After the start of the Cold War and the formation of the North Atlantic Alliance, the countries that make up it were faced with the question of ensuring the air defense of facilities and military contingents located in Western Europe. In the mid-50s, the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and France was within the reach of Soviet front-line bombers Il-28. The combat radius of the Tu-4 long-range bombers made it possible to deliver nuclear and conventional bomb strikes throughout Europe. The threat to NATO facilities in Europe increased even more after the adoption of the Tu-16 long-range jet bomber in the USSR in 1954.
Initially, the air defense of the "Old World" was supported by fighter aircraft. In the early 50s, these were mainly subsonic fighters: the American F-86 "Saber" and the British "Hunter". The ground contingents of the American and British occupation forces in Germany and at the military bases of NATO countries had several hundred anti-aircraft guns, the fire control of which was carried out using radar, these were the American 75-mm M51, 90-mm M2 and British 94-mm 3.7-Inch QF AA.
American 75-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun M51
However, with the growth of speed and the increase in the number of Soviet jet bombers, fighters of the first post-war generation and anti-aircraft guns could no longer be considered an effective means of providing air defense. By the end of the 50s, supersonic and all-weather interceptors appeared in the fighter squadrons of NATO countries, and anti-aircraft missile systems appeared in ground air defense units.
The first NATO mass supersonic fighters in Europe were the American F-100 Super Saber and the French Super Mister. In 1956, France adopted the Vautour IIN two-seater all-weather interceptor, and the Javelin in Great Britain. A powerful American radar was installed on the French and British interceptors, which made it possible to detect targets day and night in any weather conditions. The interceptor was guided to the target by the commands of the operator, who was located in the rear cockpit, where the radar indicator and control equipment were installed.
SAM MIM-3 Nike-Ajax on PU
In 1953, the MIM-3 Nike-Ajax medium-range air defense system was adopted by the US Ground Forces. The range of destruction of the Nike-Ajax missile defense system at medium altitudes was 48 km. By 1958, more than 200 fire batteries were built, most of them were deployed in the United States, but after the appearance of the more advanced MIM-14 Nike-Hercules complex, Nike-Ajax was transferred to the air defense units of Greece, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany. Compared to the Nike-Ajax air defense missile system with a liquid-propellant missile, the solid-propellant missile of the Nike-Hercules complex had more than twice the range of target destruction and did not require refueling with toxic fuel and a caustic oxidizer. However, unlike the first mass Soviet air defense system S-75, the American Nike-Ajax and Nike-Hercules were actually purely stationary complexes, their relocation was difficult, and equipped capital positions were required for deployment.
To protect the RAF air bases in Great Britain, the Thunderbird air defense system has been deployed since 1959 (the launch range in the Mk 1 variant is 40 km), since 1964 they have covered the garrisons of the Rhine army in Germany. After adjusting to the required level of reliability and improving combat performance, several batteries of the Bloodhound Mk II air defense system with a launch range of 80 km were deployed to protect British facilities on the continent. At the end of 1967, the Tigercat short-range air defense system was adopted in service in the UK, intended to replace 40-mm anti-aircraft guns in military air defense units.
PU SAM "Taygerkat"
In turn, the low-altitude MIM-23A HAWK air defense system with a range of 25 km target destruction began to enter service with the American army anti-aircraft units in the mid-60s. Unlike the complexes of the Nike family, all components of the Hawk air defense system had good mobility. Subsequently, "Hawk" has repeatedly undergone modernization, which ensured him a long life and maintaining combat characteristics at the required level. In addition to the American armed forces, the Hawk air defense system was in Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Italy, Spain and the Federal Republic of Germany.
In the second half of the 60s, supersonic interceptors began to enter the NATO air forces en masse: Lightning F.3, F-104 Starfighter, Mirage III and F-4 Phantom II. All of these aircraft had their own radar and guided missiles. By that time, a wide network of hard-surfaced airfields had been created in Western Europe. All airbases where the interceptors were based on a permanent basis had concrete shelters for aircraft.
In 1961, a joint NATO air defense system was created in Europe. It consisted of four air defense zones with their own controls: North (operational center in Kolsos, Norway), Central (Brunsum, Netherlands), South (Naples, Italy) and Atlantic (Stanmore, Great Britain). The boundaries of the first three zones coincided with the boundaries of the North European, Central European and South European theater of operations. Each zone was divided into districts and divided into sectors. Air defense areas geographically coincided with the areas of responsibility of tactical air commands. The command of the Joint Air Defense Forces was exercised by the NATO Supreme Commander in Europe through his headquarters. The commanders of the NATO allied armed forces in the theater of operations led the forces and means of air defense in the zones of responsibility, and the commanders of tactical air commands - in the air defense areas.
The unified air defense system in Europe relied on zonal operational control centers, on regional centers, control and warning posts, as well as radar lighting for the air situation. The control was based on the Neji automated warning and guidance system, launched in 1974. The "Neige" system was intended to alert the structures included in it about the air enemy and control the combat forces of the NATO joint air defense system. With its help, it was possible to intercept air targets flying at a speed of about 2M, at altitudes up to 30,000 m. The system included air defense forces from 14 countries. After the country's withdrawal from the NATO military structure, the French Armed Forces had their own warning network, but used the data of the "Nage". The Neige system received information from more than 80 radars, stretching in a chain from the north of Norway to the eastern borders of Turkey for 4800 km. 37 posts located in key regions of Western Europe were equipped with high-speed computers and automated information transmission facilities. In the mid-1970s, about 6,000 people were involved in the operation and maintenance of the Nage system. In the early 80s, the Nage system included shipborne radars of the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, AWACS AWACS aircraft, as well as radar posts in Spain.
The main early warning radar of the Nage system was a French-made Palmiers-G three-coordinate stationary station operating in the centimeter range. This station with a pulse power of 20 MW had high noise immunity and provided the detection of high-altitude air targets at a distance of up to 450 km. The "Palmier-G" radar formed a multi-beam pattern in the vertical plane, the beams of which are located with some overlap one above the other, thus covering a wide field of view (from 0 to 40 °). This ensured accurate determination of the height of detected targets and high resolution. In addition, using a similar principle of forming beams with a separation in frequency, it was possible to more reliably determine the angular coordinates of the target and carry out its reliable tracking.
In 1975, 18 Palmiers-G radars were deployed in Europe. The locations for the radar were chosen on the basis of the maximum possible view of the airspace and the possibility of detecting targets at low altitudes. Preference was given to the location of radars in uninhabited areas on natural heights. In addition, the Nage system included AN / FPS-20 and AN / FPS-88 two-coordinate air target detection radars with a detection range of up to 350 km, as well as S2G9 and AN / FPS-89 altimeters.
Radar AN / FPS-20
These radars, according to the plan of the NATO command, were supposed to provide the maximum possible detection range of air targets east of the borders of NATO countries. In addition, in the event of a military threat, mobile radars, located in towed vans and on a vehicle chassis, were put forward in the pre-designated areas. The NATO command reasonably believed that most of the stationary stations, the coordinates of which were known to the Soviet command, would be destroyed in a matter of hours after the outbreak of hostilities. In this case, mobile radars, albeit with inferior detection range characteristics, had to at least partially close the gaps formed in the radar field. For this, a number of mobile airspace survey stations were used. In 1968, the AN / TPS-43 radar, operating in the 2.9-3.1 GHz range, with a detection range of high-altitude air targets up to 400 km, entered service with the American army.
American-made AN / TPS-43 radar on M35 truck
The most compact was the AN / TPS-50 radar, operating in the 1215-1400 MHz range. Its range was 90-100 km. All station equipment could be carried by seven servicemen. Deployment time - 30 minutes. In 1968, an improved version of this station was created - AN / TPS-54, transported in a van. The AN / TPS-54 radar had a range of 180 km and "friend or foe" identification equipment.
At the end of the 70s, all the fighter-interceptor bases and divisions of medium and long-range air defense missile systems at the disposal of the European NATO air defense command were linked to the Neige information system. The northern zone, which includes the Norwegian and Danish air defense regions, had 96 Nike-Hercules and Hawk launchers and about 60 interceptor fighters.
The central zone, which controlled the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, was the most numerous. The air defense of the Central Zone was provided by: 36 divisions of the Nike-Hercules and Hawk air defense systems of the armed forces of the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany. The British "Rhine Army" had 6 batteries of the "Bloodhound" air defense system. In total, there were more than 1000 missile launchers in the Central zone. However, in the late 70s, the British command decided to withdraw all air defense systems from Germany, they were returned to England to provide air defense for nuclear submarine bases and strategic bombers airfields. In addition to the air defense system, over 260 interceptor fighters were deployed in the Central Zone. The greatest combat value for intercepting Soviet bombers was represented by 96 American F-4Es with AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and 24 British "Lightinig" F.3 missiles with Red Top missiles.
British fighter-interceptor "Lightning" F.3
During the Cold War, the FRG experienced the highest density of air defense missile systems among all NATO countries. To protect the administrative and industrial centers from bomb attacks, as well as the main grouping of the NATO armed forces in the FRG, air defense systems were deployed on two defense lines. Near the border of the GDR and Czechoslovakia, the first line of the positions of the low-altitude air defense missile systems "Hawk" was located, and 100-200 km behind it - the "Nike-Hercules" air defense missile system. The first belt was intended to defeat air targets breaking through at low and medium altitudes, and the second at high altitudes.
The Atlantic zone covered the territory of Great Britain, as well as the Faroe and Scottish Islands. The British Isles were protected by several batteries of the Bloodhound air defense missile system and six squadrons of fighter-interceptors. The southern zone included Italy, Greece, Turkey and part of the Mediterranean Sea basin. In the air defense forces of Italy, there were 3 divisions of the "Nike-Hercules" missile defense system (108 launchers) and 5 squadrons of F-104 fighters (about 100 aircraft). In Turkey and Greece, there were 8 squadrons of fighter-interceptors (140 aircraft) and 3 battalions of Nike-Hercules missiles (108 launchers). The air defense maneuver in this area could be carried out with the help of five divisions of the Hawk air defense missile system (120 PU) of the ground forces of Italy and Greece. On the island of Cyprus, a battery of the Bloodhound air defense missile system and a squadron of Lightinig F.3 interceptors were deployed. In total, there were over 250 fighter-interceptors and 360 anti-aircraft missiles in the NATO South Air Defense Zone.
In the mid-70s in the united NATO air defense system in Europe, there were more than 1,500 anti-aircraft missiles and more than 600 fighter-interceptors. In the 70s and 80s, short-range air defense systems were developed in NATO countries for the direct protection of ground units from bomber and fighter-bomber aircraft. In 1972, the Rapier complex began to enter the British air defense units of the ground forces. This air defense system had semi-automatic radio command guidance and was intended to replace the outdated, ineffective air defense system "Taygerkat". SAM "Rapira" of the first variants could hit air targets at ranges up to 6800 meters and at an altitude of 3000 meters. In addition to the British army, the Rapira air defense system was supplied to the armed forces of other countries of the alliance members. To provide air defense of American air bases in Europe, several complexes were purchased by the US Department of Defense.
Launch SAM "Rapier"
Almost simultaneously with the British air defense system "Rapira" in France, a short-range mobile air defense system Crotale was created. It was intended to combat air attack weapons in the range of medium and low altitudes. The complex was created according to the terms of reference of the French Ministry of Defense to directly cover the battle formations of troops and provide air defense for strategically important facilities, headquarters, strategically important radars, ballistic missile launch sites, etc. The range of destruction of air targets is 0.5-10 km, the height of destruction is up to 6000 meters. In the Krotal complex, radar detection equipment and a self-propelled launcher with a guidance station are spaced apart on different vehicles.
SAM "Crotal"
In 1977, a mobile short-range air defense system "Roland" began to enter service with the air defense units of the Land Forces of Germany and France. The complex was developed jointly by the French company Aerospatial and the German Messerschmitt-Belkov-Blom. The "Roland" radio command missiles are capable of destroying targets flying at speeds of up to 1.2 M at ranges from 0.5 to 6.3 km and at altitudes from 15 to 5500 meters. SAM "Roland" was located on the wheelbase of heavy off-road trucks and various tracked chassis.
SAM "Roland" on the chassis of the BMP Marder
A few years earlier than in Europe, in 1969, the MIM-72A Chaparral self-propelled air defense system was adopted by the American army. In order to save time and financial resources, the designers of Lockheed Martin Aeronutronic used the AIM-9 Sidewinder air combat missiles with TGS in this complex, placing them on the chassis of a tracked conveyor. Chaparrel did not have its own radar detection systems and received target designation over the radio network from the AN / MPQ-49 radar with a target detection range of about 20 km, or from observers. The complex was guided manually by an operator visually tracking the target. The launch range in conditions of good visibility on a target flying at a moderate subsonic speed could reach 8000 meters, the height of destruction is 50-3000 meters. The disadvantage of the Chaparrel air defense system was that it could mainly fire on jet planes in pursuit. This means that anti-aircraft missile attacks on a combat aircraft, as a rule, were carried out after it had dropped the bombs. At the same time, more expensive and complex complexes with radio command missiles, developed in Europe, could fight targets flying from any direction.
Launch of SAM "Chaparrel"
Towed and self-propelled air defense systems, designed to cover individual objects, such as command posts, air bases and concentration of troops, had a relatively short range (from 0.5 to 10 km) and could fight air targets at altitudes from 0.05 to 6 km …
In addition to air defense systems, NATO countries adopted a number of self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery self-propelled installations capable of accompanying troops on the march. In the US, it was the ZSU M163, also known as the Vulcan Air Defense System. ZSU "Vulcan", put into service in 1969, was a 20-mm small-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun, developed on the basis of an aircraft cannon, installed in a rotating tower on the chassis of an M113 tracked armored personnel carrier. The gun's ammunition was 2100 rounds. The aiming range of firing at air targets is up to 1500 meters, although some sources indicate a range of up to 3000 meters. Height reach 1200 meters. Fire control was carried out using an optical sight with a calculating device, a radio range finder and a night sight. When an air target enters the kill zone, the gunner-operator of the ZSU "Vulcan", depending on the flight parameters and the nature of the target, can fire at it in short and long bursts of 10, 30, 60 and 100 shots.
ZSU M163
The 20 mm cannon with a rotating block of barrels had a variable rate of fire. Fire at a rate of 1000 rounds per minute is usually conducted at ground targets, with a rate of fire of 3000 rounds per minute at air targets. In addition to the ZSU, there is also a simplified and lightweight towed version - the M167, which was also in service with the US Army and was exported. Back in the 70s, experts pointed out a number of significant shortcomings of the Vulcan ZSU. So, the installation initially did not have its own radar sight and air target detection station. For this reason, she could only fight against visually visible targets. In addition, the gunner was located in an open top tower, which increased vulnerability and reduced reliability due to the influence of meteorological factors and dust.
ZSU "Vulcan" in the US Armed Forces were organizationally reduced together with the ZRK "Chaparrel". In the US Army, the Chaparrel-Vulcan anti-aircraft battalion consisted of four batteries, two batteries with a Chaparral air defense system (12 vehicles in each battery), and two others with an M163 ZSU (12 in each battery). The towed version of the M167 was mainly used by the air assault, airmobile divisions and the Marine Corps.
The battle formation of a division was built, as a rule, in two lines in batteries. The first line consisted of fire batteries of the Vulkan air defense complex, the second - the Chaparel air defense system. When escorting troops on the march, the ZSU is located in marching columns throughout the depth. For each battery, from the mid-70s, up to three AN / MPQ-32 or AN / MPQ-49 low-flying air target detection radars were allocated.
Radar AN / MPQ- 49
The antenna system of the AN / MPQ-49 station is mounted on a telescopic mast, the height of which can be adjusted depending on external conditions. This makes it possible to raise the transmit-receive antenna above terrain folds and trees. It is possible to remotely control the radar at distances up to 50 m using a remote control. All equipment, including the AN / VRC-46 communication radio station, is located on an all-wheel drive truck. The American command used this radar, operating in the 25-cm range, for operational control of military air defense assets.
In the late 1980s, part of the Vulkan ZSU was modernized as part of the PIVADS program. The program for improving the combat performance provided for the introduction of a digital fire control system and radar, as well as the introduction of a new Mk149 armor-piercing projectile into the ammunition load, with an effective fire range increased to 2,600 meters.
In the 50s in France, on the basis of the AMX-13 tank, a quad 12, 7-mm anti-aircraft gun was created, similar in its combat characteristics to the American Maxson Mount SPAAG, released during the Second World War. The French 12.7 mm ZSU was popular in the army, but already in the 60s it categorically did not meet modern requirements. In this regard, on the basis of the AMX-13 in the late 50s, a number of ZSUs with 20-mm and 40-mm anti-aircraft guns were created. However, due to the fact that these SPAAGs were not equipped with a modern fire control system, they did not suit the military. At the end of 1969, the AMX-13 DCA ZSU entered service.
ZSU AMX-13 DCA
In the closed steel tower of this anti-aircraft self-propelled gun, a pair of 30-mm anti-aircraft guns HSS-831A with a total rate of fire of 1200 rounds per minute was mounted. The effective range of fire against air targets reached 3000 meters. Ammunition for each gun is 300 rounds. Depending on the situation and the nature of the target, the gunner has the ability to select the firing mode: single, burst of 5 or 15 rounds, or fully automatic. Targeting is carried out using the optical sights of the commander and gunner according to data received from the DR-VC-1A pulse-Doppler radar, with a detection range of air targets of 12 km. In the stowed position, the radar antenna folded behind the tower. The fire control system also includes an analog computing device that calculates the elevation and lead angles. The car turned out to be quite light, its weight was a little over 17 tons.
Until the early 90s, the AMX-13 DCA was a standard air defense system for French mechanized divisions and was in service with their anti-aircraft artillery regiments. In general, the French, in comparison with the ZSU "Vulcan", managed to create an anti-aircraft gun more adapted for the European theater of operations. The AMX-13 DCA had its own detection radar, was better protected and could operate in the same battle formations with tanks.
ZSU VAB VADAR
In the mid-70s, Thomson-CSF and GIAT created a light wheeled SPAAG VAB VADAR with 20-mm F2 automatic cannons and an EMD 20 radar. number of ZSU in 1986, the order was canceled. Apparently, the military was not satisfied with the small effective range of 20-mm anti-aircraft guns. A 30-mm version based on a 6-wheeled armored personnel carrier was also considered, but it was not built serially either.
In the 50s, paired 40-mm American ZSU M42 Duster were supplied to Germany. They had a good firing range, but by the mid-60s they were outdated due to the lack of a fire control system. In 1976, in the units of the military air defense of the Bundeswehr, "Dasters" began to replace the ZSU "Gepard". Self-propelled gun "Gepard" is armed with two 35-mm automatic cannon "Oerlikon" KDA with a rate of fire of 550 rounds per minute, ammunition - 310 unitary shells. The mass of a 35-mm projectile is 550 g, which is about 5 times more than the mass of a 20-mm projectile of the ZSU "Vulkan". Due to this, at an initial speed of 1175 m / s, the inclined effective range of fire is 3500 meters. The height of the targets hit is 3000 meters. The fire is conducted from a short stop.
ZSU "Gepard"
ZSU "Gepard" was created on the basis of the West German tank "Leopard-1" and in terms of the mass of the component in a combat position of 47, 3 tons was close to it. In contrast to the ZSU "Vulcan", the West German anti-aircraft gun had a fairly perfect search and sighting hardware system. It included: a pulse-Doppler detection radar with identification equipment, a target tracking radar, an optical sight, two analog computing devices. The detection radar saw air targets at a distance of up to 15 km. In terms of the complex of combat characteristics, the Gepard ZSU significantly surpassed the American Vulcan ZSU. She had much better armor protection, longer firing range and projectile power. Thanks to the presence of its own target detection radar, it could operate autonomously. At the same time, the ZSU "Gepard" was significantly heavier and more expensive.
In addition to self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery installations in the 60-80s, NATO air defense units in Europe had a significant number of towed anti-aircraft guns. So, in service with the armies of Germany, Norway, Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands were several hundred 40-mm anti-aircraft guns Bofors L70. Each Bofors anti-aircraft battery had a target detection and tracking radar with equipment for issuing commands to automatic tracking drives of anti-aircraft guns. Over the years of production of this anti-aircraft gun, which is still in service, several variants were created that differed in the power supply scheme and sighting devices. The latest Bofors L70 modifications have a rate of fire of 330 rounds per minute and an inclined firing range of 4500 meters.
40-mm anti-aircraft gun "Bofors" L70
In NATO countries, a descendant of the famous Oerlikons is still widespread - a product of the Rheinmetall company - a 20-mm twin anti-aircraft gun MK 20 Rh 202. Its deliveries to the Bundeswehr began in 1969. The 20-mm towed anti-aircraft gun MK 20 Rh 202 is designed to combat low-flying air attack weapons during the day in simple weather conditions.
20 mm MZA MK 20 Rh 202
With a combat weight of 1, 640 kg, the paired 20-mm anti-aircraft gun has high mobility and can be used both in a towed version and on various vehicles. Its slant effective fire range is 1500 meters. Rate of fire - 1100 rounds per minute.
In general, NATO ground units in Europe in the 70s and 80s had good anti-aircraft cover. So, in each American mechanized and armored division stationed in Germany, there was one anti-aircraft battalion (24 SPU SAM "Chaparel" and 24 20-mm six-barreled installations "Volcano").
According to Western analysts, NATO air defense, relying on the Neige information system, fighter-interceptors and air defense systems, was quite effective against the Il-28, Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers. However, after the introduction of the Su-24 front-line bombers and Tu-22M long-range bombers with variable wing geometry into service in the USSR, the effectiveness of the NATO air defense system in Europe was called into question. According to Western estimates, the new Soviet bombers could fly at altitudes of 50 meters and below at a speed of 300 m / s. In this case, ground-based air monitoring systems experienced great difficulties in detecting them. SAM "Nike-Hercules" generally could not hit air targets at such a height. And the low-altitude Hawk did not have time to defeat, since no more than 30 seconds passed from the moment it was detected by its own radar until the target exited the affected area.
"Hawk" air defense missile system detection radar
In the late 70s - early 80s, Western European countries invested heavily in improving the regional air defense system. Its strengthening went in two directions. First of all, the existing structures, weapons, detection and control equipment were improved. The modernization of relatively new radars and long-range air defense systems was carried out en masse by the introduction of computerized ACS and high-speed communication lines. First of all, this concerned stationary radars of the Nage system and long-range air defense systems Nike-Hercules. Radically modernized complexes were supplied to the anti-aircraft missile divisions: MIM-23C Improved Hawk with a new AN / MPQ-62 detection radar and an upgraded AN / MPQ-57 tracking radar, target illumination and guidance. Thanks to this, the reaction time of the complex has decreased, and the ability to combat low-altitude targets has increased. Part of the lamp element base was replaced by a solid-state one, which increased the MTBF. The use of missiles with a more powerful engine and advanced guidance equipment made it possible to increase the target destruction range to 35 km, and the altitude to 18 km.
In 1983, the British army air defense units received improved short-range air defense systems Tracked Rapier, designed to escort tank and mechanized units. All elements of the complex were mounted on the tracked Rapier chassis, except for the tracking radar. Mobile air defense systems "Chaparrel", "Crotal" and "Roland" have undergone significant improvements. Work on their modernization was carried out in the direction of increasing reliability, noise immunity and firing range. SAM "Chaparrel" received new anti-jamming missiles with a proximity fuse. In 1981, the Roland-2 air defense missile system was adopted, capable of fighting air targets at night and in adverse weather conditions. Also, a program of modernization of some of the previously built complexes was carried out. On the first versions of the "Crotal" complex, after the march, a cable docking of the command post and launchers was needed to switch to a combat position. In 1983, the troops went to the option, in which the exchange of information between the command post and the launcher at a distance of up to 10 km is carried out via a radio channel. All vehicles of the complex are combined into a radio network, it is possible to transfer information to the launcher not only from the command post, but also from another launcher. In addition to a significant reduction in the time for bringing the complex to combat readiness and an increase in the distance between the command post and launchers, noise immunity and survivability have increased. The modernized "Crotal" was able to conduct hostilities without unmasking the inclusion of the radar - with the help of a thermal imaging camera, which accompanies the target and missiles, both during the day and at night.
In the 1980s, European NATO airfields began to master the new American F-16A fighters, the Italian-British-German ADV Tornado interceptors and the French Mirage 2000. In parallel with the supply of new aircraft, the modernization of avionics and weapons of the existing fighters F-104 Starfighter, F-4 Phantom II and Mirage F1 were carried out. In ensuring airspace control, the E-3 Sentry aircraft of the AWACS system began to play an important role. AWACS aircraft, stationed on a permanent basis in the UK, Germany and Italy, conducted air patrols daily. Their value was especially great due to their good performance in detecting low-altitude air targets.
