S-300V Credit - © Mark Wade

Mobile, multiple-target, universal integrated surface-to-air missile. The S-300V system can fire either of two versions of the containerised missiles loaded: long range and medium range. These missiles are given different NATO designations. However any mix of the two missiles can be loaded as needed in the vertical launcher cells.

At the end of the 1960's General Designer V P Efremov at Antey began development of the mobile, multiple-target, universal integrated surface-to-air missile system S-300V. This was to be capable of hitting aircraft of whatever type as well as the re-entry vehicles of tactical ballistic missiles. Following protracted development the system was accepted by the Soviet surface forces in 1985. The system used the 9A83-1 universal mobile self-propelled launcher chassis, developed by N S Popov at KB-3 of the Kirov Factory. This was a highly mobile self-contained vehicle, with its own electrical generators, living quarters, and radio communications. Two missiles were developed by EMKB Novator for launch by the system. The 9M82 had a mass of 4.6 tonnes and could reach 2400 m/s, while the 9M83 weighed 2.5 tonnes and could reach 1700 m/s. Both were two stage vehicles, with inertial guidance systems and semi-active radar homing systems for terminal homing. The system could track 24 targets simultaneously.

Vehicles:

• 9S457 mobile command post (9S457M for S-300VM)
• 9A83 TELAR with 4 missile tubes (9A83M for S-300VM)
• 9A85 transloader with 4 missile tubes
• Radars mounted on individual Type 80 tank chassis

Radars: 9S15MT Obzor-3 Bill Board A target acquisition radar, F band, range 250 km. 9S19 Imbir High Screen target acquisition radar, band, range 175 km. 9S32 Grill Pan target tracking radar, range 175 km.

Manufacturer: Efremov/Lyulev. Standard warhead mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Maximum range: 75 km (46 mi). Guidance: GAS. Minimum range: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). Ceiling: 25,000 m (82,000 ft). Floor: 250 m (820 ft).

Anti-tactical ballistic missile; outer-layer defense.

96 missiles per firing unit. Aviation Week gives entirely different masses and dimensions: Length 6.1 m, diameter 0.8 m, total mass 1500 kg.

Location: Moscow, Russian Federation. Total Mass: 3,300 kg (7,200 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.78 ft). Total Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft). Span: 0.85 m (2.78 ft). Standard warhead mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Maximum range: 100 km (60 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Guidance: Semi-Active Radar Homing. Maximum speed: 8,640 kph (5,360 mph). Minimum range: 13 km (8 mi). Ceiling: 30,000 m (98,000 ft). Floor: 250 m (820 ft).

Anti-tactical ballistic missile; inner-layer defense.

192 missiles per firing unit. Aviation Week gives completely different masses and dimensions: 4.7 m length, 0.8 m diameter, 1000 kg mass.

Location: Moscow, Russian Federation. Total Mass: 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). Core Diameter: 0.50 m (1.64 ft). Total Length: 7.50 m (24.60 ft). Span: 0.50 m (1.64 ft). Standard warhead mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Maximum range: 40 km (24 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Solid rocket. Guidance: Semi-Active Radar Homing. Maximum speed: 6,120 kph (3,800 mph). Ceiling: 25,000 m (82,000 ft). Floor: 25 m (82 ft).

The Antey-2500 was a new generation of the S-300V, capable of shooting down re-entry vehicles of IRBMs of up to 2500 km range.

The system could track simultaneously 24 low radar cross section aerial targets, or 16 re-entry vehicles of 0.02 square meter radar cross section coming in at speeds of 4500 m/s. The system was equipped with the modernised 9M82M and 9M83M missiles. These had the same mass and dimensions as the earlier missiles, but were equipped with improved guidance systems. They were capable of successfully intercepting even intensively manoeuvring targets. The 9M82M would be assigned by the system to re-entry vehicles and aircraft or cruise missile targets up to 200 km away. The 9M83M would be assigned to closer targets. It took ten years to develop this system after the go-ahead. A division of Antey-2500 missiles would consist of:

• One 9S15M2 circular observation radar
• One 9S19M sector observation radar
• One 9S457M command point
• Four 9S32M MSNR
• 24 9A93M PU
• 24 9A84M PZU
• 48 9M82M surface-to-air missiles with 200 km range
• 96 9M83M shorter range surface-to-air missiles

Maximum target speed, 3 km/sec. Reaction time 28 seconds. 5 minutes time to set-up or depart launch site for shoot-and-scoot. 24 targets can be tracked, and four missiles guided simultaneously to 4 seperate targets. 96-192 missiles per firing unit depending on mix.

Radars: 9S15MT-3 Bill Board A target acquisition radar, F band, range 330 km. 9S19 Imbir High Screen target acquisition radar, range 175 km. 9S32 Grill Pan target tracking radar, band, range 175 km.

Standard warhead mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Maximum range: 200 km (120 mi). Guidance: GAS. Ceiling: 30,000 m (98,000 ft). Floor: 25 m (82 ft).

• Parsch, Andreas, DesignationSystems.Net, . Outstanding, unique reference for aircraft, missiles, propulsion, and avionics systems. Accessed at: http://www.designation-systems.net/.

• Yeftifyev, M D, Iz istorii sozdaniya zenito-raketnovo shchita rossii, Vuzovskaya kniga, Moscow, 2000. Comprehensive history of development of the development of surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missiles in the Soviet Union, with summaries of work in other countries as well. Accessed at: http://www.eastview.com/xq/ASP/sku=A2010232/f_locale=/Evtif'ev/MD/Moskva/Russia/Russian/qx/russian/books/product.asp.