By the mid-60s in the USSR, the problem of creating medium and short-range air defense systems was successfully solved, but taking into account the vast territory of the country, the formation of defense lines on probable routes of flight of a potential enemy's aviation to the most populated and industrialized regions of the USSR using these complexes turned into extremely expensive venture. It would be especially difficult to create such lines in the most dangerous northern direction, which was on the shortest route of the approach of American strategic bombers.
The northern regions, even the European part of our country, were distinguished by a sparse network of roads, a low density of settlements, separated by vast expanses of almost impenetrable forests and swamps. A new mobile anti-aircraft missile system was required, with a greater range and target interception height.
In 1967, the country's anti-aircraft missile forces received a "long arm" - the S-200A air defense missile system (S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missile system) with a firing range of 180 km and an altitude reach of 20 km. Subsequently, in more "advanced" modifications of this complex, the S-200V and S-200D, the target range was increased to 240 and 300 km, and the reach was 35 and 40 km. Such range and height of defeat inspire respect even today.
SAM complex S-200V on the launcher
Anti-aircraft guided missile of the S-200 system is two-stage, made according to the normal aerodynamic configuration, with four triangular wings of large aspect ratio. The first stage consists of four solid propellant boosters mounted on the sustainer stage between the wings. The main stage is equipped with a liquid-propellant two-component rocket engine with a pumping system for supplying propellants to the engine. Structurally, the marching stage consists of a number of compartments in which a semi-active radar homing head, on-board equipment blocks, a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with a safety-actuating mechanism, tanks with fuel components, a liquid-propellant rocket engine, and rocket rudder control units are located.
ROC SAM S-200
The target illumination radar (RPC) of the 4.5-cm range included an antenna post and a control room and could operate in the mode of coherent continuous radiation, which achieved a narrow spectrum of the probing signal, provided high noise immunity and the greatest target detection range. At the same time, the simplicity of execution and the reliability of the seeker were achieved.
To control the missile along the entire flight path, a "rocket - ROC" communication line with an onboard low-power transmitter on the rocket and a simple receiver with a wide-angle antenna at the ROC was used to the target. In the S-200 air defense system, for the first time, a digital computer TsVM appeared, which was entrusted with the tasks of exchanging command and coordinate information with various controllers and before solving the launch problem.
The rocket launch is inclined, with a constant elevation angle, from a launcher guided in azimuth. A warhead weighing about 200 kg, high-explosive fragmentation with ready-made striking elements - 37 thousand pieces weighing 3-5 g. When a warhead is detonated, the scattering angle of the fragments is 120 °, which in most cases leads to a guaranteed defeat of an air target.
The mobile fire complex of the S-200 system consisted of a command post, firing channels and a power supply system. The firing channel included a target illumination radar and a launch position with six launchers and 12 charging machines. The complex had the ability, without reloading the launchers, to produce sequential shelling of three air targets with the provision of simultaneous homing of two missiles to each target.
Layout of the S-200 air defense system
As a rule, S-200s were deployed in prepared positions with permanent concrete structures and an earthen bulk shelter. This made it possible to protect equipment (except for antennas) from ammunition fragments, small and medium-caliber bombs, and aircraft cannon shells during an enemy aircraft raid directly on a combat position.
To increase the combat stability of the S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, it was considered expedient to combine them under a single command with the S-125 low-altitude complexes. Mixed anti-aircraft missile brigades began to form, including the S-200 with six launchers and two or three S-125 anti-aircraft missile battalions.
From the very beginning of the deployment of the S-200, the very fact of its existence became a compelling argument that determined the transition of the potential enemy's aviation to operations at low altitudes, where they were exposed to the fire of more massive anti-aircraft missile and artillery weapons. The S-200 air defense system significantly devalued long-range cruise missile carrier bombers. In addition, the indisputable advantage of the complex was the use of missile homing. At the same time, without even realizing its range capabilities, the S-200 supplemented the S-75 and S-125 complexes with radio command guidance, significantly complicating the enemy's tasks of conducting both electronic warfare and high-altitude reconnaissance. The advantages of the S-200 over the aforementioned systems could be especially evident when the active jammers were fired upon, which served as an almost ideal target for the S-200 homing missiles. As a result, for many years, reconnaissance aircraft of the United States and NATO countries were forced to make reconnaissance flights only along the borders of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries. The presence in the USSR air defense system of long-range anti-aircraft missile systems S-200 of various modifications made it possible to reliably block the airspace at the close and distant approaches to the country's air border, including from the famous SR-71 "Black Bird" reconnaissance aircraft. At present, the S-200 air defense systems of all modifications, despite the high modernization potential and the unrivaled firing range before the appearance of the S-400 air defense systems, have been removed from the armament of the Russian air defense.
The S-200V air defense missile system in export performance was supplied to Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland and Czechoslovakia. In addition to the Warsaw Pact countries, Syria and Libya, the C-200VE system was supplied to Iran (in 1992) and North Korea.
One of the first buyers of the C-200VE was the leader of the Libyan revolution, Muammar Gaddafi. Having received such a "long arm" in 1984, he soon stretched it out over the Gulf of Sirte, declaring the territorial waters of Libya a water area slightly smaller than Greece. With the gloomy poetics characteristic of the leaders of developing countries, Gaddafi declared the 32nd parallel that bound the Gulf as the "death line". In March 1986, in order to exercise their declared rights, the Libyans fired S-200VE missiles at three aircraft from the American aircraft carrier Saratoga, which “defiantly” patrolled traditionally international waters.
What happened in Sirte Bay was the reason for the Eldorado Canyon operation, during which on the night of April 15, 1986, several dozen American planes attacked Libya, and primarily at the residences of the leader of the Libyan revolution, as well as the positions of the C-200VE air defense missile system and S-75M. It should be noted that when organizing the supply of the S-200VE system to Libya, Muammar Gaddafi proposed organizing the maintenance of technical positions by Soviet troops. During the recent events in Libya, all the S-200 air defense systems in this country were destroyed.
In contrast to the United States, in the European countries of NATO members in the 60-70s, much attention was paid to the creation of mobile short-range air defense systems capable of operating in the frontal zone and accompanying troops on the march. This primarily applies to the UK, Germany and France.
In the early 1960s, the development of a portable short-range air defense system Rapier began in the UK, which was considered as an alternative to the American MIM-46 Mauler, the declared characteristics of which caused great doubts among the US allies in NATO.
It was supposed to create a relatively simple and inexpensive complex with a short reaction time, the ability to quickly take up a combat position, with a compact arrangement of equipment, small weight and size characteristics, a high rate of fire and the probability of hitting a target with one missile. To aim the missile at the target, it was decided to use the well-developed radio command system previously used in the sea complex Sikat with a firing range of 5 km, and its not very successful land version of the Tigerkat.
PU SAM "Taygerkat"
The radar station of the Rapira complex monitors the area of space where the target is supposed to be located and captures it for tracking. The radar method of tracking the target occurs automatically and is the main one, in case of interference or for other reasons, it is possible to manually track the air defense missile system using an optical system.
SAM "Rapira"
The optical tracking and guidance device of the Rapira air defense missile system is a separate unit that is mounted on an outboard tripod, at a distance of up to 45 m from the launcher. The target tracking by the optical system is not automated and is carried out manually by the operator of the complex using a joystick. The missile guidance is fully automated, the infrared tracking system captures the missile after launch in a wide 11 ° field of view, and then automatically switches to the 0.55 ° field of view when the missile is aimed at the target. Tracking the target by the operator and the missile tracer with an infrared direction finder allows the calculating device to calculate the missile guidance commands using the "target cover" method. These radio commands are transmitted by the command transmission station on board the missile defense system. The firing range of the air defense missile system is 0.5-7 km. Target hitting altitude - 0, 15-3 km.
Such a missile guidance system on the target seriously simplified and made cheaper the SAM and SAM in general, but limited the capabilities of the complex in line of sight (fog, haze) and at night. Nevertheless, the Rapier air defense system was popular, from 1971 to 1997 more than 700 launchers of towed and self-propelled versions of the Rapier complex and 25,000 missiles of various modifications were produced. Over the past period, about 12,000 missiles have been used up during tests, exercises and hostilities.
The reaction time of the complex (the time from the moment the target is detected to the missile launch) is about 6 s, which has been repeatedly confirmed by live firing. The loading of four missiles by a trained combat crew is carried out in less than 2.5 minutes. In the British Army, Rapier components are usually towed using a Land Rover off-road vehicle.
SAM "Rapira" has been repeatedly modernized and supplied to Australia, Oman, Qatar, Brunei, Zambia, Switzerland, Iran, Turkey. The US Air Force purchased 32 complexes for the air defense system of American air bases in the UK. As part of the 12th Air Defense Regiment of Great Britain, the air defense missile systems participated in hostilities during the Falklands Conflict of 1982. From the first day of the British landing on the Falkland Islands, 12 launchers were deployed. The British claimed that 14 Argentine aircraft were destroyed by the Rapier complexes. However, according to other information, the complex shot down only one Dagger aircraft and participated in the destruction of the A-4C Skyhawk aircraft.
Almost simultaneously with the British Rapier complex in the USSR, a mobile all-weather air defense missile system "Osa" (Combat "OSA") was adopted. Unlike the British initially towed complex, the Soviet mobile air defense system, according to the terms of reference, was designed on a floating chassis and could be used in poor visibility conditions and at night. This self-propelled air defense system was intended for the air defense of troops and their facilities in the combat formations of a motorized rifle division in various forms of combat, as well as on the march.
In the requirements for the "Wasp" by the military, there was complete autonomy, which would be provided by the location of the main assets of the air defense missile system - a detection station, a launcher with missiles, communications, navigation, georeferencing, control and power supplies on one self-propelled wheeled floating chassis. The ability to detect in motion and defeat from short stops suddenly appearing from any direction low-flying targets.
In the initial version, the complex was equipped with 4 missiles openly located on the launcher. Work on the modernization of the air defense system began almost immediately after it was put into service in 1971. Subsequent modifications, "Osa-AK" and "Osa-AKM", have 6 missiles in transport and launch containers (TPK).
Osa-AKM
The main advantage of the Osa-AKM air defense system, which was put into service in 1980, was the ability to effectively defeat helicopters hovering or flying at ultra-low altitudes, as well as small-sized RPVs. In the complex, a radio command scheme is used to aim the missile defense system at the target. The affected area is 1, 5-10 km in range, and 0, 025-5 km in height. The probability of hitting the target of one missile defense system is 0.5-0.85.
SAM "Osa" of various modifications is in service in more than 20 countries and took part in many regional conflicts. The complex was built serially until 1988, during which time more than 1200 units were handed over to customers, at present there are more than 300 air defense systems of this type in the air defense units of the ground forces of the Russian Federation and in storage.
With the "Osa" air defense system, the French mobile Crotale is in many ways similar, in which the radio command principle of aiming missiles at the target is also applied. But unlike the "Wasp" on the French complex, missiles and detection radars are placed on different combat vehicles, which of course reduces the flexibility and reliability of the air defense system.
The history of this air defense system began in 1964, when South Africa signed a contract with the French company Thomson-CSF to create a mobile all-weather air defense system designed to destroy targets flying at low and extremely low altitudes.
Since 1971, the complexes, named Cactus, have been supplied to South Africa within two years. Basically, the South Africans used these air defense systems for the defense of air bases. The main combat unit is a battery, consisting of a command post with a detection radar and two combat vehicles with guidance stations (each carries 4 missiles weighing more than 80 kg each). Since 1971, South Africa has purchased 8 radars and 16 missile carriers.
After the successful implementation of the contract with South Africa, the French military also expressed a desire to adopt a mobile air defense system. In 1972, a complex called Crotale was adopted by the French Air Force.
SAM Crotale
Combat vehicles of the "Crotal" complex are mounted on an armored wheeled chassis P4R (wheel arrangement 4x4), a typical platoon consists of a combat command post and 2-3 launchers.
The command post carries out a survey of the airspace, target detection, identification of its nationality and recognition of its type. The Mirador-IV pulse-Doppler detection radar is mounted on top of the chassis. It is capable of detecting low-flying targets at a distance of 18.5 km. Target data using communication equipment is transmitted to one of the launchers, where there are combat-ready missiles. The launcher is equipped with a monopulse missile guidance radar with the far border of the detection zone up to 17 km and 4 containers for missiles. The guidance radar can track one target and aim at it simultaneously up to two missiles with a launch range of 10 km and an altitude reach of 5 km.
On the first versions of the complex, after the march, a cable docking of the command post and launchers was necessary. After being put into service, the complex was repeatedly modernized. Since 1983, a version has been produced, on which radio communication equipment has appeared, providing information exchange between combat control points at a distance of up to 10 km and up to 3 km between the combat control point and the launcher. All chassis are combined into a radio network, it is possible to transfer information to the launcher not only from the command post, but also from another launcher. In addition to a significant reduction in the time for bringing the complex to combat readiness and an increase in the distance between the command post and the launchers, its noise immunity has increased. The complex was able to conduct combat operations without radar radiation - with the help of a thermal imager, which accompanies the target and missiles both in day and night conditions.
SAM Shanine
Crotal was supplied to Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, South Africa, South Korea, Pakistan and other countries. In 1975, Saudi Arabia ordered a modernized version of the complex on the tracked chassis of the AMX-30 tank, which was named Shanine.
SAM Crotale-NG
Currently, potential buyers are the Crotale-NG complex, which has the best tactical and technical characteristics and noise immunity (French air defense system "Crotale-NG").
In the mid-60s, representatives of Germany and France entered into an agreement on the joint development of the Roland self-propelled air defense system. It was intended for air defense of mobile units in the front line and for the defense of important stationary objects in the rear of its troops.
The technical specifications and the finalization of the complex dragged on, and the first combat vehicles began to enter the troops only in 1977. In the Bundeswehr, the Roland air defense system was located on the chassis of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, in France the carriers of the complex were the chassis of the AMX-30 medium tank or on the chassis of the 6x6 ACMAT truck. The launch range was 6, 2 km, the height of target destruction was 3 km.
The main equipment of the complex is assembled on a universal rotating tower installation, which houses a radar antenna for detecting air targets, a station for transmitting radio commands to board missiles, an optical sight with a heat direction finder and two TPKs with radio command missiles. The total ammunition load of the air defense missile system on a combat vehicle can reach 10 missiles, the weight of the loaded TPK is 85 kg.
SAM Roland
The radar for detecting air targets is capable of detecting targets at a distance of up to 18 km. Guidance of the Roland-1 air defense missile system is carried out using an optical sight. An infrared direction finder built into the sight is used to measure the angular misalignment between the flying missile defense system and the optical axis of the sight directed by the operator to the target. To do this, the direction finder automatically accompanies the missile tracer, transmitting the results to the calculating and decisive guidance device. The calculating device generates commands for aiming the missile defense system according to the "target coverage" method. These commands are transmitted via the antenna of the radio command transmission station to the board of the missile defense system.
The original version of the complex was semi-automatic and not all-weather. Over the years of service, the complex has been repeatedly modernized. In 1981, the all-weather Roland-2 air defense system was adopted, and a program to modernize some of the previously produced complexes was carried out.
In order to increase the capabilities of the military air defense in 1974, a competition was announced in the United States to replace the Chaparrel air defense system. As a result of the competition held between the British air defense system "Rapira", the French "Crotal" and the Franco-German "Roland", the latter won.
It was supposed to be adopted and to establish licensed production in the United States. The chassis of the M109 self-propelled howitzer and the three-axle army 5-ton truck were considered as the base. The latter option made it possible to make the air defense system airborne on the military transport S-130.
The adaptation of the air defense missile system to American standards included the development of a new target designation radar with an increased range and better noise immunity, and a new missile. At the same time, unification with European air defense missile systems remained: French and German Rolands could fire American missiles, and vice versa.
In total, they planned to release 180 air defense systems, but due to financial constraints, these plans were not destined to come true. The reasons for the closure of the program were the excessively high costs (about $ 300 million only for R&D). In total, they managed to release 31 air defense systems (4 tracked and 27 wheeled). In 1983, the only Roland battalion (27 air defense systems and 595 missiles) was transferred to the National Guard, to the 5th division of the 200th regiment of the 111th Air Defense Brigade, New Mexico. However, they did not stay there for long either. Already in September 1988, due to high operating costs, the Rolands were replaced with the Chaparrel air defense systems.
However, starting in 1983, the Roland-2 air defense systems were used to cover American bases in Europe. 27 air defense systems on an automobile chassis from 1983 to 1989 were on the balance sheet of the US Air Force, but were serviced by German crews.
In 1988, the improved automatic Roland-3 was tested and put into production. The Roland-3 air defense system provides the ability to use not only all anti-aircraft missiles of the Roland family, but also the VT1 hypersonic missile (part of the Crotale-NG air defense system), as well as the new promising Roland Mach 5 and HFK / KV missiles.
The upgraded Roland-3 missile, in comparison with the Roland-2 missile, has an increased flight speed (570 m / s as compared to 500 m / s) and a hitting range (8 km instead of 6.2 km).
The complex is mounted on various chassis. In Germany, it is installed on the chassis of a 10-ton MAN off-road truck (8x8). The airborne version, designated Roland Carol, entered service in 1995.
SAM Roland Carol
In the French army, the Roland Carol air defense system is located on a semi-trailer towed by an all-terrain vehicle ACMAT (6x6), in the German Armed Forces, it is installed on a MAN (6x6) vehicle chassis. Currently, Roland Carol is in service with the French army (20 air defense systems) and the German Air Force (11 air defense systems).
In 1982, Argentina used a stationary version of the Roland complex to protect Port Stanley from air strikes by British naval aviation. From 8 to 10 missiles were fired, information on the effectiveness of the use of the complex in this conflict is rather contradictory. According to French origin, the Argentines shot down 4 and damaged 1 Harrier. However, according to other information, only one aircraft can be recorded in the asset of this complex. Iraq also used its complexes in the war against Iran. In 2003, an Iraqi Roland missile shot down one American F-15E.
In 1976, in the USSR, to replace the air defense system of the regimental echelon Strela-1, the Strela-10 complex based on the MT-LB was adopted. The Strela-10 regimental self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system). The machine has a low specific pressure on the ground, which allows it to move on roads with low bearing capacity, through swamps, virgin snow, sandy terrain, in addition, the machine can float. In addition to 4 missiles located on the launcher, the combat vehicle allows you to carry an additional 4 missiles in the hull.
"Strela-10"
Unlike the Strela-1 SAM, the seeker (GOS) of the Strela-10 SAM operates in a two-channel mode and provides guidance using the proportional navigation method. A photocontrast and infrared guidance channel is used, which provides firing of targets in jamming conditions, on head-on and catch-up courses. This significantly increased the likelihood of hitting an air target.
In order to increase the combat capabilities of the complex, it was repeatedly modernized. After the revision of a guided missile with a new engine, an enlarged warhead and a seeker with three receivers in different spectral ranges, the missile system in 1989 was adopted by the SA under the name "Strela-10M3". The zone of destruction "Strela-10M3" in range from 0.8 km to 5 km, in height from 0.025 km to 3.5 km /. The probability of hitting a fighter with one guided missile is 0, 3 … 0, 6.
SAM family "Strela-10" is in the armed forces of more than 20 countries. It has repeatedly demonstrated its fairly high combat effectiveness at training ranges and in the course of local conflicts. At present, it continues to remain in service with the air defense units of the ground forces and marines of the Russian Federation in an amount of at least 300 units.
By the beginning of the 70s, by trial and error, the main classes of air defense systems were created in the "metal": stationary or semi-stationary long-range complexes, transportable or self-propelled medium-range and low-altitude systems, as well as mobile anti-aircraft systems operating directly in the combat formations of troops. Design developments, operational experience and combat use gained by the military during regional conflicts have determined the ways to further improve the air defense system. The main directions of development were: increasing combat survivability due to mobility and reducing the time for putting into a combat position and folding, improving noise immunity, automating the control processes of air defense missile systems and targeting missiles. Progress in the field of semiconductor elements made it possible to radically reduce the mass of electronic units, and the creation of energy-efficient solid fuel formulations for turbojet engines made it possible to abandon liquid-propellant rocket engines with toxic fuel and a caustic oxidizer.
