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Sa-5 GammonThe Almaz NPO S-200 "Angara"/"Vega"/"Dubna" (Russian Ангара/Вега/Дубна, NATO reporting name SA-5 "Gammon") is a very long range medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to defend large areas from bomber attack or other strategic aircraft (such as the SR-71 "Blackbird"). Each battalion has six single-rail missile launchers for the 10.72 m (35 ft) long missiles as well as a number of radar systems. The original version of this system was deployed in 1967 in order to replace the failed anti-ballistic missile RZ-25/5V11 "Dal". The Dal was assigned the NATO reporting name SA-5 "Griffon" before it was cancelled. This was a purposeful deception by the USSR in order to exploit the massive Dal missiles it had already built and put them on display. Missiles Each missile is launched by four solid fuel strap-on rocket boosters and after they drop away it fires a dual-thrust solid fuel rocket motor. Maximum range is between 200 and 400 km (124 and 248 mi) depending on the model. The missile uses radio command mid-course correction to fly towards the target with a terminal semi-active radar homing phase. Maximum target speed is around Mach 4 and effective altitude is 300 m to 20 km (1,000 to 66,000 ft) for early models and up to 40 km (125,000 ft) for later models. The warhead is either 215 kg (474 lb) of high explosive triggered by proximity or command signal, or a 25 kT nuclear warhead triggered by command signal only. Each missile weighs around 2800 kg (6,200 lb). The kill probability (PK) is quoted as around 0.85, presumably against a bomber-class target. The system utilises radio command guidance with mid-course correction and has, for the first time in a Russian system, terminal active radar homing which is far more accurate at long range than the command guidance method used by the SA-4. Peak missile speed is around Mach 8 and the single-shot kill probability is quoted as 0.85, presumably against a high altitude bomber-type target. Some sources claim that the minimum effective range is 60 km (37 mi) due to the burn time of the rocket boosters since the rocket can not maneuver until they are jettisonned, but other sources claim that this is due to an intelligence mix-up over another missile and the actual minium range is 7 km (4 miles). This "other missile" could be the Dal missile mentioned above and is understandable as they were developed around the same time and are both massive. However, is not unlikely that this system has quite a large minimum range, given its primary role in engaging high-flying reconnaissance or bomber aircraft at long ranges. Radars The following radar sets are associated with the S-200 system: - P-14/5N84A "Tall King" A-band early warning radar (range 600 km/372 mi, 2-6 RPM, maximum search altitude 46 km/150,000 ft)
- or "Big Back" L-band early warning radar (range 600 km/372 mi)
- Kabina 66/5N87 "Back Net" or "Back Trap" E-band early warning radar (with special low-altitude search mod, range 370 km/230 mi, 3-6 RPM)
- P-35/37 'Barlock/Backlock-B" 1000 kW E/F-band target detection and tracking radar (with integrated IFF, range 392 km/242 mi, 7 RPM)
- "Side Net" or "Odd Pair" E-band height finding radar (also used by the SA-2, SA-4 and SA-6, range 240 km/148 mi, 3-6 RPM)
- P-15M(2) "Squat Eye" 380 kW C-band target detection radar (range 128 km/80 mi)
- 5N62 "Square Pair" H-band missile guidance radar (range 270 km/168 mi)
Versions - S-200A "Angara" (SA-5A), with the V-860/5V21 or V-860P/5V21A missile, introduced in 1963, range 160 km (88 mi), ceiling 20 km (66,000 ft)
- S-200V "Vega" (SA-5B), with the V-860PV/5V21P missile, introduced in 1970, range 250 km (155 mi), ceiling 29 km (95,000 ft)
- S-200 "Vega" (SA-5B), with the V-870 missile, range increased to 300 km (186 mi) and ceiling to 40 km (125,000ft) with the new, shorter missile and solid fuel motor
- S-200M "Vega-M" (SA-5B), with the V-880/5V28 or V-880N/5V28N missile, range 300 km (186 mi), ceiling 29 km (95,000ft)
- S-200VE "Vega-E" (SA-5B), with the V-880E/5V28E missile, export version, high explosive warhead only, range 250 km (155 mi), ceiling 29 km (95,000ft)
- S-200D "Dubna" (SA-5C), with the 5V25V, V-880M/5V28M or V-880MN/5V28MN missile, introduced in 1976, high explosive or nuclear warhead, range 400 km (248 mi), ceiling 40 km (125,000ft).
- US DoD designation.
- a suffix of "N" denotes the nuclear warhead.
Deployment - USSR/Russia, was originally deployed with the ZA-PVO in the strategic air defence role. It was phased out starting in the 1980s and completely gone by around 2001.
- Ukraine retained a number of sites after the breakup of the USSR.
- Lybia has approx. 6 S-200 battalions.
- North Korea has approx. 4 S-200 battalions.
- Poland has approx. 3 S-200 battalions.
- Syria has approx. 4 S-200 battalions.
- Iran has an unknown number.
- Other users include Bulgaria, the Czech republic, India, Iran, Khazakstan, Moldavia, Russia, the Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Accidents In 4 October 2001, a Ukranian S-200 battery missed its intended target and accidentally shot down a Tu-154 airliner en route from Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk, Siberia, killing 78 people. References
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