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- Mihajlo66
- Novi MyCity građanin
- Pridružio: 15 Maj 2019
- Poruke: 3
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Foreword
Neva Against the STEALTH
After the NATO intervention against Yugoslavia, a considerable number of classified and unclassified works were written in major languages analyzing the subject: How the old missile system SA-3 Goa (S-125M1 Neva) was able to track and shot down the modern aircraft considered almost as invisible to the enemy radars, the famous US Air Force F-117A, proud of US aircraft industry and scourge of the Sadam’s air defence during the Gulf War. In these publications the different aspects of this events are addressed but not the single one (except maybe some highly classified analyses available only for the designated few) addresses the whole aspect in one. With this book the authors in a deep analytical way, using confirmed information, presented what happened before, during and after the event. Just a brief look into the table of contest shows that in front of us is authoritative work about the technology and tactics in the collision path which culminated in March 1999.
The reader is first introduced to the development and characteristics of radars, basis of the stealth technology and stealth program, missile guidance and development of SA-3 air defence system and anti radiation missiles as the main enemy of the missile units. What follows is the combat itself where the authors on interesting way talks about the missile crew roles as well as the opponent pilot and his views.
F-117A was, in technological way, far more advanced than the missile system and by all parameters presented before the war, it was considered invisible for the SA-3 system. Previous combat engagement greatly contributed to this aura of invincibility. This myth was crushed on night of March 27, 1999 when the first missile hit the target. What this event shows is that an obsolete missile system can be very useful if the crew who operates that system is properly trained and experienced. The combat was decided with the sole engagement of the missile crew, without any support from the brigade command or air defence network. There were no magic in the downing of stealth either. The missile system worked in own autonomous mode and it was able to detect, track, engage and destroy the aircraft who supposed to be invisible for the very same system.
The whole chapter is designated to the 3rd battalion as a winner in this duel with Stealth. This chapter in extensive manner covers the role of every member of the combat crew. It also includes training, tactical procedures, modes of readiness prior to combat engagement, regime of operations, tracking, target acquisition and much more in a very descriptive way which make the reader feels like he or she is in the missile guidance station. Of particular interests is the personal experience of Lt. Col. Anicic who was one of the commanders in the crew which downed stealth and his description of the event is priceless.
I was personally engaged in the deep analyses of this engagement and by the behaviour of every crew member, including the support units as well as the pilot (aircraft trajectory, speed, maneuver etc.) my conclusion was that the combat crew performed all tactical steps brilliantly. Commands issued to engage and stop the fire control radar in the short intervals were crucial for the safety of people and equipment denying the enemy use of antiradiation missiles. On the other hand, the pilot of F-117A performed also at the master’s level so that the missile hit him almost at the end of the range.
There are many questions left unanswered especially what happened after the radar imitator emissions few hours before duel, who picked up those signals, was there any alteration of the flight pre-programmed paths after the mission over Belgrade because the stealth return flight very closely matched the directions of the radar decoy emission azimuths, what happened with the other two blimps which Lt. Col. Anicic saw on the radar screen when the target was detected, did the pilot got any warning signal that he is illuminated by the fire control radar, why pilot said that he was hit by the second missile when only the first one actually acquire the target…There are some details on which only US side may have answers…In any case, after reading this book, the reader can get the own clues.
US Air Force engaged two F-117A squadrons (24 +1). After the combat operation seized, 22 airplanes flew back to the States on their own. One was confirmed as a combat loss and replaced with the fresh one, but it is publicly unknown what happened with the other two. According to the intelligence reports, these two didn’t flew to the States on their own. The question is: why?
NATO intention to destroy air defence capabilities of Yugoslav armed forces in the first few days of combat did not materialize even they were almost 600 times stronger. Yugoslav military withstood even some of the services such as stationary air surveillance units were crippled. Older SA-3 systems also suffered losses, but the other parts of the military were virtually intact. This war was also the place were NATO exercise different approaches. A vast number of aircraft were used including strategic aviation such as B-1B, B-2 and B-52. It is ever standing question what was the big target engaged on the night of May 19/20. Was that the strategic B-2 bomber? The authors devoted the whole section describing the available facts. The one thing is sure and that this will still be the subject of speculation for the time being.
And for the end, this book presents the new light in the dark world of manipulations and speculations about the previously mentioned events and definitely it will make many of them, created by both sides, to disappear.
Vladimir Neskovic, Eng., PhD, Col (ret)
The past is not to be forgotten…it is the path into the future
Facing the past always cause emotions and personal as well as cultural questioning. Relationship to the past, especially at the Balkans, is one of the benchmarks and etalon of the social development in our society. This year is 20th anniversary of the beginning of NATO aggression on Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. That March 24, 1999 at 19:45 the air raid sirens sounded for the first time since World War II. In the next 78 days and nights the bombs rained on Yugoslavia in a military intervention without any authorization by UN security council and with the sole decision of the mightiest military alliance in the world. NATO airplanes and ships launched more than 50.000 bombs and missiles on a small and independent country. Marko Savic and Milica Rakic were just a kids when their life’s cut short in the blink of explosions and became symbols of Serbia suffering and sacrifice. These two kids and many more others became the victims of operation “Allied Force”. Bombing of Yugoslavia ended on June 10 with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 under which Serbia keeps the sovereignty over the Kosovo and Metohija territory, but that territory became the international protectorate under the UNMIK and KFOR control, which is just another name for the occupation.
What stood between NATO bombers and civilians was Yugoslav Armed Forces. One of the units which fight this cruel war was 3rd missile battalion form 250th air-defence missile brigade. This battalion and its people are part of this book. This battalion was the one who shot down the pride of US Air Force formidable F-117A Nighthawk. The greatness of this achievement is that it used old, almost obsolete Soviet SA-3/S-125 missile system which is considered nothing more than a “sling shot” in military circles.
Yugoslav air defence is officially only air defence in the world which was able to successfully engage and bring down the stealth airplane to this date but definitely is not the last one. This shutout in the sky over Serbia was an event which secured place in history books. The myth of invincibility and invisibility (as many times the term STEALTH is interpreted in the press) is crushed on the night of March 27 when at 20:42 the missile hit the aircraft. The missile system without people to manage it is just a pile of steel and cables and these people, member of the combat crew, are the unsung heroes of this event and they rightfully deserve the place in history. We must also be objective for the enemy at that time and that was the pilots who happened to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time.
This book is an exciting story about the Soviet made air defence missile system SA-3 Goa/S-125 Neva as well as stealth technology and the collision path of these two technologies culminated on the night of March 27. The book also covers the people behind these systems. Importance of this book is that it covers the subject which is very little known and prone to endless speculations both domestically and internationally. Historic value of this book is that it in full covers the whole event without prejudice and speaks about the facts. The way how this book is written, without any doubts, it will become the foundation for future references and researches.
Both authors are experienced technical and military professionals and speaks with the full authority of their rich knowledge. Lt. Col (ret) Djordje Anicic is one of the heroes in the combat crew which detected, engaged and downed the stealth airplane, the man who was one of the combat crew commanders and the man who developed tactics and procedures which radically improved air defence. Mr Mihajlo (Michael as he is known in Canada) Mihajlovic is an expert professional engineer with vast knowledge of engineering aspects of both missile systems, radars and stealth technology as well as military experience in Yugoslav and Canadian armed forces.
Authors guide the reader with documented, analytical, expert and exciting way with the step by step approach, covering the multiple aspect, not just the combat engagement. Through the nine chapters, the authors analyzed the technical development of radars, stealth technology and missile system, combat engagements, strategy and tactics in the previous wars, background of the Kosovo crises and the duel of two opponents. The book speaks of the missile crew, the “combat shift” and virtually put the reader in the individual roles of missile system operators. The book also extensively covers the role of the stealth pilot and his views.
This book is the product of love for the military history and technology. This book is also product of years of researches and multiple challenges. The book is based on the chapters that each one can be read independently and yet each chapter supports the others and forms well organized and founded structure. It covers not only pure technical description but also strong historical aspects and backgrounds. All texts, for the first time, are based on the extensively researched materials, documents, literature and methodically very well set up with each subject covered with authors personal approach. Authors carefully compares available sources using their knowledge and experience. Through the text, a very clear authors erudition and skills in handling the complex technical issues is recognizable. They shall be prized for the style and cleanness in expressing their thoughts. Authors presented very complex issue with the clear and understandable way so that an ordinary reader, who is not into the subjects, can easy navigate through material and understand complexity of the problem.
The intention of the authors was not to write very narrow publication about missiles, stealth, radars and combat. It was rather the dive into the historical events with the deep background support which presents the problem through the multiple angles. The reader is guided through the multiple sources with the apex when those sources met over Serbia. Consequences of that event influenced and will be influencing the future air and missile defence in the wars to come. The book is written with the intention that the readers understand all challenges and complexity of the events which professional soldiers face but also have the personal touch through the eyes of the missile crews and the pilots, their fears, expectations and thoughts – fight and live to fight another day.
This book is rich in illustrations, diagrams and drawings which add the graphic visualization and support the texts. The approach of this book represents the new and inspiring way of thinking and presenting. The value of the book is that is valuable source for the military history and can be classified as a textbook. Relevant and actual bibliography, which includes printed scientific publications, textbooks, history books and web-based material can be used for the further in-depth research of the specific subjects.
To describe the value of this book, we can’t make mistake if we classify it as a deep source of information which streams to us and guide us to the new researches and the new horizons of knowledge. The past can’t be forgotten – it is a path into the future.
This book presents the enormous contribution to the history and the culture of remembrances and I am recommending it with the great pleasure.
Belgrade
February 11, 2019
Vladica Tosic
Historian, politicologist and specialist for the international affairs
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