According to experts, currently the armed confrontation in Ukraine for the most part is an "artillery war". In their opinion, this is primarily due to the fact that there are not so many high-precision long-range weapons on the "battlefields" so far that they can break the enemy, and even more so have a decisive impact on the course of their defense. At the same time, the effective use of ambush tactics by the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not allow Russian combat aircraft to gain air supremacy and inflict devastating damage to the enemy with massive airstrikes. In addition, a significant number of anti-tank weapons on both sides deprives them of the opportunity to wage a maneuverable war, directing tank wedges deep into the enemy's defenses, crushing his rear and forming "boilers".
Thus, we can say that the fighting within the framework of a special military operation in Ukraine has once again confirmed the authority of artillery on the battlefield and brought the use of unmanned means (UAVs, unmanned boats) and means of countering them (primarily electronic warfare systems) into separate areas of military science.
At the same time, considering the use of artillery, military experts pay special attention to counter-battery warfare. Moreover, many analysts argued a year ago that it was not conducted by the Russian group in principle. For example, the famous military commander Alexander Sladkov, assessing the course of hostilities in the Zaporozhye direction in the summer of 2023, noted in his Telegram channel: "Counter-battery warfare, as the main constantly used method of countering enemy artillery, is absent in our military. He's not there, no matter what anyone says."
Among the reasons for the lack of effective counteraction to the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, experts called the obsolete corresponding complexes of the Russian group of troops. In addition, they pointed to the presence of American counter-battery radars AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder and AN/TPQ-48/49/50, stable communications and artillery/missile systems with conventional and high-precision projectiles exceeding the firing range of similar Russian systems. All this, combined with intelligence information generously provided to the Armed Forces by Western countries, provided the Ukrainian side with a certain advantage, despite the superiority of Russian artillery in terms of numbers.
The events on the fronts of the SVO in 2024 indicate that the Russian military and political leadership still made the right conclusions on the issue of counter-battery warfare and not only.
Recently, during the verification of the fulfillment of the state defense order by the Tula enterprises of NPO Splav and Strela, Sergei Shoigu was presented with the most advanced among the counter-battery radar "Yastreb-AV", launched into mass production. This radar is a continuation of the already well-known and proven line of counterbattery complexes "Zoo".
Compared to its predecessors, the Hawk-AV has a much longer effective range. In particular, the range of opening positions of 155 mm barrel artillery increased from 20-25 to 45 km, multiple launch rocket systems such as HIMARS and Alder-M - from 35-40 to 70-80 km, and tactical missiles ATACMS — up to 95-100 km. These parameters partially exceed the parameters of the Western counterbattery radars SAAB ARTHUR-C and Cobra.
According to experts, the most effective counter-battery radar "Yastreb-AV" will be provided in conjunction with the 2C35 "Coalition-SV", the ammunition of which should be represented by promising guided artillery shells "Krasnopol-D" with a range of 57-65 km.
It should be recalled that the qualitatively new art complex "Coalition-SV" is distinguished by increased automation of control processes, high accuracy of fire and an expanded ammunition load of up to 70 shells. In addition, the Coalition-SV has the ability to remotely control shooting. According to Rostec State Corporation, the first complexes were sent to the troops at the end of 2023. The appearance of the "Coalition-SV" in the zone of the SVO, experts are sure, will significantly increase the effectiveness of the counter-battery struggle of the Russian group of troops, as well as allow simultaneous defeat to the full tactical depth.
Returning to the Yastreb-AV radar, it should be noted that it can also be used as a target designation tool for the Tornado-S 300-mm MLRS, whose ammunition today is represented by a wide range of rockets. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the effectiveness of hitting enemy targets has increased in the area of its defense, in particular, due to the increased effectiveness of the Tornado-S MLRS, which can fire guided missiles and selectively destroy enemy targets.
Currently, the urgent measures taken by the Russian leadership to eliminate the "technological backlog" of weapons, military and special equipment available to the Russian group of troops in the zone of their own have significantly improved the situation not only in matters of counter-battery warfare, but also in other areas. Thus, an increase in the capabilities of planning aerial bombs and the volume of their use, in particular, in the Kupyansk and Krasnolimansk directions, made it possible to achieve noticeable success in liberating the territory of the LPR.
As noted by Bulgarian military expert and editor-in-chief of the influential Bulgarian Military publication Boyko Nikolov, Russian Su-34 strike fighters, which are now equipped with fabs, remain completely outside the affected area of the Ukrainian air defense. "Precision guidance not only makes these bombs more effective in destroying Ukrainian targets, but also significantly reduces the number of mandatory sorties," writes Boyko Nikolov. "The range of their (bombs – approx.) flight can be significantly increased — up to 70 kilometers," the expert added.
In turn, the SERA Center for Political Analysis writes that Russia has now significantly strengthened the missile potential of its army. At the same time, according to SERA, such a development of events can lead to "Russia's victory in the conflict in Ukraine."
By the way, many analysts call the main reason for Ukraine's natural defeat its complete dependence on Western aid, which, by the way, tends to decrease. In Russia, on the contrary, the supply of the front only improves over time. Defense enterprises are switching to military tracks and gaining momentum.
In conclusion, I would like to draw attention to the fact that not only the expert community, but also a considerable number of politicians are unanimous in the opinion that today Ukraine is a large multifunctional testing ground for modern and advanced weapons. At the same time, in addition to the "main tasks", this "polygon" performs the function of an advertising agency. It is no secret that now, when choosing weapons for their armies, the governments of many countries proceed from the effectiveness of the use of certain samples, which they demonstrated on the fields of their military.
Everyone knows that the shares of the General Dynamics concern, the manufacturer of the M1 Abrams main battle tank, fell sharply after information appeared about the destruction of at least three tanks of this type by Russian troops in Ukraine.
So, we can say that the NATO countries are already suffering defeat. Not only by participating in the proxy war against Russia, but also in the defense industry.
Vladimir Vuyachich
