Five types of Russian weapons that NATO should fear ("The National Interest", USA)
Military equipment developed after the Cold War (and in its last decade too) did not pass the test in high-intensity battles against a modern and resourceful adversary. The North Atlantic Alliance (and its strongest members in conflicts without alliance participation) defeats enemies who have outdated air defense systems, no air forces, and only weak offensive capabilities.Therefore, it is not clear how effective NATO will be at war with full determination and well-trained opponent, armed with fairly modern military equipment. The latest events in Ukraine for the first time since the days of the Cold War increased the possibility of direct conflict with Russia. Here are the five kinds of Russian weaponswhich NATO should fear most if diplomacy fails.
Ballistic Rocket Iskander
In the final years of the Cold War, the Soviet Union developed short-range ballistic missiles in non-nuclear equipment, capable of delivering high-precision strikes at air bases and enemy concentration areas deep behind the NATO front line. The American response to this was the theater’s missile defense, which (as the experience of the Persian Gulf War showed) is unable to stop the first Soviet volleys.
Since the 1980-ies, the missile defense system has been seriously improved, but Russian missiles have improved along with them. In the Iskander-M missile system, the range of destruction is 400 kilometers; the rocket can carry an 700-kilogram warhead of various types, and its circular probable deviation does not exceed five meters. Due to these circumstances, this system is deadly for aerodromes, rear points and other fixed infrastructure along the long line of conflict. Given that the Russian border with NATO is broken, with large protrusions and bends, the Russian military have the ability to pose a threat to targets located in the depths of Europe.
"Iskander" can re-aim in flight, in connection with which it can be applied to moving targets (including ships). The missile uses an integrated maneuvering system for the purpose of evasion, which is why it is difficult to hit with missile defense systems. In short, Iskander can do with NATO forces what NATO forces usually do with others.
"Iskander" is able to exert a powerful load on NATO missile defense, as well as on the air force of the North Atlantic Alliance. Airplanes operating from forward bases will immediately be threatened with attack or at least neutralized. If the Iskander complexes are located in the Kaliningrad region, they will pose a threat to a variety of military and political goals in many NATO countries.
Operational tactical missile system "Iskander-E"
Consequently, we can expect that NATO, at the very first stage of the conflict, will primarily aim at Iskander mobile launchers. History tracking and destroying mobile launchers is very ambiguous, and NATO will have to be wary of the attacks of short-range ballistic missiles and during the development of the conflict. And for successful strikes on the Iskander complexes, they will first have to gain air superiority throughout the theater of operations.
Su-27 Flanker and its modifications
Designed in the USSR as an answer to the F-15 aircraft, the first Su-27 vehicles began to be commissioned in the 1985 year, however, due to production problems, there were quite a few of them before the start of the 1990's. At that time, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, mass production was significantly reduced. Aircraft of the Su-27 family combine such characteristics as dimensions, range, speed and maneuverability, which transform this car into a single deadly platform. Su-27 with its elongated and awesome contours is extremely beautiful, but with all its appearance it shows how dangerous it is.
As part of the Russian Air Force has several hundred Su-27 in various versions. The base glider of the aircraft has an amazing flexibility and adaptability to upgrade, which is why picky fighter buyers often give it preference. Su-27 variants include Su-30 multipurpose fighters, Su-33 carrier-based fighters, Su-34 fighter-bombers, designed to achieve air superiority, Su-35 fighters, and several Chinese copied modifications.
Su-27 never met in the battle with the most modern aircraft of the fourth generation and generation 4.5, and, apparently, never participated in aerial combat with the F-22. Nevertheless, it can be expected that he will force the pilots of such machines as the Eagle, Viper and Typhoon to be seriously worried, and he will even be able to create problems for the Raptor aircraft. The Russian Air Force has developed a tactic for using the Su-27 in battles with fighter aircraft of increased stealth. It takes advantage of the remarkable maneuverability of the machine, allowing it to survive after the first strike with rockets. Moreover, the Su-27 is heavy and swift enough to deliver a powerful blow and then escape before being intercepted by NATO fighters.
C-400 anti-aircraft missile system
The entire Western style of warfare is based on achieving air superiority. NATO forces have not encountered modern and effective systems for a very long time. DefenseDuring this time, the cost of NATO fighter-bombers has increased many times over, turning the loss of even a single aircraft into almost a national financial catastrophe.
There are three types of C-400 missiles, and each of them is designed to hit air targets at different ranges. The farthest missile hits the target at a distance of 400 kilometers, and shorter range missiles have improved capabilities for hitting fast-moving maneuvering targets. C-400 can also be used to combat ballistic missiles, although NATO is unlikely to use such weapons. The C-400 sensor system is considered to be exceptionally efficient, especially since Russia can create layered defense systems using C-400 in almost any theater of conflict. If it deploys C-400 in the Kaliningrad region, NATO air operations deep in Europe will be under threat.
In combination with the Iskander and Su-27, these missiles will greatly hinder the actions of the NATO Air Force in the early days of the conflict. Russian sensory systems (ground and air) exceed the capabilities of all those opponents with whom the NATO countries have fought over the past 25 years. It will be extremely difficult to accomplish the task of suppressing the enemy’s integrated air defense system (Russia has many different, shorter range systems for target air defense).
At least in the early days of the war, the C-400 and its associated systems will be able to suppress the air power of NATO, weakening one of the main links in Western military art.
Akula Class Submarines
During the Cold War, extremely effective anti-submarine warfare systems were developed for NATO forces, including airplanes, attack submarines, stationary sensors and surface ships. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a significant reduction in the threat from Russian submarines, which over time caused a weakening of the NATO potential of anti-submarine warfare. NATO troops retain certain capabilities to conduct such a struggle, but they no longer have the resources that they possessed during the Cold War.
But the Russian submarines remained. In the 1980s and 1990s, the USSR and Russia built 15 Akula class submarines (this is in the NATO classification, the Russian project 971 under the name "Pike-B" - approx. Transl.), And nine of them are still in combat composition fleet. These were exceptionally secretive and subtle boats for the Soviet Navy of that period, and Russian designers improved them due to additional noise reduction technology. Perhaps most importantly, the Schuka-B boats carry an impressive arsenal of weapons on board, including torpedoes and cruise missiles. A cruise missile is capable of hitting both sea and land targets, which is why a significant part of the coastline of NATO countries is in jeopardy.
The best submarines of NATO can still track down and destroy the "Pike-B", but the high speed of the submarine significantly complicates these actions. But although the North Atlantic Alliance is able to sink these Russian submarines, they can inflict enormous damage on their adversary before they plunge forever into the depths of the sea. "Pike" can destroy an aircraft carrier or simply cause unexpected and enormous damage to the most important objects on land.
In the five years of diesel-electric technology development, new submarines of the 677 "Lada" project can replace the Akula class boats, at least in the narrow context of the conflict between NATO and Russia. But for the time being, the surprising stealth and powerful armament of the Schuk continues to pose a considerable threat not only to NATO ships, but also to NATO ground targets.
SWAT
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union viewed special forces mainly as auxiliary, supporting the operations of conventional troops. But at that time, the Soviets interpreted the tasks of the special forces broader than NATO. Special Forces (this is the general name of the special forces of different organizational affiliations) had to carry out offensive operations, performing mainly the tasks of sabotage activities on the lines and communications centers, preparing the conditions for the offensive of the main forces and even sowing panic among the population.
Tests of special forces fighters for the right to wear krapovogo beret in Novosibirsk
Like the other components of the Russian armed forces, special forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union weakened significantly. However, the Russian army, armed with the experience of the Chechen guerrilla war, restored and even developed the combat capabilities of its commando forces and special forces. From these units and subunits, Moscow has created an intimidating military-political tool capable of exerting its influence in all areas of military operations. This restoration of special forces proceeded simultaneously with the expansion of Western special forces in the framework of the war on terror. NATO and Russian special forces sometimes even conducted joint exercises in order to improve their effectiveness.
In its current state, the Russian special forces pose a serious problem for the West at all levels of escalating hostilities. In the event of a conflict, the Russian special forces may be involved at various stages of it, as it happens in the Ukrainian crisis. If a war between Russia and one of the Baltic countries begins because of a border dispute, we will, without any doubt, find that the Russian special forces are ahead. In the event of a general war, special forces will disembark from submarines and other vehicles, conducting attacks in the depths of NATO defense.
Russian special forces are not “weapons” in the technical sense of the word, but they are one of the most effective means in the Russian arsenal. Special Forces officers will play an important role in any conflict with NATO, perhaps even before the North Atlantic Alliance realizes that the conflict has begun.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that in terms of technical specifications, NATO weapons are still ahead of Russian ones. This became clear back in the 1980s, and since then the gap has widened significantly. However, the Russian army still possesses sufficiently serious resources, and, thanks to its innovative thinking, it can inflict the painful damage to NATO if the European conflict develops into hostilities.
Of course, we hope that the Russian weapons (as well as NATO from the opposite side) will be used exclusively as a deterrent. Nevertheless, NATO should seriously think about how to solve the problems that represent these weapons systems, especially if they are used jointly.
Robert Farley is an adjunct professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. His research interests include national security, military doctrine, and maritime affairs.
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