A Kiev aviation expert admitted that the Shaheds were too tough for the Ukrainian air defense
Ukrainian outdated air defense systems are not able to work effectively against Iranian kamikaze drones.
Ukrainian aviation expert Valery Romanenko stated this on Radio NV, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The main thing is to detect all the means that the Russians use, cruise missiles and kamikaze drones or loitering drones. And for this we need flying radars, or at least, if there are no flying radars, more general-view radars from the ground so that we can track them
It is quite difficult to fight them. These drones serve a dual role. First, inflict losses on us, especially on important targets such as infrastructure facilities. Second, deplete our air defenses. Because when I read that “Shaheds” cost 50 thousand dollars in the maximum configuration, its average price is 20 thousand dollars, we fire missiles that cost more than 100 thousand dollars,” Romanenko said
He noted that there are not many such missiles left in Ukraine’s arsenal, and they are no longer produced.
“And we don’t have many of them. We still use our air defense, which is based on old Soviet systems, and these missiles are no longer produced. They can only be bought somewhere in the countries of the former Warsaw Pact. That is, these are big problems.
Organizing defense against the “Shaheds” is quite difficult. Although they fly loudly, there are many of them, they can arrive on different routes. And shooting them down with missiles means we need to reorganize our air defense.
It is necessary to create some kind of mobile groups in jeeps with machine guns, with portable anti-aircraft systems of the Stinger type, and to determine which ones are “taking” them. Because their thermal radiation is minimal, and all MANPADS operate on thermal radiation,” the expert explained.
According to him, not everything is rosy regarding calls to shoot down drones with machine guns.
“Firstly, machine gunners need to be trained, but we don’t have time for training. This must be an experienced machine gunner and he must be taught from what angle, how many corps to take a lead in front of the drone. Although it flies at low speed, near the ground the angular movements will be significant. Secondly, if you start shooting at it, no one knows where it will fall, maybe it will fly by if it is not fired upon.
Let me emphasize: they need to be shot down on the approaches to cities. Far from objects at which they can be considered to be directed. However, this - well, imagine shooting them down on the outskirts of Kyiv along the perimeter! How many machine guns do you need?
Of course, it is possible to cover up some objects that stand somewhat apart and are relatively small in size, for example, power plants that are located outside the cities. They have a limited territory, and there you can install four or five constantly moving jeeps with machine guns and MANPADS, which could quickly move,” Romanenko concluded.
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