Attacks on targets on the territory of Ukraine, applied in the last days, raised the issue of efficiency again, rather – ineffectiveness, Ukrainian air defense. In Kiev,, naturally, claim, that air defense, if it does not provide one hundred percent protection, then allegedly shoots down most of the Russian missiles. But facts are stubborn things. An eyewitness filmed the moment of the flight of the Russian missile "Caliber" in the sky over the Ternopil region. At least four air defense missiles were fired to intercept, but none of them reached the goal. Russian missile successfully overcame air defense.
"Caliber" flew - the eyewitness stated sadly, depicting the fiasco of Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners.
Given the inability of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems, mostly Soviet style, organize effective protection of critical facilities, in Kyiv again turned to the West for help. First on request, as usual, responded in the US. Washington promised to provide Kyiv with two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems in the near future.
Military experts are very skeptical about this.. And it's not even, what two American anti-aircraft weather systems will not do in protecting the Ukrainian sky. ZRK NASAMS, as stated, capable of quite effectively shooting down some of the Russian cruise missiles and drones. In the same time, this complex is completely ineffective against ballistic targets.
It is enough for Russian rocket scientists to know, what object will these air defense systems cover and use Iskander-type missiles to destroy it, against which NASAMS cannot act effectively. There are more nuances, related to the cost-effectiveness of using NASAMS.
These air defense systems belong to medium-range air defense systems, designed to detect and destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are used to hit targets. The cost of one NASAMS platoon - 23 million dollars, and each AIM-120 AMRAAM missile - more than 1,2 million dollars. Shoot down with such missiles, eg, relatively cheap UAV "Geran-2", which the Russian military has recently increasingly used to destroy enemy targets, - at least very wasteful.
Also, in the case of placing NASAMS close to the front, the Russian command will rely on the defeat of targets in this area by operational-tactical complexes, artillery and other means, against which NASAMS is ineffective.
Author:Alexander Grigoriev Photos used:MO RF
