Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
December 4, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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Home :: Missile Defense Systems
S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
| Alternate Name: | SA-10 Grumble |
|---|---|
| Country: | Russia |
| Basing: | Land |
Details
The S-300P surface-to-air missile system—currently manufactured, deployed, and exported by the Russians—is designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. Also known by its NATO designation, SA-10 Grumble, the system has been modified several times since its inception: the most recent variants are the S-300PMU-1 (SA-10D) and the S-300PMU-2 (SA-10E Favorit).
In the late 1960s, the Soviet Union began work on a new strategic air defense system known as the S-300 (NATO: SA-10 Grumble). The S-300 was designed by the Russian Almaz Scientific Production Association to shoot down low-altitude targets, including cruise missiles and aircraft.(1) From the beginning, the system included the most “cutting-edge” Soviet missile defense technology. Its phased-array fire control radar was capable of tracking up to six targets simultaneously, while its single-state, solid-fuel propelled missile sported aerodynamic control surfaces and thrust vectoring. The first S-300 missile, known as 5V55K, had a range of 47 kilometers and could engage its targets between 100 and 30,000 meters.(2)
In 1980, the S-300 became operational and was renamed S-300P, in order to distinguish it from the S-300V (NATO: SA-12A Gladiator; SA-12B Giant), another surface-to-air missile system deployed by Soviet ground forces. The “P” in S-300P stood for “PVO-Strany,” code for “air defense system,” while the “V” in S-300V was for “Voyska,” or “ground forces.” Although some of the technology was similar, the two systems were quite different: the S-300P was designed to engage cruise missiles and other low-flying targets; the S-300V was developed to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles.(3) By 1987, approximately 80 S-300P sites were operational, with another 20 in the making. Nearly half were located around Moscow to protect key military and industrial complexes.(4) Over the years, the S-300P has undergone several modifications, including the S-300PT (SA-10A), the S-300PT-1/1A (also SA-10A), the S-300PS (SA-10B), and the S-300PM (SA-10C).(5)
Although the Soviet Union imploded in 1991, the Russians continued upgrading and modifying the S-300P system throughout the 1990s. At the 1992 Moscow Air Show, the Russians displayed the latest version in the S-300P lineage, the S-300PMU-1 (SA-10D). This upgraded system, armed with new single-stage, solid-fuel propelled 48N6 missiles, has the capability to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles in addition to cruise missiles and aircraft, at ranges of 5-150 kilometers and altitudes between 10-27,000 meters. The 1,900 kilogram missile carries a 143 kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead. A typical S-300PMU-1 battery contains 48 missiles on 12 mobile launchers. Each battery is capable of launching one 48N6 missile every three seconds. The missiles are guided by the 36N85 vehicle-mounted engagement radar, which is capable of detecting incoming ballistic missiles at 40 kilometers, and aircraft between 3 and 150 kilometers. The 36N85 can guide up to twelve 48N6 missiles, while simultaneously tracking up to six targets.(6)
In 1997, the Russians unveiled yet another variant of the system, this time called S-300PMU-2 (SA-10E Favorit). Its larger missiles (9M96E and 9M96E2), longer range (200 kilometers), and better guidance system make the S-300PMU-2 a thorough modification of its predecessor. The system can engage targets between 10 meters and 27 kilometers above the ground.(7) The Russians claim that, during a series of tests in the mid-1990s, the S-300PMU-2 shot down a target ballistic missile traveling at 1,600 meters per second, and that the system can destroy targets traveling at 4,800 meters per second.(8) The Russians add that the system has a kill ratio between 0.8 and 0.98 against Tomahawk-class cruise missiles and from 0.8 to 0.93 against aircraft.(9)
One of the main reasons why the Russians devoted so much time and effort to upgrading and modifying the S-300P during the 1990s was to increase the system’s market value. In a trend that continues to cause much concern in the U.S., the Russians have been exporting S-300P missiles (and other weapons) throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as a means of financing their ailing economy.
In 1991, the same year as the Soviet collapse, Syria announced its intention to purchase $1.5 billion worth of arms from the Russians, including an unidentified number of S-300P missiles.(10) The following year, China began negotiating its own deal, and in 1993 received “dozens” of Russian S-300Ps, heightening U.S. concerns over the surge in weapons proliferation. In particular, the U.S was worried (and still is) that China would dismantle the Russian S-300s and incorporate the advanced technology into its own offensive missiles, such as the CSS-6 (DF-15/M-9) and the CSS-7 (DF-11/M-11), which in turn would be proliferated on down the line.(11)
In 1993, Iran procured an unidentified number of S-300PMU-1 missiles from Russia. Kuwait expressed its own interest shortly afterward.(12) According to a 1993 report, “the S-300PMU is being marketed extensively, particularly in the Middle East.”(13) The following year, Hungary received its own supply of Russian S-300s: the deal paid off Russia’s $800 million debt to its former Warsaw Pact ally.(14) In November 1996, Mikhail Timkin, deputy manager of the Rosvooruzheniye state arms export company, bragged that he had found two more buyers for the S-300P: “Cyprus is in the bag, we’ve wrapped it up completely. It buys only our weapons now. We have even got into NATO, can you imagine? I am in charge of Turkey, and I can tell you that Turkey is now buying weapons from us.”(15) A few years later, Greece was added to the list.(16)
As late as August 2002, Iraq was attempting to acquire its own S-300 missiles, possibly as a means of frustrating or delaying an attack by the U.S. Sources indicate that Saddam Hussein was trying to acquire enough S-300 components from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to build his own missile defense shield.(17) Iraq never completed this objective, although in April 2003 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov admitted that Operation Iraqi Freedom had caused an upsurge in purchases of Russian weapons from other Middle Eastern nations: “We got a great advertising gift for our weapons in Iraq.” During the war, Alexander Nozdrachev, head of the state-run Russian Agency for Conventional Weapons, correctly predicted that the Iraq conflict would “generate a surge in interest in anti-aircraft defenses.” That year alone, Russian arms sales totaled $4.5 billion, mostly to Syria, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—the lion’s share of which was for missile defense systems such as the S-300.(18)
Footnotes
- Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
- Michal Fiszer and Jerzy Gruszczynski, “Castles In The Sky,” Journal of Electronic Defense 25, 1 February 2002.
- Ibid.
- GlobalSecurity.org.
- Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
- Ibid.
- GlobalSecurity.org.
- “Russia In Talks To Create UAE Air Defence Network,” Flight International, 22 October 2002.
- GlobalSecurity.org.
- “$1.5 Billion Worth Of Arms To Be Bought From Soviet Union, Says Israel,” Flight International, 16 October 1991; “Syrian SAMS: Missile Systems From Russia,” Flight International, 7 October 1992.
- “Negotiations Begin For More Russian Arms,” Flight International, 2 September 1992; Ruth Sinai, “China Acquires Russian Missiles,” The Associated Press, 27 May 1993.
- “Iran Builds Up With Russian Firepower,” Flight International, 18 August 1993.
- “Kuwait Considers Helicopter/Missile Buy From Russia,” Flight International, 15 December 1993.
- “Hungarian Deal: Hungary To Receive Missile System To Pay Off Debt,” Flight International, 26 January 1994.
- “Russia Seeks ‘Solvent’ Markets For Arms Exports,” BBC Monitoring Service, 14 October 1996; “Cyprus To Buy Russian Anti-Aircraft Missiles Despite Turkish Worries,” BBC Monitoring Service, 16 December 1996.
- “Greece: Athens, Moscow Discuss Arms Deals,” Periscope Daily Defense News Capsules, 29 November 2001.
- “Iraq: Baghdad Seeks Russian Air Defense System,” Periscope Daily Defense News Capsules, 13 August 2002.
- Viktoria Loginova, “Iraq War Generates Free Publicity For Russian Weapons,” Agence France-Presse, 4 April 2003.
Belarus Displays S-300 Defenses, SS-21 Missiles
To commemorate its own day of independence, Belarus held a military parade in the city of Minsk. The parade included, among other things, the Tochka (SS-21, or “Scarab”) missile system, and the S-300 air and missile defense systems, reports BBC Monitoring, citing a Belarusian television broadcast.
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russia Develops Longer Range S-300 Interceptor
Russia has developed a new version of its S-300 air and missile defense interceptor missile with an extended range, reports the Middle East Newsline, which it will be putting on the market for several Middle Eastern and Asian nations.
The newsline cites Russian Air Marshal Vladimir Mikhailov, commander of the Russian Air Force, as saying that the newer version gives the S-300 missile added missile defense capabilities. The S-300 interceptor has already been said to be superior to the American PAC-3 (Patriot) interceptor, which was recently successful at intercepting Scuds and other missiles in the 2003 Iraq war.
» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russia Sending S-300 Interceptors to Belarus
Russia will be supplying Belarus with an unknown number of additional S-300 air and missile defense interceptors, said Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, as reported by the Russian Interfax news agency. The S-300 is described by the Russia Journal as having a range of 100km.
» Rosbalt on Russian-Belarussian S-300 transfer
» Russia Journal on S-300 transfer
» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russia Transferring S-300 Air/Missile Defense Systems to Belarus
Some reports of Russia’s transfer of S-300 air and missile defenses to Belarus claim the systems are old and useless. Others, however, indicate that they may still be in working order.
The transfer consists of S-300s which are being taken out of service. One report has Acting Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov describing them to journalists as “not in an operational condition.” Another, from ITAR-TASS, has the same person saying that they are in operable condition. A third, from RIA-Novosti quoting a defense official, says that they will be sent to Belarus after being restored to combat-ready status.
A previous report from October, 2003 seems to favor the systems’ operable status, which cited Ivanov stressing of the reported deal that “What is important is that these systems will be in service use, and they will guard the airspace of the Union State.” The S-300 was then described as “the calling card of Russian air defense,” as well as defense against ballistic and cruise missiles, with an intercepting range of 7-100km, a height of 25-30km, and a flying speed of 300 meters per second.
» Oct. 23, 2003: Belarus asks Russia for S-300s; transfer likely
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russia Upgrading Missile for S-300 System
According to a report by the Russian Information Agency cited by the American Foreign Policy Council, Russia plans to upgrade the missile interceptor for its S-300 “theatre” missile defense system. Vladimir Mikhailov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, is cited as saying that Russian specialists are working on an extended range interceptors. Russia’s marketing of the S-300 has included the Mideast, China and India.
Geostrategy-direct also reports the January 14 story of RIA Novisti, clarifying that the new upgrades would be to better equip the dual-purpose system for missile defense. More importantly, however, Mikhailov is quoted as saying that Russia has accelerated development of the more advanced S-400 missile defense system, offered to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and will be “a complete anti-aircraft and missile defense system.”
» Sep. 3, 2003: Russian S-300s to go to Vietnam
» Dec. 2, 2003: Russia’s S-300 and S-400 for Europe?
» Geostrategy Direct on S-300, S-400 upgrade plans
» Sep. 16, 2003: Iran interested in Russian S-400
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Russian Missile Defenses for Europe?
During years of complaining about American movements toward missile defense, Russia has both maintained a missile defense system stationed around Moscow and, in recent years, begun to sell its S-300 and S-400 systems to other countries. Quoting the Russian ITAR-Tass news agency from November 28, an AFPC summary notes that Russia may be attempting to sell its own missile defenses for the protection of Europe from Iranian and other rogue states. Specifically, Russian defense firms may offer the more advanced “Triumf” S-400 defense system to members of NATO. The Triumf is, in terms of capability, a rival to the U.S. PAC-2 and PAC-3 “Patriot” dual-use anti-aircraft and theatre missile defense systems.
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses, Technology
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant), S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
Russian S-300 to go to Vietnam
Russia appears to have negotiated a deal with Vietnam to purchase its most recent version of the S-300 air and missile defense system, the S300 PMU2. Other sales of the S-300 have included Cyprus and China; although India recently expressed interest as well, they now appear to be favoring the US PAC systems. According to the Asian Times:
The S300 PMU2 uses new 48N6E2 missiles, which weigh 1,800 kilograms and are 7.5 meters long. After a catapult “cold” start in the upright position, the 48N6E2 accelerates up to 1,900 meters a second in 12 seconds, and then hits the target from above. The 48N6E2 differs from the older 48N6E in having a new warhead designed for destroying ballistic missiles, with a warhead weight of 145 kilograms versus 70-100 kilograms. The S300 PMU2 can engage targets flying at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 27 kilometers at a speed of up to 10,000 kilometers per hour.
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
Moscow Selects New Head of Russian Missile Defense Company
Russian Prime Minsister has recommended that the missile defense company, Almaz-Antei, be headed up by Vladislav Menshchikov, from St. Petersburg. Menschicov is described as a “little known official” from Putin’s hometown, who has a “conspicous gap” in his resume, from 1982-1995.
The Prime Minister’s recomendation is that the company’s board go through the formal motion of voting Menshchikov president of the company, which is 100% owned by the Russian government. Almaz is the result of last year’s decree by the Kremlin which ordered the consolidation of 46 companies which had formerly supplied MD technologies independently. Almaz produces the S-400 missile defense system deployed around Moscow, as well as the S-300 which Russia exports, and other air defense systems.
The former head of Almaz, Klimov, was assassinated in June, a murder which remains unsolved.
» Janes: Almaz likely to showcase new S-400 MD system
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
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