Understanding Basics of Air Defense Integration for Nations

A 64N6E Big Bird acquisition radar can track 200 targets in one 12 sec sweep and its battle management complex can assign targets up to 6 batteries up to 36 targets to fully integrate S300 batteries into one management process, handling threats from a range of 300km. (Photo courtesy Air Power Australia)


Air Defence integration quite possibly will play the most significant role in a robust air defence system. Target track data, identification of threats, handling of threats as well as early warning will provide a nation with the necessary requirements to handle incoming wave of attack.  How these are integrated as well as dedicated type of air defence will ensure a nation a robust system. What is interesting though is that many countries lack one way or another, dedicated systems which will play a vital role in their air defence. The reason for this can be analysed further, what determines this is commonly due to lack of funds, type of threat and most importantly the manufacturers will to supply these sophisticated systems to other nations. Understanding why larger nations might limit what and how they sell their latest technology is vital to put together the puzzle of how certain nations have come to attain their particular type of systems and how they have been integrated.

Early warning plays a major role in establishing the type of incoming threat, and how that threat will be executed. The earlier the warning of the incoming threat more time is ensured to deal with the threat appropriately. S300 systems automatically have the capability to compute all algorithms and pass on target track data to necessary batteries. The 64N6 with its dedicated battle management complex 5N83 can handle this load, which can detect 300 targets in one scan, track 100, assign 36 targets 6 to up 6 batteries. Also it has better capabilities against low RCS targets.  This higher echelon early warning can provide nations with a disciplined and well trained air defence forces to ensure that the oncoming threat is not wasted with limited number of missiles depending on their inventory.  It can also provide early warning to scramble interceptors in order to maintain the S300 6 simultaneous target tracking capability depending on the number of batteries. The lack of a dedicated battle management complex is not crucial though a fully integrated air defence including battle management complex will enjoy the benefits of being assigned targets with their dedicated missile or air force. 

Although many nations possess the later variants of S300PMU, these systems are robust against a limited attack; they provide basic air defence for a nation in order to deter enemies to fly reconnaissance or other intrusion of airspace. S300PMU are highly sophisticated systems, though 1 battalion or 2 will not provide enough target tracking to ensure a salvo of cruise missiles. Systems in place such as the Kalingrad district is an example of more robust air defence, in which multiple layered of S300 are placed with S300V. Greece air defence is also one of many nations which provide a robust system and again political pressure has ensured the lack of fine integration with all their systems, political reasoning is out of scope of this article though understanding that it plays a role will teach the avid reader in air defence and how these systems lack total integration. Greece has there Buk-M1 system in Cyprus, 1 64N6 on the island of Crete in which the distance is likely to integrate with one S300PMU. Although Greece has acquired a descent air force, its threat from Turkey is a heavy one and the lack of S300’s are not sufficient to even nominally protect its skies from a total Turkish invasion. Greece’s Tor-M1 capability does add a different dimension to its overall protection, able to protect its patriot systems from cruise missiles will ensure there air force and Patriot’s complete the job they are intended to do. Many other nations in Europe possess S300 without true integration, though the lack of threat may be the reason for a limited number of complete systems to protect their skies.

Azerbaijan’s new purchase of S300PMU-2 is of significance to analyse and understand, acquiring these systems protect Azerbaijan from any threat in the region. Its major threat is 24 Scud B that can potentially destroy the oil fields. Again the overall robustness of 2 batteries of S300PMU is limited, there sophisticated technology will ensure direct hits on scuds, though a 24 target capability can be over-saturated if more than 24 scuds were launched at one time. In this case Armenia has 8 launchers for their Scud B’s and any over-saturation attempt is not possible. In the limited threat Azerbaijan has a robust air defence system, denying threats in the region. What is more important for Azerbaijan in its handling of threats is the S300 PMU’s range as the curvature of the earth only allows the S300PMU to limit its distance for low flying aircraft on the border of Nagorno Karabagh.

Russia’s failure to locate and destroy  BuK-M1 in the war with Georgia presented many problems, in Russia’s military forces, other than a large conventional force outgunning its opponent, many tactics such as suppression of air defence systems where overlooked. According to sources 4 Russian planes were downed and the lack of ability to counter systems made in Russia presented many unanswered questions. To many to ask ourselves here, though the most important being why could Russia not jam its own invented equipment? 

Ukraine after the onset of the failing Soviet Union acquired a large arsenal of air defence systems from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine posses’s a large number of S300 and have an integrated system Also there upgrade packages on some older Sams ensures well maintenance as well as competent technological upgrades. Again there large territory is an issue to consider in terms of overall air defence though a well overlapping and integrated system with other upgraded equipment does provide Ukraine with a fairly robust system.

The key is a uniform and well integrated air defence system with overlapping capability. Russia at this time holds the key to a well-planned, well integrated and overlapping system. Though what holds the key to one of the most robust air defence capable systems is the ability to shoot down precision guided munitions. Tor M1, Pantsyr systems and the older and less capable though efficient Tunguska add the next level of robustness in air defence systems.  Nations who lack either an integrated system or lack the ability to shoot down precision guided munitions are vulnerable to any modern sophisticated attack. While nations like Greece have modern top tier SAMs, interceptors, point defence systems with Tor-M1, low level coverage with SA-8, the true lack of total integration can be its downfall even from limited but sophisticated attack. Iran falls out of a modern air defence system scope, even if confirmed S300 systems where put in place and were in underground bunker systems they will only provide more of a deterrence rather than a sophisticated system. There Tor-M1 priority will be protecting the nuclear facilities. Armenia again lacks point defence systems,  it’s well-integrated and overlapping system will provide a robust defence though only against fighter size aircraft and missiles with a large cross section, not a full proof coverage against  low observable cruise missiles and its continuing salvo.  

The next technological barrier to put together in the understanding of air defence and its integration is jamming requirements and capabilities. In particular stand-off jammers in an attacking force. The most robust air defence systems have the potential to be jammed from highly sophisticated stand-off jammer forces such as the Wild Weasel variation on the F-18 Hornet. Deep penetration, and accurate strike capability not relying on a large Low RCS cruise missile strike depends on stand-off jammers. And while Russia’s sophisticated air defence in particular there latest S300 technology is of robust in nature against jamming it is potentially still vulnerable to new delicate technologies that are invented for jamming from the West. Nations who possess strong jamming equipment of their own to ensure anti jamming capability will ensure a well-integrated plus a well-protected air defence force.   At this time Russia is only known to have such strong jammers in their inventory and such is the key to ensure that technological upgrades in the west do not interrupt target tracking.

For a long period in history Russian technology has concentrated in defence at times having the upper hand in air defence system technology although the West might be closing the gap with their Aegis systems, Russia still lacks its technology on strike capability and stand-off jammers and a  large strike air force. Though it makes this up in air defence, its multi layered air defence systems with a highly sophisticated integration with potentially one of the best point defence system technology with the ability to jam incoming wave of strike aircraft jammers sets itself as the best air defence system technology money can buy. Though which nations are able to link the missing caps in technology with Russian equipment is another story, the nations that do will provide themselves with robust air defence.

Sources:
"Imint Analysis" Sean O'Connor
"Air Power Australia"
"Google Earth Imagery"