After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a powerful grouping of air force and air defense forces remained in Ukraine. By the time of the official creation of the Ukrainian Air Force in 1992, there were 4 air armies and one air defense army, 10 air divisions, 49 air regiments, 11 separate squadrons on its territory. A total of about 600 military units, which were armed with more than 2800 aircraft for various purposes. In terms of quantity, the military aviation of Ukraine in 1992, being the largest in Europe, was second only to the aviation of the United States, Russia and the PRC.
Ukraine got 16 fighter regiments that were part of the Air Force and Air Defense of the USSR, which were armed with: MiG-25PD / PDS, Su-15TM, MiG-23ML / MLD, MiG-29 and Su-27.
Su-15TM with insignia of the Ukrainian Air Force
However, most of this Soviet legacy turned out to be superfluous for an independent Ukraine. By 1997, the interceptors: MiG-25PD / PDS, MiG-23ML / MLD and Su-15TM were decommissioned or transferred “for storage”.
Su-27 fighters were of the greatest combat value. In total, Kiev got 67 Su-27. The total number of MiG-29s reached 240, including 155 machines in the latest modification, with more modern avionics and increased fuel reserves.
Over the years since the collapse of the USSR, the number of combat aircraft capable of effectively intercepting air targets and performing air superiority missions has decreased many times over. As of 2012, the fighter aircraft formally had 36 Su-27s and about 70 MiG-29s, of which 16 Su-27s and 20 MiG-29s were in operation.
Ukrainian fighters in storage
For the most part, the fleet of Ukrainian fighters is currently in a very deplorable state, which, however, did not prevent the Ukrainian authorities from actively trading the Soviet legacy on the world arms market.
In 2005-2012, Ukraine exported 231 military aircraft and helicopters, of which only 6 aircraft (3.3%) were new, and the rest (96.7%) were previously in service with the Ukrainian Air Force.
In 2009, the Ukrainian An-124 delivered two Su-27s to the United States, and even earlier the Americans received several MiG-29s.
It cannot be said that in Ukraine no attempts were made at all to modernize and restore the combat effectiveness of some of the fighters in service. The most promising in this respect was the heavy Su-27.
Ukrainian Su-27
At the Zaporozhye State Aviation Repair Plant, work has begun on the repair and modernization of several Su-27s. Upon completion of the work, the updated aircraft should be able to use free-fall bombs and NARs against ground targets. And also be equipped with a new navigation system compatible with GLONASS and GPS. As reported in the Ukrainian media, six modernized Su-27 P1M and Su-27UBM1 were transferred to air regiments located at the airfields in Mirgorod and Zhitomir.
Satellite image of Google Earth: Ukrainian Su-27 of the 831st tactical aviation brigade at the Mirgorod airfield
Another fighter, the light MiG-29 (modification 9.13), is being modernized by the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant. Work in this direction began in 2007. Chance helped with plans to modernize the MiG-29. At the end of 2005, Ukraine signed a contract with Azerbaijan for the supply of 12 MiG-29 and 2 MiG-29UB. At the same time, the condition of the contract was the modernization of equipment. Ukrainian enterprises were given the opportunity to test "in practice" theoretical developments under the "small modernization" program of MiGs.
The MiG-29UM1 has upgraded the navigation system and radio stations that meet the ICAO requirements. The first three modernized aircraft were received in 2010.
Ukrainian MiG-29MU1
It was planned to modernize 12 machines, but so far no more than 8 MiG-29UM1 have been converted, it is possible that some of the restored MiGs have already been lost in battles. The modernization of the radar with the planned increase by about 20% of the detection range compared to the original radar did not take place. To achieve the required characteristics, it is necessary to create (or buy from the Russian "Phazotron") a new station. In Russia, there is such a station - this is the Zhuk-M radar.
In terms of their combat capabilities, the modernized Ukrainian Su-27 and MiG-29 are significantly inferior to their Russian counterparts. Even if the economic situation remained in line with 2012, Ukraine did not have sufficient financial resources to repair the small fleet of fighters. After the destabilization of the situation in the country and the actual start of the civil war, these opportunities became even less. Due to a lack of resources (kerosene, spare parts and qualified specialists), most of the Ukrainian fighter aircraft was pinned to the ground. During the ATO conducted by the armed forces in eastern Ukraine, two MiG-29s (both from the 114th tactical aviation brigade, Ivano-Frankivsk) were shot down.
Despite the loud statements in May 2014 that aviation will be used until the end of the ATO, due to the poor technical condition of most of the aviation equipment and tangible losses, Ukrainian military aviation in hostilities in the territories of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR in the winter of 2014-2015 practically was not applied.
Satellite image of Google Earth: home airfields of Ukrainian fighter aircraft
Currently, Ukrainian fighter aviation is permanently based at the following airfields: Vasilkov, Kiev region (40th tactical aviation brigade), Mirgorod, Poltava region (831st tactical aviation brigade), Ozernoe, Zhytomyr region (9th tactical aviation brigade) Aviation), Ivano-Frankivsk, Ivano-Frankivsk region (114th tactical aviation brigade).
In Soviet times, the 8th separate air defense army was deployed on the territory of Ukraine.
In addition to the 6 IAP, which were armed with interceptor fighters, it also included parts of radio engineering (RTV) and anti-aircraft missile forces (ZRV).
The combat composition of the formations of the 8th separate air defense army
In Sevastopol, Odessa, Vasilkov, Lvov and Kharkov, radio engineering brigades were deployed, which included radio engineering battalions and separate radio engineering companies.
RTVs were equipped with radar stations and complexes of various types and modifications:
- meter range: P-14, P-12, P-18, 5N84F;
- decimeter range: P-15, P-19, P-35, P-37, P-40, P-80, 5N87;
- radio altimeters: PRV-9, -11, -13, -16, -17.
In 1991, the anti-aircraft missile units of the 8th Air Defense Army stationed in Ukraine included 18 anti-aircraft missile regiments and anti-aircraft missile brigades, which included 132 anti-aircraft missile divisions (ZRDN). Whether this is a lot or a little can be judged by the fact that it roughly corresponds to the current number of air defense missile launchers in the air defense missile systems and the Russian Air Force.
In the Ukrainian air defense network inherited from the Soviet Union after its collapse, detection equipment and air defense systems were organized so that they could protect strategically important objects and geographic regions. These include industrial and administrative centers: Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Nikolaev, Odessa and, until recently, the Crimean Peninsula. During the Soviet era, air defense systems were scattered throughout Ukraine and along the western border.
Satellite image of Google Earth: positions of radar and air defense systems of medium and long range in Ukraine as of 2010
The color of the icons means the following:
- blue circles: airspace survey radar;
- red circles: 64N6 airspace surveillance radar attached to the S-300P air defense system;
- purple triangles: SAM S-200;
- red triangles: ZRS S-300PT, S-300PS;
- orange triangles: S-300V air defense system;
- white triangles: liquidated positions of the air defense missile system.
Satellite image of Google Earth: Ukrainian radar coverage area of airspace survey as of 2010
As you can see in the picture above, Ukraine as of 2010 had almost complete radar coverage of its territory. However, this situation has now changed significantly. Due to wear and a lack of spare parts, the number of operational radars has decreased. Part of the RTV equipment deployed in the east of the country was destroyed during the hostilities. So, on the morning of May 6, 2014, as a result of an attack on a radio engineering unit in the Luhansk region, one radar station was destroyed. RTV suffered the next losses on June 21, 2014, when, as a result of mortar shelling, the radar stations of the air defense military unit in Avdiivka were destroyed.
Ukraine inherited from the USSR air defense a significant number of medium and long-range air defense systems: S-125, S-75, S-200A, V and D, S-300PT air defense systems and PS. In the military air defense of the most modern anti-aircraft systems, there were several divisions of the S-300V air defense missile systems, about 20 battalions of the Buk air defense missile system.
The S-75 air defense systems were decommissioned in the mid-90s, then it was the turn of the S-125 low-altitude complexes, which served until the early 2000s. Long-range air defense systems S-200V and D were operated until 2013.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the position of the C-200 in the vicinity of Kiev
A tragic incident that occurred on October 4, 2001 is associated with the Ukrainian air defense system S-200D. According to the conclusion of the Tu-154 Interstate Aviation Committee, tail number 85693 of Siberia Airlines, operating flight 1812 on the Tel Aviv-Novosibirsk route, was inadvertently shot down by a Ukrainian missile launched into the air as part of a military exercise on the Crimean Peninsula. All 66 passengers and 12 crew members were killed. It is most likely that during the training firing with the participation of the Ukrainian air defense, which was carried out on October 4, 2001 at Cape Opuk in the Crimea, the Ty-154 plane accidentally found itself in the center of the alleged firing sector of a training target and had a radial speed close to it. As a result, it was captured by the S-200D target illumination radar and taken as a training target. In conditions of lack of time and nervousness caused by the presence of high command and foreign guests, the S-200D operator did not determine the range to the target and "highlighted" the Tu-154 (located at a distance of 250-300 km) instead of an inconspicuous training target (launched from a range of 60 km).
The defeat of the Tu-154 with an anti-aircraft missile was, most likely, the result not of a missile missing a training target (as is sometimes stated), but of the explicit guidance of the missile by the S-200D operator at an erroneously identified target. The calculation of the complex did not assume the possibility of such an outcome of the shooting and did not take measures to prevent it. The size of the range did not ensure the safety of firing such a range of air defense systems. The organizers of the shooting did not take the necessary measures to free the airspace.
The most modern anti-aircraft systems that Ukraine inherited from the USSR air defense missile systems were the S-300PT and S-300PS air defense systems in the amount of about 30 divisions. As of 2010, the air defense units had 16 S-300PT and 11 S-300PS.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the affected area of the Ukrainian S-300PT and S-300PS air defense systems
Currently, the S-300PT air defense systems, the production of which began in the late 70s due to critical wear and tear, are practically all removed from combat duty.
The S-Z00PS, produced since 1983, was a very perfect anti-aircraft system for its time. It ensures the destruction of air targets flying at speeds up to 1200 m / s, in range in the zone up to 90 km, at altitudes from 25 m to the practical ceiling of their combat use, in a massive raid, in a complex tactical and jamming environment. The system is all-weather and can be operated in various climatic zones. Currently, the S-300PS remains the only long-range anti-aircraft missile system in the Ukrainian air defense system.
The lack of high-quality maintenance and repair during the period of "independence" led to the fact that a significant part of the Ukrainian S-300PS turned out to be incapable of combat. Currently, the number of S-300PS air defense systems capable of carrying combat duty is estimated at 7-8 divisions.
In 2012, two S-300PS divisions underwent overhaul and refurbishment at the Ukroboronservice enterprise. As reported in the Ukrainian media, part of the element base was replaced. However, there is no production of anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) of the 5V55 type in Ukraine. The available SAMs included in the S-300PS ammunition have long overdue the guaranteed storage periods, and their technical reliability is in question.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the position of the C-300PS near Odessa
In the early 2000s, consultations were held with Russia on the possibility of acquiring new S-300PMU-2 air defense systems. However, the chronic insolvency of Ukraine and Russia's unwillingness to supply modern weapons on credit did not allow updating the Ukrainian air defense system. Subsequently, the supply of Ukrainian weapons to Georgia made this completely impossible.
The critical situation with medium and long-range anti-aircraft systems in Ukraine led to the fact that a few military long-range air defense systems S-300V and medium-range air defense systems "Buk-M1" were included in the centralized air defense system of the country.
However, this is also a temporary measure, since the equipment of the two S-300V divisions on alert is badly worn out. The same fully applies to the Buk-M1 air defense system, of which the troops have less than 60 launchers.
There could have been more of them, but during the presidency of Yushchenko, two divisions of these complexes were generously supplied to Georgia. Where one division managed to take part in hostilities, shooting down Russian Tu-22M3 and Su-24M bombers.
By the beginning of hostilities in August 2008, the Georgians did not have time to really master the complex equipment, and part of the Buk crews was staffed with Ukrainian specialists. Another division of the Buk-M1 air defense missile system could not take part in the hostilities, and was captured by Russian troops in the Georgian port of Poti.
One way or another, while maintaining the current state of affairs, by 2020 the air defense of Ukraine will remain without long and medium-range anti-aircraft systems. It is obvious that the Ukrainian authorities seriously rely on the supply of modern weapons from the United States and Western Europe, but it is unlikely that under the current conditions, "Western partners" will agree to further deteriorate relations with Russia.
In this situation, in strengthening its air defense system, Ukraine can only rely on internal reserves. In April 2015, there were reports that Ukraine would adopt the S-125-2D "Pechora-2D" anti-aircraft missile system, created on the basis of a late modification of the Soviet low-altitude air defense system S-125M1.
Ukrainian SAM S-125-2D "Pechora-2D"
In general, the Ukrainian version of the modernization of the S-125-2D air defense system is ideologically similar to the Russian project GSKB "Almaz-Antey" S-125-2A ("Pechora-2A", firing range - 3, 5-28 km, height of defeat - 0, 02 -20 km), since the modernization is aimed at a radical update of the UNV-2 command post and the SNR-125 missile guidance station.
The S-125-2D air defense missile system is designed to destroy tactical and naval aircraft, as well as air-launched cruise missiles operating at low and medium altitudes in passive and active jamming day and night. The S-125-2D air defense system passed the entire range of tests, including live firing. During the modernization of the S-125-M1 air defense system to the level of S-125-2D, all fixed assets of the complex were revised. According to the developers, in the course of the improvement, the tasks of increasing the reliability, mobility, survivability of the complex, the stability of the radar to the effects of electronic interference were solved, and the resource of the air defense missile system was increased by 15 years.
However, there is no doubt that the modernized Ukrainian S-125 complex, even with increased combat capabilities, will not be able to replace the S-300P family air defense systems to be written off.
The Ukrainian S-125-2D "Pechora-2D" air defense system would be good as an addition to the existing multi-channel long-range anti-aircraft systems, could be used for air defense of airfields, communication centers, headquarters, supply bases, etc.
To solve the problems of air defense in the ATO zone (for some reason, this is exactly what was stated from television channels during the broadcast of Pechora to the political and military leadership of Ukraine), all components of the S-125-2D air defense system (including the UNV-2D antenna post and 5P73- 2D) should be placed on a mobile base. Although it looks more logical to use this air defense system for object air defense - at a delivery distance from being hit by enemy ground assets. Which, however, still does not remove from the developers the solution to the problem of the mobility of the S-125-2D air defense system.
From all of the above, we can conclude about the systemic degradation of the air defense of Ukraine. At present, it no longer meets modern requirements and is of a focal nature. Deliveries in a significant number of modern fighters, air defense systems, air monitoring and control equipment are not expected in the near future. This means that in the next few years, Ukrainian air defense, as a force capable of influencing the course of hostilities, will cease to exist. An indirect confirmation of the degradation of the Air Force and Air Defense of Ukraine is the fact that the Air Force personnel began to be used as "cannon fodder." So, in January 2015, a consolidated detachment was formed from the servicemen of the Ukrainian Air Force, which was sent to the combat zone in eastern Ukraine and took part in the battles in the Avdiivka area as an infantry unit.
