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Modern and promising anti-aircraft missile systems of air defense of Russia. Modern and promising anti-aircraft missile systems of air defense of Russia Russian air defense

Air defense is a set of steps and b / actions of troops to combat enemy air attack means in order to avert (reduce) losses among the population, damage to objects and military groups from air strikes. To repel (disrupt) attacks (strike) of an air enemy, air defense systems are formed.

The full air defense complex covers systems:

  • Reconnaissance of an air enemy, notification actions about him by troops;
  • Fighter Air Force Screening;
  • Anti-aircraft missile and artillery barrier;
  • EW organizations;
  • masking;
  • Managerial, etc.

Air defense happens:

  • Zonal - to protect individual areas within which cover objects are located;
  • Zonal-objective - for combining zonal air defense with a direct barrier of especially important objects;
  • Object - for the defense of individual especially important objects.

The world experience of wars has turned air defense into one of the most important components in combined arms combat. In August 1958, the air defense troops of the ground forces were formed, and later the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces was organized from them.

Until the end of the fifties, the air defense of the SV were equipped with anti-aircraft artillery systems of that time, as well as specially designed transportable anti-aircraft missile systems. Along with this, in order to reliably cover the troops in combat operations of a mobile form, it was necessary to have highly mobile and highly effective air defense systems, due to the increase in the b / capabilities of air attack weapons.

Along with the fight against tactical aviation, the air defense forces of the ground forces also hit combat helicopters, unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft, cruise missiles, as well as enemy strategic aviation.

In the mid-seventies, the organization of the first generation of anti-aircraft missile weapons of the air defense forces was completed. The troops received the latest air defense missiles and the famous Krugi, Kuba, Wasp-AK, Strela-1 and 2, Shilka, new radars and many other state-of-the-art equipment at that time. The formed anti-aircraft missile systems easily hit almost all aerodynamic targets, so they took part in local wars and armed conflicts.

By that time, the latest means of air attacks were already rapidly developing and improving. These were tactical, operational-tactical, strategic ballistic missiles and high-precision weapons. Unfortunately, the weapons systems of the first generation of the air defense forces did not provide solutions to the tasks of covering military groups from attacks with these weapons.

There was a need to develop and apply systematic approaches to the argumentation of the classification and properties of weapons of the second generation. It was necessary to create weapons systems balanced in terms of classifications and types of objects to be struck and a list of air defense systems, combined into a single control system, equipped with radar reconnaissance, communications and technical equipment. And such weapons systems were created. In the eighties, the air defense forces were fully provided with S-Z00V, Tors, Bukami-M1, Strelami-10M2, Tunguska, Needles and the latest radars.

Changes have taken place in anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft missile and artillery units, units and formations. They have become integral components in combined arms formations from battalions to front-line formations and have become a unified air defense system in military districts. This increased the effectiveness of combat applications in the groupings of air defense forces of military districts and ensured the power of fire action against the enemy with a high density of fire from anti-aircraft guns, layered at altitudes and at ranges.

In the late nineties, in order to improve command, in the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the Coast Guard of the Navy, military units and air defense units of the Airborne Forces, in formations and military units of the Air Defense Reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, changes took place. They were united in the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Military air defense missions

Formations and units of military air defense carry out the tasks entrusted to them for interaction with the forces and means of the Armed Forces and the Navy.

The following tasks are assigned to military air defense:

In peacetime:

  • Measures to maintain the air defense forces of military districts, formations, units and subunits of the Air Defense of the Coast Guard of the Navy, units and subunits of the air defense of the Airborne Forces in combat readiness for advanced deployments and reflections, together with the forces and means of air defense of the types of the RF Armed Forces attacks by means of air attacks;
  • Carrying out second-hand duty within the zone of operation of military districts and in the general air defense systems of the state;
  • The sequence of building up combat strengths in air defense formations and units that perform tasks on combat duty when the highest degrees of b / readiness are introduced.

In wartime:

  • Measures for complex, echeloned in depth cover from attacks by means of air attacks by the enemy on groupings of troops, military districts (fronts) and military facilities throughout the depth of their operational formations, while interacting with air defense forces and means and other types and branches of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces;
  • Measures for direct cover, which include combined arms formations and formations, as well as formations, units and subunits of the Coast Guard of the Navy, formations and units of the Airborne Forces, rocket troops and artillery in the form of groupings, aviation airfields, command posts, the most important rear facilities in areas of concentration, when advancing, occupying the indicated zones and during operations (b / actions).

Directions for the improvement and development of military air defense

Today, the air defense troops of the SV are the main and most numerous component of the military air defense of the RF Armed Forces. They are united by a harmonious hierarchical structure with the inclusion of front-line, army (corps) complexes of air defense forces, as well as air defense units, motorized rifle (tank) divisions, motorized rifle brigades, air defense units, motorized rifle and tank regiments, battalions.

Air defense forces in military districts have air defense formations, units and subunits, which have at their disposal anti-aircraft missile systems / complexes of various purposes and potentials.

They are connected by reconnaissance and information complexes and control complexes. This makes it possible, under certain circumstances, to form effective multifunctional air defense systems. Until now, the weapons of the Russian military air defense are among the best on the planet.

The most important areas in the improvement and development of military air defense in total include:

  • Optimization of organizational and staff structures in the governing bodies, formations and air defense units, in accordance with the assigned tasks;
  • Modernization in anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes, intelligence equipment in order to extend the terms of operation and their integration into a single aerospace defense system in the state and in the Armed Forces, endowing them with the functions of non-strategic anti-missile weapons in theaters of military operations;
  • Development and maintenance of a unified technical policy to reduce the types of weapons, military equipment, their unification and avoidance of duplication in development;
  • Provision of advanced air defense weapons systems with the latest means of automation of control, communications, active, passive and other non-traditional types of intelligence activities, multifunctional anti-aircraft missile systems and new generation air defense systems using the criteria of "efficiency - cost - feasibility";
  • Conducting a complex of collective used training of military air defense with other troops, taking into account the upcoming combat missions and the characteristics of the areas of deployment, while concentrating the main efforts in the preparation of formations, units and subunits of high-level air defense;
  • Formation, provision and training of reserves for a flexible response to changing circumstances, strengthening of air defense force groupings, replenishment of losses of personnel, weapons and military equipment;
  • Improving the training of officers in the structure of the military training system, increasing the level of their fundamental (basic) knowledge and practical training and consistency in the transition to continuous military education.

It is planned that in the near future the aerospace defense system will occupy one of the leading directions in the strategic defense of the state and in the Armed Forces, it will become one of the components, and in the future it will become almost the main deterrent in unleashing wars.

Air defense systems are one of the fundamental in the aerospace defense system. To date, military air defense units are able to effectively resolve the tasks of anti-aircraft and, to some extent, non-strategic anti-missile defensive measures in groupings of troops along operational-strategic directions. As practice shows, in tactical exercises using live fire, all available means of Russian military air defense are able to hit cruise missiles.

Air defense in the air defense system of the state and in its Armed Forces tend to grow in proportion to the increase in the threat of air attacks. When resolving the tasks of the aerospace defense, it will be necessary to coordinate the general use of the various types of air defense forces and missile and space defense in operational-strategic areas as the most effective than separate. This will happen as a result of the possibility of combining force with the advantages of various types of weapons and mutual compensation for their shortcomings and weaknesses with a single plan and under one command.

Improving air defense systems is impossible without further modernization of existing weapons, re-equipment of air defense forces in military districts with the most modern air defense systems and air defense systems, with the supply of the latest automated control and communication systems.

The main direction in the development of Russian air defense systems today is:

  • Continue development work to create highly effective weapons that will have quality indicators that could not be surpassed by foreign counterparts for 10-15 years;
  • To create a promising multifunctional system of armaments of military air defense. This will give impetus to create a flexible organizational and staffing structure for the performance of specific b/tasks. Such a system must be integrated with the main weapons of the ground forces, and act in an integrated manner with other types of troops in the course of solving air defense tasks;
  • Introduce automated control systems with robotics and artificial intelligence to reflect further build-up of enemy capabilities and increase the effectiveness of non-use applications by air defense forces;
  • Provide models of air defense weapons with electron-optical devices, television systems, thermal imagers in order to ensure the combat capability of air defense systems and air defense systems in conditions of intense interference, which will make it possible to minimize the dependence of air defense systems on the weather;
  • Widely apply passive location and electronic warfare equipment;
  • Reorient the concept of the prospects for the development of weapons and military equipment for air defense, carry out a radical modernization of existing weapons and military equipment in order to significantly increase the effectiveness of combat use at low costs.

Air Defense Day

Air Defense Day is a memorable day in the RF Armed Forces. It is celebrated every year, every second Sunday in April, in accordance with the Decree of the Russian President of May 31, 2006.

For the first time this holiday was determined by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in the Decree of February 20, 1975. It was established for the outstanding merits that the air defense forces of the Soviet state showed during the Second World War, as well as for the fact that they carried out especially important tasks in peacetime. It was originally celebrated on April 11, but in October 1980 Air Defense Day was moved to be celebrated every second Sunday in April.

The history of establishing the date of the holiday is connected with the fact that, in fact, in April, the most important government decrees on the organization of the air defense of the state were adopted, which became the basis for the construction of air defense systems, determined the organizational structure of the troops included in it, their formation and further development.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that as the threat of air attacks increases, the role and importance of military air defense will only increase, which has already been confirmed by time.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

It has more than a century of history, which began in the suburbs of St. Petersburg in 1890. The first attempts to adapt the existing artillery for firing at flying targets were made at the training grounds near Ust-Izhora and in Krasnoye Selo. However, these attempts revealed the complete inability of conventional artillery to hit air targets, and the untrained military to control guns.

Start of air defense

The decoding of the well-known abbreviation means, that is, a system of measures to protect the territory and objects from air attack. The first shooting near Petersburg was made from four-inch guns using ordinary bullet shrapnel.

It was this combination of technical characteristics that revealed the inability of the available means to defeat air targets, the role of which was then performed by balloons and hot air balloons. However, according to the test results, Russian engineers received a technical assignment for the development of a special gun, which was completed in 1914. At that time, not only artillery pieces were technically perfect, but also the airplanes themselves, which were not capable of climbing to a height exceeding three kilometers.

World War I

Until 1914, the use of air defense systems in combat conditions was not very relevant, since aviation was practically not used. However, in Germany and Russia, the history of air defense begins as early as 1910. The countries obviously foresaw the imminent conflict and tried to prepare for it, given the sad experience of previous wars.

Thus, the history of air defense in Russia has one hundred and seven years, during which they have significantly developed and evolved from cannons that fired at balloons to high-tech early warning systems capable of hitting targets even in space.

The birthday of the air defense system is considered December 8, 1914, when a system of defensive structures and means directed against air targets began to function on the outskirts of Petrograd. In order to secure the imperial capital, an extensive network of observation posts was created on the remote approaches to it, consisting of towers and telephone points, from which information about the approaching enemy was reported to the headquarters.

Fighter aircraft in World War I

An integral part of the air defense system of any country and at any time is fighter aircraft capable of neutralizing attacking aircraft at distant approaches.

In turn, for effective functioning, a significant number of highly qualified pilots are required. It was for these purposes that the first in Russia Officer Aeronautical School was formed on the Volkovo Field near St. Petersburg in 1910, which set as its task the training of first-class aeronauts, as pilots were called at that time.

In parallel with the network of observation posts, a system was created, which received the official name "Radio-telegraph defense of Petrograd." This system was intended to intercept the communications of hostile pilots attacking the Russian army.

After the revolution

Deciphering air defense as air defense creates the illusion that the system is extremely simple and designed only to shoot down enemy aircraft. However, already on the fields of the First World War, it became clear that the troops were facing numerous and complex tasks not only in controlling the sky, but also in reconnaissance, camouflage and the formation of the front line of front-line aviation.

After the victory of the October Revolution, all the air defense forces available on the territory of Petrograd came under the control of the Red Army, which took up their reform and reorganization.

The actual abbreviation of air defense and decoding appeared in 1925, when the terms "air defense of the country" and "air defense of the front line" were first used in official documents. It was at this time that priority areas for the development of air defense were identified. However, more than ten years have passed before their comprehensive implementation.

Air defense of the largest cities

Since defense against air attacks required significant resources, both human and technical, the Soviet leadership decided to organize air defense defense of several key cities of the USSR. These included Moscow, Leningrad, Baku and Kyiv.

In 1938, air defense corps were formed to protect Leningrad from air attacks. An air defense brigade was organized for the defense of Kyiv. A transcript with a mention of the means used to repel enemy air attacks is as follows:

  • flak;
  • aerial reconnaissance;
  • communication and notification;
  • antiaircraft projectors.

Of course, such a list has little to do with the current state of affairs, since over the past eighty years the structure has become much more complicated, and the technique has become more universal. In addition, radio reconnaissance and information warfare are now playing a great role in air defense.

By the beginning of World War II, the early detection of enemy air forces and their destruction becomes especially important. To solve this problem, special means of electronic intelligence are being developed. The first country to deploy a wide network of radar stations was Great Britain.

The first devices designed to control anti-aircraft fire were also developed there, which significantly increased its accuracy and increased density.

The current state of air defense

The decoding of the well-known abbreviation does not fully correspond to modern realities, since non-contact methods of warfare based on missile weapons and special aircraft with low visibility are becoming increasingly important in the world today.

In addition, the abbreviation PRO, which refers to anti-missile defense, is increasingly being used next to the abbreviation for air defense. It is impossible today to imagine effective air defense without the use of missile weapons, which means that systems that are of fundamental importance for the integration of various systems from anti-aircraft guns to radar weapons are becoming increasingly important.

In the age of the Internet, competent search and the ability to distinguish reliable information from incorrect information are of great importance. Increasingly, users are looking for a decoding of the air defense department of internal affairs, which means the passport and visa department of the Department of Internal Affairs - the police department involved in the passportization of the population.

The Igla-super portable air defense system is a further development of the line of portable air defense systems launched by the Igla complex, which was put into service in 1983.

The most common and 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, a descendant of 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: the 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 intended for close cover of civilian and military facilities (including long-range air defense systems) from all modern and promising 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
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.

The most common anti-aircraft gun: 20-mm anti-aircraft gun Oerlicon ("Oerlikon")

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

The history of 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 sample of this weapon was created by a 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: 88-mm anti-aircraft gun Flugabwehrkanone

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
Damage range:
- aerodynamic targets - 5–60 km
- ballistic targets - 3-240 km
Height of defeat: 10 m - 27 km

The air defense system is designed to destroy jamming aircraft, 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. Each air defense system provides simultaneous shelling of up to 36 targets with up to 72 missiles aimed at them.

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

Mobile universal anti-missile and anti-aircraft "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 firing simultaneously at 24 aerodynamic targets, including subtle objects, or 16 ballistic missiles flying at speeds up to 4500 m/s.

/Based on materials popmech.ru and topwar.ru /

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 S-500 air defense system will solve the entire range of air defense and missile defense tasks

In early February, the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern was transformed into the Aerospace Defense Concern by decree of the President of the Russian Federation. The Concern's general designer spoke about what new prospects are opening up for the Concern in connection with this event, how the subject matter of the developed air defense and missile defense systems will change, what capabilities the fifth-generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile system will have. Pavel Sozinov.

- Pavel Alekseevich, now your Concern has another important direction - space. Do you already know which companies will deal with this topic?

- As for the space component, we had it before, since the concern's enterprises performed and continue to play the leading role in integrating ballistic missile launch detection tools, including the space echelon. Traditionally, MAK Vympel was responsible for this direction in our concern. Radars of the ground-based early warning missile system, as you know, are mainly dealt with by RTI OJSC, space facilities and systems by the Kometa Central Research Institute, and now the Kometa Corporation, which, in accordance with the President's decree, is transferred to the VKO concern. Our enterprises act as integrators of space and ground echelons at command posts for the corresponding purpose. This concerns the early warning system, the space control system and some other specific tasks that arise in this area of ​​activity.


In general, the space direction is very interesting, it is represented in the concern not only by Kometa. Let our enterprises participate in the manufacture of certain samples or components of equipment, in particular, using the GLONASS system, not as the lead, but as co-executors of other Roscosmos enterprises. There are components that are developed and produced by our enterprises, primarily the Russian Institute of Radio Navigation and Time, which is located in St. Petersburg.

GLONASS, as you know, has both a ground part and an onboard part. This is a very important component, since modern systems rely heavily on the navigation signal for highly accurate positioning and time synchronization.

As for the formation of the VKO concern, there are two points that need to be implemented. On the one hand, technically and organizationally, by and large, nothing has changed for us, since we have been connected with the Roscosmos enterprises involved in aerospace defense issues for decades of joint work. "Kometa", for example, came out of KB-1, later transformed into the Almaz Central Design Bureau (now Almaz-Antey State Design Bureau named after Academician Raspletin). Academician Anatoly Ivanovich Savin, who headed the Comet for many years, now works in our concern as a scientific supervisor.

Another question: how, when joining the concern, to implement new plans, including the development of aerospace defense systems? This applies not only to those systems that Kometa is engaged in under existing contracts, but also to some promising projects, for which we hatch ideas as part of the work of the Joint Council of Chief Designers for Aerospace Defense Systems. This council has been operating for two years already, it includes the leading enterprises of almost all concerns that today are related to the aerospace defense system. This applies not only to the space echelon, but also to electronic warfare, which is one of the concerns of the state corporation Rostec.

- In addition to the main topic, your concern, as you know, is also engaged in the aviation and naval component of air and missile defense. Tell us about this line of work.

– This direction is also quite serious. If we talk about fighter aviation, I would like to note that within the framework of the council we have closely organized work with the structures of the United Aircraft Corporation. First of all, with the design bureaus of the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the RAC "MIG", since we directly make control systems for fighter aircraft. In addition, our systems are used to solve the problems of joint operation of fighter aircraft in the areas of action of anti-aircraft missile forces. Airborne radar equipment for combat aircraft of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, including for the fifth-generation fighter, is also being developed by our enterprises, in particular, the Tikhomirov Research and Development Institute, which is also part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern.

In this case, integration takes place at the technical and organizational levels, we have no legal relations with aircraft manufacturing companies, except for contractual ones.

The same goes for the shipbuilding industry. The ship-based missile and air defense component is also being developed. There are serious plans to develop completely new products to solve the problems of air defense and missile defense of ships of a heavier class, in particular, the destroyer class and above. Such work is carried out jointly with the main designer - the Northern Design Bureau, which is part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation.

The ship topic itself is extremely interesting, since a huge number of our enterprises are involved in the development of air defense and missile defense equipment adapted to ship deployment conditions. They differ significantly from those options that were in the previous generation, where in the 80s and 90s the unification of missiles was actually one hundred percent. Now, for sea-based complexes, special products are being created, among other things.

The air defense radars on the ships were largely borrowed from the S-300 systems, the Buk, Tor systems, etc. with some specifics of their placement on the ship. Fundamentally new technical solutions are now being applied that make it possible to reduce the visibility of the ship, increase the noise immunity of the radar system, ensure electromagnetic compatibility, and solve a number of other issues.

This is a rather complex project. In this part, the Americans have a large number of technical solutions and projects that optimally accommodate a multifunctional weapon control system, where all location, radio and electronic means, electronic warfare equipment and, of course, missile systems, both air defense-missile defense and strike systems are integrated. We are following approximately the same path, especially since, along with air defense and missile defense systems for ships, we are also developing strike systems based on cruise missiles. This, in particular, is done by OKB Novator.

I would like to note that the currently operating ship systems are in demand abroad. Russian enterprises have carried out and are carrying out relevant contracts for the supply of ships with our weapons to the People's Republic of China, India, and a number of other countries. In recent history, there are precedents when foreign weapons were installed on our ships and vice versa, when our weapons are installed on foreign projects.

- How are things going with the creation of the new S-500 anti-aircraft missile system. When can her trials begin? What is the fundamental difference between this air defense system and the existing ones?

- Information on this system is largely confidential and we prefer not to talk about this topic. But some points can be mentioned without disclosing the performance characteristics.

Air defense system S-500 "Prometheus"

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