Spanish air defense systems Spada / Skyguard Aspide for the Ukrainian army
Launch of the Aspide missile by the Spada / Skyguard complex. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Spain
Spain expressed its readiness to transfer part of its Spada / Skyguard Aspide anti-aircraft missile systems to the Ukrainian army. Now the last negotiations and consultations are underway, according to the results of which it is planned to start shipping the equipment to the recipient in the near future. SAMs are being delivered as another measure of military-technical assistance. At the same time, the potential of such assistance is seriously limited by a number of objective factors, and it will actually be useless.
Old new rockets
Since February, Spain has sent military aid to Ukraine several times in the form of infantry weapons, ammunition, protective equipment, etc. More powerful weapons and military equipment have not yet been transferred. However, on June 5, the Spanish edition of El Pais reported that now the Kyiv regime will be provided with armored vehicles, artillery and missile systems, as well as help with the training of personnel.
According to the publication, at the end of April, the Ukrainian leadership, when meeting with the Spanish authorities, asked for Tanks, missile systems, artillery, etc. Madrid agreed to provide such assistance, but its shipment was postponed indefinitely due to the complexity of the situation and difficulties in logistics. In early June, the topic of armored vehicles and missile weapons was again raised at the highest level. And only after that it became known about the upcoming deliveries.
El Pais, citing its sources, reports that in the near future Ukraine will receive a Spada / Skyguard Aspide air defense system and ammunition for it from the presence of the Spanish army. In addition, the supply of Leopard 2 tanks and the training of personnel are being considered.
Radar and FCS Oerlikon Skyguard. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
It is alleged that now the supply of Spanish weapons is being discussed through a representative office in Germany. The purpose of such negotiations is to coordinate overseas deliveries to avoid duplication or shortages of products. After the completion of consultations, Spain will begin to ship its air defense systems to the recipient. The exact dates are not named, but it may happen in the very near future.
License and development
The Spada / Skyguard Aspide missile system is a fairly old development. His story dates back to the mid-seventies, when the Italian company Selenia (then Alenia Aeronautica, now part of Leonardo) carried out a deep modernization of the licensed American AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile. The resulting product was put into series in 1977 and brought to the market under the name Aspide ("Aspid Viper").
Subsequently, the Italian industry began to develop Aspide modifications for use on land and offshore platforms. One of the results of this was the ground-based Spada Aspide, also known as the Skyguard Aspide. It was developed jointly with the Swiss company Oerlikon Contraves, which provided its Skyguard fire control system and some other components.
Serial production of the Aspide ground-based air defense system began in 1983 in the interests of the Italian armed forces. Manufacturers managed to get several export orders, which continued until the early nineties. Shortly after its completion, the development of a modernized Aspide 2000 rocket and an improved air defense system, sometimes referred to as Spada 2000, began. The production of such complexes for various orders continued until the early XNUMXs.
Workplace of Skyguard operator. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Spain ordered Italian-Swiss air defense systems in 1985. The contract provided for the supply of six batteries with two firing sections / platoons each, as well as a training section - a total of 13 platoon sets. Each section included one Skyguard towed radar and FCS, two missile launchers and two Oerlikon GDF-001 towed guns. Together with the launchers, they purchased 200 missiles of the first modification Aspide Mk 1. In the Spanish army, the complexes were used under the name Toledo.
In the mid-nineties, Spain ordered one battery of the upgraded Aspide 2000 air defense system. This kit included only four launchers and approx. 50 rockets of a new modification. The latest modification of the Skyguard FCS was also used.
All received air defense systems remained in operation until 2020. By this time, the equipment of the first modification was morally and physically obsolete; the warranty period for the storage of ammunition has expired. In this regard, Aspide / Toledo was removed from service and transferred to storage. Their place was taken by modern NASAMS air defense systems. The upgraded Aspide 2000s remain on duty for the time being, but play a very limited role in Spanish air defense.
According to the latest data, Spain will transfer one battery of Spada / Skyguard Aspide products to Ukraine. Accordingly, the Ukrainian army can expect to receive only two control radars and four missile launchers. Whether GDF-001 towed guns will be shipped is unclear.
Launcher for Skyguard for Aspide or AIM-7 missiles. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Technical features
The Spada / Skyguard Aspide or Toledo is a short-range land based air defense system for air defense of designated areas or facilities. All the facilities of the complex are made on a towed chassis and can be quickly delivered to a given position, but then a procedure for deployment and preparation for duty is required.
The Oerlikon Skyguard control system is a towed van with two radar stations, other radio equipment and an operator's cabin. Depending on the modification, the surveillance and search radar allows you to monitor the air situation within a radius of several tens of kilometers. There is an artillery tracking and guidance station, as well as an optical-electronic system. Skyguard independently detects targets or receives target designation from the side, and also generates data for firing and controls launchers.
The Aspide launcher is built on a wheeled platform with jacks. On the turntable there is a swinging part with four transport and launch containers for missiles. It also has two target illumination antennas. Before launch, the installation turns in the direction of the target and accompanies it until the moment of defeat.
The Aspide guided missile is based on some of the AIM-7 solutions, but has major differences. She retained a cylindrical body of high elongation and two sets of X-shaped planes. At the same time, the shape and design of the planes have changed. Product length - 3,63 m, weight - 228 kg.
Rocket launch. Photo by Globalsecurity.org
Like the Sparrow, the Aspide uses a semi-active radar homing head that requires target illumination from the carrier. At the same time, Selenia used the GOS and other components of the Italian design. The missile received an improved high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 35 kg. The solid propellant engine was replaced, which gave an increase in flight data. The flight speed is 4M, the range is 25 km.
Wasted Potential
It is easy to see that the Spada / Skyguard Aspide or Toledo air defense systems in the current situation are of minimal interest to the Ukrainian army. Such a technique will only partially make up for the losses of recent months, but will not give any real advantages. The reasons for this are obvious.
First of all, the negative factor is the small number of supplied systems. Just one battery with four launchers and short-range missiles will not be able to cover any large area with sufficient effectiveness. The problem in this case is both the insufficient number of installations and missiles, and the need for integration with other air defense components.
Another problem of the Spanish air defense systems is moral and physical obsolescence. The complexes and missiles planned for transfer were manufactured in the late eighties. They have already worked out their resource and shelf life, which is why in 2020 they were removed from service and sent for storage. Obviously, over the past one and a half to two years, the condition of the products has not improved.
View from a different angle. Photo Globalsecurity.org
However, even in good technical condition, used air defense systems are of no value in terms of combat use. The detection and defeat of such complexes is not a difficult task. The Russian army during the current Special Operation destroyed more advanced and effective anti-aircraft systems.
According to the well-known scenario
Thus, the next episode of foreign military-technical assistance to the Kyiv regime follows the already known scenario. This time in the role of "assistant" is Spain. She decided to allocate a limited number of her equipment and weapons, and in all respects obsolete and decommissioned by her own army.
It is obvious that such “help” is simply useless for the Ukrainian army. However, Kyiv can not count on more. Foreign countries are ready to help him weapons and technology, but are not eager to send modern and promising samples in large quantities. Therefore, even Ukraine's critical need for air defense systems will remain unmet - and this will help the Russian demilitarization operation.
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