Ukraine's game-changing drone disrupts high-cost Russian defenses
Drones have become an integral part of the battlefield in Ukraine. In recent months, models controlled via fiber optics have proven particularly useful for hunting so-called valuable targets. One such target is the S-300W4 anti-aircraft battery. We explore the behind-the-scenes details of the attack and the performance of this system.
The Ukrainians showcased an attack likely carried out by a drone referred to as the "Vampire" or "Baba Jagi," equipped with a thermal imaging camera. According to the Ukrainians' report, the drone bombed a launcher of the medium-range S-300W4 anti-aircraft system in the Zaporizhia region, triggering a fire. The drone then landed a short distance away to record the aftermath.
In the footage, a fire and panicked Russian soldiers can be seen. Unfortunately, the fire did not cause the missiles in the launcher tubes to explode if they were present (which might have occurred later).
Drone vs. anti-aircraft system worth hundreds of millions of dollars - the confrontation behind the scenes
Medium-range anti-aircraft systems designed to down aircraft over distances exceeding 62 miles (100 kilometers) or ballistic missiles are costly. For instance 2014, Egypt ordered four batteries of this system's export version (Antey-2500) from Russia for $1 billion.
This does not mean, however, that the S-300 system and its competitors are capable of countering every threat. Their weakness is slow targets moving just above the ground, where short-range systems optimized for countering drones or cruise missiles should supplement them. Apparently, in this instance, either these supplementary systems were absent, the crew's training was insufficient, or the system's network coverage was inadequate.
S-300W4 system - one of Russia's best systems
Introduced in 2014, the S-300W4 was developed as an evolution of the S-300W. Despite their visual similarities, the S-300W4 significantly differs from the more numerous S-300P sets. Both systems were developed in the 1970s at the Almaz-Antey plants, although the S-300W entered service only in the 1980s.
This variant was created explicitly for Soviet ground forces, which required a mobile solution against NATO forces' ballistic and cruise missiles. Consequently, the S-300W boasts better capabilities for eliminating such threats than the S-300P, which is designed for aviation and navy use.
The S-300W system's initial design parameters were to destroy aircraft at a distance of up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) and counter ballistic missiles at shorter distances (according to Russian data, up to 25 miles (40 kilometers)). As technology advanced, more sophisticated two-stage missiles, 9M82M, were developed, achieving twice the range. The latest versions allow for the elimination of aerial threats at distances of up to 249 miles (400 kilometers).
The missiles in this system are known for their high speed, reaching up to 3,800 mph (1,700 meters per second). However, their guidance and target destruction approach differs from those in advanced systems like the PAC-3 MSE.
The Russian system still employs traditional, semi-active radar guidance, which requires continuous target tracking by the launcher's fire-control radar until impact. A fragmentation warhead weighing about 331 pounds (150 kilograms) destroys targets.
Read also:
