Ukraine Can Still Use Futile S-300 Anti-Aircraft Missiles From Bulgaria
For Ukraine, every day seems like a never-ending war with Russia. Neighbouring countries express their wanting to help, like Bulgaria, which will donate defective S-300 anti-aircraft missiles they can no longer use. However, Ukraine can still use some of its parts to help its arsenal bring down aircraft, including drones.
Bulgaria Decided to Give Ukraine Defective S-300 Anti-Aircraft Missiles
On September 26, Parliament from GERB-UDF members, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria drafted a decision to send unserviceable S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to help Ukraine defend its territory from Russian forces. Bulgaria can’t repair the ineffective S-300 missile systems but Ukrainian soldiers can still use them in air defence.
“Our country does not have the necessary capacity to independently repair these munitions. Their use by our army would create a serious risk to the lives of Bulgarian servicemen. Unlike Bulgaria, Ukraine has declared that it has the capacity to put such defective munitions into service and have them serve of the Ukrainian army,” said the signatories in an explanatory memorandum included in the draft decision.
Signatories include Hristo Ivanov, Kiril Petkov, Delyan Peevski, and Boiko Borissov. The draft decision will also provide Ukraine with 5.56 calibre cartridges from the Interior Ministry’s surplus requirements.
“In Bulgaria, we do not have the opportunity to repair missiles of this type, but Ukraine does. This is done in conditions that we do not have,” said Defence Minister Todor Tagarev.
The anti-aircraft missiles would boost Ukrainian troop’s defence against Russian air attacks. The cartridges, on the other hand, can be used by the soldiers armed with NATO small arms. This munition assistance, however, would not deplete Bulgarian military defence capabilities to protect its skies from attack.
Composition of Bulgaria’s S-300 Air Defence Missile System
Bulgaria has deployed the S-300 air defence missile system. Developed in the late 1970s by Soviet Russia to defend against aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles – this long-range surface-to-air missile system provides air defence from aerial threats such as ballistic missiles or cruise missiles – the S-300 has seen service with Bulgaria’s military since 2007.
Bulgaria purchased its S-300PMU-1 variant of this system during the early 2000s as part of efforts to strengthen air defence capabilities and modernise their capabilities. This acquisition marked Bulgaria’s efforts towards modernizing its air defence capabilities.
The S-300PMU-1 system typically comprises Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicles which carry and launch missiles using tubes equipped with launch mechanisms. It also has various radar systems for target detection, tracking and guidance in order to identify and engage aerial threats. Lastly, the Command and Control Center (CCC) enables system operators to oversee and coordinate missile launches and engagements.
The S-300 system is well known for its ability to engage multiple targets at various altitudes and ranges simultaneously, making it a reliable air defence system in many nations across the world.
