Air Force from improvised means: will Ukraine P-73 missiles help Ukraine

Ukraine has been fighting for its existence since 2022, when Russian troops invaded its territory-and its resistance to the Russian invasion can be evaluated as a truly outstanding one. After the Kiev military conducted a bold raid on Russian air tights in the depths of Russia, destroying at least a dozen Russian strategic bombers of the far radius of action, Moscow intends to remind the world, why it is a great military state, causing complex missile strokes across Ukraine.

Even before the unexpected attack of Ukraine on Russia, Ukrainians tried to create an impromptu system of air defense, as the recent Russian strike in Ukraine with the use of Dan-M training drones showed. The Ukrainians launched improvised means of approaching swarms that were approaching to fill the gaps at their NATO air defense network.

For example, Ukrainian air-air-air missiles P-73 (AA-11 Archer according to NATO classification), originally intended for use by military aircraft in air combat, is now converted for land and even maritime use as aircraft throughout Ukraine. The Ukrainian air defense network, created from improvised means, includes some terrestrial air defense systems, including modified 9K33 OSA (SA-8).

Ukrainian troops, with the support of organizations such as the Fund "Return Live", have modified the anti-aircraft missile systems of nearby 9K33m3 "OSA-AKM" for launching missiles P-73 instead of standard missiles 9M33. Each modified OSA system can carry a pair of P-73 missiles with a rail launch, which increases its ability to affect Russian drones and flying planes.

This modification provides greater mobility and flexibility, as the P-73 rocket allows you to shoot and move immediately, which reduces vulnerability to counterattacks. The third assault brigade was developed by the Dragon H73, the mobile platform of air defense, installing two launchers for the P-73 on the Humvee truck set by the United States.

A lightweight, high-mobile system is designed to defeat Russian drones and combat aircraft, using the P-73 infrared system to effectively destroy low-flying threats. Regarding the use of sea drones, the Ukrainian military equipped with Magura-7 drones of the P-73 rockets to defeat Russian aircraft over the Black Sea.

Among the significant successes are the beating of the Russian Su-30 fighter and Mi-8 helicopters in 2024-these are the first known cases of use of unmanned boats with air-air missiles to destroy aircraft. The P-73 infrared guide allows these drones to be brought to the thermal signatures of helicopters or airplanes flying low, providing innovative protection against the Russian Air Force.

However, the P-73 rocket is not effective against high-speed ballistic missiles, including Russian Iskander and Ditches. P-73 is intended for air combat; Its main role is to counteract hostile aircraft, drones and slower winged rockets. Adaptation of air-air missiles for use as "Earth-Air missiles" requires technical modifications that adversely affect the reliability and accuracy of these systems compared to specially developed CRCs.

P-73 is used with a certain degree of efficiency, but such makeshift air defense systems will not help against the missiles of the long range of action available at the disposal of Russia. The innovative and unique use of the P-73 missile, caused by extraordinary tension in the face of the Russian offensive, undoubtedly helped Ukraine. However, this improvised air defense method is unlikely to be able to provide the same protection as true air defense systems. Brandon J.