SA-5 (Gammon) / S-200

History

The Soviet Union was forced to stay at the forefront of air defense technology due to the advancement of Western aircraft in speed and combat altitude. Its defense network was eventually built, including a variety of short-, medium-, and long-range solutions to counter threats from high-altitude bombers and spy planes. One entry in the long-range category became the classic S-200 missile dubbed the SA-5 "Golden Gate" by NATO a series that was vigorously adopted for decades by various global operators outside the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The design work for the S-200 is credited to design bureau Petr Grushin.

The

gammon series was launched in 1967 and has since appeared in many famous conflicts of the 20th century.

The SA-5 missile is primarily guided by the 5N62 series "square to" radar, which has a tracking range of up to 170 miles (there are other radars available that can also be used). Eventually, several versions of the S-200 missile appeared - the S-200A "Angara" was the original form in 1967 with a range of 110 miles, followed by the 1970 S-200V "Vega" with a range of 150 miles . The S-200 "Vega" increased the range to 190 miles, while the S-200M "Vega-M" appeared as a modernized form.

The S-200E "Vega-E" was developed as an export-oriented product form of the Gammon missile, while the S-200D "Dubna" entered the market in 1976 as a nuclear-capable variant with a 250-mile range.

The standard design of the missile itself includes a tubular, highly aerodynamic shape with added stabilizers. Each missile is equipped with four solid rocket booster units, allowing the missile to reach attack speed as quickly as possible, giving the target little time to react. The missile weighs 15,700 pounds and has a head-to-tail range of 35 feet.

The warhead consists of a 478-pound fragmentation high-explosive (Frag-HE) compound that can be detonated by proximity to the target or by fusion on command. A rocket motor is a liquid-fueled, dual-thrust unit that, when used in conjunction with a rocket booster, allows the rocket to reach speeds of 5,600 mph, altitudes up to 130,000 feet, and up to 190 miles (range variable, depending on model in the rocket game).

Guidance is provided by a semi-active radar seeker mounted on the missile's nose.

Since its inception, the SA-5 has proven itself as a defensive solution and deterrent. Widely regarded as accurate, it evolved from its original Cold War-era form, giving it its place on the modern battlefield. In fact, both Russia and Iran are known to have developed more advanced missiles. Currently well-known operators of the SA-5 series include Russia, Algeria, India, North Korea, Poland, Romania and Syria.

Former operators of the SA-5 system include many former Soviet allies such as Belarus, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Georgia and Ukraine (among others). Before German reunification in 1990, East Germany used the Golden Gate missile force to deter the West.

In Russian service, six missile launchers are assigned to a battalion, and the current generation of missiles is the S-200 Dubna type.

SA-5 missile shot down civilian Tupolev Tu-154. The incident involving a Siberia Airlines flight and Ukraine's SA-5 system occurred on October 4, 2001. 78 people were killed.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Use a single-shot orbital launch system.

Changes