Russia destroys many Ukrainian air defense missile systems

On December 25, Sputnik quoted the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement stating that Russian armed forces participating in a special military operation destroyed a number of advanced NASAMS (Norway) surface-to-air missile systems and a French Crotale NG short-range air defense system being used by Ukraine.

The systems are being deployed at Starokonstantinov airport in the Khmelnitsky region of western Ukraine, the announcement said.

According to Sputnik, this is the first time the Russian Defense Ministry has reported the destruction of the Crotale NG system in combat and is further evidence that NATO's cutting-edge equipment is not invulnerable. Since the beginning of the conflict, France has provided Ukraine with two Crotale NG air defense batteries.

Crotale NG short-range air defense system donated by France to Ukraine. (Photo: Sputnik)

The Russian military reportedly carried out a coordinated attack involving the air force, missile forces, artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the raid on Starokonstantinov. In addition to disabling air defense systems, the attack also damaged Ukrainian aircraft equipment, flight guidance systems and ammunition depots in Kanatovo, Kirovograd region and Dnieper, Dnepropetrovsk region.

According to Army Certification, the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s air defenses is expected to be more significant than last year. The December 24 attack demonstrated that destroying enemy air defenses would allow the Russian military to gain greater control of the airspace. While reducing the risk to their aircraft, it would enhance their ability to conduct air operations such as tactical bombing, close air support for ground forces, and reconnaissance missions.

The French Crotale NG missile system is a modernized version of the Crotale air defense system for short-to-medium range air defense. Equipped with the VT1 missile with a range of about 11 km, it is advertised as being effective against aircraft, helicopters, various types of precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system can engage targets at altitudes of up to 6,000 m.

NASAMS advanced surface-to-air missile system. (Photo: Sputnik)

The NASAMS missile, which was provided by some European countries to Ukraine, uses the AIM-120 (AMRAAM) missile, which also has short- to medium-range air defense missions and is capable of attacking targets at a distance of up to 25km.

This air defense system can neutralize airborne threats at altitudes of up to 15,200 m, providing comprehensive coverage against a wide range of airborne assets including aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.

Another outstanding feature of NASAMS is its ability to track and attack multiple targets simultaneously. The combination of multiple target tracking capabilities, significant engagement range, and high-altitude capabilities makes NASAMS a formidable air defense system, capable of providing robust protection in a variety of combat scenarios.

Tra Khanh (Source: Sputnik)

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