Russia's winter assault targets Ukraine's critical infrastructure
The Russians launched an attack on Ukraine's energy sector, deploying up to 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones. One of the mainstays of Ukraine's defence are mobile intervention groups equipped with handheld anti-aircraft systems. Here's what they use and what they target.
The Russians continue a winter missile assault on Ukraine, aiming to destroy the country's energy and heating infrastructure. Aside from the limited availability of medium-range anti-aircraft systems capable of countering ballistic missiles such as the Iskander-M, the crucial element in effective defence are mobile intervention groups targeting drones and cruise missiles.
Their objective is to intercept targets several hundred kilometres before they reach their destination, lowering the number of missiles striking locations like Kyiv. The Russians deploy drones and cruise missiles from the Kh-101 family in a manner that allows them to approach the target from various directions, and their low flight altitude significantly hinders detection. Consequently, intervention groups and, for instance, F-16 aircraft patrolling potential attack routes prove to be very effective.
In the video below, you can see one of these groups firing at a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile with a large-calibre machine gun and a handheld anti-aircraft launcher resembling the 9K38 Igla.
Handheld 9K38 Igla systems — Technology from the Soviet era
Prior to the delivery of similar systems from the West, such as the American FIM-92 Stinger launchers or the Polish PPZR Piorun, the primary anti-aircraft weapon of the Ukrainian infantry was the 9K38 Igla systems, which were introduced into service in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
These systems weigh about 18 kilograms, with the missile itself weighing approximately 11 kilograms, capable of engaging targets at distances of up to about 5 kilometres. The destruction of the target is achieved by a fragmentation warhead weighing around 1.5 kilograms, containing 0.4 kilograms of HMX explosive.
Their precise targeting is ensured by a dual-band guidance head using infrared and ultraviolet sensors. The first sensor detects a heat source such as a turbojet engine, while the second homes in on an ultraviolet source. This design allows them to ignore ordinary flares as they do not emit the ultraviolet signature typical of jet engines.
For this reason, they are highly effective against, for example, Su-25 attack aircraft, helicopters, and low-flying Kh-101 cruise missiles carrying a 480-kilogram warhead.
