After presidents of USA and Georgia have met, the Georgian society has pinned its hope that America will help our army with the arming; this means that the defense from possible Russian aggression won’t be a problem anymore. To some extent such hope is given by some representatives of Georgian authorities. Several statements by the president Saakashvili made simultaneously after the meeting with president Obama laid down the foundation for this.
Having analyzed these statements, we may conclude the following: If America has helped Georgia with preparation and arming of the military contingent to send for peacemaking mission ISAF to Afghanistan so far then from now on the military-technical cooperation of the two countries will stipulate the significant increase of self-defense of Georgia on the whole.
Moreover, the president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, addressing Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan in the province Helmand even claimed that USA would help Georgia in defense of the latter’s territories. According to him, USA will not only help in holding operations and anti-terrorist activities as it has been lately but also in strengthening the defense capability.
“This is a brand-new level in the training of our Military Forces”, – stated president Saakashvili.
So, the question is what new can American side offer? If it has been helping with military staff in the military academies of USA, then now it is logical to assume a transfer of some kinds of arms of defensive character into the ownership of Georgian Army.
This issue is being talked over much. Even in 2008 in a few days after the end of the August war two American congressmen stated while in Georgia that America will definitely give Georgia antitank and antiaircraft emplacements.
American mobile zenithal-rocket complex “Stinger” and antitank rocket guided by missile complex “Javelin” – these are “representatives” of the simple armament mastering of which should not present much difficulties for Georgian Army.
The word “simple” in this case means not difficult principle of action of the complex – “shoot and forget”, in other words, an operator guides the rocket onto the target and launches it. Here his mission is over.
The system of thermal aiming, set in the head of a missile, “tracks down” “hot” parts – engines of planes (in this case – of “Stringers”) or tanks (“Javelins”).
Antiaircraft complex “Stinger” can launch a missile maximum from 4800 meters towards the object flying on the height 180-3800 meters. These are namely those heights that Russian attack helicopters Mi-24 and battle planes Su-25 cruised at during the August war of 2008.
Transportable antitank missile complex ‘Javelin’ is designated for warfare activities against armoured technics of the enemy from the maximal distance of 2500 meters. Unlike other complexes of similar type, cumulative charge of ‘Javelin’ rocket strikes the tops part of the enemy’s tank, in the place where armour is significantly thinner than in any other part. This factor is to be considered as Russia’s Ministry of Defense has already dislocated relatively more modernized types of tanks T-90A on the territory of the 7th occupied base in Abkhazia, whose front armour is more durable, rather than of those outdated T-72 types, yet, the top armour remains the same.
The Russian T-90A has got one more nuance to bear in mind: they are equipped with the complex of optic-electronic suppressing of ‘Shtora -1’, designed to reverse antitank rockets controlled by laser rays. Whereas, American system of thermal aiming of ‘Javelin’ of the passive activity and the Russian ‘Shtora-1’ is not able to interfere with its aiming.
American ‘Stingers’ and ‘Javelins’ could strengthen defense of the Georgian Army. However, they cannot become a panacea and provide a complete protection to Georgia if a new war with Russia outbreaks. Why?
‘Stingers’ are helpless against Russian bombers at the altitude of more than 4 km. Meanwhile, Russian bombers (fronting Su-24M and long-haul type Tu-22M3) attacked Georgian strategic objects (including airfield Kopitnari) in August 2008 from the same altitude and above.
Consequently, it would be more reasonable if American military aid took into consideration echeloned defense of Georgia’s air space. If ‘Stingers’ can ‘block’ the air space at the distance of approximately 5 km and at the altitude of 4 km, then more powerful antiaircraft mountings, say ‘Patriots’, are able to defend Georgian air space almost entirely.
Multifunctional radiolocator of the ‘Patriot’ anti-aircraft system can set the target at the distance of 70 to 180 km (at 70 km distance missile warheads are spotted, at 100 km – rockets, at 130 km – fighters, and at 180 – a bigger bomber), and simultaneously accompanies 125 targets. The anti-aircraft missile, itself, can hit aerodynamic targets at the altitude of 24 km and up to 80 km away.
This tactic and technological characteristic proves that anti-aircraft systems ‘Patriot’ dislocated in West and East Georgia (for example, in Poti, Senaki, Kutaisi, Gori, Tbilisi, Marneuli, and Telavi) can provide a reliable defense of the Georgian air space. However, there are some buts…
As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Defense of Russia has based supersonic systems of volley firing ‘Smerch’, and, presumably, operative-tactic missile complexes ‘Point-U’ on the territory of the 4th occupied base in Tskhinvali.
‘Smerch’ launches its 12 missiles (with the caliber of each 300 mm and weight of 800 kg) aiming at the maximum distance of 70 km (more modernized ones – up to 90 km), meaning that they can easily reach Tbilisi fired from the occupied Akhali Gori region.
There will not be enough ‘Patriot’ missiles to reverse an attack of at least one troop of ‘Smerch’, considering the fact that in order to destroy each ‘Smerch’ missile two or more ‘Patriot’ missiles should be launched.
The same could be said about operative-tactical missiles of ‘Point-U’, which are launched at the maximum distance of 120 km and are very difficult to trap.
Therefore, I will repeat myself, considering purchase of American weapon cannot be considered as panacea against Russian aggression. On the contrary, if official Tbilisi decides to obtain American armours at the global market prices, Georgian budget will not be able to afford it. For instance, one missile of the ‘Javelin’ system costs more than seventy-five thousand dollars, ‘Stinger’ is even more expensive, and ‘Patriot’ is not even worth talking about.
Albeit, if American party manifests a good will and bargains defense armaments to the Georgian party for a symbolic price, it is another case.
Nonetheless, there is a feeling that the White House is scrutinizing the current political affairs, and, most likely, is not going to hurry to rearm the Georgian Armed Forces.
By the way, on the 17th of February Giga Bokeria, the secretary of the Department of National Defense of Georgia, claimed that a group of representatives of the relevant US establishments were going to visit Georgia to negotiate the country’s defense improvement.
‘The Georgian side would like Americans to aid Georgia not only in supplying armaments, but also in training Georgian troops. The society will be informed in more detail upon completion of the set tasks’, – reported Bokeria.
Irakli Aladashvili, editor in chief, military-analytical magazine ‘Arsenali’ (Georgia), for newcaucasus.com
