF Armed Forces, only 170 missiles were delivered to them.
Immediate action is required to remedy this situation. But the pace of entry into the S-400 troops does not yet allow replacing all the old equipment to be written off. In total, it is planned to acquire 56 S-400 divisions by 2020. It is worth recognizing that the construction of an air defense system based on the S-400 is difficult to implement due to the excessive cost. The statements of some of our high-ranking officials and the military that the S-400 anti-aircraft system is three times more effective than the S-300PM, therefore, it needs three times less are slyness. However, at the same time, they prefer to keep silent that the means of air attack of the probable "partners" also do not stand still. In addition, it is physically impossible to destroy more than one air target with a single anti-aircraft missile with a conventional warhead. Shooting at ranges in a difficult jamming environment has repeatedly demonstrated that the real probability of being hit by one missile from the S-300P air defense system is 0.7-0.8. For guaranteed defeat of a "difficult" target, it is necessary to launch 2-3 missiles at it. Of course, the S-400 with a new missile surpasses any modification of the S-300P in range, height of destruction and in noise immunity, but it is guaranteed to shoot down one modern combat aircraft with one anti-aircraft missile, even it is not capable of it. In addition, no amount of quality cancels out quantity, it is impossible to hit more aerial targets than there are anti-aircraft missiles ready for launch. In other words, if the ammunition ready for use is used up, then any, even the most modern and effective anti-aircraft system becomes nothing more than a pile of expensive metal, and it does not matter at all how many times it is more effective. Readers are also misled by publications claiming that the S-400 air defense system is capable of hitting targets at a distance of 400 km. There is no confirmation that the 40N6E long-range missile has been put into service and is being supplied to combat units. Since 2007, high-ranking military personnel and officials in charge of the military-industrial complex have annually announced that a new long-range missile defense system is completing tests and is about to be put into service, but "things are still there." In general, advertising brochures, which indicate the maximum range of damage, must be treated with great caution. The indicated maximum launch range, as a rule, can be achieved at medium altitudes only against large slow-moving targets such as military transport aircraft, AWACS aircraft or B-52N strategic bombers. The actual launch range against tactical or carrier-based aircraft is usually 2/3 of the maximum range.
The hopes that with the help of the S-500 air defense system, which has not yet been adopted for service, it will be possible to close all the gaps in the air defense are absolutely unfounded. If you believe the statements of representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Industry, the main purpose of the S-500 will be missile defense and the fight against low-orbit spacecraft. Most likely, this will be a very expensive system with heavy missiles. At first, it is planned to build only 10 S-500 air defense systems. According to the National Interest, the S-500 is an analogue of THAAD, integrated into a "single network" with the S-400, S-300VM4 and S-350 systems, forming an integrated air defense and missile defense system.
Great hopes in terms of strengthening our air defense system are being pinned on the relatively inexpensive medium-range Vityaz S-350 complex. It is predicted that the completion of tests and the official adoption of the new S-350 air defense system, which was created to replace the S-300PS, will take place in 2016. It will take about two more years to organize production and train calculations. It is the S-350 that should become the basis of the VKS air defense missile system in the future.
SAM S-350 "Vityaz"
Compared to the S-300PS, the S-350 air defense missile system will have a higher fire performance and an increased combat-ready SAM system. It is known that one launcher of the Vityaz complex will be capable of placing 12 missiles against 4 on the S-300PS. Also, the air defense system will have a larger number of target channels, which will allow firing more targets at the same time.
The control of airspace, the detection of air attack weapons and the provision of information about the enemy to anti-aircraft missile forces and fighter aircraft are provided by radio-technical troops. In Soviet times, the largest formation in the RTV was the brigades, uniting separate radar and radio technical battalions and companies. By 1990, RTV air defense reached the highest level of development. At that time, there were more than 60 radio engineering brigades and regiments in the combat strength of the troops; more than 1000 radio engineering units were deployed in combat positions scattered throughout almost the entire territory of the USSR. With the exception of a part of Eastern Siberia, a continuous radar field existed practically over the entire territory of the USSR. Special attention was paid to the control of polar latitudes. Radar posts were located on Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, northeast of the European part of the USSR and on Yamal. The northernmost radar stations were located on Franz Josef Land, and in the second half of the 1980s, a "point" was deployed on Victoria Island, located between Franz Josef Land and Svalbard. The RLP on Franz Josef Land and Victoria Island were the northernmost military units of the Soviet Union.
By the end of the 90s, in the course of the "reform" of the armed forces, the RTV suffered heavy losses. The number of units was reduced by 3 times (from 63 to 21), units by 4, 5 times (from 1000 to 226), personnel by 5 times. The radar field was reduced from 72 million square meters. km to 3. The control of the airspace in the northern direction, which is the most vulnerable to the breakthrough of long-range bombers and cruise missiles, was practically stopped. Due to the shortage of diesel fuel for the DGA and the lack of spare parts, duty at many radar posts was conducted irregularly. Now only zonal radar control of a part of the country's territory is carried out, which, in general, reflects the general state of the Russian air defense system.
The situation began to gradually improve after the change in the leadership of the RF Ministry of Defense. The following radars began to enter the troops in noticeable volumes: Gamma-DE, Sky-SVU, Gamma-S1E, Protivnik-GE, Kasta-2E2, 96L6E. Simultaneously with the delivery of new stations, a refurbishment and modernization of at least 30% of the existing RTV equipment is envisaged.
As in Soviet times, special attention is paid to the Arctic. It is planned to build five stationary radar facilities and aviation guidance points - on Sredny Island of the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, Alexandra Island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago, Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and in the village of Rogacheva on the South Island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. An air defense radar and an automated air situation control point will appear at each of these points. Information about movement in the airspace over the Arctic coast will be transmitted to the air defense command post in the Moscow region.
In the village of Rogachevo on the southern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, there is an operating airfield Amderma-2. According to plans, an air group of MiG-31 interceptors will be located there. At the end of 2015, an anti-aircraft missile regiment armed with S-300PM air defense systems was formed on Novaya Zemlya. This regiment became the first full-fledged military unit of the Northern Fleet, formed on the islands of the Arctic Ocean.
In Russian society, diametrically opposite opinions can be found regarding the combat effectiveness of the domestic air defense system. In general, the majority of domestic media outlets, willingly or unwillingly, create a distorted view of our capabilities in relation to air defense support. This is often reflected in the comments of individual visitors to the Military Review website. So some time ago, one of the participants in the discussion, in all seriousness, argued that the "outdated" S-300PS air defense system is no longer in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces, since JSC Concern VKO Almaz-Antey no longer extends the service life of the 5В55Р / 5В55РМ missiles, but with the help of the Voronezh-VP early warning radar, it is possible to control the airspace over the territory of the United States. And the air defense missile systems of the Aerospace Forces are armed only with the latest S-400 and modernized S-300PM2. Moreover, after reading the two final parts of the cycle, some readers may think that the author is deliberately diminishing our capabilities. I foresee in advance comments like: "Chef, the truncated is gone …" or "You can crawl to the cemetery …" about the prospects for its improvement.
When writing the cycle "The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics", the author used only "open" sources of information, which often contradict each other. In this regard, all sorts of inaccuracies and overlaps are inevitable. Therefore, I am grateful in advance for the competent criticism and clarifications.
