The collapse of the "invincible" air defense of the Russian Federation: after the attacks of Ukrainian drones, Moscow is looking for S-400 from Turkey
The air defense system of the occupying country covers only key objects - Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as the corresponding residences of the Russian dictator. It is worth noting that the Russian air defense system was actually disbanded during the so-called Serdyukov reforms. A clear indicator of what is happening with air defense systems in the Russian Federation is the appeal to Turkey to sell the Russian S-400 systems, which at one time Russia sold for the needs of the Turkish side.
According to the Turkish publication Nefes, Russia has turned to Turkey with a proposal to return two S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, which Ankara purchased in 2017 for $2. 5 billion. The reason for the initiative is the shortage of such systems in Russian stocks. Moscow is interested in quickly replenishing the S-400 stockpile, as losses at the front and external demand create a shortage. There are no ready-made complexes in the reserve, except for those that are already in operation.
It is about the fact that not only the Russian air defense system is incapable of countering external challenges, but also that the enemy's military-industrial complex is incapable of meeting the needs of the occupying country's army and, accordingly, the foreign market. It should be recalled that the contract with India for the supply of S-400 is being extended for the second time.
According to the Times of India, during a bilateral meeting between the Minister of Defense of India Rajnath Singh and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, new deadlines for the transfer of the S-400 air defense system were discussed - for 2026-2027. It is noteworthy that the transfer of the last two batteries of the complex was to be completed by April 2023.
In total, India ordered five divisions of these systems from Russia, but their receipt by the Indian side was constantly postponed, which negatively affected the country's defense capabilities.
According to analysts, the delays are caused, in particular, by the loss of these systems as a result of Ukrainian strikes, as well as by the Russian army's attempts to focus air defense systems as much as possible on intercepting Ukrainian drones, which successfully hit military facilities and oil refineries. So, for example, the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the P-14F "Lena" long-range detection radar and the "Sopka-2" track radar complex with strike drones.
The P-14F "Lena" radar was an element of the airspace control system around the military air base of the Russian Air Force Buturlynivka, Voronezh region of the Russian Federation. TRLK "Sopka-2" was an element of the system of a continuous wall of direction finding of the airspace along the border with Ukraine. Affected in the village of Garmashivka, Voronezh region. Both Russian air defense systems were aimed at countering Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles, but failed.
In addition, the strike drones of the Special Operations Forces hit one launcher and radar station of the Russian S-400 "Triumph" anti-aircraft missile complex in the Kaluga region of the Russian Federation. I note that the Russian air defense system has a so-called "focal nature", because it covers only key objects - Moscow or the Moscow region and the corresponding residences of the Russian dictator.
According to the military expert, reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Vladyslav Seleznyov, the priority for the Russian Federation is the defense of Moscow and its suburbs, as well as the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. "The enemy has concentrated an incredible amount of resources defending the Kerch bridge, which is defended by at least two air defense brigades of the Russian army.
And other military objects of the occupiers in Crimea are reliably guarded," the military expert noted. Although the strikes on Foros are among the events that we have seen on the territory of the occupied Crimea, there are again questions about the nature of the echeloned air defense system in Crimea, which was reported by the Russians. "The fact that the density of anti-aircraft defenses is high there is something to be envied in this regard.
They rushed everything there and tried to close the sky," noted military expert Oleg Zhdanov. He emphasized that there are ground explosions, which means that air defense misses what is flying. Until recently, it was believed that the most echeloned air defense system of the occupying country is located in Crimea. But successful attacks by Ukrainian UAVs put an end to this issue as well.
Let me remind you that at the end of June, GUR MOU strike drones hit five S-400 "Triumph" air defense components in Crimea. In particular, the drones hit two multifunctional radar control stations 92Н6Е. Two 91H6E radar detection stations were also hit. In addition, the drone then managed to fly to the S-400 launcher, which was probably loaded with missiles.
On the night of September 30, fighters of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine hit the radar station of the Russian S-400 "Triumph" anti-aircraft missile complex in the temporarily occupied Crimea. "It is symbolic that the enemy's expensive anti-aircraft system, aimed, in particular, against anti-aircraft missiles, was neutralized by the attack drones of the SSO," the SSO noted. Without an element of surveillance and guidance, the entire system loses its combat effectiveness.