S-300 PMU (missile)
S-300 PMU is the starting designation of a series of highly respected, Soviet-designed surface-to-air missiles, the initial land version of which is designated SA-10 GRUMBLE in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)/North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) system. The ship-based version, mounted on the Kirov-class and Slava-class cruisers, is SA-N-6 GRUMBLE. Later versions have anti-ballistic missile against theater ballistic missiles and also against cruise missiles. [1] They were developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau.
Upgrades are designated S-300PMU-1 and S-300PMU-2 Favorit. Favorit is described as an essentially new system.[2] Developed by the Fakel Design Bureau, the missile is designated SA-20 GARGOYLE.[3]
The S-400 (missile) system is its replacement, with even more antimissile capability. It can control at least some of the S-300 missiles; its basic new round is the 48N6E3.
Effectiveness and impact
It is comparable to the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot in a land-based version and the RIM-156 Standard SM-2 at sea, although the Russians argue it is superior to Patriot. While surface-to-air missiles are defensive, missiles of this quality affect the strategic balance: if Iran, for example, puts a significant S-300 system around its nuclear facilities, the Israeli Air Force may not have sufficient suppression of enemy air defense capability to penetrate it. [4] There are conflicting reports, however, if Russia has actually shipped them to Iraq. [5] S-300 systems definitely have been sold to China and India.
In 1998-1999, complex negotiations among Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus downgraded a planned S-300 installation on Cyprus to a SA-15 deployment on Crete. [6]
System characteristics
At the center of a deployed system on land is a 54K6E command and control vehicle, which connects to radar vehicles, up to 12 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicles carrying the missiles, and support equipment. Each TEL holds four missiles, in sealed canisters forming a vertical launch system giving 360-degree coverage. With well-trained crews, the system can be firing 5 minutes after the vehicles stop.
Originally, the system ground radar was a 30N6E1, which can be upgraded to a 64N6E; it also uses track-via-missile with a linked active radar in the missile. The radar and computer system can engage six simultaneous targets, with two missiles fired at each target.
In the S-300PMU2, the battle management van upgrades to a 54K6E2, but, more significantly, there is a 83M6E2 command post, associated with a long-range 64N6E2 radar. The 83M6E2 can coordinate the activities of up to six 54K6E2-centered systems, giving capability against 36 targets (i.e., 72 interceptors in flight).[2]
Missiles, as well, are upgradable. As with the Patriot in its PAC-3 version, some range against aircraft was sacrificed to get better anti-missile performance.
| Missile | vs. Aircraft | vs. TBM |
|---|---|---|
| 5V55 | 5-90 km range maximum altitude 30km maximum speed 1150 mps |
35 km engagement range vs. 300 km class SRBM |
| 48N6E | 5-50km range maximum altitude 27 km maximum speed 2800 mps |
40 km engagement range vs. 1000 km class MRBM |
| 48N6E2 | 10 meters-200km range maximum altitude 27 km maximum speed 10000 mps |
200 km engagement range vs. 1000 km class MRBM |
References
- ↑ S-300, Deagel.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 S-300PMU2 Favorit, EnemyForces.net
- ↑ S-300PMU2 Favorit SA-20 GARGOYLE, Globalsecurity
- ↑ Christian Caryl (2 October 2009), "The Other Ticking Clock in Iran: Forget about Iran's nukes for the moment. The real crisis is its drive for advanced surface-to-air missiles.", Foreign Policy (magazine)
- ↑ Gregory L. White (28 September 2009), "Medvedev Leaves Wiggle Room on Sanctions: Russia's Firmer Talk May Not Translate Into Action on Iran", Wall Street Journal
- ↑ Cyprus, the S-300PMU-1 Missile System, and Regional Security: An Annotated Chronology, James Martin Center For Nonproliferation Studies, 1 February 1999