Ukraine takes down Russia's new Gibka-S air defense system
The Ukrainians destroyed the Russian Gibka-S air defense system, a new weapon introduced into service in 2023. In concept and capabilities, the Russian system resembles the Polish Poprad air defense system. What do we know about this Russian weapon?
Gibka-S is a new Russian air defense system first showcased to the world during the Army 2017 expo. Equipment deliveries began in 2023. According to Ukrainian data, the Russian army has already received several batches of this new equipment (the exact number is unknown), with two deliveries in 2024. At least one Gibka-S launcher has been destroyed so far.
Gibka-S is a hybrid system built using the maritime air defense system Gibka-R (Komar). It is equipped with 9S846 Strelets modules and Igla-S anti-air missiles. Designed for Russian Navy ships, the launcher was adapted onto a Tigr-M chassis to create a mobile very short-range air defense system (VSHORAD).
Gibka-S - Russian very short range air defense system
The result is a system that strongly resembles the Polish Poprad system in concept, purpose, and appearance. Like the Polish air defense system, Gibka-S has its own observation and target detection equipment, featuring an optronic head with a daytime camera, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder.
See also: Is this NATO equipment or Russian?
The launcher can operate independently—based on information from its sensors—or in cooperation with the 9S937 MRUK command vehicle, which includes a small Garmon radar station (1L122-1). This allows it to detect targets at distances up to 25 miles.
Russian equivalent of the Poprad air defense system
An essential component of the system is the Ochotnik target tracking module, which allows up to four aerial targets to be tracked simultaneously within the sensors' field of view. One or two missiles can be launched simultaneously to attack one of these targets (one Gibka-S vehicle has one firing channel).
This setup also mirrors the Polish solution, in which the Poprad launcher can operate autonomously or in conjunction with the ZDPSR Soła radar station, which was specifically designed for this purpose and mounted on an all-terrain wheeled chassis.
