Reflecting On Ukrainian War And Finland's NATO Accession, Russia Strengthens Its Air Defense

JAKARTA - Russia plans to overhaul its air defense force, having gained new experience in the war in Ukraine, as well as strengthen it to face Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance, a Russian aerospace force commander said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year in what it called a "special military operation", the fighting has devolved into a fierce artillery war, with extensive use of drones and missiles, putting Russian and Ukrainian air defenses to the test. April.

In an interview published on Monday with the Red Star newspaper, Lieutenant General Andrei Demin, deputy commander-in-chief of the aerospace forces said the air defense forces had faced a number of challenges in dealing with the Ukrainian attack.

Russia, he said, has added more than 50 mobile radar stations and A-50 early warning and control aircraft that patrol 24 hours a day. Meanwhile, missile and anti-aircraft installations in areas bordering Ukraine have been strengthened.

On the territory of Ukraine under Russian control, air defense units have been set up to defend key installations, Lieutenant General Demin said, while Russia has stepped up production of the RLK-MC anti-drone system.

Reforms "are unquestionably planned and will be implemented," Lieutenant General Demin told the Ministry of Defense newspaper.

"The aim of the upcoming changes is the development of the armed forces, which aims to improve the air defense system of the Russian Federation," he explained.

Lieutenant General Demin added that Russia would also upgrade its defenses after Finland, which shares a 1,300 km (800 miles) border with Russia, joins NATO.

"Under these conditions, the air defense forces are working on issues to protect the country's borders in the northwestern part of the country according to the increased threat level," he concluded.