Russia's AI-integrated S-350 Vityaz air defense system shoots down Ukrainian plane

Select the interception algorithm

The Russian S-350 Vityaz air defense missile system shot down a Ukrainian plane in a special combat zone in fully automatic mode without the operator's participation. This is the first time in the world that this mode of operation has been tested in real combat conditions, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

“Vityaz is the world’s first air defense system that operates autonomously in real combat conditions without the participation of a human operator. The system is capable of detecting, tracking and destroying Ukrainian air targets. Missiles from Vityaz shot down several Ukrainian combat aircraft and drones,” the RIA Novosti spokesman said.

The S-350 became the world's first missile defense system to shoot down an enemy fighter jet in "automatic" mode.

An unnamed source explained that the system's autonomous mode is implemented based on the "principle that humans do not interfere with decisions made by the complex's AI (artificial intelligence) in a combat situation," so it has full authority to choose the algorithm to deal with the attacking threat.

In addition, Vityaz has the option of operating simultaneously in active and passive radar modes - a method that fundamentally improves the complex's anti-jamming properties and the ability to detect and classify targets.

In August 2022, visual evidence emerged on social media showing the S-350 Vityaz air defense system deployed at an air base less than 40 miles from the Ukrainian border just days after Ukraine began attacking Russian military facilities in Crimea.

In "auto" mode, the system's built-in AI has full control over the algorithm for intercepting threats in the sky.

Military analysts believe the S-350's components include a 50N6A fire control radar, a 96L6-TsP information gathering radar, as well as two missile launchers, possibly the 50P6 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) and a launch/loader similar to the 50P6T.

At the time, military observers noted that the video was most likely filmed at the Taganrog Air Base, near the port city of the same name in Rostov Oblast on the Sea of Azov. Some online reports suggested that the S-350 had been extensively involved in the so-called 'Special Military Operations' area.

"Nemesis" of cruise missiles

The S-350 Vityaz is a mobile multi-channel air defense missile system developed by Almaz-Antey for the air defense missile forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It is designed to protect state, administrative, industrial and military facilities as well as military forces from attacks by modern and advanced air weapons.

The project to develop this system began in the early 1990s, was first tested in 2013 and began to be transferred to the Russian military for use since December 2019.

The S-350 Vityaz has similar functions to the Patriot (pictured) but has been improved in terms of interceptor missile speed and low-altitude target destruction ability.

According to some sources, the S-350 Vityaz can intercept ballistic targets within a range of 25km and aerodynamic airborne targets, such as aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and other devices, at a maximum range of 120 to 150km. The Vityaz missile can travel at a maximum speed of 2km/s.

Earlier, in February, a representative of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern's design bureau announced that the S-350 Vityaz could be integrated into foreign air defense systems. The manufacturer also emphasized the complex's comprehensiveness, increased firepower, higher ammunition capacity for anti-aircraft guided missiles (four times more than the S-400), as well as survivability on the battlefield.

Not only that, Russian military experts call Vityaz the “killer” of Tomahawk missiles (US) and Storm Shadow (Europe). They also propose creating a comprehensive “umbrella” of defense for Russia by connecting the Prometheus, Pantsir missile defense systems and some other names into a unified network.

Compared to the US-made Patriot missile system, analysts say the S-350 Vityaz is equivalent in terms of functional characteristics, but the Russian missile flies faster and is capable of destroying low-flying targets.

“Patriot cannot shoot down targets flying at an altitude of less than 100 meters, while Vityaz's 'prey' is anything flying above 10 meters,” said Alexander Mikhailov, a Russian military expert.

(According to EurAsian Times)

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