Poland Sends Anti-Plane Artillery To Ukraine. What Are the Particular Varieties?

The declaration unveiled doesn’t listing the precise quantity and variants of the S-60 anti-aircraft gun. The statements might seek advice from the basic S-60, or the severely upgraded S-60MBs, operated by the Polish Navy.

The 57 mm computerized S-60 anti-aircraft gun was being license-manufactured at ZM Tarnów, based mostly on a Soviet license. 680 examples have been manufactured there, between 1958 and 1964. The weapons have been acquired by the land forces, air defence models, and by the Navy. On 1st January 1988, 198 have been out there in peacetime, and after wartime mobilization, that quantity went as much as 560.

The Air Defence element operated 66 examples throughout 6 batteries (6 in every battery), the Navy had a listing of 72 examples, unfold throughout 3 artillery squadrons (24 per squadron), whereas the Army was utilizing the remaining weapons. These have been primarily utilized by AAA regiments of the mechanized divisions that had not acquired the Kub and Osa SAM techniques. Mobilized AAA regiments of the reserve mechanized divisions additionally used the S-60s throughout wartime.

HE and AP-Frag warheads have been used within the ammo for the S-60 gun. Again within the Warsaw Pact period, a Soviet ammo unit for a single gun included 200 rounds, together with 190 HE, and 10 AP rounds. Every gun was outfitted with 9 models as such.

The concentrating on and reloading processes have been all guide. Waza radar was used to information the battery and conduct fireplace management processes. As Poland joined NATO, the AAA belongings as such turned out of date, and so they supplied no modernization headroom. They have been all decommissioned, by each the Army and the Air Drive. Among the Navy’s weapons acquired the S-60MB improve, and they’re nonetheless operated by two of the Navy’s anti-aircraft squadrons, and by two air defence batteries which are subordinated to the naval aviation bases.

The Polish S-60MB techniques are part of the Blenda battery-level command system. The stated answer has been developed by PIT-RADWAR, working with a number of different firms. The S-60 weapons have been modernized by the first District Armament Workshops situated in Grudziądz. A battery contains the WD-95 Blenda command car based mostly on a Jelcz platform, 4 modernized S-60MB weapons, a Rega-4 command car, and 6-8 Grom MANPADS launchers. On the squadron stage, the system contains three batteries as such, and N-22-N(3D) radar, together with Łowcza-3K, and WD-2001 C2 automobiles.

Two variants of the help bundle could be the case right here – and we might speculate till the small print on that switch are disclosed. The primary variant might embrace the basic S-60 weapons, nonetheless saved in retailer on the logistics bases, or within the warehouses of the Army Property Company (AMW). The Waza radars likely haven’t been saved in a usable state – they might be ineffective within the present circumstances, contemplating the expertise out there once they have been designed.

One other worrying variant might seek advice from a switch of the upgraded S-60MB weapons. Right here we have no idea, whether or not a switch as such would apply to the weapons alone, or whether or not the C2 automobiles and radars would even be delivered. No matter which possibility is chosen right here, that will be very detrimental to the fight potential of the Polish Armed Forces. Each modernized squadrons are tasked with defending the Polish Navy models stationed within the Jap and Western elements of the coast, whereas the squadrons are alleged to defend two out of three airbases utilized by the Polish Naval Aviation Brigade.

Proper after the system was created, and weapons upgraded, it turned clear that the S-60s are only a gap-filler answer. They have been to get replaced by 35 mm AAA belongings firing programmable air-burst munitions, based mostly on the license-manufactured KDA gun. Nonetheless, for years that didn’t occur. The AM-35 weapons have been built-in on two Kormoran II-class MCMVs. One other three have been ordered, for the long run vessels of this class. Six techniques as such are anticipated to be built-in on three Miecznik-class frigates. The land variant has not moved past the prototype stage – first within the Loara tracked variant, after which in a wheeled and towed type.

If the Navy eliminates the S-60MB weapons, and the C2 and concentrating on suite, that will be a serious loss. Then again, if the Navy eliminates the weapons alone, the rest of the system can be ineffective. It’s unclear when the 35 mm weapons might be delivered for the Navy in towed or self-propelled variants.

One shall hope that Poland would assist the courageous Ukrainian troopers with the basic S-60 weapons – not likely trendy, however actually helpful. The big caliber and 6 kilometers of efficient vary make this weapon an asset appropriate to counter slow-movers, resembling UAVs or helicopters. The gun in query may be efficiently used in opposition to mild armour, or naval targets.