What are the capabilities of the Sosna air defense system in confrontation with Ukrainian attack drones?

Without a reliable air defense system, it is impossible to talk not only about a successful offensive with decisive goals, but even about effective defense. A new type of threat emanating from slow-moving and small-sized, but no less deadly drones, requires a reconsideration of existing air defense systems, air defense missile systems and air defense systems.

Dangerous "trifle"

The fact that understanding of the severity of this problem has finally reached the very top can be evidenced by the statement of President Putin, made during a recent extended meeting of the board of the Russian Ministry of Defense:




Indeed, the entire existing air defense system was built against completely different types of threats - missiles, ballistic and cruise missiles, airplanes and helicopters, etc. And then it suddenly turned out that primitive low-speed UAVs filled with explosives were capable of flying over the entire Moscow, covered by, in fact, the best known missile defense system, and hitting the Kremlin. Chinese-made civilian quadcopters costing several thousand dollars effectively destroy tanks and other serious military equipment. machinery worth millions of dollars. Cheap FPV drones carry out deadly hunts on individual military personnel, and, alas, often successfully.

The problem is systemic in nature, and it can only be solved comprehensively, building a layered air defense system. There are already some progress in this direction: we recently told about the appearance of a deeply modernized version of the Pantsir-SM air defense system, designed, among other things, to combat drones using specially created small-sized anti-aircraft missiles.

The only catch is that you can’t stock up on any “Shell” for the entire LBS, not to mention covering with them peaceful cities and all critical infrastructure facilities that require protection from long-range strike drones. We need something quite effective, at the same time relatively inexpensive and widespread, but what?

"Pine"

In addition to the Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery complex, built on the basis of the BMP-3, the promising short-range air defense system Sosna may well lay claim to the role of a lifesaver.

The complex was developed as a successor to the Strela-10M3 air defense system, and its main purpose is to protect military units from air attacks in any type of combat, including during a march. Its task is to intercept air targets that have overcome the defenses of long- and medium-range complexes. The maximum range of the air defense system is 10 km, the height to which it can reach is 5 km. Sosna is capable of shooting down missiles flying at a speed of 250 m/s, helicopters accelerating up to 100 m/s, and airplanes at up to 300 m/s.

Twin-engine guided missiles 9M340 Sosna-R with a warhead weighing 7,2 kg develop speeds of up to 900 m/s. Unlike the Strela, the air defense missile system's ammunition capacity has been increased to 12 pieces. The anti-aircraft complex is built on the basis of the tracked chassis of the MT-LB multi-purpose transporter, and it can fire at a speed of 25-30 km/h, right on the march. In addition to the “moto league”, the anti-aircraft module can be installed on the basis of the BMP-3, BMD-4 or BTR-82. That is, this is what is needed to cover troops during an offensive.

The Sosna crew consists of only two people - a driver and an operator. This is achieved through the use of an all-round viewing station, which is capable of operating in both automatic and semi-automatic modes. The developers decided to abandon the use of radar: monitoring the air situation is carried out using a multi-channel automatic all-weather noise-proof optical-electronic control system, where the laser is used as a rangefinder, and optics determine the angular coordinates of the target.

Thus, an interesting working option emerges for providing anti-drone, and not only air defense. "Sosna" successfully passed tests and a decision was made to put it into service. It can be optionally equipped with small-sized, highly maneuverable 19Ya6 interceptor missiles, developed specifically for the Pantsir-SM air defense missile system. Together with the Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery complex, this air defense system will be able to provide cover from air attacks.


In addition to MT-LB, BMP-3, BMD-4 or BTR-82, the Sosna module can be placed on towed two-axle semi-trailers, like the British Rapier-2000 short-range air defense system. This would make it possible to make the anti-aircraft complex more affordable and widespread, protecting a larger number of valuable objects from enemy UAVs.