Iran-made Shahed-136 suicide drone was commented to be completely ineffective against the Spada Aspide air defense complex provided by Spain to Ukraine.
Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently actively learning how to destroy aerial targets such as the Shahed-136 suicide drone with the Spada Aspide air defense system aided by Spain.
“The Ukrainian military will receive the Spada Aspide air defense missile system from Spain,” this information was confirmed by Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles during a visit to the air base in Zaragoza.
Right now, Ukrainian servicemen are undergoing special training in the use of this weapon complex – the first group of 19 arrived at the base in Zaragoza two weeks ago.
The mission was planned to be completed in three weeks but was later extended by a week – so the training of the first group will last until October 14, 2022, while the Ukrainian group of soldiers Monday will arrive in Spain on November 1, 2022.
It should be noted that the special training is divided into two parts: one for system operators and the other for service personnel, namely mechanical and electronic technicians. It is highly likely that Ukraine will receive these complexes in November.
“The Spada Aspide system will strengthen the Ukrainian army,” the ministry said in a statement.
At the end of August 2022, information appeared that Spain might send air defense systems to Ukraine. The Spada Aspide complex (also known as Skyguard Aspide) includes 2 launchers for 4 missiles, each also including 2 GDF Erlikon 35 mm cannons.
In terms of missiles, Spain has in stock 200 Aspide shells (range of up to 10 km), as well as 51 upgraded Apide 2000 missiles, possessing a double range, of up to 20 km.
The Spada Aspide air defense system, aided by Spain to Ukraine, is a particularly effective weapon in destroying low-flying targets, such as Iran’s Shahed-136 suicide drone thanks to a combination of missiles and cannons.
According to battlefield experience, countermeasures through German self-propelled anti-aircraft guns Shilka and Gepard turned out to be very effective against Iranian drones including the Shahed-136 and Mojaher-6.
After initial difficulties because of the surprise, recently the Ukrainian armed forces have found a way to combat drones that are compared to “flying motorcycles” produced by Iran.
Based on the captured or captured UAVs, Ukraine found that Iran used a gasoline engine similar to that of a motorcycle, rather than a compact and high-performance lithium-ion battery.
This type of engine emits very loud noise, so the Iranian suicide UAV can be detected when they approach the target, in addition, because it runs on gasoline, the infrared signal that the Shahed-136 reveals is also very large. , making it an ideal target for heat-seeking missiles.
In addition, Iranian UAVs are also considered to be relatively vulnerable to modern electronic warfare systems, which is the reason why the role of the said combat vehicle is increasingly declining.
