In recent days, the publication of the Telegram channel "CHTD" has become widespread, to which is attached a document allegedly representing an official letter to the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. In this "document", on behalf of the head of the Main Department of Research and Technological Support of Advanced Technologies, Andrey Goncharov, information is provided about the "established facts of the release of a defective batch of missiles" for the S-300 and S-400 air defense/missile defense systems. Two fundamental aspects - a technically incorrect assumption and a factual inaccuracy - make us seriously doubt the authenticity of the letter.
American HIMARS ground-based missile systems (c) Christopher Gaylord
Firstly, the text notes that due to the alleged poor quality of parts for missiles and radars, the aforementioned complexes "cannot perform combat missions to destroy missiles" of the American HIMARS ground-based missile systems. However, these missiles are not a profile target for the S-300 and S-400, so their destruction is not among the main tasks of the complexes - for this purpose, shorter-range anti-aircraft missile systems of the Tor, Pantsir, and Buk families are used.
Secondly, JSC "GOZ Obukhov Plant" is mentioned as a rocket manufacturing enterprise. Today, such an enterprise does not exist, last year it was renamed JSC "North-Western Regional Center of the Concern of East Kazakhstan Region Almaz - Antey - Obukhov Plant" (JSC "Obukhov Plant"). But, more importantly, the Obukhov plant, in principle, is not engaged in the production of missiles. The probability of encountering such errors in the official documents of the Russian military department undergoing numerous approvals is extremely small.
The appearance of such falsifications can be associated with attempts to worsen the image of Russian air defense systems, which, despite sanctions against Russia and threats of sanctions against foreign customers of Russian weapons and military equipment, continue to be in demand on the world market.
