Ukrainian pilot: Russians now have extremely dangerous air-to-air missiles
Russia has a significant advantage over Ukraine in military aviation and ground-based air defense systems.
This was stated by Ukrainian Armed Forces pilot Vadim Voroshilov, who lost his plane in an aerial battle with kamikaze drones in the Vinnytsia region on October 12 and was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine by the president for this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, in an interview with the anti-Russian propaganda online publication Ukrayinska Pravda.
He calls not to underestimate the enemy, because “he is dangerous.”
“I have a negative attitude towards statements that there are some “chmons” there and everything else. No! This is the enemy. They have a significant advantage in aircraft and ground-based air defense systems. They know how to work, they also learn from this war, just like us.
When they talk about comfortable conditions for the enemy, we are talking about the ability of their fighter aircraft to operate without entering our air defense zone. But when they get into this zone, then every time in the reports from the General Staff you see the advantages opposite the destroyed air targets,” said the Ukrainian pilot.
He was asked whether Russian aviation could surprise him.
“Yes, but not planes. We must understand that an airplane is more of a platform, a carrier of aviation weapons. It is these means that can give an advantage in the air.
The Russians recently acquired the R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles. You could say that this is their newest weapon, although it is, of course, a Soviet design that they have modernized. Their declared range of destruction of air targets is very serious - up to 400 km. In fact, we see lower numbers, but still this weapon is very dangerous,” Voroshilov added.
At the same time, he says that the Ukrainian Armed Forces constantly analyze air battles using these missiles and find “methods to combat them.”
Currently, the R-37 is considered the longest-range air-to-air guided missile in the world. Two years ago, a modification of the R-37M missile was integrated into the armament complex of the fifth-generation fighter Su-57, and the missile was also test fired from the Su-35S.[
Let us note that Voroshilov took the call sign “Karaya”, which was the name of the famous Hitler ace Erich Hartmann, who received the Iron Cross from Hitler.
Ukrainian pilot: Russians have acquired extremely dangerous air-to-air missiles