Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
November 21, 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-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
| Alternate Name: | SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant |
|---|---|
| Country: | Russia |
| Basing: | Land |
Details
The S-300V, also known by its NATO designation, SA-12, is an advanced Russian surface-to-air missile system. Two versions currently exist: the Gladiator (NATO: SA-12A), capable of destroying ballistic missiles, and the Giant (NATO: SA-12B), for use against aircraft and cruise missiles. Since the early 1990s, the Russians have sold thousands of S-300Vs throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The S-300V was developed by the Antey Corporation, one of the former Soviet Union’s largest defense companies. It was designed mainly as an anti-ballistic missile system, although it also has the ability to target and destroy aircraft and cruise missiles, similar to the U.S. Patriot. The S-300V was first deployed in 1986 and was so successful that, by the late 1980s, the Soviet military was ordering an average of three to four battalions each year.(1) During the 1990s, Antey improved the capability of the S-300V, giving the system the ability to engage targets flying at ranges of up to 100 kilometers.(2)
From the beginning, the S-300V was designed as a dual-missile system, incorporating two missiles differing in dimension, range, and purpose. The smaller of the two, the Gladiator (NATO: SA-12A), is primarily an anti-aircraft missile. At 7.0 meters long, 0.72 meters wide, and weighing 2,500 kilograms, it flies at 1.7 kilometers per second and can destroy aircraft located 6-75 kilometers away at altitudes of 25-25,000 meters. Each Gladiator carries a 150-kilogram high explosive warhead.(3)
By contrast, the Giant (NATO: SA-12B) is designed to destroy tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, although it can also shoot down aircraft. At 8.5 meters long, 0.9 meters wide, and weighing 4,600 kilograms, it approaches its targets at 2.4 kilometers per second. It can engage cruise missiles and aircraft at ranges of 13-100 kilometers and at altitudes of 1-30 kilometers (20-40 kilometers against ballistic missiles). Like the Gladiator, each Giant is equipped with a 150-kilogram high explosive warhead.(4)
Both S-300V missiles are guided by the Russian 9S19M2 phased-array sector-scan radar, which is capable of scanning an area of 90-degrees every second. According to Antey officials, the radar detects targets between 20-175 kilometers with an accuracy of 200-300 meters. The 9S19M2 can track up to 16 incoming ballistic missiles, aircraft, or cruise missiles while simultaneously foiling up to six jamming devices.(5) Both S-300V missile variants plus the radar system are transported on mobile launchers.
Over the years, the Russians have tested the S-300V against a wide array of targets. Antey officials claim that, in a recent series of tests in early 1997, the Gladiator and Giant interceptors successfully destroyed more than 60 ballistic and cruise missiles. Among the target missiles were Scud Bs modified to simulate Iraq’s Al-Hussein short-range ballistic missile used in the Persian Gulf War. In a series of tests, S-300V had a single-shot kill probability of 0.4 to 0.7 against tactical ballistic missiles. An average of 1.5 to 1.75 interceptors are required to bring down a single target.(6)
In 1998, Antey unveiled a modification of the S-300V, nicknamed the “Antey-2500.” Known as the S-300VM while in development, the upgraded model contains two types of missiles with maximum velocities of 1.7 and 2.6 kilometers per second. The modified system is capable of simultaneously engaging 24 targets at a range of 40-200 kilometers and altitudes from 25 meters to 30 kilometers. It can detect, track, and destroy tactical ballistic missiles with ranges up to 2,500 kilometers, hence its name, Antey-2500.(7)
Over the past decade, Russia has deployed thousands of S-300V and Antey-2500 missiles around its key military and industrial complexes. In addition, it has exported these systems throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as a means of financing its ailing economy in the wake of the Soviet Union’s 1991 collapse. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology, “in the worldwide competition to sell ballistic missile defense systems, the Russian Antey Corp.’s S-300V is a main contender.”(8) The advantage for buyers of Russian surface-to-air missiles is that, unlike buying from the U.S., there are no political strings attached and, more often than not, the weapons are significantly cheaper than their U.S. counterparts.(9)
In 1996, for instance, Russia marketed the S-300V system in the United Arab Emirates in direct competition with the U.S., which had been selling Patriot missiles to the UAE for several years. Russia offered heavy discounted S-300V missiles to the UAE, essentially selling them at half their normal cost, in return for UAE’s forgiveness of long-term Russian debt. The Russia-UAE deal, however, angered the U.S. and soured its relations with Russia.(10)
The S-300V has also played a role in larger, more lucrative arms dealings between Russia and other nuclear powers. In February 2002, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov led a delegation to New Delhi, India, to negotiate a hefty arms deal, the focal point of which was the sale of S-300V missiles.(11) Over the years, as one of Russia’s largest and most frequent weapons buyers, India has equipped almost two-thirds of its armed forces with Russian hardware.(12) In February 2004, Russia formally offered to sell the defense system to India.(13) Recent tensions between India and Pakistan, both of which possess nuclear weapons, ensure that the S-300V and other anti-ballistic missile systems will figure prominently in future arms dealings.(14)
Likewise, it was reported in December 2003 that Moscow intends to supply Iran, a potential nuclear power, with $1.6 billion worth of weapons, the bulk of which will be either S-300V or Antey-2500 surface-to-air missiles. Iran has been lobbying for Russia to sell it a defense shield since the late 1990s. It plans to use the missiles to protect its key industrial region Esfahan, its naval base at Bandar Abbas (on the Persian Gulf), oil terminals at Abadan and Khorramshahr, and its nuclear power station at Bushehr.(15) The U.S., needless to say, voiced its strong objections to the Russia-Iran deal and, at one point, even threatened sanctions.
Despite these objections, it appears that Russia has no plans to stop marketing its S-300V missiles, as well as other weapons, throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in the coming years.
Footnotes
- Nikolay Novichkov and Michael A. Dornheim, “Russian SA-12, SA-10 On World ATBM Market,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 3 March 1997.
- Robert Wall, “Russia’s Premier SAMs Seen Proliferating Soon,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 27 September 1999.
- Novichkov, et al.; Missile.index.
- Ibid.
- Novichkov, et al.
- Ibid.
- “Russia’s Antey Offers Upgraded SA-12 For Export,” Aerospace Daily, 28 May 1998.
- Novichkov, et al.
- Carlo Kopp, “Next-Generation SAMs For Asia A Wake-Up Call For Australia,” Australian Aviation, 1 October 2003.
- “Russian/U.S. Tussle Over UAE Air Defence System Intensifies,” Flight International, 24 March 1999; GlobalSecurity.org.
- “Russia: Moscow Begins Arms Trade Negotiations With New Delhi,” Periscope Daily Defense News Capsules, 6 February 2002.
- Sergei Blagov, “Trade: Russia Leads World In Arms Exports,” Inter Press Service, 1 July 2002.
- “Russia Offers S-300V SAM Anti-Missile System To India,” The Press Trust of India Limited, 5 February 2004.
- Sergei Blagov, “Trade: Russia Leads World In Arms Exports,” Inter Press Service, 1 July 2002; Rajat Pandit, “India Wants Info On Patriot Missile System,” The Times of India, 14 August 2003.
- Aleksandr Reutov, “Iran Yields To IAEA To Gain Time,” Kommersant, 19 December 2003.
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)
Russian S-300 to go to India
Russia has offered its S-300V missile defense system to India, according to India’s Financial Express. India is currently also considering the comparable Israeli Arrow II and the American Patriot missile defense systems.
» More stories on: India, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: 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)
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