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Portable anti-aircraft missile launcher. MANPADS "Verba": Russian anti-aircraft complex of a new generation. From Arrow to Willow

The Air Defense Troops of the Ground Forces is a separate branch of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, which is designed to cover troops and various objects from the destructive action of enemy air attack weapons when conducting operations by combined arms formations and formations, regrouping and deploying on the spot.

The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (Military Air Defense) and the Air Comic Forces (Air Defense of the country's territory, Objective Air Defense) have differences.

Air Defense Forces perform the following tasks:

  1. Combat duty for air defense.
  2. Reconnaissance of an air enemy and timely notification of covered troops.
  3. Joint missile defense.
  4. Destruction of means of air attack.

The structure of the air defense forces

The air defense structure is subdivided into:

  • Military air defense of the Armed Forces, which includes air defense units of the SV, Airborne Forces, coastal Navy.
  • Air defense of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, blocking the territory with important military facilities (air defense-missile defense - anti-missile and air defense forces).

Since 1997, there has been its own air defense, formed in the Air Force. These troops include the air defense of the Ground Forces, whose task is to provide high-quality cover for military facilities and army formations in cantonments from a missile attack and an air enemy, as well as during regroupings and during battles.

The air defense of the Ground Forces is armed with various means of countering the enemy, which are capable of hitting targets at different heights:

  • more than 12 km (in the stratosphere);
  • up to 12 km (large);
  • up to 4 km (medium);
  • up to 1 km (small);
  • up to 200 meters (very small).

According to the firing range, anti-aircraft weapons are divided into:

  • more than 100 km - long-range;
  • up to 100 km - medium range;
  • up to 30 km - short range;
  • up to 10 km - short range.

The constant improvement of the air defense forces consists in improving their mobility, expanding the capabilities of detecting and tracking the enemy, reducing the time to transfer to a combat state, overlapping sectors of destruction for 100% destruction of attacking vehicles.

In recent years, the likelihood of an attack using various types of armed drones has increased (the presence of bombs, missiles and mines on the suspension).

Since 2015, the Military Space Forces of the Russian Federation (VKS) have been formed, which include independent air defense and missile defense forces. The main task of the new military formation is to counter the enemy attack in the atmosphere and beyond it in order to intercept the attacking multiple ballistic warheads and maneuverable cruise missiles to ensure the protection of the most important points in the Moscow region.

A Brief History of the Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation

The beginning of the formation of military air defense units was the order of General Alekseev, the commander-in-chief of the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, dated December 13, 1915, which announced the formation of separate four-gun light batteries for firing at the air fleet. According to the order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation of February 9, 2007 - December 26 is the date of the creation of military air defense.

In 1941, the air defense system of the USSR was divided into air defense of the country's territory and the Army.

In 1958, a separate type of troops was created as part of the Ground Forces - the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces.

In 1997, the troops of the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were formed as a result of the merger of the air defense troops of the Ground Forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the Coastal Forces of the Navy, formations and military air defense units of the reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Let's list the chiefs of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

  • Chief of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Colonel-General Dukhov B.I. - 1991-2000;
  • initial Military Air Defense - Colonel General Danilkin V.B. – 2000-2005;
  • Head of the Military Air Defense - Colonel-General N. A. Frolov - 2008-2010;
  • Chief of the Military Air Defense Major General Krush M.K. - 2008-2010;
  • Chief of the Troops of the Land Forces of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Major General (since 2013 Lieutenant General) Leonov A.P. - 2010 to the present.

The Russian Federation is the only country in the world that has a layered, full-scale, integrated aerospace defense system. The technical basis of the aerospace defense are systems and complexes of anti-missile and air defense, designed to solve a variety of tasks: from tactical to operational-strategic. The technical indicators of the aerospace defense complexes and systems provide reliable cover for the troops, important industrial facilities, public administration, transport and energy.

According to experts, anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes are the most complex military vehicles. In addition to radio and laser equipment, they are equipped with special means that carry out aerial reconnaissance, tracking and guidance.

"Antey-2500" S-300

According to experts, this is the only mobile air defense missile system in the world. It is capable of intercepting even a ballistic missile designed for medium and short range. In addition, even the Staelth stealth aircraft can become the target of Antey. The system destroys the object using 2 or 4 anti-aircraft guided missiles 9M83. 3RS is produced at the Almaz-Antey concern for the air defense units of Egypt, Venezuela and Russia. Until 2015, they were produced for export to Iran.

"Antey-2500" S-300

ZRS S-300V

ZRS S-300V is a military self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system. Equipped with two types of missiles: ZUR 9M82 and 9M83. The former are used to destroy ballistic Pershings, SRAM aircraft missiles and far-flying aircraft. The latter destroy air vehicles and R-17 Lance and Scud ballistic missiles.

Autonomous SAM "Tor"

This system got its name in honor of the Scandinavian god. They were designed to cover vehicles, infantry, buildings and important industrial facilities. According to experts, "Thor" is able to protect against precision weapons, guided bombs and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is considered autonomous, as it can independently control the airspace, identify and shoot down an air target.

SAM "Osa", MD-PS, "Tunguska" and "Pine-RA"

This air defense system went to the Russian Federation and other CIS countries as a legacy from the USSR. The main purpose of the "Wasp": helicopters, planes, cruise missiles and drones. In Soviet times, the air defense system was successfully used in the 1960s. The Wasp provided ground forces with protection if the aircraft was designed for medium and low altitude.

A distinctive feature of the MD-PS anti-aircraft missile system is the possibility of its covert operation. For this task, the air defense system was equipped with optical means, with the help of which the MD-PS, using infrared radiation, detects it and directs the missile defense system. The main advantage of the complex is that, thanks to the all-round view, it is able to simultaneously identify up to fifty targets. Then several of them are selected, which are the most dangerous. Then they are destroyed. When aiming the gun, the principle of "fire and forget" is applied. The missile is equipped with homing heads that can independently see the target.

Anti-aircraft cannon missile system "Tunguska" carries out air defense in the near radius. Since attack aircraft and helicopters mainly operate at low altitudes, the Tunguska successfully copes with them. Thus, reliable infantry cover is provided in battle. In addition, the purpose of this air defense system may be floating military and lightly armored ground vehicles. If there is no fog or snow, then the Tunguska can shoot both on the move and from a place. The air defense system is equipped with 9M311 missiles. For the complex, anti-aircraft guns 2A38 are additionally provided, which operate at an angle of 85 degrees.

"Sosna-RA" is a light mobile towed anti-aircraft gun missile system. It destroys air targets at an altitude of up to three thousand meters. Compared to the Tunguska, Sosna-RA is equipped with a 9M337 hypersonic missile, which can shoot down an enemy object at an altitude of 3.5 kilometers. The range varies from 1300 to 8000 meters. As a result of the fact that Sosna-RA has a relatively small weight, it can be transported on any platform. The Russian military most often transports the complex with Ural-4320 and KamAZ-4310 trucks.

ZRAK "Buk" and modifications

Since 1970, the Soviet army has had this complex. Currently, this anti-aircraft missile system is in service with Russia and is listed in the technical documentation as 9K37 Buk. The complex includes the following components:

  • command post 9s470;
  • fire mount 9А310;
  • charging unit 9А39;
  • target detection station 9S18.

Parts of the complex are installed on conventional tracked platforms, which are characterized by high cross-country ability. Buk fires 9M38 anti-aircraft missiles. According to military experts, with the help of such an air defense system, it is possible to hit an air target at an altitude of up to 18 km and a distance from the system up to 25 km. In this case, the probability of an accurate hit is 0.6. After modernization, they created a new air defense system - Buk-M1. If we compare it with its analogue, then this option has a higher probability of destruction and an enlarged zone. In addition, the Buk-M1 has a function that allows you to recognize a flying object. The new model is much more protected from anti-radar missiles. The main purpose of the air defense system is to shoot down helicopters, planes, enemy drones and cruise missiles.

In the 1980s a new version appeared - 9M317, firing modern missiles. The use of 9M317 required engineers to make improvements to the design of the complex. Rocket with smaller wings and increased range at an altitude of 25 km. The main advantage of 9M317 is that its fuse operates in 2 modes. Upon contact with the missile or at a certain distance from it, the target will be destroyed. The self-propelled launcher has new equipment, thanks to which it detects 10 targets at the same time and can eliminate the four of them that it considers the most dangerous.

In order to completely replace obsolete electronics with modern digital equipment, military engineers have developed the Buk-M3 air defense system. The rocket itself has also been replaced. Now the shooting is carried out by the modern 9M317M, which has high characteristics. Despite the fact that there is no specific information about this complex yet, experts suggest that such an air defense system can shoot down a flying object at an altitude of more than 7000 meters with a hit probability of 0.96.

The latest air defense systems of Russia

The Russian military can intercept an air target at a great distance (from 200 kilometers) using the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system. This air defense system entered service in 2007. The complex was created specifically to provide protection in the event of a likely attack, both from space and from the air. According to experts, the S-400 is capable of destroying a target at an altitude of no more than 30,000 meters.

In 2012, a new anti-aircraft missile gun system, the Pantsir S1 air defense missile system, entered service. With the help of guided missiles and automatic guns, for which radio command guidance, radar and infrared tracking are provided, the target is destroyed, wherever it is. ZRPK has twelve surface-to-air missiles and two anti-aircraft guns.

The latest Russian novelty is the Sosna air defense system, which operates in the near radius. According to experts, this complex is designed for fragmentation-rod and armor-piercing effects. Missiles can destroy enemy armored vehicles, ships and fortifications. The air defense system is effective in the complex in the fight against high-precision weapons, drones and cruise missiles. A laser is used for guidance: the missile flies towards the beam.

Distribution in Russia

At present, the air defense structure of the Russian Federation is represented by 34 regiments, anti-aircraft missile systems S-300, S-300PS, S-400 and others. Not so long ago, two brigades each from the CD and the Air Force were transformed into regiments and converted into air defense. So, this military branch includes regiments (38) and divisions (105).

According to experts, the distribution of air defense forces in Russia is uneven. Moscow has the most reliable protection. There are ten regiments around this city, deploying S-300s. There are four more divisions near Moscow, armed with S-400s.

St. Petersburg is also well covered - four regiments with S-300 and S-400. The bases of the Northern Fleet in Murmansk, Polyarny and Severomorsk are guarded by three regiments, the Pacific Fleet in the region of Vladivostok and Nakhodka is covered by two regiments. One regiment guards Avacha Bay in Kamchatka (SSBN base). The Baltic Fleet and the Kaliningrad Region are covered from the air by a mixed regiment armed with S-300 and S-400 systems. There is also air defense in the Crimea. In order to provide more reliable protection for the Black Sea Fleet, the command decided to strengthen the Sevastopol air defense grouping with additional S-300 systems. Russian air defense also has radar stations, which we will discuss in more detail later.

Radar P-15 and P-19

With the help of these air defense systems of the Russian Federation, low-flying targets are detected. They have been in service since 1955. These radars are equipped with artillery, radio engineering and anti-aircraft formations, points of administrative and operational air defense units. The station is transported using one car with a trailer. Radars make deployments within ten minutes. The station operates in coherent-pulse and amplitude modes.

By means of the P-19 radar, reconnaissance is carried out at medium and low altitudes. Then the received information is transmitted to the command post. This radar is a mobile two-coordinate radar station, for the transportation of which two vehicles are used. The first is used for the transportation of indicator, transceiver equipment, anti-jamming equipment, while the second is used for the antenna-rotary device and units that provide power to the system.

Radar P-18

With the help of this upgraded station, aircraft are detected. Their coordinates are determined, after which they are issued as a target. According to experts, at the moment the operational resource of such air defense systems of the Russian Federation has exhausted itself. In order to extend and improve the performance characteristics, an assembly complex with a resource of at least 20 years and wear of no more than 12 years is used for modernization. So, they are changing the outdated element base of the P-18 with a modern one, the tube transmitter is being replaced with a solid-state one. In addition, radars are equipped with systems with digital processes that process the signal and suppress active noise interference. As a result of numerous works, the equipment in this radar is not so voluminous. In addition, the system has become more reliable, with improved performance and accuracy, and more protected from interference.

It is a radar rangefinder, which is listed in the technical documentation as "Armor" 1RL128. This air defense system is aimed at performing the following tasks:

  • identification of an air target;
  • antennas are displayed to the target automatically and calculate the height to it;
  • determines the azimuth and slant range;
  • the built-in program "friend or foe" determines the state ownership of the object.

The complex is equipped with radio-technical formations and air defense formations, anti-aircraft artillery and missile units. The design of "Armor" is antenna-feeder. The location of the equipment, components and the ground-based radar interrogator is the 426U self-propelled tracked chassis. There is also space for two gas turbine units that provide power to the system.

"Sky-SV"

To detect an enemy target in the airspace, a two-coordinate radar operating in standby mode is used. The system is represented by a mobile coherent-pulse station. It is transported by 4 vehicles, namely 3 cars and 1 trailer. The first vehicle transports transceiver, indicator equipment and means that automatically remove and transmit information. The second car is designed to transport the antenna-rotary device, and the third one is for the diesel power plant. There is space on the trailer for the HP3 antenna rotator. An interface cable and 2 remote indicators with all-round visibility go to the radar system.

MANPADS "Verba" is the latest Russian anti-aircraft portable missile system, which was developed by the specialists of the Design Bureau of Mashinostroeniya (Kolomna) and put into service in 2014. Its main task is to combat low-flying air targets, including enemy cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). At present, "Verba" is just beginning to enter the troops, it is known that the soldiers of the 98th Airborne Division have already received this complex. Serial production of MANPADS is carried out by the Kovrov plant named after. Degtyarev, it began in 2012.

In terms of its performance characteristics (TTX), the Russian Verba MANPADS significantly surpasses existing foreign counterparts, so it can be safely called a new generation anti-aircraft system. The range of altitudes and distances at which Verba is capable of operating is quite comparable to the characteristics of more serious army air defense systems. The complex confidently covers the main high-altitude ranges of the army aviation, in addition, the missile's homing head is able to distinguish real targets from heat traps and confidently hit them. And this moment is called the main "highlight" of "Verba".

The complex was first demonstrated to the general public at the international exhibition Defexpo India, which took place in 2016. After that, the American edition of Business Insider called the "Verba" "the most terrible man-portable anti-aircraft complex in history."

The complex, in addition to the launcher itself and an anti-aircraft missile, also includes a mobile small-sized radar and an automated fire control system (ACS), which is capable of not only determining target parameters, but also giving target designations to launchers. It was also developed by the specialists of KB Mashinostroeniya.

India has already become interested in the new Russian complex, and negotiations are currently underway with Algeria, Egypt and a number of other countries. It is known that the Verba MANPADS has already been delivered to the armed forces of Armenia. There is information that this complex is now being tested in Syria, moreover, information appeared in the media about the successful use of MANPADS against Islamist drones.

History of creation

The emergence of powerful and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems forced combat aviation pilots to descend from sky-high heights and seek protection in close proximity to the ground. However, already in the early 60s, the ground forces began to receive portable air defense systems, which very soon became one of the main enemies of the pilots. Mobile, simple, practically invisible from the air, portable anti-aircraft missile systems turned out to be very effective weapons. A fighter armed with MANPADS could well destroy a large and expensive fighter or attack aircraft with one missile. For the first time, MANPADS were massively used in the Arab-Israeli war of 1969. These were the Soviet complexes "Strela-2". The effectiveness of their use amazed experts.

Around the same time, the American Red Eye man-portable systems were adopted. And in the early 80s, the American army received the famous FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS, which spoiled a lot of blood for our pilots in Afghanistan. At the time of its creation, it was an excellent MANPADS, in many respects superior to foreign counterparts, including Soviet systems. But if we talk about today, then it should be recognized that the Stinger is already obsolete. In terms of its main characteristics, it is inferior not only to the latest "Verba", but also to many later modifications of the "Needle".

Man-portable anti-aircraft systems quickly found their place after the end of the Cold War, these weapons remain in high demand in our era of hybrid wars and local conflicts.

It should be noted that in the USSR this type of weapon has always been given special attention, domestic designers have managed to achieve significant success in the field of developing MANPADS. Strela-2 was replaced by the more advanced Strela-3, and in the early 80s, the Igla complex, which is still used by the Russian army, was adopted by the Soviet army. It is believed that about 700 different aircraft were shot down by Soviet and then Russian MANPADS throughout their history. The main center for the development of domestic MANPADS is the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mashinostroeniya, which is rightfully considered the world leader in the creation of these weapons.

The Verba MANPADS, in fact, became a further development of the Igla-S complex, which was put into service at the beginning of the 2000s. The first information about Verba appeared around 2008, but for obvious reasons it was very vague and fragmentary. True, it was claimed that the new MANPADS would be ready by 2009. However, this did not happen, the deadlines for the completion of the complex were constantly postponed. Only in 2011 did military trials begin, which lasted for several years. The Verba MANPADS was adopted in 2014. The first to receive it were units of the Airborne Forces.

You can shoot from the "Verba" not only from the shoulder, but also install this complex on warships, helicopters or various ground platforms. The Russian military believes that the new complex will allow them not only to more effectively counter the already familiar threats - enemy aircraft and helicopters - but also to successfully fight enemy cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Last year, a number of domestic media published information about the destruction of an unmanned aerial vehicle near the Syrian capital using the Verba MANPADS. With its help, the rebels corrected artillery fire. However, this incident has not been officially confirmed.

Description of "Verba"

Externally, the Verba MANPADS is not too different from its famous predecessors - the Igla and Strela anti-aircraft systems. However, in reality, these are weapons with completely different characteristics and capabilities. The new complex is capable of hitting targets at altitudes up to 4.5 km and at ranges up to 6 km, both on head-on and overtaking courses. These are the most important characteristics for any MANPADS, and according to them, the Verba surpasses the French Mistral, the American Stinger, and even the more modern British Starstreak. The designers managed to achieve an increase in the range and altitude of hitting targets through the use of more efficient rocket fuel.

The Russian complex has another advantage - this is the lower limit of the affected area, which is only 10 meters. For comparison, the Stinger can capture targets flying at an altitude of at least 180 meters.

The composition of the portable anti-aircraft complex "Verba" (index 9K333) includes the following elements:

  • launcher 9P521;
  • anti-aircraft guided missile;
  • surveillance radar 1L122, which is capable of detecting targets at a distance of 40 to 80 km;
  • recognition system "friend or foe";
  • fire control system;
  • mobile gearbox 9V861;
  • mounting kit 9S933−1;
  • automation kit 9S935;
  • means intended for training and education of personnel.

The most important part of any MANPADS is the anti-aircraft missile. The combat capabilities of the complex largely depend on its characteristics. The 9M336 missile is equipped with a homing head that operates in three different ranges at once, including ultraviolet. She also received a new instrument compartment. Thanks to such a three-range design, the missile's homing head is able to distinguish real air targets from heat traps - the usual means of self-defense of modern combat aircraft and helicopters from MANPADS. Three missile sensors constantly complement each other's data, which makes attempts to mislead it and "slip" a false target instead of a combat one is practically unpromising.

In addition, it should be noted the highest sensitivity of the missile seeker, compared with existing analogues, it has increased eight times. Thanks to this, the probability of hitting so-called low-radiating targets - drones and cruise missiles, as well as the effectiveness of using MANPADS at long distances, has significantly increased.

It can also be added that the creators of the complex took care of the proper level of protection of the missile seeker from laser jamming systems, which are still being adopted by the leading military powers. That is, in this case, the creators of "Verba" worked proactively.

It should be noted that the use of several photodetectors for different spectral ranges is not some kind of special "know-how", a similar principle is used on most GOS of modern man-portable anti-aircraft systems. But only Verba has three independent channels for obtaining information at once.

According to the developers, the 9M336 rocket is completely digital, it is insensitive to aggressive environments and is completely sealed.

The weight of the missile warhead is 1.5 kg. It is equipped with a proximity fuse that initiates a detonation at a certain distance from the object. Such a scheme is considered more efficient, and it does not require a direct hit of the rocket into the object.

Another advantage of the Verba MANPADS compared to competitors is the presence of a radar and a fire control system in the complex. Untimely target detection is one of the main disadvantages of man-portable anti-aircraft systems. As a rule, a fighter begins to prepare for firing only after visual detection of an enemy aircraft or helicopter. To make life even more difficult for air defense crews, pilots usually use low or very low altitudes.

The radar station, which is part of the Verba complex, can detect enemy aircraft at distances up to 80 km, and the fire control system through the GLONASS system determines the exact location of the crews and warns those who are most effectively able to hit the target. Soldiers receive a sound signal, as well as information about the main characteristics of approaching objects.

The Verba MANPADS is part of the Barnaul-T tactical air defense system, so anti-aircraft gunners can also receive information about targets from higher-level detection systems.

The total weight of the launcher with rocket and power sources is 17.25 kg. "Verba" is equipped with a night sight "Mowgli-2", which allows you to use it at any time of the day.

Another advantage of the new complex is the ease of its maintenance. Unlike MANPADS of previous generations, the missile seeker does not need regular cooling with liquid nitrogen. This allows you to significantly reduce the cost of its operation.

As mentioned above, the Verba MANPADS can be used not only for firing from the shoulder. "Needles" are part of the ship's air defense installations "Gibka", and are also used on combat helicopters in the "Sagittarius" complexes. Similarly, they plan to use "Verba".

ZRS S-300VM "Antey-2500"

The only mobile air defense system in the world that can intercept short and medium range ballistic missiles (up to 2500 km). Another "Antey" can shoot down a modern aircraft, including the stealth Staelth. The Antey target can be hit simultaneously by four or two 9M83 (9M83M) missiles (depending on the launcher used). In addition to the Russian army, the Almaz-Antey concern supplies Antey to Venezuela; also signed a contract with Egypt. But Iran in 2015 abandoned it in favor of the S-300 air defense system.

ZRS S-300V

The S-Z00V military self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system carries two types of missiles. The first is 9M82 in order to shoot down ballistic Pershings and SRAM-type aircraft missiles, as well as far-flying aircraft. The second - 9M83, to destroy aircraft and ballistic missiles such as "Lance" and R-17 "Scud".


Autonomous air defense system "Tor"

Bearing the proud name of the Scandinavian deity, the Thor air defense system can cover not only infantry and equipment, but also buildings and industrial facilities. "Thor" protects, among other things, from high-precision weapons, guided bombs and enemy drones. At the same time, the system itself controls the designated airspace and independently shoots down all air targets that are not identified by the “friend or foe” system. Therefore, they call it autonomous.


Anti-aircraft missile system "Osa" and its modifications "Osa-AK" and "Osa-AKM"

Since the 60s of the XX century, the Osa has been in service with the Soviet, and later the Russian army and the armies of the CIS countries, as well as more than 25 foreign countries. It is capable of protecting ground forces from enemy aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles operating at extremely low, low and medium altitudes (up to 5 m at a distance of up to 10 km).


SAM MD-PS increased secrecy of functioning

The secrecy of the MD-PS is ensured through the use of optical means for detecting and guiding the missile by infrared radiation of the target in the 8-12 micron wavelength range. The detection system has an all-round view and can simultaneously find up to 50 targets and select the most dangerous ones. Guidance is carried out on the principle of "shot and forget" (missiles with homing heads that "see" the target).


"Tunguska"

The Tunguska anti-aircraft cannon missile system is a short-range air defense system. In combat, it covers infantry from helicopters and attack aircraft operating at low altitudes, and fires at lightly armored ground and floating equipment. She opens fire not only from a place, but also in motion - if only there was no fog and snowfall. In addition to the ZUR9M311 missiles, the Tunguska is equipped with 2A38 anti-aircraft guns, which can turn to the sky up to an angle of 85 degrees.


"Pine - RA"

The light mobile towed Sosna-RA anti-aircraft gun-missile system, like the Tunguska, is equipped with an anti-aircraft gun that hits targets at an altitude of up to 3 km. But the main advantage of Sosna-RA is the 9M337 Sosna-RA hypersonic missile, which already shoots at targets at a height of up to 3500 meters. The range of destruction is from 1.3 to 8 km. "Pine-RA" - light complex; this means that it can be put on any platform that can withstand its weight - trucks Ural-4320, KamAZ-4310 and others.


New

Anti-aircraft missile system of long and medium range S-400 "Triumph"

The defeat of targets at long range in the Russian army is provided, among other things, by the S-400 Triumph air defense system. It is designed to destroy aerospace attack weapons, and is capable of intercepting a target at a distance of more than 200 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers. The Triumph has been in service with the Russian army since 2007.


"Pantsir-S1"

ZRPK "Pantsir-S1" was adopted in 2012. Its automatic cannons and radio-guided guided missiles with infrared and radar tracking can neutralize any target in the air, on land and on the water. Pantsir-S1 is armed with 2 anti-aircraft guns and 12 surface-to-air missiles.


SAM "Pine"

The Sosna short-range mobile anti-aircraft missile system is the latest Russian novelty; The complex will enter service only at the end of this year. It has two parts - armor-piercing and fragmentation-rod action, that is, it can hit armored vehicles, fortifications and ships, shoot down cruise missiles, drones and high-precision weapons. "Pine" is guided by a laser: the rocket flies along the beam.


One and a half meter khaki tube, compact sighting mechanism and shoulder strap. This, at first glance, a simple device behind the back of an infantryman is fraught with a deadly threat to pilots of aircraft and helicopters operating at altitudes below 4.5 thousand meters. It is almost impossible to get away from the missile of the 9K333 Verba portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) - it does not respond to heat traps and other tricks.

Pocket air defense

The first MANPADS appeared in the 1960s and immediately became enemy number one for pilots who adapted to take cover from long-range anti-aircraft missiles at low altitudes. It is almost impossible to notice a "man with a pipe" disguised in the folds of the terrain from the cockpit of an aircraft or helicopter, while, unlike machine guns and cannons, the only successful hit of a small rocket can "land" even a large aircraft in one fell swoop. In the case of MANPADS, there is no need to spend precious time deploying, loading and installing. Pointed, shot, forgot.

Particular success in the development of a fundamentally new at that time air defense weapons was achieved by Soviet designers. The command instructed in the shortest possible time to create the most inexpensive and compact complex, suitable for effective cover of ground units and subunits from the air without too much fuss. The task was not trivial: to make a system suitable for combating all types of air targets at altitudes up to 1.5 kilometers and at a distance of up to three. The missile was supposed to be guaranteed to hit aircraft towards and in pursuit. A prerequisite is the possibility of firing by one person, and from an unprepared position.

This is how the first Soviet MANPADS 9K32 "Strela-2" was born, which made a real revolution in the development of air defense systems. The complex, put into service in 1967, included a launch tube, a rocket with a duck glider and a propulsion system, a ground power unit, a portable passive radio direction finder and a ground-based radio interrogator, as well as maintenance equipment.

Shock, horror and complete incomprehension of what is happening - this is how you can characterize the emotions of Israeli pilots who were "lucky" to be the first to fall under the hail of Russian "Arrows" during the Arab-Israeli conflict. In the first air attack, 30 percent of the planes were shot down, after which the Israeli Air Force decided to suspend the raids for several days.

From Arrow to Willow

Then there was the improved and more noise-immune Strela-3, then the 9K38 Igla, which was also upgraded several times, and now it has been replaced by the Verba. Accurate, sensitive and resistant to interference, the complex clearly separates aircraft into "friends" and "foes" and strikes without a miss, not reacting to heat traps and other interference. With the help of the "Verba" infantryman can single-handedly "remove" a variety of aircraft from the sky, from attack helicopters and aircraft to cruise missiles. The range of distances and heights is no longer the same as that of the first "Arrows", but is commensurate with the indicators of more serious military air defense systems.

The solid-propellant missile of the new MANPADS effortlessly reaches targets at altitudes up to 4.5 thousand meters and at a distance of up to 6.5 kilometers. In fact, this completely covers the high-altitude range of front-line aviation - attack aircraft, tactical bombers and helicopters can be "laid" directly from the trench. In this sense, "Verba" is significantly superior not only to "Igloo-S", but also to foreign analogues, including the famous American FIM-92 "Stinger". For comparison: "Igla-S" takes air targets at altitudes up to 3.5 kilometers, and "Stinger" - up to 3.8. In addition, the lower limit of the target acquisition height for the Stinger is 180 meters, while the Verba starts working from ten. The kit comes with a compact radar that is resistant to interference. The station "sees" air targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers.

The automated control system takes into account the speed and direction of flight of aircraft or cruise missiles and distributes them among anti-aircraft gunners, the location of each of which on the ground is determined by GLONASS. Fighters have precise vectors for shooting. It is interesting that "Verba" through the tactical complex "Barnaul-T" is integrated into the general air defense system and can receive information about air targets that are "guided" by large radars.

Picky Bride

The Verba rocket owes its high sensitivity and "selectivity" to the types of targets to the proprietary three-spectral homing head, the "vision" of which operates in the ultraviolet, near and mid-infrared ranges. A missile, even on approach, is able to distinguish an airplane or helicopter from a thermal "trap" fired by it and make the right choice.

Like many other similar air defense systems, "Verba" can not only operate "from the shoulder", but is also installed on ships and attack helicopters as an auxiliary anti-aircraft weapon. An important innovation is that the complex is much easier to maintain than the Igla. It no longer needs to be "frozen" - the new design of the homing head does not require cooling it with nitrogen. Ready to fire takes a matter of seconds from the moment the target is detected.

"Verba" began to be delivered to the troops relatively recently, in kits and batches. So, just the other day, another brigade set of the latest MANPADS entered the motorized rifle unit of the Central Military District (TsVO), stationed in the Altai Territory. According to the military, the new complexes will provide reliable cover for military units not only from air attacks, but also from massive cruise missile attacks. In addition, now anti-aircraft squads, anti-aircraft missile platoons and batteries as part of anti-aircraft divisions, as well as other units of the Russian Armed Forces, are armed with thousands of complexes of the Igla family, among which there are both early modifications and advanced ones with the "C" index.