The Chief of the anti-aircraft missile forces in the Ukrainian Army, Brigadier General Borys Henov disclosed some details about the work of Ukrainian air defense to the journalists of the ArmiyaInform agency.
In particular, according to Henov, throughout the war, Ukrainian air defense missiles have shot down 120 russian fixed-wing aircraft, which constitutes 55% of the totality, more than 50 rotorcraft (27% of total losses), "about 200 missiles" (the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces claims only 144 downed enemy cruise missiles) and about 200 drones (31% of total).
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Having suffered such losses, the russians significantly reduced the use of their manned aircraft, so as not to enter Ukrainian-controlled airspace.
Instead, they began to use cruise missiles more intensively to launch strikes on the territory of Ukraine. Therefore, in order to "outsmart" the air defense of Ukraine, russians use their detailed knowledge of Ukrainian terrain: they lay the flight routes for cruise missiles along rivers, while the missiles themselves actively maneuver mid-flight.
In addition to that, the "psychological factor" kicks in – the aggressor deliberately uses low-accuracy missiles, which can literally "fall" on any civilian object.
Currently, the basis of the "anti-aircraft missile shield" of Ukraine is the complexes produced in the 1980s. It is possible to maintain such systems in working condition primarily thanks to the enthusiasm of our specialists.
Ukraine is now working on the creation of an "anti-missile shield", which will primarily rely on anti-aircraft missile systems such as NASAMS and IRIS-T SLM. But the Air Force of Ukraine also "does not rule out the possibility of obtaining the MIM-104 Patriot," says the head of the anti-aircraft missile forces, Brigadier General Henov.
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