Air Defense Systems: Protecting Nations from Enemy Aircraft and Missiles
Short Range Radars
Closer to the area being defended are networks of short-range surveillance and fire control radars. These radars have smaller detection ranges than early warning systems but provide more precise tracking data needed to guide interception. Short-range radars continuously scan local airspace and “hand off” detected threats to fire control radars as aircraft come within missile engagement zones. They play a key role by accurately determining aerial targets’ locations, speeds, altitudes and directions.
Missile Interceptors
Once a threat has been detected and tracked, the key interception task falls to surface-to-air missile systems. Modern Air Defense Systems missiles can engage both aircraft and missiles. Short-range systems like the MIM-23 Hawk and SA-6 Gainful provide point defense of critical sites out to around 40 kilometers. Medium-range systems like the Patriot PAC-2 and SA-11 Gadfly defend wider areas out to 100-150 kilometers. Long-range interceptors like the S-300PMU and MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 engage threats at distances up to 200 kilometers or farther. Many can hit targets at altitudes up to 30,000 feet and speeds of Mach 5 or greater.
Interceptor Aircraft
Complementing surface-to-air missiles are fighter interceptors deployed for air defense missions. These aircraft are optimized for rapid response times and endurance on station. They are equipped with beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and cannon allowing quick engagement of any threatening aircraft within the combat radius of the deployed fighter type. Examples include the MIG-31 Foxhawk, F-15 Eagle and Eurofighter Typhoon. Their agility and onboard radars enable them to successfully intercept evading low-flying cruise missiles or attack bombers.
Command and Control
Tying together all the layers is an integrated command and control system. This allows real-time sharing of tracking data between long and short-range sensors as well as coordination between surface and airborne interceptor units. Within underground bunkers, air defense commanders utilize networked computer displays showing overall air situation maps. They issue engagement orders to missile batteries or scramble interceptors by the most effective means to destroy incoming targets based on target type, number, altitude and direction.
Integrated Air Defense Systems
Most advanced nations today deploy integrated, multi-layered air defense networks using a mix of the systems mentioned previously. These integrated air defense systems, like the Russian S-400 and American Patriot systems, provide highly redundant, overlapping detection and interception coverage to defend strategic points out to ranges of several hundred kilometers or more. Their networked sensors and shooters create a virtual dome minimizing vulnerabilities from raids of any size and allowing engagement of follow-on raids. Such integrated air defense is critical in today's environment of precision aerial weaponry and stealth technology used by adversaries.
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