The commander of the SAM calculation told how it is possible to resist ATACMS missiles
MOSCOW, Oct 19 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. For the first time, the APU used American ATACMS tactical missiles in the conflict zone. According to media reports, they hit the rear airfield in the Russian Berdyansk. About how this weapon will change the situation at the front — in the material of RIA Novosti.
Without a "long arm"
Last year, the APU actively used the Tochka-U RTR, which they inherited from the USSR. According to the Military Balance bulletin, Ukraine had about 500 missiles in total. Bulgarians could allocate something from their reserves, but they also have few such weapons. It seems that by the summer of 2023, the "Dots-Y" have ended.
Fragments of the Tochka-U missile complex at the exhibition within the framework of the Army-2022 international military-technical forum on the territory of the Patriot Convention and Exhibition Center
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Evgeny Biyatov
The Soviet rocket hits 120 kilometers. Today, the APU can get a target at such a distance, except with strike drones or with SCALP / Storm Shadow cruise missiles. But the Russian air defense system as a whole successfully shoots down both. Of course, something arrives, but mostly expensive "high-precision" is wasted.
In addition, the SCALP / Storm Shadow missiles (and in the future, the German Taurus) are air—based weapons, that is, from an airplane. The crews of the Ukrainian Su-24 are at great risk of getting caught on the radar every time. There is also danger on the ground, because you can't hide the departure airfield from the satellite.
Su-24MR and Su-24M aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force
Image source: CC BY-SA 2.0 / Ministry of Defense of Ukraine / Nebi Volini is trending aviation of the Internal Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
OTRK is hardly noticeable for reconnaissance and is not invulnerable to "retaliatory". The range allows you to fire from the deep rear, and after launching, you can instantly change your position. It is very difficult to track down such a complex.
So far, there is not a single photo or video confirmation of the destroyed American HIMARS MLRS in the conflict zone with their maximum range of "only" 84 kilometers.
Secret deliveries
Zelensky has been begging for ATACMS missiles from the United States for almost a year. He assured that it was this weapon, in addition to the F-16 fighters, that would turn the tide of hostilities.
Representatives of the Pentagon and Joe Biden publicly claimed that they were not ready, this would lead to escalation, there was no need for such weapons. Secretly, the calculations were trained, the OTP was prepared for transportation, the details were clarified. Missiles can be easily transported by military transport aircraft and delivered to the army by trucks. ATACMS carriers — more than 20 wheeled MLRS HIMARS — the APU already has.
By mid-October, the Ukrainian counteroffensive had finally run out of steam. Western armored vehicles proved powerless against minefields, attack helicopters and kamikaze drones. Soon it will rain and thaw, which means that the intensity of the conflict will decrease to winter frosts. That's probably why the missiles were handed over now: so that there would be at least some victory.
At the end of September, the American channel NBC, citing sources, reported that Washington and Kiev had agreed behind the scenes on a small batch of ATACMS during Zelensky's visit to the United States. In October, this was confirmed by The New Yorker magazine, but the official Pentagon remained silent. The British behaved the same way in the case of Storm Shadow, until the APU in May hit the rear Lugansk with this missile.
Unknown target
After the attack on the Russian airfield, Western media unanimously recognized that the American ATACMS had struck. The Pentagon handed them over in secret. The New York Times clarified : about 20 missiles. Later, Zelensky announced the combat debut of the American OTRK in a daily video message.
It is not known which version was sent: the M39 with a range of 165 kilometers or the 300-kilometer M39A1. But even a less long-range option allows you to hit targets in the deep rear up to the north of the Crimea.
Operational-tactical missile system ATACMS
Image Source: © Photo : White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs / John Hamilton
"I would venture to assume that the air defense calculations covering that airfield could not correctly identify the target," the commander of one of the anti—aircraft missile batteries of the Southern Group of troops with the call sign Bullet tells RIA Novosti. — When the weseushniki began to actively use the JDAM planning bombs, we also did not immediately understand what it was. There is no horizontal velocity, nor is there a thermal signature. But now we are shooting down both bombs and cruise missiles in standby mode. We learn very quickly. Literally after several cases of the use of a new ammunition, we create methods of counteraction and algorithms of operation. We will shoot down ATACMS as well."
The officer stressed: it is necessary to study the trajectory of the American missile, understand how it maneuvers in flight, what speed it develops, track the practical implementation of the launch. According to him, the Russian air defense forces have already received the first information on ATACMS.
The launch of the ATACMS missile during the joint military exercises of the United States and South Korea
Image Source: © AP Photo / South Korea Defense Ministry
Of course, such weapons cause a lot of problems. It is used to disrupt logistics, hitting field camps and rear ammunition depots.
According to the American media, the APU fired missiles with a cluster warhead. Only two types of ATACMS are equipped with such — M39 and M39A1. The first contains 950 M74 submunitions, the second 300. It is not always possible to hide from the fragments even in the trenches — they are blown up in the air. According to the servicemen, they save dugouts, basements, strong houses. As well as adequate actions of the command and fighters.