Units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are reliably protected from air strikes.
December 26 – Military Air Defense DayThe system of military air defense during a special military operation in Ukraine is tested for strength every day.
The high efficiency of the created echeloned air defense system is confirmed, which makes it possible to hit all means of enemy air attack, including drones and multiple launch rocket systems. The head of the military Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Alexander LEONOV, tells the Red Star about the current state and prospects for the development of this kind of troops.
– Alexander Petrovich, the year 2022 is coming to an end, which is not easy for military air defense, and in general for our Armed Forces. What are its results?Source: redstar.ru
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– The military air defense really meets its 107th anniversary in a rapidly changing world order, where the right to the existence of our state has to be proved, including during a special military operation.
The analysis of the combat use of formations, military units and air defense units during the SVO confirmed the correctness of previously developed approaches to the construction of a layered air defense system, the development of weapons and military equipment, the organization of combat training of troops and the training of our specialists.
At the same time, the branch of the armed forces does not stand still. During a special military operation, new techniques and methods of combat use are used both by formations, military units and air defense units, and the weapons they use, which, as a rule, are unexpected for the enemy. According to the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, military air defense on the battlefields has proven itself well, the effectiveness of its actions fully ensures the performance of combat missions by motorized infantry, tankers and paratroopers.
– How do you generally assess the actions of military air defense specialists during their military operations in Ukraine?– The best assessment of the effectiveness of the actions of military air defense specialists was the persistent unwillingness of the AFU pilots to fly in the areas of responsibility of our air defense systems.
And the confirmation of my words is the number of air targets destroyed by air defense units during the special operation.
So, as of December 25, 2022, the share of enemy air targets destroyed by Russian military air defense means is more than 60 percent of the total number of their losses. More than 160 planes and helicopters, three thousand UAVs, over 1,700 different types of missiles and rockets were shot down, including the advertised American HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and HARM anti-radar missiles. The numbers speak for themselves.
Image source: redstar.ru
– How did the experience gained during the special military operation affect the combat training program in the units of the air defense forces?– The combat training programs of air defense units and subunits, as well as other branches of the armed forces, are continuously being improved under the influence of various factors, whether it is improving the tactical and technical characteristics of domestic weapons, changing the tactics of the enemy's actions, the use of new means of air attack and a number of others.
Analyzing the actions of the air enemy and the effectiveness of the combat use of military air defense units during a special military operation, we constantly introduce invaluable experience into the training process aimed at improving the level of training of personnel.
The main attention during training is paid to the conduct of combat operations by air defense units in conditions of strong fire resistance and electronic suppression, the use of high-precision weapons and UAVs by the enemy.
Also, when preparing air defense units for the upcoming actions, we are improving the construction of combat formations that ensure the effective destruction of both aerodynamic and ballistic targets. The use of atypical combat and marching orders makes it possible to prevent the defeat of air defense systems by artillery and mortar fire. We pay considerable attention to the camouflage and engineering equipment of the starting positions, the preparation of units for ambush operations.
Air defense units are able to solve any task of repelling an enemy air strike with maximum efficiency
Image source: redstar.ru
– What can you tell us about the new samples of military equipment and weapons that have been received by the formations, units and air defense units of the Ground Forces this year?– In 2022, the military authorities, together with industrial enterprises, carried out a lot of work to increase the pace and quantity of supplied weapons ahead of the planned targets by a year.
In order to solve the tasks of non-strategic missile defense and increase combat capabilities to counter ballistic missile warheads, AVAX-type aircraft detection and control systems, as well as strategic aviation aircraft, the S-300V4 air defense System continues to be equipped with troops. The advanced delivery of equipment this year made it possible to replace the outdated armament of one of the divisions of the anti-aircraft missile Brigade of the Western Military District, and by the end of 2023, its units will be completely re-equipped with a modern long-range anti-aircraft missile system.
In terms of medium-range air defense systems, the first divisional set of Buk-M3 air defense systems was delivered. In the near future, it is planned to supply six more such kits for the rearmament of two anti-aircraft missile brigades.
In order to increase the combat capabilities of anti-aircraft missile regiments and divisions, their rearmament with the Tor-M2 air defense system continues. This year, two sets of this complex have already been delivered to the troops.
As part of the completed ROC "Gibka-S", a platoon commander's reconnaissance and control vehicle (MRU K 9S9Z7) and a combat vehicle of the anti-aircraft gunners squad (9A332) were developed. A combat vehicle with a MANPADS installation placed on it is capable of conducting combat work at any time of the day autonomously under the control of the MRUK and battery command posts of the basic set of the Barnaul-T or Magister-SV KSA.
The ammunition of the combat vehicle consists of eight Igla-S or Willow MANPADS anti-aircraft guided missiles, four of which are kept ready for launch on the launcher guides. This year, the first delivery of this type of combat vehicles was carried out for the first time.
Within the framework of equipping with modern weapons, the advanced delivery of samples of VVST for military air defense will continue next year.
– How did the military equipment and armament of the military air defense prove themselves during the SVO?– The special operation in Ukraine was the first test of almost the entire main range of military air defense weapons in real combat conditions with a diverse list of air attack weapons of both Soviet and foreign production.
The last months of the operation are characterized by the massive use of UAVs, various multiple rocket launchers and tactical missile systems "Tochka-U". The Soviet multiple launch rocket systems were replaced by the HIMARS and MLRS complexes supplied by Western countries with massive multiple launch use of high–precision surface-to-surface missiles.
After a detailed study of the characteristics of new types of targets, improvements of systems and complexes carried out by industrial enterprises, the S-3OOV4 and Buk-MZ air defense systems, as well as Tor-M2 (M2U, M2DT), which affected 65 percent of the total number of destroyed enemy air attack vehicles, showed the greatest effectiveness.
During the anti-amphibious defense of the Tor-M2 air defense system and its modification Tor-M2DT, the high efficiency of destroying high-precision weapons and UAVs with the ability to conduct reconnaissance and fire in motion, as well as on the decks of ships and landing boats when crossing by sea was confirmed.
Igla and Willow MANPADS, which account for a third of the destroyed manned aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have proven themselves well in defeating suddenly appearing air targets at low and extremely low altitudes at the forefront. Often, the firing of manned aircraft with MANPADS missiles, even in the event of a miss, leads to the refusal of the pilot to perform a combat mission, and therefore to the preservation of the combat capability of the covered units.
The analysis of the air defense command system of the groups of troops created on the basis of the KSA "Polyana-D4M1" and the KSA "Barnaul-T" from the ESU TK confirmed its effectiveness and the ability to control the forces and means of military air defense in real time.
Thus, during a special military operation in Ukraine, the high efficiency of the created echeloned air defense system is confirmed, and the integration of various air defense means in it allows hitting all means of enemy air attack, including UAVs and MLRS rockets in various versions.
Image source: redstar.ru
– How do you assess the training of officers for air defense units? What can you say about the graduates of the Military Academy of Military Air Defense in 2022, how many of them take part in a special military operation, how have they proven themselves?– As you know, the only university of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation that trains officers for air defense is the Military Academy of Military Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky.
It is a universal educational and scientific-methodical center and has a modern educational and material base that provides conditions for the training of military air defense specialists, including foreign armies.
From the first days of the SVO, the university has been working on generalizing the experience of using military air defense formations, weapons and military equipment and its introduction into the training process of students and cadets. Graduates of the Academy in 2022 also received the necessary knowledge.
An important factor in improving the educational process was the direct participation of the teaching staff of the Academy in its.
Currently, most of the graduates of the Academy in 2022 are performing tasks in the special operation zone, preserving and multiplying the traditions of their predecessors, tirelessly and purposefully-
they strive to improve their skills, in fact demonstrating real training.
– Alexander Petrovich, a few words about the system of training centers and the training of junior military specialists for the air defense forces.– There has been a well-established system of training junior specialists in military air defense for a long time.
It is based on the training centers of the armed forces, located in the cities of Yeysk and Orenburg. The training of military personnel is carried out in two directions: in military accounting specialties and as part of regular units.
The implementation of this approach has allowed more than 14 thousand junior specialists to gain the necessary knowledge from 2013 to the present and retrain personnel of more than 30 military air defense formations for modern weapons.
With the beginning of the SVO, both training centers switched to more intensive training of specialists. Along with the shortening of the preparation period, the length of the school day has increased. At the same time, the lion's share falls on practical exercises using simulators and combat samples of military equipment.
The priority direction in the training of specialists remains the development by military personnel of modern weapons received as part of the execution of the state defense order from the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of the country.
At the initial stage of training of military personnel as part of regular units, modern technologies, educational computer classes, training facilities and electronic simulators are widely used. In the future, military personnel undergo coordination of calculations, batteries, divisions and regiments as a whole.
The uniqueness of the geographical location of training centers near areas of intensive aviation flights allows you to hone the entire cycle of combat work on real air targets. Throughout the entire training cycle, special attention is paid to the implementation of the experience of military air defense units in the special operation zone.
Thus, the air defense unit, having mastered a modern air defense system within the walls of the training center, is able to solve any task of repelling an enemy air strike with maximum efficiency.
Image source: redstar.ru
– How and where is the training of citizens who served in the military air defense and were called up from the reserve during partial mobilization?– Servicemen who previously served in the military air defense, called up from the reserve and assigned to positions in military formations of air defense, are sent to our training centers to undergo training in military accounting specialty.
A special program has been developed for their training, the main focus of which is the restoration of knowledge, skills and abilities acquired earlier, and their improvement, taking into account the experience gained during the SVO. A prerequisite is the execution of live firing.
– Alexander Petrovich, you have the opportunity to use the Red Star to congratulate veterans of military air defense, subordinates, defense specialists who develop and produce weapons and military equipment for military air defense on a professional holiday.– The high morale, professionalism and skill of our military air defense soldiers allow us to assert that the keys to heaven are in safe hands.
They faithfully fulfill their military duty – to vigilantly guard the air borders of the Motherland, to preserve their native land.
I cordially congratulate all personnel, veterans, civilian personnel, scientists, designers, and industry workers on their professional holiday. I wish everyone good health, success in military affairs for the benefit of strengthening the defense capability of our Motherland, and veterans – not to grow old in spirit and stay in the ranks longer!
Nikita SAKHAROV
