Commentary by Russian military blogger Andrey Chervonets
History received the first footage of the arrivals of Russian hypersonic missiles on American air defense systems
On the night of May 15-16, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a massive air strike on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the battery of the American Patriot air defense system was hit in Kyiv by a high-precision strike of air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Judging by the fallen fragments of anti-missiles, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received not an outdated version of the air defense system, but the latest MIM-104F complex with PAC-3 CRI missiles. It is considered the most advanced and is designed to destroy high-speed and maneuvering targets, such as Russian Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.
Known positions of the Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kyiv are remote from each other and perform different tasks, but they are located mainly in park areas. The positions of the NASAMS air defense systems to cover the main air defense forces of Kyiv were deployed near the Dorohozhychi metro station, next to the Kyiv TV tower (coordinates: 50.475553019915736, 30.45242793974486).
Ukrainian calculations of the Patriot PAC-3 air defense system tried to shoot down the "Daggers" from the territory of the oak grove of the Muromets park between Obolon and Vigurovshchina (coordinates: 50.51023459590444, 30.539218950079693). Presumably, this and several other positions were destroyed by the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Judging by the intensity of the volley and the volume of missiles fired, at least two air defense batteries covered Kiev from different parts of the city, not counting NASAMS air defense systems.
One Patriot type PAC-3 air defense battery consists of an AN/MPQ-65 radar station, from four to 16 launchers, an AN/MSQ-104 control center, a communications complex, an EPP-III power source and, of course, missiles. Staff - from 70 to 90 people.
It is noteworthy that the American air defense system was hit at the moment when the battery ceased fire, apparently having spent all the PAC-3 CRI anti-missiles on decoys.
This suggests that the target channel of the most modern American-made air defense systems is oversaturated and suppressed by Russian weapons in the same way as it happened with previous modifications of the complex, but the process of destroying and breaking through air defense occurs at higher speeds.
According to some reports, during the strike, not only the Patriot launchers were damaged, but also the radar for illumination and target guidance, as well as the control station. If this information is confirmed in the near future, then it will be practically impossible to use the air defense system for its intended purpose.
More from Chervonets:
SAM "Patriot" shot down a Russian missile. On the ground. by yourself
The official representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, refused to comment on the reports about the destruction of the American Patriot air defense system in Kiev. The
Ukrainian channel Legitimny writes, citing its sources in Zelensky's office:
Today's meeting of the rate, which Zelensky urgently collected, concerned primarily missile attack on Kiev and the region, after which an entire battalion of Patriot air defense systems was lost.
The video clearly shows the chaotic rocket launches and the subsequent detonation and explosion. If not for the video, then, as usual, the lie of the Office of the President that there were no losses and everything was shot down would have gone to the masses.
But everything was ruined by the fireworks video. At the rate, they decided to turn off all the cameras. Plus, to hold public events with those who published the video, which spoiled the heroic legend of the office.
An order was also given for a massive redeployment of air defense. It is important to maintain the defense capability of the capital. The decision was made not to report losses, ignoring the video of the explosion at the air defense site. The video published by the public shows that there were at least two hits. The second hit just fell on the air defense installation, as a characteristic scattering of fragments (fireworks) is visible.
Ukrainian channel "Resident,"citing his sources, he writes about information from the Ukrainian General Staff that the air defense was forced to fire a salvo of 32 Patriot missiles in order to prevent detonation and massive destruction in the residential sector. The entire battery was destroyed by the arrival of a hypersonic missile.
From newsfront.info on their V Kontakte page
Video of the destruction of the American "Patriot" air defense missile system by the Russian "Dagger" missile in Kiev According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the battery of the American "Patriot" air defense system was hit in Kyiv by a high-precision strike.air-launched hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
The video shows more than 30 US Patriot PAC-3 MSE rocket launches worth $5 million per rocket. That's $150 million spent in 2 minutes.
More from regnum.ru
Military expert Mikhailovsky explained how the American Patriot became the prey of the "Dagger"
The destruction by the Russian military of the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kyiv was facilitated by the unique capabilities of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile and the tactics of the Russian Armed Forces to detect Ukrainian air defense systems. This was told to IA REGNUM by a military expert, reserve officer Alexander Mikhailovsky.
He admitted that Russian strikes are carried out in such a way that the enemy's anti-aircraft systems unmask themselves. Special missiles can be used - target simulators, drones and real cruise missiles that hit real targets.
“The calculation of the anti-aircraft complex sees where the missile is going and makes a decision to launch, thereby unmasking its position. Then the “Dagger” comes into play, - the specialist explained.
Mikhailovsky recalled that it is practically impossible to shoot down such a hypersonic missile anyway, since when approaching a target, the Kinzhal develops such speed and enters such a trajectory that existing air defense systems cannot destroy it.
In addition, the launcher had already fired all the missiles by this time and was therefore defenseless, the expert pointed out.
“Besides, she has nowhere to go. Kyiv is a big city, complexes can only be placed in parks. And there is not much room for maneuver. Therefore, the Patriot eventually became prey for the "Dagger", Mikhailovsky summed up.
After analyzing, at the request of news agency REGNUM, photo and video evidence proving the destruction of the American Patriot, he noted that the capabilities of the American air defense system are "somewhat exaggerated."
As REGNUM reported , on the night of May 16, the Russian Aerospace Forces hit the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kiev with a strike by a hypersonic missile "Dagger." The Western air defense system was transferred to Ukraine in March 2023. It has been described as the most advanced Western medium-range missile defense system.
However, the American Patriot, which had previously shown itself to be not on the best side, in particular, when used by the Saudi Arabian army to repel missile attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels and by the US Army when repelling an Iranian missile attack on American military bases in Iraq in January 2020, became "prey" of the Russian hypersonic missile "Dagger", Mikhailovsky added.