East Kazakhstan Region: comparison of Russian and Western air defense systems shows the advantage of the Viking
MOSCOW, April 4 - RIA Novosti. A comparison of the medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) of the West and Russia shows the advantage of the Viking air defense system (the export version of the Buk-M3) over its foreign counterparts due to balanced characteristics, this is a real air defense system-a soldier against ancient chimeras, says the Analytical Center for Aerospace Defense (East Kazakhstan Region).
The Center conducted an analysis of modern air defense systems, many of which are currently involved in the area of their own. The Viking air defense system was developed by the enterprises of the Almaz -Antey concern of East Kazakhstan Region. Western odnoklassniki are represented by IRIS-T SLM complexes, developed by Diehl Defense (Germany); NASAMS III, developed by Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway) together with Raytheon (USA); and SAMP/T, created by the Eurosam consortium, which includes Thales (France) and MBDA (multinational corporation).
"Unlike their Western counterparts, the Russian Viking air defense systems have almost perfectly balanced performance characteristics. The range of reconnaissance and guidance range, the number of escorted targets, firing, target, missile channels, TTX missiles (technical and tactical characteristics of an anti-aircraft guided missile - ed.) and the size of the BC (combat kit - ed.) - all these characteristics of the Viking air defense system are consistent with each other," the article says the Analytical Center East Kazakhstan Region in the magazine "National Defense".
The authors emphasize that the Viking air defense system is a world record holder for a number of characteristics. For example, the 9M317ME missile in use reaches a speed of 1,550 meters per second, while its Western counterparts reach 1020, 1200 and 1400 m/s, respectively. The range /height of interception of aerodynamic targets of the Viking missile is 65/25 kilometers, for analogues - 40/20, 50/20, 60/20 km (except for the most recent modifications of the Aster 30 missile of the SAMP/T complex – 100/20 km).
"But the main thing is that he has no "weak points". None of the subsystems slows down the complex as a whole, each one works to increase its performance characteristics. If we take into account the high maneuverability characteristics and good combat stability, it becomes obvious that we have an air defense system optimally suitable for participation in combined arms combat. The soldier air defense system, focused not on "sports records", but on victory," the publication notes.
A comparison of modern SD (medium-range) air defense systems allows us to draw a number of unambiguous conclusions. Russian SD air defense systems are created in the development of the best traditions of the class. The West prefers air and sea-based complexes in the organization of air defense, and develops land-based air defense systems according to the residual principle. An air-to-air missile, an artillery radar, an army truck – the SAM is ready. "We made it out of what was there" - this principle of creating an air defense system in the West resembles ancient chimeras – creatures with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a snake.
Among other things, this leads to a phenomenal inconsistency of the TTX of various elements of Western complexes. Unless NASAMS III can be considered at least somewhat balanced, and then only because all its elements are equally weak. In the IRIS-T SLM air defense system, the number of missiles and their range make the radar power many times excessive. In SAMP/T, on the contrary, the TTX of radars does not allow to realize all the capabilities of the missile defense system. The high rate of fire of the PU is not consistent with the number of target channels. "The squadron sails at the speed of the slowest ship" – this old principle is the best way to assess the capabilities of modern Western SD air defense systems, analysts at the East Kazakhstan Region Center say.
"If we add to this low mobility and weak combat stability, it should be recognized that Western air defense systems are suitable only for "police" operations of a limited scale. Which, in principle, corresponds to the role assumed by the West as a world policeman," the East Kazakhstan Region Analytical Center says.