The Ministry of Defense has announced plans to re-equip the Russian Aerospace Forces this year.

“In 2021, the aerospace forces are planning to put into service two regimental sets of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system and 18 Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile cannon systems.

In addition, it is planned to re-equip the first anti-aircraft missile regiment with the latest S-350 Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system, the ministry said in a statement.

As the Defense Ministry recalled, in 2020 the Aerospace Forces received four regimental S-400 sets and 24 Pantsir-S complexes.

They were sent to air defense units deployed in the Sverdlovsk, Samara and Yuzhno-Sakhalin regions.

“Also in 2020, the

first S-350 complex was delivered

to the training center of the anti-aircraft missile forces (anti-aircraft missile forces. -

RT

) in the Leningrad Region

to train specialists in anti-aircraft missile forces

,” the ministry said.

The Ministry of Defense also spoke about the retraining and advanced training of specialists of the air defense missile systems "to improve the professional level and coherence of combat crews."

“In total, more than 2 thousand specialists of anti-aircraft missile forces were trained,” the statement says.

In the interests of air defense

Recall that the S-350 "Vityaz" is the newest mobile medium-range anti-aircraft missile system.

It was developed by the Almaz-Antey concern.

As emphasized earlier in the RF Ministry of Defense, the system "is highly automated" and is designed to protect "the most important state, administrative, industrial, military facilities and groupings of troops" from the strikes of modern and promising air attack weapons of a potential enemy. "

"The capabilities of the S-350 system make it possible to effectively deal with all types of air targets, especially cruise missiles," the department noted.

The maximum radius of destruction of S-350 targets is 60 km, the maximum height of destruction is 30 km.

The main features of the system in the Ministry of Defense called "all-roundness and increased fire performance", which were achieved through the use of anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) with an active homing head.

In addition, the S-350 has an increased ammunition load for missiles - four times more than in the S-400.

Another distinctive characteristic of the S-350 Vityaz air defense system is the increased survivability, which the designers managed to achieve due to the use of two or three multifunctional radars in the division.

The ministry noted that the supply of the S-350 to the military units of the Aerospace Forces and the Navy (Navy) "will quadruple the effectiveness of repelling massive enemy cruise missile strikes against the most important defense targets."

"The system is capable of performing combat missions for its intended purpose, both independently and as part of air defense-missile defense groupings equipped with S-300, S-400, S-500 systems and other modern and promising air defense systems," the Ministry of Defense stated.

The S-400 long and medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, two regimental sets of which are planned to be delivered to the Aerospace Forces in 2021, "destroys any enemy air targets in conditions of intense fire and electronic countermeasures."

It is designed "for highly effective destruction of strategic and tactical aircraft, ballistic missiles, hypersonic targets and other air attack weapons in conditions of electronic and other types of countermeasures," the Defense Ministry noted.

  • SAM S-400 "Triumph"

  • RIA News

  • © Vitaly Ankov

"The system is capable of hitting aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 400 km, as well as at a range of up to 60 km - ballistic targets flying at speeds up to 4.8 km / s at heights from several meters to several tens of kilometers," the ministry said.

The Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile cannon system (ZRPK) is designed to cover the objects of the Russian troops in the near air zone, as well as the positions of the S-400 air defense system.

Pantsir-S is a short-range air defense system.

In the defense department, the complex was called “that missing link in the air defense system, with the introduction of which in the groupings of anti-aircraft weapons they ensure their highest efficiency and stability in conditions of electronic and fire counteraction, the maximum adaptability of the entire air defense system to changes in the tactical and technical characteristics of air attack weapons and methods of their combat use. "

From the point of view of the military, "Pantsir-S" has become one of the most "promising models of highly intelligent weapons of the XXI century", since it implemented missile and artillery weapons "with high tactical and technical characteristics of an adaptive control system in various combat conditions."

"A good start for the future"

As military expert Yuri Lyamin noted in an interview with RT, all these complexes form the system of echeloned air defense of Russia, and the increase in their number in the Aerospace Forces is evidence that "its systematic development is underway."

“There is a gradual modernization in the military space forces, replacement of the old S-300 complexes with new S-400 long and medium range.

At the same time, new S-350 medium-range air defense systems are beginning to enter service, which can hit many targets at once.

"Pantsir-S" goes with them in conjunction and is intended primarily to cover their positions in the short range, "- says Lyamin.

He also explained that if the S-400 "can engage in larger targets - aircraft or ballistic missiles," then the S-350 system is designed to protect objects at a shorter distance, but from a greater number of threats.

For his part, a military expert, senior researcher at the Higher School of Economics Vasily Kashin, in a commentary to RT, called the increase in the number of S-350 Vityaz, Pantsir-S and S-400 complexes "a necessary measure to preserve Russia's defense potential."

From his point of view, the newest S-350 complex "Vityaz" really should seriously increase the protection of Russia from cruise missiles and drones.

“This air defense system is equipped with a large number of modern missiles that have an active radar guidance head.

It is capable of firing at multiple targets at once and is better suited to repel massive cruise missile attacks than the S-300 and S-400 systems, ”the analyst said.

At the same time, the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system kits form the backbone of Russia's air defense, Kashin said.

“Now it is the most powerful complex in its class in the world, the most versatile, capable of fighting ballistic and aerodynamic targets.

As it is modernized, new missiles with an increased range arrive, it will be able to cover a large area, "Kashin emphasized.

He noted the advantages of the Pantsir-S air defense missile system, stressing that these complexes were tested in combat conditions.

  • Military personnel of the RF Aerospace Forces

  • RIA News

  • © Kirill Braga

"ZRPK" Pantsir-S "short-range can cover especially valuable objects, long-range air defense systems.

It is an integral part of the unified air defense system of Russia and one of the best in its class in the world.

Now there are new modifications of it, created taking into account the vast experience of combat use, "- said the expert.

According to him, Russia has "a good reserve for the future" in terms of modernization and strengthening of the aerospace forces.

“This is connected with work in the field of unmanned aircraft, with the beginning of the procurement of fifth generation fighters.

It is also very important that the Aerospace Forces gained significant combat experience in Syria - this is always an important catalyst for further development, ”the analyst said.

Yuri Lyamin, in turn, expects further deliveries of S-400 and S-350.

“They should gradually replace all the S-300 systems.

In addition, not far off, and the completion of the modernization of versions of the same "Pantsir-S".

Much attention will also be paid to protection against unmanned aerial vehicles.

In the conflicts of recent years, UAVs are being used more and more actively, and they are completely different - reconnaissance, shock, and kamikaze drones.

These are all threats to which the air defense system must respond quickly, ”Lyamin summed up.