Missing Russian Missile Defense Systems Led to Il-76MD Downing: Pro-Russian Media

The tragic shooting down of a Russian Il-76-MD aircraft in the airspace over Kursk and Belgorod which killed 74 persons including 65 Ukrainian POWs has exposed shortcomings in Russian air defense systems.

While the missiles had been detected by both the IL-76 aircraft and a ground-based air defense radar, there were no S-400 or other air defense systems within range of the lauched missiles to intercept them.

The airspace over the Kursk and Belgorod and Voronezh regions within a radius of 130 - 140 km remain within the range of the Patriot PAC-2 missiles, reported “Russian Weapons” Telegram channel.

Consequently, military transport, aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces patrolling within a radius of 130 - 140 km from the border will be automatically covered by the directional pattern of (The Patriot system’s) AN/MPQ-53A radars. This allows Patriot crews to illuminate targets for MIM-104D/E anti-aircraft missiles.

“The enemy acquired such operational-tactical dividends solely due to the lack of any regularity in satellite radar and optical-electronic reconnaissance of border areas in the Kharkkov region, the lack of patrolling 200 km from the border with the Kharkov region of Tu-214R strategic radar reconnaissance aircraft (capable of detecting Patriots when entering firing positions), as well as the absolutely inexplicable absence of interception of Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles using our S-400 and Buk-M3 air defense systems,” the report said.

It is for this reason that after the interception of an Il-76MD, the press service of the enemy (Ukrainian) Air Force boldly announced the continuation of attempts to intercept our aircraft over the above-mentioned areas.

The radar equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces (the 96L6 all-altitude detectors) recorded the launch of Ukrainian missiles against the Il-76MD, RuAF officials said yesterday, but did not elaborate on why counter-missiles from the S-400 were not launched.