Draft:Ground Forces Anti-Air Defense Missile Artillery (Ukraine)

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Ground Forces Anti-Air Defense Missile Artillery (Ukrainian: Зенітні ракетні війська протиповітряної оборони CB, romanized: Zenitni raketni viysʹka protypovitryanoyi oborony SV) is the Ukrainian Ground Forces' service branch of dedicated formations conducting anti-aircraft warfare operations in national land territory.

Tasks[edit]

As a combat support force it is designed to provide, in cooperation with other branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Air Defense of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, the following:

  • anti-air defense cover of important administrative and political centers, facilities and the like
  • air defense cover of industrial and economic vital facilities
  • air defense cover of other important facilities and intrastructure as may be provided by the government of Ukraine
  • air defense cover to formations of the Armed Forces in combat operations, both static or mobile, as well as permanent installations and bases of the forces

This service operates various short and medium-range types of anti-aircraft missile (anti-aircraft artillery) systems with high capabilities of hitting modern air attack means in a wide range of altitudes and flight speeds, under different weather conditions and timeframes, in support of Ground Forces operations or in joint forces operations with other branches and in fulfillment of the various tasks of the Armed Forces as defined by law.

For Ukraine, the protection of military and political centers, industrial facilities and energy supply is one of the primary tasks of ensuring the country's defense capability, which is why to the Ground Forces, the GFAADMA is of paramount importance as a service branch in support of combat operations. As such the Ground Forces Air Defense distinguished itself in both the War in Donbas and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[1] and is being modernized with the arrival of Western air defense systems to the UGF.[2]

Brief history[edit]

The 1991 decrees of the Verkhovna Rada that formed the Ground Forces on the basis of Soviet Army formations in Ukraine ensured the formation of Ground Forces Anti-Air Defense Missile Artillery as a combat support branch of the Forces and thus is one of the oldest combat support arms of this service branch. Each infantry and armored division, today infantry and armored brigades, had an air defense missile regiment in its ORBAT, now reduced to battalion size for some but remaining a regiment for many units, which provided mobile air defense support to combat and combat support formations, as well as defense of Army Aviation bases and installations, alongside independent regiments (battalion sized) or brigades reporting to Operational Commands directly.

The regiments formerly carried Soviet battle honours and state honours until these were removed from their titles and unit colours in the 2010s.

Russo-Ukrainian War[edit]

With the arrival of the Flakpanzer Gepard in the midst of the current Russian invasion as of 2022,[3][4] the Anti-Air Defense Missile Artillery of the Ukrainian Ground Forces thus began an ongoing process of Westernization of its materiel, which had already been acclerated with the arrival of Western MANPAD systems to supplement those of Soviet-era manufacture in current use even before the invasion. The German-produced Gepards, together with Stormer HVMs produced in the United Kingdom,[5][6] both of which arrived in the country during the current war, constitute the first Western-made mobile air defense systems in service in this branch of the Ground Forces since independence.

Active units of the AADMA of the UGF[edit]

Equipment[edit]

The Ground Forces Anti-Air Defense Missile Artillery operates the following:

Towed/truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns[edit]

Model Image Country of origin Type Variant Number Details
Anti-Aircraft (AA) towed Guns
ZPU-1
 Soviet Union
 Czech Republic
 Polish People's Republic 		Towed anti-aircraft gun ? Used during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[9][better source needed]
14.5mm Viktor 115 Victor, ZPU-2 mounted on car Toyota Land Cruiser pick-up  Czech Republic manufactured by Excalibur Army.

The Netherlands will supply 100 commercially purchased vehicles with anti-aircraft guns from the Czech Republic.[10][11]

15 purchased from the money collected in the fund collection Weapons to Ukraine - gifts for Mr. Putin and his friends.[12]

AZP S-60 400 + Used during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some were mounted on trucks. Some have been modernised with more modern fire-control systems.[13] The new Polish package on January 2023 consists of S-60 anti-aircraft guns with 70,000 pieces of ammunition [14]
ZU-23-2 2A13 1,000+
Zastava M55  Yugoslavia Anti-aircraft gun ? Seen in use during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[15]
Bofors 40 mm L/70  Sweden Anti-aircraft gun L/70 53 36 guns and ammunition pledged by Lithuania on 11 January 2023.[16] 17 provided by The Netherlands. Some under Air Force and Navy.[17]
KS-19  Soviet Union 4+? Either captured from Russian forces or pulled out of long term storage during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[18]
MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin  United Kingdom Unknown Pledged by the United Kingdom.[19]

Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns[edit]

Model Image Country of origin Type Variant Number Details
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
ZSU-23-4 Shilka  Soviet Union Tracked armoured self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4M3 300+ Being modernized and returned to service by the Balakliia Repair Plant.[20] As of 26 June 2022, four have been captured by Ukrainian forces during the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine.[21]
Flakpanzer Gepard
 West Germany Tracked armoured self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 1A2 32 + 5 30 refurbished units paid for by Germany delivered in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[22] Seven more pledged by Germany in December 2022. Some under Air Force.[23] 2 provided by Germany on February 2023.[24]

Surface-to-air missile systems[edit]

Model Image Origin Type Variant Number Details
Stormer HVM  United Kingdom Very short range 6 At least six vehicles and hundreds of missiles were supplied by the United Kingdom in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[25]
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger  United States Very short range 12 Four Avenger air defense systems and Stinger missiles pledged by the United States in November 2022.[26] An additional 8 units were pledged on 19 January.[27]
9K35 Strela-10
 Soviet Union Short range 9K35M Strela-10M4 >75[28] Six units were supplied by the Czech Republic in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[29][30] As of 26 June 2022, four units had been captured from Russian forces.[21]
2K22 Tunguska
2K22M 75 [28]
9K33 Osa
Short range Osa-AKM
Osa-AKM-P1 "Żądło" 		125 As of 18 June 2022, at least two had been captured from Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[21] Some variants with polish camouflage spotted but no transfer has been officially named.[31]
Crotale  France Short to medium range 2 In October 2022 it was disclosed that France will deliver Crotale air defense systems to Ukraine.[32][33] Two batteries delivered to Ukraine in November 2022.[34]
9K37 Buk
 Soviet Union
 Ukraine 		Medium range 9K37M1 72 Undergoing modernization to the 9K37M1-2 standard.[35] Undergoing modifications in order to fire the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile
2K12 Kub
M3/2D 89 Overhauled and brought back into service in the late 2010s.[36][37] M3/2D variants used.[citation needed]
MIM-23 Hawk  United States 8+ In October 2022, it was announced that Spain would supply four systems.[38] More systems were pledged by the United States.[26] In November, Spain pledged two more systems.[39] USA provided on February 2023 2 HAWK air defense firing units and munitions.[40]

Future purchases:[edit]

  • Skyshield truck-mounted short range anti-aircraft guns for UGF use[41][42]
  • Skyranger 35 wheeled mobile short range anti-aircraft guns, mounted either on Boxer or BTR chassis
  • Crotale NG wheeled mobile short range surface-to-air missile launchers, can also be fitted on BTR chassis[43]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "How air defense systems work and why Ukraine is eager for more protection". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ Axe, David. "Ukraine's Ex-German Air-Defense Guns Are In Action, Supporting The Counteroffensive". Forbes. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Ukraine receives from Germany six more Gepard self-propelled guns". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ^ desk, The Kyiv Independent news (19 November 2022). "German Embassy: Gepard anti-aircraft guns help Ukraine take down Iranian drones". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  5. ^ "First Stormer HVM air defense systems arrive in Ukraine". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. ^ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/07/25/7360153/
  7. ^ Dovbaka Nicholas Ihorovych. "National defense" (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  8. ^ Сухопутні війська (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  9. ^ 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker [@UAWeapons] (May 22, 2022). "#Ukraine: More technicals from the Ukrainian army - here we see a light truck with a ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun mounted. The ZPU-1 consists of a KPV 14.5mm heavy machine gun with a scope. Whilst it entered service back in 1949, it still can be used against lightly armored targets. https://t.co/XcUwXUeOml" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse levering Patriot-luchtverdediging aan Oekraïne". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  11. ^ "Нідерланди передадуть Україні дві пускові ЗРК Patriot". Мілітарний (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  12. ^ "Czech Excalibur Army to Manufacture Artisan Vehicles With ZPU-2 Guns for the Ukrainian Army". Defense Express. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  13. ^ "Зенітна гармата С-60 у російсько-українській війні". mil.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 28 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Joint Statement – The Tallinn Pledge". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  15. ^ "Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  16. ^ "Lithuania to send anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine". LRT. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  17. ^ Oryx. "Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  18. ^ "The Ukrainian military demonstrate firing from KS-19 guns". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  19. ^ Ministry of Defence; Shapps, Grant. "Major new package of support for Ukraine's counter-offensive announced by Grant Shapps". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  20. ^ "НОВІ МОЖЛИВОСТІ ЗСУ-23-4 "ШИЛКА"". old.defence-ua.com.
  21. ^ a b c "Attack On Europe: Documenting Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Military support for Ukraine". Federal Government. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Militärische Unterstützungsleistungen für die Ukraine | Bundesregierung". Die Bundesregierung informiert | Startseite (in German). Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  24. ^ "Німеччина передала Україні ще дві ЗСУ Gepard". Мілітарний (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  25. ^ "UK to send scores of artillery guns and hundreds of drones to Ukraine". UK Government. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  26. ^ a b "$400 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  28. ^ a b The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. 2021. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
  29. ^ Lopatka, Jan (8 April 2022). "Czechs ship tanks, rocket launchers, artillery to Ukraine". Reuters. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  31. ^ "Polish Osa-AK air defense systems spotted in Ukraine". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  32. ^ "France to deliver Crotale air defense systems to Ukraine – media reports". Reuters. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Macron announced the transfer of six Caesar self-propelled guns along with anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine". Ukrainian Military Centre. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Aide militaire à l'Ukraine: Lecornu assure que la France est "l'un des 5 plus gros contributeurs au monde"". BFM Business (in French). Retrieved 2022-11-20.
  35. ^ "Україна модернізує зенітні установки ЗРК "Бук М1"". 3 March 2018.
  36. ^ "Back from the Dead: Ukraine's Tor SAMs".
  37. ^ Ukrainian Army Tests Upgraded 2K12 Kub, S-125, 9K330 Tor and Zsu-23-4 Air Defense Systems. World Military. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ "Spain To Send Air Defence Systems To Ukraine: NATO Chief". Barron's. 13 October 2022.
  39. ^ InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "España enviará más Hawk, más generadores y una batería de obuses de 105 mm a Ucrania". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  40. ^ "Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  41. ^ https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/ruestungsindustrie-rheinmetall-baut-neue-skynex-flugabwehr-fuer-die-ukraine/28859200.html
  42. ^ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/germany-send-skynex-air-defence-systems-ukraine-handelsblatt-2022-12-09/
  43. ^ https://defence-blog.com/france-confirms-crotale-ng-air-defense-system-delivery-to-ukraine/

See also[edit]

Category:Army units and formations of Ukraine Category:Air defence units and formations

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