After action review regarding the defeat of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery on March 9
The Patriot system is strategically important and the most effective weapon for combating Russian aviation. The battery includes four M901 launchers, a fire control radar and a command post, plus support vehicles.
On March 9, two M901 launchers and several MIM-104 anti-aircraft missiles were destroyed as a result of the defeat of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery column by the Russian invaders near the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, at a distance of about 50 km from the front line. According to Censor.Net, 9 Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
Since the radar and the command post survived, the battery can soon be restored to combat capacity, the launchers can be planted with new ones, but to replace qualified and motivated operators, some of whom have very successfully completed long training at leading NATO training centers, unfortunately, we will not be able to. Sincere condolences to the families of the heroes, who have several Russian planes on their account.
The drone video released by the enemy and information from our sources allow for post-operational analysis to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies, which seriously undermine Ukraine's defense capabilities.
The strike was carried out by three Iskander ballistic missiles under the guidance of the SuperCam reconnaissance drone.
The launchers stood in an open place in the column and did not move.
No means of concealment are visible on the cars.
The cost of the M901 launcher is $10 million, the cost of the MIM-104 PAC-3 anti-aircraft missile is $4 million.
What factors contributed to the search for the anti-missile system. and allowed to strike exactly?
1. The battery operated in the area for several weeks, made several successful launches against Russian aircraft, the radar was regularly activated, and the enemy could determine the approximate search area for its space, electronic reconnaissance and drones.
2. Patriot positions were not covered by anti-aircraft missile systems to protect against drones. Considering that the battery operated at a distance of active actions of enemy drones, the risk of detection was quite high.
3. Warnings about the departure of drones and about the missile attack were received too late.
4. The battery received an order to redeploy, but did not have time to carry it out. Instead of quickly and immediately dispersing at maximum speed, the launchers gathered in a dense column and stood in the open waiting for the command to start the movement, forming a compact target for destruction.
Conclusions:
1. Maneuvering the battery and exiting the affected area at maximum speed beyond the range of enemy drones, by individual vehicles, without waiting for teams and columns should be defined as one of the priorities of combat training.
2. In case of active combat work and it is impractical to leave the position area for a while, Patriot positions must be covered by short-range anti-aircraft missile systems.
3. EW means, in the case of drones approaching the Patriot positioning areas, should set directed interference with the video signal of enemy drones in order to make it difficult to observe and determine the target.
4. In the positional area of Patriot, mock-ups that simulate the operation of the battery should be spread around. Such means of camouflage are still not used, although the cost of such models is hundreds of times less than the cost of one launcher. The enemy must constantly see false targets and spend time on their identification and ammunition for defeat. Genuine Patriot vehicles must have a cloaking kit to hide their silhouette from quick recognition. The Air Force Command does not use Patriot models, although it is the most powerful weapon that requires maximum protection.
Responsibility for the damage to the Patriot launchers is fully borne by the command of the Air Force, partly by the command of the battery, which did not have time to remove the personnel and equipment from the impact.
Standing in columns in an open place in the zone of action of enemy drones is deadly dangerous, I ask the servicemen never to wait for the command to move, but to act according to the situation, not to allow gatherings, not to stand.
This is not the first case of the Russians shelling the Patriot positions, and cases of absolutely incomprehensible long stay at the positions, lateness with the maneuver, happen, unfortunately, not for the first time. But the conclusions have not yet been drawn, and therefore it is natural that the consequence of the lack of postoperative analysis was the March 9 tragedy near Pokrovsk.
War does not forgive unlearned lessons. I hope that conclusions will finally be drawn, and the troops will receive precise orders, and systemic changes will finally begin in the tactics of combat use and in ensuring the work of air defense.