In December 1998, the NATO command was at a loss - when the decision to carry out the bombing of Yugoslavia was approved at the highest level, targets were outlined and detailed plans for an air offensive operation were drawn up, Belgrade newspapers suddenly published sensational materials - photographs of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, in service with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The presence of the enemy with the S-300 air defense system was clearly not included in the plans of the aggressors - this condition will completely change the scenario of an air war, make it necessary to take additional measures to ensure the safety of combat missions and, obviously, will lead to heavy losses among aircraft and personnel of the air forces of NATO countries. The authenticity of the photographs was not in doubt - the experts unanimously confirmed that the military in Serbian uniforms were indeed in the control room of the S-300 air defense system. Photomontage is excluded.
The verification lasted for several weeks - day and night, all movements of the Yugoslav army were monitored from an unattainable space height, sources in the Russian military-industrial complex were interrogated, and possible channels for the supply of weapons were carefully checked. Signal reconnaissance planes were "hanging" along the borders of Yugoslavia, trying to track the dangerous signals of the S-300 radars. In vain. Finally, intelligence gave an accurate answer: the photos of the S-300 are a bluff, the Serbs do not have such weapons.
After a short diplomatic comedy with a concern for human rights, on March 24, 1999 at 13:00, the first B-52s, hung with bunches of missiles, took off …
Now, after many years, some details of that story have become known. This was indeed misinformation cleverly orchestrated by Serbian intelligence. At the same time, the initiative did not come from the state at all - the entire "special operation" was privately carried out by the Serbian military and Russian journalists. Several sets of Serbian uniforms were delivered to Russia, a pass to one of the air defense units near Moscow was issued through personal contacts - and the trick was in the bag.
The alarmed NATO command postponed the start of Operation Resolute Force - according to the initial plans, the air war was supposed to begin at the most convenient time of the year - in the winter of 1998-1999, when the trees are devoid of vegetation and the snow lying in the mountains makes it difficult for the enemy ground forces to move. The staged photo of the "Serbian S-300 crew" not only delayed the start of the war, but, to some extent, played a role in reducing the losses of the Serbian army. In general, the story with the delivery of the S-300 air defense system has a sacred meaning in Russian society as a "wunderwaffe": until now, many are convinced that only the S-300 could save Yugoslavia. But was it really so?
In peacetime, under the shade of acacia, it is pleasant to dream of deployment
A bright flash splits the night, and a column of flame rises above the ruins of the Zastava factory. Jet engines roar over the uneven profile of the city, tracer bursts of anti-aircraft guns fly upward, trying in vain to ward off new trouble from the city. But another aerial bomb falls from the sky, and the valley is again shaken by a powerful blow …
For the offensive air operation against Yugoslavia, 13 NATO countries allocated colossal forces: only about 1000 aircraft at air bases in Italy (Aviano, Vicenza, Istrana, Ancona, Joya del Cola, Sigonela, Trapani), Spain (Rota military base), Hungary (air base Tasar), Germany (Ramstein airbase), France (Istres airbase), Great Britain (military airfields Fairford and Mildenhall). Two more strategic B-2 stealth bombers operated from the United States. In the Adriatic Sea, an aircraft carrier strike group of the US Navy, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, was patrolling (there were 79 aircraft and helicopters on board). Along with the aircraft carrier, 4 missile destroyers and three submarines (one of which was British), armed to the teeth with Tomahawks, sailed the waters of the Adriatic.
The main striking force in the operation was to be front-line (tactical) aviation - F-16 multipurpose fighters and F-15E tactical bombers. To destroy the most important objects, the "stealth" F-117A from the Aviano airbase (24 vehicles) were used, as well as strategic bombers B-1B, B-2 and even decrepit B-52, which hollowed out the territory of Serbia with air-launched cruise missiles.
It is worth noting that along with the super-technological machines of the new generation (F-117A, B-2, F-15E), there was a lot of aviation junk in the ranks of NATO aviation. The Air Forces of Holland, Norway, Portugal, who took an active part in the operation, were equipped with F-16A fighters of the very first generation, with outdated systems and avionics. The state of the air forces of other NATO countries was not the best - French pilots flew Mirazh-2000, Jaguars and Mirage F1 of the early 70s, the Germans used multipurpose Tornado mods. IDS, British - subsonic VTOL "Harrier". The most ridiculous of all looked was the aircraft fleet of the Italian Air Force - there, in addition to the AMX subsonic attack aircraft, there were such "dinosaurs" as the F-104.
US special operations forces were deployed at the airfields of Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina - several dozen HH-60 Pave Hawk and MC-53 Jolly Green search and rescue helicopters, which were covered by AC-130 Spektr fire support aircraft - real "flying batteries" with 105 mm guns and automatic cannons in the side openings.
The special forces units carried out the most important missions in Serbia - they aimed "precision weapons" at targets with the help of laser reflectors, installed radio beacons and equipment for electronic reconnaissance.
NATO has always paid increased attention to providing troops with communications and intelligence information - to coordinate air raids on Serbia and maintain control over the airspace of the Balkans, the NATO command used:
- 14 early warning aircraft: nine AWACS and five carrier-based E-2 Hawk Eye from the aircraft carrier Roosevelt, - 2 air command posts E-8 of the "Gee STARS" system, - 12 electronic reconnaissance aircraft (EC-130, RC-135 and EP-3 "Orion"), - 5 high-altitude scouts U-2
- about 20 EW aircraft, deck and ground based.
During the operation, drones - the American reconnaissance UAVs "Hunter" and "Predator", found limited use.
I thank the reader for finding the strength to read this long list of NATO property - our conversation is still about the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. Considering the number of forces intended for the attack on Yugoslavia, it is futile to indulge in hopes that the use by Serbia of several divisions of powerful air defense systems could radically change the situation - the loss of even 10-20 aircraft would hardly have stopped NATO. On the contrary, with the numerical superiority, it was not difficult for NATO troops to organize a hunt for the S-300 and demonstratively destroy the positions of anti-aircraft missiles with dazzling strikes of HARM anti-radar missiles and high-precision "Tomahawks" with the massive use of electronic warfare means. It is my personal belief that the use of the S-300 by the Serbs would have done more damage to the image of Russian weapons than it would have gained any concrete benefit.
Without a doubt, the S-300 is a cool anti-aircraft system, one of the best in the world today, but it is not omnipotent. A collective threat cannot be confronted alone - many enemies can be dealt with only by applying a whole range of defensive measures. In addition, supporters of the use of "miracle weapons" do not take into account that in the mountainous terrain of Yugoslavia, vehicles with long-range air defense systems mounted on them have limited deployment and maneuvering capabilities, and the hilly terrain itself significantly limits the radio horizon of the S-300 detection and guidance systems …
A number of experts agree that Serbia's air defense could significantly strengthen the mobile Buk air defense system - in mountainous terrain this complex has a higher mobility, and its capabilities to intercept air targets in the specific conditions of that war are approximately equal to the heavy S-300 air defense system. At the same time, the Buk is an order of magnitude cheaper. Alas, the leadership of Yugoslavia was not eager to buy the latest technology, relying more on diplomatic intrigues.
Reasons for defeat
The armed forces of the FRY were unable to organize the country's defense. In 100 days of continuous strikes, NATO aircraft destroyed most of Yugoslavia's infrastructure - power plants and oil storage facilities, industrial plants and military facilities. Not without high-profile crimes - the whole world went around the footage with the destroyed Belgrade television center and the carriages of the passenger train No. 393 burned down on the bridge.
The limited forces of the Air Force and Air Defense of Yugoslavia had no chance to stop the armada of NATO vultures. In total, at that time, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had 14 first-generation MiG-29 fighters and two MiG-29UB combat trainers. Despite its formidable name, the MiG-29UB did not have a radar, and, accordingly, could not conduct an air battle.
Also, the FRY Air Force had 82 MiG-21s and 130 light attack aircraft "Galeb", "Super Galeb" and J-22 Orao, some of which were in an incapacitated state.
To monitor the air situation, Soviet and American-made radars were used, including 4 modern three-coordinate radars with a phased antenna array AN / TPS-70 (detection range up to 400 km). The basis of the air defense was made up of 4 C-125 divisions and 12 divisions of the Kub mobile air defense systems. Alas, without a high-quality aviation component, all these measures were unsuccessful - from the very first minutes of the war, NATO aviation won air supremacy. Some of the positions of the air defense missile system were destroyed, the rest could not work effectively - the anti-aircraft gunners only occasionally turned on the radars, each time they risked getting a terrible HARM, aimed at the source of radio emission. In such conditions, the only means of air defense was barrel artillery - 40-mm Bofors automatic anti-aircraft cannons and Strela-2 portable air defense systems. An attempt to defend the country with such primitive means was unsuccessful.
Return fire
On the third day of the war, on March 27, 1999, a black plane crashed onto Serbian soil. On Saturday evening, all world TV channels showed footage with the wreckage of the F-117A - the whole planet laughed heartily at the American "invisible". Yes … the first victory of the Yugoslav anti-aircraft gunners was worth 10 victories! NATO representatives explained in perplexity that the plane was really invisible, but that time it changed the flight mode (opened the weapons bay) … such things. Explanations from NATO members were drowned in a general whistle.
Unfortunately, the stealth pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Dale Zelko, managed to escape fair retaliation. A few hours later, his radio beacon spotted an EP-3 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and an evacuation group flew to the scene.
NATO acknowledged the loss of only those aircraft, the wreckage of which the Serbian side was able to provide:
- low-signature strike aircraft F-117A "Nighthawk"
- multipurpose fighter F-16C
The wreckage of both vehicles was added to the exposition of the Belgrade Aviation Museum, one of the world's largest exhibition centers for aviation.
Also, on public display were exhibited:
- a severed engine from the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft. The American side claims that the engine was torn off by a MANPADS missile, and the plane was able to reach the airfield in Macedonia. The A-10 was designed as an anti-tank attack aircraft, and its design has increased survivability. Believe it or not.
- unmanned reconnaissance MQ-1 Predator. Citing the good condition of the drone, American experts suggest that it went off course and fell due to technical reasons.
It is highly likely that some NATO aircraft returned to their bases with ragged holes in the planes and fuselage. For example, on the Internet there is a video about the strange landing of the F-15 in Italy, a whitish plume stretches behind the plane - a clear hint of an emergency fuel drain. However, all these facts cannot be reliably verified, and therefore no precise assessment can be made. The fact of the destruction of the plane is the fixation of its wreckage. There are no other methods; for deviating from this rule, the aces of the Luftwaffe are reproached - they often contented themselves with recordings of photo-machine guns, which only show the hit of bullets on the target.
What to do and who is to blame for the Serbian disaster? It is clear that the delivery of two or three battalions of S-300 or Buk air defense systems would not have been able to prevent the invasion - NATO aviation had sufficient strength and the means to quickly eliminate the threat. An avalanche of aircraft and cruise missiles would simply sweep away these installations, and then the NATO military told the whole world about the "backward technologies of the Russian barbarians."
Complete rearmament of the Serbian army, complex deliveries of modern aircraft (for example, Su-27 in an amount sufficient to equip several regiments), the latest anti-aircraft systems, radars and communication systems, the construction of new airfields, training of personnel … well, the idea is not bad, but who will pay for it? Indeed, a year before the war, the leadership of the FRY refused to supply S-300 in exchange for paying off past debts to the USSR.
It is obvious that the defense of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia lay outside the military plane. The problem was solved in a purely peaceful, diplomatic way: by concluding a joint agreement on mutual protection - this practice is widespread in the world, for example, such agreements are in force between the United States and Japan, the United States and Singapore, etc. It doesn't even matter whether they are fulfilled or not - the main thing is that the very existence of such an agreement has a strong sobering effect on a potential adversary.
However, at that time Russia had much more important problems - no one wanted to get involved in the new Balkan Chechnya, where the insane interethnic conflict has been going on for hundreds of years. Serbia was left alone against a thousand NATO planes.
Some interesting figures and facts are taken from the training manual for officers of the military department of UlSTU "Generalized analysis of the use of NATO air attack weapons during a military operation in Yugoslavia", by L. S. Yampolsky, 2000
