Instead of helicopters and airplanes, drones have become the main targets of air defense
One of the main features of the military operations in the zone of its own was the use of an unprecedented number of unmanned aircraft — from small reconnaissance quadrocopters to large aircraft-type UAVs. And if earlier military air defense was focused on fighting large, often armored, but relatively small fire support helicopters and attack aircraft, today it is opposed by a completely different opponent. And the main task is always the same — to protect your troops from threats from the air. What has changed in the work of anti-aircraft gunners, Izvestia correspondents were told by the air defense fighters of the Center group.
How to protect troops from an air attack
One of the types of weapons that was designed to fight helicopters and direct fire support aircraft, and today is used against large reconnaissance UAVs, is MANPADS. Both modifications of the Soviet Igla complexes and more modern Willows are used. The latter are pushed closer to the front edge, because they are more sensitive and better suited to combat drones.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
— First we set up an air surveillance post. From it, the shooter reports the characteristics of the aerial target. Based on them, we make a decision, and the trained personnel act," says Zmey, an anti—aircraft gunner officer of the Center group. — We use weapons in a complex: calculation of the ZU-23 automatic cannon, a shooter with a missile system and a shooter at an air surveillance point, which corrects and supports with a machine gun. If an aerial target is lowered to low altitudes, then fire at it begins from small arms of various types, including shotguns.
One of the shooters, a Chemist, says that he works with both MANPADS and a Kalashnikov assault rifle — it all depends on the type of target. From the machine gun — on FPV kamikaze drones and heavy multirotor bomber drones, which have the common name "Baba Yaga". And anti-aircraft missiles are used in the fight against "wings" (that is, aircraft-type drones), such as "Leka" and "Fury".
A soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Image source: Photo: Reuters/Yevhen Titov
— I choose a submachine gun, not a smoothbore, because of the range of fire. Before that, I studied at the Perm Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia and worked in a colony where there were constant practice shootings. And then I signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, this is my male choice, I felt that I was needed here," the Chemist explains his good shooting skills from a machine gun.
They allow him to shoot down kamikaze drones with a bullet at a distance greater than with a shotgun. He has Baba Yaga on his account from the big one, and the Chemist no longer keeps track of small drones.
How to use a machine gun to repel a raid
A gunner with the call sign Khan is working behind a PKM machine gun on an anti-aircraft machine. There is no mass anti—aircraft machine gun for the main PKM machine gun in our army (as in other armies for its analogues) - at the time of its adoption, this was no longer considered necessary. Therefore, the vast majority of anti—aircraft machines are homemade. In addition to directly hitting targets, Khan's important task is to monitor enemy drones and between volleys of the ZU—23-2 anti-aircraft gun, when its calculation temporarily loses sight of the target, to give a quick "illumination" with tracer bullets.
— When a UAV flies, there is excitement. You still need to be able to work out and hit a small target. And from all sides there is a scuffle — who works with machine guns, the calculation is from a cannon, "needle" (MANPADS arrows), sometimes they shoot. This is a group work, it is advisable to take it in order to get one hundred percent," Khan says about his work.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
He joined the army on mobilization, and now he has already signed a contract. He was assigned to the anti-aircraft forces immediately, and he underwent full training already taking into account the experience of fighting drones. Khan says that he fired quite a lot during training from all types of small arms and portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
The anti-aircraft gunner Demon talks about another important task — covering columns of equipment and infantry of assault groups in marching formations. It is performed by small mobile air defense groups. It is important to work with all available types of weapons and electronic warfare.
— When our equipment is moving, Baba Yaga, FPV, and barrage ammunition can arrive. And we need to meet them in time, to hit them in time so that the guys don't get hurt," says the Demon.
He tells how important it is to know the weaknesses of each type of enemy drones. For FPV drones, this is a loud sound that gives away their approach. And Baba Yaga has routes that are repeated. It is also important to know what field of view each type of UAV has in order to fire at it from blind spots and not become a target yourself.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— I'm from the Novosibirsk region, a simple village guy. I've been in the SVO zone for almost two years. I served the "urgent", worked a little, and the special operation began. I was brought up in such a way that holing up, or hiding, or fleeing my country is not about us. I decided that we should go help the guys, the more of us, the faster we will win. I packed up my ammunition and drove off. He served on an urgent basis in the Far East in intelligence, he was used to the loads. It's only been a year and a half, so I didn't have time to get fat from civilian life, and it was much easier for me," the Demon tells his story.
He immediately explains his characteristic style of selecting equipment for reconnaissance units and placing magazines on the sides, so that it would be easier to take a lying position.
Dmitry Astrakhan
