MOSCOW, June 28 — RIA Novosti, Andrei Kotz. The United States is raising the stakes: following the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, Washington plans to transfer medium- and long-range missile defense systems to Kiev. According to CNN, the Pentagon believes that this will negate Russian air superiority. Whether such expectations are justified — in the material of RIA Novosti.
Have been asking for a long time
During the four months of the military special operation, as noted in the Ministry of Defense, the defense potential of Ukraine has significantly decreased. A significant part of the demilitarization tasks are performed by pilots and operators of high-precision weapons. It is the modern VKS with a large stock of "smart" missiles and projectiles that is the main advantage of Russia.
The APU has only separate divisions of the S-300 and Buk air defense systems, which pose a serious threat to Russian aircraft. Therefore, Kiev has long been asking Western allies for modern air and missile defense systems.
Back in 2018, the head of the Kiev Center for Army Research, Conversion and Disarmament, Valentin Badrak, said that the supply of American anti-aircraft missile systems would accelerate NATO membership. In April 2021, the head of the president's office, Andrei Ermak, complained that the United States was deploying air defense systems in Poland, although "they should be" in Ukraine. Judging by the CNN report, Kiev has achieved what it wanted.
An American soldier on the territory of a military base in Romania
Image Source: © AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda
Last week, US President Joe Biden promised the AFU "more advanced missile systems and ammunition" as part of another $450 million aid package. So far, however, it is unclear what exactly we are talking about.
Basically, the American army is armed with THAAD and Aegis Ashore complexes. But they are not suitable for the Ukrainian theater of military operations due to technical features. There are still several installations of the Israeli "Iron Dome", but Tel Aviv does not allow their re-export.
Complex technique
"Most likely, the White House will send Patriot air defense systems to Kiev," said Igor Korotchenko, a military expert and editor—in-chief of the National Defense magazine. — These systems are quite a serious threat to our aviation. "Patriots" have been in service since the 1980s and have been repeatedly upgraded. The latest modifications are equally effective at shooting down both airplanes and helicopters, as well as operational-tactical missiles of the Iskander-M complex. But of course, it is unlikely that Ukrainians will receive so many of these weapons that they will play a significant role."
Test firing from the Patriot air defense system
Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Army
The expert stressed that it is not enough just to deliver modern air defense systems to the front line. We also need to teach military personnel how to handle them. And here the situation is more complicated than with other types of weapons. You can deal with Javelin or Stinger in half a day. The anti-aircraft missile system is a much more complex technique that interacts with radar, satellite and optical reconnaissance. A full-fledged course of study is required for effective use.
In addition, the analyst adds, the entire logistics structure in the west and south of Ukraine is at risk. The Russian army can strike with long-range systems, before which Ukraine is still powerless.
Belief in superweapons
Kiev believes that the new air defense / missile defense systems will help to win. The same hopes were pinned three months ago on the American Javelin ATGM and the Turkish Bayraktar attack UAVs. They prefer not to talk about the real problems associated with the donated equipment in Ukraine.
"The same HIMARS is quite an ordinary heavy missile system," military expert Konstantin Sivkov notes. — Comparable in combat capabilities with the Russian "Hurricane", inferior to the "Tornado". And the APU has enough of them already."
Moreover, "favorable conditions" are needed to launch guided missiles from Haimars. For example, so that satellites and drones transmit coordinates without interference. In real combat, this is not always possible.
American highly mobile rocket and artillery system for operational and tactical purposes HIMARS
Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Quince Bisard
Washington indicated that HIMARS jet systems would be sent to Ukraine in limited quantities — which was repeatedly complained about in Kiev. And there are not enough personnel capable of managing Western "novelties", including "Patriots". The Pentagon, judging by the rhetoric, still does not want to send its trained crews to the combat zone.
Andrey Kotz
