Surface to Air Missile System / Almaz
The Antey 2500 (S-300V) Mobile Universal Air & Missile Defense System (known by NATO Code Names SA-12) is produced by the Russian Almaz-Antey concern and offered as a mobile anti-aircraft and missile defense system. Unlike the Favorit, this system is transported by tracked vehicles and has considerable cross-country mobility. It consists of an array of subsystems including, radars, a command post, communications equipment, and several types of interceptor missiles. This system uses long range, all altitude, all weather, mobile universal surface-to-air missiles to protect mobile forces and fixed sites. The system is effective against tactical, theater and medium-range ballistic missiles, low altitude cruise missiles, fixed and rotary wing aircraft and UAVs. The system uses two types of interceptor missiles.
The 9M83ME (Type I, also known by NATO code name SA-12A Gladiator) missile can be used against short and medium range ballistic missiles (range up to 1,100 km, velocity of 3,000 m/sec) and aircraft at short to medium ranges (up to 75 km) and altitudes up to 25 km. The Gladiator reaches a maximum speed of 1,700 m/sec. The 9A82ME (Type II, also known by NATO code name SA-12B Giant) missile can be used against medium range ballistic missiles (MRBM ranges are up to 2,500 km, and velocities of up to 4,500 m/sec) and similar targets at ranges up to 200 km and altitudes up to 30 km. This missile has a maximum speed of 2,600 m/sec. The Antey 2500 system is comprised of an early warning radar, one or more sector scanning radars, a command post, and one or more multi channel missile guidance units. The firing units are comprised of mobile tracked missile loader/launchers loaded with four Type-I missiles or launcher-only units with 2 Type II missiles. Typical launch unit groups consist of either medium range interceptor launchers, or combined medium and long range missiles.
Moscow is also stepping into an existing market void with an upgraded version of the Almaz S-300 Air and Missile Defense System. The basic system has already been purchased by China, Vietnam and Cyprus, which later transferred their system to Greece. Most recently, an S-300 system was sold to Algeria as part of a large weapons export transaction. Sales negotiations are currently underway with Iran and Syria is also interested in the system. The upgraded system is intended to be interoperable with NATO’s integrated systems. (Previously Greece had claimed that the TOR-M1 was unable to operate with other air defense systems.) An interoperable system could further promote interest in the integrated S-300/ Tor M-1 system, which is already being considered by Iran and Algeria. Turkey is also reported to be interested in the S-300 and is evaluating it in competition with the Israeli Arrow. Russia is currently working on integrating the Russian made Tor M-1 and S-300 PMU-1 systems into a unified air defense system.
