Khatylev explained why Moscow used air defense fire against Ukrainian drone

“Most likely, it was the“ Shell ”

Another Ukrainian drone was shot down over Moscow on the night of August 18. According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, its fragments fell near Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment on one of the pavilions of the Expocentre. There was no significant damage to the building, and there were no casualties. The Ministry of Defense confirmed, reporting an important detail: the drone changed its flight path and fell as a result of “the impact of air defense weapons on it.”

That is, it must be understood that it was not electronic warfare (EW) stations that were used, as usual in urban conditions, but air defense fire weapons? But won’t we succeed in the same way as in Ukraine, where fragments of air defense missiles falling on buildings pose a much greater danger than those air targets that anti-aircraft gunners shoot at? This question was answered by the ex-commander of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Moscow Air Defense District, reserve colonel Sergei Khatylev.

“Indeed, both the mayor of Moscow and the Ministry of Defense report that this drone was destroyed by air defense weapons,” explains Sergey Khatylev. – In this case, most likely, it could be the Pantsir S-1 complex.

– But it’s dangerous! Fragments of the rocket of the complex can fall on any building and people will suffer. Isn’t it safer in the city to use electronic warfare equipment for this?

– That’s why I say that it could be “Shell”, since its capabilities allow air defense forces to work within the city quite safely. In the conditions of urban development, it is quite possible to place it in such a way as to ensure the safety of both the population and urban facilities as much as possible. Apparently, in this case it was done just like that, and therefore the destruction took place by means of air defense, and not by means of electronic warfare.

– What are these opportunities that the “Shell” has?

– In general, this is a combined missile and gun system. That is, he is armed with both rocket and rapid-fire automatic guns. Those targets that fly at altitudes up to five kilometers and in range no further than ten kilometers can be destroyed by cannon weapons. In this case, most likely – with a probability of 70% – it was the cannon armament that this drone was destroyed.

– That is, his missiles were not used, so that it would not be like in Kyiv, when Ukrainian air defense missiles fall on houses?

– Certainly.

– But why do these drones reach the center of the capital at all? When will Muscovites not wake up in the morning from shooting over their heads?

– You understand, the air defense system is being improved. But for now, in any case, these raids can continue. One of the important issues that still remains unresolved is the timely notification of the passage of an unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of our country.

After all, the sooner the drone is detected directly by air defense radars or with the help of visual observation by airspace monitoring posts organized for this purpose, the sooner a report on its flight is received at air defense command posts, the more timely and effectively such a drone will be destroyed.