Shot Down Raiders: How the Work of Anti-Aircraft Gunners Has Changed at the Front

Air defense has become more focused on UAVs and missiles, rather than large objects

If previously the main tasks of air defense units included mainly combating large and armored objects, now they are confronted by a completely different enemy. However, the main task of air defense is the same — to protect its troops from threats from the air.

Izvestia/Dmitry Astrakhan
Izvestia/Dmitry Astrakhan

One of the main types of weapons that was designed to combat close air support aircraft and helicopters, and is now used against large reconnaissance drones, is MANPADS.

First, we set up an air observation post. From it, the shooter reports the characteristics of the aerial target. Based on them, we make a decision, and trained personnel act.
Call sign Zmey, air defense officer of the "Center" group

According to him, all weapons are used in a complex — the calculation of the ZU-23 automatic cannon, a shooter with a missile system, and a shooter at the air observation point, who corrects and supports with a machine gun. If an aerial target descends to low altitudes, then they begin to fire at it from small arms of various types, including shotguns.

Earlier it became known that Russian soldiers rebuilt T-55, T-62 and T-72 tanks into armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.

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Sources
@izvestia

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