Against Ukrainian drones: Putin is now building anti-aircraft towers like in World War II

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The images on the state broadcaster Rossija 1 do not exactly reflect the ultra-modern influence of one of the supposedly strongest armies in the world. They show 24 iron towers and ramps about 50 meters high, on which the air defense system “Panzir S-1” was mounted. The factories are located in various locations in Russia and are touted as the latest line of defense against Ukrainian attacks. Of course the idea is not new. Even the Nazis equipped bunker towers with anti-aircraft artillery (flak) against Allied bombs. The height of the anti-aircraft towers allowed for an unobstructed field of fire.

From Putin’s anti-aircraft towers, Ukrainian drones, which normally fly under the radar due to their small size and limited speed, must be destroyed – and which are increasingly attacking Russian targets. The normally mobile surface-to-air missile system now in use is suitable for close-range and high-altitude targets. The proud display of the towers has another purpose. “They are a visual signal to the Russians,” said Ralph Thiele, 69, a military expert at the Institute for Strategic, Political, Security and Economic Consulting (ISPSW) in Berlin. “Putin wants to say: I am doing something to protect the population.”

Shoot sparrows with cannons

What seems outdated, makes a lot of sense from a military point of view, the military expert tells Blick. “Combined with hi-tech sensors and the use of electromagnetic waves, the air defense system can actually shoot down drones from the towers, damaging their engines or interfering with their GPS signals.” If you look at the material value of the anti-aircraft guns, sparrows are shot with cannons.

But the “sparrows” have it all. “The number of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory is increasing exponentially. Up to 10,000 Ukrainian drones have already been deployed. There will be many more. Selenski speaks of 200,000 drones per year,” says Ralph Thiele. The focus will then no longer be solely on command centres, bases of the Russian army and military authorities, but increasingly also on critical infrastructure in Russia such as the power supply and the railway network.

Nico Lange (48), former chief of staff of the federal defense ministry, says Russia is not really prepared for domestic attacks. “Russia is very big, felt too safe and threw a lot of resources at the front. That is why it is vulnerable inside,” says the political scientist. Putin uses makeshift defenses against drones – so far with little success. Modern drone defense is not available, the air defense is mainly at the front. ‘You just take out old equipment. Because many drones fly low and slow, you can even do something about it with older equipment,” says the German military expert.

‘TV program about anti-aircraft guns was not a good idea’

“Ultimately, the anti-aircraft towers are nothing more than a makeshift solution,” says Ralph Thiele. At best, they could deflect about 30 percent of Ukrainian drone strikes. The former Berlin colonel has been following the development of drone operations with concern: “They are causing a further escalation in the war in Ukraine.”

Even if the anti-aircraft towers are justified, it was not a good idea to show the towers in public in their surroundings, continues Ralph Thiele. “The locations could be located and the drones could be guided past the towers.” Research by Czech journalist Mark Krutov has revealed that one of the ramp systems on display is located in Zarechye, nearly six miles from Putin’s residence in Nowo-Ogaryovo. As early as January 2023, the Kremlin had installed Panzir anti-aircraft systems on the roofs of some administrative buildings in Moscow.

Source: Blick