During a special military operation, the importance of radar reconnaissance systems and anti-aircraft missile protection was extremely large. In addition to combating manned aircraft and UAVs, anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes are faced with the task of destroying shells from multiple launch rocket systems.
At the same time, officials of the Ukrainian Armed Forces claim that the missile of the American HIMARS system flies much faster than a tactical ballistic missile, and therefore it is impossible to hit it with the S-300/400 air defense system. “The Russian S-300 Favorit and S-400 Triumph can only shoot missiles, not shells. Therefore, not a means of anti-aircraft missile protection, but a useless pile of scrap metal, ”said the press service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Let’s understand in order. For the S-300 air defense guidance radar and the S-400 multifunctional air defense radar, there is absolutely no difference between a tactical missile and a missile.
For “Victory” and “Favorite” – these are air objects, which, first of all, are characterized by an effective reflective surface (or an effective dispersion surface). Other characteristics of the target (speed, flight altitude, maneuverability) are not so critical for modern air defense systems / air defense systems. Therefore, as an object of destruction, HIMARS rockets (and ATACMS missiles) for the S-300 and S-400 are nothing special.
Now specifically about speed. The statements of the experts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that the HIMARS rocket flies faster than the anti-aircraft missile is wrong, to say the least. An MLRS projectile flies at a speed of 700-800 m / s. The speed of the 5V55 anti-aircraft guided missile of the S-300 type is almost 2000 m / s. The S-400 has a speed of more than 2500 m/s.
Technically, HIMARS shells are an easy target for the S-300 and S-400.
The difficulties of combating anti-aircraft missile systems with HIMARS shells are completely different. The fact is that the firing positions of HIMARS during live shooting are at a distance of 70-80 km. from the target. That is, almost from the moment of launch, the shells of the American MLRS are already in the launch zone of the anti-aircraft missile system. After these targets are detected and captured by the S-300/400 air defense system, it is necessary to open fire immediately.
However, for this, the anti-aircraft missile system must be turned on, power must be supplied by standard means, the air defense system must be checked whether it is working, and the full combat crew must have illumination and guidance radars at work (S-400). multifunctional radars) are correctly placed in the firing positions of the HIMARS MLRS and work on radiation, anti-aircraft guided missiles go through the necessary training cycle.
That is, the S-300/400 air defense system must be ready for immediate firing.
It is quite clear that anti-aircraft missile weapons cannot remain in such a state for long. And the HIMARS MLRS is a highly mobile system and it is sometimes difficult to tell (without accurate intelligence) that military vehicles will be deployed in a particular location. That is, the highest requirements are set for reconnaissance in general, and in this case for the radar reconnaissance system.
Among other things, if the enemy launches a series of rockets, the first targets can be hit by a single air defense system / air defense system, and everything else leaves the affected area during live fire. In this case, it is necessary to strengthen the grouping of anti-aircraft missile forces in key areas for live firing with a large concentration of fire.
The author’s view may not coincide with the editors’ position.
Author biography:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military observer of socialbites.ca, a retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-aircraft Missile School (1976),
Air Defense Military Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile battalion (1980–1983).
Deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior officer of the Air Defense Forces Main Staff (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000–2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010–2015).
Source: Gazeta
