Attempts to create anti-aircraft missiles were made during the Second World War, but at that moment not a single country had reached the appropriate technological level. Even the Korean War passed without anti-aircraft missile systems. For the first time they were seriously used in Vietnam, having a tremendous impact on the outcome of this war, and since then they have been one of the most important classes of military equipment, without their suppression, it is impossible to gain air superiority.
S-75 - "WORLD CHAMPION" FOREVER
For more than half a century, over 20 types of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) and portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) have had real combat successes. Moreover, in most cases, it is very difficult to find out the exact results. It is often difficult to establish objectively what exactly the specific aircraft and helicopter were shot down with. Sometimes the belligerents deliberately lie for propaganda purposes, but it is not possible to establish the objective truth. Because of this, only the most tested and confirmed results by all parties will be shown below. The true effectiveness of almost all air defense systems is higher, and in some cases - at times.
The first air defense system to achieve combat success, and a very loud one, was the Soviet S-75. On May 1, 1960, he shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance aircraft over the Urals, which caused a huge international scandal. Then the S-75 shot down five more U-2s - one in October 1962 over Cuba (after which the world was one step away from nuclear war), four - over China from September 1962 to January 1965.
The "finest hour" of the S-75 happened in Vietnam, where from 1965 to 1972, 95 S-75 air defense systems and 7658 anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) were delivered to them. The calculations of the air defense system were at first completely Soviet, but gradually the Vietnamese began to replace them. According to Soviet data, they shot down either 1,293 or even 1,770 American aircraft. The Americans themselves admit the loss of about 150-200 aircraft from this air defense system. At the moment, the losses confirmed by the American side by type of aircraft are as follows: 15 B-52 strategic bombers, 2-3 F-111 tactical bombers, 36 A-4 attack aircraft, nine A-6, 18 A-7, three A-3, three A-1, one AC-130, 32 F-4 fighters, eight F-105, one F-104, 11 F-8, four RB-66 reconnaissance aircraft, five RF-101, one O-2, one transport C- 123, as well as one CH-53 helicopter. As mentioned above, the real results of the S-75 in Vietnam are obviously much greater, but what they are is no longer possible to say.
Vietnam itself lost from the C-75, more precisely from its Chinese clone HQ-2, one MiG-21 fighter, which in October 1987 accidentally entered the airspace of the PRC.
In terms of combat training, Arab anti-aircraft gunners never matched either Soviet or Vietnamese, so their results were significantly lower.
During the "war of attrition" from March 1969 to September 1971, Egyptian C-75s shot down at least three Israeli F-4 fighters and one Mister, one A-4 attack aircraft, one transport Piper Cube and one air command post (VKP) S-97. The actual results may be higher, but unlike Vietnam, not much. During the October 1973 war, the C-75 had at least two F-4s and A-4s. Finally, in June 1982, a Syrian S-75 shot down an Israeli Kfir-S2 fighter.
Iraqi S-75s shot down at least four Iranian F-4s and one F-5E during the 1980-1988 war with Iran. The real results could have been many times greater. During Desert Storm in January-February 1991, the Iraqi C-75s had one F-15E fighter-bomber of the US Air Force (tail number 88-1692), one carrier-based fighter of the US Navy F-14 (161430), one British bomber "Tornado" (ZD717). Perhaps two or three more planes should be added to this number.
Finally, on March 19, 1993, during the war in Abkhazia, a Georgian S-75 shot down a Russian Su-27 fighter jet.
In general, the C-75 has at least 200 shot down aircraft (due to Vietnam, there may actually be at least 500, or even a thousand). According to this indicator, the complex surpasses all other air defense systems in the world combined. It is possible that this Soviet air defense system will remain the "world champion" forever.
Worthy heirs
The S-125 anti-aircraft missile system was created a little later than the S-75, so it did not make it to Vietnam and made its debut during the "war of attrition", and with Soviet calculations. In the summer of 1970, they shot down up to nine Israeli aircraft. During the October war, they had at least two A-4s, one F-4 and one Mirage-3. The actual results could have been much higher.
Ethiopian S-125s (possibly with Cuban or Soviet crews) shot down at least two Somali MiG-21s during the 1977-1978 war.
Iraqi S-125s have two Iranian F-4Es and one American F-16C (87-0257). At least they could have shot down at least 20 Iranian planes, but now there is no direct confirmation.
An Angolan S-125 with a Cuban crew in March 1979 shot down a Canberra bomber from South Africa.
Finally, the Serbian S-125s accounted for all the losses of NATO aircraft during the aggression against Yugoslavia in March – June 1999. These are the F-117 stealth bomber (82-0806) and the F-16C fighter jet (88-0550), both of which belonged to the US Air Force.
Thus, the number of confirmed victories of the S-125 does not exceed 20, the real one may be 2-3 times more.
The longest-range anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) in the world, the S-200, has not a single confirmed victory on its account. It is possible that in September 1983, a Syrian S-200 with a Soviet crew shot down an Israeli AWACS aircraft E-2S. In addition, there are suggestions that during the conflict between the United States and Libya in the spring of 1986, the Libyan S-200 shot down two American A-6 carrier-based attack aircraft and an F-111 bomber. But not even all domestic sources agree with all these cases. Therefore, it is possible that the only "victory" of the S-200 is the destruction of the Ukrainian air defense system of this type of the Russian passenger Tu-154 in the fall of 2001.
The most modern air defense system of the former Air Defense Forces of the country, and now the Air Force of the Russian Federation, the S-300P, has never been used in battle, therefore, its high tactical and technical characteristics (TTX) have not received practical confirmation. The same applies to the S-400.
Conversations of "sofa experts" about the "failure" of Russian air defense systems in April this year. when American "Tomahawks" fired at the Syrian airbase Shayrat, they only testify to the complete incompetence of the "experts." No one has yet created and will never create a radar that can see through the earth, because radio waves do not propagate in a solid. American SLCMs went very far from the positions of Russian air defense systems, with a huge value of the exchange rate parameter and, most importantly, under the folds of the terrain. Russian radar stations simply could not see them, respectively, the aiming of missiles at them was not ensured. With any other air defense system, a similar "disaster" would also have happened, because no one has yet succeeded in abolishing the laws of physics. At the same time, the Shayrat air defense base was not covered either formally or in fact, so what does the failure have to do with it?
"CUBE", "SQUARE" AND OTHERS
Soviet air defense systems of military air defense were widely used in battle. First of all, we are talking about the Kvadrat air defense system (an export version of the Cube air defense system used in the air defense of the USSR ground forces). In terms of firing range, it is close to the S-75, so abroad it was more often used for strategic air defense than for air defense of ground forces.
During the October 1973 war, Egyptian and Syrian Squares shot down at least seven A-4s, six F-4s, and one Super Mister fighter. Actual results can be much higher. In addition, in the spring of 1974, the Syrian "Squares" may have shot down six more Israeli aircraft (however, this is one-sided Soviet data).
On account of the Iraqi air defense systems "Kvadrat" at least one Iranian F-4E and F-5E and one American F-16C (87-0228). Most likely, one or two dozen Iranian aircraft and, possibly, one or two American aircraft can be added to this number.
During the war for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco (this war is not over yet), Algeria supported the Polisario Front fighting for this independence, which transferred a significant amount of air defense to the rebels. In particular, at least one Moroccan F-5A was shot down with the help of the Kvadrat air defense system (in January 1976). In addition, in January 1985, "Kvadrat", already owned by Algeria itself, shot down a Moroccan fighter "Mirage-F1".
Finally, during the Libyan-Chadian war of the 1970s and 1980s, the Chadians captured several Libyan "Squares", one of which, in August 1987, shot down the Libyan Tu-22 bomber.
The Serbs actively used the Kvadrat air defense system in 1993-1995 during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In September 1993, the Croatian MiG-21 was shot down, in April 1994 - the English Sea Harrier FRS1 from the Ark Royal aircraft carrier (however, according to other sources, this plane was shot down by the Strela-3 MANPADS). Finally, in June 1995, the F-16S of the US Air Force (89-2032) fell victim to the Serbian "Square".
Thus, in general, in terms of performance among the domestic "large" air defense systems "Kvadrat", apparently, bypasses the S-125 and ranks second after the S-75.
The Buk air defense missile system created in the development of "Cuba" is still considered quite modern today. He has shot down planes on his account, although his successes cannot cause us joy. In January 1993, during the war in Abkhazia, a Russian Buk mistakenly shot down an Abkhaz L-39 attack aircraft. During the five-day war in the Caucasus in August 2008, Georgian Buk air defense systems received from Ukraine shot down Russian Tu-22M and Su-24 bombers and possibly up to three Su-25 attack aircraft. Finally, I recall the story of the death of the Malaysian Boeing-777 over Donbas in July 2014, but there is too much that is unclear and strange.
Troops SAM "Wasp" of the Syrian army, according to Soviet data, from April 1981 to May 1982, eight Israeli aircraft were shot down - four F-15, three F-16, one F-4. None of these victories, unfortunately, have any objective evidence, apparently, they are all completely invented. The only confirmed success of the Syrian air defense system "Osa" is the Israeli F-4E, shot down in July 1982.
Front POLISARIO received air defense assets not only from Algeria, but also from Libya. It was Libyan "Wasps" in October 1981 that shot down the Moroccan "Mirage-F1" and the C-130 transport aircraft.
Angolan (more precisely, Cuban) SAM "Osa" in September 1987 was shot down by the South African AM-3SM (light reconnaissance aircraft made in Italy). It is possible that the Wasp has several more South African aircraft and helicopters on its account.
Perhaps the Iraqi "Wasp" in January 1991 was shot down by the British "Tornado" with tail number ZA403.
Finally, in July – August 2014, Donbass militias allegedly shot down a Su-25 attack aircraft and an An-26 military transport aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force with a captured Wasp.
In general, the success of the Osa air defense missile system is rather modest.
The successes of the Strela-1 air defense system and its deep modification Strela-10 are also very limited.
In December 1983, during the fighting between the Armed Forces of Syria and NATO countries, the Syrian Arrow-1 shot down an American carrier-based attack aircraft A-6 (tail number 152915).
In November 1985, South African special forces officers shot down a Soviet An-12 transport aircraft over Angola with the captured "Strela-1". In turn, in February 1988, the South African Mirage-F1 was shot down in the south of Angola by either Strela-1 or Strela-10. Perhaps, on account of these two types of air defense systems in Angola, there were several more South African aircraft and helicopters.
In December 1988, an American civilian DC-3 was mistakenly shot down over Western Sahara by Arrow 10 of the Frente Polisario.
Finally, during Desert Storm on February 15, 1991, the Iraqi Arrow 10 shot down two US Air Force A-10 attack aircraft (78-0722 and 79-0130). Perhaps, on account of the Iraqi air defense systems of these two types, there were several more American aircraft.
The most modern Russian military short-range air defense system "Tor" and anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems (ZRPK) "Tunguska" and "Pantsir" did not take part in hostilities, respectively, aircraft and helicopters were not shot down. Although there are completely unverified and unconfirmed rumors about the successes of the Pantsirey in Donbass - one Su-24 bomber and one Mi-24 attack helicopter of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
MODEST SUCCESSES OF WESTERN COLLEAGUES
The success of Western air defense systems is much more modest than Soviet ones. This is explained, however, not only and not so much by their performance characteristics as by the peculiarity of the formation of air defense. The Soviet Union and the countries oriented towards it, in the fight against enemy aircraft, traditionally focused on ground-based air defense systems, and the Western countries on fighters.
The greatest success was achieved by the American air defense system "Hawk" and its deep modification "Improved Hawk". Almost all of the successes fell on the Israeli air defense systems of this type. During the "war of attrition" they shot down one Il-28, four Su-7s, four MiG-17s, and three MiG-21s of the Egyptian Air Force. During the October war, they had four MiG-17s, one MiG-21, three Su-7s, one Hunter, one Mirage-5, two Mi-8s of the Air Forces of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Libya. Finally, in 1982, a Syrian MiG-25 and possibly a MiG-23 were shot down over Lebanon.
During the Iranian-Iraqi war, Iranian air defense systems "Hawk" shot down two or three of their F-14 and one F-5, as well as up to 40 Iraqi aircraft.
In September 1987, a Libyan Tu-22 bomber was shot down by the French Hawk air defense system over the capital of Chad, N'Djamena.
On August 2, 1990, Kuwaiti's Advanced Hawk air defense systems shot down one Su-22 and one MiG-23BN of the Iraqi Air Force during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. All Kuwaiti air defense systems were captured by the Iraqis and then used against the United States and its allies, but without success.
Unlike the S-300P, its American alter ego, the American Patriot long-range air defense system, was used in both Iraqi wars. Basically, its targets were outdated Soviet-made Iraqi ballistic missiles R-17 (the notorious "Scud"). The effectiveness of the Patriots turned out to be very low; in 1991, the Americans suffered the most serious human losses from the missile P-17s. During the second Iraqi war in the spring of 2003, the first two downed aircraft appeared on the Patriot's account, which, however, did not give the Americans pleasure. They were both their own: the British "Tornado" (ZG710) and the F / A-18C of the US Navy (164974). At the same time, the US Air Force F-16S destroyed one of the Patriot battalions with an anti-radar missile. Apparently, the American pilot did this not by accident, but deliberately, otherwise he would have become the third victim of his anti-aircraft gunners.
Israeli "Patriots" also fired with dubious success in the same 1991 at the Iraqi P-17. In September 2014, it was the Israeli Patriot that shot down the first enemy aircraft for this air defense system - the Syrian Su-24, which accidentally flew into Israeli airspace. In 2016-2017, Israeli Patriots repeatedly fired at unmanned aerial vehicles arriving from Syria, in most cases without success (despite the fact that the price of all fired unmanned aerial vehicles taken together was lower than one Patriot air defense missile system).
Finally, the Saudi Patriots may have shot down one or two P-17s launched by the Yemeni Houthis in 2015-2017, but many more missiles of this type and increasingly modern Tochka missiles successfully hit targets in Saudi territory, inflicting extremely significant damage to the troops of the Arabian coalition.
Thus, in general, the effectiveness of the Patriot air defense system should be recognized as extremely low.
Western short-range air defense systems have very modest success, which, as mentioned above, is partly due not to technical shortcomings, but to the peculiarities of combat use.
On account of the American air defense system "Chaparel" only one aircraft - the Syrian MiG-17, shot down by an Israeli air defense system of this type in 1973.
Also, one plane was shot down by the English Rapier air defense system - an Argentinean Israeli-made Dagger fighter over the Falklands in May 1982.
The French air defense system "Roland" has a little more tangible success. The Argentine "Roland" over the Falklands was shot down by the British "Harrier-FRS1" (XZ456). The Iraqi Rolands have at least two Iranian aircraft (F-4E and F-5E) and possibly two British Tornadoes (ZA396, ZA467), as well as one American A-10, but all three of these aircraft are not fully confirmed victories. In any case, it is interesting that all the planes shot down by the French air defense system in different theaters are of Western production.
A special category of air defense systems are shipborne air defense systems. Only the British air defense systems have combat successes thanks to the participation of the British Navy in the war for the Falklands. The Sea Dart air defense missile system shot down one Argentine British-made Canberra bomber, four A-4 attack aircraft, one Learjet-35 transport aircraft, and one French-made SA330L helicopter. On account of the Sea Cat air defense system - two A-4S. With the help of the Sea Wolfe air defense system, one Dagger fighter and three A-4Bs were shot down.
BREAKING ARROWS AND SHARP NEEDLES
Separately, we should dwell on portable anti-aircraft missile systems, which have become a special category of air defense systems. Thanks to MANPADS, infantrymen and even guerrillas and terrorists were able to shoot down planes and, moreover, helicopters. Partly because of this, it is even more difficult to establish the exact results of a particular type of MANPADS than for "large" air defense systems.
The Soviet Air Force and army aviation in Afghanistan lost 72 aircraft and helicopters from MANPADS in 1984-1989. At the same time, the Afghan partisans used the Soviet Strela-2 MANPADS and their Chinese and Egyptian copies of the HN-5 and Ain al-Sakr, the American Red Eye and Stinger MANPADS, and the British Bloupipe. It was far from always possible to establish from which particular MANPADS a particular aircraft or helicopter was shot down. A similar situation took place during the "Desert Storm", wars in Angola, Chechnya, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, etc. Accordingly, the results given below for all MANPADS, especially Soviet and Russian, should be considered significantly underestimated.
At the same time, however, there is no doubt that among the MANPADS, the Soviet Strela-2 complex is in the same status as the S-75 among the "large" air defense systems - the absolute and, possibly, unattainable champion.
For the first time "Arrows-2" were used by the Egyptians during the "war of attrition". In 1969, they shot down from six (two Mirages, four A-4s) to 17 Israeli aircraft over the Suez Canal. In the October war, at least four more A-4s and a CH-53 helicopter were on their account. In March-May 1974, Syrian Arrows-2 shot down from three (two F-4, one A-4) to eight Israeli aircraft. Then, between 1978 and 1986, Syrian and Palestinian MANPADS of this type shot down four aircraft (one Kfir, one F-4, two A-4) and three helicopters (two AN-1, one UH-1) of the Israeli Air Force and the carrier-based attack aircraft A-7 (tail number 157468) of the US Navy.
Arrows-2 were used at the final stage of the Vietnam War. From the beginning of 1972 to January 1973, they shot down 29 American aircraft (one F-4, seven O-1, three O-2, four OV-10, nine A-1, four A-37) and 14 helicopters (one CH-47, four AN-1, nine UH-1). After the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam and until the end of the war in April 1975, these MANPADS had from 51 to 204 aircraft and helicopters of the Armed Forces of South Vietnam. Then, in 1983-1985, the Vietnamese shot down at least two A-37 attack aircraft of the Thai Air Force over Cambodia with Strelami-2.
In 1973, Guinea-Bissau rebels shot down three Portuguese G-91 attack aircraft and one Do-27 transport aircraft with Strela-2.
In 1978-1979, Front Polisario fighters shot down a French attack aircraft Jaguar and three Moroccan fighters (one F-5A, two Mirage-F1) from these MANPADS over Western Sahara, and in 1985, a German scientific Do-228 flying to Antarctica.
In Afghanistan, at least one Soviet Su-25 attack aircraft was lost from Strela-2.
Libyan "Strelami-2" in July 1977 may have shot down the Egyptian MiG-21, in May 1978 - the French "Jaguar". At the same time, the Chadians shot down the Libyan Su-22 attack aircraft with the captured Libyan Arrow-2 in August 1982.
In Angola, MANPADS of this type were also fired in both directions. With the captured "Strela-2" the South African troops shot down the Angolan (Cuban) MiG-23ML fighter. On the other hand, the Cubans shot down at least two Impala attack aircraft from these MANPADS. In reality, their result was much higher.
In October 1986, an American C-123 transport aircraft with cargo for the contras was shot down by Strela-2 in Nicaragua. In 1990-1991, the Salvadorian Air Force lost three aircraft (two O-2, one A-37) and four helicopters (two Hughes-500, two UH-1) from Strel-2 received by local partisans.
During Desert Storm, Iraqi Arrows 2 shot down one British Tornado (ZA392 or ZD791), one US Air Force AC-130 gunship (69-6567), one AV-8B of the US Marine Corps (162740). During the second Iraqi war in January 2006, Iraqi militants shot down the AN-64D Apache combat helicopter of the army aviation (03-05395) with this MANPADS.
In August 1995, the Serbian "Strela-2" (according to other sources - "Igla") shot down the French bomber "Mirage-2000N" (tail number 346) over Bosnia.
Finally, in May-June 1997, the Kurds shot down the Turkish helicopters AH-1W and AS532UL with Strelami-2.
More modern Soviet MANPADS, "Strele-3", "Igle-1" and "Igla", were unlucky, almost no victories were recorded for them. Only the British Harrier was recorded on Strela-3 in Bosnia in April 1994, which, as mentioned above, is also claimed by the Kvadrat air defense system. Igla MANPADS "shares" with Strela-2 the aforementioned Mirage-2000N No. 346. In addition, F-16С (84-1390) of the US Air Force in Iraq in February 1991, two Georgian combat helicopters Mi-24 and one Su-25 attack aircraft in Abkhazia in 1992-1993 and, alas, the Russian Mi-26 in Chechnya in August 2002 (127 people were killed). In the summer of 2014, three Su-25 attack aircraft, one MiG-29 fighter, one An-30 reconnaissance aircraft, three Mi-24 attack helicopters and two Mi-8 multipurpose helicopters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were allegedly shot down from an unclear-type MANPADS over Donbas.
In fact, all Soviet / Russian MANPADS, including Strela-2, due to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, obviously have significantly more victories to their account.
Of the Western MANPADS, the American Stinger has the most success. In Afghanistan, he shot down at least one Su-25 attack aircraft of the USSR Air Force, one MiG-21U of the Afghan Air Force, Soviet An-26RT and An-30 transport aircraft, six Mi-24 combat helicopters and three Mi-8 transport helicopters. The real successes of "Stinger" in this war are many times greater (for example, only the Mi-24 could be shot down to 30), although it is very far from the overall result of "Strela-2".
In Angola, the South African team shot down at least two MiG-23ML with Stingers.
The British in the Falklands with these MANPADS destroyed one Argentine attack aircraft "Pukara" and one transport helicopter SA330L.
The older American Red Eye MANPADS was used by the Israelis against the Syrian Air Force. With its help, seven Syrian Su-7 and MiG-17s were shot down during the October war and one MiG-23BN in Lebanon in 1982. The Nicaraguan Contras shot down four Mi-8 government helicopters by Red Ayami in the 1980s. The same MANPADS shot down several Soviet planes and helicopters in Afghanistan (possibly up to three Mi-24s), but there is no specific correspondence between their victories.
The same can be said about the use of British Bloupipe MANPADS in Afghanistan. Therefore, he has only two well-established victories on his account. Both were achieved during the Falklands War, in which this MANPADS was used by both sides. The British shot down their Argentine attack aircraft MV339A, the Argentines - the British Harrier-GR3 fighter.
WAITING FOR A NEW BIG WAR
It will be possible to "overthrow" the S-75 and "Strela-2" from the pedestal only if a big war breaks out in the world. True, if it turns out to be nuclear, there will be no winners in it in any sense. If this is an ordinary war, then the main contenders for the "championship" will be Russian air defense systems. Not only because of the high performance characteristics, but also because of the peculiarities of the application.
It should be noted that high-speed small-sized high-precision ammunition is becoming a new serious problem of air defense, which is extremely difficult to hit precisely because of its small size and high speed (it will become especially difficult if hypersonic ammunition appears). In addition, the range of these ammunition is constantly growing, removing carriers, that is, aircraft, from the air defense coverage area. This makes the air defense position frankly hopeless, because the fight against ammunition without the ability to destroy the carriers is deliberately losing: sooner or later this will lead to the depletion of the air defense system's ammunition, after which both the air defense systems themselves and the objects covered by them will be easily destroyed.
Another equally serious problem is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). At the very least, this is a problem because there are simply a lot of them, which further exacerbates the problem of the lack of ammunition for the air defense system. Much worse is the fact that a significant part of the UAVs are so small that no existing air defense systems can either detect them, let alone hit them, since neither the radar nor the missiles are simply designed for such purposes.
In this regard, the case that occurred in July 2016 is very indicative. The extremely high level of technical equipment and combat training of the Israeli Armed Forces personnel is well known. However, the Israelis were unable to do anything with the small, slow-moving, unarmed Russian reconnaissance UAV that appeared over northern Israel. First, an air-to-air missile from an F-16 fighter, and then two Patriot air defense missile systems passed by, after which the UAV freely flew into Syrian airspace.
In connection with these circumstances, the criteria for the effectiveness and efficiency of air defense systems may become completely different. As well as the air defense systems themselves.
