Russia fortifies Crimean Bridge with extensive air defence systems

According to the Defence Express portal, the Russians are protecting the Crimean Bridge with all available air defence systems. Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk confirms this.

The Crimean Bridge is one of the key structures for the Russian Federation since it connects the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula with the Taman Peninsula. The bridge's total length exceeds 18 km, and its damage or destruction would be a significant blow due to its substantial impact, among other things, on the Russian army's logistics in the area.

Given the use of the Crimean Bridge (direct road and rail connection with annexed Crimea), it is not surprising that the Russian Federation is increasingly striving to ensure its security. At the end of May this year, barriers protecting the bridge appeared. Shortly thereafter, in July 2024, Wirtualna Polska journalist Paweł Maziarz discussed further fortifications placed by the Russians.

Now, Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, speaks about protecting the Crimean Bridge. The expert calculates that the Russian Federation "uses all air defence systems, including the S-500, S-400, S-300, and Pantsir-S1 to protect the bridge." – Russia uses all existing air defence systems. I am unsure about the Tor systems, but we see they use both long- and short-range systems. These are the S-300, S-400, even the S-500, and of course, the Pantsir – Pletenchuk said.

The S-500, S-400, S-300, and Pantsir-S1 systems form the foundation of Russian air defence. Each has unique technical features that ensure effectiveness in combating various threats.

The S-500 Prometheus can intercept targets at distances of up to 600 km and altitudes of up to 200 km. Designed to combat ballistic and hypersonic missiles, it represents an advanced response to modern air threats, including planes, helicopters, and drones.

The S-400, on the other hand, can simultaneously track up to 80 targets and guide up to 160 missiles. It can destroy targets 400 km away and move up to 30 km at altitudes. The system is capable of combating both aircraft and ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, despite older technology, the S-300 remains an effective anti-aircraft defence tool. The system can simultaneously track up to 100 targets and destroy targets at distances up to 200 km at an altitude of 27 km. The S-300 missiles reach speeds of almost 8000 km/h.

The Pantsir-S1 combines artillery and missile systems. It has 30 mm calibre cannons with a firing rate of up to 2500 rounds/min, capable of destroying targets at distances up to 4 km. The missile section contains 12 launchers capable of hitting targets at distances up to 20 km and altitudes up to 15 km. The system is equipped with two radars for target detection and guidance.