PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO REVISION
Technical Report APA-TR-2011-0602
by Dr Carlo Kopp, AFAIAA, SMIEEE, PEng
June 2011
Updated April, 2012
Text, Line Art © 2009 - 2012 Carlo Kopp
Introduction
The subject of BMD (Ballistic Missile Defence) has produced considerable interest since the 1991 Desert Storm campaign, when Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime bombarded Saudi Arabia and Israel with Al-Hussein ballistic missiles, based on imported Soviet R-11/17 Scud missiles.
Over the last two decades there has been considerable growth in the number of deployed ballistic missiles, and nations operating them, primarily in the sub-strategic theatre and battlefield range categories, but more recently also weapons with strategic range performance.
Major proliferators and operators include China and the DPRK. Nations which have deployed operationally viable inventories of theatre range class ballistic missiles include China, the DPRK, Pakistan, India and Iran. Concurrently Iran, the DPRK, and India are actively developing, or have developed ballistic missiles with strategic reach.
North Korea has developed the Taepo-Dong series of IRBMs (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles), with the extended range Taepo-Dong 2 variants qualifying as ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles). Iran has collaborated with the DPRK to develop the Shahab series of ballistic missiles. The Shahab 3 and 4 are IRBMs derived from the Nodong 1, while the Shahab 5 is claimed to be genuine ICBM, and likely derived from the Taepo-Dong 2. Both nations have active programs to develop and deploy nuclear warheads.
The result of the proliferation of IRBMs and ICBMs in the developing world has been, over the last two decades, growing development and deployment investments in ABM (Anti Ballistic Missile) capabilities across the developed world.
During the Cold War only the United States and Soviet Union made major investments in ABM capabilities, with only the Soviets deploying and continuing to operate a significant capability since the 1970s. Both Cold War antagonists did deploy limited dual-role ABM / SAM (Anti Ballistic Missile / Surface to Air Missile) capabilities, optimised for theatre range class ballistic missiles, in the Soviet S-300V / SA-12 Giant/Gladiator and United States MIM-104 Patriot systems, the latter used extensively in 1991 against Iraqi IRBMs. Importantly, both of these systems were developed to engage and destroy high performance aircraft, as well as ballistic missiles.
Since then we have observed the development of Israel's Arrow series of ABMs, a number of designs in the United States, and enhancement of the ABM capabilities in the post-Soviet Russian built S-300PMU2 Favorit / SA-20B Gargoyle, and S-300V2 / SA-12 Giant/Gladiator systems. Most of these weapons provide an “endo-atmospheric” capability, intended to defeat ballistic missiles which have re-entered the atmosphere. Importantly, advancing technology has also seen the development and initial deployment of lightweight and mobile weapons providing an “exo-atmospheric” capability, intended to defeat ballistic missiles before they re-enter.
While Russia continues to operate remaining components of the Cold War developed A-135 strategic ABM system, and is upgrading its inventory of S-300V1/V2 / SA-12 Giant/Gladiator tactical ABM/SAM systems to the S-300V4 configuration, all of these systems by basic design date to the 1970s.
The strategic problem Russia confronts is that much of its post-Soviet era geographical footprint is well within reach of IRBMs and ICBMs launched from Iran, the DPRK, but especially China. While Russia does not suffer the antagonism of Iran and the DPRK, and has a relatively stable relationship with China, in any contingency Russia would be mostly open to attack by any of these three nations. China's Second Artillery Corps inventory of IRBMs allows China to hold at risk much of Russia, without having to commit China's strategic ICBM force.
At this time Russia has initiated the progressive block replacement of all of its “strategic” and long range “tactical” SAM force which mostly dates, by deployment, to the last years of Cold War. The effort is planned for the coming decade, and intended to provide a robust capability to defend key national infrastructure and strategic military assets from modern combat aircraft, cruise missiles, and other precision guided weapons. This program is also expected to re-invigorate export sales of Russian built long range SAM systems, which have slowed as China transitions from imported Russian built S-300P series SAMs to domestically built HQ-9 systems.
The recapitalisation of Russia's air defence system was seen as an opportunity to also recapitalise Russia's increasingly aged ABM system. In part this exploits the reality that engagement radar and missile kinematic performance requirements for very long range SAMs are compatible with many of the performance needs of ABM systems.
The Almaz-Antey S-500 Triumfator-M is the intended follow-on to the S-400 SAM/ABM system, but is to be primarily optimised for the ABM role. The S-500 would be deployed in parallel with the S-400 system, which is mostly intended to replace extant Russian PVO S-300PS / SA-10B Grumble and S-300PM / SA-20A Gargoyle systems, as well as Army S-300V / SA-12 Giant/Gladiator systems.
The Russian MoD has disclosed very little on the planned configuration of the S-500, or the design of the missiles, radars and other system components.
More:
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-500-Triumfator-M.html
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New S-500 Anti-Missile Missile Will Seal Russia Airspace
Pepe Escobar
Military
5 hours ago
Fed up with NATO provocations along its borders Russia is giving all the more priority to developing its new air defense system expected to be rolled out in 2017
Some sectors of U.S. Think Tankland – with their cozy CIA ties – are now hedging their bets about Cold War 2.0, out of fear that they have misjudged what really happens on the geopolitical chessboard.
I’ve just returned from Moscow, and there’s a feeling the Federal Security Bureau and Russian military intelligence are increasingly fed up with the endless stream of Washington/NATO provocations – from the Baltics to Central Asia, from Poland to Romania, from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
This is an extensive but still only partial summary of what’s seen all across Russia as an existential threat: Washington/NATO’s intent to block Russia’s Eurasian trade and development; destroy its defense perimeter; and entice it into a shooting war.
A shooting war is not exactly a brilliant idea. Russia’s S-500 anti-missile missiles and anti-aircraft missiles can intercept any existing ICBM, cruise missile or aircraft. S-500s travel at 15,480 miles an hour; reach an altitude of 115 miles; travel horizontally 2,174 miles; and can intercept up to ten incoming missiles. They simply cannot be stopped by any American anti-missile system.
Some on the U.S. side say the S-500 system is being rolled out in a crash program, as an American intel source told Asia Times. There’s been no Russian confirmation. Officially, Moscow says the system is slated to be rolled out in 2017. End result, now or later: it will seal Russian airspace. It’s easy to draw the necessary conclusions.
That makes the Obama administration’s “policy” of promoting war hysteria, coupled with unleashing a sanction, ruble and oil war against Russia, the work of a bunch of sub-zoology specimens.
Some adults in the EU have already seen the writing on the (nuclear) wall. NATO’s conventional defenses are a joke. Any military buildup – as it’s happening now – is also a joke, as it could be demolished by the 5,000 tactical nuclear weapons Moscow would be able to use.
Source:
http://russia-insider.com/en/new-s-500-anti-missile-missile-will-seal-russia-airspace/5497
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S-500
Long-range air defense and anti-ballistic missile system
http://www.military-today.com/missiles/s500.htm
The S-500 is a new long-range anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile system, that is currently being developed in Russia. Development of this air defense system commenced in 2002. It is being developed by Almaz-Antey company. This system is also referred as the Prometey (Prometheus) and Triumfator-M. Prototype testing is expected to begin in 2015. The S-500 is planned to enter service at the end of this decade, possibly in 2017-2018. Russia plans to field ten battalions of S-500 missiles.
The S-500 is not an upgrade of the S-400, but a new design. It uses a lot of new technology and is superior to the S-400. It was designed to intercept ballistic missiles. It is planned to have a range of 500-600 km and hit targets at altitudes as high as 40 km. Some sources claim that this system is capable of tracking 5-20 ballistic targets and intercepting up to 5-10 ballistic targets simultaneously. It can defeat ballistic missiles travelling at 5-7 kilometers per second. It has been reported that this air defense system can also target low orbital satellites. It is planned that the S-500 will shield Moscow and the regions around it. It will replace the current A-135 anti-ballistic missile system. The S-500 missiles will be used only against the most important targets, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, AWACS and jamming aircraft.
The S-500 will carry various missiles. These missiles will have various ranges and will be used against different targets. In 2009 a 40N6 long-range air defense missile was ready for testing.
Some sources report, that the S-500 system can detect ballistic missile at a range of 2 000 km and warheads of ballistic missiles at a range of 1 300 km. It can defeat ballistic missiles before their warheads re-enter atmosphere.
This system has brief reaction time. It has been reported that the S-500 can launch missiles within 10 minutes from travelling. Also it can be considered as a survivable system, as after launching its missiles it can briefly redeploy. In the 1980s Soviets already used this shoot, scoot and hide philosophy on the S-300V air defense system.
The S-500 missiles are mobile. All equipment will be carried by heavy high mobility trucks. The missiles are likely to be carried by and launched from BAZ-69096 trucks with 10x10 configuration. Two command posts are planned to be based on BAZ-69092-12 6x6 trucks. Acquisition and battle management radar is planned to be towed by BAZ-6403.01 8x8 tractor truck. Another acquisition radar is planned to be mounted on the BAZ-69096 10x10 chassis. A multi-mode engagement radar is planned to be mounted on BAZ-6909-022 8x8 truck. The anti-ballistic missile engagement radar is planned to be mounted on BAZ-69096 10x10 chassis. All of these vehicles have good cross-country mobility.
It has been reported that there is also an S-1000 system being developed in Russia. Possibly it is a modification of the S-500.
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IZAKOVIC
