How many air defense systems do we have? In the late 1950s, after the Soviet Air Defense Forces adopted the S-75 air defense system, it was also supposed to be used in the air defense units of the Ground Forces. However, the rather long time of deployment and folding, the low mobility of the complex, for the transportation of numerous elements of which wheeled tractors were used, the use of missiles fueled with liquid fuel and a caustic oxidizer, made it impossible for them to accompany troops on the march. As a result, the Krug air defense system, which was put into service in 1965, became the main means of air defense at the front and army level. All elements of the anti-aircraft missile battery of this complex were placed on a tracked chassis and were able to move in the same marching order with tanks. In terms of range and altitude of destruction of air targets, the Krug air defense missile system is comparable to the latest modifications of the S-75 air defense missile system. But, unlike the S-75, in the military air defense systems of the Krug family, radio command missiles with a ramjet engine powered by kerosene were used. The Krug-M1 air defense system of the latest modification was mass-produced until 1983 and was operated by our armed forces until 2006. Complexes of this type were in service with anti-aircraft missile brigades of army and front-line subordination. But already in the early 1980s, the Krug air defense system did not fully meet the requirements of noise immunity. In addition, the military wanted to get a universal multichannel military complex, which, in addition to fighting air targets, could protect the places of concentration of troops, headquarters and other important facilities from attacks by tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles. It was decided to entrust the implementation of these tasks to the S-300V anti-aircraft missile system, the development of which began in the late 1960s.
When creating the S-300 air defense system, it was assumed that the new multi-channel medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, developed for the Ground Forces, the country's Air Defense Forces and the Navy, would use a unified missile and general radar equipment. In the second half of the 1960s, the developers considered it realistic to use the same missiles and radars to destroy aerodynamic and ballistic targets, placing them on a wheeled and tracked base, as well as on ships. However, it soon became clear that the specificity of using the complexes in various conditions requires an individual approach. The anti-aircraft missile subdivisions of the USSR air defense relied on a developed radar network and automated control systems. Traditionally, anti-aircraft battalions defended strategically important objects, carrying combat duty in stationary, well-trained positions in engineering. Air defense complexes of the Ground Forces often worked in isolation from radio engineering units, and therefore their own means of detection, target designation and control were introduced into their composition. During the design of the marine complex, it was required to take into account special conditions: pitching, salt spray and the need to be combined with other ship systems. As a result, the development of the S-300P, S-300V and S-300F air defense systems was entrusted to various organizations. Only the S-300P and S-300V detection radars, as well as the missiles used in the S-300P and S-300F air defense systems, were partially unified.
ZRS S-300V
The S-300V military anti-aircraft missile system was conceived as a universal means of anti-missile and air defense. It was supposed to provide protection against MGM-52 Lance, MGM-31A Pershing IA ballistic missiles, SRAM aeroballistic missiles, cruise missiles, long-range bombers, tactical and carrier-based aircraft, combat helicopters - when they are massively used in conditions of active fire and electronic enemy counteraction. In connection with the need to destroy aerodynamic and ballistic targets for the S-300V air defense system, it was necessary to create two new types of anti-aircraft missiles and, to ensure the required level of mobility in front-line off-road conditions, place all the main elements of the system on a tracked chassis. All S-300V air defense systems use a unified tracked base borrowed from the 203-mm 2S7 Pion self-propelled guns. At the same time, taking into account the specifics of the placement of the elements of the air defense system, the engine-transmission compartment was moved to the rear of the vehicle. One refueling was enough for a march of up to 250 km at a speed of up to 50 km / h and conducting combat work for two hours. All S-300V combat vehicles were equipped with their own power supplies and telecode communications.
Due to the high complexity, the work was carried out in two stages. In 1983, the S-300V1 air defense system was adopted, designed to destroy aerodynamic targets and tactical ballistic missiles of the MGM-52 Lance type. Initially, the system consisted of: 9S15 Obzor-3 all-round radar, 9S457 mobile command post, 9S32 multi-channel missile guidance station, 9A83 self-propelled launcher and 9A85 self-propelled launcher.
The 9S15 Obzor-3 three-coordinate radar, operating in the centimeter frequency range, provided aircraft detection at a distance of up to 240 km. Ballistic missiles "Lance" could be detected at a range of 115 km.
The antenna post and all the station hardware are located on the tracked chassis "Object 832". On a tracked vehicle weighing 47 tons, a diesel engine with a capacity of 840 hp was installed. Crew of 4 people.
The control of the actions of anti-aircraft missile divisions was carried out from the command post 9S457. At the same time, radar information from stations for detecting air and ballistic targets and a missile guidance station was sent to the mobile command post via communication lines. Due to the high degree of automation of combat work, operators could process up to 200 air targets, track up to 70 targets, receive information from a higher command post and a 9S32 missile guidance station, determine the type of target, and also select the most dangerous ones. Every 3 seconds, target designation for 24 targets could be issued. The time from the receipt of target marks to the issuance of instructions during operation with the 9S15 radar is 17 seconds. In the anti-missile defense mode, the average information processing time is 3 seconds, and the target designation line is from 80 to 90 km.
All means of the 9S457 command post are installed on the tracked chassis Object 834. The mass of the 9S457 mobile command post in the combat position is 39 tons. The crew is 7 people.
The 9S32 multichannel missile guidance station is built using a three-coordinate coherent-pulse radar operating in the centimeter frequency range. The use of a phased array antenna allows electronic scanning of the beam. The beam is controlled by a special computer. The station can search for targets in a given sector both autonomously and in target designation mode and simultaneously control launchers and launchers. On the received target designation, the guidance station searches, detects and captures for auto-tracking the targets assigned for firing. Capture can be done automatically or manually. Simultaneous firing of 6 targets is provided, with 2 missiles being guided to each.
All means of the 9S32 multichannel missile guidance station are installed on a special tracked chassis "Object 833". Weight in combat position 44 tons. Crew - 6 people.
The 9A83 self-propelled launcher houses four 9M83 anti-aircraft guided missiles in transport and launch containers and launch preparation facilities, a target illumination station, telecode communication equipment, topographic and navigation equipment, and a gas turbine engine for autonomous power supply.
Preparation of missiles for launch is carried out after receiving a command from the 9S32 multichannel missile guidance station. The installation is capable of launching two of four missiles with an interval of 1.5-2 seconds. During the operation of the 9A83, information is constantly exchanged with the 9S32, target designation is analyzed and the position of the target in the affected area is displayed. After the launch of anti-aircraft missiles, the launcher sends information to the 9S32 guidance station about the number of missiles launched from it or from the launcher associated with it. The antenna and transmitting systems of the target illumination station are switched on for radiation in the transmission mode of radio correction commands for the missile defense flight, as well as its switching to radiation in the target illumination mode.
All elements of the 9A83 launcher are mounted on a special tracked chassis "Object 830". Weight in combat position - 47, 5 tons, crew - 3 people.
The launcher is loaded using the 9A85 launcher. With preliminary cable pairing, the time for switching the PU equipment from its own SAM ammunition to the launcher ammunition does not exceed 15 seconds.
The tracked chassis "Object 835" ROM 9A85 contains not only transport launch containers with anti-aircraft missiles and hydraulic drives that translate them into a vertical position, but also a crane with a lifting capacity of 6350 kg. This allows for loading SPU 9A83 or self-loading from the ground and from vehicles. The full charging cycle of the 9A83 is at least 50 minutes.
Unlike other elements of the S-300V air defense system, a diesel unit is used instead of a gas turbine unit to provide power to the 9A85 ROM. Weight in combat position - 47 tons, crew - 3 people.
Initially, only the 9M83 missile defense system was used as part of the S-300V1 air defense system, designed to destroy aircraft in conditions of intense radio countermeasures, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles of the MGM-52 Lance type.
The 9M83 is a solid-propellant two-stage rocket made according to the aerodynamic configuration "bearing cone" with gas-dynamic controls of the first stage. On the tail section of the sustainer stage there are four aerodynamic rudders and four stabilizers. The defeat of the target is ensured by a directional fragmentation warhead weighing 150 kg. The missiles have been in operation in transport and launch containers for at least 10 years without inspections and maintenance.
The rocket is launched in the vertical position of the TPK using a powder pressure accumulator. After the missile leaves the transport and launch container, impulse engines are turned on, orienting the missile defense system towards the target, after which the first booster stage is launched. The operating time of the first stage is from 4, 2 to 6, 4 seconds. When launches into the far zone for aerodynamic targets, the engine of the main stage is started with a delay of up to 20 seconds in relation to the moment when the engine of the starting stage ends. The main engine runs from 11, 1 to 17, 2 seconds. The rocket is controlled by deflecting four aerodynamic rudders. The missile defense system is aimed at the target by the command-inertial control system using the proportional navigation method with the transition to homing about 10 seconds before approaching the target. Target guidance can be carried out in two modes. The first is inertial control followed by homing. In this mode, information about the position of the target is sent to the onboard equipment of the rocket via a radio channel. When approaching the target, it is captured with the help of homing equipment. The second mode is the command-inertial control method with subsequent guidance. In this mode, the missile is accompanied by a guidance station. When the required distance to the target is reached, the missile captures the target with homing equipment and unfolds in the immediate vicinity for the maximum effect of the directed warhead. The warhead is detonated at the command of the radio fuse when a reflected signal from the target appears in the receiver. In case of a miss, self-destruction is performed.
Missile length - 7898 mm, maximum diameter - 915 mm, weight - 2290 kg. SAM weight with TPK - 2980 kg. Flight speed - 1200 m / s. Maximum overload - 20 G. The far border of the affected area is 72 km, the near one - 6 km. Reach in height - 25 km, minimum height - 25 m. The range of capture of the target seeker with an RCS of 0, 1m² - 30 km. The probability of hitting a ballistic missile type MGM-52 Lance was 0, 5-0, 65, targets of the "fighter" type - 0, 7-0, 9.
For the mid-1980s, the S-300V1 air defense system had outstanding characteristics. In terms of the range of destruction of aerodynamic targets, the 9M83 missile was comparable to the 5V55R missile defense system used as part of the S-300PT-1 / PS air defense system. At the same time, the army S-300V1 air defense system had the ability to combat tactical missiles. However, an acceptable probability of fighting ballistic missiles with a launch range of more than 150 km and a reliable defeat of SRAM aeroballistic missiles was not provided. To destroy such complex targets, the 9M82 missile defense system was created, the refinement of which continued until 1986. The 9M82 missile is outwardly similar to the 9M83 missile and has the same layout and guidance methods, but at the same time it was larger and heavier. The 9M82 missile was intended mainly to combat the detached warheads of MGM-31A Pershing IA ballistic missiles, SRAM air-launched aeroballistic missiles and jamming aircraft.
The curb weight of the 9M82 rocket is 4685 kg. Diameter - 1215 mm, length - 9918 mm. The rocket flight speed is 1800 m / s. The range of destruction is up to 100 km. The minimum firing range is 13 km. Height reach - 30 km. The minimum height is 1 km. The probability of hitting the head of the MGM-31A Pershing IA missile with one 9M82 missile is 0, 4-0, 6, and the SRAM missile - 0, 5-0, 7.
For the use of 9M82 missiles, own radar facilities, self-propelled launchers and launch-loading machines were created. Thus, the developers have actually created two maximally unified complexes designed to destroy TR with a short firing range (15-80 km) and aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 72 km, as well as OTR with a long firing range (50-700 km), supersonic small-sized CD and large high-altitude jammers at a distance of up to 100 km.
The full complement of the S-300V air defense system was put into service in the 1988 year. The anti-aircraft missile division, in addition to the already mentioned means, included: the 9S19M2 "Ginger" radar, the 9A82 launcher and the 9A84 launcher.
The main difference between the 9A82 self-propelled launcher and the 9A84 launcher from the SPU 9A83 and 9A85 is the use of larger and heavier missiles. This required the use of more powerful means of loading and loading and led to a reduction in the number of missiles on one machine to two units.
The main difference between the SPU "heavy" missiles lies in the design of the device that transfers the containers to the launch position, and in the mechanical part of the target illumination station. The mass, dimensions and mobility characteristics of vehicles with two 9M82 missiles correspond to vehicles with four missiles.
The 9S19M2 "Ginger" programmed surveillance radar operates in the centimeter frequency range, has a high energy potential and high throughput. Electronic scanning of the beam in two planes allows in the course of the survey to quickly provide an analysis of the target designation sectors with the 9C457 CP of the system with a high rate (1-2 s) of referring to the detected marks for tracking high-speed targets. Automatic compensation of wind speed (drift of dipole reflectors) in combination with high-speed electronic scanning makes it possible to ensure invulnerability from passive interference. High power potential and digital processing of the received signals provide good immunity from active noise interference.
In the Pershing ballistic missile detection mode, the field of view is ± 45 ° in azimuth and 26 ° - 75 ° in elevation. In this case, the angle of inclination of the normal to the PAR surface relative to the horizon is 35 °. The review time of the specified search sector, taking into account the tracking of two target traces, is 13-14 seconds. The maximum number of tracked tracks is 16. The view is provided at a distance of 75-175 km. Every second the coordinates and parameters of the target's movement are transmitted to the control panel of the system. To detect high-speed cruise missiles in the range of 20-175 km, the space viewing mode is ± 30 ° in azimuth, 9-50 ° in elevation. Target movement parameters are transmitted to the command post via the telecode communication line twice a second. When working on high-altitude air targets and jammers, the direction of view is set via the telecode communication line with the control panel of the system or the station operator and is ± 30 ° in azimuth, 0-50 ° in elevation, with an angle of inclination of the PAR normal to the horizon of 15 °. The 9S19M2 radar is capable of detecting high-speed targets with a small reflective surface in conditions of strong interference, when the operation of other radars is impossible. The station equipment is located on the tracked chassis "Object 832". The mass of the PO radar in a combat position is 44 tons. The calculation is 4 people.
After the S-300V air defense missile system was put into service in 1988, the final form of the S-300V anti-aircraft missile division consisted of KP 9S457, 9S15M radar, 9S19M2 PO radar and three or four anti-aircraft missile batteries, each of which included one 9S32 multi-channel missile guidance station, two launchers 9A82, one 9A84 launcher, four 9A83 launchers and two 9A85 launchers. In addition to the main combat vehicles, guidance stations and radars, the division also has power supply, technical support and maintenance facilities on the chassis of trucks.
The division can simultaneously fire at 24 targets, each targeting two missiles and provides all-round defense against aerodynamic targets. It is possible to concentrate the efforts of all anti-aircraft batteries while repelling a massive attack of an air enemy. In the missile defense + air defense mode, the battalion is capable of repelling the strike of 2-3 ballistic missiles, of which 1-2 at the same time, the next - with an interval of 1-2 minutes. Each S-300V missile defense system is capable of covering an area of up to 500 km² from ballistic missile attacks.
Two or three divisions were organizationally reduced to an anti-aircraft missile brigade, which was also provided with additional radar detectors of air targets (1L13 Sky-SV radar), and a radar information processing point. The divisions' actions were controlled from the command post of the air defense brigade using the "Polyana-D4" automated control system.
During the conduct of hostilities, the air defense missile brigade is deployed in battle formation in the positional area. The battle formation is built taking into account the peculiarities of the operational disposition of troops and the probable directions of the enemy air strikes. As a rule, divisions are located in two lines. In some cases, for example, during the expected actions of the air enemy on a wide front - in one line.
The S-300V anti-aircraft missile brigade in defense should provide cover for the main forces of the army and the front, in the intended or identified direction of the enemy's main attack. In an offensive, anti-aircraft missile divisions must follow tank and motorized rifle divisions and provide anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense of headquarters and places of concentration of troops. In peacetime, the S-300V air defense missile systems were alternately on alert near the points of permanent deployment, providing air defense and missile defense of strategically important objects.
As already mentioned, the S-300V air defense system in its final form was put into service in 1988, that is, much later than the S-300PT / PS air defense system. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the "economic reforms" that began, which led to a reduction in the defense budget, had the most negative impact on the number of built S-300Vs, the number of missiles that entered the troops is about 10 times less than the S-300PS. The production of the S-300V air defense missile systems and the 9M82 and 9M83 missiles was completed in the early 1990s. For this reason, it was not possible to replace the obsolete Krug air defense missile systems in the 1: 1 ratio in the front and army echelons. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, brigades armed with S-300V1 / B air defense systems were not available in all military districts, and the Buk-M1 air defense missile system, which had limited anti-missile capabilities, became a complex of army subordination.
So, after the withdrawal from the Western Group of Forces, one 202nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade was redeployed to Naro-Fominsk near Moscow, at present it is part of the Western Military District.
Perhaps readers will be interested in comparing the S-300V anti-aircraft missile system, created for military air defense, and the S-300PS, which became the basis of the country's anti-aircraft missile forces in the 1990s. The S-300V air defense system began to enter the troops 5 years later than the C-300PS air defense system. By that time, the S-300PS ammunition already had a 5V55RM missile defense system with a firing range of 90 km. At the same time, the 9M82 heavy missile could hit low-maneuverable jammers at a range of up to 100 km, and the main 9M83 missile from the S-300V arsenal, designed to combat air targets, had a 72 km kill zone. SAM 5V55R and 5V55RM cost less, but they did not have anti-missile capabilities. Due to the use of a tracked chassis and much more complex radar systems, the S-300V air defense system was much more expensive compared to the C-300PS. The S-300V anti-aircraft missile division could simultaneously fire at 24 targets and direct two missiles at each. The S-300PS division simultaneously fired at 12 targets, each targeting two missiles. However, the advantage of the S-300V was in many ways formal, the S-300PS missiles usually had 32 ready-to-use missiles, and the S-300V missiles - 24 9M83 missiles designed to counter aerodynamic targets and 6 9M82 heavy missiles to intercept ballistic missiles and aeroballistic cruise missiles. Thus, the S-300PS missile defense system, with a significantly lower cost of the new complex, was better suited to combat an air enemy. The S-300P anti-aircraft missile system was better adapted to carrying on long-term combat duty at positions prepared in engineering terms.
In addition, the S-300V missile defense system, possessing good fire performance, required more funds for operation and maintenance. The procedure for reloading self-propelled launchers and launch-loading machines using 9M82 missiles is quite complicated.
The lack of sufficient funding, the cessation of the production of anti-aircraft missiles and the depletion of the stock of spare parts led to a decrease in the level of combat readiness of the S-300V air defense systems available in the troops. It has become commonplace to carry out combat duty with a reduced number of SAMs on self-propelled launchers.
During the "Serdyukovshchina" period, the air defense system of the Ground Forces was further weakened. In connection with the degradation of the country's air defense system, a "wise" decision was made - to transfer part of the anti-aircraft missile brigades equipped with S-300V and Buk-M1 to the Russian Aerospace Forces, where anti-aircraft missile regiments were formed on their basis. In addition, one 1545th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the 44th Air Defense Division was subordinate to the command of the Baltic Fleet until 2016.
To eliminate the gaps formed in our air defense system, the S-300V air defense systems, along with the S-300PS / PM and S-400, until recently, were on constant combat duty, providing air defense of strategically important facilities, administrative and military-industrial centers. So, in the Far East, the city of Birobidzhan until the spring of 2018 was covered by the 1724th air defense missile regiment, in which there were two C-300V air defense missiles.
The S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems are available at Russian military bases abroad. The protection of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia from air attacks and tactical missile strikes is provided by the 988th anti-aircraft missile regiment, which has two divisions. According to the latest information, before rearmament with the modernized S-300V4 air defense system, divisions in the vicinity of Gyumri were on combat duty with a truncated composition.
In 2016, it became known that the S-300V division, delivered to Syria, was deployed in the vicinity of the port of Tartus, where the unloading of Russian transport vessels delivering defense cargo is carried out. It was reported that the anti-aircraft complex detection stations repeatedly detected and accompanied American combat aircraft.
Sometimes the S-300V air defense system acted as a temporary solution when providing air defense for stationary objects. So, at the end of 2013, the S-300V division was deployed 5 km southeast of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. However, in August 2018, in this position, he was replaced by the S-300PS division with additional radar facilities attached. Currently, the S-300V complexes, built about 30 years ago, have already exhausted their resource and are being decommissioned.
ZRS S-300VM and S-300V4
Despite the termination of the serial construction of the S-300V, the lead developer, the Antey concern, continued to improve the universal anti-aircraft missile system. In the early 2000s, foreign buyers were offered an export version of the S-300VM "Antey-2500" - the result of a deep modernization of the S-300V air defense system. This system was able to effectively counteract both ballistic missiles with a launch range of up to 2500 km and all types of aerodynamic and aeroballistic targets. The S-300VM uses new 9M83M missiles with a range of aerodynamic targets of up to 200 km, capable of maneuvering with an overload of up to 30 G and 9M82M - to intercept ballistic targets on a collision course flying at speeds up to 4500 m / s. The maximum firing range at a ballistic missile is 40 km. In this case, up to 4 missiles can be aimed at one target.
The modernization of radar stations has made it possible to significantly increase the energy potential. The introduction of more advanced computing facilities and software made it possible to significantly reduce the response time of the complex and increase the speed of information processing. New means of topographic location and navigation have increased the accuracy of determining the coordinates of air defense systems, which, together with the use of digital communication equipment, has improved the controllability of combat work. These and other improvements made it possible to double the maximum firing range of the system when intercepting ballistic missiles in comparison with the S-300V, and the effectiveness of countering aerodynamic targets increased by more than 1.5 times.
In 2013, the delivery of two S-300VM divisions to Venezuela was completed. In 2016, Egypt acquired three divisions. However, a number of sources note that the S-300VM air defense system has a smaller ammunition load than the basic version of the S-300V.
The S-300VM Antey-2500 anti-aircraft missile system, unlike the S-300V, for financial reasons did not receive a separate heavy launcher and a light launcher. As a result, in the S-300VM system, light missiles are placed on launchers, and heavy anti-missiles only on launchers.
In addition to the export version of the S-300VM "Antey-2500", over the years since the production of the S-300V air defense system was discontinued, modifications were created: S-300VM1, S-300VM2, S-300VMD, differing in radar equipment, control equipment, communications and anti-aircraft missiles. However, none of these options became serial. The developments obtained in the process of creating these modifications are implemented in the serial S-300V4 system, the field tests of which began in 2011, and the Ground Air Defense was put into service in 2014.
There is little reliable information about this system. With a fairly high degree of confidence, it can be argued that, thanks to the use of more powerful radars and the introduction of new missiles with an increased launch mass, the launch range against high-altitude aerodynamic targets has exceeded 350 km. Interception height increased to 40 km.
The updated version is now fully digital. It is capable of simultaneously firing at and guaranteed to hit 24 aerodynamic targets, including stealthy objects, including stealth aircraft, or 16 ballistic missiles flying at speeds up to 4500 m / s. According to information published in the media, the combat effectiveness of the S-300V4 air defense system has increased 2-2, 3 times. An increase in reconnaissance and fire capabilities, noise immunity was achieved through the introduction of new technologies and element base, an increase in the level of automation of control over the processes of combat work, the introduction of advanced technologies and algorithms in the processing of radar and command information.
The S-300V4 anti-aircraft missile battery includes: MSNR 9S32M1, up to six 9A83M2 launchers with four “light” 9M83M missiles on each, up to six 9A84-2 ROMs with two “heavy” 9M82MD missiles on each. In the S-300V4 system, "light" missiles 9M83M are placed only on launchers 9A83M2, and "heavy" missiles 9M82MD - only on launchers 9A84-2. The 9A83M2 launcher is universal, capable of generating flight missions and controlling both "light" and "heavy" missiles in flight.
In 2014, the modernization of the S-300V air defense systems available in the troops to the S-300V4 level began. In order not to completely expose the air defense of troops and strategically important objects, the divisions from the anti-aircraft missile brigades and regiments were sent to the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern one by one. In the course of the work, in addition to replacing the electronic blocks, the restoration repair of tracked vehicles, the production of which has long been discontinued, is carried out.
According to information published in open sources, as of the end of 2018, the Ground Forces had three brigades of district subordination, two divisions in each: ZVO - 202 air defense brigades (Moscow region, Naro-Fominsk), YuVO - 77 air defense brigades (Krasnodar Territory, Korenovsk), Central Military District - 28th Airborne Brigade (Chelyabinsk Region, Chebarkul). According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in 2019 it was planned to form another brigade armed with S-300V4 in the Eastern Military District, but it is not known whether this has been implemented. In 2014, it was planned that after bringing all the S-300V air defense systems available in the Ground Forces to the S-300V4 level, the next stage would be the modernization of the S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems, which are in service in the anti-aircraft missile regiments of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Taking into account the fact that the Russian armed forces currently have a maximum of 12 air defense missile systems equipped with S-300V4, plans were announced to build new anti-aircraft missile systems of this type. However, it is unclear on which tracked chassis in this case the command posts, radars, launchers and launchers will be placed.
At the end of the publication on the S-300V air defense system, I would like to dwell on a question that is often asked by readers interested in air defense problems. Taking into account the fact that our armed forces have a significant number of S-300P and S-400 air defense systems, not everyone understands why the modernized S-300V4 system is needed. Moreover, as part of the S-400 air defense system, from the very beginning, the use of a 40N6E long-range missile defense system with a firing range of up to 380 km was declared.
Many people forget that the S-300V air defense system was originally created as a universal system designed to provide air and missile defense for large military groupings in the theater of operations. In this regard, all the main elements of the S-300V were placed on tracked vehicles, and the ammunition contained missiles capable of destroying aerodynamic and ballistic targets. In fairness, it should be said that the creators of the newest modification of the S-300V4 managed to introduce a long-range missile earlier, while Russian officials have promised since 2007 that the new SAM for the S-400 is close to completion of tests and is about to go into service. According to the available information, the serial production of 40N6E missiles, which should become the "long arm" of the S-400 air defense system, has already begun, but there are still very few of them in the troops. If you do not take into account the specific requirements for an anti-aircraft system intended for use in the Ground Forces, the main disadvantage of the S-300V4 is its very high cost, which, in fact, makes this air defense system uncompetitive compared to the S-400 in the air defense facility. Thus, the S-300V4 anti-aircraft missile system occupies its own unique niche in the air defense of the Ground Forces.
