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Further enhancement of the integrated air defense
systems approach is the layered air defense concept, which
encompasses various systems into an integrated "near zero leak"
air defense. The layered air defense system protects a site by
defeating multiple attacks of various types of armaments. Layered
air defense systems usually consist of three tiers – the extended
range combat layer, where short to medium range missiles engage
targets such as attack aircraft and unmanned platforms flying at medium to high
altitude, and attack aircraft or cruise missiles flying at a low
to very low level. The systems operated at this layer must retain
"look-down/shoot-down" operating capability, by screening targets
against ground clutter. This capability should be provided both to
the sensors, guidance systems and weapon systems. This protection
level should also be able to engage enemy combat support elements,
such as electronic surveillance and target designators.
 The
second "close-in" combat layer, which employs radar controlled
guns and Very SHO Range Air Defense missiles (VSHORAD) missiles,
such as SA-7/14/18, Stinger and Mistral, should also provide
anti-missile protection. These weapons should target the precision
strike weapons which, having penetrated the first layer, are
threatening the defended site. Typical targets engaged at this level
are guided weapons, UAVs, unmanned attack vehicles and gunship helicopters. A
mix of systems is appropriate at this level. Most missiles are
effective against aircraft and helicopters, while advanced
automatic, air defense guns could be efficient against guided
weapons, when equipped with advanced systems such as the Russian
Tungushka or Swiss
AHEAD technology.
The integrated gun-missile systems (such as
Tunguska and Pantsir)
offer an impressive capability, especially for point and tactical
mobile air defense. However, even with their formidable firepower,
such systems cannot act independently. Some analysts are questioning the
claimed effectiveness of the 30mm gun at maximum range (3,000 -
4,000 meters), where its capability against small targets (missiles
guided weapons and helicopters) is questionable, as kill
probability drops well below 50%. With such low yield, the air
defense vehicle has an inherent "dead zone" at ranges
between 1,500 – 2,500 m', where the hit probability of the gun
drops sharply and the missile cannot engage the target. Therefore,
mutual
coverage of firing units should be employed to eliminate this deficiency.
The progress of modern air defense systems is being
augmented by the modernization of active, passive and networked
air defense sensors.
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