The air defense component of the Ground Forces protects military units and critical infrastructure from aerial threats in real time — from small unmanned aerial vehicles to cruise missiles.
- Ground Forces air defense is an integral part of the national air defense system, covering troops at all stages of combat operations.
- Its primary mission is to shield forward units, critical infrastructure, and the civilian population from attacks from the air.
- The structure includes surface-to-air missile, missile-artillery, and anti-aircraft artillery units, as well as mobile fire groups tasked with countering UAVs.
- Radar and radiotechnical battalions provide early detection of aerial targets and deliver targeting data for engagement.
- Air defense units can also be used against ground and surface threats, protecting airfields, command posts, and other strategic sites.
- Their arsenal includes SAM systems such as Osa-AKM, Strela-10, Buk-M1, Tunguska missile-gun complexes, U.S. short-range Avenger systems, and German Gepard and Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft systems.
- For counter-UAS missions, they employ ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine-gun mobile groups, and man-portable air defense systems such as Stinger.
- Surface-to-air missile systems are classified by range: short-range (up to 10 km), short- to medium-range (10–40 km), and medium-range (40–100 km), which makes it possible to cover troops on the move, during regrouping, and in defensive positions.
- From the first hours of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian air defenders thwarted Russia’s attempt to gain air superiority.
- Today the air defense of the Ground Forces shoots down hundreds of enemy UAVs every month: Shahed, Lancet, Orlan, Molniya, Zala and other strike and reconnaissance platforms.
- The air defense system is constantly evolving: counter-UAS units are being developed, air-defense drones are introduced, and methods of detecting and engaging low-flying targets are being improved.