HISTORY
Mi-17 helicopter originally procured by the
USA for Afghanistan. Now it is located in the
snow-covered Ukraine sporting the desert
camouflage.
Photo: ZSU
Photo: ZSU
Photo: ZSU
This Mi-17 was donated to Ukraine
by Slovakia in June. Its first image appeared
only now.
The Ukrainians use simple ground launchers for their Brimstone rockets.
The photograph was probably taken during the training
in 2008. It is the short-range system – 16
km range and 9 km altitude. It is capable of
hitting the UALs, cruise missiles and certain types of rockets. In November France
delivered two Crotale batteries.
In November the picture was published
confirming the delivery of the Polish systems Neva SC. Two Ukrainian soldiers
were photographed in front of one of them.
The Polish modernized the originally Soviet rockets S-125 Neva (SA-3 Goa NATO
code name). Many analog components
were replaced by digital ones resulting in
the rockets‘ higher accuracy and reliability. The mobility was increased by mounting
them on the WZT-1 tank chassis, a T-55
towing version. The picture was apparently
taken in the summer and the details about
Neva SC supplies remain unknown. In the
past the Ukrainians retired their S-125
Neva rockets but then they modernized
them to S-125-2D Pechora standard featuring 40 kilomenters range and in 2020 they
re-introduced them to the service.
rily designated for defense against cruise
missiles, drones, helicopters and low altitude flying aircraft. These four systems
allocated to Ukraine will serve against
Iranian drones and cruise missiles.
Not only rocket systems but also artillery ones proved efficient against the drones. The German AA tanks take advantage
of their highly accurate, radar controlled
35 mm cannons. A video was published
showing a Gepard destroying a cruise
missile with a short burst of fire. Besides already delivered 30 tanks Germany committed to supply another seven.
Britain committed to deliver 125 AA cannons. Originally from Yugoslavia the 20
mm caliber M55 Zastava cannons showed
up in Ukraine. The Ukrainians upgraded
them by installing the night vision devices. The origin of these weapons is unknown, they could have been delivered from
Croatia, Slovenia or Northern Macedonia.
More was awaited
Ukraine not only received weapons for
the AA defense. In the end of November,
the Great Britain supplied the improved
22
INFO Eduard
Photo: Twitter
In December the delivery of another
older western system was anticipated.
MIM-23 Hawk battery was supposed to
arrive from Spain. These rockets were introduced to the service in the USA in 1960s
however they were gradually modernized.
Spain delivered Phase III version which
appeared in 1980s and 1990s. Around 20
countries still use these rockets including
Greece, Romania, Egypt, Israel and Japan.
In the USA this system was retired in 2002
but Americans will send additional rockets
to Ukraine to arm six launchers delivered
by Spain.
In December additional four AN/TWQ-1
Avenger systems were supposed to arrive
from the USA developed on the chassis
of the widely used Humvee utility vehicle
carrying eight launching devices for Stinger rockets. Their range is 5 kilometers
and ceiling 3.8 kilometers. The are prima-
Brimstone 2
in ground-to-ground version
Brimstone 2 rockets. These were initially
developed for the air-to-ground role to be
launched from Tornadoes and Eurofighter Typhoon. Its first version has been in
the production since 1999. After it is fired
by the aircraft Brimstone 1 range is more
than 20 kilometers. Brimstone 2 version
was introduced into service in 2015. Its
range is more than 60 kilometers and features the larger 6.2 kilos warhead efficient
against the modern tanks. The missile flies
to the target area on an autopilot and once
there it chooses its target by its own radar and laser guided system and attacks. It
can destroy the moving targets as well. In
April Ukraine received Brimstone 1 rockets
which however are not fired from the aircraft. Simple launching device was modified and mounted on the trucks or pickups.
On May 17, first two Russian tanks were
reported destroyed by these rockets. The
ground launching device however means
the shorter range due to the lack of the initial altitude and speed which it would have
had when fired from the aircraft. According to the published video the Brimstone
2 missiles were transported by a C-17 from
99th Transport Squadron RAF from Brize
Ukrainian Su-24 with a distinct blue-yellow markings on the fuselage bottom including the drop tanks.
January 2023