Today Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Forces of the Ukrainian Air Force. On the occasion of this holiday, the Air Force Command has released an official video revealing that Ukrainian defenders utilized the Patriot SAM system to shoot down russian aircraft in the skies above the Bryansk region of the russian federation on May 13, 2023. This incident has since become widely known as the “Bryansk Air Defense”.
The occupying forces suffered a minimum loss of one Su-34 and one Su-35 aircraft, along with two rare Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare helicopters, of which there were fewer than 20 in total. Additionally, it was discovered that another Mi-8 helicopter, potentially belonging to the search and rescue group, was also lost.
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The information regarding these events has been obtained through markings found on one of the Ukrainian Patriot SAM system vehicles. These markings not only reveal the effectiveness of the “Bryansk Air Defense” but also highlight the successful neutralization of threats such as Shahed UAVs, subsonic cruise missiles and Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, which posed a direct danger to Kyiv.
It should be noted that the Patriot system can utilize PAC-2 surface-to-air missiles with a firing range of up to 160 km to hit aerodynamic targets such as aircraft or helicopters, as well as subsonic cruise missiles and other threats. According to official sources, Ukrainian air defense units operating the Patriot SAM system have reported the destruction of over 80 different types of airborne targets, including 13 Kinzhal missiles, during a month of combat operations.
Furthermore, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also released a greeting video. This video can be considered as the first official confirmation that Ukraine has indeed received modernized S-125 SC surface-to-air missile systems from Poland.
The key characteristics of these Polish surface-to-air missile systems include a tracked chassis derived from the T-55 tank, providing enhanced mobility for the overall complex. Another notable feature is the installation of modernized receiving-transmitting equipment that has been compacted into a 1-cubic-meter block. This is a significant improvement compared to the original S-125 system, where such equipment occupies 10 cabinets.
However, the Polish S-125 SC surface-to-air missile system employs the same Soviet-made 5V27 SAM missiles. The transfer of these air defense systems to the Armed Forces of Ukraine aligns with the concept of equipping them with modernized SAM systems that have a sufficient stockpile of missiles.
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