On the occasion of the professional holiday - Day of formation of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces , to questions from a correspondent of the newspaper “Ural Military News” Sergei Korogod answers.

- Valery Yuryevich, you recently headed the air defense forces of the district. How do you assess the level of their combat skills? What are the results of the completed academic year?

Summing up the results of combat training in 2016, we can say with confidence that the air defense troops of the military district coped with the assigned tasks.
The air defense troops of the Central Military District once again confirmed their high level of combat training at this year’s exercises, all-army competitions and field exercises at the Kapustin Yar training ground in the Astrakhan region, where excellent and good marks were received based on the results of live firing.

- What priorities have you outlined for yourself in combat training of troops? How will the experience of the latter be used in combat training? armed conflicts?

The main priorities of combat training will be related to increasing the field training of personnel of formations and military units, preparation and participation in tactical exercises with live firing at the Kapustin Yar training ground, mastering the incoming new types of weapons and military equipment, as well as participation in all-army competitions.
As you noted, a lot of analytical work is being done to assess the experience of recent armed conflicts. Together with the Military Academy of Military Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, new forms and methods of conducting combat operations are being developed, which are tested and implemented during planned combat training classes, during exercises and field exercises of air defense troops. Particular attention is paid to non-standard methods of combat use of enemy air reconnaissance assets, anti-aircraft missiles and anti-aircraft artillery systems, which have become widespread in the last 2-3 years.

- Today, the Armed Forces continue to re-equip themselves with the latest models of equipment. How modern are the technical means and weapons that the district’s air defense units are currently equipped with? To what extent do they meet the objectives?

The air defense troops of the military district continue their planned rearmament with new, modern types of weapons and special equipment. We are working together with industry representatives to modernize and maintain equipment. The question of how modern the technical equipment and weapons that the military units and air defense units of the district are currently equipped with can be answered by the results of the exhibitions and displays held, the interest of foreign experts in domestic air defense weapons and the number of contracts concluded.
Anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes prove their reliability, noise immunity and multi-channel capabilities not only in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but also in countries that import our weapons.
Returning to the experience of recent armed conflicts, we can say that military air defense military equipment has proven itself to be reliable, unpretentious to various climatic conditions and relatively easy to operate, making it possible to reliably carry out missions to destroy the air enemy over the entire range of speeds and altitudes.

- How fully are air defense units staffed with officers and soldiers? How is the training of specialists for anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering troops? Which option of service is preferable - conscription or contract?

The Air Defense Forces, traditionally, just like the Air Force, have always enjoyed increased interest from those wishing to connect their destiny with the profession of Defender of the Fatherland, as a result of which it can be noted that the troops are well staffed.
Whatever the power and combat capabilities of modern military air defense weapons, they can only be used with high efficiency by real professionals, whose training is given close attention.
Specialists such as senior and junior officers are trained at the Military Academy of Military Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation named after Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky.
Training of junior specialists for military air defense is carried out at the Yeisk and Orenburg training centers.
Priority in recruiting air defense troops of a military district is given to military personnel serving under contract - this is due to the incoming new types of weapons and special equipment that require special training and preparedness of personnel.

- Which of your subordinates and which military groups would you note in better side?

Based on the results of the past academic year, the air defense troops of the military district showed decent combat training. And it’s difficult to single out anyone in particular. All teams deserve prizes. I would like to commend for the better the commander of the anti-aircraft missile unit, Colonel Alexei Nikolaenkov, and the head of the command post, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Anokhin.

- What festive events are planned in the air defense forces of the district?

In the air defense forces of the military district, ceremonial meetings will traditionally be held with the participation of veterans of the air defense forces, where they will convey the order of the commander of the troops of the Central Military District, Colonel General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, in which the best specialists of the military air defense will be recognized and rewarded with departmental awards based on the results of combat training of the past academic year.
In conclusion, I would like to cordially congratulate the anti-aircraft gunners, veterans of the air defense forces, scientific and labor teams who have contributed and continue to improve the air defense shield of the Fatherland, on our professional holiday, wish them good health and further success in protecting the air borders of our Motherland.

Born on July 28, 1969, graduated from the Leningrad VZRKU (1990) with honors, the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation (1997) with honors, and the Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (2007). He served in the Leningrad Military District as a crew chief, deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile battery, and commander of an anti-aircraft missile battery. He served as commander of an anti-aircraft missile battery in the Western Group of Forces and commander of a separate anti-aircraft missile division, chief of staff of an anti-aircraft missile unit in the Moscow Military District. From November 2002 to August 2016, he served in the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces as a senior operator officer, group chief, department head, and deputy department chief. On August 11, 2016, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed head of the air defense and aviation forces of the Central Military District. Married, has a son and daughter.

THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S AIR DEFENSE

From the first days and months of the First World War, government and military authorities paid close attention to the state of air defense.

In the First World War, due to the intensive development and use of aircraft by the warring parties for military purposes in the armies of the warring states, the need arose to create special means of combating them and organizing air defense of groups of their troops and important installations in the theater of operations. In Russia, among the top priorities, measures were being developed to prevent enemy air attack weapons from flying over the capital and the emperor’s residence in Tsarskoe Selo.

On November 30, 1914*, the commander of the 6th Army, by order No. 90, announced a special instruction, on the basis of which the air defense** of Petrograd and its environs was organized. Its chief was Major General G.V. Burman. On December 8, 1914, the “Instructions for Aeronautics in the Area of ​​the 6th Army” were put into effect, and the air defense of the Russian capital began to be implemented.

*Here and below, dates are given in the new style.
** The term “air defense”, which meant the totality of forces and means, as well as organizational measures to combat the enemy’s air fleet and protect one’s troops and facilities from its actions, was used in Russia for a relatively short time - from 1914 to 1926 ., in 1926-1927. the term “aerochemical defense” was used, and since 1928 - “air defense”. The name “air defense” first appeared in an official document (it was signed by the assistant chief of staff of the Red Army B.M. Shaposhnikov) at the beginning of 1924, and since 1928 it has been legalized by a decree of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR.

For timely detection of the enemy in the air on the distant approaches to the city and warning about him, a network of observation posts was deployed, artillery guns adapted for firing at aircraft were installed in positions around Petrograd and near Tsarskoye Selo, and those trained for combat were appointed from the Gatchina Military Aviation School with aircraft crews.

By April 1915, the air defense of Petrograd and the imperial residence in Tsarskoe Selo was replenished with new forces and means, in connection with which the order for the 6th Army No. 112 and separate orders from May 14, 1915 introduced a number of instructions that determined the actions of the bodies designated for air defense leadership, units and units of various types of weapons. Since the summer of 1915, for the first time, the organization of air defense of the capital of the empire was regulated by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

During the First World War, air defense was also created to protect other cities, in particular Odessa and Nikolaev, large headquarters, and troop groups on all fronts of the active Russian army. Its organization and weapons were improved.

At the beginning of 1917, on the initiative of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, a radio reconnaissance system, or, as it was then called, radiotelegraph defense in the areas of Petrograd and Odessa, began to be created in order to provide advance warning of the appearance of enemy airships and determine the direction of their flight.

Thus, in 1915-1917. the beginning was made of the creation of air defense systems for individual cities and important military installations in theaters of military operations. In the Russian army, special positions of air defense chiefs were introduced (regular and non-regular) and their headquarters were formed.

The created air defense systems of the administrative, political and military centers of Russia were continuously improved throughout the war, taking into account the situation in the East European theater of operations, the technical means available in service and the experience of fighting an air enemy.

During the years of the Civil War and military intervention, the air defense of the Soviet state took its first steps. The extremely low technical level and the small number of forces and means involved in air defense did not allow us to develop the experience of their combat use on the fronts of military operations that emerged during the First World War.

After the end of the Civil War, by decision of the government of the RSFSR, the transfer of the Red Army to a peaceful position began in a short time. During these years, significant reductions were also carried out in air defense units. The absence of a single governing body for the latter, the limited number of anti-aircraft artillery and aviation, and their poor technical condition led to the fact that “in the period 1921-1924, air defense as a system did not exist in the country.” This is how the head of the Air Defense Department M.E. assessed this period in 1932. Medvedev.

The construction of the air defense system of the Soviet state in the interwar period began during the military reform of 1924-1925. Since 1924, the Red Army Headquarters became the main planning body of this process.

Of particular importance in the construction of air defense was the directive of the Red Army Headquarters to the military districts, departments and services of the People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs dated August 25, 1925, which explained that “in the current budget year, the Red Army Headquarters is beginning to organize the country's air defense. in this regard, it should be distinguished from the tasks of air defense of the front line in wartime, where all these issues will be resolved on the basis of the relevant regulations and instructions." This directive was the first to use the terms “national air defense” and “front line air defense” and emphasize their differences.

In December 1926, the Red Army Headquarters attempted to combine air and chemical defense. For this purpose, air-chemical defense sectors are being created in military districts, combining the fight against an air enemy and eliminating the consequences of its possible use of chemical weapons. In all command and staff bodies, in the plans and official documents being developed, instead of the term “air defense (air defense)”, the term “aerial chemical defense (ACD)” began to be used. However, the latter existed for a little more than a year, since it did not accurately reflect the essence of measures to protect the country from air strikes. On January 31, 1928, at a meeting of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, at the suggestion of S.S. Kamenev, who at that time held the position of deputy chairman of the RVS, it was decided to abandon the term “aerochemical defense”. In accordance with the “Regulations on the Air Defense of the USSR (for peacetime)”, approved on the same day by the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR K.E. Voroshilov, all air defense units, means and bodies were renamed into air defense units, means and bodies. The name “air surveillance, warning and communications service (VNOS)” was also legalized. The leadership of the country's air defense was entrusted to the People's Commissar of Military Affairs, which he was to carry out through the Headquarters of the Red Army.

In 1930, the Red Army Headquarters developed proposals for the creation of a control body in the central apparatus of the military department that would directly oversee air defense issues. And on May 1 of the same year, in addition to the staff of the central apparatus as part of the Red Army Headquarters, such a body called the 6th Directorate was created. His boss was simultaneously an air defense inspector and the head of the air defense service of the Red Army.

In the same 1930, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR developed and approved on November 23 the first General Plan for the country's air defense with the main digital indicators of air defense development for 1931-1933. In accordance with it, measures began to be implemented to strengthen units and create the first formations of air defense troops. Many territorial air defense units intended for the defense of large centers of the country are being transferred to personnel. On the basis of anti-aircraft artillery regiments, air defense brigades are created, which, in addition to units and units of anti-aircraft artillery, include machine gun, searchlight battalions (companies), units of barrage balloons and VNOS. In the fall of 1931, the brigades in the defense of Moscow and Leningrad were reorganized into air defense divisions.

Such changes in the air defense forces required a new organization of air defense leadership in the center. On May 1, 1932, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 033, the 6th Directorate of the Headquarters of the Red Army was renamed the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army with its direct subordination to the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR.

The year 1932 was a turning point in resolving issues of air defense construction, during which the state of air defense and measures to further strengthen it were reviewed twice (in April and in September-October) at the government level. The result of these discussions was the adoption of a number of documents that determined both the fundamentals of organizing air defense throughout the country, its management at the center and locally, and ways to improve the quality of combat training of units and the functioning of the entire air defense service system. One of these documents was, in particular, approved on October 4, 1932 by the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR "Regulations on the air defense of the territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" (announced by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 0031 of October 23, 1932).

The measures developed by the government and the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, aimed at achieving a decisive turning point in the country's air defense, noticeably revived the activities of all bodies, institutions and establishments of the military department to modernize existing and create new domestic models of weapons and military equipment for air defense. More advanced types of anti-aircraft guns, fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft machine guns, searchlights, and barrage balloons appeared. For the VNOS service, samples of automatic signal communication equipment Auto-VNOS and others were developed.

Measures were also taken to create fundamentally new types of weapons for air defense based on the latest achievements in science and technology and intensive development of production. In 1934, for the first time in world practice, successful tests were carried out, developed according to the ideas and with the participation of the electrical engineer of the Pskov anti-aircraft artillery regiment P.K. Oshchepkov equipment for detecting aircraft in the air based on the use of continuous radiation of radio waves (Rapid equipment), which served as the prototype of the first RUS-1 radio detection system adopted in 1939 by the VNOS service (the first aircraft radio catcher; the Rhubarb system). In July 1940, the RUS-2 (Redut) long-range detection station for air targets was put into service, operating on the principles of pulse radiation and signal reception.

Thus, during the interwar period, various types of weapons and military equipment were developed for air defense, although not all of them had the required quality characteristics. The entry of new types of weapons into the troops was made difficult due to the country's underdeveloped industrial base. For objective and often subjective reasons, a number of new models were either not accepted into production at all, or qualitatively more advanced weapons were produced in negligibly small quantities. All this, as well as a number of other factors, ultimately led to serious shortcomings in the air defense system, which in May 1940, People's Commissar of Defense Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. was forced to point out. Tymoshenko: “The air defense of troops and guarded points is in a state of complete neglect... Given the current state of leadership and organization of air defense, proper protection from air attack is not provided.”

In the interwar years, changes were also made in the organization of air defense and its management bodies.

On April 14, 1936, the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR approved the proposals of the General Staff of the Red Army for the construction of an air defense system, developed by the Air Defense Directorate. The air defense forces and means of the largest points - Leningrad, Moscow, Baku and Kyiv, headed by the air defense chiefs of these points, were directly subordinate to the commanders of the military districts; the heads of air defense points were given the functions of the heads of military branches of the districts. In February-April 1938, air defense corps were formed to protect Moscow, Leningrad and Baku from air strikes, and an air defense division was formed for Kyiv. The air defense corps and divisions included formations and units of anti-aircraft artillery, anti-aircraft machine guns, anti-aircraft searchlights, air surveillance, warning and communications, as well as units and units of barrage balloons. The air defense corps and division commanders were promptly subordinate to the Air Force fighter aircraft (IA), assigned to carry out the air defense missions of the point.

Since 1937, the turnover of the heads of the Air Defense Directorate has increased. So, on December 2 of this year, Army Commander 2nd Rank A.I. Sedyakin (head of the department from January 25, 1937) was arrested, and I.F. temporarily took over the leadership of the air defense. Blazhevich, but he was also arrested on February 18, 1938. The head of the 2nd department, Colonel G.M., took over the duties of the head of the Air Defense Directorate. Koblenz, and on November 13 this position was accepted by division commander Y.K. Polyakov, who arrived from the post of commander of the air defense brigade. However, on June 4, 1940, Polyakov was transferred to the Far East, and Major General M.F. began to lead the Air Defense Directorate. Korolev, who before this appointment was commander of the rifle corps. But in November 1940, he left for a new duty station in the Main Directorate of the local air defense of the NKVD.

On December 21, Lieutenant General D.T. took over the leadership of air defense. Kozlov, commander of the rifle corps in the war with Finland. On December 27, 1940, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 0368, the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army was transformed into the Main Directorate (GU) of the Air Defense of the Red Army. The same order entrusted the head of the Air Defense Main Directorate with the organization of air defense of the territory of the USSR, management of combat training and the use of air defense forces and means.

In January 1941, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the organization of air defense." It defined a zone threatened by air attack to a depth of up to 1,200 km from the state border. On this territory, within the military districts, air defense zones were created (by order of the USSR NKO dated February 14), with air defense areas, as well as air defense points, in them. The combat composition of the air defense zone included air defense formations and units of anti-aircraft artillery, anti-aircraft machine guns, searchlights, airborne assault forces and barrage balloons, which directly carried out the tasks of protecting cities, objects and structures in the zone from enemy air strikes.

Lieutenant General D.T. Kozlov headed the Air Defense Main Directorate until February 14, 1941. Further (until November 1941) the heads of the Main Directorate of Air Defense were: Lieutenant General of Aviation E.S. Ptukhin, Colonel General G.M. Stern, Colonel General of Artillery N.N. Voronov, Major General of Artillery A.A. Osipov (vreed).

In total to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War Air defense troops had: air defense zones - 13; air defense corps - 3; air defense divisions - 2; air defense brigades - 9; air defense brigade areas - 39. The number of air defense troops personnel was 182 thousand people. To solve the problems of air defense of the most important centers of the country, 40 fighter aviation regiments were also allocated, numbering about 1,500 combat aircraft and 1,206 crews.

At the same time, the shortcomings and unresolved organizational and technical problems that existed in the air defense forces could not be eliminated by June 1941, which was one of the reasons for the serious losses of the armed forces and the state as a whole from air strikes in the initial period of the war.

At dawn on June 22, 1941, bombing and assault attacks by Nazi aviation on troops and objects within the borders of the Baltic Special, Western Special, Kyiv Special, Odessa and Leningrad military districts and the Black Sea Fleet began the Great Patriotic War for the Soviet people. At 3:15 a.m. Ochakov and Sevastopol were hit. From 3:30 am, enemy aircraft bombed the cities of Belarus, Ukraine, and the Baltic states, and carried out massive attacks on the airfields of the air force in the border districts. At 4 o'clock the invasion of the USSR by the ground forces of Nazi Germany began. The Armed Forces of the Soviet Union and their air defense forces and means entered into a fierce confrontation with the enemy. Often, air defense units and units entered into battle with enemy aircraft without permission from above, at their own peril and risk, since on the eve of the war there was an order: do not open fire on border violators.

From the first days and months of the war, government and military authorities paid close attention to the state of air defense. The military councils of the fronts and the commanders of the military districts sent requests to the General Staff for additional air defense systems to strengthen the cover of points and objects in their areas of responsibility. In June-July 1941, the heads of people's commissariats and secretaries of regional committees of the CPSU (b) repeatedly contacted the General Staff on the issue of allocating air defense assets.

At the same time, the state of the air defense of Moscow and other important cities and regions of the country caused serious concern among the highest-ranking leaders. In particular, the State Defense Committee (GKO), formed on June 30, 1941, headed by I.V. From the first days of his activity until the end of the Great Patriotic War, Stalin repeatedly turned to solving air defense problems. So, on July 9, 1941, he adopted a special resolution “On the air defense of Moscow”, and on July 22, 1941 - “On the air defense of Leningrad”.

The course of the summer-autumn campaign of 1941 convincingly confirmed the increasing role of air defense in the war. Under conditions of enemy air supremacy, air defense forces in the first days and months of the war in border defensive battles, while repelling massive raids on Moscow, and while protecting Leningrad, Kyiv, Odessa and other important points from air strikes, inflicted significant damage on fascist aviation, destroying more than 2,500 enemy aircraft, acquired the necessary combat experience. At the same time, the irreparable losses of air defense formations and units, identified shortcomings in the organization and management of air defense led to the need to take urgent measures to improve the organization and build up air defense forces and means.

On November 9, 1941, the State Defense Committee adopted a resolution “On strengthening and strengthening the air defense of the territory of the Union,” which radically changed the organization of the entire air defense system. In accordance with it, formations and units intended to protect large administrative-political centers and vital facilities in the rear of the country from air strikes were removed from the subordination of military councils of districts, fronts and fleets (with the exception of formations and units covering Leningrad: they remained subordinate to the command of the Leningrad Front) and were transferred to the jurisdiction of the commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country - the Deputy People's Commissar of Defense for Air Defense (Lieutenant General M.S. Gromadin was appointed to this newly introduced position). Under him, a directorate was created, which included: headquarters, directorates of fighter aviation, anti-aircraft artillery and other bodies (the intelligence agency allocated to solve the problems of air defense of objects was transferred to the commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country only under operational subordination). At the same time, instead of the air defense zones that previously existed in the European part of the USSR, two corps (Moscow and Leningrad) and a number of divisional air defense areas were created on their basis.

On November 24, 1941, in pursuance of the GKO resolution, the People's Commissar of Defense, by his order, distributed air defense units and formations between the Air Defense Forces of the country's territory and the fronts. Thus, the air defense system was divided into two components - country air defense and military air defense.

In the subsequent months of the first period of the Great Patriotic War, the State Defense Committee at its meetings repeatedly returned to the consideration of problems related to air defense. Thus, on January 22, 1942, he discussed issues relating to the Air Force. The result of this discussion was the order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR I.V. Stalin from the same date, according to which the corps, divisions and individual regiments of the IA, allocated for the air defense of facilities, were transferred to the full subordination of the commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country, and along with them the airfield service battalions that provided them. With the publication of this order, the transformation of the Air Defense Forces of the country into an independent branch of the Armed Forces of the USSR was essentially completed. Solving a strictly defined range of tasks of a strategic nature, they had a structure unique to them and independent command, directly subordinate to the highest military leadership. The main branches of the military were anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aviation with their inherent forms and methods of action against an airborne enemy using anti-aircraft searchlights and the VNOS system, the units and units of which began to receive the first radio detection stations for aircraft in the air.

On April 5, 1942, the State Defense Committee adopted a resolution on the reorganization of the Moscow Corps Air Defense Region into the first operational-strategic association of the country's Air Defense Forces in the Russian Armed Forces - the Moscow Air Defense Front. Another decree of the same date created a qualitatively new operational formation on the basis of the Leningrad Corps Air Defense District - the Leningrad Air Defense Army, and on the basis of the Baku Corps District - the Baku Air Defense Army.

On June 29, 1943, the State Defense Committee considered “Issues of air defense of the country’s territory” and adopted a special resolution, according to which it was prescribed to have two air defense fronts on the country’s territory - Western and Eastern. Coordination of their actions and control over them was entrusted to the commander of the artillery of the Red Army N.N. Voronova (The Office of the Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country was liquidated). Under him, the following were formed: the Central Headquarters of the Air Defense Forces, the Central Headquarters of the Air Defense Fighter Aviation, the central VNOS post and other bodies.

The creation of two air defense fronts improved the organization of interaction between the country's air defense formations and formations with the forces of fighter aviation and anti-aircraft artillery of combined arms fronts and fleets. At the same time, the abolition of the post of commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country's territory was not caused by objective necessity and complicated the centralized management of forces and means performing the tasks of air defense of facilities and communications of the country's rear. The demarcation line between the air defense fronts, drawn from north to south, in which the Eastern Air Defense Front covered objects in the deep rear, and the Western Front carried out tasks on a vast territory stretching behind the active combined arms fronts, was also not expedient. As the latter rapidly advanced to the west during the strategic offensive of the Red Army in the second half of 1943 - early 1944, the gap between the formations of the Western Air Defense Front, which followed the advancing troops with an intense fight against the air enemy, and the formations of the Eastern Air Defense Front, which continued to remain on cover objects, which were mostly beyond the reach of German aviation, were increasingly increasing, which created serious difficulties in resolving issues not only of control, maneuver of forces and means in depth for building up air defense in the liberated territory, but also its organization as a whole.

In order to eliminate the identified shortcomings of the reorganization, on March 29, 1944, the State Defense Committee adopted a resolution “On measures to improve the management of active air defense forces of the Red Army,” which determined the creation, based on the forces and means of the Western and Eastern air defense fronts, respectively, of the Northern and Southern air defense fronts with a demarcation line between them from west to east. The Transcaucasian air defense zone was reorganized into the Transcaucasian air defense front.

The further offensive of the Red Army troops to the west increased the airspace within which it was necessary to organize and carry out air defense of objects dispersed to great depths in the front line, which led to an increase in the number of forces and means in the air defense fronts and to the complexity of their management. In this regard, on December 24, 1944, by another decree, the State Defense Committee took measures to bring the operational management of air defense closer to the active troops. The Northern Air Defense Front was transformed into the Western Front with the movement of front control from Moscow to Vilnius, and the Southern Front was transformed into the South-Western Front with the relocation of the headquarters from Kyiv to Lvov. To cover the country's deep rear facilities, a Central Air Defense Front with headquarters in Moscow was created on the basis of the Special Moscow Air Defense Army. The Transcaucasian air defense front has been preserved without changes. The central headquarters of the air defense forces and air defense fighter aviation of the Red Army were renamed respectively into the Main Headquarters of the Red Army Air Defense Forces and the Main Headquarters of the Red Army Air Defense Fighter Aviation.

In the 1945 campaign in Europe, the country's air defense forces, continuing to carry out tasks of defending the most important centers, industrial areas and communications of the Soviet Union, focused their main efforts on ensuring the final offensive operations of the fronts, organizing the defense of the most important facilities liberated by the Red Army in Central and South-Eastern Europe . During this period, four air defense fronts operated as part of the Air Defense Forces, covering the most important strategic air directions.

In the east of the country, where groups of Soviet troops were concentrated and deployed with the goal of defeating militaristic Japan, it was necessary to strengthen cover from possible enemy air strikes along the Trans-Siberian Railway, other communications, important industrial facilities, warehouses, and troops. For this, by decision of the State Defense Committee (resolution “On strengthening the air defense of the Far East and Transbaikalia” dated March 14, 1945), three air defense armies were formed: Primorskaya, Priamurskaya and Transbaikalskaya, which later became part of the 1st and 2nd Far Eastern and Transbaikal fronts. In a special regard, they were transferred to the subordination of the commander of the artillery of the Red Army.

The overall result of the combat activities of the country's Air Defense Forces is their significant contribution to the achievement of Victory, achieved through the joint efforts of all branches of the USSR Armed Forces and military branches. During the Great Patriotic War, the Air Defense Forces successfully completed their tasks. They, together with the air defense forces and means of the fronts and fleets, saved many cities from destruction from the air, settlements, industrial enterprises, railway communications, ensured the conduct of operations in the land and sea theaters of action of Soviet troops and naval forces. Carrying out their combat missions, the country's air defense forces destroyed 7,313 Nazi aircraft, of which 4,168 were destroyed by air defense fighter aircraft and 3,145 by anti-aircraft artillery, machine-gun fire and barrage balloons.

Constant attention to air defense during the war years by the highest bodies of state and military leadership ensured a steady increase in air defense forces and means in quantitative and qualitative terms and determined the creation of an independent organizational structure - the Air Defense Forces of the country. One of the most important conclusions based on the results of the Great Patriotic War should be considered the confirmation of the thesis about the increasing role of air defense in ensuring the security of the state. The task of repelling enemy air strikes can only be carried out by strong Air Defense Forces that are deployed in advance and are in constant combat readiness.

At the end of the war, the Red (since 1946 Soviet) Army, including the country's Air Defense Forces, are transferred to peacetime states. In 1945-1946. The first post-war reorganization of the entire air defense system of the USSR is being carried out. The 4 fronts and 3 air defense armies that existed at the end of the war were reorganized into 3 districts and 2 air defense armies, and a significant number of air defense formations and units were disbanded. In April 1946, the post of commander of the country's Air Defense Forces was restored, to which Colonel General M.S. was appointed. Whopper. As a result of the reduction, by October 1946, the number of Air Defense Forces decreased to 147,287 people (at the end of the war it was about 637 thousand people).

In June 1948, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of Ministers of the USSR determined new structure air defense systems and troops. Districts and air defense armies were subject to disbandment, and air defense districts of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd categories were created on their basis. The entire territory of the country was divided into the internal part (rear areas) and the border strip. Responsibility for the air defense of rear facilities, as well as for the preparation of the country's territory in an air defense respect, was assigned to the commander of the country's Air Defense Forces - the Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces. Subordinate to him were the country's Air Defense Forces, which covered objects in the rear areas, and the VNOS service throughout the entire USSR. Responsibility for air defense of objects in the border zone was assigned to the commanders of military districts, naval bases and ports - to fleet commanders.

On July 7, 1948, Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. was appointed commander of the country's Air Defense Forces. Govorov, leaving him the post of chief inspector. From this date, the country's air defense troops left the subordination of the artillery commander of the Soviet army.

In accordance with these decisions, in 1948-1949. The second post-war radical reorganization of troops and the air defense system was carried out, which made it possible to expand work on preparing the country's territory for air defense (construction of airfields, command posts, communication lines, etc.). At the same time, the unity of command and control of the air defense system was disrupted, which negatively affected its combat readiness.

In September 1951, a government decree carried out another reorganization of air defense. Due to the fact that in the border zone the air defense forces were separated into military districts, and this made it difficult to control them and mutual information about the air situation, it was ordered to create a unified air defense of the border line from units and formations of fighter aviation, headed by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. All units of the VNOS in the border zone were transferred from the country's Air Defense Forces to the formed 8 districts of this line. However, this event did not play a noticeable role in increasing the effectiveness of the fight against aircraft violating the country’s airspace.

On June 20, 1953, by order of the Minister of Defense "On measures to improve the organization of air defense USSR"Air defense areas of the border line were abolished, and on their basis, air defense departments of military districts were created, which were included in the country's Air Defense Forces. The commander of the latter was entrusted with responsibility for air defense and management of air defense forces and means throughout the USSR.

On May 27, 1954, by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the CPSU "On unpunished flights of foreign aircraft over the territory of the USSR", the leadership of the country's Air Defense Forces and the VNOS service and responsibility for air defense were assigned to the Ministry of Defense. For its direct leadership, the position of Commander-in-Chief of the country's Air Defense Forces, who was also the Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, was established. Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. was appointed to this position. Govorov.

By the decree of May 28 and the order of the USSR Minister of Defense of June 14, 1954 “On the reorganization of the structure of the country’s air defense forces,” instead of air defense districts and directorates in border military districts, as well as in the interior of the country, operational formations (districts and armies) and operational-tactical air defense formations (corps, divisions), which included all types of troops.

During this period, weapons, military equipment and the organization of troops at the tactical level were also improved. New types of weapons are being supplied to the aviation and radio engineering units of the Air Defense Forces.

Since the mid-1950s, intensive development of anti-aircraft systems began missile forces, which formed the basis of the firepower of air defense. On May 7, 1955, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the first S-25 anti-aircraft missile system was adopted into service with the country's Air Defense Forces, and the formation of units intended for the anti-aircraft missile defense of Moscow was completed. In July of the same year, by order of the USSR Minister of Defense, the Special Purpose Air Defense Army (1st Air Defense Army ON), which included four corps, became part of the Moscow Air Defense District. With the adoption in October 1954 of the government decree “On the creation of an anti-aircraft battery of the S-75 system,” work began to complete the design and supply to the troops of new anti-aircraft missile systems capable of maneuvering to new positions under their own power or transported by rail. In May 1957, development of the S-125 anti-aircraft missile system began. At the end of this year, the S-75 (Dvina) medium-range mobile complex was put into service, and in May 1961, the S-125 (Neva) complex, designed to combat air targets at low altitudes, also appeared in air defense units. . Work began on the creation of the S-200 Angara long-range anti-aircraft missile system (put into service in 1967)

Since 1960, air defense corps and divisions of the new organization have been formed. Formations of military branches, and in air defense formations, the headquarters of these military branches are being liquidated. The number of large formations and air defense formations was reduced by almost 2 times. The country's Air Defense Forces included two districts and seven separate air defense armies, which included 16 corps and 18 air defense divisions. For 1961, it was planned to create three more divisions. Districts and individual air defense armies began to consist of air defense corps and divisions, formed on a combined arms principle from formations and units of anti-aircraft missile forces, anti-aircraft artillery, fighter aviation, radio engineering troops and special troops. In certain directions, anti-aircraft missile barriers (lines) were created from mixed groups of air defense missile forces (anti-aircraft missile divisions S-75 and S-125).

A simpler, more economical and flexible control system for the country's Air Defense Forces was introduced. Districts and individual air defense armies were deployed in the main operational-strategic directions, each over an area of ​​about 1500x1500 km or more. Widespread use of automated control systems was ensured, covering the entire territory of the country with areas of use of active branches of air defense troops.

The air defense system created during these years, with certain additions, existed until 1978. During the same period, thanks to the coordinated activities of scientists, design teams and production workers, the country's Air Defense Forces included missile and space defense forces and systems, and in the general defense system of the state, the Air Defense Forces actually became aerospace defense troops.

Another reorganization of the air defense system and troops in 1978-1980. returned them to the structure that had already been introduced and rejected by the war and post-war activities. Border districts and air defense armies were disbanded, their air defense corps and divisions without fighter aircraft were transferred to military districts. The country's air defense forces were reorganized into the Air Defense Forces in 1980.

Since January 1986, this system was abolished (except for the names of the troops), and separate air defense armies were again restored.

The collapse of the Soviet Union as single state at the end of 1991, and with it the unified system and the USSR Air Defense Forces, led to a significant decrease in the combat effectiveness of air defense forces within the borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

With the signing of the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the creation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on May 7, 1992, a new stage in the development of the Air Defense Forces began. The subsequent reform (and actually reduction) of the Armed Forces and, within them, the Air Defense Forces did not, unfortunately, lead to the restoration of the required level of state protection from the aerospace enemy.

An analysis of the development of the armies of the leading world powers and the military organization of NATO countries in general, their use in local wars and armed conflicts of the last decade of the last century shows that in these countries the forces and means of aerospace attack play a decisive role. There is an obvious increase in the dependence of the course and outcome of military operations on the results of confrontation in aerospace. Consequently, aerospace defense in the overall defense system of the country should occupy one of the central places. The long-term, purposeful work of the main command of the Air Defense Forces, and since 1998 - the Air Force (since February 1998, the Air Defense Forces became part of the Air Force) to substantiate the most important directions and stages of creating aerospace defense of Russia has recently yielded certain positive results. results: the Concept of Aerospace Defense of the Russian Federation was developed; Basic provisions of state policy in the field of air defense of the Russian Federation; Measures have been planned and are being implemented to improve the air defense system of the Russian Federation.

The attention of the country's top government and military leadership to the development of a specific program for the development of the state's aerospace defense system gives hope for the creation in the near future of means, complexes and weapons systems capable of combating all means of the enemy's aerospace attack or contributing to the solution of this problem. Today we have all the necessary prerequisites for successfully solving the problems facing us.

Heads of air defense of Russia, the USSR and the Russian Federation

Job title	Last name, first name, patronymic	Military rank (towards the end of the service)	Years of life	Duration of stay in office
Head of the air defense of Petrograd and its environs, head of the air defense of Petrograd and Tsarskoe Selo (May 1915 - March 1917)	BURMAN Georgy Vladimirovich	Major General
	BLAZEVICH Joseph Frantsevich			May - October 1930
Head of the 6th Directorate of the Red Army Headquarters, Head of the Country's Rear Air Defense Service	KUCHINSKY Dmitry Alexandrovich
Head of the 6th Directorate of the Red Army Headquarters, Head of the Country's Rear Air Defense Service	MEDVEDEV Mikhail Evgenievich
	MEDVEDEV Mikhail Evgenievich
Head of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate, Head of the Red Army Air Defense	KAMENEV Sergei Sergeevich	Commander 1st rank
Head of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate, Head of the Red Army Air Defense	SEDYAKIN Alexander Ignatievich	Commander 2nd rank		January - December 1937
Head of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate, Head of the Red Army Air Defense (WRD)	KOBLENTS Grigory Mikhailovich	Colonel		February - October 1938
Head of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate, Head of the Red Army Air Defense	POLYAKOV Yakov Korneevich	Major General of Artillery
Head of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate, Head of the Red Army Air Defense	KOROLEV Mikhail Filippovich	Lieutenant General		June - November 1940
	KOZLOV Dmitry Timofeevich	Lieutenant General
Head of the Main Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army	PTUKHIN Evgeniy Savvich	Lieutenant General of Aviation		February - March 1941
Head of the Main Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army	STERN Grigory Mikhailovich	Colonel General		March - June 1941
Head of the Main Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army	VORONOV Nikolai Nikolaevich	Chief Marshal of Artillery		June - July 1941
Head of the Main Directorate of Air Defense of the Red Army (WRD)	OSIPOV Alexey Alexandrovich	Major General of Artillery		July - November 1941
Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense for Air Defense	GROMADIN Mikhail Stepanovich	Colonel General
Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country	GROMADIN Mikhail Stepanovich	Colonel General
Commander of the Red Army Artillery	VORONOV Nikolai Nikolaevich	Chief Marshal of Artillery
	GROMADIN Mikhail Stepanovich	Colonel General
Commander of the country's Air Defense Forces - Deputy Minister of the USSR Armed Forces	GOVOROV Leonid Alexandrovich*	Marshal of the Soviet Union
Commander of the country's air defense forces	NAGORNY Nikolai Nikiforovich	Colonel General
Commander of the country's air defense forces	VERSHININ Konstantin Andreevich	Air Chief Marshal
	GOVOROV Leonid Alexandrovich	Marshal of the Soviet Union
Commander-in-Chief of the country's Air Defense Forces - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR**	BIRYUZOV Sergey Semenovich	Marshal of the Soviet Union
Commander-in-Chief of the country's Air Defense Forces - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR	SUDETS Vladimir Alexandrovich	Air Marshal
Commander-in-Chief of the country's Air Defense Forces, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR	BATITSKY Pavel Fedorovich	Marshal of the Soviet Union
Commander-in-Chief of the country's Air Defense Forces - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, since January 1980 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR	KOLDUNOV Alexander Ivanovich	Air Chief Marshal
	TRETYAK Ivan Moiseevich	Army General	Genus. in 1923
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR	PRUDNIKOV Viktor Alekseevich	Army General	Genus. in 1939	August - December 1991
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States - Commander of the Air Defense Forces	PRUDNIKOV Viktor Alekseevich	Army General	Genus. in 1939
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Defense Forces	PRUDNIKOV Viktor Alekseevich	Army General	Genus. in 1939
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Defense Forces (VRD)	SINITSYN Viktor Pavlovich	Colonel General	Genus. in 1940
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Armed Forces	KORNUKOV Anatoly Mikhailovich	Army General	Genus. in 1942	March 1998*** - January 2002
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Armed Forces	MIKHAILOV Vladimir Sergeevich	Army General	Genus. in 1943	January 2002 - present

* Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. Govorov simultaneously remained in the position of chief inspector of the USSR Armed Forces.
** From January 1956 to February 1991, the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Defense Forces was at the same time the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact member states, the commander of the Air Defense Forces of the United Armed Forces.
*** In the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force since January 1998, responsibility for air defense assigned since March 1998.

Sources of information

Colonel General B.F. CHELTSOV, Chief of the Air Force General Staff - First Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S AIR DEFENSE"Military History Magazine" No. 12 2004

History of the creation and development of air defense in the North

The emergence of air defense systems (1915-1917)

The emergence of air defense systems is inextricably linked with the adoption of controlled aircraft by the armies of the most developed countries. Anti-aircraft artillery arose as one of the means of combating aviation back in the First World War.

In Russia, they began to master shooting at aerial targets, which used tethered balloons and aerostats, at the end of the last century. The most successful were the shootings carried out on July 13, 1890 at the Ust-Izhora training ground and the following year near Krasnoe Selo.

In 1908 in Sestroretsk and in 1909 near Luga, the first experimental shootings were carried out at a moving target - a balloon towed by horses. The shooting was carried out from three-inch field guns (model 1900, 1902) and showed the possibility of destroying moving air targets. At the same time, due to the design features, the field artillery guns could not successfully fight enemy aircraft. A special anti-aircraft gun was needed.

Back in 1901, the young military engineer M. F. Rosenberg developed a design for the first 57-mm anti-aircraft gun. However, many high-ranking military leaders of the time considered this idea not worthy of attention and the project was rejected. In 1908, the idea of ​​​​creating an anti-aircraft gun was supported by a team of teachers from the Officer Artillery School and the Mikhailovsky Artillery Academy. School officers M.V. Dobrovolsky, E.K. Smyslovsky, P.N. Nikitin developed tactical and technical requirements for an anti-aircraft gun, and captain V.V. Tarnovsky proposed installing it on a car platform. The final design of the anti-aircraft gun was approved by the Main Artillery Directorate in 1913.

In June 1914, the Putilov Plants society entrusted the direct development and production of a prototype anti-aircraft gun to its designer F.F. Lander. The following took an active part in the work: Lieutenant of the Officer Artillery School V.V. Tarnovsky, famous Russian artilleryman P.A. Glazkov, Putilovsky workers

plant F.M. Garkovsky, A.Ya. Navyadovsky, V.I. Biryukov. By the end of 1914, the first four samples of the 76-mm anti-aircraft gun, mounted on special 5-ton vehicles, were manufactured at the Putilov plant. In February 1915, they were tested at the Petrograd test site and received a positive rating.

By the beginning of the First World War, the Russian army did not have special forces and means to combat the air enemy. In the fall of 1914, the General Staff had to quickly begin forming artillery units designed to fire at air targets. To form them, naval 75-mm cannons and 76.2-mm field artillery guns (model 1900, 1902), adapted for firing at air targets, were used.

Already during the war, “pit” and pedestal devices were being developed in artillery units to increase the elevation angle and provide all-round fire at aircraft with 76.2 mm field guns. The authors of these devices were Russian army officers V.K. Matveev, V.S. Myagi, V.I. Rekalov, P.M. Radzivilovich. The best of all the machines available at that time was the pedestal machine B.N. Ivanov, approved by the Artillery Committee of the Main Artillery Directorate.

To improve the results of shooting from field guns adapted for firing at aircraft, special devices were used. The first device for determining the lead angle for firing at air targets was proposed by the Russian inventor Ya.N. Perepelkin. Subsequently, based on this device, Lieutenant A.M. Ignatiev developed a more advanced sight for anti-aircraft guns. In 1916, engineer I.A. Launitz designed a device that made it possible to determine the speed and direction of movement of a target.

The formation of the first anti-aircraft battery began at the beginning of 1915 in Tsarskoe Selo. Captain V.V., an active participant in the creation of the first domestic anti-aircraft gun, was appointed battery commander. Tarnovsky. In March 1915, the first anti-aircraft battery was sent to the active army. On June 17, 1915, Captain Tarnovsky's battery, repelling a raid by nine German aircraft, shot down two of them, opening the count of enemy aircraft destroyed by domestic anti-aircraft artillery.

On December 13, 1915, an order was issued to form four separate light batteries for firing at the air fleet. Military historians consider this date to be the day of the formation of military air defense troops.

In total, during the First World War, 251 anti-aircraft batteries were formed. However, only 30 of them were armed with anti-aircraft guns. Due to the shortage of automobiles, anti-aircraft guns were mounted on movable wooden platforms with horse-drawn teams. For the defense of stationary objects, fixed positional installations were used. One of the first anti-aircraft batteries on the Western Front in 1916 was commanded by the pioneer of Soviet rocketry B.S. Petropavlovsky.

Russia's unpreparedness to resolve issues of organizing and conducting air defense at the beginning of the First World War resulted in the absence of a system for training personnel of anti-aircraft batteries. Only towards the end of 1917 was an anti-aircraft officer school organized for the first time in Yevpatoria. V.V. was appointed head of the school. Tarnovsky. In addition, during the same period, on the basis of the courses of the Northern Front, located in the city of Dvinsk, another officer shooting school for the air fleet was formed. Soon this institution began to train, in addition to officers, instructors from the rank and file.

The imperfection of the guns and instruments available to anti-aircraft gunners in the First World War led to a huge waste of shells. Average ammunition consumption per aircraft shot down in 1914-1917. ranged from 8,000 to 11,000 shells. Despite this, anti-aircraft batteries have become one of the main means of combating enemy air. During the four years of war in the Western European Theater of Operations, every fifth aircraft destroyed in the air was shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fire.

Thus, by the end of the First World War, anti-aircraft defense had already taken on certain forms of organization, and means and methods of combating aviation were developed, characteristic of the level of technological development of that time.

Formation and development of air defense troops during the civil war and the pre-war period (1917 - 1941)

After the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution, the Red Army inherited from the tsarist army the few weapons of individual anti-aircraft batteries scattered along the fronts. Anti-aircraft artillery essentially had to be created anew.

On October 29, 1917, V.I. visited the Putilov plant. Lenin. He was interested in the progress of work on the creation of a special armored train “Steel Anti-aircraft”. Soon the armored train set off for firing positions. This was the first anti-aircraft unit of the young Soviet state. His first battle with German aircraft took place in March 1918 near Narva. In this battle, anti-aircraft gunners destroyed two enemy aircraft.

On April 8, 1918, the Steel Artillery Division was formed at the Putilov plant, which received the name Putilov. It included: two railway anti-aircraft artillery batteries (anti-aircraft armored trains), two automobile anti-aircraft batteries and one light field artillery battery. B.I. was appointed division commander. Lisovsky.

Management of the creation of anti-aircraft defense units in the Red Army was entrusted to a single body - the Office of the Head of the Formation of Anti-Aircraft Batteries, created in July 1918. It carried out: accounting of anti-aircraft weapons preserved in the troops, arsenals and factories; formation of anti-aircraft artillery units and units; their distribution among the fronts and rear facilities; personnel training; development of shooting methods and tactics of anti-aircraft artillery.

In 1918, the first anti-aircraft artillery units were included in the regular composition of combined arms formations. The infantry division included two positional anti-aircraft batteries armed with 76-mm field guns (model 1902); the rifle division includes a separate mobile anti-aircraft division consisting of four batteries armed with 76-mm anti-aircraft guns (model 1914).

From the first days of the fight against foreign intervention and internal counter-revolution, Soviet anti-aircraft gunners fulfilled their military duty with honor, bravely fought for the Soviet Motherland against the air enemy on all fronts, showing courage, perseverance and heroism. The anti-aircraft gunners of the 3rd separate anti-aircraft vehicle battery under the command of S.I. Oshanin distinguished themselves with glorious military deeds during the defense of the city of Petrograd in 1919.

The first anti-aircraft artillery units, despite their small numbers and imperfect military equipment, made a worthy contribution and, together with the entire Red Army, helped the young Soviet Republic defend its freedom and independence.

Anti-aircraft artillery batteries and divisions, which gained rich combat experience during the Civil War, formed the basis for the creation of anti-aircraft artillery units and formations of the Red Army in subsequent years. Their combat experience was widely used to develop regulations and manuals for anti-aircraft artillery, the theory of its combat use, and the organization of air defense right up to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

During the difficult times of the Civil War, the country's leadership created the first military educational institutions to train command personnel for air defense from workers and peasants. In February 1918, a training and instruction team was created in Petrograd, which trained artillery service specialists, including anti-aircraft artillery.

On December 8, 1919, the formation of an airborne shooting school was completed in Nizhny Novgorod. B.A. was appointed head of the school. Kolomensky, later a senior lecturer at the Artillery Academy named after. Dzerzhinsky and the Higher Military School of Air Defense of the Red Army. School teachers N.S. Vinogradov, A.N. Vukotich, N.A. Borodachev, F.P. Kuzyichev, A.N. Mamontov took an active part in conducting research to improve the tactics and firing of anti-aircraft artillery.

In connection with the changes introduced in 1924 in the structure of the ZA RKKA and the beginning of the formation of anti-aircraft artillery regiments, the need for personnel of anti-aircraft commanders grew rapidly. A repeated school for middle and senior command staff of the Red Army anti-aircraft artillery is being formed in Petrograd. Later it is transferred to Sevastopol and receives the name – Advanced Courses command staff anti-aircraft artillery. N.S. was appointed head of the course. Vinogradov. In August 1927, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School was created on this base. One of the prominent anti-aircraft artillery specialists, corps commander A.N., was appointed the first head of the school. Vukotich.

In 1925-1928, a military reform was carried out in the Red Army, which included improving the organizational structure of the Red Army and technical re-equipment of troops, including anti-aircraft artillery.

On the basis of anti-aircraft batteries and divisions, the formation of anti-aircraft artillery regiments began. Civil War participants V.G. were appointed the first commanders of anti-aircraft regiments. Krish, A.A. Osipov. In 1927, on the basis of an anti-aircraft artillery regiment in Moscow, the first anti-aircraft air defense artillery brigade was formed. Subsequently, new anti-aircraft artillery units and units were deployed on the basis of these regiments and brigades.

The successful implementation of the plans of the first five-year plans and the creation of an industrial base made it possible to launch mass production of complex equipment for air defense units. Thanks to the creative efforts of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery designers L.A. Lokteva, G.P. Tyagunova, B.G. Shpitalny, N.P. Shukanova, M.N. Kondakova, F.V. Tokareva, K.V. Kruse, P.G. Davydov's formations, air defense units and subunits received new, more advanced models of anti-aircraft guns and machine guns, anti-aircraft artillery fire control devices (PUAZO), means for detecting enemy air, and anti-aircraft vehicles.

On May 1, 1929, air defense units - searchlight companies and machine gun installations - took part in the military parade in Moscow for the first time. The following year, mechanically powered anti-aircraft artillery was deployed on Red Square: 76-mm anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, sound-detecting and machine-gun installations placed in the backs of cars.

The control bodies of anti-aircraft artillery formations are being improved. In 1927, anti-aircraft artillery as a branch of the Red Army was removed from the subordination of the chief of artillery of the Red Army and subordinated directly to the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. The 6th department was created at the Red Army Headquarters, which was in charge of air defense.

In 1930, the air defense department was reorganized into the 6th Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army Headquarters. A great contribution to the creation of the Directorate in charge of air defense issues in the central apparatus of the Red Army was made by the hero of the Civil War, Divisional Commander I.F. Blazhevich. He also became the first head of this department. Later it was headed by D.A. Kuchinsky and M.E. Medvedev. Simultaneously with the creation of the 6th Directorate, air defense departments were created at the headquarters of military districts.

The Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army launched work in the interests of long-range detection of enemy aircraft by posts of the Air Surveillance, Warning and Communications Service (VNOS). The beginning of this work is associated with the name of engineer P.K. Oshchepkov, who proposed the idea of ​​​​using radio waves to detect air targets. A significant practical contribution to the creation of early warning stations was made by B.K. Shembel, A.N. Merzhievsky, R.R. Gavruk, D.A. Rozhansky, Yu.B. Kobzarev, M.I. Kulikov, D.S. Stogov, A.I. Shestakov, P.S. Motorin, Yu.K. Korovin.

In 1932, the head of the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army Headquarters M.E. Medvedev developed a regulation on air defense management, according to which the Air Defense Directorate was removed from the Red Army Headquarters and was subordinate to the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs. It was soon put into action. A great contribution to the development of air defense forces was made by the heads of the Red Army Air Defense Directorate S.S. Kamenev, A.I. Sedyakin, G.M. Koblenz, J.K. Polyakov, M.F. Korolev.

Air Defense Directorates were created in the military districts, headed by the district air defense chiefs. They led all formations and air defense units stationed in the districts.

At the end of the 30s, thanks to the efforts of Soviet designers G.P. Tagunov, G.D. Dorokhina, M.N Loginova, V.A. Degtyareva, L.A Lokteva, L.V. Lyuleva, G.S. Shpagin, new types of weapons entered service with anti-aircraft artillery:

76.2 mm anti-aircraft gun (model 1938);

85 mm semi-automatic anti-aircraft gun;

37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun (AZG);

25 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun;

12.7 mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun DShK.

With the arrival of new weapons, the personnel of combined arms formations and formations also change. In 1937, a four-battery anti-aircraft division was added to the rifle corps. Three batteries were armed with twelve 76.2-mm anti-aircraft guns, the fourth - six small-caliber 37-mm anti-aircraft guns. Rifle and cavalry divisions were to have an anti-aircraft division consisting of three batteries armed with twelve small-caliber anti-aircraft guns.

Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, work was actively carried out to create long-range detection radar stations. Through the efforts of outstanding designers D.S. Stogova, Yu.B. Kobzareva, with the active participation of A.I. Shestakov and A.B. Slepushkin, the first radar stations RUS-1 “Rhubarb” and RUS-2 “Redut” were created and put into service.

In the pre-war years, the training of personnel, the combat capabilities of anti-aircraft artillery, shooting methods and tactical techniques were repeatedly tested in combat conditions: in battles with Japanese samurai in 1938 on Lake Khasan, in 1939 on the Khalkhin Gol River, in battles with the White Finns. During the conduct of hostilities, the anti-aircraft gunners fulfilled their assigned tasks with honor. Thus, during the offensive operation on the Khalkhin Gol River, 45 Japanese aircraft were shot down by their fire. For courage and bravery in battles with the Japanese invaders, more than 100 anti-aircraft gunners were awarded government awards.

On May 20, 1939, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, an independent command department of anti-aircraft artillery was created at the Military Artillery Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky. Colonel P.A. was appointed head of the faculty. Abrosimov. The creation of this faculty marked the beginning of a system of higher military education for anti-aircraft artillery officers.

In 1940, on the basis of the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army, the Main Directorate of Air Defense of the Red Army was created, which was subordinated directly to the People's Commissar of Defense. Over the years, the Main Directorate of Air Defense was headed by D.T. Kozlov, E.S. Ptukhin, G.M. Stern, N.N. Voronov, A.A. Osipov.

Military air defense troops entered the Great Patriotic War while being in the stage of rearmament and deployment, insufficiently equipped with small-caliber anti-aircraft guns, and with a large percentage of outdated weapons in the troops. Despite the insufficient number of anti-aircraft guns of the latest developments in the troops, by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War a fairly coherent weapons system and organizational structure of formations and air defense units had developed.

Air defense of troops during the Great Patriotic War and the post-war period (1941 - 1958)

On June 22, 1941, the anti-aircraft artillery of the fronts on all fronts, from the Barents to the Black Sea, entered into battle with the Nazi invaders, staunchly repelling the attacks of superior enemy forces, showing examples of courage, heroism and professional skill. Thus, on June 27, 1941, while repelling attacks on troops in the area of ​​​​the village of Stodolishche (near Smolensk), 304 destroyed 7 enemy aircraft over the course of two days. Anti-aircraft gunners fought to the death, covering troops and their concentration areas, communications centers, and crossings in bloody battles.

Anti-aircraft artillery formations and units were additional powerful firepower in the hands of the Soviet army and front-line command, especially in the fight against enemy tanks, and played an important role in the defensive operations of our troops in the battles for the cities of Smolensk, Dnepropetrovsk, Kyiv, Tula, Moscow, Leningrad, Odessa, Voronezh, Rostov, Stalingrad, Sevastopol and others. In these battles, air defense became an integral part of the defensive operations of our Ground Forces, and anti-aircraft artillery became a powerful means of air and anti-tank defense.

The first months of the war showed the important role of aviation in achieving operational and tactical successes and the weakness of the air defense of our troops. One of the main reasons for the defeats of our troops during this period was the lack of a sufficient number of ground forces and air defense systems capable of reliably covering units and formations, being in constant readiness to repel air strikes. At the same time, the dual subordination of anti-aircraft artillery formations, when the Reserve divisions of the Supreme High Command (RVGK) were subordinate to the head of the Air Defense Directorate, and units and units of combined arms formations were subordinate to the artillery chiefs, did not contribute to their effective use. Already the first months of the war showed major shortcomings in the organization of air defense, which allowed the enemy to launch sudden, unpunished air strikes.

In November 1941, the bulk of the forces and means of anti-aircraft artillery, as well as the Main Directorate of Air Defense, which exercised the leadership of ZA, were transferred to the Air Defense Forces of the country. During this difficult period of the Great Patriotic War, military air defense was left without a central governing and supporting body. The supply of anti-aircraft weapons directly to the fronts has sharply decreased. Thus, in the second half of 1941, they were allocated about 13% of the guns produced by the military industry.

It was necessary to take steps as soon as possible to strengthen military air defense. The authority and actions of the chief of artillery of the Red Army N.N. played a certain role in this. Voronova. On February 28, 1942, in his report to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, he raised the question of the leadership of military air defense. By order of the NKO of June 2, 1942, all ground units and air defense units operating as part of the fronts were subordinated to the chief of artillery of the Red Army and the chiefs of artillery of the fronts and armies. Front air defense departments and army air defense departments were transformed into air defense departments and divisions. The position of deputy chief of front (army) artillery for air defense was introduced into the departments of artillery chiefs of fronts and armies. An air defense department was created at the headquarters of the chief of artillery of the Red Army. The same order introduced the Regulations on Deputy Chiefs of Artillery of Fronts and Armies for Air Defense. During the war, generals V.G. fought in these positions. Pozdnyakov, L.N. Polosukhin, S.E. Prokhorov, M.M. Karlin, M.I. Rybakov, A.A. Matyukhin and many others.

Thus, the dual subordination of military air defense units was eliminated, and their management from top to bottom became unified. The same order created an anti-aircraft artillery training center, where a few days later the formation of army and front-line air defense regiments began. The distribution of anti-aircraft weapons coming from factories was also revised in favor of the fronts. With the increase in the amount of weapons supplied by industrial enterprises moved to the eastern regions of the country, it became possible to form new air defense units and formations.

In October 1942, the formation of anti-aircraft artillery divisions of the RVGK began. Already in November 1942, the first two divisions were sent to Stalingrad and made a significant contribution to the defeat of the Nazi group. In the Battle of Stalingrad, for the first time, an encircled group of fascist troops was blocked from the air, which significantly contributed to its defeat. This was the first example of the massive use of military air defense groups and their skillful maneuvering during the battle.

With the beginning of the formation and dispatch of anti-aircraft artillery divisions of the RVGK to the front, military anti-aircraft artillery grew into a force capable of successfully fighting enemy aircraft and reliably covering troops in defensive and offensive operations. By the beginning of 1944, each of the fronts had from 9 to 12 anti-aircraft artillery divisions and 10-15 anti-aircraft artillery regiments.

In November 1942, an Air Defense Directorate was created as part of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Artillery Commander to provide management of ground-based air defense systems of the fronts. It included the air defense department of the artillery headquarters with operational functions and the anti-aircraft artillery combat training department from the Artillery Combat Training Directorate.

The successes achieved by 1944 in the combat use of anti-aircraft artillery in massing forces and assets in the main directions of troop operations predetermined the paths for its further organizational development. Enlargement of its formations was considered as one of the ways to improve the organization of anti-aircraft artillery.

During the war, military air defense constantly grew in quantity and at its final stage, 61 anti-aircraft artillery divisions of the RVGK, 192 anti-aircraft artillery regiments of small caliber, 97 separate divisions of the RVGK, which consisted of about 11 thousand anti-aircraft guns, operated on the fronts.

The main burden of the fight against the air enemy fell on the military air defense. The anti-aircraft artillery of the fronts and the RVGK divisions attached to them made a significant contribution to the overall victory in the Great Patriotic War. During the war, 21,645 aircraft were shot down by ground-based military air defense systems, of which: medium-caliber aircraft - 4,047 aircraft; FOR small caliber - 14657 aircraft; anti-aircraft machine guns - 2401 aircraft; rifle and machine gun fire - 540 aircraft. In addition, the ground forces of the fronts destroyed over a thousand tanks, self-propelled guns and armored personnel carriers, tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and officers.

182 units, units and formations of the air defense fronts were awarded the title of guards, 250 were awarded orders (including 18 three times and 54 twice), 211 were awarded the honorary title of liberated cities. Many anti-aircraft divisions had several hundred aircraft shot down. Thus, the 18th Artillery, three times decorated Simferopol Division, under the command of Colonel S.A. Kalinichenko shot down 598 fascist aircraft, the 3rd Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery, three times awarded Rechitsa-Brandenburg Division, commanded by Major General I.M. Seredin, shot down 504 enemy aircraft.

The anti-aircraft gunners covered themselves with unfading glory. In the fight against the Nazi invaders, they showed examples of courage and heroism. 54 anti-aircraft gunners were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Let's remember them by name: M.R. Abrosimov, K.V. Aksenov, N.V. Andryushok, P.Ya. Anuchkin, A.V. Asmanov, E.M. Ayanyan, I.P. Bedin, M.I. Bondarenko, I.N. Brusov, A.A. Brykin, A.G. Vavilov, F.V. Vaskin, P.T. Volkov, V.V. Volsky, I.P. Gorchakov, I.A. Grafov, D.Kh. Guba, V.T. Gurin, G.E. Guseinov, A.F. Grebnev, G.B. Dernovsky, Ya.T. Didok, I.K. Egorov, V.I. Eremenev, P.A. Zhulyabin, A.A. Zabronsky, A.F. Zubarev, A.I. Kazakov, P.S. Kandaurov, V.M. Kozlov, M.I. Kozomazov, V.F. Kolbnev, M.I. Komarov, P.G. Lavrentiev, L.S. Mereshko, A.S. Milyutin, A.Ya. Mikhailov, P.P. Morozov, V.F. Mytsyk, N.M. Nikolaev, V.K. Oleinik, A.S. Peshakov, F.M. Puzyrev, I.S. Pienzin, N.I. Rogov, N.V. Romashko, A.E. Rumyantsev, P.A. Slabinyuk, I.I. Sorokin, I.P. Sorokin, I.F. Stepanov, V.I. Temchuk, I.S. Fursenko, V.A. Chernoshein.

I would like to dwell on some of the exploits of anti-aircraft gunner heroes. For example, the commander of the anti-aircraft machine gun squad of the 1995th anti-aircraft artillery regiment, junior sergeant I.N. Brusov. At the front since May 1944. On January 25, 1945, during heavy battles for the liberation of Poland, his crew covered the crossing of the river from the air. Oder. While repelling an enemy attack from the air, his crew was shot down by an enemy fighter. I.N. himself Brusov was wounded. Overcoming the pain, he took the gunner's place and shot down another enemy fighter. He died in the same battle. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded posthumously.

Gunner of the 1334th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, Junior Sergeant A.G. Vavilov fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from September 1942. He distinguished himself in the battles for the city of Kyiv. Taking part in repelling numerous enemy air attacks, on September 10, 1943 he shot down one enemy bomber, and on September 27 and 29, three more enemy bombers. On November 3 and 4, replacing the wounded gun commander, he shot down three aircraft. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded in February 1944.

Gun commander of the 1346th anti-aircraft artillery regiment, Sergeant V.T. Gurin fought since 1941. He distinguished himself in the battles for the liberation of the Sumy and Poltava regions in August 1943, where he shot down 4 enemy aircraft with his crew. In October 1943, the crew of V.T. Gurina, as part of the battery, covered the crossing on the Dnieper River from enemy air raids. When repelling another raid by enemy aircraft, the crew was destroyed. V.T. Gurin was left alone, but continued to fire and shot down an enemy bomber. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded posthumously.

This year marks a significant date - the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. I would like to bow low to all the veterans who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of our Motherland. Its participants, military air defense veterans Major General V.M., are still alive and well among us. Galev, N.N. Osintsev, M.A. Letun, Colonels V.V. Vorobyov, E.Ya. Shereshevsky, N.N. Rusakov, N.P. Surikov, M.A. Morgunov, N.S. Rudakov, A.F. Stalnov and many others. Even today, in difficult conditions for all of us, they are actively passing on their knowledge, experience, and traditions to a new generation of anti-aircraft gunners. I would like to express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart, to wish you to remain in our ranks longer and not grow old in soul.

The current generation of Russian soldiers, brought up on the exploits of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, honors and enhances their glorious military traditions. This happened in Afghanistan, and this happened again in the Chechen Republic. For the courage and heroism shown in battles with terrorists, the commander of the anti-aircraft platoon of the 76th Airborne Division, Senior Lieutenant A.N. Sherstyannikov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. Junior Sergeant M.A. was awarded the Order of Courage. Kasterin, crew number of the anti-aircraft battery of the anti-aircraft division.

At the end of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet government moved to reduce the Armed Forces. The transfer of military air defense to peacetime states provided for the reorganization of anti-aircraft divisions into brigades and regiments, and anti-aircraft regiments into divisions.

The experience of the Great Patriotic War and the rapid development of air attack weapons in the post-war period, as well as a qualitative change in the Ground Forces themselves, required the improvement of ground-based air defense systems. In the first post-war years, designers I.S. Leshchinsky, S.V. Vladimirov, G.P. Markov, E.D. Vodopyanov, E.K. Rachinsky, V.G. Grabin, L.V. Lyuliev, A.T. Ginzburg developed new automated anti-aircraft artillery systems (ZAK) of small, medium and large calibers, as well as multi-barreled anti-aircraft artillery and machine gun mounts.

Another success of the team of the Research Institute of Radio Industry, headed by N.L. Popov and A.A. The final step was the development of enemy air reconnaissance radar stations MOST-2, P-3, P-8, P-10. The leading role in the development of these radars belongs to I.N. Antonov, E.Ya. Boguslavsky, R.S. Budanov, L.V. Leono-vu, P.V. Podgornov, A.I. Shestakov, M.M. Lobanov, A.I. Oblezin.

In the first post-war years, all ground-based air defense systems remained subordinate to the artillery commander, whose management was included in the Main Command of the Ground Forces. The military anti-aircraft artillery department directly supervised the combat training of formations and units. The first head of this department was Lieutenant General of Artillery S.I. Makeev.

The material base for military air defense combat training, where military skill was forged, was made up of district anti-aircraft artillery training centers or anti-aircraft artillery firing sectors, which were created in each district. They practiced tactical training tasks, conducted tactical live-fire exercises, and exercises on fire control of anti-aircraft artillery units and subunits.

At the end of 1947, by decree of the country's top leadership, a special commission was appointed to deal with air defense problems. The commission was headed by Marshal of the Soviet Union L.A. Govorov. As a result of the work done, the country's Air Defense Forces became a branch of the Armed Forces and were removed from the subordination of the artillery commander and the Main Command of the Ground Forces. Responsibility for air defense in the border zone was assigned to the commanders of the military districts.

The need for further reform of the air defense system in general, and military air defense in particular, was justified by the conclusions based on the results of military exercises at the Totsky training ground of the Volga Military District in June-September 1954 under the leadership of the USSR Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union N.A. Bulganina. During the exercise, an extremely unfavorable situation with the state of control and interaction of air defense forces and means was clearly revealed, in particular, due to the lack of reliable radar reconnaissance equipment and automated control systems at command posts (CP).

In 1956, on the initiative of the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev, the Military Air Defense Directorate is created as part of the General Staff of the Ground Forces. Major General A.G. was appointed head of the Department. Burykin. The positions of air defense chiefs are being introduced in military districts, armies (corps) and divisions. However, as practice has shown, the measures taken to improve the command and control system of military forces and air defense systems did not produce positive results. The leadership of the military defense and radio engineering units continued to remain scattered. This had a negative impact on their combat training, the organization of interaction between them, as well as with fighter aircraft.

Thanks to the initiative and perseverance of the first deputy commander of artillery of the Soviet Army, Marshal of Artillery V.I. Kazakov when summing up the results of a command and staff exercise with the troops of the Belarusian Military District, held in July 1957, in the report of the USSR Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov for the first time recognized the need to create a new type of troops in the Ground Forces - air defense troops. The General Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces were assigned specific tasks to substantiate these proposals. It was also decided to conduct a research exercise on air defense in the Baltic Military District, which took place in September 1957.

The conclusion was clear - in the interests of the unity of command of all forces and means of air defense of troops, increasing efficiency in the fight against an air enemy, improving interaction with the Air Force (Air Force), the country's Air Defense Forces and covered troops, it is necessary to create a new branch of troops in the Ground Forces - air defense troops.

Creation and development of air defense troops of the Ground Forces (1958 - 1998)

On August 16, 1958, by order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 0069, a new branch of the military was created - the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces. Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Artillery V.I., was appointed the first head of the air defense forces. Kazakov, who actively participated in the formation of the military branch and exercised direct leadership over it in the period from 1958 to 1965.

The air defense forces of the Air Force included individual S-75 anti-aircraft missile regiments, anti-aircraft artillery divisions of the RVGK, radio technical regiments of military districts and groups of forces, radio technical battalions of armies and army corps, air defense forces and means of motorized rifle and tank divisions and regiments, as well as higher educational institutions and military air defense training centers.

The Office of the Chief of Air Defense Troops of the Ground Forces is being created in the Main Command of the Ground Forces. In military districts, armies and army corps, combined arms formations and units, the position of chief of troops (chief) of air defense with the corresponding administrative apparatus is being introduced. The first chiefs of air defense troops of military districts and groups of troops were: Lieutenant General A.N. Burykin, A.M. Ambartsumyan, Major General N.G. Dokuchaev, P.I. Lavrenovich, O.V. Kuprevich, V.A. Gatsolaev, V.P. Shulga, N.G. Chuprina, V.A. Mitronin, T.V. Melnikov, N.V. Basansky, A.D. Konovod, P.S. Bimbash, N.S. Zheltov, N.L. Podkopaev, F.E. Burlak, P.I. Kozyrev, V.F. Shestakov, O.V. Kuprevich, Colonel G.S. Pyshnenko.

First of all, the leadership of the military branch and the Ministry of Defense was faced with the task of equipping the air defense forces of the ground forces with modern anti-aircraft weapons. With the creation of aviation equipped with jet engines, aircraft flight speeds, their service ceiling and maneuverability have increased significantly. All this placed higher demands on the armament of the air defense troops of the North. Anti-aircraft artillery could no longer effectively solve the problem of combating enemy air. Anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) were to become the main means of air defense.

In 1958-1959, the formation of the first anti-aircraft missile regiments began, armed with the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system, developed for the country's Air Defense Forces. Among the first regiment commanders were future generals S.M. Mukhanov, A.Ya. Ganja.

With the beginning of the formation of anti-aircraft missile regiments, the question arose about the procedure for mastering new military equipment. In order to retrain personnel for new military equipment, the 6th military anti-aircraft artillery training center was formed in May 1958 in the city of Bogodukhov, Kharkov region. The formation of the training center, the establishment of the educational process, the creation of educational and material base was entrusted to the first heads of the training center, participants in the Great Patriotic War, generals M.P. Botina, I.I. Vasilenko, Colonel Yu.A. Andersen. Subsequently, the heads of the Bogodukhovsky training center were also: Major General S.M. Mukhanov, N.M. Bannikov, B.V. Karelin, M.F. Pichugin, Colonel K.I. Adamov.

The theoretical training course for anti-aircraft missile units at the training center lasted 4-6 months. Upon its completion, the anti-aircraft regiments were sent to the State Test Site of the Air Defense Forces (Ashuluk, Astrakhan region), where they passed exams on the material part, received weapons and military equipment (WME) from industry, mastered it, carried out docking combat missile launches, and after completing this practical course were sent to the place of permanent deployment.

The officers and all personnel of the anti-aircraft missile regiments with great enthusiasm mastered new military equipment, techniques and methods of its combat use. In the very first years of operation of the S-75 air defense system in the air defense forces of the North, due to the rationalization proposals of the personnel, the standards for the deployment of air defense systems and the preparation of equipment for combat work were significantly reduced. Instead of 4-6 hours provided for by the standards of combat work in the country's Air Defense Forces, the time was reduced to 1 hour, which sharply increased the maneuverability of units and units armed with this air defense system.

However, the maneuverability of the S-75 air defense system remained very low. There is an urgent need to develop anti-aircraft missile systems for military air defense. The main requirements for them were mobility and maneuverability no lower than that of the covered troops. Therefore, already in 1958, work began on the development of anti-aircraft missile systems for military air defense "Circle" and "Cube".

Anti-aircraft artillery systems were also improved. In 1957, under the leadership of chief designers N.A. Astrov and V.E. Pikkel, the development of the all-weather self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery system ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" began. The installation was supposed to replace towed small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine gun mounts used for air defense of units of motorized rifle (tank) regiments. In 1962, the Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled gun (ZSU) was adopted by the Air Defense Forces. This was the first self-propelled gun in the history of the development of domestic anti-aircraft weapons, capable of firing at air targets in motion.

In the 60s, the sets of air defense troops of the North were determined, based on the experience of the Great Patriotic War and verified during combat training. Air defense units, units and formations are included in all combined arms formations and associations:

In the motorized rifle company there is a squad of anti-aircraft gunners armed with the Strela-2 man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS);

In a motorized rifle (tank) battalion (as part of the battalion headquarters) there is a squad of anti-aircraft gunners armed with Strela-2 MANPADS;

In a motorized rifle (tank) regiment there is an anti-aircraft artillery battery consisting of a ZU-2Z-2 platoon and a ZPU-4 platoon;

In the motorized rifle (tank) division - an anti-aircraft artillery regiment armed with ZAK S-60 (4 batteries of six 57-mm AZP); radar reconnaissance and communications platoon (two P-15 radars and R-104 radio station);

In the combined arms (tank) army - a separate anti-aircraft missile regiment S-75 (3 divisions of 6 launchers each); a separate radio technical battalion consisting of four radar companies;

In the military district - an anti-aircraft artillery division consisting of two zenaps armed with ZAK KS-19, two zenaps armed with ZAK S-60; a separate radio-technical regiment consisting of three radio-technical battalions of four radar companies each.

To retrain the personnel of air defense units of small and medium-sized infantry (tp) on the new military equipment ZSU-23-4 "Shilka", air defense systems "Strela-1", MANPADS "Strela-2" (3)" in 1958 in the city of Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, training center for the combat use of military air defense. The heads of the Berdyansk training center were: Colonels I.P. Bazenkov, V.P. Naumov, A.T. B.E. Skorik, E.G. Shcherbakov, N.N. Gavrichishin, D.V.

During the 60-70s, the first generation anti-aircraft systems of the air defense forces “Krug”, “Cube”, “Strela-1”, “Osa”, portable anti-aircraft missile complex (MANPADS) "Strela-2".

A huge contribution to the creation and adoption of these complexes, which laid the foundation for the anti-aircraft missile technology of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, was made by the general designers: Laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.P. Efremov, Laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, Doctor of Technical Sciences A.A. Rastov, Laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences S.P. Invincible.

Creative teams of designers and workers worked actively under their leadership. A major contribution to the development of anti-aircraft weapons for the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces was made by designers B.I. Shavyrin, L.V. Lyulev, I.M. Drize, V.V. Razenberg, A.P. Goldberg, A.F. Usolev, G.S. Efimov, A.P. Khorikov, A.I. Yaskin, V.V. Tikhomirov, Yu.N. Figurnovsky, V.K. Grishin, A.L. Lyapin, I.G. Akopyan, A.E. Nudelman, I.M. Drize, P.D. Grushin, V.G. Svetlov and many others.

During the same period, new mobile radar stations for detecting air enemy P-15, P-40, P-18, P-19 were put into service. The development of these radars was carried out under the direct supervision of chief designers B.P. Lebedeva, L.I. Shulman, V.V. Reisberg, V.A. Kravchuk. A.P. took the most active part in the development and modernization of the radar. Vetoshko, A.A. Mamaev, L.F. Alterman, V.N. Stolyarov, Yu.A. Weiner, A.G. Gorinshtein, N.A. Volsky.

In the period 1965-1969, the leadership of the air defense troops of the Ground Forces was carried out by Colonel General V.G. Privalov. He went through a glorious military career from a platoon commander of an artillery regiment to the head of the air defense forces of the Army. During the Great Patriotic War, he commanded an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, served as deputy commander of an air defense division, and chief of staff of the army air defense.

During his tenure as chief of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, he managed to solve the following main problems:

To achieve the creation of the first production samples of anti-aircraft missile weapons for military air defense: air defense systems "Krug", "Kub", "Osa", "Strela-1", MANPADS "Strela-2", ZSU-23-4 "Shilka";

Organize joint testing (industry and troops) of created anti-aircraft weapons at state testing grounds;

Create a training center for the combat use of air defense forces at the Emba training ground and a training center in Kungur;

Organize the retraining of anti-aircraft artillery units for anti-aircraft missile systems, followed by live firing;

Improve the educational and material base of universities and training centers of the Air Defense Forces;

Include in the military districts and armies anti-aircraft missile brigades "Krug", motorized rifle (tank) divisions - anti-aircraft missile regiments "Cube", motorized rifle (tank) regiments - anti-aircraft platoons armed with the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" and the air defense missile system "Strela- 1".

The Motherland highly appreciated the merits of Colonel General V. G. Privalov, awarding him the Order of Lenin, the Order October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, two Orders of the Red Star and numerous medals.

Anti-aircraft weapons of the Air Defense Forces were actively used in local wars and armed conflicts post-war period. Thus, in the Vietnam War (1965-1973), the S-75 Dvina anti-aircraft missile systems were used for the first time in combat conditions. During the period of hostilities, American troops lost more than 1,300 combat aircraft from the fire of this air defense system alone.

Between April 28 and July 14, 1972, South Vietnamese patriots fired 161 shots from Strela-2 MANPADS, shooting down 14 enemy aircraft and 10 helicopters.

In the Arab-Israeli conflict (1967-1973), the Kvadrat air defense system (a modification of the Kub air defense system), Strela-2 MANPADS, ZSU-23-4, and anti-aircraft artillery were actively used. The Kvadrat air defense system showed the highest firing efficiency. For example, on October 7, 1973, 3 zrdn 79 zrbr shot down 7 aircraft, and 2 zrdn 82 zrbr shot down 13 enemy aircraft. Most of the firing was carried out under conditions of intense fire and interference from the enemy.

Units armed with Strela-2M MANPADS and ZSU-23-4 Shilka also performed well. During the war, anti-aircraft gunners conducted about 300 fires at air targets, shooting down 23 enemy aircraft. In the period from October 6 to October 24, 1973, 11 aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft batteries armed with ZSU-23-4.
Local wars using Soviet-made anti-aircraft weapons confirmed the high effectiveness of anti-aircraft weapons created for the Air Defense Forces. The experience of combat use of anti-aircraft formations, units and subunits was actively used to improve the combat use of air defense troops and personnel training.

In the 70s, there was further improvement in the organizational structure of the air defense forces. According to the state it was proposed to have:

In a motorized rifle (tank) battalion there is an anti-aircraft missile platoon armed with MANPADS;

In the motorized rifle (tank) regiment there is an anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery consisting of two platoons armed with the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” and the “Strela-1” air defense system;

In a motorized rifle (tank) division there is an anti-aircraft missile regiment armed with a five-battery "Kub" or "Osa" air defense system; platoon of radar reconnaissance and control of the division's air defense chief;

In the combined arms (tank) army - the Krug anti-aircraft missile brigade of three divisions; a separate radio technical battalion consisting of four radar companies; Army air defense command post;

In the military district - an anti-aircraft missile and artillery division as part of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile regiment; zenap, armed with ZAK KS-19; two zenapas armed with ZAK S-60; anti-aircraft missile brigade "Krug"; separate radio engineering regiment; District air defense command post.

The rearmament of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces and a change in views on their combat use urgently required further improvement in the training of officers with higher military education. In August 1962, the anti-aircraft artillery department was relocated from the Military Artillery Command Academy to the Kiev Higher Artillery Engineering School named after Kirov. A huge amount of work on the development of KVAIU was done by the head of the school, Major General of Artillery E.M. Kraskevich.

In April 1965, with the adoption of the Krug air defense system, the Orenburg Training Center was formed and began retraining personnel. Since 1985, he switched to retraining anti-aircraft missile brigades armed with S-300V air defense systems, and since 1992, anti-aircraft missile regiments armed with Tor air defense systems. The heads of the training center made a great contribution to the training of specialists for the Air Defense Forces: Major General A.I. Dunaev, V.I. Chebotarev, V.G. Gusev, V.R. Volyanik, Colonels B.V. Shlyapkin, V.I. Shcherbakov, N.N. Gavrichishin, I.M. Gizatulin.

In October 1967, in the Ural Military District (Perm Region), the Kungur Anti-Aircraft Missile Training Center of the Air Defense Forces of the North was formed, which began retraining military units rearmed with the Kub air defense system, and since 1982 - with the Buk air defense system. A huge contribution to the development of the center and the training of specialists for the Air Defense Forces was made by the heads of the training center: Colonels I.M. Pospelov, V.S. Boronitsky, V.M. Ruban, V.A. Starun, V.L. Kanevsky, V.I. Petrov, L.M. Chukin, V.M. Syskov.

During its existence, the Kungur training center retrained 43 anti-aircraft missile regiments (1968-1981), 21 anti-aircraft missile brigades "Buk" (1981-1997) on the Kub air defense system, trained several thousand sergeants and specialist soldiers for the troops Air defense SV.

With the re-equipment of the Air Defense Forces with anti-aircraft missile systems, the district anti-aircraft artillery training centers no longer met the needs of anti-aircraft units and formations in organizing and conducting tactical exercises with live fire. Therefore, in November 1967, in the Aktobe region (Republic of Kazakhstan) on the territory of the State training ground, a training center for the combat use of air defense troops of the Ground Forces was created. The training center was intended to conduct tactical exercises with live firing of formations and units of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces. The exercises were carried out against a complex tactical background with the actual performance of long combined marches. Over the years of the existence of the training center, over 800 tactical live-fire exercises have been conducted on its territory, and about 6,000 combat launches of missile defense systems have been carried out. Heads of the training center in different years were: Colonels K.D. Tigipko, I.T. Petrov, V.I. Valyaev, D.A. Kazyarsky, A.K. Tutushin, D.V. Pasko, M.F. Pichugin, V.N. Tymchenko, R.B. Tagirov, A.B. Skorokhodov.

It was widely practiced at the Emba Training Center, together with the Military Academy of the Air Defense Forces, universities and research institutes, to conduct practical tests of the provisions of the Battle Manuals, the Rules for Firing Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems, Fire Control Manuals and experimental work to improve equipment and weapons during tactical live-fire exercises.

At the end of the 80s, a new method began to be practiced for air defense troops of the ground forces to enter the training ground - as part of an army (corps) group. This ensured the development of issues of command and control of troops during combat operations, their interaction, the involvement of command posts of all levels, as well as officers of command and control bodies of both full and reduced strength, in command and control of troops.

In general, the activities of training centers ensured high degree training of personnel for formations and units of the armed forces during the continuous process of rearmament of formations and air defense units of the Army with new military equipment, as well as communication between industry and troops.

In 1970, in order to improve the quality of training of specialist officers of ZAK and short-range air defense systems and short range The Smolensk Higher Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command School was created. The heads of the school, Major General A.Ya., made a great contribution to the development of the educational and material base of the school and the training of officers for the Air Defense Forces of the Air Force. Ganzha, V.M. Ruban, V.L. Kanevsky.

From 1969 to 1981, Colonel General P.G. served as chief of the air defense forces of the Northern Forces. Levchenko. During this period of leadership of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, he managed to solve the following main problems:

Introduce into the troops the anti-aircraft missile systems "Krug", "Cube", "Osa", "Strela-1", MANPADS "Strela-2", ZSU-23-4;

Lay the foundations for the further development of second-generation anti-aircraft weapons for the air defense forces of the North: S-300 air defense systems, Buk, Tor air defense systems, Tunguska air defense systems;

Organize tactical exercises with live firing of air defense formations and units at the Emba State training ground at least once every two years;

Create a branch of the Military Artillery Academy in Kyiv, and then the Military Air Defense Academy of the Ground Forces named after Vasilevsky;

Create a training center for training foreign air defense specialists in the city of Mary and organize the supply of air defense weapons to foreign countries;

Create a research institute for air defense forces in the city of Kyiv.

The Motherland highly appreciated the services of Colonel General of Artillery P. G. Levchenko, awarding him the Order of the October Revolution, three Orders of the Red Banner of Battle, two Orders of the Red Star and many medals.

To carry out scientific research In the interests of developing the Air Defense Forces in 1971, a decision was made to create 39 research institutes. The institute was headed by the head of the State training ground, Major General V.D. Kirichenko. In a short time, the staff was staffed, the placement of employees was organized, and the institute staff began to carry out the tasks assigned to it. In 1983, Major General I.F. was appointed head of the 39 Scientific Research Institute. Losev. In general, the purposeful work of the team of the 39th Research Institute made it possible to correctly determine the paths for the development of the military branch, create new models and weapons systems, create balanced sets of air defense forces and equipment, and provide the troops with the necessary combat documents.

The intensive development of aviation, radio electronics, and the widespread introduction of new technologies into military affairs have raised the question of the need for a systematic approach to substantiating the composition and characteristics of second-generation air defense weapons of the Air Defense Forces. Generals and officers of the Directorate of Anti-Aircraft Troops took an active part in the development of tactical and technical requirements for the weapon system for the second generation air defense forces of the Air Force, the fundamentals of its combat use, Manuals on combat work, shooting rules, as well as in the direct conduct of joint and state tests of new types of weapons. defense of the Ground Forces, universities and air defense training centers of the Army: Colonel General P.G. Levchenko, Yu.T. Chesnokov, B.I. Dukhov, V.K. Chertkov, V.V. Litvinov; Lieutenant General Yu.A. Andersen, I.F. Olenovich, V.S. Kuzmichev, Yu.P. Belkov, V.K. Zhdanovich, I.Yu. Malkov, V.Yu. Malkov, V.P. Baranovsky, P.P. Polyakh, V.K. Avdeev, M.A. Sultygov, A.V. Andrushchak, G.P. Kupriyanov, V.D. Kirichenko; Major General V.M. Galev, A.G. Luzan, Yu.V. Bogdanov, A.V. Tamgin, I.F. Losev, V.I. Shcherbakov, V.R. Volyanik, V.M. Ruban, G.D. Verbitsky, Yu.D. Chevokin, V.S. Suzdaltsev; Colonels N.N. Falev, S.G. Shcherbakov, A.A. Zorkov, S.P. Sevastyanov, G.B. Balashov, S.P. Zhitnikov, R.B. Tagirov.

In the 80s, the second generation of anti-aircraft systems was formed for the air defense forces of the North: the S-ZOOV anti-aircraft missile system (ZRS), the Buk, Tor, Strela-10 air defense systems, the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun-missile system (ZPRK) ", MANPADS "Igla" with reconnaissance and automated control systems integrated into them.

A huge contribution to the creation and adoption of these complexes, which laid the foundation for the anti-aircraft missile technology of the air defense forces of the Northern Forces, was made by chief designers V.P. Efremov, A.A. Rastov, A.G. Shipunov, A.E. Nudelman, S.P. Invincible. Creative teams of designers and workers worked actively under their leadership. Designers I.M. made a great contribution to the development of these air defense systems. Drize, V.P. Gryazev, V.M. Kuznetsov, E.A. Pigin.

For effective application Modern automated control systems (ACS) are being created in the Northern Air Defense Forces. The main directions of development of automated control systems for air defense troops were:

Creation of automation systems (CAS) for front (army) air defense command posts (KShM MP-06, MP-02) and a command post for the division air defense chief (MP-22, MP-25, MP-23);

Creation of automated control points for radar companies of air defense units and formations (PORI-P2, PORI-P1);

Creation of automation means for combat operations control of air defense units, units and formations of the Air Force: "Polyana-D1", "Polyana-D4", mobile reconnaissance and control point PPRU-1 "Ovod-M-SV", unified battery command post (UBKP) " Rank."

The following people were directly involved in the creation of a complex of automated control systems and weapons for air defense troops: Colonel General Yu.T. Chesnokov, E.V. Kalashnikov, Lieutenant General V.V. Litvinov, F.M. Antropov, I.Yu. Malkov, Major General A.G. Luzan, Yu.D. Chevokin, A.I. Soldatenko, Colonels N.N. Falev, S.G. Shcherbakov, O.V. Chubarov, A.M. Chubukov.

In the 70-80s, it was possible to create new, more advanced mobile radar stations for combat and standby modes for the air defense forces: "Obzor-3" (9S15M), "Ginger" (9S19M2), "Sky-SV" (1L13), “Dome” (9С18), “Casta-2-2” (39Н6). The development and adoption of these radars was carried out under the leadership of chief designers Yu.A. Kuznetsova, G.N. Golubeva,. V.P. Nechaeva, I.G. Krylova, A.P. Vetoshko, Yu.P. Shchekotova A significant contribution to the creation of the station was made by I.A. Bisyarin, V.P. Guryev, Yu.A. Kozhukhov, V.I. Zgoda, L.F. Alterman, A.A. Mamaev, Yu.G. Sizov, S.F. Snopko, A.L. Skokov, A.P. Borodulin, Yu.V. Nechaev, P.V. Starodymov; I.D. Volkov, M.B. Duel, I.L. Davidovsky, Yu.V. Leonov, G.V. Vladimirovsky, E.P. Koryakin, M.A. Medov, M.A. Ostrovsky, L.A. Rozhansky, V.A. Lazarev, Yu.A. Kuznetsov, A.P. Vetoshko, Yu.P. Shchekotov, V.A. Greshnov, N.S. Smal, A.V. Esin, Yu.D. Khamuev, V.P. Kozhaev, V.A. Zhibinov, A.G. Larin and many others.

In the 80s, due to the arrival of new military equipment and automated means of controlling weapons and troops, the sets of air defense troops of the Air Force underwent further changes:

In the motorized rifle (tank) regiment there is an anti-aircraft division consisting of the Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile battery, an anti-aircraft missile battery armed with Igla MANPADS, and a Tunguska anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery;

In a motorized rifle (tank) division - an anti-aircraft missile regiment "Thor" of four batteries or an anti-aircraft missile regiment "Osa" of five batteries; platoon of the division's air defense chief;

In the combined arms (tank) army there is a four-division Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile brigade with three batteries in each division, a separate radio engineering battalion; automated army air defense command post;

In the military district there is an anti-aircraft missile and artillery division consisting of one or two Krug anti-aircraft missile brigades, two or three zenabras armed with the KS-19 ZAK, one zenabra armed with the S-60 ZAK; S-300V anti-aircraft missile brigade consisting of three divisions of three batteries; a separate radio engineering brigade consisting of four radio engineering battalions (4 radar companies in each); automated air defense command post of the district.

The adoption of increasingly complex military equipment and weapons required improved training of officers for the troops. On June 20, 1977, the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces was created in Kiev on the basis of a branch of the artillery academy. The basis of the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces was made up of the faculties and departments of the branch, which had a rich history, traditions and had already accumulated extensive experience in training and educating several generations of leading officers for the branch of the armed forces. The heads of the academy in various years were Colonel General A.I. Kozhevnikov, L.M. Goncharov, B.I. Spirits. In February 1978, the academy was named after the outstanding commander, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal A.M. Vasilevsky.

In 1980, by decision of the military and political leadership of the USSR, another reorganization of the air defense system was carried out. The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces merged with the Air Defense Forces of the country. For this purpose, the country's air defense formations and formations deployed on the territory of border military districts were reorganized into air defense corps and, together with air defense fighter aircraft, were transferred to the subordination of the commanders of the military districts. The Office of the Chief of Air Defense Troops of the Ground Forces was also reorganized and headed by the Commander of Military Air Defense - the First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces - included in the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Air Defense.

The commanders of the military districts were entrusted with responsibility for the air defense of the country's facilities and troops within established boundaries, operational planning and use of the Air Defense Forces, their mobilization and combat readiness, organization of combat duty, control over the flight regime of aviation of all ministries and departments, provision of weapons and equipment , construction of air defense facilities.

In fact, this was a return to the rejected practice of organizing air defense during the period 1948-1953. Therefore, such a structure could not exist for a long time. All this predetermined the relatively short period of existence of the new version of the organization and subordination structure of military air defense. In April 1985, it was considered expedient to withdraw military air defense troops from the country's Air Defense Forces and return them to the Ground Forces. During the same period, the Directorate of the Air Defense Chief of the Army was formed.

In the period 1980-1989. The personnel of the Air Defense Forces of the Air Force carried out combat missions as part of a limited contingent of Soviet troops on the territory of the Republic of Afghanistan. The direct leadership of the army's air defense troops was carried out by the air defense commanders, Major General V.S. Kuzmichev, Colonel V.I. Chebotarev. The air defense units of the Army did not conduct combat operations to repel air strikes, but all elements of the air defense system of the 40th Army were deployed and ready to carry out combat missions. Anti-aircraft artillery units, mainly armed with ZAK "Shilka" and S-60, were used to escort columns and engage enemy personnel and firing points. A large number of air defense troops officers served in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan during this period. Among them are Colonels A.S. Kovalev, M.M. Fakhrutdinov, Lieutenant Colonels I.V. Svirin, A.Ya. Osherov, S.I. Chernobrivets, B.P. Goltsov and many others.

In the period from 1981 to 1991, the head of the air defense forces of the North was Colonel General Yu.T. Chesnokov. During this period of leadership of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, he managed to solve the following main problems:

Return the Office of the Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces to the Civil Command of the Ground Forces;

Create a clear structure of the air defense troops of the ground forces from the small and medium-sized infantry (tp) to the district inclusive, taking into account the new air defense systems adopted for service;

Unite disparate air defense systems of MSR, MSB into anti-aircraft divisions of MSP (TP);

Create automated control systems for air defense troops from the small and medium-sized infantry (tp) to the front inclusive, based on the "Maneuver" automated control system kits;

Equip the air defense troops of the North with new anti-aircraft systems "Tunguska", "Tor", "Buk", S-300V, "Igla";

To develop a draft order of the USSR Minister of Defense on the maximum service life of air defense systems and air defense systems and achieve its implementation, which made it possible to have real plans for the re-equipment of the air defense forces of the ground forces.

The Motherland highly appreciated the services of Colonel General Yu.T. Chesnokov, awarding him the Order of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" II and III degrees, as well as many medals and foreign orders.

In the period from 1991 to 2000, the head of the air defense forces of the North was Colonel General B.I. Spirits. During this period of leadership of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, he managed to solve the following main problems:

On the basis of the Smolensk Higher Engineering School of Radio Electronics, create the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation and a research center;

During the period of large-scale reduction of the Armed Forces as a whole, maintain sets of air defense troops in the military districts, armies (AC), divisions (brigades), regiments;

Carry out work on the practical unification of military forces and air defense systems of various types of armed forces and military branches into the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The Motherland highly appreciated the merits of Colonel General B.I. Dukhov, awarding him the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree, the Order "For Military Merit" and nine medals.

In 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed. The government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense were faced with a difficult task - in a short time, in conditions of limited material and financial capabilities, to carry out radical reforms, create new educational institutions for the training and education of personnel, conduct scientific research, including for the air defense forces of the Ground Forces Russian Federation.

On March 31, 1992, by order of the President of the Russian Federation, the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation was formed in Smolensk on the basis of SVIURE. Lieutenant General V.K. was appointed head of the academy. Chertkov, who arrived from the post of first deputy commander of the air defense forces of the Ground Forces.

The Military Air Defense Academy of the Army included a research center created on February 29, 1992, also on the basis of the Smolensk VIURE. The main task of the research center was to conduct scientific research on current problems in the development of air defense troops, arising from the tasks of reforming the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The heads of the Research Center in various years were Colonels G.G. Garbuz, O.V. Zaitsev, Yu.I. Krut, O.A. Danilov.

In October 1992, experimental research exercises were conducted at the Emba state training ground to repel a massive attack by enemy high-precision weapons under the leadership of the First Deputy of the Russian Defense Ministry, General A.A. Kokoshin, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General V.M. Semenov, commander of the Air Defense Forces, Colonel General B.I. Dukhova. The exercises demonstrated the high efficiency of military air defense systems and their compliance with modern requirements.

The successor to the Berdyansk training center, which also came under the jurisdiction of Ukraine, was the Yeisk anti-aircraft missile training center of the air defense forces, formed in November 1992. The center was retraining air defense units of motorized rifle (tank) regiments (brigades) for the Tunguska, Shilka and Strela-10M3 anti-aircraft systems. The first head of the Yeisk training center was Colonel L.V. Baklitsky, later this training center was headed by Colonels V.I. Kozyr, A.A. Korolev.

In October 1998, the Military Air Defense Academy of the Russian Armed Forces was transformed into the Military University of Military Air Defense of the Russian Armed Forces, joining it as a branch of the Orenburg Military Air Defense Command. In March 2003, the Military University of Military Air Defense of the RF Armed Forces was headed by Major General N.A. Frolov.

Thus, within a relatively short time after the collapse of the USSR and the loss for the RF Armed Forces of the Military Air Defense Academy named after A. M. Vasilevsky, 39 Research Institute, a number of military schools and military air defense training centers through the efforts of the commanders of the military air defense, the Military Air Defense Directorate, and the staff of the Military Academy , other universities have done a lot of work to restore the scientific potential of the military branch.

Military air defense troops: today and tomorrow

On December 31, 1997, further changes occurred in the history of the development of the military branch. In accordance with the order and directive of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation “On improving the leadership of the military air defense troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the air defense troops of the ground forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the ground and coastal forces of the Navy and Airborne Forces, as well as formations, military air defense units of the Supreme High Command reserve are united in a single branch of the military - the military air defense forces of the RF Armed Forces.

The basis of military air defense is the air defense troops of the Ground Forces. Together with other branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military, they conduct reconnaissance of enemy air; fire destroys its manned and unmanned assets, tactical and operational-tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, air reconnaissance and electronic warfare (EW) assets, and aviation elements of reconnaissance-strike complexes (RUK); fight against airborne assault forces and airborne troops in flight.

The formation of military air defense troops as part of combined arms formations, formations and units has not currently undergone significant changes compared to the period of the late 90s. Improving the organizational structures of military air defense is aimed mainly at reducing the number of units and formations and bringing their organizational structure into line with the volume of tasks they solve to combat the air enemy. The main directions for improving the organizational structures of anti-aircraft formations are:

Creation of mixed anti-aircraft missile formations and units armed with modern anti-aircraft systems of various ranges. This will improve the efficiency of using existing anti-aircraft weapons, their autonomy and survivability;

Creation of flexible organizational structures of anti-aircraft formations and military air defense units, suggesting their different composition and equipment of weapons and military equipment depending on their operational purpose.

The development of enemy air attack weapons and the continuous improvement of techniques and methods of their combat use necessitate further improvement of anti-aircraft weapons.

The main directions of development of fire weapons are:

Increasing the effectiveness of defeating various types of aerodynamic and ballistic targets;

Increasing the noise immunity of air defense systems;

Reduced reaction time;

Increasing the degree of automation of combat work;

Improving the information support of complexes;

Increasing the degree of unification and introducing the modular principle of constructing anti-aircraft systems.

Promising means of detecting enemy air, based on the integration of various types of reconnaissance, will be increasingly developed. Promising radars will be characterized by increased energy potential, improved methods and devices for generating and processing radar signals, the introduction of selection and recognition modes for various classes of targets, and the use of multi-position radar principles. This will improve the capabilities of promising air defense systems to combat high-speed stealth targets, increase their combat performance, noise immunity and secrecy of operation, and increase the reliability of the equipment.

Promising directions for the development of the military air defense control system may be:

Optimization of existing organizational structures of command and control bodies, formations, units and units of military air defense in accordance with changes in combined arms structures and the construction of the Russian Aerospace Defense system;

Development and introduction into troops of automation systems for formations, units and units of military air defense;

Creation of a single automated system command and control of troops, reconnaissance and air defense systems, which will be part of the automated aircraft control system.

Together with other branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military, the Air Defense Forces conduct reconnaissance of enemy air; fire destroys its manned and unmanned assets, tactical and operational-tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, air reconnaissance and electronic warfare (EW) assets, and aviation elements of reconnaissance-strike complexes (RUK); fight against airborne assault forces and airborne troops in flight.

During the late 70s and early 80s, the practice of the branch of the armed forces firmly established a proven methodology for bringing units and formations to the state training ground to conduct tactical exercises with live fire. Formations and units were brought to the training ground in full force, with standard weapons and military equipment. The exercises were carried out in a comprehensive manner, against a complex tactical and operational background, with the actual performance of long marches using a combined method. The exercises were led by combined arms commanders (commanders).

In recent decades, the air defense troops of the Ground Forces, in the course of reforms carried out in the Armed Forces, have undergone significant changes, primarily related to the reduction in their combat and numerical strength.

Today, the basis of military air defense is made up of air defense troops of military districts, formations, military units and air defense units of the Ground, Airborne and Coastal Forces of the Navy. They are intended for:

Conducting reconnaissance and repelling attacks from enemy air attacks;

Protection of troop groups and facilities from air strikes in all types of combat operations, during regroupings of troops and their location on the spot.

The creation of anti-aircraft missile weapons for military air defense in the 60s involved work in three areas: the creation of weapon models, the determination of the basis for their combat use and the optimal organizational and staffing structures of the corresponding military formations.

As a result, the material basis of the military branch is created - first-class military equipment and weapons. Anti-aircraft artillery was replaced in 1965 by the first-generation Krug anti-aircraft missile system, which was used to arm formations and units of front-line and army units, and in 1967 by the Kub air defense system to arm anti-aircraft missile regiments of tank divisions. In 1962, the Shilka ZAK (ZSU-23-4) was put into service. This ZSU became the first self-propelled gun in the history of the development of domestic anti-aircraft weapons that could effectively fire at air targets in motion. In 1972, the autonomous Osa air defense system, capable of detecting air targets in motion and destroying them from a short stop, as well as overcoming water obstacles while afloat, entered service with anti-aircraft missile regiments of motorized rifle divisions. In 1976, the Strela-10 air defense system was put into service. Most of these complexes are still in service with formations, military units and military air defense units and the armed forces of foreign states.

The results of the Arab-Israeli wars of the second half of the 20th century confirmed not only the high efficiency of military air defense weapons, but also the correct focus of our theoretical principles on the use of formations, units and subunits, the basis of which was mobility, surprise and survivability.

Today, the basis of military air defense is weapons represented by such systems and complexes as S-300V, Buk-M1, Tor-M1, Osa-AKM, Tunguska-M1, the main developers of which are such famous designers as V. P. Efremov, I.N. Drize, E.A. Pigin. New complexes and systems have incorporated best qualities their predecessors and are capable of hitting both aerodynamic and ballistic targets, cruise missiles, aerial reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems, providing reliable cover for troops in various types of combat operations. At international exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Paris and presentations in recent years, this military equipment confidently competes, and in many cases shows better combat qualities than its similar systems and complexes in the armies of foreign countries.

In 2016, the Ground Forces will receive the TOR-M2 and BUK-M3 complexes.

In a series of New Year holidays, a date was very modestly marked not only for the air defense of the Ground Forces, but also for the country as a whole. Meanwhile, one of the founders of the modern Aerospace Forces had an anniversary - one hundred years since its formation. What events do you remember about the past century? The head of the air defense forces of the Army, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov, answered this and other questions to the Military-Industrial Courier.

– the creation of military air defense began with experimental firing at stationary aerial targets (kites, balloons, balloons) carried out in 1881–1890 and publications in this regard in the Artillery Journal of articles on the theory and practice of combating such targets. The “Firing Rules for Field Artillery,” published in 1911, outlined the techniques, methods of preparing and firing at an airship and a balloon used by the enemy to raise observers and artillery fire spotters. At the same time, the basic requirements for a special “anti-aircraft” gun and proposals for its combat use were developed.

In June 1914 - February 1915, engineer F. Lander, with the participation of Captain V. Tarnovsky, designed and manufactured the first four 3-inch (76.2 mm) anti-aircraft guns of the 1914 model (later called anti-aircraft) in the workshops of the Putilov plant.

On October 5, 1914, by decree (order), an automobile battery was formed to fire at the air fleet. And already in March 1915 - the 1st separate automobile battery for firing at the air fleet, which was sent to the active army - to the Northern Front near Warsaw. On June 17, 1915, she repelled a raid by nine German aircraft, shooting down two of them.

Management of the creation of a new type of troops in the Red Army was entrusted to a single body - the Office of the Head of the Formation of Anti-Aircraft Batteries (UPRZAZENFOR), created in July 1918. During the military reform process of 1924–1925, new measures were taken to strengthen air defense. Over ten years, the number of anti-aircraft guns in the rifle division increased from 12 to 18 units. All units and units of anti-aircraft artillery were transferred to the subordination of the artillery chiefs of the fronts (districts).

In the 30s, new types of weapons entered service with the ZA, with which the military air defense entered the Great Patriotic War:

76.2-mm anti-aircraft gun model 1931/38 (designer - G. Tagunov);
-85-mm semi-automatic anti-aircraft gun model 1939 (chief designer - G. Dorokhin);
-37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun model 1939 (designers: M. Loginov and L. Loktev);
-25-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun model 1940 (designers: M. Loginov and L. Lyulev);
-12.7-mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, model 1938 (designers: V. Degtyarev, G. Shpagin).

In addition, by the beginning of the war the following were created:

for border military districts - radio catcher for aircraft with continuous energy emission RUS-1 (Rhubarb, 1939, development manager - D. Stogov);
for the VNOS service and combined arms formations - long-range detection radar with pulsed energy radiation RUS-2 (Redut, 1940, development manager - Yu. Kobzarev).

For the first time, the official division of anti-aircraft artillery by purpose into military and positional (later the Air Defense Forces of the country's territory) was recorded in the "Manual on the combat use of anti-aircraft artillery", published in 1939.

In the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, military air defense was organizationally formed into anti-aircraft artillery batteries, separate anti-aircraft artillery divisions and army regiments of medium-caliber and small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery (SZA and MZA). As part of the rifle divisions, it was planned to have one anti-aircraft artillery division (eight 37-mm anti-aircraft guns and four 76-mm anti-aircraft guns in each), which made it possible with standard means to create a density of 1.2 guns and 3.3 anti-aircraft machine guns per one on a front 10 kilometers wide kilometer.

During the war years, ground-based military air defense systems shot down 21,645 aircraft, of which 4,047 were medium-caliber, 14,657 were small-caliber, 2,401 were shot down by anti-aircraft machine guns, and 540 were shot down by machine-gun fire.

The report of the Main Directorate of the Artillery Commander for submission to the General Staff on May 30, 1945 stated: “The ground forces must have their own ground-based air defense systems, which, regardless of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the country, would be capable of independently and constantly covering troop groups and military rear facilities.” It was emphasized: “Thus, the allocation of air defense systems to troops from common system Air defense is correct."

–In the post-war years, a breakthrough was made in the technical re-equipment of troops. What does this experience say?

-Then new automated anti-aircraft artillery systems of small, medium and large calibers were created, as well as multi-barreled anti-aircraft artillery and machine gun installations. In 1948–1957, the S-60 anti-aircraft artillery system consisting of 57-mm AZP, SON-9 (SON-15), PUAZO-5 (PUAZO-6) or RPK-1 “Vaza” was adopted for service; 57-mm twin anti-aircraft self-propelled gun S-68; 100-mm anti-aircraft artillery system KS-19 consisting of a 100-mm anti-aircraft gun, SON-4 with PUAZO-7; 14.5 mm and 23 mm anti-aircraft guns; reconnaissance and target designation radar stations MOST-2, P-8, P-10. In 1953, the first domestic automated anti-aircraft artillery control complex KUZA-1 and its mobile military version KUZA-2 appeared.

When summing up the results of the Command Staff of the Belarusian Military District held in July 1957, the Minister of Defense of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov, for the first time recognized the need to create a new type of troops in the Army - air defense. By order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 0069 of August 16, 1958, units, units and formations of military anti-aircraft artillery, its supporting structures, which were organizationally part of the Army, as well as a number of military educational institutions and training centers were removed from the subordination of the artillery commander and separated into a new independent branch of the army

With the advent of jet aviation in 1957–1959, the process of replacing medium and large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery systems with anti-aircraft missile systems began. In the first period, these were S-75 air defense systems. However, being quite formidable, they had unacceptably low mobility by the standards of air defense forces. In 1960–1975, the emergence of air-to-ground, anti-radar and ballistic missiles required new approaches to the development of weapons systems. For its creation and development, the decisive role was played by the resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers of 1967 “On urgent measures for the development and production of air defense systems of the Ground Forces of the Soviet Army.”

The first-born was the Krug air defense missile system (1965, general designer of the complex - Academician V. Efremov, general designer of the rocket - L. Lyulev). All combat equipment was placed on all-terrain tracked chassis: detection and target designation radar, target tracking and missile guidance radar, launchers with two missiles on each. The complex could be deployed to unprepared positions in five minutes. The far border of the affected area was 50, the height was from 3 to 24.5 kilometers.

To combat aviation at low and medium altitudes, the Kub air defense system was created (1967, general designer - Yu. Figurovsky, missiles - A. Lyapin, semi-active radar homing head - I. Akopyan). The complex had two main combat units: a self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance unit and a launcher with three homing solid-propellant anti-aircraft missiles on each. The combination of detection, guidance and illumination radars on one chassis was carried out for the first time in world practice. On the basis of the short-range air defense system "Cube" (17, later - 23-25 ​​km), anti-aircraft missile regiments of tank divisions began to be formed in 1967.

And to protect motorized rifle forces, the Osa short-range air defense system was created (1971, general designer of the complex - V. Efremov, missiles - P. Grushin), in which all combat elements were located on the basis of a floating, highly cross-country wheeled self-propelled vehicle. This made it possible to provide protection for the covered troops when located directly in their combat formations and to fight air attack weapons at ranges of up to 10 kilometers and altitudes from 10–15 meters to 6 kilometers.

For the divisional level of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” self-propelled anti-aircraft installation (chief designer - N. Astrov, radar and SRP - V. Pikkel) and light short-range air defense systems with passive means of detecting and hitting targets "Strela-1" were developed ”, subsequently a whole family of the “Strela-10” type (general designer - A. Nudelman). And for direct cover - a portable air defense system (MANPADS) "Strela-2M" (1970, general designer - S. Nepobedimy).

During the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the Kvadrat air defense system (export name - the Cube air defense system) destroyed 68 percent of IDF aircraft, mainly Phantom and Mirage type aircraft, with an average missile consumption of 1.2–1. 6 per target.

– Why did military air defense eventually require long-range fire weapons?

–In 1975–1985, with the advent of new types of airborne missiles (cruise, tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles, aviation ballistic missiles, first generation unmanned aerial vehicles, modernized missile launchers such as “Maverick”, “Hellfire”, PRR “Harm” with increased range and accuracy ) the modernization potential of the military and military equipment of the air defense of the North has exhausted itself.

By 1983–1985, air defense systems of a new - third generation, including medium- and long-range air defense systems, were adopted and began to enter service with the troops. As well as short-range air defense systems, short-range air defense systems, and direct cover MANPADS.

The S-300V long-range air defense system (1988, general designer of the system - V. Efremov, anti-aircraft guided missiles - L. Lyulev) was originally developed as a means of theater missile defense. But it was additionally entrusted with the functions of combating particularly important aerodynamic VIP targets - air command posts, AWACS-type aircraft, target designating aircraft for reconnaissance and strike complexes, jammers at extreme ranges, manned tactical aircraft and cruise missiles.

The medium-range air defense system "Buk" (1979, general designer - A. Rastov, subsequently - E. Pigin, missiles - L. Lyulev, semi-active radar homing head - I. Akopyan) introduced a fundamentally new thing that has no analogues in the world combat weapon - self-propelled firing system. It housed a tracking radar and a target illumination station, computing facilities, telecode communication systems, launch automation and four solid-fuel missiles, which made it possible, based on target designation data from the control system, or to autonomously combat wide range air targets. Currently in service is a more modern modification, the Buk-M2.

The short-range air defense system "Tor" (1986, general designer - V. Efremov, missiles - P. Grushin) was developed as the main means of combating high-tech weapons, for which it included a target reconnaissance radar with a radiation pattern insensitive to the angles of approach of targets, and tracking radar with a small-element phased array antenna. The Tor air defense system still has no analogues in the world and in fact remains the only means of combating high-tech weapons over the battlefield.

The Tunguska short-range air defense missile system (1982, general designer - A. Shipunov, main designers of the cannon machine gun and missile - V. Gryazev, V. Kuznetsov) was developed to combat tactical and army aviation directly above the front line, as well as to destroy helicopters with fire Apache type support. The complex also has no analogues, with the exception of the new-generation domestic air defense system Pantsir-C1, created on the basis of Tunguska technical solutions.

MANPADS "Igla-1", "Igla" (1981, general designer - S. Nepobedimy) was created to directly cover troops and objects from attacking air attack weapons. To ensure effective destruction, for the first time in world practice, a scheme was used to shift the missile guidance point to the most dangerous area of ​​the aircraft's center section, to detonate the remaining mixed propellant of the rocket's propulsion engine together with the warhead, and to in-depth detonation of the total combat equipment.

– It turns out that almost all military air defense systems have no analogues. What distinguishes modern and future weapons and military equipment systems?

–Currently, the air defense formations of military districts are armed with the S-300V long-range air defense system, which ensures the destruction of aerodynamic air targets at a range of up to 100 kilometers. Since 2014, it has been replaced by the S-300V4 system, capable of combating all types of existing surface-to-air missiles at extended ranges. The ability to engage air targets, reliability and noise immunity indicators have been improved by 1.5–2.5 times. The areas covered from ballistic missile attacks have been increased by the same amount, and the time to prepare for launch has been reduced.

The modern modification of the complex, the Buk-M2, continues to be supplied to the troops. By increasing the previous number of combat weapons fourfold (from 6 to 24), the number of air targets simultaneously fired by air defense systems has been increased, and the ability to destroy tactical missiles with a launch range of up to 150–200 kilometers has been ensured. A special feature is the placement of reconnaissance, guidance and launch missiles on the SOU. This provides maximum secrecy for combat use and survivability as part of a division, minimum deployment (collapse) time, as well as the ability for a single self-propelled gun to carry out a combat mission autonomously.

In 2016, the first brigade set of Buk-M3 medium-range air defense systems is planned to be delivered to the Ground Forces.

Since 2011, a new modification of the Tor complex, Tor-M2U, has been available. It allows reconnaissance on the move over any terrain and simultaneous firing of four air targets, ensuring all-angle engagement. Combat work processes are fully automated. Starting in 2016, the troops will also begin to receive the Tor-M2 complex, which has 1.5–2 times improved characteristics compared to previous modifications.

As you correctly noted, the Russian Federation is one of the few countries that have the ability to independently develop and produce MANPADS. Maximum stealth, short reaction time, high accuracy, ease of training and use create a serious problem for the air enemy. Since 2014, modern Verba MANPADS, which are highly effective in conditions of powerful organized optical interference, have also begun to be supplied to air defense units of the Ground Forces and Airborne Forces.

By presidential decree, the S-300V4, Buk-M3 and Tor-M2 air defense systems are included in the list of priority weapons and military equipment that determine the appearance of promising systems. In general, from 2011 to 2015, two newly formed anti-aircraft missile brigades and air defense units of eight combined arms formations were equipped with modern weapons in the Air Defense Forces. Its staffing level is more than 35 percent.

-Alexander Petrovich, what are the prospects for the development of air defense forces?

– I’ll name the main directions:

improving the organizational and staffing structures of military command and control bodies, formations, military units and subunits in order to maximize the use of the combat capabilities of incoming and developed anti-aircraft missile weapons;
development of a new generation of weapons and military equipment capable of effectively combating all types of high explosive weapons, including those created on the basis of hypersonic technologies;
improving the system of training highly qualified personnel, including junior specialists studying in specialized training centers of the Air Defense Forces.

As for the priorities, these are improving the management system for the development and training of troops, the formation of a unified military-technical policy, the completion of ongoing R&D projects on schedule, and the creation of a design and production reserve. Let me remind you of the words of Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, which have not lost their relevance even now: “Reliable air defense, capable of repelling enemy attacks, especially in the initial period of the war, creates favorable conditions for the Armed Forces to enter the war. "Great grief awaits the country that is unable to repel an air strike."

EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS No. 7/2008, pp. 4-9

Air defense of the Ground Forces: problems and prospects

Chief of Military Air Defense of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel General Nikolai Alekseevich Frolov.

Born on August 1, 1948 in the village of Vodyanoye, Kharkov region, Ukrainian SSR. Graduated from the Poltava Higher Anti-Aircraft Artillery School (1970), the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Ground Forces named after. Marshal of the Soviet Union A. M. Vasilevsky (1977), Military Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces (1992). Candidate of Military Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Russian Federation. Served as an anti-aircraft platoon commander, commander of an anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery, deputy commander and commander of an anti-aircraft missile regiment, head of a district training center,

Chief of Staff - Deputy Chief of the Air Defense Troops of the Military District, Head of the Air Defense Troops of the Military District, Head of the Department of the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Northern Forces of the Russian Federation, Deputy Head of the Military Academy of Air Defense of the Northern Forces of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chief of the Military Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Head of the Military University (later the Military Academy) of the Military Air Defense of the Armed Forces RF. Since 2005 - Chief of Military Air Defense of the RF Armed Forces.

At the XVI military-scientific conference “Problems of the theory and practice of the development of military air defense in modern conditions” held in Smolensk, as noted above, many issues related to the state of affairs in the military air defense of the Russian Federation in difficult modern conditions were considered. The head of the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel General NA, kindly agreed to talk about the current state and prospects for the development of air defense of the Ground Forces. Frolov.

- Nikolai Alekseevich, what is the place and importance of military air defense in ensuring the security of Russia in modern conditions?

Currently, military air defense troops, in cooperation with formations and units of the Ground Forces, Air Force formations, reconnaissance and electronic warfare units, forces and means of air defense of fleets, are intended to carry out tasks of protecting Ground Forces groups, formations and military units of the Airborne Forces from air strikes , coastal forces of the Navy in operations in strategic directions, as well as when performing tasks in local wars and armed conflicts.

The basis of military air defense is the air defense troops of the Ground Forces, which solve the problems of air defense of troops and objects in peacetime, in times of threat and in wartime. Groupings of air defense troops of the Ground Forces form the basis of air defense systems of military districts, armies, and divisions.

The air defense force groupings of military districts include formations, military units and air defense units armed with anti-aircraft missile systems and air defense systems of various purposes and combat capabilities. They are united by an intelligence and information system and an automated control system. This allows, in accordance with the current situation, to create an effective multifunctional air defense system in the strategic direction. I would like to emphasize that the structure of military air defense forces allows, in any combat situation, to create a dynamic, all-altitude, deeply echeloned air defense system for troops and facilities.

From the beginning of its existence, air defense of troops had to effectively counteract the most high-tech means of attack - aviation. Thus, military air defense systems must correspond in their capabilities and level to air attack weapons. The basis of the military air defense weapon system is the S-300V, Buk-Mi, Tor-M1, Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes, the Tunguska-M1 anti-aircraft gun and missile system, the main developers
ki which such famous designers as V.P. Efremov, V.N. Epifanov, I.M. Drize, E.A. Pigin.

These complexes and systems are capable of hitting both aerodynamic and ballistic targets, cruise missiles, air reconnaissance and electronic warfare systems, aviation elements of reconnaissance and strike complexes, electronic jammers and provide reliable cover for troops in various types of combat operations. The ongoing work to improve and develop weapons has made it possible to expand the list of tasks solved by military air defense troops. Thanks to this, they are able to effectively provide not only air defense, but also partially non-strategic missile defense of troops (forces) in strategic directions.

In general, we can say that the role and importance of military air defense in ensuring Russia's military security will continuously increase. The main task in wartime - covering troops and installations, army, divisional, brigade, regimental groups - was and remains. In peacetime, our goal is to maintain high combat readiness of forces and means, weapons and equipment, and to carry out unexpected tasks. Now we intend to put permanently ready divisions in anti-aircraft missile brigades on combat duty.

- What new and modernized weapons and military equipment have arrived? Can we expect military air defense in the troops in the near future? In what direction is the modernization of military air defense complexes and systems going?

In accordance with the construction plan of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, a planned re-equipment of military air defense formations and units and, first of all, permanent readiness units is underway. The indicators of the state defense order allow us to have several units equipped with new or modernized weapons in combat strength until 2010.

In the near future (this year 2008), the following types of weapons will be delivered to the troops:

Small-sized portable radar for detecting air targets "Garmon" for air defense units and units of the regimental level and airborne forces;

A unified complex of automated control of the tactical level “Tangential”, replacing the entire existing fleet of automated control systems for military air defense weapons at the divisional level. This system is already being mastered. In the near future (2009):

The modernized combat vehicle of the Strela-10 air defense system, the use of which will be possible at any time of the day;

Upgraded ACS tool - PPRU9S80;

Upgraded combat vehicle of the Osa air defense system.

It is also planned to modernize the Tor air defense system to the Tor-M2 level. In fact, this is a new multi-channel system capable of firing at several air targets simultaneously.

Work has been completed on the creation of a new man-portable anti-aircraft missile system.

The modernization of anti-aircraft systems is carried out in a number of areas: the introduction of a new element base, new control and guidance algorithms, improving noise immunity characteristics, replacing display means with new ones (based on automated workstations), imparting multi-channel characteristics to the complexes, and reducing the operating time of location stations. At the same time, the requirements for high mobility of the complexes (corresponding to the mobility of units of the Ground Forces), their survivability and operational reliability are maintained.

In August-November 2008, state tests of the modernized Buk Ml complex (Buk M1-2) should take place. The complex has been improved in the direction of increasing the effectiveness of the fight against tactical ballistic missiles; it includes an anti-aircraft guided missile with an active homing head, which, among other parameters, increases its survivability by reducing the radar emission time. The Tunguska anti-aircraft missile system is being modernized: according to the R&D plan in 2009, the detection systems (using passive means of detecting and tracking targets), control and guidance in this complex should be changed, and the missile channel should be improved.

All modernized and new models meet the most modern requirements and in the near future will provide us with the opportunity to successfully counter the threats of a potential enemy. The combat characteristics are not inferior to, and in the main parameters superior to, the characteristics of existing foreign analogues.

It should be admitted that there was a big delay in putting a number of new systems into service with military air defense. If five years ago there simply were no funds for this, now that the funds have appeared, a number of problems have emerged that need to be solved by both the troops and industry. No less urgent are the tasks of developing reconnaissance and command and control systems for military air defense. In particular, they consist in ensuring the detection of high-speed, relatively small-sized air objects at a distance significantly exceeding the line-of-sight range.

Modernization of obsolete types of radars is carried out in the direction of increasing their noise immunity, improving operational characteristics and automating combat work processes. Radar systems and control systems must be interfaced with control systems of other branches of the armed forces and branches of the Armed Forces, and electronic warfare equipment. The main efforts are aimed at creating a unified information system air defense troops, integrated with radar and electronic reconnaissance equipment of other branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military. The task is to integrate into a single control system all the forces and means of existing groups - from the army level to the individual anti-aircraft gunner.

At the same time, the military air defense abandoned a number of models that had exhausted their service life, were morally obsolete and, in terms of their capabilities, no longer provided solutions to air defense problems. These are, for example, anti-aircraft missile systems “Strela-1”, “Cube”, “Krug”, MANPADS “Strela-2”, control systems “Polyana D1”, “Polyana D4”, “Crab”. The “Maneuver” control system and PU-12 battery and platoon command posts are being abandoned.

-In terms of reconnaissance, communications and control, much attention is now paid to the use of various types of unmanned aerial vehicles. Are such military air defense devices needed?

The fact that the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military affairs is constantly growing and they have a great future is beyond doubt. This is evidenced by their growing capabilities, the effectiveness of combat use in wars and armed conflicts of various levels and the pace of equipping the Armed Forces of foreign states with them.

UAVs are now in demand in all branches and branches of the Armed Forces. The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces are no exception here. Moreover, for a number of problems being solved, this demand is of an extreme necessity. After all, very high demands are placed on solving reconnaissance tasks in the Air Defense Forces, which are not so typical for reconnaissance of other branches of the Ground Forces. And the capabilities of already developed and promising UAVs potentially make it possible to implement a number of emerging ways to solve the problems of reconnaissance of aerial objects.

Let's say the problem is the detection of such low-flying air objects as specialized attack and reconnaissance helicopters. Of all air attack weapons, they pose the greatest threat to covered troops operating close to the front line. The practical absence of the possibility of their timely detection (from the moment of takeoff and during advancement to firing lines outside the line of sight) forces autonomous combat operations against them by crews of anti-aircraft missile (artillery) systems. Such actions are characterized by a number of negative consequences for solving air defense problems in general.

There are problems in sustainable reconnaissance in the face of powerful enemy electronic countermeasures, as well as in recognizing airborne objects for various purposes, including decoys.

The use of UAVs in promising reconnaissance systems of the air defense forces of the Northern Forces will ensure:

The ability to receive information about the takeoff of enemy helicopters from their bases, accompany their fire groups with the issuance of information in real time;

Placement of sensors of advanced reconnaissance systems in territory occupied by the enemy, including near tactical aviation airfields;

Retransmission of intelligence data from all remote sources;

Carrying out technical and tactical measures to activate a number of reconnaissance signs of real air attack weapons that are inaccessible under normal conditions, which provides more favorable conditions for the performance of fire missions by air defense missile systems.

Thus, the use of UAVs in the interests of air defense can provide a solution to the most pressing problems of reconnaissance of air targets, which will lead to increased efficiency in the use of modern and future anti-aircraft weapons.

The experience of wars and armed conflicts has shown that combining the tasks of air defense and fire destruction of a ground enemy with the same means has not been successful. This requires either the use of specialized UAVs in the interests of air defense of the ground forces, or the allocation of the necessary resource in the use of multi-purpose UAVs from the army kit. Here again the question of a unified automated control system arises.

- Reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming an important target for air defense systems. By what means can you fight them?

UAVs confidently take their place in armed struggle as means of reconnaissance and target designation, fire destruction and communications. For example, the total total flight time of the Shadow-200 UAV (and this is the most actively used tactical unmanned system in the US Armed Forces) in the summer of 2007 exceeded 200 thousand hours. Moreover, more than 88% of this time the Shadow-200 UAV flew in during operations to support American and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The armed forces of Germany, France and Great Britain will also have a relatively large number of UAVs.

The total share of attack vehicles could be: for unmanned aircraft - 25%, for unmanned helicopters - 40%. UAVs have been successfully tested in combat conditions as means of using high-precision weapons.

If, let’s say, “classic” aircraft are not problematic targets for all means of armed warfare in the air (aviation and anti-aircraft systems), then ultra-small UAVs, which are rapidly developing in recent years, pose a danger. Given their relatively high vulnerability, UAVs remain stealthy objects, and this gives them significant advantages. Low radar and optical signature, combined with high maneuverability and low noise flight, as well as minimal combat altitudes, make combat aircraft and the overwhelming mass of anti-aircraft systems virtually incapable of fighting these targets. In fact, for the same reasons, the only effective means of combating UAVs in the air are short-range anti-aircraft systems of military air defense. Combat training programs for crews armed with these anti-aircraft systems do not require significant changes to successfully combat “mini” or even “micro” UAVs. It is only necessary to conduct classes on the implementation of features in the organization of reconnaissance and equipping reconnaissance posts with individual devices. Improving air reconnaissance and fire control with short-range air defense systems can significantly reduce the advantages of an enemy using UAVs even on a large scale. During planned combat training and in the process of training military air defense specialists, we take this into account.

After all, UAVs can also become weapons of terrorist attacks. Technologies for creating small-sized aircraft already make it possible to “rivet” them “on the knee”, without significant material and intellectual costs. And with proper preparation, it is possible to launch a mass of remotely controlled ultra-small UAVs and detonate them in the right place and at the right time. To counter this threat, short-range anti-aircraft systems of military air defense can also be used - as the last echelon, to destroy devices already in the air. Another task that military air defense can effectively solve in the fight against terrorism is the fight against tactical missiles, similar to those used in the Middle East. During scheduled tactical live-fire exercises, we practice fire missions to defeat them. Moreover, the created type of military air defense weapons makes it possible to hit these missiles with the highest possible value of the “effectiveness-cost” indicator.

In general, everything related to the war in the air is carefully monitored, studied and analyzed by us. Thus, following the results of the military operations in Yugoslavia, we conducted an exercise, the purpose of which was to simulate combat operations in relation to our troops and analyze the results obtained. A number of problems were revealed that required immediate solutions both in the field of improving weapons and in the field of troop training.

Conducted studies have shown that in order to effectively combat an air enemy in a modern war, air defense must have two determining factors - secrecy of use and mobility. In addition, the need for a comprehensive (combined arms) fight against the air enemy is once again confirmed. In this regard, the statutory documents regulating the combat activities of fire crews have been revised, and major measures have been taken to change the methodology for conducting tactical exercises with live fire. In particular, an analysis of the nature of anti-aircraft battles showed that in order to effectively counter air attack weapons, it is necessary to integrate different types of anti-aircraft systems in highly mobile fire groups, using different guidance methods and detection principles.

Therefore, live-fire exercises in military air defense forces have recently been carried out only under the leadership of combined arms commanders (commanders), as part of groups of various levels.

- How do the technical means used for training and education in military air defense troops change in this regard?

For more visual training and to give the exercises a combined arms focus, training grounds are being equipped with tactical fire strips. A tactical fire zone is the logistical support for tactical live-fire exercises, which makes it possible to implement the “fire-maneuver” principle in the conditions of modern combined arms combat. In the course of performing traditional tasks to solve combat problems associated with marching, overcoming various obstacles, and operating in conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction, troops for the first time are constantly in readiness to fire with combat missiles (shells). Since the trainees do not know where the targets will fly from, in what composition and at what altitudes the enemy will operate.

Previously, the combat firing stage was carried out by individual firing units, or at best, by subunits, with excessive reinsurance to comply with safety requirements. Thorough research made it possible to bring the training battle as close as possible to the real one. At the same time, the conditions for conducting the exercises and the organization of control over the actions of the trainees are such that after overcoming the TOP, one can unambiguously say whether the trained unit or military unit is capable of operating in modern war conditions and whether it is possible to send them into battle.

The experience of training troops to operate in modern conditions shows that further improvement of the military air defense target fleet is necessary. Until now, we have accepted targets that were produced by industry to supply military air defense. Basically, these are, as a rule, anti-aircraft missiles or missiles of the Ground Forces that have been withdrawn from service. Without denying the rationality of this approach, at the same time I would like to note that some of them are no longer capable of meeting modern requirements, and, in addition, there is duplication of simulated EHVs. We are currently working to develop and equip our ranges with new sets of target systems. In our opinion, three sets of target complexes are being viewed.

The first set is for the equipment of the central training ground. This target kit should include the entire range of targets analogous to air defense systems that military air defense is capable of fighting.

The second set is for equipping military training grounds where live firing is carried out by regimental-level military air defense units. This kit should only contain targets analogous to air attack weapons that units armed with anti-aircraft systems designed to cover a motorized rifle (tank) regiment are capable of fighting. The troops as a whole have already learned how to hit targets such as cruise missiles and other high-precision weapons. Now the task is to complicate the air situation and the conditions for the use of weapons, to teach troops to operate in conditions where the enemy uses modern electronic warfare systems, with the widespread use of interference.

The third set is designed to solve problems of sudden testing of troops, both during test firing training and combat. It must be highly mobile, include not only target analogues of the main air attack weapons and means of controlling them, but also ensure the production of the entire spectrum of jamming and control over the actions of those being tested (trained). If necessary, these kits must be integrated into any configuration while maintaining the possibility of unified control.

- How is combat training going in the troops in 2008? What issues are you focusing on?

In connection with the concept of staffing units of constant readiness with contract servicemen, as well as with the transition to a service period of 12 months, the main goal of combat training of formations, military units and air defense units in 2008 is to increase their combat readiness in peacetime. The main efforts of combat training are focused on improving the field training of command and control units, formations, military units and air defense units of constant readiness in order to ensure that they carry out combat missions as intended in peacetime states.

To solve these problems in the air defense forces, the training process in 2008 is taking place according to newly developed combat training programs. Particular attention is paid to improving the quality of the educational process, reducing costs for individual training of military personnel, coordinating crews, platoons, and batteries through the rational use of training facilities, complexes, points, and resource-saving training methods. The programs were also based on practical training of crews in the ability to confidently identify missile-hazardous directions, destroy cruise, ballistic operational-tactical and tactical missiles, recognize the beginning of the use of airborne weapons by enemy aviation (PRR, KR, UAB) and combat it, search for and destroy UAVs , radio beacons, prepare weapons and conduct combat work (shooting) in conditions of information warfare, exposure to medium and high intensity interference, fire and electronic countermeasures.

Particular attention is paid to the system of training junior specialists for the Armed Forces, which provides for the training of junior commanders and specialist soldiers in the context of shorter periods of military service for conscripts. The main task of training junior specialists is to graduate a trained cadet from school. For this purpose, training programs pay special attention to technical and special tactical training, as well as driving. This is achieved by involving teachers of educational cycles who have experience of practical work in the military, and highly qualified civilian specialists.

In 2008, a major exercise was already conducted under the leadership of the commander of the Volga-Ural Military District with the district’s air defense forces and means, which was highly appreciated by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile, four years ago, when conducting exercises with groups of air defense forces, our results were very low - rarely did any part receive a “satisfactory” rating. The reason for this was a long break in tactical exercises; the exercises were mainly carried out in the form of command and staff exercises on maps. For three years in a row we have been conducting exercises with groups, and the result is obvious. Of course, we cannot say that all our problems have been solved. In particular, problems of group management remain.

An important area of ​​improving combat training and improving the interaction of military air defense with other branches of the armed forces and branches of the Armed Forces has become the holding of joint exercises. This is evidenced by the exercises of military air defense units and units conducted this year at the Ashuluk training grounds (together with a tank regiment on the offensive) and Kapustin Yar (with a motorized rifle regiment on the defensive).

The plan for 2008 includes exercises with air defense forces and means of the Moscow Military District, exercises in Yeisk with anti-aircraft divisions of permanent readiness units.

The material was prepared jointly with the Information and Public Relations Service of the Ground Forces.

Photos of D. Pichugin were used, as well as those provided by the Information and Public Relations Service of the Ground Forces.

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