April 11, 2005 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
Russian television, in a report on Russian Channel One TV on April 10, carried a profile of the Russian Air Defenses coinciding with the thirtieth annual “Day of Air Defence Troops” commemoration. The profile looks in particular at the radar and interceptor systems for the S-300, and other interceptors around Moscow.
Correspondent] A bizarre structure in a forest in Moscow Region looks like a set for Star Wars. In fact, it is a huge eye. The radar sees everything within 300 km and any targets at the altitude of up to 45 km, despite the fact that aircraft do not fly that high.
If a radar is an eye of an antimissle system, then well-known S-300 [air defence missile systems] are the hands which can be used to repel an enemy. The missiles are brought from a plant in containers and can entirely preserve their combat readiness for 10 years even when left in the rain or snow.
The S-300 can easily be loaded with missiles of any types: short-, intermediate- and long-range mones. However, the systems deployed near Moscow are required to hit targets within the range of 150 km.
[Col Sergey Khotylev, captioned as the chief of staff of air defence division] In terms of combat capabilities, the S-300 PM outperforms analogous military hardware of a possible enemy two- or three-fold.
[Correspondent] It takes much skill to protect a big city. There are buildings, chemical plants and power stations everywhere. Fragments of destroyed aircraft must not fall on them.
[Vladimir Buryakov, captioned as the commander of S-300 division] [Data on] the excluded sectors is put in the missile’s computer. When one of those targets is identified, a missile cannot be launched.
Correspondent] The upgraded S-300 can hit a warhead even in space. This is exactly what the Americans are dreaming of when they speak about the ABM system. As soon as it is known about the launch of a combat missile, its trajectory is calculated immediately and air defence experts begin acting. There are just 7-10 seconds to locate a target, acquire it and launch an interception missile. They have done it.
[Unidentified officer] The second, the third targets destroyed.
Correspondent] It takes a S-300 system just five minutes to get ready for launching. It can attack aircraft, warships, any ground targets, cruise missiles and even ballistic missiles with high target accuracy. However, the army is waiting for the updated S-400 system, which is three times more effective than S-300. (Article)
» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
