The Reason Russian Air Defense Can’t Stop Ukrainian Drones
The Reason Russian Air Defense Can’t Stop Ukrainian Drones
Video Summary
Russia has one of the largest arsenals of air defense systems in the world, with an endless supply of missiles. After World War II, Russia’s focus on air defense came out of necessity, as they couldn’t compete with Western aircraft. The Soviet Union, and later Russia, developed a range of ground-based air defenses to counter the threat of Western aircraft, including the S-75, which could shoot down high-flying spy planes. They also developed more advanced systems like Tor, which could shoot down low-flying cruise missiles.
Despite having one of the largest air defense arsenals, Russia has faced some significant challenges. One is the need to stay one step ahead of the US in technological advancements. The US, on the other hand, has relied more on computer-aided technologies and stealth capabilities to stay ahead. Another challenge is the need for Russian air defenses to be highly mobile and adaptable, as they often operate in a mobile warfare scenario.
One key advantage Russia has is its experience in actual combat. The Soviet Union and Russia have fought numerous conflicts, from the Korean War to Vietnam, where they gained valuable experience with air defense systems. This experience has led to the development of a wide range of systems, from long-range to extremely mobile ones.
Despite these challenges and limitations, Russian air defenses seem to be doing pretty well. For every successful Ukrainian strike we see, there are likely many more that were shot down but never reported. Seeing proof of a successful shoot-down is difficult, but it’s likely that Russian air defenses are doing at least a decent job, considering the circumstances.