Russia forced to step up air defences at airbases amid latest drone attack – UK Intelligence
Russia faces the issue of having to reinforce its air defences at airfields to counter drone attacks following a successful attack on the night of 29-30 August, UK Defence Intelligence believes.
Source: UK Defence Intelligence, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The UK MoD noted that up to five separate kamikaze drone attacks occurred in Russia on the night of 29-30 August, the largest attack on the Russian territory since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Quote: "Explosions were recorded in Moscow, Bryansk, and Ryazan, as well as at Pskov airbase close to the Estonian border. The attack on Pskov likely damaged several Russian military transport aircraft. During August 2023 Russia experienced 25 separate drone attacks, almost certainly carried out by OWA-UAVs," UK Defence Intelligence reported.
Details: Analysts point out that many UAVs have reached their targets, indicating that Russian air defences are struggling to detect and destroy such aerial targets.
"Russia is likely rethinking its air defence posture in the area between Ukraine and Moscow to better deal with these attacks," the report reads.
Following previous attacks on Russian military airports that damaged aircraft, Russia has begun to disperse its aircraft to different locations. However, the recent strikes on Soltsy and Pskov air bases indicate that drones have a long-range operation capacity, and the Russians will still face challenges in protecting their aircraft even through dispersal.
"It is likely that Russia will have to consider the addition of further air defence systems to airfields that it considers to be at risk from UAV attacks," the UK MoD summarised.
Background:
- The former Chief of Finnish Intelligence considers the Ukrainian attack on the Pskov airfield to be the most effective so far.
- Ukrainska Pravda reported that explosions once again rocked Russia's Bryansk Oblast and Russian-occupied Crimea on the evening of 30 August.
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