analysis
Manpads for Ukraine
Berlin sends Kyiv 2700 Strelas – solid anti-aircraft missiles, but damn old
Germany delivered 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. The weapons are from the times of the NVA.
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2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles, the Soviet counterpart to the US Stinger, are still in storage from the stocks of the GDR. The manpads are now being sent to Kyiv. Although obsolete, the Strela would be an effective weapon – only age casts doubt on its effectiveness.
After Panzerfaust 3 and 500 American Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Germany is now also delivering 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Whether that’s a good idea remains to be seen. Because unlike the Stinger and Panzerfaust, these weapons do not come from the stocks of the Bundeswehr that are intended for use. The Strela come out of the mausoleum.
The name Strela – the Russian word for arrow – was given to all kinds of rockets in the USSR. This is a shoulder armored system, the Soviet equivalent of the Stinger. This also explains the high number. The Strela is in many respects comparable to the Stinger – originally named Redeye. Both have been in use since the late 1960s and have been modernized several times. While the Stinger is well known in the west, hardly anyone here knows the 9K32 Strela-2m. That’s a little surprising, since it’s by far the most widely used manpad in the world.
One should not confuse the Manpad with the 9K35 Strela-10, which is also used in Ukraine. This is a tracked vehicle on which anti-aircraft missiles over two meters long with a launcher are mounted.
Anti-aircraft missile is the counterpart to the Stinger
The Strela-2m can be shoulder-launched by just one man, and an infrared seeker automatically guides it to the target. The operational range extends from 500 meters to 4.2 kilometers, it reaches an altitude of 2300 meters. A comparison with the current Stinger generation (FIM-92B) shows that the Strela is not completely outdated. The US model has a range of 4.8 kilometers and an altitude of 3000 meters. Both weapons also carry further under favorable conditions.
The disadvantage of the Strela-2m is that it can be misled by deception and defensive measures. The modern Russian manpads no longer belong to the Strela family, the Strela is definitely not the most modern weapon of its kind. That alone does not have to be an obstacle. If manpad fire is likely, the enemy must move to higher altitudes. This puts him within the reach of larger air defense systems. However, it is questionable whether and for how long Kyiv will still have these large defensive batteries at its disposal. In any case, manpads like the Strela make direct helicopter gunship support of ground forces risky.
The problem with the delivery is not the performance data of the weapon, but its age. Such systems have a limited lifetime. The official expiry date when stored properly is around 20 years – but Manpads should remain usable for up to 30 years. That is indeed an enormous length of time for the drive and warhead chemicals and electronics to endure. However, during this time the Manpad is not worn out like a helicopter or truck, it is protected in a transport crate.
The manpads come from NVA stocks.
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Age up to 50 years
However, the weapons of the Bundeswehr are much older. More than 30 years have passed since the end of the GDR and even then the weapons were not fresh from the factory – an age of 50 years is not unrealistic. Added to this are the storage conditions. It is doubtful whether these old systems, which no one thought would still be used, were stored under ideal conditions. Basically, the Bundeswehr handles the old material much worse than, say, the Finns and Swiss. In these countries, the equipment for the reservists is generally kept operational. And the Strelas were already in the disposal queue, so to speak. During the fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and 2015, fighters from both sides had to realize that the old Kornet-type anti-tank missiles that they received from the magazines no longer worked. Only the simple “bazookas” of the RPG type were still reliable. In addition, there are reports that the German Strelas are said to be no longer usable because cracks are said to have formed in the steel shell.
Decision lies in Kyiv
In summary one can say that there are far better manpads than the Strela today, but it is still a very effective weapon. Like all manpads, they do not block airspace for the enemy’s air force, but they effectively protect ground positions from attacks by low-flying bombers and attack helicopters. But that only applies if the weapons are still operational, and given the age of the systems, there are legitimate doubts. But one can assume that these weapons are not “disposed of” without being asked, but have been requested by Kyiv. Ultimately, the military in Kyiv must know what combat value these weapons still have.