All articles tagged with #soviet
Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, residents evacuated from Pripyat and surrounding areas recount losing their homes, livelihoods and loved ones, the long-lasting health and environmental toll, and a pervasive fear as new conflicts threaten nuclear sites and raise fears of a repeat catastrophe.
Ukraine recently used its reactivated S-200 air-defense system, armed with ex-Soviet 5V28 missiles, to shoot down a Russian A-50 radar plane. The S-200, originally developed in the 1960s, was retired over a decade ago due to its cumbersomeness and high upgrade costs. However, Ukraine has brought back some of these aged S-200 batteries and may have upgraded them with a new seeker for improved accuracy. The use of these powerful missiles marks a return to form for Ukraine's air defense capabilities, raising questions about the quantity of missiles remaining and the possibility of receiving fresh batches from allies.
Ukrainian forces have modified their Soviet-era air-defense systems to fire Western missiles, creating hybrid systems dubbed "FrankenSAMs." One of these hybrids recently shot down a Russian Shahed drone during a raid, marking its first kill. The FrankenSAMs include versions that fire American-made Sea Sparrow, Sidewinder, and Patriot missiles, with varying ranges. While the shorter-range hybrids have undergone testing, the long-range Patriot hybrid may still be in development. Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot missiles, and efforts are being made to replenish stocks through a buyback deal with Japan.