President Clinton wandered in bewilderment through the offices of the White House, unable to look at the harsh faces of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
“Son, you’ve been sitting here for the second term, but you haven’t bombed anyone yet,” the statue of George Washington shook its head reproachfully.
“What are you going to tell Congress, the Pentagon, and the defense industry? - Thomas Jefferson echoed him, - To curtail the production of aircraft and tanks, to leave your voters without a livelihood?
“A quick victorious war on foreign shores is the best remedy for the depression of the American nation,” wise Benjamin Franklin entered the conversation. The war will benefit America, it will once again weaken the Old World and underline the prestige of the United States. The war will strengthen your rating and rally the American nation against a common threat. Choose your weaker opponent; the one that you have been swearing by economic sanctions and embargoes for many years. They swooped down on him with all their might, tear and tear him apart with the help of the "arsenals of democracy." America is waiting for its hero."
“I… I tried my best,” Bill Clinton mumbled. A special operation in Somalia, air strikes on Iraq as part of Operation Desert Fox … these are almost 600 sorties."
- “The pranks of the worthless boy! Lyndon Johnson interrupted sharply. 600 sorties ?! What is this shit, soldier ?! My hawks dropped 6, 7 million tons of bombs on Vietnam. This is a massacre! People have to die there every day! Or were you elected to the post of President of the United States to smear snot? America needs a war! Do you understand the money changer, cowboy ?!"
- Yes, sir!
- I can not hear.
- Yes, sir!
Steel fist in a velvet glove
For the war with small Serbia, the US Air Force and NATO countries concentrated a colossal number of air attack weapons: more than 1000 attack aircraft, helicopters and combat support vehicles stationed in Italy (Aviano, Vicenza, Istrana, Ancona, Joya del Cole, Gedi, Piacenza airbases, Chrevia, Brindisi, Sigonela, Trapani), France (Istres, Crosetta and Solenzara airbases on the island of Corsica), Hungary (Tasar airbase), Spain (Rota airbase), Germany (Ramstein and Spangdalen airbases), Great Britain (Faaford and Mildenhall airbases)). Also, B-2 stealth bombers operating from the United States (Whiteman airbase) were involved in striking.
Special operations forces were deployed at the border airfields of Albania, Bosnia and Macedonia: search and rescue and evacuation groups (Pave Hawk and Jolly Green helicopters), MC-130 combat support aircraft, AN-64 Apache attack helicopters and vehicles fire support AC-130 "Spectrum".
From the side of the Adriatic Sea, the group was supported by four missile cruisers, two American and one British nuclear submarines, whose tasks were to strike with cruise missiles - in the early days of the war, the Tomahawks knocked out the positions of Serbian air defense systems, destroyed radars, headquarters buildings and command centers, beheaded and disorganized the army of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In addition to cruise missile carriers, there were a number of other ships of the Sixth Fleet and the navy of NATO countries in the Adriatic, however, their presence was limited only to an expression of moral support for aircraft flying over their masts. On the 12th day of the war, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "Theodore Roosevelt" approached the shores of Yugoslavia, its air wing also joined in the work to destroy the Serbian state.
Go!
And we arrived. The wreckage of an F-16C Block 40D # 88-0550 fighter from Aviano airbase. Aviation Museum in Belgrade
The most important role was assigned to the information component of the operation: the NATO command sought to gain full control over the situation on the ground and in the skies of Yugoslavia. The following were involved in the reconnaissance flights:
- 9 flying radars E-3 "Sentry" and 5 carrier-based early warning aircraft E-2 "Hawkeye" to illuminate the air situation and coordinate flights of NATO aviation.
- 2 air reconnaissance aircraft E-8 of the "G-Stars" system - airborne systems for long-range observation of ground targets;
- 12 radio reconnaissance aircraft (EC-130, RC-135W, naval EP-3C "Aries"), used for direction finding of operating radio technical devices, search for radio beacons of downed pilots, building a radar map of the terrain and defining safe "corridors" in the enemy air defense system.
- 5 high-altitude scouts U-2 "Dragon Lady": hovering along the borders of the combat zone, these "birds" revealed all the movements and preparations of the Serbian army.
The US orbital group was actively involved in performing reconnaissance tasks. As for the controversial GPS system, the Yankees "clicked on the nose" of the world by simply turning off navigation satellites at the outbreak of the war. Winged Tomahawks independently navigated the terrain (TERCOM system), and NATO aircraft used specialized radio navigation systems. At the same time, GPS data could be used in the interests of the enemy, which entailed an immediate shutdown of the system.
During the 78 days of the air war, NATO aircraft made 38,000 combat missions, of which 10,484 were attack missions. Aviation brought 23,614 aviation ammunition on the "wings of freedom", not counting sea-based cruise missiles (in total, American and British ships used up about 700 Tomahawks). The damage from the bombing exceeded $ 200 billion.
The ruins of the General Staff building. Belgrade, today
Weak aircraft and outdated air defense systems of Serbia were unable to repel such a massive attack. Weakened by endless internal conflict, international economic sanctions and military embargoes, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was cruelly crucified by NATO vultures.
Defense
The FRY Air Force included only 14 first-generation MiG-29 fighters and two combat training "twin" MiG-29UB without radar. In the absence of high-quality target designation and a more than 20-fold numerical superiority of the enemy in fighter aircraft, few of the MiGs that dared to take to the air turned into easy targets for NATO pilots. Result - 6 vehicles were lost in aerial battles, without any result.
In addition to the MiG-29, the FRY Air Force included 34 serviceable MiG-21s and about 100 subsonic attack aircraft "Galeb", "Super Galeb" and J-22. It would be sheer suicide to pit such vehicles against modern F-15s and F-16s of the United States Air Force. The only confirmed aerial victory for the Serbian MiG-21 is the Tomahawk cruise missile, shot down on March 24, 1999.
Fighter F-16. There is a mark about the destroyed MiG on the fuselage.
The Serbian air defense system included 12 divisions of S-125M1T "Neva" anti-aircraft missile systems and 20 divisions of mobile air defense systems "Kub" - equipment of the 1970s model, with low noise immunity and short firing range, completely ineffective in modern conditions.
Also in service were about 100 mobile systems Strela-1 and Strela-10, whose capabilities corresponded more to MANPADS than to full-fledged anti-aircraft missile systems.
However, even to suppress such a meager defense, NATO had to sweat a lot: 743 "smart" AGM-88 HARM missiles were launched against the identified positions of the Serbian air defense systems, aiming at sources of radar radiation.
And all the more striking is the following fact: despite the outdated and ineffective materiel, a huge number of HARM and ALARM anti-radar missiles fired, incessant bombing and cruise missile attacks,the air defense system of Serbia has RETURNED and was able to achieve several outstanding victories!
Kunstkamera
As soon as it comes to NATO air losses in the operation against Yugoslavia, opinions are divided into two radical points of view:
1. NATO's real losses were in the hundreds of vehicles
2. The highly developed civilization of the West "bent" the backward Slavs with a "dry" account - the losses of the air forces of the countries of the Coalition do not exceed a few units.
As for the author's point of view, she recognizes the minimum losses of the air forces of the NATO countries, but draws completely different conclusions from this: it is surprising how the Serbs managed to achieve victories in such unfavorable conditions ?! And what would have happened if the Slavic brothers had something more serious than the Cube air defense system?
However, first things first.
It is obvious that the myths about the destruction of the Serbian air defense of hundreds of enemy aircraft, including the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, are nothing more than a figment of the imagination of impressionable citizens. What universal attention was surrounded by the downed "invisible" F-117 - its wreckage is shown in a museum, books are written about it and films are made. It is not hard to imagine what a sensation the fall of the 150-ton B-2 monster would have made. Alas … the "shot down" plane disappeared without a trace in the fantasies of conspiracy theorists.
A similar story occurs with the list of destroyed NATO tactical aircraft - dozens of F-15, F-16, Tornadoes, A-10 attack aircraft, helicopters with special forces … As for the "falling debris into the sea", the damaged aircraft still needs to fly to the sea - over 300 km from Belgrade to the coast.
It is also impossible to hide the fact of numerous aircraft crashes on the territory of neighboring states: despite the "evacuation of the wreckage" and "bribery of witnesses", sooner or later it would become known about this. Too enchanting event.
However, the pro-Western public rejoices early on how "NATO defeated the savages, losing only 2 aircraft."
In addition to the downed F-117A Nighthawk and F-16C Block 40D Fighting Folkan, whose wreckage is on display in the showcases of the Aviation Museum in Belgrade, a number of incidents happened to American aircraft that (attention!) Were recognized by the NATO command at official level. Some of them were openly assigned the status of "combat loss", the other part is disguised under the pretext of various navigational accidents and technical reasons.
For example, on May 1, 1999, an AV-8 Harrier II (No. 164568, 365 Squadron, United States Marine Corps) was lost over the Adriatic Sea. It goes without saying that the disaster happened during a training flight - this is exactly the version the Pentagon insists on.
AH-64A Apache wreck (# 88-0250, Company B, 6th Battalion, 6th Cavalry, US Army)
Two training flights of Apache helicopters ended no less sadly - the attack vehicles crashed in the mountains on the border of Serbia and Albania on the night of April 26 and, respectively, on May 5, 1999. The first time there were no casualties, the second time the Apache killed both crew members. The reason for the fall? The Pentagon attributes both disasters to navigation errors. This time, the Americans are not far from the truth - it is easier to crash a helicopter in the mountains in the dark than to snap your fingers. Another question is, how "training" were these flights?
On May 2, 1999, the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft (number 81-0967) performed a "training" engine reset directly over Serbia … however, that time the Yankees did not hide anything - the plane was shot down from Strela-2 MANPADS … The explosion mutilated the right engine, but the tenacious "bird" managed to reach the Skopje airport (Macedonia).
It is not often mentioned that there were at least two losses among the "invisibles":
On April 21, 1999, an F-117A aircraft (number 86-0837) on a combat mission during the NATO operation against Yugoslavia experienced a "Class A incident." This is the name under which the US Air Force undergoes severe accidents, usually leading to the death / decommissioning of the aircraft.
Since there is no evidence of a plane crash on the territory of the FRY or neighboring states, the plane most likely crashed on takeoff or while landing at one of the NATO air bases. That does not at all exclude the impact of enemy fire on its design - the plane could get damaged over the target, which, ultimately, caused its death or serious damage when trying to land.
But that's not all!
The exposition of the Aviation Museum in Belgrade has several amazing exhibits:
- lightweight French UAV Sagem Crecerelle;
- large American drone RQ-1 "Predator";
- wreckage of a sea-based cruise missile BGM-109 "Tomahawk".
NATO representatives themselves officially admit the loss of 21 unmanned aerial vehicles in the skies over Yugoslavia, including 2 heavy Predators:
- On May 13, 1999, an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft (tail number 95-3019) was shot down by the Strela-1 air defense missile system near the village of Biba;
- On May 20, 1999, another RQ-1 (95-3021) came under fire from an air defense missile system near the village of Talinovce.
There is a mention that the Serbs shot down several NATO drones, simply by shooting them from a Mi-8 helicopter.
UAV RQ-1 Predator
As for cruise missiles, the number of downed Tomahawks goes to several dozen - a very commendable result for such a primitive air defense system that Serbia possessed at that time.
Unapproachable citadel
No bravura speeches and "heady" moods. It has long been worth taking off the rose-colored glasses and admitting that the air defense system of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia failed its task: NATO aviation brazenly walked over the heads of the Serbs, pouring cluster munitions on them with a fiery shower.
No unfounded fantasies about heavy losses among NATO aircraft - the Serbs did not shoot down a large number of enemy aircraft, and could not shoot down, due to the weakness of their air defense system. Serb trophies were only 2 combat aircraft + a number of downed / damaged turntables, UAVs and cruise missiles.
Despite such a sad ending, the wreckage of the black hawks from the Belgrade Aviation Museum clearly shows that the powerful NATO aircraft is not invulnerable. You can and should fight it! Even primitive air defense systems, in conditions of absolute numerical superiority of the enemy, made it possible to achieve high-profile victories - of course, we are talking about the F-117A: the destruction of an invisible aircraft has become one of the most curious pages in the history of modern aviation.
Let's close our eyes for a moment and try to simulate the situation: instead of the outdated “Cubes” and stationary S-125s, the Serbs were in possession of … no, not the famous S-300.
The "300th" anti-aircraft system is too cumbersome and complex, in addition, in the conditions of mountainous Yugoslavia, it loses its main advantages - mobility and range.
Suppose that 15-20 battalions of the Buk-M1-2 medium-range air defense missile systems have entered service with the Serbian air defense system. In technical terms, the Buk-M1-2 is no less perfect than the S-300 air defense system, and the shorter firing range is compensated for by the better stealth and mobility of the complex.
In addition to the "Buks" - a hundred of the simplest ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" (or "Tunguska" - there is no need to dream of "Shell C1"): rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns with radar guidance pose a mortal threat to low-flying aircraft (Beech").
Do not neglect portable air defense systems - "Strela-2", "Needle", FIM-92 Stinger. And more, more (because they are relatively cheap). The massive use of such "toys" will give confidence and cause serious difficulties in the work of enemy aircraft.
Finally, there must be a powerful political will to use all these weapons, and universal support from the population.
If the Serbs had all the conditions described above, I would venture to suggest that the bombing of Yugoslavia could not have taken place. After assessing all possible risks, the Americans would appoint another "whipping boy", shifting their priorities towards Somalia, Afghanistan and other completely backward countries - where there is a chance to avoid serious resistance.
Small photo gallery:
The wreck of the "Apache" in Albania
Anti-aircraft artillery of the air defense of Serbia conducts barrage fire
Part of the second stage of an anti-aircraft missile that hit the "invisible" on Budanovtsy
Trophy French UAV Sagem Crecerelle
RQ-1 Predator
SLCM "Tomahawk" in section
