During January, a special unit called “Ghosts” belonging to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine carried out several operations aimed at neutralizing enemy air defense and radar detection systems along the entire front line.
According to information published by the ministry on social media, the actions took place in low temperature conditions and were aimed at reducing the adversary’s aerial reconnaissance and response capabilities, creating operational gaps in the integrated defense system.
Hit air defense systems
Among the confirmed targets was the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, designed for short-range defense of military and strategic facilities against aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. The complex combines missiles and automatic machine guns, providing close air defense.
After that, Ukrainian operators targeted the Tor-M1 system, the main task of which is to protect sensitive objects against attacks from cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and low-flying aircraft.
The operations also included the more modern Tor-M2 version, which was disabled along with a transport and loading vehicle (TZM). The destruction of this support vehicle severely impairs the launcher’s rapid reload capability and significantly reduces the system’s combat readiness during protracted engagements.
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Attacks against radar surveillance systems
In addition to the air defense systems, scouts of the “Ghosts” unit also neutralized the RLM-ME vehicle, which is part of the Nebo-M radar complex and is responsible for detecting low-altitude targets and improving the situational picture of the airspace.
Another damaged device was the Opponent-GE three-dimensional radar station, which is used to detect and track aerial objects and provide target data to both anti-aircraft missile units and fighter jets.
Capabilities of neutralized systems
A Pantsir-S1 its radar can detect targets from a distance of up to 36 km. Its missiles can engage threats up to a distance of 20km and an altitude of 15km, while its twin 30mm machine guns provide close range protection up to 4km.
The Tor-M1 has its own radar with a detection range of up to 27 km. The 9M331 missiles operate in a zone of destruction between 1.5 and 12 km, at an altitude of 10 meters to 6 km.
A Tor-M2 it has an improved radar that can detect even targets with stealth characteristics up to a distance of 32 km. With the use of 9M338 missiles, the combat application distance has increased to about 15-16 km, its maximum height reaches 10 km, and the system can attack up to four targets at the same time.
In the field of long-range surveillance, the RLM-ME radar operates in the meter waveband and, in the case of high-altitude targets, is capable of detecting aircraft and missiles up to a distance of 600 km. Opponent-GE, on the other hand, works in the decimeter band, up to a distance of 400 km and an altitude of 200 km, while being able to track up to 150 aerial objects at the same time.
The actions of the “Ghosts” unit indicate a targeted effort to weaken the enemy’s integrated air defense and radar system, reducing its ability to detect, track and destroy targets in contested airspace.
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@militaryanalyse Series of Ukrainian attacks compromise radars and air defense missiles on the front line Throughout January, the special unit known as the “Ghosts,” affiliated with the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, carried out a series of operations aimed at neutralizing enemy air defense and radar surveillance systems along the entire front line. Telegram @DIUkraine
Source and images: Telegram @DIUkraine | Militarnyi. This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editors.
