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- Hacking attack: how the Russian Armed Forces conduct massive missile strikes with air defense override
Hacking attack: how the Russian Armed Forces conduct massive missile strikes with air defense override
Systematic complex missile attacks on Ukrainian military and dual infrastructure facilities are being carried out by various branches of the Russian Armed Forces. Foreign observers note the complex routes of the attacking missiles and drones. Why this happens, what is the logic behind the planning of such strikes and how the enemy's air defense is hacked - in the Izvestia article.
Complex missile and drone strikes
In the course of massive strikes against military facilities on the territory of Ukraine, attacking missiles and UAVs sometimes move along very intricate routes. Sometimes one may even wonder about the expediency of such complex maneuvers. They often approach one object from different directions and perform maneuvers deep inside Ukrainian territory. But if you delve into the nuances, much becomes clear.
In this kind of attacks, not just one or two, but a whole complex of tasks of a very different nature is solved, and it is not just a missile and drone strike, but a well-thought-out and pre-planned operation of heterogeneous forces.
Geranium-2 kamikaze drone.
First, such attacks involve different strike systems. Not only missiles, but also, for example, long-range kamikaze drones such as Geranium and others. In particular, cruise missiles of several types, supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles, as well as ballistic missiles are used to divert the attention of the enemy's air defense. Of course, the principles of use and objectives of such a broad nomenclature of strike weapons must be different.
Broad nomenclature
All of them have different capabilities and technical characteristics. Geranium-type kamikaze drones conduct attacks in large numbers at low altitudes and at a relatively low speed of 150-170 km/h. The range of flight can be up to 2000 km, which is more than enough to hit any targets on the territory of Ukraine and gives some range margin for maneuvers.
Cruise missiles such as Kalibr (sea), 9M728 (Iskander-M complex, ground) or Kh-555 (air) have a range of 500 to 2500 km and fly at a higher, but still subsonic speed with the envelope of the terrain.
Combat launches of Iskander-M cruise missiles
Almost in the same way fly less visible and more advanced airborne missiles X-101. Front-line aviation missiles X-59M and X-69 have a shorter range, but they are more stealthy, as they are smaller and, therefore, less powerful warhead. Supersonic anti-radar missiles X-31 also have a range of literally a couple of hundred kilometers, but due to the speed can hit objects promptly - before the target changes position.
Missiles X-22 and their modifications are extremely difficult to shoot down because of the high, close to hypersonic flight speed. The 9M723 hypersonic missiles of the Iskander-M complex, the Kinzhal and Zirkon missiles are also practically inaccessible targets for Ukrainian air defense, but these missiles cannot fly a complex route - they are aeroballistic and can perform only limited maneuvers only to disrupt the anti-missile system.
Strike Planning
Having such a heterogeneous composition of forces and means, it is necessary to use them as effectively as possible. And it is necessary to solve several problems - it is very wasteful to organize a separate operation for each target.
As a simple example, in the process of strikes by Geranium drones against dual-infrastructure facilities and weapons and military equipment depots, the enemy's air defense system may be revealed. It is struck by cruise missiles.
During the cruise missile strike, the enemy engages the backup air defense systems that were previously in radio silence.
MiG-31 fighter with hypersonic aeroballistic missile
They are also opened, and they are struck depending on their types - either by cruise missiles or aeroballistic missiles. As a result, we get several stages, goals and objectives in one operation.
Foreign complexes
Another point, the "Patriot" air defense systems, for example, do not have a circular kill zone, but a sectoral one. Of course, several Patriots can be used to build a circular defense of an object, but only if the enemy has enough complexes and launchers at his disposal. At the same time, the enemy is constantly moving its air defense systems to keep them out of the reach of Russian missiles.
Patriot air defense systems
Thus, the most effective attack on a protected object or an air defense system itself will be a strike from different directions and simultaneously with missiles of different types. The probability of overcoming even an echeloned air defense system in this way is greatly increased. But in order to hit a remote target from different directions and at the same moment with missiles of different types, it is necessary to carefully plan their routes. Hence the nature of complex and confusing routes.
Especially since the enemy has and means of radar detection. He also receives data from long-range radar-detection aircraft of NATO countries.
American Boeing E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection aircraft
The more missiles with unpredictable routes will be seen by the enemy operators on their radars, the more difficult it will be to prepare to repel a strike. The simplest attack - a strike along the shortest route - allows to concentrate the bulk of air defense assets in its direction and thus increase the density of defense.
And, of course, often less expensive drones can act as decoys, diverting the attention of air defense systems. They can move at a known higher altitude and have a specially planned route. At this time, the missiles of the main strike, hiding in the folds of the terrain, will stealthily make their way to the targets.
A modern missile-drone attack is a complex military operation in which success depends on a huge number of factors. And with the development of weapons systems, they are unlikely to become simpler.
