Given the earlier reported downing of an Su-34 Fullback over Mariupol and now the reported downing of a Tu-22M3 Backfire.
I am beginning to wonder if the PSU has rehabilitated a SA-5/S-200 sam battery with 5V28 missiles.
Tu-22M source:
https://t.me/shofront/61
S-200 SAM thread
The biggest issue the Russians have with the the 5V28 missile is they have a time of flight of only 5 minutes to their 345 km maximum range.
The Russian propagandists have claimed a range of 600 km for the converted 5V28 SAM, but even 400 km is 80% the range of an Iskander.
(linkki toiseen ketjuun jossa kirjoitetaan S-200 ohjusten käytöstä maasta-maahan aseena:
LINKKI)
When you look at the range to target and the 290 km stand off range for the Backfire's missile.
The 160 km range of a Patriot is marginal barring early actionable intelligence.
A S-200 battery with a 345 km 5V28 missile doesn't need intelligence.
I've long discounted the S-200 from being resuscitated by Ukraine for the SAM role because their stored system was was hit by copper metal thieves.
That problem doesn't apply to East European nations like Poland.
Poland did an extensive digital upgrade on the S-200 Vega to cover it's vulnerability to the VKS until it could afford enough Patriots.
It's last Polish S-200 battery was still in storage storage in Feb 2022.
https://researchgate.net/publicatio...Vega_Missile_System_on_the_Modern_Battlefield
Given when the Polish updated their S-200VE Vega/SA-5B, it was Link 16 capable, AKA it can be fully integrated into AFU's Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) Engagement Operations Center (EOC)
(viittaa Thomas Theinerin viestiketjuun 24.4.2023 jonka mukaan Yhdysvallat antoi ainakin yhden tällaisen keskuksen Ukrainalle:
LINKKI)
That means link 16 compatibility is built in, allowing this S-200 5N62 Square Pair FMCW tracker/illuminator to be active for only the 5 minutes of a 345 km 5V28 missile engagement.
Then the illuminator can scoot out of the way.
Just like the Ukrainian 5V28 missile launchers have been while firing ground to ground:
Now it is still more likely that @UKikaski in his post below is correct than a Polish S-200 battery is operational.
But OSINT accounts need to BOLO for 5N62 Square Pair Engagement Radars inside Ukraine going forward.
-
Lainaan UKikaskin viestin johon hän viittaa:
This is getting crazy...
The evidence I have found of a Tu-22M3 being shot down is that it "disappeared" from radar. That means friendly fire, mechanical failure or radar malfunction. There is a long list of other before it gets to AFU shot it down.
The story has legs though and is all over Ukrainian TV. This guy, who claims to have inside knowledge, said the Tu-22 was shot down over Kursk by a "Bayraktar."
Source:
https://t.me/c/1402499671/28464