"Strela-10" against UAVs. The army is modernizing military air defense
Camouflaged air defense system "Strela-10MN" in a combat zone
During the Special Operation to protect Donbass, the military air defense of the Russian army faced a number of characteristic challenges and threats. She managed to quickly find methods to counter new threats, as well as gain the necessary experience. Now, based on the accumulated experience, plans for the development of military air defense are being finalized. According to recent reports, its overall performance is going to be increased by improving the organizational and staffing structure and further modernizing the material part.
development Plans
The Russian ground forces have a large number of military air defense units and units equipped with various types of equipment and weapons. In particular, as part of tank and motorized rifle regiments and brigades there is at least one battery of the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system. Previously, it was assumed that in the medium or long term such units would receive new types of air defense systems.
During the current Special Operation, the latest modifications of the Strela-10 air defense system demonstrated their potential and ability to effectively combat various air targets. In addition, the possibility and necessity of improving the organizational structure of air defense units and subunits was shown in order to further increase overall efficiency.
On November 20, the Izvestia publication, citing its sources in the defense department, announced plans to strengthen military air defense, taking into account the experience of its work within the framework of the Special Operation. The corresponding decision has already been made, and the first steps in this direction are being taken. The publication reveals the main features of the adopted modernization plan, but cannot yet provide all the exact data.
Missile launch and target destruction
It is reported that a certain number of new batteries and divisions will be created as part of the military air defense. The exact number of such units cannot yet be named, but it will be sufficient to solve the problems at hand in any conditions. The main task of the new batteries and divisions will be the fight against unmanned aviation an enemy that poses a known danger to troops.
According to Izvestia, the new air defense units will be equipped with the Strela-10M3 and Strela-10MN complexes using the 9M333 guided missile. It was the systems of this family that showed the best results in the fight against UAVs during the Special Operation. They successfully intercept Drones all major types and classes, from commercial quadcopters to unmanned aircraft.
The process of forming new units within the ground forces has already begun. The timing of the necessary activities has not been specified. However, it is clear that the Ministry of Defense will make the necessary efforts to quickly reorganize the military air defense unit engaged in the Special Operation. Then they will probably work on improving the remaining parts and connections. All this will require effort and time, but the expected result completely justifies all the expenses.
Technical potential
From the published data it follows that the new air defense units will retain all the main functions, but special attention will be paid to the interception of unmanned aerial vehicles. At the same time, it is reported that the best results in this area were shown by the Strela-10 air defense system of the latest modifications. In general, such results of combat use are not surprising.
Launcher during combat duty
The Strela-10 family complexes have a number of important features that ensure high efficiency in the fight against air targets. At the same time, the modernization of such equipment continues through the introduction of new components and products, as a result of which the latest versions of the air defense system are distinguished by increased tactical and technical characteristics.
The Strela-10 air defense systems of all major modifications were built on the MT-LB chassis. This vehicle has sufficient load capacity and high mobility characteristics, and is also widely used in the army and is well mastered in terms of operation. An air defense system on the MT-LB chassis can accompany troops on the march, incl. on rough terrain and provide constant defense.
The Strela-10 operator searches for targets and performs preliminary guidance visually or using an optical sighting device / optical-electronic station. Radar is used only to estimate the location of the target and the possibility of launching a missile. It is possible to work on external target designation. All this ensures sufficient accuracy and speed, but at the same time reduces radiation from the combat vehicle and makes it difficult for the enemy to detect it.
All missiles of the Strela-10 family of air defense systems have a similar architecture, but in later products, due to the new element base and other solutions, it was possible to more fully realize the existing potential. The newest ammunition for Strel-10 is the 9M333 anti-aircraft guided missile. It was first presented in 2020, and subsequently it was reported that the tests were successful and the start of deliveries to the troops.
The 9M333 is a solid-fuel guided missile over 2,2 m long with a body diameter of 120 mm and a mass of 41 kg. The high-explosive fragmentation warhead has a mass of 5 kg and is significantly heavier in comparison with previous missiles of the family. An advanced infrared homing head is used. Launch range – up to 5 km.
During the Special Operation, later versions of the Strela-10 complexes showed their ability to timely detect air targets of different classes, incl. the most complex ones are in the form of small UAVs. Thanks to a modern seeker with high performance, existing missiles successfully track such targets and ensure their destruction. As it turned out, such heads are capable of confidently aiming even at low-power UAV engines with limited heat generation and at small-sized visually contrasting objects.
Distant future
According to the new plans of the Ministry of Defense, in the near future additional units with self-propelled Strela-10 air defense systems will appear in the army’s military air defense. Such a change in the OHS and an increase in the size of the equipment fleet should have a positive impact on the overall capabilities of military air defense and, as a consequence, on the safety of the ground forces.
However, it should be taken into account that the Strela-10 air defense system is distinguished by its considerable age - its first version was adopted by the Soviet army half a century ago. With all the advantages of modern modernization projects, the potential of the design is almost exhausted. Accordingly, it is necessary to study the issue of further development of military air defense and re-equipment of units.
As a successor to the existing Strela-10 complexes, a new air defense system with the code Sosna was being developed. To date, prototypes of such equipment have been tested, and the air defense system has received a recommendation for adoption. The issues of mass production and the start of supplies of equipment to the army are now being resolved. In the long term, the new Sosny will have to complement and displace, and then replace, the existing Strela-10.
Such a replacement will only have positive consequences. The Sosna air defense system was created taking into account the experience of operating and using the Strela-10 and therefore has a number of important differences and features. Due to them, an increase in all basic technical, operational and combat characteristics is achieved.
Wreckage of a Ukrainian UAV shot down by the Strela-10 air defense system
Thus, “Sosna” is proposed to be built on modern common chassis of our army. For the ground forces, an option based on the BMP-3 is proposed, and the airborne forces will have to use an air defense system on the BMD-4M chassis. The complex includes an improved optical-electronic observation and detection station - like its predecessor, Sosna emits practically nothing during operation.
A completely new missile, the 9M340, has been developed. In its design, it is vaguely similar to the 9M333, but has a completely different guidance system. Instead of ICGSN, it uses control equipment for “flight along a laser beam.” The combat vehicle’s equipment is responsible for missile guidance, and high accuracy and noise immunity are achieved. The launch range is stated to be 10 km, and the altitude reach is 5 km, which exceeds the parameters of older missiles.
Answering calls
Thus, during the Special Operation to protect Donbass, the Russian army faced active opposition from enemy unmanned aircraft. However, it turned out that our troops have a completely modern and effective means of combating such a threat - later versions of the Strela-10 air defense system. In addition, other fire systems, suppression means, etc. were in service or later appeared.
In view of the persistence of the main threats, a decision was made to expand the presence of such anti-aircraft systems in the troops and improve their air defense. This will be done through the creation of new units that will staff Strela-10. At the same time, there is already a fundamental possibility of further improving such units - a next-generation land air defense system with improved characteristics has been created and tested.
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