They will be used to attack land targets behind enemy linesThe reform of the coastal rocket and artillery troops (BRAV) of the Navy has begun in Russia.
Their parts receive new names and a range of tasks. Among them is the defeat of ground targets. Such changes will make it possible to destroy critical enemy facilities in the interests of not only the fleet, but also the troops as a whole, experts say. And the new generation of coastal missile systems (DBK) can work not only on ships, but also on land targets behind enemy lines.
Rocket Duo
One of the consequences of the reform will be the renaming of parts of BRAV. The current formations will become coastal missile brigades instead of coastal missile and artillery brigades, sources in the defense department told Izvestia. Now their main task, in addition to protecting the coast, will be to support troops not only in the coastal direction, but also throughout the country.
In November of this year, the commander of the coastal missile unit of the Northern Fleet, Colonel Hamza Rustamov, announced the renaming of one of the brigades. "The directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation defined a new name — "coastal missile brigade", — he said. According to the colonel, the unit has been re-equipped with modern complexes "Bal" and "Bastion".
Coastal missile systems "Bastion" during training on missile attack on ships of a conditional enemy
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Golenkov
In January of this year, Boris Obnosov, director of the KTRV Corporation, which produces coastal missile systems, said that thanks to Bastion and Balu, the command of the Russian Navy created a unique two-link system for hitting not only sea, but also land targets.
"This duo is capable of destroying any surface and coastal target within the affected areas," said Obnosov.
Artillery armament has not been considered the main one for coastal rocket and artillery brigades for a long time. The current changes will consolidate the actual state of affairs, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia.
— Now the artillery unit remains only in one rocket and artillery brigade on the Black Sea, where there is a battery of the Bereg complex, - the expert recalled. — There has been no artillery component in all the others for some time. At the same time, the brigades actively receive and use the latest missile weapons — the Bal and Bastion missile defense systems. They are actively used against ground targets during the SVO. With their help, they hit targets on land, such as Onyx and X-35 missiles — this is a powerful weapon that is suitable for destroying important targets even behind enemy lines.
Coastal missile complex "Bal" during the launch of the X-35 anti-ship missile at interspecific exercises of army and navy units of the Eastern Military District
Image source: Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk
At the same time, the expert noted that artillery remains relevant and there is no question of completely abandoning it in the coastal troops. For example, it is still indispensable in repelling enemy amphibious landings.
— The coastal troops of our fleets still have regiments of powerful and long-range 152-millimeter Hyacinth guns. They will always be ready to connect to the coastal rocketeers if necessary. In addition, the Navy can also use army artillery," he noted.
The defeat of enemy ships is still regularly practiced by the DBK during exercises. In September, in the Arctic expedition "Umka-2022" under the leadership of the Commander-in-chief of the Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, the Bastion complex hit a sea target 300 km from the coast.
"Ball" on the "Bastion"
In recent years, Russian coastal troops have been re—equipped with two types of modern coastal missile systems - "Bal" and "Bastion".
The Balas are equipped with X-35U anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 260 km and subsonic speed. Each self—propelled launcher carries eight such missiles - the same number as on one small rocket ship or corvette, which allows for massive strikes. The complex consists of four vehicles, which gives it a salvo comparable to that of a detachment of modern warships.
The Bastions are distinguished by the Onyx supersonic missile. Each launcher carries two such munitions, which are extremely difficult to shoot down with shipboard air defense systems. Due to their high speed, they also become a difficult target for ground-based anti-aircraft systems.
152-mm gun "Hyacinth" at the exercises of the Army Corps of the Baltic Fleet on artillery fire control in the Kaliningrad region
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Golenkov
It has already been confirmed that "Onyx" can be aimed at coastal targets. The range allows one division to control up to 600 km of coastline. At the same time, the combat vehicles themselves may not be on the coast, but at a distance of up to 200 km from it. Because of this, it is difficult for the enemy to detect and hit them. The complex is ready for combat five minutes after receiving the deployment command.
The first combat debut of "Bastions" with "Onyx" was the Russian operation in Syria. There they were used to attack terrorist targets. This year, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has repeatedly reported on their use during the SVO. So, on June 20, a strike on the Artsiz airfield in the Odessa region destroyed the Bayraktar TB2 drone control station and two unmanned vehicles of this complex on the ground. Several strikes on airfields were carried out in May.
Modern Braves lead the history from the artillery of the coastal fortresses and coastal batteries of the Russian Navy. It was they who for several centuries formed the basis of the defense of the sea coast and the home areas and were the main means of coastal defense. Missile systems began to be added in the 50s of the last century. In 1958, coastal rocket and artillery troops were created, which turned into an independent branch of the Navy. In October 1989, the BRAV, together with the Marines and coastal defense forces, were included in the newly created branch of forces — the coastal forces of the Navy.
Today, coastal missile systems are designed to destroy surface ships, amphibious detachments and enemy convoys, cover the bases and coastal facilities of the fleet, groups of troops of their troops in the coastal areas. In addition, they can be attracted to destroy enemy bases and ports.
Anton Lavrov
Alexey Ramm
