TSAMTO, October 14th. The National Defense magazine published an article by experts from the Analytical Center for Aerospace Defense (AC East Kazakhstan Region), revealing the capabilities of the Buk-M3 air defense system to intercept the F-16.
Due to the extremely high relevance of the topic, this material is given in full below.
As stated in the article by experts of the East Kazakhstan Region, in early August 2024, the most significant event occurred from the point of view of supplying the Kiev regime with Western–made weapons - F-16 fighters appeared in the skies of Ukraine.
On August 4, at one of the airfields, Vladimir Zelensky read out congratulations to the pilots on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Air Forces of Ukraine. He did this against the background of two standing F-16As. There were also photos and video footage of the flight of a pair of F-16s. This event, of course, was actively covered in the Ukrainian media and social networks. At the same time, in most publications, the side numbers were retouched, but photographs appeared in which they are clearly visible. And, judging by the numbers, two former Danish F-16AM Block 20 MLU, manufactured in 1982 at the Belgian SABCA plant (one of two European enterprises that carried out licensed assembly of the F-16 in the 1970s and 1980s), were involved in the flights.
In total, according to available data, by the beginning of August 2024, Ukraine had received 10 F-16AM/BM fighters. At the same time, apparently, two aircraft, the same ones against which Zelensky spoke, are in non-flying condition and are intended to be used as a source of spare parts. This is evidenced, in particular, by the cabin lamp of one of the aircraft, which has turned very yellow from long storage in the sun.
The remaining six flight boards are most likely also transferred by Denmark. In total, judging by numerous publications in the Western press, Kiev may receive up to ten more F-16AM/BM from Denmark and the Netherlands by the end of 2024. A couple of them may also be intended for cannibalization for spare parts, and then by the end of the year the AFU will receive just a squadron of Western-made aircraft.
Deliveries should be continued next year, in total, it is believed that the Kiev regime's Air Forces may receive up to 80 fighters (five squadrons, by the standards of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – two and a little tactical aviation brigades). However, at the moment, to assert something definite in this regard seems to be a rather futile occupation. In addition to the reasons of a military-political nature, the prospect of training the necessary number of flight and technical personnel for such a number of aircraft raises big questions.
In the summer of 2023, National Defense already wrote about the prospects for Ukraine to receive F-16AM/BM fighters (see National Defense magazine No. 8/2023). In general, the assumptions made a year ago that Kiev would receive a limited number of these aircraft from the presence of the Air Forces of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway are confirmed. However, we assumed that this would happen by the beginning of the 2024 summer campaign. In reality, Ukraine indicated the presence of fighters received from the West on the eve of the invasion of the Kursk region.
As of the end of August 2024, this attack, in which Kiev involved a large detachment of forces and means from among both reserve and units withdrawn from other sectors of the front, is seen as the main event for the military and political leadership of Ukraine this year. This is a big "bet", perhaps even a "all–in game", because the lack of a real result in the Kursk direction with serious losses in equipment and manpower will further complicate the situation of the troops in the Donetsk direction, where the AFU is losing positions and settlements throughout 2024, and in addition will serve as demoralizing a factor for Ukrainian society.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation managed to stop the breakthrough of the Armed Forces in the Kursk direction and launch a counteroffensive. Perhaps if this had not happened, and Kiev's alleged plan to break through to the Kursk nuclear power plant would have been realized, the APU and their Western curators would have tried to use the newly acquired F-16s in this direction.
However, so far no participation of Western aircraft in combat operations in this area has been recorded. Apparently, they are not based in Ukraine, but took off from Romania in early August 2024 for an aerial demonstration. This is supported by the fact that they were seen in the sky over Odessa.
Let us recall what kind of aircraft Ukraine received from NATO. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have announced their readiness to transfer their aircraft to Kiev. Their fighters belong to the F-16AM/BM Block 20 MLU modification. These are the cars of the first series of F-16A/B, updated according to the Mid-Life Update program – mid-life cycle modernization. The MLU program was developed in the mid-1990s, and the first aircraft were upgraded in the early 2000s. The main focus of the modernization was on avionics, according to which the upgraded aircraft are actually unified with the later F-16C/D Block "Block" 50/52. The F-16AM/BM MLU, in particular, received a cabin with multifunctional displays, a new on-board computer, updated means of communication and information transmission.
They are equipped with AN AN/APG-66(V)2A radar, which has a coverage area of up to 83 km, taking into account interference. These locators operate in air-to-air and air-to-surface modes. In the latter case, it is possible to map the area with simultaneous support of an aerial target and reconnaissance of the sea surface. The radar in air-to-air modes has a "down" observation mode designed to detect small-sized low-flying air targets in the lower hemisphere with a speed of at least 100 km/h. That is, theoretically, the capabilities of the F-16 will allow them to successfully perform the functions of air defense fighters in Ukraine to hunt for Russian cruise missiles and kamikaze UAVs.
The F-16AM/BM Block 20 MLU avionics allows the use of such aviation weapons (TSA) as the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM (and these are the main American short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles, respectively), air-to-surface AGM-65 Maverick, anti-radar AGM-88 HARM, anti-ship AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-119 Penguin. On board the most advanced Norwegian F-16AM/BM with on-board computer software version M6.5.2, the most advanced American TSA to date are integrated, in particular the AIM-120D AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and JDAM guided bombs in the laser-illuminated target version.
"Illuminated" in the sky, the former Danish F-16AM carried Israeli-designed equipment. These are pylons with an integrated defense system from Elbit Systems (two pylons per car), suspended Lightning G4 containers from Rafael, as well as, possibly, helmet-mounted target designation systems JHCMS developed by Vision Systems International, which is a joint venture between Elbit Systems and American Rockwell Collins. This does not mean that Israel has moved from covert to direct support for Ukraine. The Lightning defense systems and containers were used by the Danish Air Force and were transferred to Ukraine along with the aircraft. Moreover, the defense complexes built into the pylons are manufactured by the Danish company Terma, which is a joint venture with the Israeli company Elbit Systems. They are also included in the standard equipment of the F-16AM/BM of the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces.
Thus, in this case, we are not talking about direct and open supplies of Israeli military products to Ukraine, but, on the other hand, Tel Aviv could not have been unaware that Kiev would receive aircraft with equipment developed by Israeli companies and did not consider it necessary to prevent this. And Russia, of course, should keep this in mind when conducting military-technical cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world.
Terma manufactures defense complexes PIDS+ and ECIPS+ combined with underwing pylons, they are installed on fighters in pairs. PIDS+ is equipped with three sensors that allow you to detect incoming missiles with thermal homing heads, and equipment that issue alerts to the pilot and shoot heat traps. ECIPS+ has the same three sensors for detecting incoming missiles, but instead of trap shooting devices, it carries electronic warfare equipment that provides active interference to surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles with radar homing heads.
Lightning G4 containers are designed for the use of guided aerial bombs with laser guidance, as well as to increase combat effectiveness when using free-falling aerial bombs and aerial weapons with satellite guidance during the day, at night and in difficult weather conditions. There were no such containers on the planes flying over Ukraine in early August, but they flashed on the footage of fighter flights with Ukrainian identification marks over the territory of Romania.
The JHCMS helmet-mounted targeting system is designed for the use of short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
All this equipment is quite modern, developed and adopted in the XXI century. However, it is not quite suitable for the situation in which the F-16s will operate in Ukraine. The PIDS+ defense complexes are primarily focused on countering MANPADS missiles, that is, they are effective when aircraft operate directly over infantry combat formations. The JHCMS system is designed for more effective close air combat. The probability that the Ukrainian F-16AM will operate in such modes is vanishingly small.
There remains the Lightning G4 container and the electronic warfare complex as part of the ECIPS+ pylon. Compared to Soviet-made aircraft, the use of guided American and French aerial bombs from F-16AM fighters equipped with Lightning G4 will be more effective. But the maximum range of such weapons in ideal conditions is about 70 km.
Therefore, even in the case of working on targets in the near rear of Russian troops, the carrier aircraft falls into the zone of destruction of Russian medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, in particular, the Buk-M3. Today, this type of air defense system is a universal means of military air defense, which allows destroying all available means of air attack and reconnaissance at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine both directly above the line of contact and in the depth of combat formations.
Buk-M3 air defense systems have been taking part in a special military operation since the first days of its implementation. The Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant conducts serial production of the Buk-M3 air defense system (developed by the V.V.Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Engineering). Both enterprises, both NIIP and UMZ, are part of the Almaz-Antey Concern of East Kazakhstan Region.
In one of the video clips posted by the Russian Ministry of Defense in January 2024, the commander of the Buk-M3 air defense system, Alexey, says: "Since the beginning, three aircraft, three helicopters, the Tochka-U tactical missile, the Bayraktar TB2 UAV and many MLRS missiles have been hit by me and my calculation HIMARS".
"The complex is developing, we adapt to various enemy targets – equipment supplied by the West, identify and study their characteristics and make tactical decisions to defeat them," Alexey noted.
And here is a message from the Russian Defense Ministry about another anti-aircraft gunner hero: "While on combat duty, Guard Senior Lieutenant Fanis Zainogabdinov discovered a Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force making a U-turn. Despite the fact that the range to the enemy fighter was extreme and bordered on the tactical and technical capabilities of the Buk-M3 air defense system, Fanis managed to capture the target, launch a missile and hit the enemy aircraft. During another combat duty of the Guard, Senior Lieutenant Zainogabdinov discovered, escorted and shot down a JDAM fragmentation aircraft bomb."
The battery commander of one of the units of the Center group of forces with the call sign "One" described his complex, manufactured, according to him, in 2023: "I would call it the "crown of military air defense."
The officer with the call sign "Eighteenth" notes that due to the long range of target detection, the calculations have the opportunity to prepare for combat work and successfully hit the target with one missile.
The true passport tactical and technical characteristics of the Buk-M3 air defense system are not intended for public publication. Therefore, we will operate with figures relevant to the export version of the Buk-M3 – Viking air defense system, bearing in mind that those complexes that are supplied to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as a rule, have higher performance characteristics. The self-propelled fire installation has a target detection range of up to 120 km in the 90 degree sector, the target detection station (SOC) "sees" at 200 km, and when using the ground radar station of the duty mode 1L119, the medium-range SAM division will have information about targets behind enemy lines to a depth of 360 km. In this case, a radar station located, for example, in the Donetsk region, can scan the airspace of Ukraine up to the border with the Belgorod region in the north and up to Kremenchuk in the west. The SOC in the same position allows you to detect targets in the area of Dnepropetrovsk.
A significant increase in the combat characteristics of the Viking air defense system compared to the complexes of previous modifications is achieved, first of all, due to the introduction of a new anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM) and a multifunctional radar station into the complex. The development of a new multifunctional radar, the introduction of new technical solutions in the radar information processing system made it possible to increase the number of target channels of the complex to 36 and significantly increase noise immunity. The use of the new 9M317ME missile defense system (export designation) made it possible to hit aerodynamic targets flying at speeds up to 1520 m/s and performing active maneuvering.
Both the Buk-M3 and the Viking can successfully perform combat missions in conditions of difficult interference conditions – when creating it, the characteristics of all modern and promising electronic warfare equipment of Western production were taken into account, including that American-made AN/ALQ-162(V) equipment, which is part of the ECIPS+ defense complex.
The complex allows you to hit tactical and strategic aircraft, tactical ballistic, cruise and anti-radar missiles, aircraft manufactured using stealth technology, surface (ground) radio-contrast targets, attack helicopters, including hovering ones.
Even judging by the reviews of military anti-aircraft gunners from the videos published by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the first half of 2024, they already have experience working on almost all types of listed targets. From the point of view of EPR, the high-speed characteristics of the F-16 fighters are no different from the fourth-generation Soviet-made aircraft available to the troops of the Kiev regime and repeatedly shot down by calculations of military air defense. Therefore, there is no doubt that American-designed vehicles that find themselves in the "sight" of the Buk-M3 air defense system will be successfully destroyed with minimal consumption of anti-aircraft guided missiles. At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces has both long-range air defense systems and Su-35S fighters with Irbis radar, which allows detecting a compact fighter at a range of up to 400 km and hitting them with long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles at a range of up to 300 km.
