Mixing And Matching Missiles And Radars, Ukraine Aims For A Universal Air Defense System
Shershen has fired five different missile types, so far
Ukraine has a lot of air defense equipment, but it doesn’t always match
The new Shershen surface-to-air missile system helps solve that problem
Shershen is compatible with different radars and missiles, some of which are make in Ukraine
Ukraine has a substantial number of surface-to-air missiles of different types. Ukraine also has significant quantities of launchers and radars for the missiles. One of Ukraine’s main air defense problems is that the missiles, launchers, and radars don’t necessarily match. So many missiles, launchers, and radars go unused.
That’s why the new Shershen air defense system is such a big deal. The system, under development by the National Association of Defense Industry of Ukraine, is compatible with—so far—five different missiles, according to Militarnyi. The missiles include Soviet, Ukrainian and Western types.
If Shershen works as designed, Ukraine could turn its stockpiles of orphaned missiles and radars into functioning air defense batteries—without waiting for Western deliveries that often arrive months late.
The system “eliminates dependence on a single supplier,” NAUDI director Serhiy Honcharov told Militarnyi.
NAUDI showed off a scale model of the Shershen at a recent trade show in Saudi Arabia. The model hints at the system’s capabilities.
For starters, it appears to include launchers for both short-range and medium-range missiles, meaning it could defend against manned aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. Basically, all but the most kinetic Russian munitions, such as heavy ballistic missiles. For those targets, Ukraine would still rely on American-made Patriot batteries and European SAMP/T batteries.
The model on display in Saudi Arabia is fitted with what appear to be either German IRIS-T or British ASRAAM short-range infrared-guided missiles. More interestingly, the medium-range missiles in the Shershen display in Saudi Arabia are R-27s.
