Armament systems of air defense forces pro. Weapon of the century. Air defense - missile defense, the best systems of anti-missile and air defense. The most effective portable air defense system: Igla-s air defense system

Air defense is a special set of measures that are aimed at repelling any air threat. As a rule, this is an air attack of the enemy. The Russian air defense system is divided into the following types:

• Military air defense. This is a special kind of NE of Russia. The air defense troops of the Russian ground forces are the most numerous type of air defense in Russia;
• Objective air defense, which since 1998 became part of the Russian Air Force, and since 2009-2010 are aerospace defense brigades;
• Shipborne air defense or air defense system of the navy. Air defense missiles, which are armed with ship-based air defense systems (for example, the Storm air defense system), are capable of not only protecting ships from enemy air attacks, but also hitting surface ships.

Air Defense Day was introduced in the USSR on February 20, 1975, as a special holiday for the military, who were related to the country's air defense. Then the day of air defense was celebrated on April 11. Since 1980, Air Defense Day in the USSR has been celebrated every second Sunday in April.

In 2006, by a special Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, Air Defense Day was officially declared a memorable day. The holiday is also celebrated every second Sunday in April.

The history of the emergence of air defense forces in Russia

The need for the appearance of anti-aircraft artillery was recognized at the end of the 19th century. In 1891, the first firing at air targets took place, which were used as balloons and balloons. Artillery showed that it could quite successfully deal with stationary air targets, although firing at moving targets was unsuccessful.

In 1908-1909, experimental firing at moving targets took place, as a result of which it was decided that in order to successfully combat aviation, it was necessary to create a special gun designed to fire at moving air targets.

In 1914, the Putilov Plant manufactured four 76 mm guns, which were intended to fight enemy aircraft. These guns were moved on special trucks. Despite this, before the start of the First World War, Russia was completely unprepared for combat with an air enemy. Already in the autumn of 1914, the command had to urgently form special artillery units, the main task of which was to fight enemy aircraft.

In the USSR, the first air defense units, consisting of searchlight companies and machine gun installations, took part for the first time in a military parade on May 1, 1929. By the parade of 1930, the air defense forces were replenished with anti-aircraft artillery, which moved in cars:

• Anti-aircraft guns of 76 mm caliber;
• Machine gun installations;
• Projector installations;
• Soundproof installations.

Air Defense Forces during World War II

The Second World War demonstrated how important aviation is. The ability to deliver swift air strikes has become one of the keys to the success of military operations. The state of the USSR air defense before the start of the Second World War was far from perfect and was completely unsuitable for repelling massive German air raids. Although before the start of the Second World War, the Soviet command devoted a lot of time and money to the development of air defense systems, these troops were completely unprepared to repel modern German aircraft.

The entire first half of the Second World War is characterized by huge losses of Soviet troops precisely because of enemy air raids. The ground forces of the USSR did not have the necessary air defense system at all. The defense of the corps from air attacks was carried out by the regular number of air defense systems, which were represented by the following fire weapons per 1 km of the front:

• 2 anti-aircraft guns;
• 1 heavy machine gun;
• 3 anti-aircraft quadruple installations.

In addition to the fact that these guns were clearly not enough, there was a huge need for fighter aircraft at the front. The air surveillance, warning and communications system was in its infancy, and did not cope with the tasks assigned to them at all. For a long time, the troops did not even have their own means of this type. To carry out these functions, it was planned to strengthen the army with VNOS radio companies. These companies did not at all correspond to the technical development of German aviation, since they could only detect enemy aircraft visually. Such detection was possible only at a distance of 10-12 km, and modern German aircraft covered such a distance in 1-2 minutes.

The domestic theory of the development of air defense troops before the start of the Second World War did not make any serious emphasis on the development of this group of troops. Based on the dogmas of this theory, the air defense forces, no matter how highly developed they are, are not able to provide full protection of the front from enemy air raids. In any case, small groups of the enemy will still be able to fly and destroy the target. That is why the command of the USSR did not pay serious attention to the air defense forces, and the construction of air defense was based on the fact that air defense systems would distract the enemy, enabling aviation to join the battle.

In any case, the fighter aviation of the USSR in the first years of the war was not able to give any serious rebuff to enemy aircraft, which is why German pilots in those years staged a real entertaining "hunt" for ground targets.

Realizing their mistakes, the Soviet command concentrated its efforts on the development of air defense systems, placing special emphasis on improving fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery.

The development of air defense after the end of the Second World War

In 1946, a new era began in the development of the air defense forces - a new department was created, whose task was to test anti-aircraft missiles. During the 1947-1950s, this department, which was located at the Kapustin Yar training ground, tested German anti-aircraft missiles, while supervising the development of Soviet-made anti-aircraft missiles. Until 1957, this committee was engaged in testing domestically developed anti-aircraft unguided missiles.

In 1951, tests of anti-aircraft missiles became so large-scale that it was necessary to create a special range for testing anti-aircraft missiles. This test site was formed on June 6, 1951. Rocket testers from all over the country were sent to this test site as personnel.

The first launch of a guided anti-aircraft missile took place at this test site in 1951. In 1955, the first in the USSR anti-aircraft missile system S-25 "Berkut" was adopted by the Air Defense Forces, which remained in service until the 90s.

In the period from 1957 to 1961, a new S-75 mobile anti-aircraft missile system was developed and put into service. This air defense system for 30 years remained the main weapon of the Soviet air defense forces. In the future, the S-75 air defense system received many modifications and was supplied as military assistance to friendly countries. It was the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system that shot down the American U-2 aircraft in 1960 near Sverdlovsk. During the Vietnam War, the S-75 air defense system, which was supplied as military aid to Vietnam, shot down many American aircraft. According to the most rough estimates, this air defense system destroyed more than 1,300 units of American aircraft of various systems.

In 1961, the new S-125 short-range anti-aircraft missile system was adopted. This air defense system proved to be so effective that it is still in service with Russian air defense. During the Arab-Israeli wars, the S-125 complex was able to destroy several dozen supersonic aircraft belonging to the United States and Israel.

The Great Patriotic War showed that air defense systems have great prospects. The development of air defense in the second half of the 20th century was carried out in the right direction, which was repeatedly proved in the course of numerous Arab-Israeli conflicts. The tactics of using air defense systems were now based on completely different principles. New air defense systems had the following characteristics:

• Mobility of anti-aircraft missile systems;
• The suddenness of their use, for which they carefully disguised themselves;
• General survivability and maintainability of air defense systems.

To date, the basis of anti-aircraft weapons of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation are the following complexes and systems:

• S-300V. This system is capable of effectively protecting troops not only from enemy aircraft, but also from ballistic missiles. This system could fire two types of missiles, one of which was ground-to-ground;
• "Buk-M1". This complex was developed in the 90s, and it was put into service in 1998;
• "Tor-M1". This system is able to independently control the designated airspace;
• OSA-AKM. This SAM system is very mobile;
• "Tunguska-M1", which was put into service in 2003.

All these systems are developments of well-known Russian designers and not only incorporate all the best qualities of their predecessors, but are also equipped with modern electronics. These complexes effectively protect troops from all types of air attacks, thereby providing reliable cover for the army.

At various military exhibitions, domestic anti-aircraft missile systems not only are not inferior to foreign counterparts, but also surpass them in a number of parameters, ranging from range to power.

The main prospects for the modern development of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces

The main areas in which the development of modern air defense forces is directed are:

• Change and reorganization of all structures, one way or another connected with air defense. The main task of the reorganization is the maximum use of all the resources and combat power of the missile weapons that are now entering service. Another task of paramount importance is to establish the maximum interaction of the air defense forces with other groups of troops of the Russian army;
• Development of weapons and military equipment of a new generation, which will be able to fight not only with existing means of air attack, but also with the latest developments in the field of hypersonic technologies;
• Change and improvement of the personnel training system. Particular attention should be paid to changing the training program, because it has not changed for many years, although new air defense systems have long been adopted.

The priority is still the planned development of the latest air defense models, the modernization of older models and the complete replacement of obsolete air defense systems. In general, the modern air defense system is developing in accordance with the words of the famous Marshal Zhukov, who said that only a powerful military air defense system is able to repel sudden enemy attacks, thereby enabling the Armed Forces to engage in a full-scale battle.

Modern air defense systems and air defense systems in the Russian air defense forces

One of the main air defense systems that are in service with the air defense forces is the S-300V system. This system is capable of hitting air targets at a distance of up to 100 km. Already in 2014, the S-300V air defense systems began to be gradually replaced by a new system, which was called the S-300V4. The new system has been improved in all respects, it is an improved modification of the S-300V, differing from it in an increased range, a more reliable design, which is distinguished by improved protection against radio interference. The new system is able to deal more effectively with all types of air targets that appear within its range.

The next most popular complex is the Buk air defense system. Since 2008, a modification of the complex, called the Buk-M2, has been in service with the air defense forces. This air defense system can simultaneously hit up to 24 targets, and the range of hitting targets reaches 200 km. Since 2016, the Buk-M3 complex has been adopted, which is a model made on the basis of the Buk-M2 and seriously modified.

Another popular air defense system is the TOR complex. In 2011, a new modification of the air defense system, called the TOR-M2U, began to enter service. This modification has the following differences from the base model:

• She can conduct reconnaissance on the move;
• Fire at 4 air targets at once, thereby providing an all-round defeat.

The latest modification is called "Tor-2". Unlike previous models of the TOR family, this modification has a 2-fold increase in ammunition and is capable of firing on the move, ensuring the complete safety of troops on the march.

In addition, Russian air defense systems also have man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. The ease of training and use of this type of weapon makes it a serious problem for enemy air forces. Since 2014, new MANPADS "Verba" began to enter the air defense units of the Ground Forces. Their use is justified when you have to operate in conditions of powerful optical interference, which hinder the operation of powerful automatic air defense systems.

At present, the share of modern air defense systems in the air defense forces is about 40 percent. The latest Russian air defense systems have no analogues in the world, and are capable of providing complete protection against sudden air attacks.

The most combat air defense system: S-75 air defense system

Country: USSR
Adopted: 1957
Rocket type: 13D
Maximum target engagement range: 29–34 km
Target speed: 1500 km/h

John McCain, who lost the last US presidential election to Barack Obama, is known as an active critic of Russian foreign and domestic policy. It is likely that one of the explanations for such an irreconcilable position of the senator lies in the achievements of Soviet designers half a century ago. On October 23, 1967, during the bombing of Hanoi, the plane of a young pilot, who came from the family of hereditary admirals John McCain, was shot down. His "Phantom" got an anti-aircraft guided missile of the S-75 complex. By that time, the Soviet anti-aircraft sword had already caused a lot of trouble for the Americans and their allies. The first “test of the pen” took place in China in 1959, when local air defense, with the help of “Soviet comrades”, interrupted the flight of a Taiwanese high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft created on the basis of the British Canberra bomber. The hopes that the more advanced air reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed U-2, would be too tough for the red air defense system were also not destined to come true. One of them was shot down by S-75 over the Urals in 1961, and the other a year later over Cuba. On account of the legendary anti-aircraft missile created at the Fakel ICD, many other targets were hit in various conflicts from the Far and Middle East to the Caribbean Sea, and the S-75 complex itself was destined for a long life in various modifications. We can safely say that this air defense system has gained fame as the most widespread of all air defense systems of this type in the world.

The most high-tech missile defense system: Aegis system ("Aegis")

SM-3 missile
Country: USA
first launch: 2001
Length: 6.55 m
Steps: 3
Range: 500 km
Height of the affected area: 250 km

The main element of this shipborne multifunctional combat information and control system is the AN / SPY radar with four flat headlamps with a power of 4 MW. The Aegis is armed with SM-2 and SM-3 missiles (the latter with the ability to intercept ballistic missiles) with a kinetic or fragmentation warhead. The SM-3 is constantly being modified, and the Block IIA model has already been announced, which will be capable of intercepting ICBMs. On February 21, 2008, an SM-3 missile was fired from the cruiser Lake Erie in the Pacific Ocean and hit the emergency reconnaissance satellite USA-193, located at an altitude of 247 kilometers, moving at a speed of 27,300 km / h.

The newest Russian ZRPK: ZRPK "Shell S-1"

Country Russia
adopted: 2008
Radar: 1RS1-1E and 1RS2 based on HEADLIGHTS
Range: 18 km
Ammunition: 12 missiles 57E6-E
Artillery armament: 30-mm twin anti-aircraft gun

The complex is designed for close protection of civilian and military facilities (including long-range air defense systems) from all modern and advanced air attack weapons. It can also protect the defended object from ground and surface threats. Aerial targets include all targets with a minimum reflective surface with speeds up to 1000 m/s, a maximum range of 20000 m and an altitude of up to 15000 m, including helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and precision bombs.

The most nuclear anti-missile: 51T6 "Azov" transatmospheric interceptor

Country: USSR-Russia
First launch: 1979
Length: 19.8 m
Steps: 2
Starting weight: 45 t
Firing range: 350–500 km
Warhead power: 0.55 Mt

The second-generation (A-135) anti-missile 51T6 (“Azov”), which was part of the missile defense system around Moscow, was developed at the Fakel Design Bureau in 1971-1990. Its tasks included the transatmospheric interception of enemy warheads with the help of a counter nuclear explosion. Serial production and deployment of "Azov" was carried out already in the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR. The missile has now been decommissioned.

The most effective portable air defense system: Igla-S MANPADS

Country Russia
designed: 2002
MANPADS "Igla-S"
Destruction range: 6000 m
Defeat altitude: 3500 m
Target speed: 400 m/s
Weight in combat position: 19 kg

According to many experts, the Russian anti-aircraft system, designed to destroy low-flying air targets of various types in conditions of natural (background) and artificial thermal interference, surpasses all analogues existing in the world.

Closest to our borders: SAM Patriot PAC-3

Country: USA
first launch: 1994
Rocket length: 4.826 m
Rocket weight: 316 kg
Warhead weight: 24 kg
Target engagement height: up to 20 km

Created in the 1990s, a modification of the Patriot PAC-3 air defense system is designed to deal with missiles with a range of up to 1000 km. During the test on March 15, 1999, a target missile was destroyed by a direct hit, which was the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Minuteman-2 ICBM. After the rejection of the idea of ​​the Third position area of ​​the American strategic missile defense system in Europe, Patriot PAC-3 batteries are deployed in Eastern Europe.

Most common anti-aircraft gun: Oerlicon 20 mm anti-aircraft gun

Country: Germany - Switzerland
Designed: 1914
Caliber: 20 mm
Rate of fire: 300-450 rds / min
Range: 3–4 km

The Oerlikon automatic 20 mm anti-aircraft gun, also known as the Becker gun, is the story of one extremely successful design that has spread throughout the world and is still used to this day, despite the fact that the first example of this was created by the German designer Reinhold Becker during the First World War. The high rate of fire was achieved due to the original mechanism, in which the impact ignition of the primer was carried out even before the end of the chambering of the cartridge. Due to the fact that the rights to the German invention were transferred to the company SEMAG from neutral Switzerland, both the Axis countries and the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition produced their versions of the Oerlikons during World War II.

The best anti-aircraft gun of World War II: Anti-aircraft gun 8.8 cm Flugabwehrkanone (FlAK)

Country: Germany
Year: 1918/1936/1937
Caliber: 88 mm
Rate of fire:
15–20 rds/min
Barrel length: 4.98 m
Maximum effective ceiling: 8000 m
Projectile weight: 9.24 kg

One of the best anti-aircraft guns in history, better known as the "eight-eight", was in service from 1933 to 1945. It turned out to be so successful that it became the basis for a whole family of artillery systems, including anti-tank and field ones. In addition, the anti-aircraft gun served as a prototype for the guns of the Tiger tank.

The most promising air defense-missile defense system: the S-400 Triumph air defense system

Country Russia
Designed: 1999
Target detection range: 600 km
Number of simultaneously tracked target tracks: up to 300 km
Damage range:
Aerodynamic targets - 5–60 km
Ballistic targets - 3-240 km
Height of defeat: 10 m - 27 km

Designed to destroy aircraft - jammers, radar detection and control aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, strategic and tactical aircraft, tactical, operational-tactical ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic targets and other modern and advanced air attack weapons.

The most versatile anti-missile defense system: S-300VM "Antey-2500"

Country: USSR
Designed: 1988
Damage range:
Aerodynamic targets - 200 km
Ballistic targets - up to 40 km
Height of defeat: 25m - 30 km

The mobile universal anti-missile and anti-aircraft system S-300VM "Antey-2500" belongs to a new generation of anti-missile and anti-aircraft defense systems (PRO-PSO). Antey-2500 is the world's only universal missile defense and air defense system capable of effectively fighting both ballistic missiles with a launch range of up to 2,500 km and all types of aerodynamic and aeroballistic targets. The Antey-2500 system is capable of simultaneously firing at 24 aerodynamic targets, including subtle objects, or 16 ballistic missiles flying at speeds up to 4500 m/s.

1. Introduction

The purpose of this work is to study the history of the development of air defense forces in the USSR and Russia in the period from the 50s of the XX century to the present. The relevance of the topic is emphasized by the fact that as a result of modern scientific and technological progress, military science is increasingly paying attention to technologies related to air defense in order to reliably protect Russia's air borders and counter the "global" attack planned by NATO.

Unfortunately, along with brilliant ideas that make life easier for a person and give him new opportunities, there are ideas no less brilliant, but representing a destructive force and a threat to humanity. A number of states now have a multitude of space satellites, aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear warheads.

With the advent of new military technologies and formidable forces, forces opposing them always arise on their basis, as a result, new means of air defense (air defense) and anti-missile defense (ABM) appear.

We are interested in the development and experience of using the first air defense systems, starting from the s-25 (adopted into service in 1955), to new modern systems. Also of interest are the possibilities of other countries in the development and use of air defense systems, and the general prospects for the development of air defense systems. We set the main task in determining how Russia is protected from potential military threats from the air. Air superiority and long-range strikes have always been the focus of the opposing sides in any conflict, even a potential one. It is important for us to understand the capabilities of our country in ensuring air security, because the presence of powerful and modern air defense systems guarantees security not only for us, but for the whole world. The weapons of deterrence in the 21st century are by no means limited to the nuclear shield.

2. The history of the emergence of air defense forces

The phrase comes to mind: "A wise man prepares for war in peacetime" - Horace.

Everything in our world appears for some reason and with a specific purpose. The emergence of air defense forces is no exception. Their formation was due to the fact that in many countries the first aircraft and military aviation began to appear. At the same time, the development of weapons to combat the enemy in the air began.

In 1914, the very first air defense weapon, a submachine gun, was manufactured at the Putilov factory in St. Petersburg. It was used in the defense of Petrograd against German air raids during the First World War at the end of 1914.

Each state strives to win the war and Germany is no exception, its new JU 88 V-5 bombers from September 1939 began to fly at altitudes reaching 5000 meters, which brought them out of the reach of the first air defense guns, which required modernization of weapons and new ideas for its development.

It should be noted that the arms race in the 20th century was a powerful engine for the development of weapons systems and military equipment. During the Cold War, the first anti-aircraft missile stations (SAM) and anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) were developed. In our country, a great contribution to the creation and development of new air defense systems was made by the design engineer Veniamin Pavlovich Efremov, who took part in the development of the S-25Yu radar system, where he showed his talent. He took part in the development of the Tor, S-300V, Buk air defense systems and all their subsequent upgrades.

3. S-25 "Berkut"

3.1 History of creation

After the Second World War, military aviation switched to the use of jet engines, flight speeds and altitudes increased significantly, outdated anti-aircraft artillery could no longer provide reliable cover in the air, and their combat effectiveness was significantly reduced. So there was a need for new air defense systems.

On August 9, 1950, a resolution was adopted by the Council of Ministers of the USSR on the creation of an air defense missile system controlled by a radar network. Organizational work on this issue was entrusted to the Third Main Directorate under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, personally supervised by L.P. Beria.

The development of the Berkut system was carried out by KB-1 (design bureau), and now OJSC GSKB of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern, headed by K.M. .Beria, who was the chief designer together with P.N. Kuksenko. At the same time, V-300 missiles were developed for this complex.

According to the plan of the military strategists of the USSR, it was supposed to place two rings of radar detection around Moscow at a distance of 25-30 and 200-250 km from the city. The Kama stations were to become the main control stations. The B-200 stations were also developed to control missile launches.

It was planned to include in the Berkut complex not only a missile resource, but also interceptor aircraft based on Tu-4 bombers. This plan was not carried out. "Berkut" after rigorous testing was adopted on May 7, 1955.

The main performance characteristics (TTX) of this system:

1) hitting a target with a speed of up to 1500 km / h;

2) target height 5-20 km;

3) distance to the target up to 35 km;

4) the number of hit targets - 20;

5) the shelf life of missiles in the warehouse is 2.5 years, on the launcher 6 months.

For the 50s of the twentieth century, this system was the most advanced, designed using the most advanced technologies. It was a real breakthrough! Not a single anti-aircraft missile system of that time had such broad capabilities for detecting and hitting targets. Multi-channel radar stations were a novelty, because. Until the end of the 1960s, there were no analogues of such systems in the world. The Soviet scientist, designer Efremov Veniamin Pavlovich participated in the development of radar stations.

However, such a perfect air defense system of that time had a colossal cost and high maintenance costs. It was advisable to use it only to cover especially important objects; it was not possible to cover the entire territory with it. The air defense plan provided for covering the area around Leningrad, but this project was not implemented due to its high cost.

Another disadvantage was that the Berkut had low mobility, which made it extremely vulnerable to an enemy nuclear strike. In addition, the system was designed to repel a large number of enemy bombers, and by that time the war strategy had changed and the bombers began to fly in small units, which significantly reduced the chances of their detection. It should also be noted that low-flying bombers and cruise missiles were able to bypass this defense system.

3.2 Goals, objectives and experience with the use of S-25

The S-25 complex was developed and put into service in order to protect strategically important objects from enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. According to the general plan, the ground elements of the complex were supposed to monitor the air target, process the received data and issue commands to the guided missile. It was supposed to start vertically and could hit a target at a distance of up to 70 meters from the place of its explosion (the error value of hitting the target).

At the end of July 1951, the first tests of the S-25 and the V-300 missile in particular began. Test runs consisted of several stages. The first 3 launches were to check the rocket at the start, check the characteristics, the time of dropping the gas rudders. The next 5 launches were carried out to test the missile control system. This time, only the second launch occurred without any failures. As a result, shortcomings in the rocket equipment and ground cables were revealed. The following months, until the end of 1951, test launches were carried out, which were crowned with some success, but the missiles still needed to be finalized.

In 1952, a series of launches were carried out aimed at testing various electronic equipment of the rocket. In 1953, after 10 series of launches, the rocket and other elements of the Berkut anti-aircraft missile system received a recommendation for mass production.

In the late spring of 1953, testing and measurement of the combat characteristics of the system began. The possibility of destroying Tu-4 and Il-28 aircraft was tested. The destruction of targets required from one to four missiles. The task was solved by two missiles, as it is established at the present time - 2 missiles are used simultaneously to completely destroy the target.

S-25 "Berkut" was used until the 60s of the twentieth century, after which it was modernized and became known as S-25M. New characteristics made it possible to destroy targets at a speed of 4200 km / h at altitudes from 1.5 to 30 km. The flight range was increased to 43 km, and the storage periods at the launcher and warehouse were increased to 5 and 15 years, respectively.

S-25M were in service with the USSR and protected the sky over Moscow and the Moscow region until the early 80s of the twentieth century. Subsequently, the missiles were replaced with more modern ones and decommissioned in 1988. The sky over our country, together with the S-25, was protected by the S-75 air defense systems, which were simpler, cheaper and had a sufficient degree of mobility.

3.3 Foreign analogues

In 1953, the United States adopted the MIM-3 Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missile system. The complex has been developed since 1946 as a means for the effective destruction of enemy aircraft. The radar system had one channel, unlike our multi-channel system, but was much cheaper and covered all cities and military bases. It consisted of two radars, one of which tracked the enemy target, and the second directed the missile at the target itself. The combat capabilities of the MIM-3 Nike Ajax and C-25 were approximately the same, although the American system was simpler and by the time the C-75 complexes appeared in our country, there were several hundred MIM-3 complexes in the USA.

4. C-75

4.1 History of creation and performance characteristics

On November 20, 1953, the design of a mobile anti-aircraft missile system began on the basis of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 2838/1201 "On the creation of a mobile system of anti-aircraft guided missile weapons to combat enemy aircraft." At that time, tests of the S-25 complex were in full swing, but due to its enormous cost and low mobility, the S-25 could not protect all important facilities and places of concentration of troops. The development was entrusted to the management of KB-1 under the leadership of A.A. Raspletin. At the same time, the OKB-2 department began work under the leadership of P.D. Grushin, who was engaged in the design of the S-75 using the existing developments on the S-25 complex, including those that were not implemented. The missile created for this complex was called the B-750. It was equipped with two stages - starting and marching, which gave the rocket a high initial speed during an inclined start. The SM-63 launchers and the PR-11 transport-loading vehicle were specially developed for it.

The complex was put into service in 1957. The characteristics of the S-75 allowed it to compete with its analogues from other states.

In total there were 3 modifications "Dvina", "Desna" and "Volkhov".

In the Desna variant, the target engagement range was 34 km, and in the Volkhov variant, up to 43 km.

Initially, the range of target engagement heights was from 3 to 22 km, but then in Desna it changed to a range of 0.5-30 km, and in Volkhov it became 0.4-30 km. The maximum speed of hitting targets reached 2300 km / h. In the future, these indicators were improved.

In the mid-70s, the complex began to be equipped with 9Sh33A television optical sights with an optical target tracking channel. This made it possible to guide the target and fire at it without the use of air defense radar systems in the radiation mode. And thanks to the "narrow" beam antennas, the minimum target engagement height was reduced to 100 meters, and the speed was increased to 3600 km / h.

Some of the missiles of the complex were equipped with a special nuclear warhead.

4.2 Goals, objectives and application experience.

The goals of creating the S-75 complex were to reduce the cost compared to the S-25, increase mobility so that it could protect the entire territory of our country. These goals have been achieved. In terms of its capabilities, the S-75 was not inferior to foreign counterparts and was supplied to many Warsaw Pact countries, to Algeria, Vietnam, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Cuba, China, Libya, Yugoslavia, Syria and many others.

On October 7, 1959, for the first time in the history of air defense, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, an American RB-57D aircraft belonging to the Taiwanese Air Force near Beijing, was shot down by an anti-aircraft guided missile of the S-75 complex. The reconnaissance flight altitude was 20,600 meters.

In the same year, on November 16, an S-75 shot down an American balloon near Stalingrad at an altitude of 28 km.

On May 1, 1960, an S-75 destroyed an American U-2 reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force over Sverdlovsk. However, on this day, a MiG-19 fighter of the USSR Air Force was also destroyed by mistake.

In the 60s, during the Caribbean crisis, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was also shot down. And then the Chinese Air Force shot down 5 US reconnaissance aircraft over its territory.

During the Vietnam War, according to the USSR Ministry of Defense, 1293 aircraft were destroyed by this complex, including 54 B-52 strategic bombers. But according to the Americans, the losses amounted to only 200 aircraft. In reality, the data of the USSR Ministry of Defense were somewhat overestimated, but in general the complex showed itself from the excellent side.

In addition, the S-75 complex participated in the 1969 Arab-Israeli conflict. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Middle East. In these battles, the complex perfectly demonstrated that it is able to protect the territory and people from enemy attacks.

In the Persian Gulf in 1991, the S-75 was defeated and 38 units were destroyed by electronic warfare and cruise missiles. But the complex managed to shoot down a 4th generation F-15 fighter.

In the 21st century, many countries use this complex, for example, Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Egypt, Iran, but it’s worth moving on to more modern ones, not forgetting to mention foreign counterparts.

4.3 Foreign analogues

To replace the MIM-3, the Americans adopted the MIM-14 Nike-Hercules in 1958.

It was the world's first long-range anti-aircraft missile system - up to 140 km with a strike height of 45 km. The missiles of the complex were designed not only to destroy enemy aircraft, but also to intercept ballistic missiles and destroy ground targets.

MIM-14 Nike-Hercules remained the most advanced until the advent of the Soviet S-200. The large radius of destruction and the presence of a nuclear warhead made it possible to hit all the planes and missiles on the planet at that time.

The MIM-14 is superior to the C-75 in some respects, but in terms of mobility, the MIM-14 Nike-Hercules inherited the low mobility ailment of the MIM-3, which is inferior to the C-75.

5. S-125 "Neva"

5.1 History of creation and performance characteristics

The first anti-aircraft missile systems, such as the S-25, S-75, and their foreign counterparts, did their job well - hitting high-speed high-flying targets that are inaccessible to cannon anti-aircraft artillery and difficult to destroy for fighters.

Due to the fact that previous anti-aircraft missile systems have shown that they are capable of carrying out combat duty and participating in hostilities, it is natural that it was decided to extend this type of weapon to the entire range of heights and speeds of potential threats.

At that time, the minimum height for hitting targets with the S-25 and S-75 complexes was 1-3 km, which fully met the requirements of the early 50s of the twentieth century. But given this trend, it was to be expected that aviation would soon switch to a new method of warfare - combat at low altitudes. Realizing this fact, KB-1 and its head A.A. Raspletin were tasked with creating a low-altitude air defense system. Work began in the autumn of 1955. The latest system was supposed to serve to intercept low-flying targets at altitudes from 100 to 5000 meters at speeds up to 1500 km / h. The range of hitting targets was relatively small - only 12 km. But the main requirement was the full mobility of the complex with all its missiles, radar stations for tracking, control, reconnaissance and communications. The developments were carried out taking into account transportation on an automobile basis, but transportation by rail, sea and air was also envisaged.

As with the S-75, the development of the S-125 used the experience of previous projects. The methods of searching, scanning and tracking the target were completely borrowed from the S-25 and S-75.

The big problem was the reflection of the antenna signal from the surface of the earth and its landscape. It was decided to place the antennas of the guidance stations at an angle, which gave a gradual increase in interference from reflection when tracking the target.

An innovation was the decision to create an automated missile launch system APP-125, which itself determined the boundary of the affected area and fired a missile due to the short time of enemy aircraft approach.

In the course of research and development, a special V-600P rocket was also developed - the first rocket designed according to the "duck" scheme, which provided the rocket with great maneuverability.

In the event of a miss, the rocket automatically went up and self-destructed.

The anti-aircraft missile regiments of the air defense of the USSR Armed Forces were equipped with SNR-125 guidance stations, guided missiles, transport-loading vehicles and interface cabins in 1961.

5.2

The S-125 "Neva" complex was designed to destroy low-flying enemy targets (100 - 5000 meters). Target recognition was provided at a distance of up to 110 km. The Neva had an automatic launch system. It is important to note that during the tests it was revealed that the probability of hitting a target without interference was 0.8-0.9, and the probability of hitting in passive interference was 0.49-0.88.

A large number of S-125s were sold abroad. The buyers were Egypt, Syria, Libya, Myanmar, Vietnam, Venezuela, Turkmenistan. The total cost of deliveries amounted to about $250 million. US dollars.

There were also various modifications of the S-125 for air defense (Neva), for the Navy (Volna) and Export (Pechora).

If we talk about the combat use of the complex, then in 1970 in Egypt, Soviet divisions destroyed 9 Israeli and 1 Egyptian aircraft with 35 missiles.

During the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel, 21 aircraft were shot down by 174 rockets. And Syria shot down 33 aircraft with 131 missiles.

The real sensation was the moment when, on March 27, 1999, a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth tactical strike aircraft was shot down over Yugoslavia for the first time.

5.3 Foreign analogues

In 1960, the MIM-23 Hawk was adopted by the Americans. Initially, the complex was developed to destroy enemy aircraft, but was later upgraded to destroy missiles.

It was slightly better than our S-125 system in terms of its characteristics, as it could hit targets at altitudes from 60 to 11,000 meters at a distance of 2 to 25 km in its very first modifications. In the future, it was modernized many times until 1995. The Americans themselves did not use this complex in hostilities, but foreign states actively used it.

But, the practice is not so different. For example, during the October War of 1973, Israel fired 57 missiles from this complex, but none of them hit the target.

6. Z RK S-200

6.1 History of creation and performance characteristics

In the mid-1950s, in the context of the rapid development of supersonic aviation and thermonuclear weapons, it became necessary to create a long-range mobile anti-aircraft missile system that could solve the problem of intercepting a high-flying target. Given that the systems available at that time had a short range, it was very expensive to deploy them throughout the country for reliable protection against air strikes. Especially important was the organization of the defense of the northern territories, where there was the shortest distance of approach for American missiles and bombers. And if we take into account the fact that the northern regions of our country are poorly equipped with road infrastructure and the population density is extremely low, then a completely new air defense system was required.

According to the Government Decree of March 19, 1956 and May 8, 1957 No. 501 and No. 250, a large number of enterprises and workshops were involved in the development of a new long-range air defense system. The general designer of the system, as before, was A.A. Raspletin and P.D. Grushin.

The first sketch of the new B-860 missile was presented at the end of December 1959. Particular attention was paid to the protection of the internal structural elements of the rocket, since as a result of the flight of the rocket at hypersonic speed, the structures were heated.

The initial characteristics of the missile were far from those of foreign counterparts already in service, such as the MIM-14 Nike-Hercules. It was decided to increase the radius of destruction of supersonic targets up to 110-120 km, and subsonic - up to 160-180 km.

The new generation firing complex included: a command post, a radar for clarifying the situation, a digital computer and up to five firing channels. The firing channel of the firing complex included a half-light target radar, a starting position with six launchers, and power supply facilities.

This complex was put into service in 1967 and is currently in service.

The S-200 was produced in various modifications both for our country and for export to foreign countries.

The S-200 Angara was put into service in 1967. The maximum speed of the hit targets reached 1100 km/h, the number of simultaneously fired targets was 6. The height of the hit was from 0.5 to 20 km. Range of defeat from 17 to 180 km. The probability of hitting targets is 0.45-0.98.

S-200V "Vega" was put into service in 1970. The maximum speed of the hit targets reached 2300 km / h, the number of simultaneously fired targets was 6. The height of the hit was from 0.3 to 35 km. Range of defeat from 17 to 240 km. The probability of hitting targets is 0.66-0.99.

S-200D "Dubna" was put into service in 1975. The maximum speed of the hit targets reached 2300 km / h, the number of simultaneously fired targets was 6. The height of the hit was from 0.3 to 40 km. Range of defeat from 17 to 300 km. The probability of hitting targets is 0.72-0.99.

For a greater probability of hitting targets, the S-200 complex was combined with low-altitude S-125, from where the formations of anti-aircraft brigades of mixed composition came from.

By that time, long-range air defense systems were already well known in the West. US space reconnaissance facilities continuously recorded all stages of its deployment. According to American data, in 1970 the number of S-200 launchers was 1100, in 1975 - 1600, in 1980 -1900. The deployment of this system reached its peak in the mid-1980s, when the number of launchers amounted to 2030 units.

6.2 Goals, objectives and application experience

The S-200 was created as a long-range complex, its task was to cover the country's territory from enemy air strikes. A big plus was the increased range of the system, which made it economically possible to deploy it throughout the country.

It is worth noting that the S-200 was the first air defense system that was capable of the specific purpose of the Lockheed SR-71. For this reason, US reconnaissance aircraft have always flown only along the borders of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries.

The S-200 is also known for the tragic incident on October 4, 2001, when a civilian Tu-154 aircraft of Siberia Airlines was mistakenly shot down during exercises in Ukraine. Then 78 people died.

Speaking about the combat use of the complex, on December 6, 1983, the Syrian S-200 complex shot down two Israeli MQM-74 drones.

On March 24, 1986, the Libyan S-200 complex is believed to have shot down American attack aircraft, 2 of which were A-6Es.

The complexes were also in service in Libya in the recent conflict of 2011, but nothing is known about their use in it, except that after an air strike they were completely destroyed on the territory of Libya.

6.3 Foreign analogues

An interesting project was the Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc. This complex was developed from 1949 to 1957. It was put into service in 1959. Currently, it is considered the most long-range air defense system. The range of destruction of Bomarc-A was 450 km, and the modification of 1961 Bomarc-B was up to 800 km with a missile speed of almost 4000 km/h.

But, given that the USSR quickly grew its arsenal of strategic missiles, and this system could only hit aircraft and bombers, then in 1972 the system was withdrawn from service.

7. ZRK S-300

7.1 History of creation and performance characteristics

By the end of the 60s, the experience of using air defense systems in the wars in Vietnam and the Middle East showed that it was necessary to create a complex with the greatest mobility and a short transition time from marching and duty to combat and vice versa. The need is due to the rapid change of position before the arrival of enemy aircraft.

In the USSR at that time, the S-25, S-75, S-125 and S-200 were already in service. Progress did not stand still and it took a new weapon, more modern and versatile. Design work on the S-300 began in 1969. It was decided to create air defense for the ground forces S-300V ("Military"), S-300F ("Navy"), S-300P ("air defense of the country").

The chief designer of the S-300 was Veniamin Pavlovich Efremov. The system was developed taking into account the possibility of hitting ballistic and aerodynamic targets. The task of simultaneously tracking 6 targets and aiming 12 missiles at them was set and solved. For the first time, a system of full automation of the work of the complex was implemented. They included the tasks of detection, tracking, target distribution, target designation, target acquisition, its destruction and evaluation of the result. The crew (combat crew) was tasked with assessing the operation of the system and monitoring the launch of missiles. It was also assumed the possibility of manual intervention in the course of the combat system.

Serial production of the complex and testing began in 1975. By 1978, tests of the complex were completed. In 1979, the S-300P took up combat duty to protect the air borders of the USSR.

Important features are that the complex is capable of operating in various combinations within one modification, operating as part of a battery with various other combat units and systems.

In addition, it is permissible to use various means of camouflage, such as simulators of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared and radio ranges, camouflage nets.

The S-300 systems were widely used in the class of modifications. Separate modifications were developed for sale abroad. As can be seen in Figure No. 19, the S-300 was supplied abroad only for the fleet and air defense, as a means of protecting the Ground Forces, the complex remained only for our country. ​

All modifications are distinguished by various missiles, the ability to protect against electronic warfare, range and the ability to deal with short-range ballistic missiles or low-flying targets.

7.2 Main tasks, application and foreign analogues

The S-300 is designed to defend large industrial and administrative facilities, command posts, and military bases from attacks by enemy aerospace weapons.

According to official figures, the S-300 has never taken part in real hostilities. But, training launches are conducted in many countries.

Their results showed the high combat capability of the S-300.

The main tests of the complex were aimed at countering ballistic missiles. Aircraft were destroyed with just one missile, and two shots were enough to destroy missiles.

In 1995, a P-17 missile was shot down at the Kapustin Yar range during demonstration firing at the range. The training ground was attended by delegations from 11 countries. All targets were completely destroyed.

Speaking of foreign analogues, it is worth pointing out the famous American MIM-104 Patriot complex. It has been created since 1963. Its main task is to intercept enemy ballistic missiles, defeat aircraft at medium altitudes. It was put into service in 1982. This complex could not surpass the S-300. There were Patriot, Patriot PAC-1, Patriot PAC-2 complexes, which were put into service in 1982, 1986, 1987, respectively. Considering the performance characteristics of the Patriot PAC-2, we note that it could hit aerodynamic targets at ranges from 3 to 160 km, ballistic targets up to 20 km, altitude range from 60 meters to 24 km. The maximum target speed is 2200 m/s.

8. Modern air defense systems

8.1 Standing in service with the Russian Federation

The main topic of our work was the consideration of air defense systems of the "C" family, and we should start with the most modern S-400 in service with the RF Armed Forces.

S-400 "Triumph" - long-range and medium-range air defense systems. It is designed to destroy the enemy's means of aerospace attack, such as reconnaissance aircraft, ballistic missiles, hypersonic. This system was put into service relatively recently - on April 28, 2007. The latest air defense system is capable of hitting aerodynamic targets at ranges up to 400 km and up to 60 km - ballistic targets, the speed of which does not exceed 4.8 km/s. The target itself is detected even earlier, at a distance of 600 km. The difference from the "Patriot" and other complexes is that the minimum height of target destruction is only 5 m, which gives this complex a huge advantage over others, making it universal. The number of simultaneously fired targets is 36 with 72 guided missiles. The deployment time of the complex is 5-10 minutes, and the time for bringing it to combat readiness is 3 minutes.

The Russian government agreed to sell this complex to China, but not earlier than 2016, when our country will be fully equipped with them.

It is believed that the S-400 has no analogues in the world.

The following complexes that we would like to consider in the framework of this work are TOR M-1 and TOR M-2. These are complexes designed to solve air defense and missile defense tasks at the divisional level. In 1991, the first TOR was put into service as a complex for protecting important administrative facilities and ground forces from all types of enemy air attacks. The complex is a short-range system - from 1 to 12 km, at altitudes from 10 meters to 10 km. The maximum speed of targets hit is 700 m / s.

TOR M-1 is an excellent complex. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation refused China a license to produce it, and as you know, there is no concept of copyright in China, so they created their own copy of the Hongqi-17 TOP.

Since 2003, the Tunguska-M1 anti-aircraft gun-missile system has also been in service. It is designed to provide air defense for tank and motorized rifle units. Tunguska is capable of destroying helicopters, airplanes, cruise missiles, drones, tactical aircraft. It is also distinguished by the fact that both missile and cannon weapons are combined. Cannon armament - two 30-mm anti-aircraft double-barreled guns, the rate of fire of which is 5000 rounds per minute. It is capable of hitting targets at an altitude of up to 3.5 km, a range of 2.5 to 8 km for missiles, 3 km and from 200 meters to 4 km for anti-aircraft guns.

The next means of combating the enemy in the air, we would note the BUK-M2. This is a multifunctional, highly mobile medium-range air defense system. It is designed to destroy aircraft, tactical and strategic aviation, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles. BUK is used to protect military facilities and troops in general, throughout the country to protect industrial and administrative facilities.

It is very interesting to consider another air defense and missile defense weapon of our time, Pantsir-S1. It can be called an improved Tunguska model. This is also a self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system. It is designed to cover civilian and military facilities, including long-range air defense systems, from all modern air attack weapons. It can also perform military operations against ground, surface objects.

It was put into service quite recently - November 16, 2012. The missile unit is capable of hitting targets at altitudes from 15 m to 15 km and a range of 1.2-20 km. The target speed is not more than 1 km/s.

Cannon armament - two 30-mm anti-aircraft double-barreled guns used in the Tunguska-M1 complex.

Up to 6 machines can work simultaneously and together via a digital communication network.

It is known from the Russian media that in 2014 the Shells were used in the Crimea and hit Ukrainian drones.

8.2 Foreign analogues

Let's start with the well-known MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3. This is the latest modification currently in service with the US Army. Its main task is to intercept the warheads of tactical ballistic and cruise missiles of the modern world. It uses highly maneuverable direct-hit missiles. A feature of the PAC-3 is that it has a short range of hitting targets - up to 20 km for ballistic and 40-60 for aerodynamic targets. It is striking that the sale of the missile stock includes PAC-2 missiles. Modernization work was carried out, but this did not give the Patriot complex an advantage over the S-400.

Another object of consideration will be the M1097 Avenger. This is a short-range air defense system. Designed to destroy air targets at altitudes from 0.5 to 3.8 km with a range of 0.5 to 5.5 km. He, like the Patriot, is part of the National Guard, and after September 11, 12 Avenger combat units appeared in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe Congress and the White House.

The last complex that we will consider is the NASAMS air defense system. This is a Norwegian mobile anti-aircraft missile system, which is designed to destroy air targets at low and medium altitudes. It was developed by Norway together with the American company "Raytheon Company System". The range of hitting targets is from 2.4 to 40 km, the height is from 30 meters to 16 km. The maximum speed of the hit target is 1000 m/s, and the probability of hitting it with one missile is 0.85.

Consider what our neighbors, China, have? It should be noted right away that their developments in many areas, both in air defense and missile defense, are mostly borrowed. Many of their air defense systems are copies of our types of weapons. For example, take the Chinese HQ-9, a long-range anti-aircraft missile system that is China's most effective air defense system. The complex was developed back in the 80s, but work on it was completed after the purchase of the S-300PMU-1 air defense system from Russia in 1993.

Designed to destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters, ballistic missiles. The maximum range is 200 km, the height of the defeat is from 500 meters to 30 km. The interception range of ballistic missiles is 30 km.

9. Prospects for the development of air defense and future projects

Russia has the most modern means of combating enemy missiles and aircraft, but there are already defense projects 15-20 years ahead of time, when the place of air combat will be not only the sky, but also near outer space.

Such a complex is the S-500. This type of weapon has not yet been adopted for service, but is being tested. It is assumed that it will be capable of destroying medium-range ballistic missiles with a launch range of 3500 km and intercontinental ballistic missiles. This complex will be able to destroy targets within a radius of 600 km, the speed of which reaches 7 km / s. The detection range is supposed to be increased by 150-200 km compared to the S-400.

The BUK-M3 is also under development and should soon be put into service.

Thus, we note that soon the air defense and missile defense forces will have to defend and fight not only close to the ground, but also in the nearest space. This shows that development will go in the direction of combating enemy aircraft, missiles and satellites in near space.

10. Conclusion

In our work, we examined the development of the air defense system of our country and the United States in the period from the 50s of the twentieth century to the present day, partly looking into the future. It should be noted that the development of the air defense system was not easy for our country, it was a real breakthrough through a number of difficulties. There was a time when we tried to catch up with world military technology. Now everything is different, Russia occupies a leading position in the field of combating enemy aircraft and missiles. We can really consider that we are under reliable protection.

As we have already noted, at first 60 years ago they fought low-flying bombers at subsonic speeds, and now the battle arena is gradually being transferred to near space and hypersonic speeds. Progress does not stand still, so you should think about the prospects for the development of your Armed Forces and predict the actions and development of technologies and tactics of the enemy.

We hope that all the military technology now available will not be needed for combat use. In our time, weapons of deterrence are not only nuclear weapons, but also any other types of weapons, including air defense and missile defense.

List of used literature

1) Anti-aircraft missile forces in the wars in Vietnam and the Middle East (in the period 1965-1973). Under the general editorship of Colonel-General of Artillery I.M. Gurinov. Military publishing house of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Moscow 1980

2) General information about the S-200 anti-aircraft missile system and the 5V21A missile device. Tutorial. Military publishing house of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Moscow - 1972

3) Berkut. Technical project. Section 1. General characteristics of the Berkut air defense system. 1951

4) Tactics of anti-aircraft missile troops. Textbook. Military publishing house of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Moscow - 1969

5) http://www.arms-expo.ru/ "Arms of Russia" - federal directory

6) http://militaryrussia.ru/ - domestic military equipment (after 1945)

7) http://topwar.ru/ - military review

Http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/ - rocket technology

9) https://ru.wikipedia.org - free encyclopedia

Since the mid 50s. 20th century Until now, the basis of the air defense of our state is made up of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) and complexes (SAM), created in domestic design organizations of OAO NPO Almaz named after. Academician A.A. Raspletin, OJSC NIEMI, OJSC MNIIRE Altair and OJSC NIIP im. Academician V.V. Tikhomirov. In 2002, all of them became part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern. And in 2010, in order to combine the scientific and production potential of developing enterprises and reduce the cost of creating anti-aircraft missile systems through the use of unified design and technical solutions based on the Almaz, NIEMI, Altair, MNIIPA and " NIIRP" JSC "Head System Design Bureau of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern" was established. Academician A.A. Raspletin (JSC GSKB Almaz-Antey).

At present, the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern is one of the leading corporations in the world in the field of creating anti-aircraft missile systems for air defense and anti-missile defense.

The main task that the air defense forces and military air defense solve is the defense of administrative and political centers, national economic and military facilities, as well as troops in places of permanent deployment and on the march.

Air defense systems and air defense systems of the first and second generations could effectively combat aircraft and had limited combat capabilities to defeat high-speed and small-sized unmanned attack vehicles. The representative of the third generation air defense system is the family of mobile multi-channel air defense systems of the S-300 type.

For the Air Defense Forces of the country, a mobile, multi-channel medium-range anti-aircraft missile system S-300P was created, capable of hitting modern and advanced air attack weapons at all altitudes. The requirements for the implementation of long-term round-the-clock duty by combat crews at workplaces led to the creation of combat cabins with the necessary overall dimensions, placed on a wheeled chassis. The ground forces put forward as the main requirement to ensure high cross-country ability of the air defense system and to place the system on a tracked chassis for this purpose, which required the use of design solutions that provide a special layout of electronic equipment.

In the early 1990s the creation of a deeply modernized system of the S-300P type - S-300PMU1 air defense system was completed. It is capable of repelling massive strikes from both modern and advanced air attack weapons, including those made using stealth technology, in the entire range of their combat use and in the presence of intense active and passive interference. The main means of this system are also used to build the air defense system of the ships of the Navy. The system was delivered to a number of foreign countries.

In recent years, the most advanced modification of the air defense system of this series has been created and is being mass-produced - the air defense system "Favorite" as part of 83M6E2 controls and S-300PMU2 air defense systems. The air defense system S-300PMU2 ("Favorite") includes:

83M6E2 controls, consisting of: 54K6E2 unified command and control center, 64N6E2 detection radar, a set of single spare equipment (ZIP-1);

Up to 6 S-300PMU2 air defense systems, each as part of the 30N6E2 on-load tap-changer, up to 12 launchers (PU) 5P85SE2, 5P85TE2 with the ability to place four SAMs of the 48N6E2, 48N6E type on each;

Anti-aircraft guided missiles (hardware and software construction of the S-300PMU2 air defense system allows the use of missiles of the 48N6E2, 48N6E type);

Means of technical support of the system, means of technical operation and storage of missiles 82Ts6E2;

A set of group spare property (SPTA-2).

The Favorit system may include repeaters 15YA6ME for telecode and voice communications to ensure territorial separation (up to 90 km) of the command post of the system and anti-aircraft missile systems (up to two repeaters for each direction).

All combat assets of the system are placed on self-propelled off-road wheeled chassis, have built-in autonomous power supply, communications and life support systems. To ensure long-term continuous operation of the system means, the possibility of power supply from external power supply means is provided. It is planned to use the system facilities in special engineering shelters with the removal of the on-load tap-changer, PBU, SART from the self-propelled chassis. At the same time, it is possible to install an OLTC antenna post on a 40V6M type tower and install a SRS antenna post on a 8142KM type tower.

As a result of the modernization, the Favorit air defense system, in comparison with the S-300PMU1 and SU 83M6E air defense systems, has the following improved characteristics:

Increased far boundary of the limiting zone of destruction of aerodynamic targets on head-on and overtaking courses up to 200 km against 150 km;

The approximate near boundary of the zone of destruction of aerodynamic targets is up to 3 km versus 5 km;

Increased effectiveness of the destruction of ballistic missiles, including OTBR with a launch range of up to 1000 km, with the provision of undermining the combat charge of ballistic missiles on the flight path;

Increased probability of hitting aerodynamic targets;

Increased noise immunity from active cover noise interference;

Improved performance and ergonomics.

The implementation of new technical solutions is ensured by the following modifications of the S-300PMU1 system and 83M6E controls to the level of the characteristics of the Favorit air defense system:

Introduction of a new ZUR 48N6E2 with modified combat equipment;

Entering a new high-performance computing complex "Elbrus-90 micro" into the hardware container;

Introduction into the hardware container of new jobs for the commander and launch operator, made on a modern element base;

Modernization of the digital phase computer (DPC), which ensures the implementation of a new algorithm with independent control of the orientation of the beams of compensation antennas;

Use of a new input low-noise microwave amplifier in the on-load tap-changer;

Introduction into the on-load tap changer of new highly reliable communication equipment and the Orientir navigation complex, which uses satellite and odometer channels, as well as radio navigation information;

Refinement of the equipment of the antenna post and launchers, ensuring the implementation of the above measures and increasing the reliability of its operation.

Improvements to SU 83M6E:

Introduction to the control system of the newly developed unified combat control center (PBU) 54K6E2, unified in terms of equipment composition with the PBU 55K6E ZRS S-400 "Triumph" and made on the basis of the URAL-532361 chassis. PBU 54K6E2 was created by entering:

VK "Elbrus-90 micro" with software (SW), including software for control of SART 64N6E2;

Unified workplaces with the use of modern computers and liquid crystal matrices;

Upgraded telecode communication equipment with the ability to transmit voice information;

Radio relay station mm-range "Luch-M48" to provide radio communication between the PBU and SART;

Data transmission equipment 93Ya6-05 for communication with SRS, VKP and external sources of radar information.

The Favorit system is easily integrated into various air defense systems. The dimensions of the area of ​​defense of the Favorit air defense system from attacks by various air attack weapons are determined by the corresponding characteristics of the S-300PMU2 air defense systems, the number of air defense systems in the Favorit air defense system and their mutual location on the ground.

Introduced in the late 1980s new classes of aerospace attack weapons and the increase in the combat capabilities and quantitative composition of the SVNK, which are in service, has led to the need to develop a new generation (“4+”) of more advanced universal and unified anti-aircraft missile weapons - mobile long-range and medium-range air defense systems 40Р6Е "Triumph" for the effective solution of the tasks of the aerospace defense of our state at the beginning of the XXI century.

The new quality characteristics of the 40P6E "Triumph" air defense system are:

Solving the tasks of non-strategic missile defense, including the fight against medium-range ballistic missiles;

High security against all types of interference, recognition of false targets;

Using the basic-modular principle of construction;

Information interface with the main types of existing and developed sources of information;

Integration into existing and future control systems for air defense groupings of the Air Force, military air defense and anti-aircraft missile systems of the Navy.

By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 28, 2007, the 40R6 Triumph system was adopted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The first serial sample of the air defense system was put on combat duty on August 6, 2007. The air defense system 40R6 "Triumph" is being created in various versions (modifications).

The composition of the air defense system "Triumph" includes:

30K6E controls, consisting of: combat control center (PBU) 55K6E, radar complex (RLK) 91N6E;

Up to six anti-aircraft missile systems 98Zh6E, each consisting of: multifunctional radar (MRLS) 92N6E, up to 12 launchers of the 5P85SE2, 5P85TE2 types with the ability to place four SAMs of the 48N6EZ, 48N6E2 types on each;

Ammunition for anti-aircraft guided missiles (hardware and software construction of the 98Zh6E air defense system allows the use of missiles of the 48N6EZ, 48N6E2 type);

The complex of means of technical support of the 30Ts6E system, the means of technical operation and storage of missiles 82Ts6ME2.

All combat air defense systems are placed on self-propelled wheeled off-road chassis, have built-in autonomous power supply, orientation and geolocation, communications and life support systems. To ensure long-term continuous operation of the system means, the possibility of power supply from external power supply means is provided. The use of air defense systems in special engineering shelters is envisaged with the removal of hardware containers for MRLS, PBU, RLC from self-propelled chassis. The main type of communication between the means of the system is radio communication; communication is provided via wired and standard telephone communication channels.

The system may include repeaters of telecode and voice communication to ensure the territorial separation of PBU 55K6E and SAM 98ZH6E at distances up to 100 km, as well as portable towers of the 40V6M (MD) type for raising the antenna post of the MRLS 92N6E to a height of 25 (38) m when conducting combat operations in wooded and rough terrain.

The size of the defense area of ​​the S-400E "Triumph" air defense system from attacks by various air attack weapons is determined by the corresponding characteristics of the zones of destruction of the air defense system, the number of air defense systems in the composition of the air defense system and their mutual location on the ground.

The advantages of the export version of the S-400E "Triumph" air defense system in comparison with the S-300PMU1 / -2 air defense system are as follows:

The class of hit targets has been expanded to flight speeds of 4800 m/s (medium-range ballistic missiles with a flight range of up to 3000-3500 km);

Increased impact zones of small targets and targets such as "stealth", due to the increase in the energy potential of the RLC 91N6E and MRLS 92N6E;

The noise immunity of the system has been significantly increased through the introduction of new means of noise protection;

The reliability of the hardware and software complex has been significantly improved, the volume and power consumption of the system's resources have been reduced through the use of more advanced electronic equipment and element base, new equipment for autonomous power supply, and new vehicles.

The main performance characteristics of the S-400 "Triumph" air defense system

At the end of XX - beginning of XXI centuries. new trends in the development of means of aerospace attack appeared:

The mastering by "third" countries of technologies for the creation of rocket weapons, ballistic missiles with a range of more than 2000 km have appeared in service with a number of countries;

Development of unmanned reconnaissance and weapon delivery vehicles with a wide range of flight times and ranges;

Creation of hypersonic aircraft and cruise missiles;

Increasing the combat capabilities of jamming equipment.

In addition, during this period, our state carried out the reform of the Armed Forces, one of the directions of which was the reduction in the number of personnel of the branches and branches of the armed forces.

Parrying the emerging threats required in the current political and economic conditions to solve the problems of reducing the costs of developing, manufacturing and operating weapons in the process of creating modern air defense systems, such as:

1. Reducing the type of air defense and anti-missile defense information and fire weapons, including interceptor missiles and launchers, while increasing their combat capabilities to detect and destroy new types and classes of air defense systems.

2. Increasing the potential of radar facilities while maintaining their mobility or redeployability.

3. Ensuring high throughput and noise immunity of communication and data transmission systems when implementing the principles of their network construction.

4. Increasing the technical resource and time between failures of air defense and missile defense systems in the absence of full-scale serial production of electrical and radio products (ERI).

5. Reducing the number of service personnel.

The analysis of scientific and technical groundwork has shown that the solution of the tasks of creating a new generation of air defense-missile defense anti-aircraft missiles, taking into account overcoming the above problems, should be based on the design of block-modular information and fire systems with an open architecture, using unified hardware components in their composition (this approach is used by international cooperation of developers and manufacturers of weapons and military equipment). At the same time, the comprehensive unification of newly created weapons systems, as well as the use of unified hardware and software functionally complete devices for the modernization of weapons and military equipment operated by the troops, ensures a reduction in budget allocations and an increase in the competitiveness of promising air defense and missile defense systems in the foreign market.

In 2007, design work was launched a promising unified air defense missile defense system of the fifth generation (EU ZRO), the creation of which should ensure the effective defense of our state facilities from strikes by promising air defense systems while reducing the range of anti-aircraft missile weapons being developed, increasing the interspecific unification of combat assets, reducing the cost of equipping troops and fleet forces with air defense systems and their maintenance, as well as reducing the required number of personnel.

The creation of a promising fifth-generation EU DRO is carried out on the basis of the following principles:

To reduce the cost of developing and equipping troops with advanced air defense systems, the concept of the basic-modular principle of constructing the EU air defense system is being implemented, which makes it possible, with a minimum type (basic set) of the means (modules) included in it, to equip air defense formations of various purposes and types;

High efficiency and combat stability of air defense systems in the conditions of predictable fire and electronic suppression due to the possibility of operational reconfiguration depending on the evolving operational-tactical situation, as well as providing maneuver with fire and information resources;

The multifunctionality of the EU ZRO, which consists in the ability to deal with various types of targets - aerodynamic (including those located behind the radio horizon line), aeroballistic, ballistic. At the same time, not only the defeat by fire weapons is ensured, but also a decrease in the effectiveness of their impact by the use of appropriate weapons from the unified defense system from the EU ZRO;

Interspecific and intrasystem unification, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the range of developed anti-aircraft missile weapons and consists in the use of the same means (modules) from the EU ADRO in the air defense systems of the Air Force, military air defense and the Navy. The required type of chassis for the means of the system is determined based on the physical and geographical features of the area of ​​​​possible use, the development of the road network and other factors;

implementation of the specifics of the use of anti-aircraft missiles on surface ships of the Navy (rocking, exposure to sea waves, increased requirements for explosion and fire safety, a complex system for storing and loading missiles, etc.), requiring the development of EU anti-aircraft defense systems for the Navy in a special design (at the same time, the level of unification means of air defense systems should be at least 80 - 90% and be provided through the use of unified standard elements and devices of hardware and software and air defense systems of the EU air defense system, complete unification of missiles, communications equipment and other elements);

Mobility, which makes it possible for units and subunits equipped with the means of the EU ZRO to conduct maneuverable combat operations without loss of communication and control, to deploy in battle formation from the march to unprepared positions and bring them to combat readiness without laying cable communication lines and power supply;

The network structure of the construction of the control system of the EU ZRO, which ensures the receipt of information from various sources and the exchange of data between the consumers of the system, as well as the timely issuance of target designations for the necessary means of destruction and countermeasures in real time; integration of the EU ZRO with electronic warfare systems, aviation air defense systems;

High operational reliability throughout the life of the system;

High competitiveness in the world market and high export potential.

In addition, when creating command and control means of the EU ADAM in the software and hardware systems of these tools, the possibility of controlling and information support of air defense systems and air defense systems of early developments is laid, which, in the conditions of the phased re-equipment of air defense groups on air defense systems and air defense systems of the EU ADAM, will ensure the preservation of the combat capabilities of such groups, as well as the adaptation of the means of the EU ZRO to the existing structure of any air defense zone (region) (VKO) without prior organizational and technical preparation.

The following new technical solutions and technologies are being implemented during the creation of the fifth-generation EU ZRO air defense-missile defense system:

The use of active phased arrays in air defense radars;

Unification of the components of the system (receiving and transmitting modules, signal processing devices, computers, workplaces, chassis);

Automation of the processes of combat work, functional control and troubleshooting;

Use of built-in electronic intelligence channels;

Application of base-correlation methods for determining the coordinates of active jammers;

Creation of missiles with inertial-active trajectory guidance and high-precision gas-dynamic control in the final section of the trajectory, equipped with an active-semi-active seeker (for hitting priority targets at medium and long ranges) or optoelectronic seeker (for intercepting ballistic missiles at high altitudes).

All of the above systems, their further modifications and air defense systems (ADMS) of the EU ZRO PVO-PRO will form the basis of the groupings of the fire subsystem of the Russian aerospace defense system being created.

To write this article, I was largely inspired by the excessive jingoistic moods of a significant part of the visitors of the Military Review website, which I respect, as well as the cunning of the domestic media, which regularly publish materials about the strengthening of our military power, unprecedented since Soviet times, including the Air Force and Air Defense.

For example, in a number of media outlets, including on "VO", in the section "" not so long ago an article was published entitled: "Two air defense divisions began to protect the airspace of Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region."

In which it is said: “The assistant commander of the troops of the Central Military District, Colonel Yaroslav Roshchupkin, said that two divisions of air defense took up combat duty, starting to protect the airspace of Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region.

“The duty forces of two divisions of air defense took up combat duty to cover administrative, industrial and military facilities in the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia. New formations were formed on the basis of the Novosibirsk and Samara aerospace defense brigades, ”RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.

Combat crews equipped with S-300PS anti-aircraft missile systems will cover the airspace over the territory of 29 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which are included in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the Central Military District.

After such news, an inexperienced reader may get the impression that our air defense anti-aircraft missile units have received qualitative and quantitative reinforcement with new anti-aircraft systems.

In practice, in this case, no quantitative, much less qualitative strengthening of our air defense has happened. It all comes down to just changing the organizational structure. New equipment did not enter the troops.

The S-300PS anti-aircraft missile system mentioned in the publication, with all its advantages, cannot be considered new in any way.

S-300PS with 5V55R missiles was put into service back in 1983. That is, more than 30 years have passed since the adoption of this system. But at present, in the anti-aircraft missile units of air defense, more than half of the long-range S-300P air defense systems belong to this modification.

In the near future (two or three years), most of the S-300PS will either have to be written off or overhauled. However, it is not known which option is economically preferable, the modernization of old or the construction of new anti-aircraft systems.

The earlier towed version of the S-300PT has either been decommissioned or transferred "for storage" without any chance of returning to the troops.

The most "fresh" complex from the "three hundredth" S-300PM family was delivered to the Russian army in the mid-90s. Most of the anti-aircraft missiles currently in service were produced at the same time.

The new, widely advertised S-400 anti-aircraft missile system has just begun to enter service. In total, as of 2014, 10 regimental kits were delivered to the troops. Taking into account the upcoming mass write-off of military equipment that has exhausted its resource, this amount is absolutely not enough.

Of course, experts, of whom there are many on the site, can reasonably object that the S-400 is significantly superior in its capabilities to the systems it is replacing. However, one should not forget that the means of air attack of the main "potential partner" are constantly being improved qualitatively. In addition, as follows from "open sources", mass production of promising 9M96E and 9M96E2 missiles and 40N6E ultra-long-range missiles has not yet been established. Currently, the S-400 uses 48N6E, 48N6E2, 48N6E3 SAM S-300PM missiles, as well as 48N6DM missiles modified for the S-400.

In total, according to "open sources", in our country there are about 1500 launchers of the S-300 family of air defense systems - this, apparently, taking into account the air defense units of the ground forces that are "in storage" and in service.

Today, Russian air defense forces (those that are part of the Air Force and Air Defense) have 34 regiments with S-300PS, S-300PM and S-400 air defense systems. In addition, not so long ago, several anti-aircraft missile brigades, converted into regiments, were transferred to the Air Force and Air Defense from the air defense of the ground forces - two 2-divisional S-300V and Buk brigades and one mixed (two S-300V divisions , one Buk division). Thus, in the troops we have 38 regiments, including 105 divisions.

However, these forces are distributed extremely unevenly throughout the country, Moscow is best protected, around which there are ten regiments of S-300P air defense systems (two of them have two S-400 divisions each).

Satellite image of Google Earth. The layout of the positions of air defense systems around Moscow. Colored triangles and squares - positions and areas of basing of active air defense systems, blue rhombuses and circles - surveillance radars, white ones - currently liquidated air defense systems and radars

The northern capital, St. Petersburg, is well covered. The sky above it is protected by two regiments of S-300PS and two regiments of S-300PM.

Satellite image of Google Earth. Scheme of placement of air defense systems around St. Petersburg

The bases of the Northern Fleet in Murmansk, Severomorsk and Polyarny are covered by three S-300PS and S-300PM regiments, at the Pacific Fleet near Vladivostok and Nakhodka - two S-300PS regiments, and the Nakhodka regiment received two S-400 divisions. Avacha Bay in Kamchatka, where SSBNs are based, is covered by one S-300PS regiment.

Satellite image of Google Earth. ZRS S-400 in the vicinity of Nakhodka

The Kaliningrad region and the BF base in Baltiysk are protected from air attack by the S-300PS/S-400 mixed regiment.

Satellite image of Google Earth. S-400 air defense system in the Kaliningrad region at the former positions of the S-200 air defense system

Recently, there has been an increase in the anti-aircraft cover of the Black Sea Fleet. Prior to the well-known events related to Ukraine, a mixed regiment with S-300PM and S-400 divisions was deployed in the Novorossiysk region.

At present, there is a significant strengthening of the air defense of the main naval base of the Black Sea Fleet - Sevastopol. It is reported that in November the peninsula's air defense group was replenished with S-300PM air defense systems. Taking into account the fact that complexes of this type are currently not produced by industry for their own needs, most likely they were transferred from another region of the country.

In terms of air defense cover, the central region of our country resembles a "patchwork quilt" in which there are more holes than patches. There is one S-300PS regiment each in the Novgorod region, near Voronezh, Samara and Saratov. The Rostov region is covered by one regiment of S-300PM and Buk.

In the Urals, near Yekaterinburg, there are positions of an anti-aircraft missile regiment armed with S-300PS. Beyond the Urals, in Siberia, only three regiments are deployed on a gigantic territory, one S-300PS regiment each near Novosibirsk, in Irkutsk and Achinsk. In Buryatia, not far from the Dzhida station, one regiment of the Buk air defense system is deployed.

Satellite image of Google Earth. ZRS S-300PS near Irkutsk

In addition to anti-aircraft systems protecting the fleet bases in Primorye and Kamchatka, in the Far East there are two more S-300PS regiments covering Khabarovsk (Knyaz-Volkonskoye) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Lian), respectively, one S-300PS regiment is deployed in the vicinity of Birobidzhan. 300V.

That is, the entire vast Far Eastern Federal District is protected by: one regiment of mixed S-300PS / S-400, four regiments of S-300PS, one regiment of S-300V. This is all that remains of the once powerful 11th Air Defense Army.

The "holes" between the air defense facilities in the east of the country are several thousand kilometers long, anyone and anything can fly into them. However, not only in Siberia and the Far East, but throughout the country, a huge number of critical industrial and infrastructure facilities are not covered by any air defense systems.

In a significant part of the country's territory, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants remain unprotected, air strikes on which can lead to catastrophic consequences. Vulnerability from air attack means of deployment of Russian strategic nuclear forces provokes “potential partners” to attempt a “disarming strike” with high-precision means of destroying non-nuclear equipment.

In addition, long-range anti-aircraft systems themselves need protection. They need to be covered from the air with short-range air defense systems. Today, regiments with S-400s receive Pantsir-S air defense systems for this (2 per division), but S-300P and B are not covered by anything, except, of course, for effective protection of anti-aircraft machine gun installations of 12.7 mm caliber.

"Pantsir-S"

The situation with the lighting of the air situation is no better. This should be done by radio engineering troops, their functional duty is to issue early information about the beginning of an enemy air attack, provide target designation for anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense aviation, as well as information for controlling air defense formations, units and subunits.

During the years of “reforms”, the continuous radar field formed during the Soviet era was partially, and in some places completely lost.
At present, there is practically no possibility of controlling the air situation over the polar latitudes.

Until recently, our political and former military leadership appears to have been preoccupied with other more pressing issues, such as downsizing the military and selling off "surplus" military property and real estate.

Only recently, at the end of 2014, the Minister of Defense, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, announced measures that should help correct the existing situation in this area.

As part of the expansion of our military presence in the Arctic, it is planned to build and reconstruct existing facilities on the New Siberian Islands and Franz Josef Land, reconstruct airfields and deploy modern radar stations in Tiksi, Naryan-Mar, Alykel, Vorkuta, Anadyr and Rogachevo. The creation of a continuous radar field over the territory of Russia should be completed by 2018. At the same time, it is planned to upgrade radar stations and data processing and transmission facilities by 30%.

Separate mention deserves fighter aircraft, designed to deal with enemy air attack weapons and carry out tasks to gain air superiority. Currently, the Russian Air Force formally has (taking into account those in "storage") about 900 fighters, of which: Su-27 of all modifications - more than 300, Su-30 of all modifications - about 50, Su-35S - 34, MiG -29 of all modifications - about 250, MiG-31 of all modifications - about 250.

It should be borne in mind that a significant part of the Russian fighter fleet is only nominally in the Air Force. Many aircraft produced in the late 80s and early 90s require major repairs and modernization. In addition, due to problems with the supply of spare parts and the replacement of failed avionics units, some of the upgraded fighters are in fact, as the aviators put it, "doves of peace." They can still take to the air, but they can no longer fully complete a combat mission.

The past year 2014 was notable for the volumes of deliveries of aviation equipment to the Russian armed forces that were unprecedented since the times of the USSR.

In 2014, our Air Force received 24 Su-35S multifunctional fighters manufactured by the Yu.A. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (branch of Sukhoi Company OJSC):

Twenty of them became part of the reconstructed 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Guards Mixed Aviation Division of the 3rd Air Force and Air Defense Command of Russia at the Dzemgi airfield (Khabarovsk Territory), which is joint with the plant.

All these fighters were built under a contract dated August 2009 with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the construction of 48 Su-35S fighters. Thus, the total number of vehicles manufactured under this contract by the beginning of 2015 reached 34.

The production of Su-30SM fighters for the Russian Air Force is carried out by the Irkut Corporation under two contracts for 30 aircraft each, concluded with the Russian Ministry of Defense in March and December 2012. After the delivery of 18 vehicles in 2014, the total number of Su-30SMs delivered to the Russian Air Force reached 34 units.

Eight more Su-30M2 fighters were produced by the Yu.A. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Three fighters of this type entered the newly formed 38th fighter aviation regiment of the 27th mixed aviation division of the 4th command of the Russian Air Force and Air Defense at the Belbek airfield (Crimea).

The Su-30M2 aircraft were built under a contract dated December 2012 for the supply of 16 Su-30M2 fighters, bringing the total number of aircraft built under this contract to 12, and the total number of Su-30M2 in the Russian Air Force to 16.

However, this significant amount by today's standards is absolutely not enough to replace in the fighter regiments written off due to the complete physical deterioration of the aircraft.

Even if the current pace of deliveries of aircraft to the troops is maintained, according to forecasts, in five years the fighter fleet of the Russian Air Force will be reduced to about 600 aircraft.

During the next five years, about 400 Russian fighters will probably be written off - up to 40% of the current payroll.

This is primarily due to the upcoming decommissioning of the old-built MiG-29s (about 200 units) in the very near future. Due to problems with the airframe, about 100 aircraft have already been rejected.

The non-modernized Su-27s, whose flight life is ending in the near future, will also be decommissioned. The number of MiG-31 interceptors will be reduced by more than half. As part of the Air Force, it is planned to leave 30-40 MiG-31s ​​in DZ and BS modifications, another 60 MiG-31s ​​will be upgraded to the BM version. The remaining MiG-31s ​​(about 150 units) are planned to be written off.

Partially, the shortage of long-range interceptors should be resolved after the start of mass deliveries of the PAK FA. It was announced that it is planned to purchase up to 60 PAK FA units by 2020, but so far these are only plans that are likely to undergo significant adjustments.

The Russian Air Force has 15 AWACS A-50 aircraft (another 4 are in “storage”), recently they were supplemented by 3 modernized A-50U.
The first A-50U was delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2011.

As a result of the work carried out as part of the modernization, the functionality of the airborne early warning and control complex has significantly increased. The number of simultaneously tracked targets and simultaneously guided fighters has been increased, the detection range of various aircraft has been increased.

The A-50 should be replaced by the A-100 AWACS aircraft based on the Il-76MD-90A with the PS-90A-76 engine. The antenna complex is built on the basis of an antenna with an active phased array.

At the end of November 2014 TANTK them. G. M. Beriev received the first Il-76MD-90A aircraft for conversion into A-100 AWACS aircraft. Deliveries to the Russian Air Force are scheduled to begin in 2016.

All domestic AWACS aircraft are based on a permanent basis in the European part of the country. Beyond the Urals, they appear quite rarely, for the most part during large-scale exercises.

Unfortunately, loud statements from high tribunes about the revival of our Air Force and Air Defense often have little in common with reality. Absolute irresponsibility for the promises made by high-ranking civil and military officials has become an unpleasant tradition in the “new” Russia.

As part of the state armaments program, it was supposed to have twenty-eight 2-divisional S-400 regiments and up to ten divisions of the latest S-500 air defense system (the latter should perform tasks not only for air defense and tactical missile defense, but also for strategic missile defense) by 2020. Now there is no doubt that these plans will be thwarted. The same fully applies to plans for the production of PAK FA.

However, no one, as usual, will be seriously punished for disrupting the state program. After all, we “do not hand over our own”, and “we are not in our 37th year”, right?

P. S. All the information provided in the article regarding the Russian Air Force and Air Defense is taken from open public sources, the list of which is given. The same applies to possible inaccuracies and errors.

Information sources:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru
http://bmpd.livejournal.com
http://geimint.blogspot.ru
Satellite imagery courtesy of Google Earth