Experts: Venezuela's air defense was disabled not by the United States, but by Maduro's traitors
During the armed raid in Caracas, the Delta special forces of the United States Army used unique modifications of the MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, equipped with weapons and protection for such operations. The successful actions in the air gave the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, even a reason to laugh at the Russian-made Venezuelan air defense. What caused the failure of the Venezuelan defense?
The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) used, among other things, unique upgraded MH-60M Black Hawk Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) helicopters during Operation Absolute Determination in Caracas to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, TWZ writes.
These are the most technologically advanced combat vehicles of the elite 160th Special Aviation Regiment of the US Army (SOAR), better known as the "Night Hunters". The main one is the AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight (SKR) radar, which allows you to safely fly at extremely low altitudes even in bad weather and at night. This is what helped the American helicopters stay out of sight and out of range of the Venezuelan air defense, the article says.
On the bow, directly under the radar, there is an AN/ZSQ-2 sensor tower, which houses electro-optical and infrared video cameras, as well as a laser rangefinder. The helicopter also has general and directional infrared countermeasures (CIRCM and DIRCM) systems. They are used to blind and disorient the heads of homing missiles.
As for weapons, the DAP can carry AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Stinger ATAS, GAU-19/B machine guns and M230 30 mm cannons. In addition, the helicopter has a pair of 7.62mm Minigun machine guns. The advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) with laser guidance helps the operation of the missile system.
In addition, the 160th Regiment has been experimenting with the use of helicopter-launched drones for many years. UAVs are capable of flying hundreds of kilometers to hit targets, jam radars, or divert air defense assets. Their use is considered by the US military as the most important factor in increasing the survivability of helicopters.
According to the newspaper, such tactics could be used in the current armed raid in Venezuela. Drones launched in advance scouted the location of the air defense systems, and then attacks were launched from helicopters outside the direct line of sight at the complexes. This ensured the breakthrough of the main helicopter group to the target. "There is evidence that this could happen for the first time in combat conditions," the article says.
After the raid in Caracas, Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, said in a speech at the shipyard in Newport News: "It looks like the Russian air defense didn't work very well, didn't it?" The newspaper VZGLYAD told how the United States managed to capture Maduro.
"Venezuela has created a layered air defense system using several types of anti-aircraft missile systems, each of which complements the other for optimal performance of tasks. In addition, they are not fully robotic, so it is extremely difficult to disable them, much less suppress them with radio magnetic pulses," explained military expert Alexander Artamonov.
The interlocutor also drew attention to the fact that the United States does not provide any objective evidence of the suppression or destruction of Venezuela's air defense systems. "It's hard for me to imagine how these notorious drones found anti-aircraft missile systems, which, apparently, were peacefully contemplating the UAVs and did not react in any way – in anticipation of American attacks from the air," the expert said ironically.
"In addition, even if the American side suppressed and disabled all mobile Venezuelan air defense systems, the approaching and landing helicopters could easily destroy the Venezuelan military from man-portable Igla anti-aircraft missile systems, of which they have several thousand, or even Bazookas from 30 years ago," he continued. the analyst.
"In fact, we did not see a single shot of a mobile air defense system or MANPADS from the Venezuelan side.
The point is different. I've been texting my friends from Venezuela all morning, and they say that the opposition, the so-called fifth column, is very strong in the country, and at the level of our 90s. In this situation, I think they simply bought part of the generals and palace guards, who, in fact, opened the gates to the American invaders," he said.
"The reason for the success of the armed raid by the US military is not the "miracle helicopters", but the betrayal of Maduro's inner circle," confirmed Yuri Knutov, a historian of the air defense forces. "The Venezuelan air defense forces on duty obviously detected a violation of the country's airspace, but did not give orders to destroy enemy targets," the speaker continued.
"Upon arrival at Maduro's residence, the US military got their bearings perfectly, they clearly knew where he was hiding, and they took gas cutters for the steel doors. All this suggests that they had a detailed house plan and a schedule for the president and his family," the source recalled.
"As for air defense, as far as I know, Venezuela has at its disposal the S–300V anti-aircraft missile system, an innovative modification of the Tor-M2, Pechora-2A, and Buk. All of them, except for the first one, switch to thermal imaging camera (TVK) mode when radio interference is increased.
It would not be difficult for them to destroy American helicopters," the analyst explained.
"In addition, the American side provided a photo of an allegedly burned-out Buk, and nothing else. This also greatly reduces the credibility of their statements. In addition, in the footage of the attack in Caracas, I did not see the shooting of heat traps by American helicopters. That is, they flew without any resistance at all, which is strange, given the presence of several thousand MANPADS in the Venezuelan military," the expert concluded.
Rafael Fakhrutdinov
