The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 8
Kazakhstan
In Soviet times, the Kazakh SSR held a special place in ensuring the defense capability of the Soviet Union. On the territory of the republic were located several of the largest polygons and test centers. In addition to the well-known Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the Baikonur cosmodrome, an important role was played by the Sary-Shagan test site. It was the first and only ground in Eurasia for the development and testing of anti-missile weapons. In the era of the USSR, the official name of the test site is the State Research and Testing Test Site No. 10 of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The landfill occupied an area of 81 200 km², which was about 20% of the territory of the republic. In addition to antimissile weapons, active tests of air defense systems were conducted here. In total, the following were tested at the Sary-Shagan test site: 12 air defense missile systems, 12 types of missiles, 18 radar systems.
At Cape Gulshat, on the shores of Lake Balkhash, several radar missile attack warning systems were built. The first station "Dnepr", commissioned in May 1974 of the year (OS-2 node), until recently was in combat duty as part of the Space Forces of the Russian Federation, providing control of the missile-prone areas from Pakistan, the western and central parts of the PRC, covers India and part of the Indian Ocean. However, despite repeated upgrades, this radar is worn out, outdated and is very expensive to operate. The developer of the stations "Dnepr" Radio Engineering Institute named after Academician A.L. Mintsa (RTI), who was also engaged in modernization and technical support throughout the entire life cycle, said that these over-the-horizon radar radar stations of this type for more than 40 years of service are hopelessly outdated and have fully developed their resources. Investing in their repair and modernization is an absolutely unpromising occupation, and building a new modern station with better performance and lower operating costs will be much more rational.
In 1984, construction of a Daryal-U radar began in the area. By 1991, the station was able to bring to the stage of production tests. But in 1992, all work was frozen due to lack of funding. In 1994, the radar was shut down, and in January, 2003 was transferred to independent Kazakhstan. The facility was guarded by the forces of the newly created Republican Guard, while the “guard” was accompanied by a total plundering of equipment. 17 September 2004 of the year as a result of a deliberate arson of the receiving position a fire occurred that destroyed all the hardware of the station. In 2010, the building collapsed during unauthorized dismantling.
In 2016, the modernization of the 5H16E Neman-P radar complex should be completed at the Sary-Shagan test site. The modernization is aimed at expanding information capabilities and increasing the boundaries of the station, extending the life of the station and increasing its operational reliability.
This RLK was tested in the 1980 year, and from 1981 to 1991, the radar was used in measurements in more than 300 ballistic missile launches when testing domestic warheads and missile defense systems. A powerful transmitting active phased antenna array (AFAR) is used in the Neman - P RLC. It provides a wide frequency band of the emitted signals, which is crucial for signal measurements and the implementation of radio vision. The switching time of the beam to any angular direction within the sector of the review is in units of microseconds, which provides simultaneous detection and tracking of a large number of targets. RLK "Neman-P" in its technical and design and technological solutions is still a unique radar tool with information capabilities. It provides the entire spectrum of characteristics of the observed objects necessary both for evaluating the effectiveness of promising means of overcoming missile defense, and for working out methods and algorithms for selecting combat units of ballistic missiles in different parts of their flight path.
Taking into account the military equipment stored in the steppe expanses, Kazakhstan received a huge amount of various weapons, spare parts and ammunition. The military legacy of the Soviet Army turned out to be very impressive, and nominally Kazakhstan became the third military power in the post-Soviet space after Russia and Ukraine. Only fighters capable of performing air defense tasks got about 200 units. Of course, the relatively small national army of Kazakhstan was not able to master all this wealth, much of the equipment and weapons were sold for next to nothing or became unusable.
The layout of the liquidated positions ZRK on the territory of the Kazakh SSR
However, the Kazakh authorities reacted more diligently to a part of the Soviet legacy. During Soviet times, the 37 corps of air defense (from the 12 separate army of air defense) and the 56 corps of air defense (from 14 of a separate air defense army) from the 37 corps of air defense in Kazakhstan provided anti-aircraft defense in this direction. deployed: management 33-th Air defense division, 87-I anti-aircraft missile brigade (Alma-Ata), 145-Guards Orsha Red Banner, Order of Suvorov anti-aircraft missile brigade, 132-I anti-aircraft missile brigade, 60-I 133- I radio brigades, 41 th radio engineering regiment. From the 56 Air Defense Corps: 374 th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 420 th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 769 th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 770 th anti-aircraft missile regiment.
In addition to anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering units, air defense fighter regiments were deployed in Kazakhstan: the 715th IAP in Lugovoi (MiG-23ML) and the 356th IAP in Zhaneysmey (MiG-31). In addition to the USSR Air Defense Forces, units of the 73rd Air Army were assigned to the Armed Forces of the Republic. Including: 905th Fighter aviation the regiment - on the MiG-23MLD in Taldy-Kurgan, the 27th Guards Vyborg Red Banner Aviation Regiment - on the MiG-21 and MiG-23 in Ucharal, the 715th training aviation regiment - on the MiG-29 in Lugovoi. In compensation for the Tu-95MS heavy strategic missile carriers that left the Dolon air base in Dolon 79 of the 29th heavy bomber air division, Kazakhstan received MiG-27 and Su-21 fighters from Russia. Of the Russian Air Force 29 MiG-1995 received in 1996-14, 27 Su-1999S received in 2001-XNUMX.
1 June 1998 was formed in Kazakhstan by the Air Defense Forces (SVO), which united the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces. The basis of the SVO fighter fleet consists of airplanes built in the USSR. According to the Military Balance 2016, in Kazakhstan there are more than 70 fighters capable of intercepting air targets. Including a little more than 20 MiG-29 (including MiG-29UB), near 40 Su-27 of various modifications, 4 Su-30СМ, more 25 interceptors MiG-31. The fighters are based on seven air bases scattered throughout the republic, some of which are “in storage”. It is not known for certain how many aircraft are in flight condition, but in the past, Kazakh fighters underwent repairs and upgrades in other CIS countries.
Thus, in 2007, a contract was signed with Belarus for the repair and partial modernization of the Su-27 and Su-27UB to the version of Su-27М2 and Su-27UBM2. Work on the repair and modernization of fighters were carried out at the Belarusian aircraft repair plant in the city of Baranavichy. Under the terms of the contract, the Belarusian side was supposed to repair ten cars. The first modernized fighters were transferred to Kazakhstan in December 2009 of the year, after which they became part of the Barca Zhetis squadron of the 604 airbase in Taldy-Kurgan. During the modernization, the fighters were equipped with the Belarusian jamming complex, as well as the Lightning-3 container targeting system manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael.
In addition, the upgraded fighters received new communications equipment with the ability to transmit information about ground and air targets to other aircraft of the group, as well as ground stations and control centers. The range of guided weapons has expanded, it is now possible to use air-to-surface aviation munitions: X-25ML, X-29T, X-29L, X-31А and X-31Р missiles. Su-27UBM2 can also carry laser-guided aerial bombs KAB-500L and KAB-1500L. In early February, 2015 became aware of a contract for the supply of 4's Su-30CM. It is believed that Su-30CM will be the “first signs” in the process of updating the fighter fleet of Kazakhstan. It is believed that the whole of Kazakhstan requires more than 40 heavy fighter jets.
A phased overhaul and modernization of the heavy interceptors MiG-31 SVO of Kazakhstan is planned. Part of the aircraft was overhauled and modernized in Russia at the 514 aircraft repair plant in Rzhev. Interceptors MiG-31B, MiG-31BSM and MiG-31ДЗ are deployed at the 610-th air base near Karaganda. In the flying state is approximately 20 aircraft.
Satellite image of Google Earth: MiG-31 and MiG-29 610 air fighters near Karaganda
Today, the MiG-31 is in service only in Russia and Kazakhstan. In the late 80-x in the USSR was developed MiG-XNUMHD. This aircraft was intended to destroy the orbital stations and the enemy's satellite. In 31, after completing the flight test design phase, two vehicles were relocated to undergo further tests at the Sary-Shagan test site on the western shore of Lake Balkhash, where all new Soviet missile defense systems and missile defense systems were traditionally tested. At the end of 1990, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and both the MiG-1991D remained in the territory of the sovereign Republic of Kazakhstan. But Kazakhstan of this class was not needed, soon the MiG-31D were chained to the ground. At the beginning of the 31-s MiG-XNUMHD were preserved in one of the hangars of the airfield of the Sary-Shagan test site near the town of Priozersk.
In 2003, after the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Danial Akhmetov visited the test site, information appeared about the intention to convert the mothballed MiG-31D into small spacecraft carriers. The project of a promising airborne missile complex "Ishim", intended for the operational launch into orbit of small artificial satellites using a launch vehicle launched from the MiG-31 aircraft, was developed by the Kazakh company "Kazkosmos". However, these plans were not destined to come true. In independent Kazakhstan, there were no funds for the project, despite the fact that R & D MiG and the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering were ready to undertake research and development work.
In general, the level of training of pilots of the North-Eastern Military District of Kazakhstan is at a fairly high level. According to the results of joint exercises, it is believed that Kazakhstan pilots are among the best among the CIS countries. The average flight time per fighter pilot in Kazakhstan is 100-150 hours. This is partly due to the small fleet of combat aircraft. For the state with an area of 2 724 902 km², which ranks ninth in the world in terms of territory, this number of fighters is clearly not enough. It should also be borne in mind that most of the Kazakh warplanes were built in the USSR, and their life cycle is nearing completion.
The only real supplier of modern fighters for the Kazakh Air Force was and remains Russia. But the financial capabilities of the republic do not allow large-scale purchases of aviation equipment “for real money”, so the leadership of Kazakhstan will have to continue to negotiate deliveries on concessional terms. Thus, once again, the inviolability of the air borders of Kazakhstan will be paid by the Russian taxpayer. But in this case, Russia, supplying weapons on credit or even free of charge, wins in geopolitical interests, leaving the largest country in Central Asia in the zone of influence and among its allies. After all, otherwise Russia and China will inevitably take the place of Russia. Already, Kazakhstan is actively engaged in military-technical cooperation with the Republic of Korea, Turkey, Israel, France and the United States.
The airspace of the republic is monitored, interceptors are guided and target designation of the air defense system is carried out by three dozen radar stations where Soviet stations are mainly operated: П-18, 5Н84, П-37, 5НХNUMX. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, there were the most modern stations at that time in the mountainous regions and at the Sary-Shagan proving ground, including Periscope-X 59X5 75D35 (CT-6UM) and 68Х22М Desna-M. However, remaining in Kazakhstan, the newest radar stations soon turned out to be inoperable.
Physical deterioration and non-compliance with modern requirements on the criteria of reliability and noise immunity and lack of spare parts forced Kazakhstan to begin work on the modernization of Soviet radar standby 5H84 and P-18. The necessary technical and personnel base in the republic was available. Back in 1976, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR in Alma-Ata created the production and technical enterprise Granit of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry. In the period from 1976 to 1992, the Granit APTP as the head of the installation organization provided installation, configuration, docking, state testing and maintenance of test and missile defense systems and missile attack prevention systems at the Sary-Shagan test site. ". And also participated in state tests and subsequent upgrades of long-range air defense systems С-300ПТ / ПС / ПМ. On the basis of the meter range P-18 radar, by the specialists of the special design and technology bureau Granit, a variant of upgrading the P-18 radar with improved tactical and technical characteristics and an extended operational resource was developed. In 2007, the company successfully upgraded the first two sets of radar stations П-18М with the transfer of radio equipment to a new element base. In 2007 - 2013, the X-NUMX Radar P-27М was upgraded on the basis of sets of radio-electronic equipment designed and manufactured by Granit. As a result of the upgrade, the following was achieved: an increase in the detection range by 18%; the electrovacuum element base was transferred to a solid-state one, the time between failures was increased many times, the power supply units were replaced; simplicity of operation with automated diagnostics is provided, the operational life of radars is extended by 10 years. In addition, SKTB Granit is working to create its own automation systems and equip them with air defense command posts.
In addition to the modernization of the old Soviet stations, the Granita team was tasked with developing a modern centimeter-sized 3 coordinate radar based on a foreign station. As prototypes were considered radars made in France, Israel and Spain. As a result, it was decided to stop at the Ground Master 400 (GM400) radar from ThalesRaytheonSystems, a joint venture of the French group Thales and the American Raytheon Corporation. 22 on May 2014 of the year at the KADEX-2014 defense exhibition in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, with representatives of Thales Raytheon Systems, a memorandum of understanding was signed providing for the supply of 20 radars TRS GM400 for NWO Kazakhstan. To establish the TRS GM400 licensed assembly, the Granit-Thales Electronics joint venture was created in July 2012 of the year, and in September of the 2012 of the year the Agreement was signed on the transfer of technology from Thales to the Granit joint-venture Thales Electronics. In Kazakhstan, the TRS GM400 station installed on the chassis of the KamAZ vehicle was designated “NUR”. However, it is not clear how the western-made stations will be integrated into the Joint Air Defense System of the CIS Member States.
The ground component of the air defense forces of Kazakhstan is a very interesting structure in terms of equipment and weapons. Kazakhstan is one of the few post-Soviet republics where the first-generation anti-aircraft missile systems with liquid rockets are in service. However, the preservation in the ranks of the air defense missile system, whose age is 30-40 years, is a strictly necessary measure. In Kazakhstan, which has a significant territory, unlike Russia, there is no possibility to independently develop and build modern anti-aircraft systems, and there is no money to buy new ones.
The layout of the air defense system and radar on the territory of Kazakhstan as of 2013 year. Blue pieces - radar stations of the standby radar, colored triangles - ZRK positions, squares - garrisons and ZRK storage sites
It is known that the massive write-off of the C-75 and C-200 SAMs in the air defense forces of the former Soviet republics was primarily associated with the high cost of operation and the need for time-consuming and dangerous refueling of missiles with toxic liquid fuel and aggressive volatile oxidizer. At the same time, the resource of the majority of the decommissioned complexes was still very significant, and the combat characteristics were at a high enough level. So now, in terms of the range and altitude of aerial targets, the C-200В / D air defense systems have no equal in the CIS. During Soviet times, a very significant number of anti-aircraft missiles and spare parts remained in warehouses and an air defense range in Kazakhstan, without which it would be absolutely unrealistic to keep the C-75М3 and C-200ВМ on combat duty. In addition, unlike other Central Asian republics, the leadership of Kazakhstan did not pursue an explicit nationalistic policy of squeezing Russian-speaking personnel from the ranks of the national armed forces, which certainly had a positive effect on the level of combat readiness of the armed forces.
Until 2014, in the vicinity of the town of Ayagoz, the battery of the troop air defense system “Krug” carried combat duty. Kazakhstan got at least one regimental set of this complex. Now, the Krug air defense system appears to be non-operational, in any case, the launchers, guidance stations and the P-40 radar are no longer in positions. In addition to mobile air defense systems "Circle", a certain amount of air defense systems "Cube" was inherited from the air defense of the Soviet Army Ground Forces. Although the reference books indicate that they are still in service with weapons in Kazakhstan, writing them off is a matter of the near future. In addition to the medium-range "Cube" and "Circle" in the armed forces of Kazakhstan, there are about 50 SAM systems "Osa-AK / AKM", "Strela-10", 70 ZSU-23-4 "Shilka", as well as several hundred anti-aircraft guns : 100-mm КС-19, 57-mm С-60, paired 23-mm ЗУ-23 and more 300 ПЗРК. A significant part of the mobile near-field air defense missile systems and the ZSU is faulty and needs factory repair, while the 100 and 57-mm anti-aircraft guns are “in storage”.
So far, Kazakhstan has deployed S-75М3 SAMs. In 2015, it was aware of three combat-ready anti-aircraft missile divisions armed with C-75М3. The position of one zone is located west of Karaganda, the second - southeast of Serebryansk, the third - in the vicinity of Almaty. A few more “seventy-fifth” complexes are in storage.
As of 2016 year, four C-200ВМ SAM systems are in a relatively operational state. As in the case of C-75М3, maintaining C-200ВМ in operation requires heroic efforts from calculations. The elemental base of the hardware of the first-generation Soviet air defense missile systems was mainly built on electronic vacuum devices. To set up and maintain the electronic equipment of the SNR and the ROC require specialists with high qualifications and experience. In contrast to the "seventy-fives", at least two missiles are located on the launchers of the "two hundred". Of the 6, the PU is usually charged no more than the 2-3, which is associated with a deficit of serviceable missiles.
In addition to medium-range and long-range air defense systems with liquid missiles, Kazakhstan has about 30 C-125 air defense systems of various modifications (part in storage). The 18 low-altitude SAM system was upgraded in Belarus to the PECHORA-125TM C-2 level. According to the representatives of the developer of NPO Tetrahedr, the efficiency and reliability of the modernized complex has increased significantly. He is able to fight with modern and promising means of air attack in a complex noise situation. LAW C-125-2TM "PECHORA-2TM" provides effective destruction of low-flying and small-sized targets under the influence of all types of radio interference. In exceptional cases, the air defense system can be used to destroy the observed ground and surface targets. The warranty period of the air defense system after the upgrade is extended by 15 years. The C-125-2TM PECHORA-2TM anti-aircraft division includes the upgraded P-18T radar detection system (TRS-2D).
The core of the air defense missile troops of the air defense forces of Kazakhstan are the Z-300PS. A certain number of C-300PS divisions were inherited from Kazakhstan by the Soviet air defense. To maintain the existing air defense systems in working condition starting from 2007, the repair of C-300PS elements has been carried out in Ukraine and at its own enterprise, Granit.
Google Earth satellite image: C-300PS air defense systems at a position northeast of Almaty
As of 2015, five C-300PS divisions were in combat duty in Kazakhstan. Due to the lack of air-conditioned missiles in positions was a reduced number of launchers. In 2015, there was information about the transfer of five C-300PS and 170 SAM 5В55РМ to Kazakhstan from the presence of the RF CGS. The supply of anti-aircraft systems is carried out in the framework of military-technical cooperation and the construction of a joint air defense system. Before putting C-300PS on combat duty in Kazakhstan, anti-aircraft systems must undergo reconditioning, which will extend their life for another 5 years. However, the supply of used C-300PS is only a temporary measure and will not significantly enhance the capabilities of the Combined Air Defense System. Moreover, the 5B55PM SAM is supplied in a very limited quantity. The production of the 5B55P family of SAMs was completed more than 10 years ago, and most of the missiles of this type are operated outside the warranty period, which may affect the probability of hitting the target and the reliability of the anti-aircraft system as a whole.
In the recent past, Kazakhstan intended to buy modern medium-range and short-range air defense systems from Russia: Buk-М2E, Tor-М2Е, Pantsir-С1 and the newest C-400 "Triumph" air defense systems in domestic Russian prices. However, the financial capacity of Astana did not allow to implement these plans. At the beginning of 2008, Kazakhstan conducted negotiations with NPO Antey on the acquisition of C-300PMU2 air defense systems. However, the agreement was not concluded. The economic crisis did not allow Astana to allocate funds for the acquisition of the Favorites. At the same time, the cost of one C-300PMU 2 is about $ 150 million. Instead, in 2009, the parties agreed to supply the C-300PS from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation free of charge. These anti-aircraft systems, built 25-30 years ago, are released in ZRV VKS RF after replacing them with C-400.
As for the supply of modern C-400 to Kazakhstan, they are still being postponed indefinitely. In essence, this means that there is no talk yet of a significant strengthening of the air defense potential of the armed forces of Kazakhstan. The anti-aircraft systems received from Russia will most likely replace the old complexes to be written off in their positions. But this is also a temporary measure, since the C-300PS glaring resource is also limited and amounts to 5-7 years.
Under these conditions, the leadership of Kazakhstan will inevitably have to develop military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation in order to strengthen air defense, which will require an additional improvement in joint allied relations. At the moment, the air defense of Kazakhstan has a pronounced local focal character and is unable to independently withstand large-scale aggression using modern combat aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. To fully cover defense facilities and vital administrative and industrial centers, Kazakhstan, taking into account the vast territory and long external borders, needs at least three times more fighters and five times more air defense systems and air defense systems of medium and long range. Since the capabilities of air defense systems and air defense interceptors of Kazakhstan, when they are included in a single air defense system with the Russian Aerospace Forces, are currently low, much more interesting for ensuring the defense capability of the Russian Federation is the deployment of modern surveillance radars along the external borders of the republic, tied into a single CIS air defense information field. This will reduce the reaction time and push back the lines of interception of the means of air attack of "potential partners".
To be continued ...
Based on:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/kazak-af-modernization.htm
https://lenta.ru/news/2010/06/29/su27ubm2/
http://news.ivest.kz/60993447-iz-granita-v-kazahstane-smasterili-pervyy-otechestvennyy-radiolokator
- Linnik Sergey
- The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 1
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 2
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 3
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 4
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 5
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 6
The current state of the air defense of the countries of the former Soviet Union republics. Part 7
Information