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UKRAINE: 3 QUESTIONS - 3 ANSWERS, PART 33: Missiles and Missile Defense?

10/13/2022By SPARTANAT crew

Bundesheer Konflikte Raketen Russland

In recent days, the Russian army has attacked many cities and regions in Ukraine with rockets and drones. In addition to causing significant destruction, the attacks have also resulted in many civilian casualties.

Colonel Thomas Golda heads the Anti-Aircraft Institute at the Air and Anti-Aircraft Troop School of the Federal Army in Langenlebarn. He explains which defense systems and weapons can protect against such attacks.

The Federal Army Expert's Opinion:

How can an army protect its own population from rocket or kamikaze drone attacks?

Protecting the entire population and infrastructure of a state is not possible. It would require a protective shield over the entire country.

However, in Austria, it is conceivable to protect certain spaces and objects from this form of threat, such as critical infrastructure like the refinery in Schwechat. A hundred percent protection is still unlikely even in this case.

First, one must know the exact nature of the threat: Are they ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or drones? Based on this, defense options can be considered.

In the realm of reconnaissance, various sensors are used to detect the threat in different distances and altitude ranges. This is done through radar sensors, optical sensors, radio direction finding, acoustic sensors, and other systems.

Afterwards, a computer-assisted decision is made on which weapon system is deployed for defense against the threat. Depending on the threat, electromagnetic waves, cannons, or rockets are typically used. In the near future, the use of lasers against aerial threats is also possible.

This collaboration is ensured within an "Integrated Air Defense System." This is a very complex system that brings all components together to work in unison. In Israel, the "Iron Dome" system is used for defense against threats up to a distance of 70 kilometers, while the "David’s Sling" system is used for distances of 70 to 300 kilometers. Defense against ballistic missiles is possible with the US system "Patriot" or the Israeli system "Arrow 3."

For a country like Austria, defending against ballistic missiles alone is hardly feasible. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a European air defense system in the summer of 2022, in which neighboring states could participate and make a contribution.

The Ukrainian army has claimed to have shot down about half of the more than 80 rockets. Is that realistic?

Assuming that the Ukrainian claims are true, shooting down half of the rockets is a remarkable success. When multiple types of rockets and drones are fired simultaneously at targets, a phenomenon known as "saturation" occurs. The means available in the entire defense system become saturated. This means that not all targets are recognized, fire control decisions are not made or are made too late, and the number of defense resources and/or the amount of ammunition at the weapon are insufficient to combat all targets.

Why have the Russian rockets hit so many civilian facilities and non-military targets?

Initially, the question must be asked: what were the intended targets? It is quite conceivable, if not likely, that targeting civilian facilities was intentional to spread fear and terror or destroy critical infrastructure.

Furthermore, it is possible that in targeting military objectives, the destruction of neighboring civilian facilities was collateral damage. This can occur when using rocket artillery, ballistic missiles, and unguided rockets, as these are not precision weapons. Kamikaze drones and cruise missiles are precision weapons and usually allow for precise hits.