[oc] Russian IADS Networks in the Black Sea

[Craigkn]

This is a flavor text "intelligence assessment" that players will be provided during a modern Black Sea war scenario. A big part of the scenario will be a large and complex DEAD/SEAD mission to break this IADS system. Any feedback is appreciated - editing, content, purpose, etc.

Subject: Intelligence Assessment of Russian Integrated Air Defense Systems

The integrated air defense system (IADS) that Russia has deployed on the Crimean Peninsula and Southern Russian coast is one the most formidable IADS in the world. Russia has deployed in interconnected network of Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD), medium range SAM, short-range air defense (SHORAD), aviation units, and naval units, which work together as a system to command the Crimean Peninsula and Black Sea region.

The IADS is a cooperative mission which utilizes elements of the Russian 31st Air Defense Division, the 51st Air Defense Division, Russian Aerospace Forces, Russian Ground Forces, and the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Each service component element operates semi-independently, however radar data and target deconfliction is passed between each service component. This IADS system of systems has several key elements:

S-400 Triumf: Seven S-400 sites provide coverage over the entire Black Sea and Crimean Peninsula, reaching as far as 30-40nm into Romania. These sites prevent non-very low observable (VLO -- Stealth) aircraft from safely operating over the Black Sea. Each site is comprised of the main missile battalion, a C2 vehicle, and a Pantsir-SM range point defense system, an 85V6 Vega / Orion ELINT system, and often an advanced inflatable S-400 battalion decoy system.

S-350 / S-300: Approximately eight S-350 Vityaz and S-300PM-1 long range SAM sites provide overlapping coverage within the margins of the S-400 coverage areas. Each site is comprised of the main missile battalion, a C2 vehicle, and a Pantsir-SM range point defense system

Pantsir-SM: Pantsir medium range SAM / short range anti-aircraft artillery integrated system provides increased protection of key points in the Crimean Peninsula. Each S-400, S-350, and S-300 site will have a Pantsir-SM assigned.
Combat Air Patrol: Russia will deploy Su-30 and Su-35 fighters to provide a combat air patrol (CAP) over the Crimean Peninsula, as well as an offensive counter air mission over the Black Sea.

AEW&C: A-50 MAINSTAY will provide critical high altitude radar support, sharing data with the 31st Air Defense Division. High altitude radar coverage is critical to detect low flying air threats that may be under the horizon.

Black Sea Fleet: The Black Sea Fleet provides radar pickets for the IADS, both from ships and up to a dozen militarized oil platforms. These pickets extend the range of Russian radars and help discover VLO aircraft and missiles at longer ranges, which then enable vectoring CAP assets to engage.

Russian doctrine has historically followed a very rigid top down model where sensor data flows up, through intermediaries, then back down to shooters. This top-down model provides for several vulnerabilities. Each SAM site has a Command and Control (C2) unit which is the uplink/downlink to share data from other IADS sensors to the SAM shooter. Destruction of the C2 unit will sever that link and leave the SAM shooters disconnected (Out of Communications) with the remainder of the IADS. Further up echelon, core Command, Control, and Communications (C3) bunkers provide data relay services between the Russian Aerospace Forces, 31st and 51st Russian Air Defense Divisions, and the Black Sea Fleet. Destruction of these bunkers will sever that services connection with the other service data networks, significantly degrading both sides. The following C3 bunkers are of note:

31st Air Defense Data Fusion Center
51st Air Defense Data Fusion Center
Russian Aerospace Forces Data Fusion Center
Black Sea Fleet Data Fusion Center

Destruction of unit level C2 support to SAM shooters, and C3 support at the service-level, can substantially degrade Russia’s IADS.