The AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-48 radar complexes, built by the US to perform counter-reaction operations, have recently been claimed to have been destroyed by Russian forces.
According to a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on January 29, the Russian military engaged two Ukrainian anti-aircraft radar systems, the AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-48, in a single attack in the Kherson direction. The Ukrainian Army is given all of these weapons, which are produced in the US.
At least two anti-aircraft radar systems, the AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-48, which the US provided to Ukraine and were destroyed by Russian forces, were located in the direction of Kherson, close to the city of Kherson and the town of Novoaleksandrovk, according to the statement.
Both of the radar systems that Russia destroyed were supplied to Ukraine by the US in June 2022. The AN/TPQ-36 is intended to be able to locate the firing position of Russian army howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, and self-propelled artillery systems.
Additionally, the AN/TPQ-48 has 360-degree reconnaissance, mortar position detection, and flying target interception capabilities. Although the target detection range of none of these radars is sufficient to support a direct HIMARS counterattack against Russian forces, when coupled with Ukraine’s current radar system, they constitute a terrifying power.
The Russian military therefore considers that the loss of AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-48 has a significant impact on the combat effectiveness of Ukrainian artillery, particularly HIMARS rocket artillery systems supplied by the US.
According to the US National Interest journal, Russian forces used the methods of launching Iskander, Kalibr missiles, and rocket artillery to lure those radars and force them to divulge their signals, mark, and location in their attacks to destroy Ukraine’s radars. Russia quickly launched anti-radiation missiles to take down these targets.
The Russian Air Force frequently used Su-35S multirole fighters to launch Kh-31PD long-range anti-radiation missiles. This strategy was described as “credible and rational” by the US publication.
This newspaper also raises the idea that Russia exaggerates the situation to have psychological effects on its adversaries, particularly Ukraine and the nations who provide it with weaponry.
Iskander is a short-range, mobile ground-to-ground ballistic missile that is frequently employed by Russia for tactical operations, according to the explanation. The Kalibr, a cruise missile that may be fired from a surface vessel or a submarine, can be used to attack targets both on land and at sea.
A Kh-55 SM missile with a non-explosive warhead might likewise be used by Russia as a ruse. The Su-35S planes equipped with Kh-31 missiles will be able to see the Ukrainian air defence radar that has been turned on to counter those missiles.
The Kh-31A missile is a type of cruise missile that locates a target using inertial guidance. A missile designed primarily to destroy adversary radars in active mode, including as flight control radar, early warning radar, and other systems, is called the Kh-31P missile. Long- and medium-range SAMs.
The two radar systems, AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-48, were destroyed, although it is unclear what weapon Russia employed because the Kh-31PD is a pricey weapon while the target has a substantially lower value.
