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Russian authorities are strengthening the air defense system around Moscow. British intelligence reports that the air defense system was rebuilt specifically to destroy drones. So the Kremlin is trying to convince the public that now drones over Moscow do not pose any danger, experts say. But how things really are is in the FREEDOM material.
Russia has overhauled the structure of its short- and medium-range air defense system, seeking to more effectively defend against the drones that attack the city almost every day.
However, recalibrating air defense systems aimed at eliminating drones will not help, experts say. This is imaginary control to reassure the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Due to the lack of air defense systems, Russia is forced to cover Putin’s residence in Novo-Ogarevo with “Shells”, as well as redeploy old S-300 systems from the Far East.
“These Pantsirs are quite pointless, because they were installed last year, but somehow it is not heard or seen that they shoot down very many drones. Usually, electronic warfare systems land these drones or make them fall, but I haven’t heard anything about the Pantsirs,” notes military-political observer Yuri Fedorov.
Experts believe that it will be problematic in Russia to make up for the shortage by producing new air defense systems in the foreseeable future.
“It takes time to significantly increase the production of these products. This is a rather complex product. In Soviet times, we saw their capabilities. They’re not much further ahead on this. We must pay tribute to the fact that in the Russian Federation they have transferred this kind of enterprise to round-the-clock operation, but this does not allow us to make any breakthrough,” says retired lieutenant general and military expert Igor Romanenko.
General Surovikin is now responsible for air security in Russia, sources informed about his arrest after the Wagner PMC mutiny in June. Now Surovikin will be responsible for the functioning of the joint air defense system of the CIS member countries, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.
“Surovikin’s transition to a leadership position in the CIS is consistent with previous patterns of Russian military leadership, which moves disgraced and ineffective commanders to peripheral positions far from Ukraine without removing them from the ranks of the Russian military entirely,” the Institute for the Study of War report said.
At the same time, the air defense systems in Ukraine are the best today. And the United States intends to continue working to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
“The latest military aid package announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Ukraine included air defense system components that we had previously supplied. We are working with other countries so that they also supply air defense systems,” Miller concluded.
The UK has signed three contracts to supply Ukraine with air defense equipment worth more than 105 million euros. About 65 million euros will be spent on the supply of anti-drone systems. London signed two more contracts to expand air defense capabilities.
Read also: Putin Announces Far East Reset: How Sanctions Change Kremlin Plans
As previously reported, to combat drone attacks in Russia, they use not only anti-aircraft missile systems and electronic warfare (EW) systems, but also anti-drone guns, mobile patrols and structures for lifting the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system. But the air defense system over Moscow turned out to be ineffective.
