At the time of the collapse, in 1991, the Soviet Union had the most powerful air defense system, which had no equal in world history. Almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of part of Eastern Siberia, was covered with a continuous continuous radar field. The Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the country's Air Defense Forces) included the Moscow Air Defense District and 9 separate armies, uniting 18 corps (of which 2 are separate) and 16 divisions. According to American intelligence services, in 1990 the USSR Air Defense Forces had more than 2,000 interceptors: 210 Su-27, 850 MiG-23, 300 MiG-25, 360 MiG-31, 240 Su-15, 60 Yak-28, 50 Tu -128. It is clear that not all interceptor fighters were modern, but their total number in 1990 was impressive. It should also be borne in mind that the USSR Air Force had about 7,000 combat aircraft, about half of them are front-line fighters, which were also tasked with providing air defense. Now, according to Flight International, Russia has 3,500 combat aircraft of all types, including attack aircraft, front-line and long-range bombers.
By 1990, the industry had built more than 400 surface-to-air missile systems (SAM) S-75, 350 S-125, 200 S-200, 180 S-300P. In 1991, the air defense forces had about 8000 launchers (PU) of anti-aircraft missiles (SAM). Of course, these are very approximate figures for the air defense system, a significant part of them by that time had been written off or delivered abroad. But even if half of these anti-aircraft systems were on alert, then in a hypothetical conflict without the use of strategic nuclear weapons, the US aviation and its allies, even with the massive use of cruise missiles, had no chance of destroying the main strategic Soviet facilities and most of the vital infrastructure without carrying with catastrophic losses. But in addition to the Air Defense Forces of the country, there were also the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, which were armed with a large number of mobile anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems. Anti-aircraft missile units (ZRV) of the Ground Forces were also involved in combat duty. First of all, this concerned the anti-aircraft missile brigades (ZRBR) stationed in the European North and the Far East, which were armed with the Krug-M / M1 anti-aircraft missile system and the S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS).
The radio technical troops (RTV) provided coverage of the air situation. The purpose of the Radio Engineering Troops is to provide early information about the beginning of an enemy air attack, provide combat information to anti-aircraft missile forces (ZRV), air defense aviation (IA PVO) and headquarters to control air defense formations, units and subunits. The armament of radio engineering brigades, regiments, individual battalions and companies consisted of survey radar stations (radars) of the meter range, which were quite perfect for their time, with a long detection range of air targets: P-14, 5N84, 55Zh6. Decimeter and centimeter range stations: P-35, P-37, ST-68, P-80, 5N87. Mobile stations on a truck chassis: P-15, P-18, P-19 - as a rule, were attached to anti-aircraft missile divisions to issue target designation, but in some cases they were used at stationary radar posts to detect low-flying targets. Together with two-coordinate radars, radio altimeters were operated: PRV-9, PRV-11, PRV-13, PRV-16, PRV-17. In addition to radars, which had one or another degree of mobility, the Air Defense Forces had stationary "monsters" - radar systems (RLK): P-70, P-90 and ST-67. With the help of the radar, it was possible to simultaneously track dozens of air targets. The information processed with the help of computing means was transmitted to the command posts of the anti-aircraft missile forces and was used in the automated guidance systems of fighter-interceptors. In total, in 1991, the troops and storage bases had more than 10,000 radars for various purposes.
RLK P-90 position
In the Soviet Union, unlike today's Russia, all significant defense, industrial and administrative centers and strategically important objects were covered from air strikes: large cities, important defense enterprises, locations of military units and formations, objects of strategic missile forces (Strategic Missile Forces), transport hubs, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric dams, cosmodromes, large ports and airfields. A significant number of air defense missile systems, interceptor airfields and radar posts were deployed along the borders of the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR, a significant part of this wealth went to the "independent republics."
Baltic republics
Description of the state of the air defense system of the former Soviet republics, and now "independent states", will begin with the northwestern borders of the USSR. In December 1991, as a result of the collapse of the USSR, the air defense and air forces of the USSR were divided between Russia and 11 republics. The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia refused to participate in the division of the Armed Forces of the USSR for political reasons. At that time, the Baltic states were in the area of responsibility of the 6th separate air defense army. It consisted of: 2 air defense corps (27th and 54th), 1 aviation division - a total of 9 fighter aviation regiments (iap), 8 anti-aircraft missile brigades and regiments (zrp), 5 radio technical brigades (rtbr) and regiments (rtp) and 1 air defense training brigade. Units of the 6th Air Defense Army, which was at the forefront of the Cold War, were armed with sufficiently modern equipment at that time. So, for example, in three fighter regiments there were more than a hundred of the newest Su-27P interceptors at that time, and the pilots of the 180 IAP, based at the Gromovo airfield (Sakkola), flew the MiG-31. And the fighters of other air regiments MiG-23MLD - at that time there were quite capable machines.
Anti-aircraft missile forces in the late 80s were in the process of rearmament. Single-channel S-75 complexes with liquid-propellant missiles were actively replaced by multichannel, mobile S-300P with solid-propellant missiles. In the 6th Air Defense Army in 1991, there were 6 air defense missiles, armed with S-300P. The S-300P air defense system and the S-200 long-range air defense system created a huge anti-aircraft "umbrella" over the Baltic part of the Soviet Union, covering a significant part of the Baltic Sea, Poland and Finland.
The affected areas of the S-300P air defense system (light area) and the S-200 air defense system (dark area), located in the Baltic States until 1991.
The greatest concentration of air defense missile systems of the 6th Air Defense Army in 1991 was observed on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Here, mainly deployed battalions armed with medium-range S-75 complexes and low-altitude S-125. At the same time, the positions of the air defense missile systems were located in such a way that their affected areas overlapped. In addition to fighting air targets, the S-125 air defense system could fire at surface targets, participating in the antiamphibious defense of the coast.
The location of the positions of the air defense missile system and command post of the 6th Air Defense Army in the Baltic States
After the collapse of the USSR, the property and weapons of the Soviet Army were withdrawn to Russia. That which was impossible to take out or did not make sense was destroyed on the spot. Real estate: military camps, barracks, warehouses, fortified command posts and airfields were transferred to representatives of local authorities.
In Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, airspace control is provided by eight radar posts. Until recently, Soviet radars P-18 and P-37 were used. Moreover, the latter functioned as air traffic control radars. Recently, information has appeared about the deployment of modern stationary and mobile radars of French and American production in the Baltic countries. So, in mid-June 2016, the United States handed over to the Latvian armed forces two AN / MPQ-64F1 Improved Sentinel radars. Two more similar radars are scheduled to be delivered in October 2016. The three-coordinate station AN / MPQ-64F1 is a modern, mobile short-range radar, designed mainly for target designation to air defense systems. The most modern modification of this radar, which was delivered to Latvia, allows detecting low-altitude targets at a distance of up to 75 km. The radar is small in size and is towed by an army off-road vehicle.
Radar AN / MPQ-64
It is significant that the AN / MPQ-64 radar can be effectively used in conjunction with the American-Norwegian NASAMS medium-range air defense system, which are produced by the Norwegian company Kongsberg in conjunction with the American military-industrial giant Raytheon. At the same time, the Latvian military back in 2015 expressed a desire to acquire the NASAMS-2 air defense system. It is likely that the delivery of radars is the first step in the process of creating an air defense system for Latvia, and possibly a unified regional air defense system for Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It is known that Poland, as part of the construction of the national air defense system "Vistula", should receive from the United States several batteries of the Patriot PAK-3 air defense system. Some of these complexes can be located on the territory of the Baltic states. According to the military and officials of these countries, all these measures are needed to protect against the "Russian threat." The possibility of supplying French radars GM406F and American AN / FPS-117 is also being discussed. Unlike the small-sized AN / MPQ-64, these stations have a long viewing range of the airspace, can operate in a difficult jamming environment and detect launches of tactical ballistic missiles. If deployed in border areas, they will be able to control the airspace at a distance of 400-450 km deep in Russian territory. One AN / FPS-117 radar has already been deployed in the vicinity of the Lithuanian city of Siauliai.
As for the means of destruction of the air defense systems of the Baltic countries, at the moment they are represented by a small number of portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) "Stinger" and "Mistral", as well as small-caliber anti-aircraft guns (MZA) ZU-23. That is, these states generally do not have the ability to resist any serious military aviation and the anti-aircraft potential of the armies of the Baltic countries is not able to protect the inviolability of air borders. Currently, NATO fighters (Operation Baltic Air Policing) are patrolling the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to neutralize the hypothetical "Russian threat". At the Lithuanian airbase Zokniai, located not far from the city of Siauliai, at least four tactical fighters and a NATO aviation technical group (120 military personnel and civilian specialists) are constantly on duty for conducting "air patrols". For the modernization of the airfield infrastructure and keeping it in working order, the European NATO countries have allocated 12 million euros. The composition of the air group, which is on duty at the Zoknyai airbase on a rotational basis, changes from time to time depending on which fighters of which countries are involved.
Mirage 2000 fighters at the Zoknyay airbase in winter 2010
The French Mirage 2000 and Rafale C, British, Spanish, German and Italian Eurofighter Typhoons, Danish, Dutch, Belgian, Portuguese and Norwegian F-16AMs, Polish MiG-29s, Turkish F-16Cs, Canadian CF-18 Hornets, Czech and Hungarian JAS 39C Gripen. And even such rarities of the "cold war" as the German F-4F Phantom II, British Tornado F.3, Spanish and French Mirage F1M and Romanian MiG-21 Lancer. In 2014, during the Crimean Crisis, American F-15Cs were deployed here from Lakenheath airbase in Great Britain. Air refueling of NATO fighters is provided by two American KS-135 air tankers.
Satellite image of Google Earth: Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and A-10C attack aircraft at Emari airbase.
In addition to the Zokniai airbase in Lithuania, NATO fighters have also used the Suurküla (Emari) airfield since 2014. In Soviet times, the Su-24 of the 170th Naval Assault Aviation Regiment was based here. In August 2014, four Danish F-16AM fighters were deployed at Amari airbase. Further on the base were in turn the fighters of the Air Forces of Germany, Spain and Great Britain. The base is also actively used for basing NATO aircraft during exercises. In the summer of 2015, 12 A-10C attack aircraft were deployed on Emari for several months. In September 2015, the fifth generation F-22A fighters from the 95th Squadron of the US Air Force visited Amari airfield. All these actions are aimed at "containing" Russia, where there are allegedly aggressive intentions towards the "independent" Baltic republics.
Byelorussia
From 1960 to 1991, the skies of the BSSR were protected by the 2nd separate air defense army. Organizationally, it consisted of two buildings: 11th and 28th. The main task of the units and subdivisions of the 2nd Air Defense Army was to cover the western strategic direction and protect cities, strategic and military facilities on the territory of Belarus from air attacks. Particular attention was paid to the task of preventing the air enemy from flying deep into the country and to the capital of the USSR. Taking this into account, the air defense troops stationed in Belarus were among the first to master the most modern equipment and weapons. On the basis of units of the 2nd Air Defense Army, state tests of the automated control systems "Vector", "Rubezh", "Senezh" took place. In 1985, the 15th air defense brigade was re-equipped with the S-300P anti-aircraft missile system. And the 61st IAP, where before that they flew the MiG-23 and MiG-25, shortly before the collapse of the USSR, moved to the Su-27P. In total, two air defense fighter air regiments were deployed in Belarus, armed mainly with MiG-23MLD interceptors. Armed with 3 air defense missile systems and 3 air defense missile systems consisted of the S-75, S-125, S-200 and S-300P air defense systems. The control of the air situation and the issuance of target designation was carried out by the radars of the 8th RTR and the 49th RTP. In addition, the 2nd Air Defense Army had the 10th separate battalion (obat) of electronic warfare (EW).
Unlike the Baltic states, the leadership of Belarus turned out to be more pragmatic and did not begin to destroy the air defense system inherited from the Soviet Union. As a result of the collapse of the USSR and the division of Soviet baggage, on August 1, 1992, on the basis of the Air Defense Directorate of the Belarusian Military District and the 2nd separate air defense army, the command of the Air Defense Forces of the Republic of Belarus was formed. Soon, in the early 90s, the air defense forces of Belarus began to decommission outdated Soviet-made equipment. First of all, the S-75 single-channel air defense systems with a lamp element base and liquid missiles, which required laborious maintenance and refueling with toxic fuel and a caustic explosive oxidizer, were subject to liquidation. They were followed by the low-altitude S-125 complexes, although these air defense systems could also serve. "One hundred and twenty-five" had good combat characteristics, were not so expensive to maintain, quite maintainable and subject to modernization. Moreover, such work was carried out in the republic, the modernized S-125M air defense systems under the designation "Pechera-2TM" of the Belarusian company "Tetraedr", since 2008, have been supplied to Azerbaijan. In total, the contract provides for the restoration and modernization of 27 anti-aircraft systems. Most likely, the reason for abandoning the S-125 was the desire to save money on defense. For the same reason, in the second half of the 90s, MiG-29MLD fighters, whose age was slightly more than 15 years old, were sent to the storage bases, and then for cutting into scrap metal in the second half of the 90s. In this respect, the Republic of Belarus basically followed the path of Russia. Our leaders in 90-2000 also hastened to get rid of "extra" weapons, citing budget savings. But in Russia, unlike Belarus, it has its own production of anti-aircraft systems and modern fighters, and Belarusians have to receive all this from abroad. But for the long-range S-200V air defense systems in Belarus they held on to the last, despite the high cost of operation and the extreme complexity of relocation, which makes this complex, in fact, stationary. But the range of destruction of high-altitude air targets of 240 km today is achievable only for the S-400 air defense systems, which are not in the air defense forces of Belarus, which, in fact, neutralized all the shortcomings of the S-200V. In the conditions of mass liquidation of anti-aircraft complexes, a "long arm" was required, capable of at least partially covering the gaps in the air defense system.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the location of the SAM positions in the Republic of Belarus as of 2010 (blue radar figures, colored triangles and squares - SAM positions).
In 2001, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus were combined into one type of armed forces. This was largely due to the reduction in the number of equipment, weapons and personnel. Almost all the operational S-300PT and S-300PS air defense systems were deployed around Minsk. In 2010, in Belarus, formally, there were still four S-200V missiles in service. As of 2015, all of them have been decommissioned. Apparently, the last Belarusian S-200V on alert was the complex near Novopolotsk. At the end of the 2000s, due to the extreme wear and tear and the lack of conditioned missiles, all the S-300PT air defense systems and part of the C-300PS, inherited from the USSR, were written off.
After 2012, the last 10 Su-27P heavy fighters were withdrawn from the Air Force. The official reason for the rejection of the Su-27P was the too high cost of their operation and the excessively long flight range for such a small country as the Republic of Belarus. In fact, the main reason was that the fighters needed repair and modernization, and there was no money in the treasury for this. But in the 2000s, part of the Belarusian MiG-29 was modernized. During the division of Soviet property, the republic in 1991 got more than 80 MiG-29 fighters of various modifications. Some of the "extra" fighters from the Belarusian Air Force were sold abroad. Thus, 18 MiG-29 fighters (including two MiG-29UB) were supplied by Belarus under a contract to Peru. Algeria received another 31 aircraft of this type in 2002. To date, according to Global Serurity, 24 fighters have survived in Belarus.
Satellite image of Google Earth: MiG-29BM fighters at the air base in Baranovichi
Repair and modernization of fighters to the level of the MiG-29BM was carried out at the 558th aircraft repair plant in Baranovichi. In the course of modernization, the fighters received air refueling facilities, a satellite navigation station and a modified radar for the use of air-to-ground weapons. It is known that specialists from the Russian design bureau "Russian avionics" took part in these works. The first four modernized MiG-29BMs were first publicly shown in flight at an air parade in honor of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders on July 3, 2004. At the moment, the MiG-29BM are the only fighters of the Air Force of the Republic of Belarus capable of performing air defense missions; they are based at the 61st Fighter Air Base in Baranovichi.
Belarusian Su-27P and MiG-29
The limited number of MiG-29BM deployed at a single airbase does not allow effective control of the country's airspace. Despite statements by Belarusian officials about the high cost of maintenance and excessive range of the Su-27P fighters, their decommissioning significantly reduced the ability to combat the air enemy. In this regard, the issue of creating a Russian air base in Belarus has been repeatedly discussed, but the matter has not yet progressed further than conversations. In this context, it is worth mentioning the 18 Su-30Ks in storage at the 558th aircraft repair plant. In 2008, India returned these aircraft to Russia after the start of large-scale deliveries of the more advanced Su-30MKI. The Indian side received 18 new Su-30MKIs in return, paying the difference in price. Initially, it was assumed that the former Indian Su-30K, after repair and modernization, would be transferred to Belarus, but later it was announced that the planes went to Baranovichi in order not to pay VAT when importing into Russia while the search for a buyer is underway. According to information published in the media, the cost of a batch of Su-30K could be $ 270 million, based on the cost of one fighter at $ 15 million, taking into account modernization. For a heavy modernized fighter of the 4th generation with a large residual resource, this is a very affordable price. For comparison, the lightweight Sino-Pakistani fighter JF-17 Thunder, which has much more modest capabilities, is offered to foreign buyers for $ 18-20 million. However, there is no money in the Belarusian budget for the purchase of even used fighters, it remains only to hope that in the future the parties will be able to agree, and the Su-30K, after being repaired and modernized, will defend the air borders of Belarus and Russia.
Despite some contradictions between our countries and the unpredictability of President Lukashenko, the Republic of Belarus and Russia maintain close allied relations. The Republic of Belarus is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and is part of the Joint Air Defense System of the CIS member states. In 2006, Russia and Belarus planned to create a unified regional air defense system of the union state, but for a number of reasons these plans were not destined to come true. Nevertheless, an automated exchange of information about the air situation is carried out between the command posts of the Air Force and Air Defense of Russia and Belarus, and the Belarusian air defense systems have the ability to conduct control and training firing at the Ashuluk air defense range in the Astrakhan region.
On the territory of Belarus, in the interests of the Russian missile attack warning system (SPRN), the Volga radar station is operating. The construction of this station began shortly before the collapse of the USSR, 8 km north-east of the city of Gantsevichi. In connection with the conclusion of an agreement on the elimination of the INF Treaty, the construction of the station was frozen in 1988. After Russia lost the early warning system in Latvia, construction of the Volga radar station in Belarus resumed. In 1995, a Russian-Belarusian agreement was concluded, according to which a separate radio engineering unit (ORTU) "Gantsevichi", together with a land plot, was transferred to Russia for 25 years without collecting all types of taxes and fees. As compensation for Belarus, part of the debts for energy resources was written off, and the Belarusian servicemen are partially servicing the nodes. At the end of 2001, the station took up experimental combat duty, and on October 1, 2003, the Volga radar station was officially put into service. An early warning radar station in Belarus controls the areas of combat patrols of American, British and French SSBNs in the North Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea. Radar information from the radar station is sent in real time to the Main Missile Attack Warning Center. It is currently the only facility of the Russian missile attack warning system operating abroad.
In the framework of military-technical cooperation, the Republic of Belarus in 2005-2006 received from Russia 4 air defense missile systems S-300PS from the Russian armed forces. Before that, the 5V55RM air defense missile systems and missiles with a maximum range of 90 km for hitting high-altitude targets underwent refurbishment and "small" modernization. It is worth recalling that the S-300PS air defense system, which is the most numerous modification in the S-300P family, was put into service in 1984. The S-300PS entered service with the 115th air defense brigade, two of which were deployed in the Brest and Grodno regions. At the end of 2010, the brigade was transformed into the 115th and 1st ZRP. In turn, counter deliveries of the MZKT-79221 chassis for the RS-12M1 Topol-M mobile strategic missile systems were carried out from Belarus as payment for the repair and modernization of anti-aircraft systems on barter.
SPU Belarusian S-300PS
In the first half of 2016, the media reported about the transfer of four more S-300PS missiles to the Belarusian side. It is reported that earlier, these air defense systems served in the Moscow region and the Far East. Before being sent to Belarus, they underwent refurbishment and modernization, which will allow them to carry on combat duty for another 7-10 years. The received S-300PS air defense systems are planned to be placed on the western border of the republic, now 4 air defense missiles of a truncated composition are deployed in the region of Brest and Grodno.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the position of the C-300PS air defense missile system in the Brest region
On July 3, 2014, a military parade was held in Minsk in honor of the Independence Day and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazis, at which, in addition to the equipment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian S-400 long-range air defense system was demonstrated. The Belarusian leadership has repeatedly expressed interest in the S-400. At the moment, the S-400 air defense system of the Russian Aerospace Forces with the 48N6MD missiles available in the ammunition is capable of fighting high-altitude aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 250 km. The S-300PS air defense systems in service with the Belarusian air defense forces are more than two times inferior to the S-400 in range. Equipping the air defense of Belarus with the latest long-range systems would make it possible to increase the coverage area and, if deployed in the border areas, would make it possible to combat air attack weapons at distant approaches. Apparently, the Russian side stipulates a number of conditions for the possible deliveries of the S-400, which the Belarusian leadership is not yet ready to accept.
SPU Russian S-400 during the rehearsal of the parade in June 2014 in Minsk
The air situation in the Republic of Belarus is illuminated by two dozen radar posts. Until now, Belarusian RTVs operate mainly Soviet-made radars: P-18, P-19, P-37, 36D6. For the most part, these stations are already at the limit of their useful life and need to be replaced. In this regard, supplies of Russian mobile three-coordinate radar of the decimeter range "Protivnik-GE" with a target detection range flying at an altitude of 5-7 km to 250 km have begun. At their own enterprises of the Republic of Belarus, they are assembling modified radars: P-18T (TRS-2D) and P-19T (TRS-2DL), which, in combination with the supply of Russian radars, makes it possible to update the radar fleet.
After 1991, the armed forces of Belarus got more than 400 vehicles of military air defense systems. According to some reports, Belarusian units armed with military air defense systems have been reassigned to the command of the Air Force and Air Defense. Today, according to foreign expert estimates, there are about 300 air defense systems and air defense systems in service. These are mainly Soviet short-range complexes: Strela-10M and Osa-AKM. In addition, the Belarusian air defense units of the Ground Forces have Tunguska anti-aircraft cannon-missile systems and modern Tor-M2 short-range air defense systems. The chassis for the Belarusian "Tori" is made at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT). The 120th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Air Force and Air Defense of Belarus, stationed in Baranovichi, Brest region, received the first battery of the Tor-M2 air defense system in 2011.
Belarusian air defense missile system "Tor-M2" on the wheeled chassis MZKT
In addition to short-range complexes intended for direct cover of troops in the front-line from air attack weapons operating at low altitudes, Belarus has one air defense missile system each armed with the Buk-MB medium-range air defense system and the S-300V air defense system. Belarusian "Buks" have been modernized and modified for the use of new 9M317 missiles, while some of the complexes were transferred to a wheeled chassis manufactured by MZKT. The standard 9S18M1 Buk-M1 air defense radar was replaced by a mobile three-coordinate 80K6M all-round radar on a wheeled chassis. The Belarusian "Bukovskaya" 56th airborne brigade, stationed earlier near Slutsk, according to some reports, was relocated to Baranovichi, where its complexes are on alert in the area of the 61st fighter air base. Azerbaijan received one Buk-MB battalion in 2012 from the armed forces of Belarus.
SPU SAM S-300V during the rehearsal of the parade in June 2014 in Minsk
As for the military long-range air defense systems, there is every reason to believe that the S-300V 147th air defense missile brigade is currently incapable of combat and in need of repair and modernization. The brigade, stationed near Bobruisk, was the third military unit in the USSR to be armed with this system, and the first to be able to carry out a combat mission with the so-called "large missile" 9M82. In January 2011, the brigade became part of the North-Western Operational-Tactical Command of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Republic of Belarus. The future of the Belarusian S-300V air defense systems depends entirely on whether it will be possible to agree with the Russian side about their repair and modernization. At the moment, Russia is implementing a program to radically improve the combat characteristics of the existing S-300V to the level of the S-300V4.
If for the modernization of medium and long-range anti-aircraft systems, Belarus is forced to turn to Russian enterprises for help, then the repair and improvement of the near-zone complexes is carried out on its own. The parent organization in this is the Multidisciplinary Research and Production Private Unitary Enterprise "Tetrahedr". This enterprise has developed a version of the modernization of the Strela-10M2 air defense missile system, which received the designation Strela-10T. The main difference between the new complex and its prototype is to ensure its round-the-clock use and the possibility of transferring an all-wheel drive army off-road vehicle to the chassis. The modernized combat vehicle of the new complex, in contrast to the basic version, is capable of conducting round-the-clock combat work. The presence of data transmission equipment allows the exchange of information between combat vehicles, as well as remote control of the process of combat work when repelling air strikes.
SAM T38 "STILET"
On the basis of the Soviet air defense missile system "Osa", the specialists of "Tetrahedra" created the short-range air defense system T38 "STILET", two-stage air defense missile systems T382 for it were developed in the Kiev KB "Luch". The T38 military air defense system is a further continuation of the Osa-T program, aimed at modernizing the outdated Soviet military Osa air defense systems. The control systems of the complex are made on a new element base, the combat vehicle, in addition to the radar, is equipped with an electronic optical detection system. In comparison with the Osa-AKM air defense missile system, the range of destruction of air targets is doubled and amounts to 20 km. SAM T-38 "STILET" is located on the wheeled chassis MZKT-69222T with increased cross-country ability.
SAM T-38 "STILET" was presented at the 7th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment "MILEX-2014", held from July 9 to 12, 2014 in Minsk. The “A3 multipurpose missile and machine gun system” was also shown there. The sample shown at the exhibition is in the process of being finalized, and had only dummies of missile weapons.
Multipurpose missile and machine gun complex A3
It follows from the advertising brochures of the Tetrahedr enterprise that the A3 complex is equipped with passive optical reconnaissance, target tracking and weapon guidance, which ensures complete secrecy of its combat use. It is designed to protect administrative, industrial and military facilities from all types of modern and advanced aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision weapons. The detection range of air targets is 20 km, the range of destruction of air targets by missiles is 5 km. In addition to solving air defense problems, the A3 complex can be used to combat enemy manpower and ground armored targets. The complex can be operated at any time of the day, in any weather conditions and in various climatic zones. It includes a command post and six remotely controlled combat modules.
But, despite individual successes in the development of near-zone air defense systems, the modernization and export of Soviet weapons, the Republic of Belarus is currently unable to provide itself with modern medium and long-range air defense systems, as well as fighters. And in this respect Minsk is completely dependent on Moscow. I would like to hope that our countries will maintain close friendly ties in the future, which is a guarantee of peace and security in the region.
