SA-2 / S-75 (Guideline / Dvina)

History of the SA-2/S-75 (Guideline/Dvina)

The SA-2 missile was originally designed to target American high-altitude bombers, particularly the B-52 Stratofortress. Its guidance system was highly effective and led to the replacement of other major air defense systems, except for one in Moscow. By 1965, there were over 1,000 SA-2 launch sites across the Soviet Empire and its satellite bases, including East Germany. The SA-2 scored its first kill in 1959 when it shot down a Taiwanese reconnaissance aircraft and later made headlines by downing the U-2 spy plane, prompting a reevaluation of U.S. military strategies against Soviet high-altitude air defenses.

During the Vietnam War, North Vietnam used SA-2 missiles to attack and destroy U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft, forcing the United States to develop countermeasures to address this serious threat. Despite efforts to counter it with electronic countermeasures and tactics, the SA-2 remained relatively successful and some systems underwent modernization programs. Eventually, the SA-2 was phased out in favor of more advanced surface-to-air missile systems like the SA-10.

The SA-2 missile featured a warhead weighing approximately 434 pounds and the option to equip a nuclear warhead. It had a range of up to 30 miles and could reach altitudes of up to 60,000 feet. These specifications pertain to the SA-2A Guideline variant within the SA-2 Guideline series of anti-aircraft missiles.

Specification

BASICS

Years of Service: 1957

Origins: Soviet Union

Status: Active.

Crew: 6

Production: 4,600

Manufacturer: National Factory - USSR

Operator: Afghanistan; Algeria; Albania; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; China; Cuba; Czechoslovakia; East Germany; Egypt; Georgia; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Kyrgyzstan; Libya; Mongolia; Myanmar; North Korea; Pakistan; Poland; Romania; Russia; Somalia; former Soviet Union; Sudan; Syria; Tajikistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Yugoslavia; Zimbabwe.

Roles

Air Defense/Airspace Denial

The base model or variants can be used to search, track and neutralize aerial elements at a distance.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 34.8 feet (10.6m)

Width: 1.6 feet (0.5m)

Weight: 5,042 lbs (2,287 kg)

Tonnage: 2.5 tons

Power and Performance

Engine: 1 x Two-Stage Solid Fuel Booster with liquid fuel in upper stage.

Speed: 1,864. 1 km/h (3,000.0km/h)

Area: 18.6 km (30.0 km)

Weapons

1 x Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) with various warheads); radar controlled.

AMMOTION

1 x 35 ft, 5,041 lb surface-to-air missile (various warheads available).

Variant

SA-2A - Equipped with Fan Song-A radar system, using V-750 or V-750V missiles.

S-75 Dvina - Russian designation for the SA-2A model.

SA-N-2A - Navy version.

S-75M-2 Volkhov-M - Russian designation for the SA-N-2A model.

SA-2B - Has Fan Song-B radar system and uses V-750VK or V-750VN missiles.

S-75 Desna - Russian designation for the SA-2B model.

SA-2C - Has the Fan Song-C radar system and uses V-750m missiles.

S-75M Volkhov - Russian designation for the SA-2C model.

SA-2D - Equipped with Fan Song-E radar system and uses V-750SM missiles.

SA-2E - Equipped with Fan Song-E radar system and uses V-750AK missiles.

SA-2F - Equipped with Fan-Song-F radar system and uses V-750SM missiles.

C-75 - Russian registered name. HQ-1 - variant produced in China.

HQ-2 - variant produced in China.

HY-2 - Chinese-made variant of the improved SA-2 base model.