The high combat qualities of Soviet air defense systems have been repeatedly evaluated by both friends of our country and its opponents. Air defense systems defended the sky of Cuba during the Caribbean crisis, they resisted the US air armada during the Vietnam War and during other regional conflicts. One example of domestic technology is the S-300 missile system, which is already in service with the armies of two foreign states (Cyprus and China). Applications for its acquisition filed another fifteen countries concerned about the security of their air borders. These systems reliably guard the sky over Russia.
The relevance of the fight against low-flying targets
The S-300 anti-aircraft missile system was conceived in the mid-eighties as a means of effectively combating low-flying high-speed targets. In the late 1970s, the United States successfully tested cruise missiles capable of overcoming the borders of the then existing Soviet air defense and missile defense systems. The Tomahawks flew too low for ordinary radars to detect. These tactical nuclear weapons delivery vehicles could use the terrain (for example, ravines, gullies, river beds), and the task of destroying them seemed problematic. Further improvement of the automated means of controlling aircraft of the trajectory, built on the basis of the latest advances in computer technology, allowed the probable enemy of the USSR to hope for the possibility of victory in a possible armed conflict not only using cruise missiles, but also aircraft capable of overcoming our defense at extremely low altitudes. New systems were needed. Ultimately, they became the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, which were adopted in 1982.
The main danger is surprise
Historical experience teaches that a serious armed conflict, as a rule, begins with a massive air strike. Nowadays, this concept includes the actions of assault and bomber aircraft in conjunction with rocket fire of vital objects for defense (control systems, communications, energy supply, places of accumulation of manpower and equipment, industrial and transport units). The suddenness of the strike, if successful, leads to the fact that the air defense system ceases to function, and as a result, the potential of the attacked country (both economic and military) is destroyed. The S-300 complex is able to quickly respond to emerging threats due to the high speed of detection and guidance systems, leveling the factor of surprise. 48N6, a missile that forms the basis of the firepower of the system, has unique flight characteristics and a large charge power.
Modification "PS"
The S-300PS missile system was created in the Moscow Design Bureau Fakel under the guidance of Academician A. F. Utkin, after his death, work continued by N. A. Trofimov. The general plan took into account the experience of the most serious wars of the second half of the 20th century that took place in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The main requirements for the new technology, in addition to the high efficiency of hitting air targets, were mobility and short prelaunch time. Practice has shown that anti-aircraft gunners, having fired, must urgently leave the “illuminated” combat area in order to avoid a retaliatory strike by which the enemy seeks to destroy the battery, while the count goes for minutes. The operational deployment and coagulation time was only five minutes. This was achieved thanks to a high degree of automation of the preparation for firing. The PS modification was armed with 5V55R missiles.
New rocket
The S-300 missile system of the PM modification was adopted by the Russian Army in 1993. Over the past decade, designers have been able to significantly improve the operational and performance characteristics of the system. First of all, this concerns the new 48N6 rocket, designed at the Fakel. You should also pay attention to a fundamentally different, more advanced algorithm for solving mathematical problems, built on a modern computing base. One-stage solid-fuel missiles is equipped with a direction finder, catapult-launched, and then rushes to the target. At the moment, in the arsenal of the armies of likely opponents there are no air means that the S-300 missile system could not have destroyed. The 48N6 flight range depends on the type of moving target - it shoots ballistic missiles at a distance of 40 km, low-flying targets (10-100 m) at a distance of 28 to 38 km, and ordinary aircraft fall into the affected area within a radius of 150 km.
The high-explosive fragmentation charge has a mass of 145 kg. The equipment is concentrated in a monoblock and is protected from interference. The length of the 48N6E rocket is 7.5 m, diameter 52 cm, total weight 1.8 tons (2.6 tons in the container). It can be used in mobile or ship-based complexes ("Reef").
The composition of the complex
The S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, combined into a group of air defense systems, provide security against tens of thousands of square kilometers of air attacks. The technical basis for them is the main combat unit - the 5P85SE launcher (with four missile containers each). In the complex there may be 12. Ensure the delivery of ammunition and their replenishment, two auxiliary vehicles - 22T6E (loading) and 5T58E (transport). Target detection is performed by a multifunctional illumination and guidance radar of the 30N6E type, as well as a 76N6 detector (for low-flying targets). Energy supply is provided by a diesel power station. In case of emergency situations, the 13YU6E repair laboratory, equipped with spare parts sets, comes into play. There is also a retractable tower for lifting the locator - RPN 30N6E, the need for it depends on the terrain.
Features and Prospects
A large range of destruction, a wide range of heights and speeds, the ability to simultaneously conduct 12 goals - this is a short list of the advantages that the S-300 possesses. A missile system, whose characteristics exceed the parameters of all foreign analogues, can shoot down aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles at distances from 5 to 150 km. It doesn’t matter at what altitude the target flies, 10 meters or 27 kilometers. The speed of the object is also not a big problem, it can be hypersonic 2800 m / s (that is, over 10 000 km / h). Thus, the S-300 missile system was created taking into account the long-term prospects for the development of attack means and for a long time it can serve as a deterrent in foreign policy. The modification potential of the system allows it to be constantly improved in both hardware and information aspects.
Mobility
S-300PM and S-300SM systems have different chassis. For a later modification, a mobile cross-country launcher (PU 5P85SM) based on the MAZ-543M was developed. The swinging part for four containers (TPK) in a vertical position abuts their rear part in the ground, after which the rocket is launched.
Various equipment was also mounted in the car: prelaunch preparation, drive control, power supply circuits of missile launch systems with a waveguide interface, and much more. Communication with the cabin from which the control is made is built on an encoded radio channel.
The source of power for all subsystems is an autonomous 5S18M device, energy is generated by a gas turbine unit. In the event of its failure, the PU can be powered from any other launcher; for this, a backup cable connection of 60 m in length on a reel is provided.
The driver's cab has an infrared night vision system for driving at night with the headlights turned off. The positions of the personnel firing manager are comfortable, and conditions have been created for long vigil on combat positions.
Trial runs of vehicles have shown that the S-300 missile system can travel long distances in different climatic zones without compromising combat effectiveness.
"Eyes" of the complex
The 30N6E radar is multifunctional, which means that in addition to the antennas, a hardware container is present on the chassis with them. Emitters are made on the principle of phased arrays, digital beam control. A post for increasing the target detection range and lowering the minimum visibility horizon can be raised on a special tower. This is especially important when it is necessary to deploy an air defense system in the mountains or among the forest. Reliability of target detection is guaranteed by the integrated channel for obtaining information about operational air conditions. To search for targets following at high and medium altitudes, the 64N6E locator is used. Low-flying objects are fixed by 76N6, protected from distortion caused by reflected signals. And finally, the 30H6E multi-function radar searches and highlights targets in the entire range, pointing missiles at them.
