“Verba MANPADS Achieves Direct Hit on Helicopter”
- It appears that for the first time, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) officially announces the interception of a helicopter by Verba.
- The successful operational deployment may enhance the global appeal of Verba, establishing it prominently alongside the already famous Igla system.
- From a technical standpoint, the most captivating aspects to underscore are:
- remarkable resistance to jamming
- the first MANPADS worldwide equipped with an innovative infrared three-spectral seeker, which can function in ultraviolet, near-infrared, and mid-infrared spectra, providing comprehensive information about the target.
- Operational Deployment – MoD officially announces interception of a helicopter by Verba MANPADS.
Russian Verba missile system operators successfully downed a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the Sumy Region, which was heading towards the village of Kozinki in the bordering Belgorod Region of Russia, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.
“On March 17, units assigned to securing Russia’s state border successfully downed a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force near the Lukashovka settlement in the Sumy Region utilizing Verba missile systems. The helicopter was approaching the village of Kozinki in the Belgorod Region,” stated the report.
A unique MANPADS offering significant protection against modern interference and incorporating the “shoot-and-forget” strategy.
The Verba man-portable air defense system is engineered to neutralize fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles on direct and evasive courses amidst high optical interference.
Verba MANPADS represent the latest advancement in Russian MANPADS, featuring enhanced capabilities for targeting objects with low thermal radiation emissions and optimized missile consumption for neutralizing various threats.
Russian-manufactured Igla-S and Verba man-portable air defense mechanisms (MANPADS) are garnering considerable attention globally, remarked Rosoboronexport director Alexander Mikheyev to TASS during the Army-2023 forum.
“Current Russian air defense systems are securing leading positions across all segments of the global market,” he elaborated. “Long-range projects like the S-400 Triumf and Antey-4000 effectively engage larger targets; S-350E Vityaz, Viking, and Buk safeguard military and civilian infrastructures in the medium range, while systems including Pantsir and Tor operate within the short range. Furthermore, Verba and Igla-S MANPADS are also drawing significant interest internationally,” he detailed.
- Rostec State Corporation Perspective on Verba:
The most sophisticated MANPADS developed by the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau to date is the Verba system, which was officially adopted in 2014 and is classified as a 4th generation system. It is designed to eliminate aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles on incoming and pursuit trajectories amidst false thermal interference during visual observation and nocturnal conditions. Verba can be deployed in diverse geographical regions, including mountainous and maritime environments, within a temperature range of -50 to +50 °C.
What distinguishes the Verba system as superior compared to all existing MANPADS globally, according to specialists?
The primary benefits of the 9M336 missile lie in its more sensitive homing head and superior noise immunity. The unique infrared three-spectral seeker operates in the ultraviolet, near-infrared, and mid-infrared ranges, granting maximum information regarding the target. The heightened sensitivity of the missile enhances the capture range of airborne objects. In this context, the head autonomously distinguishes false thermal targets, selecting the actual object based on various characteristics.
Another key advantage of the Verba system is its high success rate in intercepting cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, including those with low thermal emissions. Such entities, whose usage is becoming increasingly prevalent, are challenging to detect and even more challenging to neutralize. The operational range of Verba extends up to 6000 m, altitude capabilities range from 10 to 3500 m, and it can engage target speeds of up to 400 m/s. Preparation time for engagement is up to 12 seconds. The system’s combat assets can integrate seamlessly with automated target designation systems, allowing provision of targeting data from higher-level command systems and self-contained detection units.
The Verba MANPADS constitutes a comprehensive system that, in addition to the missile housed in the launch tube, also encompasses a launching mechanism, a ground-based radar system for conducting friend-or-foe interrogations, maintenance tools, and training resources. Moreover, Verba MANPADS can be enhanced with compact radar stations, planning, reconnaissance, control modules, as well as target designation instruments.
