COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE COMBAT USE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MANPADE ANTI-AIRMISSILE SYSTEMS

An analysis of the nature of armed struggle in recent decades indicates a sharp increase in the influence of modern weapons and military equipment on the course of military operations. Currently, weapons and military equipment form the basis of the combat power of the armed forces of any state and are a determining factor in achieving success in a war or armed conflict. One of the characteristic features of the Russian Federation’s aggressive military actions against Ukraine is the widespread use of air forces, in particular, airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with cruise missiles of various types. To strike Ukraine, the enemy uses air-, sea-, and ground-based cruise missiles, ballistic and anti-aircraft guided missiles, and attack unmanned aerial vehicles. Today, modern man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems have become one of the most effective and widespread means of combating air targets at low altitudes during combat operations (operations). The use of such complexes sharply limits the altitude range of use of all types of manned combat aircraft and has a negative impact on the accuracy of strikes against ground and surface targets. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are actively using Soviet, Polish, American, British and French man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (provided to Ukraine by NATO and EU countries) against Russian aviation. A comparative analysis of the main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of various types of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems currently in service with the Ukrainian armed forces was carried out, in the interests of increasing the effectiveness of their use in different combat conditions.