SA-10 Grumble

SA-10 Grumble is the NATO reporting name for the S-300P (С-300П) series of Russian SAMs. It was developed as a PVO long-range system to defend strategic targets against both conventional aircraft and cruise missiles, while the contemporary S-300V (NATO designation SA-12A Gladiator/SA-12B Giant) series was developed as a more mobile system to protect the ground forces from aircraft and short-range ballistic missiles.

Variations

Numerous versions have since emerged with different missiles, improved radars, better resistance to countermeasures, longer range and better capability against short-range ballistic missiles or targets flying at very low altitude.

The closest western equivalent is the US Patriot system. Compared to the Patriot the SA-10 is a much larger system with heavier, longer-ranged missiles. Both systems can engage multiple targets simultaneously, employ track-via-missile guidance, and rely on a single phased-array guidance radar to guide the missiles in the air. Both systems are also mobile (but not as highly mobile as shorter range SAMs, especially those mounted on all-in-one TELAR vehicles, tend to be). Like the MIM-104 Patriot, the S-300 missiles are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime.

The S-300P system, especially in its later forms, is probably the single most deadly threat that an aircraft would encounter on a modern battlefield. The Patriot is similarly advanced but the combination of longer range, specialised low-altitude search radars, larger warhead, high maneuverability and low probability of intercept (LPI) radar characteristics combine to make this system formidable. The difference in capability between the original S-300P system and today's S-300PMU-3 is astounding, especially in terms of range and mobility, which is a credit to the designers of the S-300P.

Export users include the People's Republic of China, India, Syria and Vietnam.

Guidance and warhead

Missiles are guided by the Flap Lid A or naval Top Dome system using command guidance with terminal semi-active radar homing. Later versions use the Flap Lid B or naval Tomb Stone radars to guide the missiles via command guidance/track-via-missile (TVM). The earlier Flap Lid A can guide up to four missiles at a time to up to four targets, and can track up to 24 targets at once. The Flap Lid B' can guide up to two missiles per target to up to six targets simultaneously. Targets flying at up to Mach 2.5 can be successfully engaged or around Mach 8.5 for later models. One missile can be launched every three seconds. The mobile control center is able to manage up to 12 TELs simultaneously.

The original warhead weighed 100 kg (220 lb), intermediate warheads weighed 133 kg (293 lb) and the latest warhead weighs 143 kg (315 lb). Both are equipped with a proximity and contact fuze. The missiles themselves weigh between 1450 kg (3200 lb) and 1800 kg (3970 lb). Missiles are catapulted clear of the launching tubes before their rocket motor fires, which can accelerate at up to 100 gees (1 km/s²). They launch straight upwards and then tip over towards their target, removing the need to aim the missiles before launch. The missiles are steered with a combination of control fins and through thrust vectoring vanes.

History and upgrades

• The S-300P is the original system (US DoD designation SA-10A) and was operational in 1978 with the 5V55K missile. Effective engagement range is 5 to 47 km (3 to 29 miles), engagement altitude is 25 m to 30 km (100 to 100,000 ft), missile top speed is approx. Mach 5 for a maximum target speed of approximately Mach 2.5. This version utilises the Tin Shield, Big Bird and Flap Lid-A radars and guides the missiles using command link guidance.
• The S-300PT/S-300PT-1/S-300PT-1A are incremental upgrades of the original S300P system. They introduce the 5K55KD missile. Actual improvements to these systems are unknown but are likely to be fairly minor, possibly a slightly higher missile speed.
• The S-300F Fort (Russian Форт, NATO reporting name SA-N-6) was introduced in 1984 as the original ship-based (naval) version of the S-300P system with the new 5V55RM missile with range extended to 7–90 km (4–56 mile) and maximum target speed up to Mach 4 while engagement altitude was reduced to 25 m to 25 km (100 ft to 82,000 ft). The naval version utilises the Top Sail or Top Steer, Top Pair and Top Dome radars and utilises command guidance with a terminal semi-active radar homing (SARH) mode. Its first installation and sea trials were on a Kara-class cruiser and it is also installed on Slava-class cruisers. It is stored in six or eight 8-missile rotary launchers below decks. The export version of this system is known as Rif (Russian Риф — reef).
• The S-300PS/S-300PM (US DoD designation SA-10B) was introduced in 1985 and is the only version thought to have been fitted with a nuclear warhead. This model saw the introduction of the modern TEL and mobile radar and command-post vehicles all based on the MAZ-7910 8x8 truck. This model also featured the new 5K55R missiles which increased maximum engagement range to 90 km (56 mi) and introduced a terminal semi-active radar homing (SARH) guidance mode.
• The S-300FM Fort-M is another naval version of the system (NATO reporting name SA-N-20) and introduced the new 48N6 missile in the form of the 48N6Ye. It was introduced in 1990 and increased missile speed to approx. Mach 6 for a maximum target engagement speed of up to Mach 8.5, increased the warhead size to 150 kg (330 lb) and increased the maximum engagement range yet again to 5–150 km (3–93 mi) as well as opening the altitude envelope to 10m-27 km (33-88500 ft). The new missiles also introduced the ultimate track-via-missile guidance method and brought with it the ability to intercept short-range ballistic missiles. This system makes use of the Tomb Stone rather than Top Dome radar, which was subsequently developed in a land-based form. The export version is called the Rif-M'.
• The S-300PMU (US DoD designation SA-10C) was introduced in 1992 for the export market and featured the upgraded 5V55U missile which still utilised the intermediate SARH terminal guidance method and smaller warhead of the 5V55R but increased the engagement envelope to give this missile roughly the same range and altitude capabilities as the newer 48N6 missile (max. range 150 km/93 mile).
• The S-300PMU-1 (US DoD designation SA-10D/SA-20A, NATO reporting name SA-20) was also introduced in 1992 with the new and larger 48N6 missiles for the first time in a land-based system and introduced all the same performance improvements from the S300FM version including the increased speed, range, TVM guidance and ABM capability. The warhead is slightly smaller than the naval version at 143 kg (315 lb). This version also saw the introduction of the new and more capable Flap Lid B radar.
• The current S-300PMU-2 Favorit (Russian C-300ПМУ-2 "Фаворит" - favourite), introduced in 1997, is also known to NATO as the SA-20 (US DoD designation SA-20B) and is similar to the S-300PMU-1 but with range extended once again to 195 km (121 mi) with the introduction of the 48N6E2 missile. This system is apparantly capable against not just short range ballistic missiles, but now also medium range tactical BMs. This version uses a new 96L6 integrated radar system (developed from the naval 'Tomb Stone'?).
• The S-300PMU-1 9M96 was introduced in 1999 and for the first time introduces several different kinds of missiles in a single system. In addition to the 5V55R, 48n6Ye and 48N6Ye2 missiles the S-300PMU-1 9M96 can utilise two new missiles, the 9M96E1 and 9M96E2. Both are significantly smaller than the previous missiles at 330 and 420 kg (728 and 926 lb respectively) and carry smaller 24 kg (53 lb) warhead. The 9M96E1 has an engagement range of 1–40 km (1–25 mi) and the 9M96E2 of 1–120 km (1–75 mi). They are still carried 4 per TEL. Rather than just relying on aerodynamic fins for maneuvering, they use a gas-dynamic system which allows them to have an excellent PK despite the much smaller warhead. The kill probability is estimated at 0.7 against a tactical ballistic missile for either missile. The 96L6E radar is used for this variant.
• The S-300PMU-3/S-400 Triumf (Russian C-300ПМУ-3/С-400 "Триумф" - triumph, NATO reporting name SA-X-21) was introduced in 1999 and features a new, much larger missile with two per TEL. See the SA-X-21 entry for more information.

Missile specifications:

Radar

This is a list of all radars known to be associated with the original S-300P system and all subsequent upgrades. Explanations of which radars perform which task for each version will follow:

• Target tracking:
  • 5N63 Flap Lid A or 30N6/30N6E Flap Lid B I/J(X?)-band target tracking and guidance phased-array radar (range 200 km/124 mile)
  • 30N6E1 or 30N6E2 Tomb Stone I/J-band target tracking radar (range 300 km/186 mile)
• Surveillance:
  • 64N6 Big Bird F-band or 64N6E/E2 Big Bird C-band target acquisition radar with IFF (range 300 km/186 miles, 5 RPM)
  • 36D6 Tin Shield 350kW E/F(S)-band early warning radar (range 165 km/103 miles, 6 or 12 RPM)
• 5N66/76N6 or 5N66M/76N6E Clam Shell 1.4kW I-band frequency-modulated continuous wave target tracking radar (range 120 km/75 mile)
• 96L6 L-band target acquisition radar (range 300 km/186 mile)
• Naval versions
  • MR-75' Top Steer D/E(S)-band target acquisition radar (range 300 km/186 mile)
  • MR-800 Voskhod / Top Pair C/D/E/F-band target acquisition radar (range 200 km/124 mile)
  • 3R41 Volna / Top Dome I/J-band target tracking radar (range 100 km/62 mile)
  • Tomb Stone Mod target tracking radar

Flap Lid A is mounted on a small trailer. Big Bird is mounted on a large trailer along with a generator and typically towed with the now familiar 8-wheeled truck. Clam Shell is mounted on a large trailer with a mast which is between 24-39 m (79-128 ft) tall.

The version known to the US DoD as the SA-10A utilises a combination of the 76N6 (NATO Clam Shell) continuous-wave doppler radar for target acquisition and the 30N6 (NATO Flap Lid A) I/J-band phased-array digitally steered tracking and engagement radar. Both are mounted on trailers. In addition there is a trailer-mounted command center and up to twelve trailer-mounted erector/launchers with 4 missiles each. The SA-10B is similar but uses an upgraded 36NG85 (NATO Flap Lid B) tracking and engagement radar with the command post integrated and has truck-mounted TELs.

If employeed in an anti-ballistic missile or anti-cruise missile role, the 64N6 (NATO Big Bird) E/F-band radar would also be included with the battery. It is capable of detecting ballistic missile class targets up to 1000 km (620 mile) away travelling at up to 10000 km/h (6200 mph) and cruise missile class targets up to 300 km (185 mile) away. It also employs electronic beam steering and performs a scan once every twelve seconds.

The 36D6 (NATO Tin Shield) and later ST-68UM (NATO Tin Sheild-B) 350 kW - 1.23 MW radar can also be used to augment the SA-10 system to provide earlier target detection than the 'Flap Lid' radars allow. It can detect a missile-sized target flying at an altitude of 60 meters (200 ft) at least 20 km (12.5 mile) away, at an altitude of 100 meters (330 ft) at least 30 km (19 mile) away, and at high altitude up to 175 km (108 mile) away. In addition a 64N6 (NATO Big Bird) E/F band target acquisition radar can be used which has a maximum detection range of 300km (186 mile).

Users and other versions

• The People's Republic of China has manufactured licensed copies of the S-300PMU-1 system under the name Hongqi-10 (HQ-10).
• The People's Republic of China has also built an upgraded version of the HQ-10 labelled the HQ-15 with the maximum range upgraded from 150 km (93 mile) to 200 km (124 mile).
• India bought six S-300 batteries in 1995, probably the S-300PMU-2 version, believed to consist of 48 missiles per system. These will most likely be used in the short-range ballistic-missile defence (BMD) role.
• Cyprus signed an agreement to buy S-300 systems in 1996. Eventually bought the C-300ПМУ-2 "Фаворит" version, but due to political tension between Cyprus and Turkey, system was transferred to the Greek Island of Crete.

External links

• Federation of American Scientists page (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/s-300pmu.htm)
• HQ-10 (http://www.missilethreat.com/systems/hq-10_china.html)
• HQ-15 (http://www.missilethreat.com/systems/hq-15_china.html)
• S-300P (http://www.missilethreat.com/systems/s-300p.html)
• [1] (http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-Asia-Sams-Pt1.pdf)
• Astronautix.com (http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/s300.htm)
• Grumble (http://home.nycap.rr.com/mismedia/PRCROCmissile/prcrocbasepages/grumble.htm)
• [2] (http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/sovietmissiledes.html)

The SA-10 is also a channel interface for the PDP-10 computer; see Systems Conceptsde:S-300