The best MANPADS. Russian air defense vs

Barak - Israeli anti-aircraft missile system(SAM) ship-based, designed for air defense ships from anti-ship missiles and guided bombs.

A ground-based version of the Barak-8 system has also been developed.

Manufacturer: a consortium of IAI and RAFAEL. Adopted by the navies of Israel, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Venezuela, Chile, and Azerbaijan. The cost of the Barak air defense system is $24 million.

Barak anti-aircraft missiles are launched from a vertical launch installation. After launch, the missile climbs vertically for 0.6 s and then turns to its combat course.

When intercepting, the air defense system uses a multi-purpose surveillance, tracking and guidance radar manufactured by ELTA Systems.

Advanced Barak air defense systems can shoot down aircraft, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, guided bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles aircrafts and enemy helicopters within a radius of up to 20 km in difficult weather conditions any time of the day. The affected sector is 360 degrees.

The Indian Navy successfully conducted the first tests of the Barak air defense system installed on board the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) in the Arabian Sea - the missile intercepted and destroyed a real, low-flying, high-speed target.

In addition, Barak air defense systems are installed on other ships of the Indian Navy - the aircraft carrier Viraat, destroyers of the Calcutta, Delhi, Rajput type, frigates of the Shivalik, Godavari, Brahmaputra type.

No other country can compete with the Israeli Barak air defense system in this class of air defense.

However, in reality there is no magic here for either side. The strategic level of mutually beneficial partnership in such a sensitive area as the supply of weapons and military equipment is an everyday reality for our countries, a kind of routine, but without any negative connotations. And so far neither other countries, which are making enormous efforts to penetrate and gain a foothold in the Indian market for military products, nor individual disagreements between Russia and India on some joint programs have been able to cause serious damage to this partnership (here, in particular, we can recall the project to create the AIT's medium transport aircraft, the cancellation of which recently became known).

TO INDIA WITH "TRIUMPH"

No matter how much someone would like to destroy the alliance between Moscow and Delhi in the military-technical cooperation sphere, this cannot be done. The basis of combat power Indian Air Force, Ground Forces and the fleet is Russian weapons: multirole fighters S-30MKI, main battle tanks T-90, aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" with an air group consisting of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters. And this list continues to grow. A contract for the supply of anti-aircraft missile systems to India is currently being prepared. long range S-400 developed by the Almaz-Antey VKO Concern.

An intergovernmental agreement on the supply of S-400 Triumph air defense systems to India was signed during the Russian-Indian summit in October 2016. As Vladimir Drozhzhov, Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, noted during the Aero India 2017 aerospace salon, Russia expects that the corresponding contract will be concluded before the end of 2017. Pre-contract negotiations are currently underway.

During Aero India 2017, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy general director Concern VKO "Almaz-Antey" for foreign economic activity, the question was asked about why the S-400 is enjoying such great interest in the market of high-tech military products. The answer was simple: “At the moment, the S-400 is the best long-range air defense system in the world.” This fact is confirmed not only by the preparation of the corresponding contract with India, but also by the already concluded agreement on the supply of Triumphs to China (a contract with the PRC, as the director of international cooperation and regional policy of the state corporation "Rostec" Viktor Kladov, currently at the production stage). China has clearly made very significant progress in developing modern systems weapons, but still prefers to implement sensitive ones from the point of view of support national security programs in cooperation with Russia.

For obvious reasons, any details of the upcoming contract with India for the supply of S-400 air defense systems have not been disclosed. It is only known - and this was confirmed by Vyacheslav Dzirkaln during India 2017 - that the systems will be supplied to India in finished form, there is no talk of any localization of their production.

And in order to satisfy Delhi’s requirement for technology transfer when purchasing foreign-made weapons in accordance with the current last years Based on the “Make in India” principle, it is proposed to organize an after-sales service system in the country based on the “REDICOM” mobile complex, developed by the Granit GPTP, which is part of Almaz-Antey. “We offer the option of equipping the existing facilities in India to provide after-sales service for our equipment with the subsequent transfer of the necessary documentation and equipment, which would enable Indian partners to work independently,” said Vyacheslav Dzirkaln. “The concern has the right to train foreign specialists in carrying out service work,” emphasized the Deputy General Director of Almaz-Antey.

The mobile repair and diagnostic complex "REDICOM" is designed for maintenance and repair of anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes, as well as radar equipment at the sites of its operation. The equipment of the complex, housed in standardized container bodies, allows for the maintenance and repair of digital, digital-analog, analog radio-electronic equipment, mechanical and hydraulic units and components, life support systems, and chassis. Placing workshops in standardized container bodies equipped with a full range of life support systems (air conditioning, heating, filter and ventilation units) allows solving the tasks assigned to the complex in virtually any climatic zones and weather conditions.

Workplaces in workshops are equipped with automated monitoring and diagnostic systems, which reduces the time required to identify faults in electronic equipment. Possibilities are provided for storing spare parts and accessories kits for repairs.

The complex is universal and can be used to repair almost any equipment, both domestic and foreign. In the latter case, the operator only needs to provide technical documentation for weapons and military equipment, on the basis of which Granit specialists will develop test programs for diagnosing radio-electronic equipment.

In addition to the developer of the REDICOM complex, GPTP Granit, and the creator of the S-400 air defense system, NPO Almaz, its subsidiaries presented their products at the joint stand of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern: IEMZ Kupol JSC, UMP JSC, JSC VNIIRA, PJSC NPO Strela, PJSC Radiophysics - developers and manufacturers of land- and sea-based air defense systems, automated systems control, radar stations and airspace control and ground reconnaissance complexes.

In general, at the Aero India 2017 exhibition in the exposition of the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern, emphasis was placed on the modernization and repair of specialized military products, common in South-East Asia. Thus, IEMZ “Kupol” presented a program for modernizing the OSA-AKM air defense system to the level of the OSA-AKM1 air defense system, and UMP presented the modernization of the Tunguska anti-aircraft missile and gun system to the level of Tunguska-M1 and the Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled gun up to the Shilka-M4 level.

Currently, preparations are being made to expand the Concern's product range offered for export. In particular, work is underway to obtain a passport for the export appearance of the Buk-M3 air defense system. By appearance(not to mention significantly expanded combat characteristics) due to the placement of missiles in transport and launch containers, the new complex is noticeably different from its predecessors. As Vyacheslav Dzirkaln noted, “the product developers - specialists from the Tikhomirov Research Institute - came up with a proposal to give the export version of the complex a separate name. The proposed name is associated with the name of the first generation of air defense systems in export version. The Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern expects that the wide popularity of the Buk complexes abroad will contribute to the successful promotion of the Buk-M3E air defense system on the foreign market. According to our data, in terms of combat effectiveness among mobile complexes of the class medium range there are no equals to the Buk-M3 complex.”

Among other samples of military products presented by the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern at Aero India 2017, it should be noted radar systems for the protection of objects and borders, in particular, the multi-purpose radar "Sova" developed by the Tula NPO "Strela" was of interest to representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Border Guard Service of India .

“In addition to the fact that we present anti-aircraft guns at this exhibition missile systems and complexes, this year we paid a lot of attention to civilian products,” said Vyacheslav Dzirkaln during Aero India 2017. “The concern is a trendsetter in the field of automated air traffic control systems (ATC), so many meetings and negotiations take place here specifically on this subject."

Deputy General Director of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern in particular noted that the Indian side is interested in the supply of automated air traffic control systems developed and produced by the Concern, airfield surveillance systems (A-SMGCS), primary and secondary radars, communication and navigation systems and means , weather support. “Various proposals are being considered to modernize the technical means of the air navigation system of the Republic of India, and organize joint production within the framework of the state program “Make in India.” Currently, the possibility of equipping Indian airports with ATC equipment produced by the Concern is under development. In addition to the Indian side, countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Iran, and Indonesia also show interest in our equipment,” said Vyacheslav Dzirkaln.

It is important to note here that Almaz-Antey plans to further expand its line of high-tech civilian products. The Concern's development concept provides that civil instrument engineering, radio electronics, the creation of automated control systems, autonomous power plants, development of energy-saving technologies and technologies for processing and disposal for the needs of housing and communal services, medicine, transport, communications, security and industrial production.

That is, in this case we are not talking about the production of, for example, consumer electronics and other consumer goods - attempts to reorient the defense industry towards the stamping of pots already took place in 1980-1990. and demonstrated their complete incompetence, bordering on sabotage. Each segment of industry must mind its own business, especially since the transfer of high technologies from the military to related civilian spheres is a technique that has already been proven in world practice and has repeatedly proven its effectiveness.

INDIAN FIGHTER TENDER – NEW SERIES

The main aviation intrigue of the Aero India 2017 air show was the situation around India’s planned purchase of a large batch (200 units) of single-engine fighters - a legacy of the MMRCA program that was never fully implemented. Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar revealed some details of this project during the exhibition.

The fighter jets should be assembled locally under the 'Make in India' concept with large-scale technology transfer.

As Manohar Parrikar told local media, two companies are currently leading the project - the American Lockheed Martin with the F-16 block 70 (F-16V) and the Swedish Saab with the JAS 39E/F Gripen. The minister also spoke about the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet of the American company Boeing, although this heavy twin-engine machine clearly does not fit the conditions of the upcoming tender. Whether this statement is a mistake or Indian variability is not yet clear. In any case, the F/A-18E/F has already participated in the famous tender under the MMRCA program, in which multifunctional middle-class fighters were also supposed to participate.

According to Manohar Parrikar, the selected aircraft will be assembled at a facility set up in India, purpose-built for the project as part of the proposed strategic partnership. After selecting the aircraft model, India will exclusively identify Indian private companies as subcontractors for a certain period of time.

Answering questions from journalists that a decision had allegedly already been made to move the F-16 assembly plant to India, the Minister of Defense said that he himself learned about this from the media, although he did not deny the fact that such negotiations were actually held with the Barak administration Obama. The Donald Trump administration, in his opinion, may have a different point of view on this and other programs, and the Indian leadership is ready to discuss them, understanding that any deal of this scale must be consistent with US policy priorities.

Be that as it may, during Aero India 2017, the Swedish company Saab launched an unprecedentedly vigorous effort to promote its fighter aircraft on the Indian market. Representatives of the company announced the maximum possible transfer of technology to India, and also promoted at the exhibition the deck version of the Gripen for new Indian aircraft carriers, work on the creation of which has already begun.

The project to create a naval version of the JAS 39E/F has not yet left the paper stage, although, according to Saab representatives, the construction of a flight prototype of the fighter will begin “very soon.” Since the Swedish fleet does not have aircraft carriers, the first flight of the naval Gripen will take place from the deck of an aircraft carrier of a “third country”. The main candidate for this role is the United States, since the Swedes are unlikely to be able to reach an understanding on this issue with Paris, which expects to independently sell its carrier-based Rafale M to India.

In addition to promoting the JAS 39E/F to the Indian market, Saab is offering as either a standalone or additional option to enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian-developed Tejas light fighter. The Swedes are ready to integrate their radar on board this aircraft, similar to that installed on the Gripen, and also equip the Tejas with a suspended container with a small-sized phased array radar, which allows the use of all-aspect air-to-air missiles from the fighter.

Russia will also participate in tenders to supply India with 200 new fighters and deck-based vehicles for promising aircraft carriers. Our contenders are MiG-35 and MiG-29K/KUB. As Vladimir Drozhzhov said during Aero India 2017, the Russian proposal for the first competition was submitted even before the official start of the tender procedures.

People like to compare different things with each other. Who is stronger: an elephant or a whale? Will the weight break through the manhole cover? By the way, the whole sport is built on this. People love to compare military equipment, which is better to do on paper than in real combat. Kiele Mizokami from the popular magazine The National Interest decided to collect the five best anti-aircraft missile systems. He compiled his rating based on the number of targets shot down and the ratio of hits to misses.

SA-75 "Dvina" (NATO classification:S.A.-2 Guideline)

SA-75 “Dvina” is far from a new product, but it is a record holder for operating time. Developed in 1953, this anti-aircraft missile system has been in continuous operation around the world for more than fifty years. In 1960, the American U-2 spy plane piloted by Powers was shot down by missiles from this complex.

The SA-75 Dvina air defense system formed the basis of the air defense of North Vietnam during the US aggression against Vietnam. A total of about 2,000 American aircraft were shot down over the Vietnamese skies, including 64 strategic bomber B-52. The Dvina is still in service with twenty countries, having naturally undergone several deep modernizations. Well-deserved number one.

9K32 "Strela" (NATO:S.A.-7 Grail)

The 9K32 Strela is the first generation of Soviet man-portable air defense systems. In terms of simplicity and cheapness, it can be compared with the AK-47. The supersonic missile is capable of hitting a target at a distance of 3.4 km and an altitude of 1.5 km. This MANPADS is designed to provide protection against low-flying targets. In every battalion Soviet army there were three “Arrows”.

militaryrussia.ru

The first Soviet MANPADS received its baptism of fire during the war between Egypt and Israel in 1969-1970. The Egyptians shot down 36 enemy aircraft, firing 99 missiles. The weak point of this complex was the guidance of the missile by the thermal radiation of the engine. The mujahideen in Afghanistan did not like these missiles, saying that they often aimed at the sun and flew off target.

2K12 "Cube" (NATO:S.A.-6 Gainful)

A veteran of conflicts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, "The Cube" came to prominence in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War when Egypt invaded the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt had 32 Cube batteries, which came as a surprise to the Israeli Air Force because their radar detection systems did not respond to these SAMs. Thanks to this, the Israelis lost fifty aircraft in the first three days of the war. By the end of the war, Israel had lost 14% of its entire aircraft fleet.

modernweapon.ru

The 2K12 “Cube” air defense system was in service in thirty countries and is still in service in 22. During the Gulf War, Iraqi air defenses shot down two American F-16s. One F-16 fell victim to the Cuba in the skies over Bosnia in 1995. The last aircraft shot down by this air defense system was a Polish Su-22, shot down by mistake by Polish air defense forces during an exercise.

The Stinger is the second generation of MANPADS, which made a name for itself in the mountains of Afghanistan in the 80s. The Stinger proved to be very effective against Soviet helicopters and airplanes. The effectiveness of the Stingers was due to the fact that it could shoot down aircraft from any angle, and not just from behind.

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The United States began secret deliveries of Stingers Afghan Mujahideen in 1986. Five hundred launchers and a thousand rockets were handed out “like candy” to the bearded bandits. Total until withdrawal Soviet troops From Afghanistan, the USSR Air Force lost about 270 aircraft.

MIM-104Patriot

wiki

The highly publicized Patriot air defense system first came to prominence during the Gulf War in 1991, when it was used to protect coalition forces and Israeli settlements from Iraqi Scud missiles. The American press praised him greatly, but his real successes were much more modest. Not a single enemy aircraft was shot down, and the success rate of hitting Iraqi missiles is estimated at 50%. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Patriot shot down nine targets, two of which were coalition aircraft. In general, the Patriot cannot boast of a long service life, accuracy, or the number of aircraft shot down.

Many readers, having reached the end of the article, will undoubtedly wonder where the S-300 and S-400 are on this list, and why the formidable Russian air defense systems were not included in the rating? For such readers, it is necessary to remind once again that the list is compiled according to combat effectiveness. Neither the S-300 nor the S-400 took part in combat operations. Apparently, the very fact that the first three lines in the list of the most effective anti-aircraft missile systems are occupied by Soviet models seems to hint that it is better not to mess with modern Russian air defense systems.

The most combative air defense system: S-75 air defense system

Country: USSR
Entered service: 1957
Rocket type: 13D
Maximum target engagement range: 29–34 km
Speed ​​of targets hit: 1500 km/h

John McCain, who lost the last US presidential election to Barack Obama, is known as an active critic of Russian foreign and domestic policy. It is likely that one of the explanations for such an irreconcilable position of the senator lies in the achievements of Soviet designers half a century ago. On October 23, 1967, during the bombing of Hanoi, the plane of a young pilot, who came from the family of hereditary admirals John McCain, was shot down. His Phantom was hit by an S-75 anti-aircraft guided missile. By that time, the Soviet anti-aircraft sword had already caused a lot of trouble for the Americans and their allies. The first “test of the pen” took place in China in 1959, when local air defense with the help of “Soviet comrades” interrupted the flight of a Taiwanese high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, created on the basis of the British Canberra bomber. The hopes that the red air defense would be too tough for the more advanced aerial reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed U-2, were also not destined to come true. One of them was shot down by an S-75 over the Urals in 1961, and the other a year later over Cuba. The legendary anti-aircraft missile created at the Fakel design bureau has hit many other targets in various conflicts from the Far and Middle East to Caribbean Sea, and the S-75 complex itself was destined for a long life in various modifications. We can safely say that this air defense system has gained fame as the most widespread of all air defense systems of this type in the world.

The most high-tech missile defense system: the Aegis system ("Aegis")

SM-3 rocket
Country: USA
first launch: 2001
Length: 6.55 m
Steps: 3
Range: 500 km
Damage zone altitude: 250 km

The main element of this ship's multifunctional combat information and control system is the AN/SPY radar with four flat phased arrays with a power of 4 MW. The Aegis is armed with SM-2 and SM-3 missiles (the latter with the ability to intercept ballistic missiles) with a kinetic or fragmentation warhead. The SM-3 is constantly being modified, and the Block IIA model has already been announced, which will be capable of intercepting ICBMs. On February 21, 2008, an SM-3 missile was fired from the cruiser Lake Erie in the Pacific Ocean and hit the emergency reconnaissance satellite USA-193, located at an altitude of 247 kilometers, moving at a speed of 27,300 km/h.

The newest Russian air defense missile system: the Pantsir S-1 air defense missile system

Country Russia
adopted: 2008
Radar: 1RS1-1E and 1RS2 based on phased array
Range: 18 km
Ammunition: 12 57E6-E missiles
Artillery weapons: 30 mm twin anti-aircraft gun

The complex is designed for short-range cover of civilian and military targets (including long-range air defense systems) from all modern and future air attack weapons. It can also protect the defended object from ground and surface threats. Air targets include all targets with a minimum reflective surface with speeds up to 1000 m/s, a maximum range of 20000 m and altitudes up to 15000 m, including helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and precision bombs.

The most nuclear missile defense: Transatmospheric interceptor 51T6 "Azov"

Country: USSR-Russia
First launch: 1979
Length: 19.8 m
Steps: 2
Launch weight: 45 t
Firing range: 350–500 km
Warhead power: 0.55 Mt

The 51T6 (Azov) anti-missile missile, which was part of the second generation missile defense system around Moscow (A-135), was developed at the Fakel IKB in 1971–1990. Its tasks included transatmospheric interception of enemy warheads using an oncoming nuclear explosion. Serial production and deployment of the Azov were carried out already in the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR. The missile has currently been withdrawn from service.

The most effective portable air defense system: Igla-S MANPADS

Country Russia
developed: 2002
MANPADS "Igla-S"
Damage range: 6000 m
Damage altitude: 3500 m
Speed ​​of targets hit: 400 m/s
Weight in firing position: 19 kg

According to many experts, the Russian anti-aircraft complex designed to destroy low-flying air targets various types under conditions of natural (background) and artificial thermal interference, it surpasses all analogues existing in the world.

Closest to our borders: Patriot PAC-3 air defense system

Country: USA
first launch: 1994
Rocket length: 4.826 m
Rocket weight: 316 kg
Warhead weight: 24 kg
Target engagement height: up to 20 km

A modification of the Patriot PAC-3 air defense system created in the 1990s is designed to combat missiles with a range of up to 1000 km. During the test on March 15, 1999, a target missile, which was the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Minuteman-2 ICBM, was destroyed by a direct hit. After abandoning the idea of ​​the Third Position Area of ​​the American strategic missile defense system in Europe, Patriot PAC-3 batteries are being deployed in Eastern Europe.

The most common anti-aircraft gun: 20 mm Oerlicon anti-aircraft gun

Country: Germany – Switzerland
Designed: 1914
Caliber: 20 mm
Rate of fire: 300–450 rounds/min
Range: 3–4 km

The automatic 20-mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, also known as the Becker gun, is the story of one extremely successful design that has spread throughout the world and is still in use today, despite the fact that the first example of this was created by the German designer Reinhold Becker back during the First World War. The high rate of fire was achieved due to the original mechanism, in which the impact ignition of the primer was carried out even before the cartridge was chambered. Thanks to the fact that the rights to the German invention were transferred to the SEMAG company from neutral Switzerland, both the Axis countries and the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition produced their own versions of the Oerlikons during World War II.

The best anti-aircraft gun of World War II: Anti-aircraft gun 8.8 cm Flugabwehrkanone (FlAK)

Country: Germany
Year: 1918/1936/1937
Caliber: 88 mm
Rate of fire:
15–20 rounds/min
Barrel length: 4.98 m
Maximum effective ceiling: 8000 m
Projectile weight: 9.24 kg

One of the best in history anti-aircraft guns, better known as the "eight-eight", was in service from 1933 to 1945. It turned out to be so successful that it became the basis for a whole family artillery systems, including anti-tank and field. In addition, the anti-aircraft gun served as a prototype for the guns of the Tiger tank.

The most promising air defense and missile defense system: S-400 Triumph air defense system

Country Russia
Developed: 1999
Target detection range: 600 km
Number of simultaneously tracked target tracks: up to 300 km
Damage range:
Aerodynamic targets – 5–60 km
Ballistic targets – 3–240 km
Damage height: 10 m – 27 km

Designed to destroy jamming aircraft, radar detection and control aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, strategic and tactical aviation aircraft, tactical, operational-tactical ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic targets and other modern and promising air attack weapons.

The most universal air defense and missile defense system: S-300VM "Antey-2500"

Country: USSR
Developed: 1988
Damage range:
Aerodynamic targets – 200 km
Ballistic targets – up to 40 km
Damage height: 25m – 30 km

The mobile universal anti-missile and anti-aircraft system S-300VM "Antey-2500" belongs to the new generation of anti-missile and anti-aircraft defense systems (BMD-PSO). “Antey-2500” is the world’s only universal missile defense and air defense system, capable of effectively combating both ballistic missiles with launch ranges of up to 2,500 km, and all types of aerodynamic and aeroballistic targets. The Antey-2500 system is capable of simultaneously firing at 24 aerodynamic targets, including low-visibility objects, or 16 ballistic missiles flying at speeds of up to 4500 m/s.

Israeli corporation Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. published a video where, using computer graphics, she presented the capabilities of the latest AIR EW Systems radar warfare system, which is currently being developed by the Israeli defense industry.

The electronic jamming system (ERS) consists of three components: Sky Shield ESM (wide-range radar suppression), Light Shield ESM (short-range radar suppression) and an X-Guard container towed on a cable. The last element, according to the developers, should divert missile defense missiles towards itself.

According to the script of the video, a group of multirole F-16 fighters equipped with AIR EW Systems takes to the air to attack enemy infrastructure facilities (a thermal power plant was chosen as a conditional target).

The system disorients the enemy’s air defense - this role is played by air defense systems reminiscent of the Russian S-400 and Pantsir-S.

Anti-aircraft missiles fired at the air group are diverted by the towed X-Guard container, as a result of which the missiles are thrown off course, and the fighters strike the civilian infrastructure of the mock enemy. The AIR EW Systems electronic warfare system is currently in the final stages of development.

Systemic struggle

It should be noted that the Israeli military has real experience in breaking through enemy air defenses. We are talking, in particular, about air operation"Artsav-19", carried out during the conflict between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic in 1982.

However, that operation involved a whole arsenal of offensive weapons. First, the IAI Scout UAV and Mastiff small remotely piloted aerial vehicles conducted reconnaissance, determining the location of Syrian anti-aircraft missile systems and airfields, which were mapped based on the data received. missile strikes. Shrike homing anti-radar missiles were also involved in the operation, with the help of which the Israeli Air Force destroyed the Syrian air defense radar.

At the same time, an entire air group was responsible for the radar support of the operation, including the American carrier-based long-range radar detection aircraft E-2C Hawkeye, equipped with a radar antenna and a “friend or foe” identification system. The result of a carefully planned operation was the victory of the Israeli side over the air defense systems of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The scheme for breaking through the enemy's layered air defense system today represents a multi-stage and carefully coordinated operation using various UAVs, early warning aircraft, radar warfare systems and fighters. To detect and confuse enemy air defenses, the Israeli military, in particular, can use “dummy” ATALD (Advanced Tactical Air Launched Decoy & Aerial Target) missiles produced by the state corporation Israel Military Industries. The missile is designed to simulate the appearance of multiple targets on enemy radars. As expected, this will force him to switch his air defenses to combat mode, which will allow the attacking side’s radar detection systems to detect the position of enemy air defense systems.

After the enemy's anti-aircraft systems are destroyed by strikes cruise missiles long-range and attack drones, fighters equipped with electronic warfare systems can join in the operation.

As Lieutenant General of the Reserve, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force in 2003-2007 on issues of the United Air Defense System of the CIS member states Aitech Bizhev explained in an interview with RT, the air defense system is a whole complex, including systems for suppressing radio interference of the on-board equipment of attacking aircraft, fighter aircraft, as well as close and long-range air defense systems.

An attack on such a system is impossible with a single air group of fighters, the expert explained.

“In commercials, each country presents its achievements in the best possible way. But a true assessment can only be given based on the results of a real battle,” Bizhev emphasized. — If an attack and breakthrough of the enemy’s air defense is planned, then, for example, a group of electronic suppression aircraft should participate in the operation, which will “blind” the air defense systems with interference. And only behind them comes strike aircraft, which carry out combat mission. This algorithm is accepted all over the world; it is a classic scheme.”

Defender of the Sky

The fact that it is Russian models of air defense systems that appear as a conditional enemy in advertising videos of foreign defense companies is confirmation of leadership Russian developments, experts say.

“Of course, in materials aimed at promoting their products, the best weapons are selected as potential targets for destruction,” explained the head of the department of political science and sociology of the Russian Economic University in an interview with RT. G.V. Plekhanov, expert of the Association of Military Political Scientists Andrey Koshkin. — S-400 is the best air defense system in the world. This is confirmed by the fact that countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia are seeking to obtain them, despite the displeasure of Washington or NATO.”

The S-400 air defense system was developed in the 2000s by NPO Almaz named after. A.A. Raspletin, in 2007, the Triumph complex was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces. It is capable of detecting targets within a radius of 600 km, the reach of the S-400 for aerodynamic targets reaches 400 km, for ballistic targets - 60 km. "Triumph" is designed to destroy all types of air targets flying at speeds up to 4.8 km/s. The complex is simultaneously capable of striking 36 targets, and thanks to the vertical launch of missiles, shelling can be carried out at 360 degrees.

The S-400 can perform missions in radio countermeasures conditions. In 2016, the Izvestia newspaper, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense, reported the supply of special stealth containers capable of sheltering anti-aircraft systems from enemy radio reconnaissance.

The only real competitor to the S-400 today is the American Patriot air defense system. However, in a number of indicators the Russian “Triumph” is superior American complex, experts say.

Russia is actively exporting the S-400 abroad: China was the first buyer; a contract for the supply of air defense to China was signed back in 2014. Türkiye showed interest in Triumph: a supply agreement was concluded in September 2017. In addition, Saudi Arabia and India plan to purchase Russian air defense systems.

Political emphasis

In 2015, Russia deployed the Triumph air defense system in Syria, near the Khmeimim airbase. The appearance of the S-400 in the Middle East cannot but worry Israel, which has very tense relations with a number of regional powers. Tel Aviv's main regional adversary, the Islamic Republic of Iran, received the S-300 in 2016. And although there is no talk of supplying S-400 to Tehran yet, such a possibility cannot be ruled out in the future. Therefore, the issue of countering such systems is extremely relevant for the Israeli defense industry.

As stated former manager Israeli Uzi Rubin missile program, any air defense system can be dealt with in the future.

• Founder and first director of the Israel Organization for missile defense Ministry of Defense Uzi Rubin
• cyclowiki.org

“It takes years to cope with such a system. The threat to our Air Force posed by the S-300 and S-400 is not something new.<…>Time is on our side. If you don't have funds today, they will appear tomorrow. There are no insoluble problems,” newsland.com quotes Rubin as saying.

However, the development of air defense systems also does not stand still. Currently, the Russian air defense concern Almaz-Antey is developing the S-500 Prometheus air defense system. It is assumed that the newest complex will be able to fight low-orbit satellites and space weapons, hypersonic cruise missiles and UAVs. As Lieutenant General Viktor Gumenny, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, previously reported, the Russian military may receive the S-500 by 2020. However, it is too early to talk about exporting these new systems. According to Rosoboronexport General Director Alexander Mikheev, at the moment foreign deliveries of the S-500 are not included in the company’s plans.

At the beginning of 2017, a number of online media outlets disseminated information that Israeli F-35 fighters were allegedly able to strike Syrian territory without being noticed by the Triumph air defense system. The rumors were spread with reference to Defense News, although no such publication was subsequently found on the pages of the publication. As experts explained, in reality, Russian anti-aircraft gunners are not deliberately targeting Israeli aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic in accordance with the current agreements, and there is no talk of any “breakthrough” in this case.

Bizhev believes that the dissemination of information about the capabilities of overcoming the S-400 serves advertising purposes - arms manufacturers would like to convince potential buyers of the effectiveness of their products.

“Due to the fact that the S-400 is exported abroad, it can be assumed that we are talking about commercial and marketing ploys designed to belittle the value of the Russian complex,” the expert explained.

In reality, foreign experts simply do not have information about the capabilities of the S-400: talk about whether any system can overcome the S-400 makes no sense - the system has never yet taken part in real combat operations, the expert notes.

“All the intelligence services in the world would like to know performance characteristics“Triumph,” Bizhev emphasized. — There are peacetime frequencies, there are wartime frequencies. No one turns on military frequencies outside of combat operations so that they are not recognized by reconnaissance aircraft of other countries.”

However, this story has not only a commercial, but also a political background, Koshkin believes. According to the expert, Tel Aviv respects Russia and its armed forces, but at the same time the Israeli side seeks to show that it is capable of overcoming even the most better system Air defense.

“The Israelis would like to show their power, to demonstrate to Arab countries and Iran: despite the fact that the Islamic world is acquiring anti-aircraft missile systems that are considered the best in the world, Israel is still a formidable force,” Koshkin concluded.