Moscow, June 28 - RIA Novosti, Andrey Kots. The United States has upped the ante: Following the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, Washington plans to transfer the medium- and long-range missile defense system to Kiev. According to CNN the Pentagon believes that this will deny Russia’s air superiority. Is this expectation justified - in the material of RIA Novosti.
asked for a long time
As the Ministry of Defense pointed out, during the four-month military special operations, Ukraine ’s defense potential has decreased significantly. A large part of the demilitarized missions are performed by pilots and operators of high-precision weapons. Modern airborne troops with large numbers of "smart" missiles and artillery shells are Russia's main advantage.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have only S-300 and separate divisions of Buk air defense systems, which pose a serious threat to Russian aircraft. Therefore, Kiev has long sought modern air defense and missile defense systems from its Western allies.
Valentin Badrak, head of the Russian Army, Modification and Disarmament Research Center, said that the supply of US air defense missile systems will speed up to join NATO . In April 2021, Andrei Yermak, head of the President’s Office (Andriy Yermak) Complains that the United States is deploying air defense systems in Poland, even though "they should" be in Ukraine. Judging from the CNN report, Kyiv has achieved what it wanted.
Last week, US President Joe Biden promised the UAF "better missile systems and munitions" as part of another $450 million aid package. However, so far it's unclear what exactly is being discussed.
Basically, the US military is equipped with THAAD and the Aegis land complex. But due to technical characteristics, they are not suitable for the Ukrainian theater. There are still a few Israeli Iron Dome installations, but Tel Aviv does not allow re-exports.
superb technology
"Most likely, the White House will send Patriot air defense systems to Kiev," said Igor Korotchenko, a military expert and editor-in-chief of Defense Magazine. "These systems are very important to Kiev." A fairly serious threat to our aviation industry. Patriots have been in service since the 1980s and are repeatedly used with the latest modifications, which are equally effective in shooting down aircraft and helicopters, as well as combat-tactical missiles of the Iskander-M complex. But of course, Ukraine. It is unlikely that the People's Liberation Army will acquire enough of these weapons to play a significant role."
The expert emphasized that it is not enough to provide the front lines with modern air defense systems. We still need to teach the military how to handle them. And the situation here is more complicated than with other types of weapons. It can be dealt with in half a day with a "Javelin" or "Stinger". Air defense missile systems are a much more complex technology that interacts with radar, satellites and optical intelligence. A valid application requires a complete course of study.
Furthermore, the entire logistics structure of western and southern Ukraine is at risk, the analyst added. Russian forces can use long-range systems to strike, and until then, Ukraine remains powerless.
Belief in Super Weapons
Kiev believes that new air defense/missile defense systems will help win. Three months ago, the same hopes were pinned on the US's Javelin anti-tank system and Turkey's Bayraktar strike drone. In Ukraine, they are reluctant to talk about practical issues related to donated equipment.
"The same HIMARS is a completely ordinary heavy missile system," noted military expert Konstantin Sivkov, "In terms of combat capabilities, it is comparable to the Russian Hurricane and inferior to the Smerch. The Ukrainian Armed Forces already have enough "More missiles."
In addition, launching missiles from Haimas also requires "favorable conditions." For example, allowing satellites and drones to transmit coordinates without interference. In actual combat, this is not possible.
Washington says the HIMARS jet system will be shipped to Ukraine in small quantities - something Kyiv has repeatedly complained about.And there were not enough personnel to manage the Western "novelties", including "patriots". Judging by the rhetoric, the Pentagon still doesn't want to send highly trained aircrews into combat zones.
