S-300VM

The S-300VM "Antey-2500" (NATO reporting name SA-23 Gladiator\Giant) is a Russian anti-ballistic missile system. The system is designed to defeat short- and medium-range ballistic missile, aeroballistic, and cruise missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, as well as loitering ECM platforms and precision-guided munitions.

Missile

The 9M82M missile is intended to defeat tactical, theater and medium range ballistic missiles, as well as aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 200 km. The Antey-2500 system is mounted on a tracked cross-country vehicle equipped with self-contained power supply and navigation systems, as well as surveying and positioning equipment.

System characteristics

The Antey-2500 air defense missile system features:

• High degree of battle performance automation owing to high-speed digital computers
• Passive electronically scanned array radars with advanced data processing methods
• High ECM immunity
• High mobility and autonomous operation
• High firepower potential, irrespective of air attack tactics or sequence
• Vertical launch from a special transport launch canister
• Maintenance-free operation of missiles for at least ten years
• Capability to defeat ballistic missile individual warheads
• Inertial guidance with radio command mid-course update and semi-active radar homing at the terminal phase
• Focused detonation of the missile warhead

The Antey-2500 system comprises:

• Command post
• Circular and sector scan radars
• Multichannel missile guidance station (MMGS) have 24 channels for illumination of 24 targets
• 9A82M launcher (typical amount 8) includes radar of illumination and targeting as well as *brains* of the radar^[4]
• 9A83M launcher (typical amount 12) includes radar of illumination and targeting as well as *brains* of the radar^[5]
• 9A84M loader-launcher (technically no more than 24)
• 9M82M and 9M83M air defense missiles
• Maintenance, repair, and transport vehicles
• Group SPTA set
• Electronic trainer for MMGS operators
• Set of missile handling equipment

Technical ability to use 1-2 additional battalions.

One system configuration - external command post, CP of the S-300V and every radars of S-300V and the outside radars, other external elements. This is the central core, for it served a few battalions of S-300V system. All battalions at full strength of S-300V system (CP of the S-300V and every radars of the S-300V, and a few launchers with radars, and a few launchers without radars).^[6]

S-300 system family tree

Variants

• S-300V: entered service in 1983; 100 km range
• S-300VM: 200 km range^[7]
• S-300VMD: 300 km range
• S-300V4: in service since 2013; 400^[8][9] km range

Operators

Map with S-300VM operators in blue

Current operators

•  Egypt : Antey-2500, Entered service in November 2014 ^[10][11][12]
•  India : It bought S-300VM anti-missile platforms from Russia.^[13][14]
•  Iran: Russia is offering Iran the S-300VM instead of the S-300PMU1 to avoid a lawsuit over the cancellation of the latter.^[15][16] Recently in 2015/16 both S300PMU and S300VM are sold to Iran.
•  Russia : ordered more than three S-300V4 divisions by 2015^[17]
  • 2 divisions in the Southern Military District^[18][19]
  • 3 batteries in the Western Military District^[20]
  • Three more batteries (1 division) delivered on July 2, 2015.^[21]
  • Modernization of all S-300V to the version S-300V4 was to end in 2012.^[22]
•  Venezuela: 2 S-300VM in 1 air defense battalion^[23]

Potential operators

•  Algeria: In November 2015 Algeria was negotiating the purchase of several divisions of this system.^[24]

Cancelled

•  Turkey: Turkey was in talks with Russian officials for a co-production deal before the Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown incident.^[25][26]
•  Saudi Arabia: Russia has offered Saudi Arabia the S-300VM as First Operator.^[27]

Operational deployment

In early October 2016, a battery of Russian S-300V4 air defense missile launchers were deployed to Syria,^[28][29] at the Russian naval base in Tartus.^[30]

See also

• Comparison of Long-Range SAMs
• S-300
• S-350E Vityaz
• S-400
• S-500

References

• Russia's Arms Catalog 2004

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to S-300VM.

• (Russian) S-300VM "Antey-2500" (SA-12 Giant/Gladiator) at the Vestnik PVO website
• S-300VM Antey-2500 SA-23 Gladiator Giant air defense missile system (Army recognition)