Missile defense system is basically a system which identifies, detects and destroys hostile Aircrafts, UCAV, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and loitering munitions. In a present world United States, Russia, China, Israel and India possess the state of the art missile defense system Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and Russia’s S-300, S-400 Triumf are most sophisticated missile defense system. Both missile defense system Iron Dome and S-400 Triumf proved their capability of intercepting and destroying incoming targets in recent conflicts.
History and concept of Missile defense system:
The concept of missile defense system was emerged rightly after the Second World War. In Second World War German V2 missiles inflicted significant damage on Allied forces. The countermeasures strategy against V2 missiles was firing of unlimited shells from anti-aircraft guns but the shells of anti-aircraft guns expected to fell on ground would cause more damage on ground than missile itself. After the end of World War 2 United States and Soviet Union both started their work on missile defense system privately .US launched its Nick-ZEUS program an anti-ballistic missile defense system to counter Soviet nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles .On the other side Soviets initiated A-35 anti-ballistic missile program with powerful interceptor missile named as GALOSH. In 1972 Soviet Union started installation of A-35 anti-ballistic missile system around the Moscow with GALOSH interceptors. United States moved one step further by initiating project SDI which is ground and space based anti-ballistic missile system. The SDI program was expected to use large beam of lasers in space to destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles in space before allowing them to enter in earth atmosphere. Though project SDI was never implemented because of its highly cost and expenditure but A-35 anti-ballistic program is still operational with modern variations. In 80s both countries introduced new missile defense system Soviet union developed S-300 missile defense system while US made Patriot missile defense system.
Modern day concept of missile defense system
Modern day missile defense systems mostly use highly advanced and sophisticated Radars and early warning and control systems. Radars system usually detects and identifies target flight path, trajectory and speed details and send these details to central command system which estimates impact point and directs launcher to fire an interceptor missile against incoming target. The interceptor vehicle usually neutralizes the target by exploding itself within the radius of target. Israel Iron Dome missile has success rate of almost 90% .Iron Dome missile defense system has ability to distinguish between targets that are likely to hit important infrastructure and those that are not.
Russia S-400 Triumf missile defense system
Designed by Russian Almaz- Antey defense corporation S-400 is highly advanced and most sophisticated missile defense system. Russia started the development of S-400 missile development in late 1980.The official announcement came from Russian Air force in 1993.The first successful test was conducted at Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan on 12 Feb 1999.Initially Russian officials tested S -400 with previous made S-300 interceptors which caused further delay in completion of project.S-400 surface to air missile defense became fully functional in February 2004.In April the missile defense system was tested with long range 48N6DM missile.
Main Components of S-400 Triumf missile defense system
91N6E BIG BIRD TOMBSTONE RADAR
91N6E Big Bird tombstone radar is modernized and advanced version of 64N6E radar.91N6E can detect and identify up to 300 targets simultaneously with a distance of almost 600 km. This property of detection makes Big Bird one of the most advanced radar system in world. The 91N6E is mounted on MZKT-7930 tractors. The 91N6E radar can detect moving flying objects with certain rate because of its digital processor. The digital processor of 91N6E can scan azimuthal and azimuthal radii. The 91N6E radar has ability of 3D rotation, and it can rotate once every 12 seconds .The 91N6E can also provide sector view, stop antenna drive and additional antenna tilt. Like previous variant 64N6E it has also a feature of IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) so it can easily differentiate between hostile aerial vehicles and friendly aerial vehicles .The 91N6E operates on S band in all-weather condition. With weight of 60 ton total deployment time of 91N6E big bird tombstone radar is 5 minutes. It can operate with crew member of 5 persons. The Russians showed their intention to utilize 91N6E radar in next variant of S-400 which is S-500 Prometheus.
92N6E “GRAVE STONE MULTIMODE ENGAGEMENT RADAR
92N6E Grave stone radar is designed to provide exact information about midcourse guidance, target launch sites. 92N6E grave stone radar along with 96L6E cheese board radar guides the flight of interceptor missile. It has almost range of 400 km.In a track while scan mode it has ability to scan almost 100 targets. Like 91N6E it is also integrated with IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system. The 92N6E grave stone radar has ability to control twelve missiles of 40N6 with the range of almost 400 km. 92N6E uses phased array antenna which has very low side lobes giving it protection against Noise jammers and anti-radar missiles.
96L6E “CHEESE BOARD 3D ACQUISTION RADAR
96L6E “CHEESE BOARD is early warning acquisition radar and has ability to detect low flying objects like helicopters, Unmanned combat vehicles and missiles. It can identify low altitude targets by limiting the elevation angle almost between -3° and +1.5 with rotation of 5 rpm .In order to detect aerial objects flying with different altitudes elevation angle is limited between -1.5° and +20 with antenna rotation of 20 rpm. 96L6E has ability to detect route, flight path of targets and it is capable of detecting targets up to 100 targets simultaneously moving with speed of 30 to 2750m/s. 96L6E measure ranges azimuth and elevation of aerial objects in all weather conditions.
40V6MR RADAR
40V6MR radar basically serve as optional radar in S-400 Trimuf. 40V6MR radar is used to detect aerial vehicles which are flying at very low altitude. It can be detach from chases and can be used on long length tower. If elevation of 40V6 radar increases with higher towers it detection range also increases.
55K6E COMMAND POST
The 55K6E mounted on Ural-532301 vehicle is center command and control post of S-400.It control and manages the firing batteries, interceptors and all surveillance radars. The 55K6E is equipped with LCD consoles which provides better evaluation of data. The central command and control post can communicate simultaneously back to headquarters and with the other assets of S-400. The 55K6E is fully capable for exchange of information with other assets like S-300 it receives and interpret data from surveillance radars and directs launching pad to launch interceptors against hostile aerial objects.
LAUNCHER UNIT OF S-400
S-400 has different type of transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) the launchers used in S-400 Triumf usually mounted on BAZ 640226 vehicles. The number of launch tubes may vary according to situation and integration of radars .The mobile launchers of S-400 Triumf are 5P85TE2, 5P58TE.Usually S-400 Trimuf is operated in Army Battalion. Each Battalion has 6 to 12 mobile launcher and each launcher almost consist of 4 to 16 missiles Thus a Battalion operating S-400 may respond with 24 to 192 missiles with an immediate effect. The operators of S-400 may choose different combinations of missile adjustments within launchers the long range interceptor missile can be adjust with medium range interceptors.
HOW S-400 Triumf works?
Step 1
91N6E Big Bird tombstone radar has capacity to detect 300 targets simultaneously. After detection of hostile target it sends data to central command and control post (55K6E).
Step 2
The central command and control post (55K6E) do evaluations and send data to higher command and it also directs TEL (transporter-erector-launchers) to respond with appropriate interceptor missile.
Step 3
Transporter-erector-launchers launches missile depending upon type of aerial target and total range of target. Launcher unit Of S-400 usually launch two missiles one after another. The second missile usually do the job of striking if first one failed to engage precisely.
Step 4
92N6E Grave stone radar interacts and communicates with 96L6E cheese board radar and determines the flightpath and trajectory of interceptor missile with 96L6E cheese board radar.
Step 5
Cheese board radar 96L6E along with 40V6MR radar can track low flying objects like UCAV and cruise missiles. In case of detection of low flying objects, data from both radars is send to central command and control unit, The 55K6E orders launchers to respond with appropriate range of interceptors
MISSILES OF S-400
S-400 uses following type of missiles
Short Range missiles
9M96E
9M96E is short range missile and has range of 40 km and Altitude of 20 Km.It speed is Mach 2.6 The missile can carry warhead of 24 kg
Medium range missiles
9M96E2
9M96E2 is medium range missile and has total range of 120km and altitude of 30km .It has speed of Mach 2.9.The missile can carry warhead of 24 kg
Long range missiles
48N6E2
48N6E2 is long range missile and has total range of 200km with an altitude of 27Km.It speed is Mach 8.2. the 48N6E2 has ability to carry the warhead of 180 kg
48N6E3
48N6E3 is also long range missile of S-400 Triumf with total range of 240 Km.It has an altitude of 27 km and maximum speed of Mach 14 .It can carry warhead of 180kg
40N6E
40N6E is very long range missile of S-400 with total range of 400 Km and it has an altitude of 180 km .The maximum speed of 40N6E is Mach 14.
Visit our latest blog about Chinese Fifth generation fighter aircraft FC-31 Or J-31 Gyrfalcon
https://battletechinsider.com/aircrafts/shenyang-fc-31/