Kiev came under massive airstrikes in the night from Monday to Tuesday. Many described this as a unique and unprecedented wave of missile attacks. The BBC quoted an official as saying that “extraordinary in density,
A list of what was shot down claimed that the air guards had shot down six Kinjal air-launched missilesNine Kalibr cruise missiles, drones and Iskander missiles.
The massive attack on Ukraine is a reminder of the importance of air defense and comes in the wake of the threat to Kiev israeli air defense It is also defending against more than 1,000 missiles fired from Gaza.
Importance of layered air defense
This is significant because it shows how integrated multi-layered air defense is becoming increasingly important to the defense of countries and cities. Both Israel and Ukraine are now showing how these defenses can work in different regions against different threats and scenarios. This means that while Israel faces some types of rockets based on Iranian designs, Ukraine faces Russian missiles and Iranian drones.
The BBC noted that “the air raid alert was sounded at around 02:30 local time (23:30 GMT on Monday) and lifted two hours later in the eighth attack on the capital this month. An unusually high number of casualties in the city center Loud explosions were heard as officials told residents in online messages that air defenses had been activated.
Ukraine’s air defenses have improved over the past year and the country has become expert in countering Russian threats to Ukraine. This includes shooting down an Iranian-made drone that Russia is trying to acquire. It also includes deterring Russian missile threats. Ukraine now has the US-made Patriot system, a medium-range air defense system; As well as the German IRIS-T and Gepard air defense.
Journalists covering Ukraine noted a long night of air defense activity. Euan Macdonald tweeted overnight, “Airborne warning across Ukraine. Here in western Kiev, there has been a long, rolling sound like thunder, but lasts much longer. I saw several bright objects in the night sky from my window.” Saw rising, and now several distant explosions – air defense at work.
Journalist Oliver Carroll wrote that Kiev military officials had said that “the night-time attack involved cruise and potentially ballistic missiles … the maximum number of missiles in the shortest possible time.”
feet Correspondent Christopher Miller said, “Explosion in building-shaking in central Kiev. Ukraine’s air defense is working hard. We’ve been on air raid alert for 45 minutes.”
The large volume of fire led some to suggest that some of Russia’s attacks may have been targets of air defense systems themselves. It is possible that Russia wants to see how its missiles perform against an integrated defense that includes US- and German-made systems.
Ukraine’s systems get better and more integrated as time goes on and the learning curve gets steeper, while it doesn’t seem like time is on Moscow’s side in this regard. Obviously Russia does not have new missiles or new drones. It can only try new methods or use different types of missiles.
According to a recent article in the Associated Press, “The White House said Monday that Russia is looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran for use in its war against Ukraine, most of the 400 drones previously bought from Tehran.” was using. The Biden administration publicized satellite imagery and intelligence findings last year that suggested Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia. And for months, officials have said the United States believes Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington had no evidence that the deal had been completed.
This shows how Russia is increasingly using Iranian drones and most of them are being shot down. Drones are used to terrorize civilians, such as the Iranian-backed groups based in Gaza seeking to terrorize Israel. Drones thus pose a regional and global threat; with missiles. It is also a threat that can be faced. Ukraine now has the means to counter these threats.
In the past, there was some suggestion in media reports that the Iron Dome air defense system, built by Israel’s Rafale and whose interceptors are now made with Raytheon, may have been requested by Ukraine.
What matters today with regard to Ukraine’s air defense is analyzing how they are performing and stacking up against the Russian threat.
The latest massive attack on Kiev shows how Moscow clearly thinks it can destroy these systems by throwing different ammunition at them, including air-launched “hypersonic” Kinzhal missiles and other types of missiles and Might try to throw the drones. Earlier, a Kinjal launched by a MiG-31 was downed by a Patriot in early May.
Similarly, Iran has claimed to be using a variety of weapons against Israel, including drones, and is also encouraging the Palestinian Islamic Jihad to use Badr and Burak missiles that are clearly Iranian. based on designs. Iranian media also focus on Israel’s recent use of David’s sling to shoot down PIJ missiles operation shield and arrow,