S-350 "Vityaz" SAM System

Russian anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), S-350, "Knight" was predictable upgrade in the domestic medium-range air defense system. The new complex in the army waited, as a precursor, S-300, who took on combat duty in 1994. Although "trehsotka" still fully meets the needs of the military establishment in the protection of air borders, replacing it is already needed.

The Americans immediately recorded a new complex in the black list of so-called asymmetric response of Russia and regarded him as a new threat to US national security. Well, here is the sequence how you want to re-Russian army, but the fact is indisputable: "The Knight" is able to become a full member of the Russian defenses. As the saying goes, past him, even the mouse does not slip.

"Anti-aircraft missile system of medium-range S-350" Hero "will begin to come into service videoconferencing in the current year, - said the deputy chairman of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission under the Russian President Oleg Bochkarev. - Complex turned out just gorgeous, with stunning features. It took some time for its completion, but the end result is frankly pleased. I hope that "Hero" will appreciate and the troops. "

And there's really evaluate. Let's start with that one launcher complex "Vityaz" is able to place 12 missile to 4 C-300 - rate with so many "barrels" will triple. SAM also features a number of advanced targeted channels, which allows to fire more targets simultaneously. The complex is a self-propelled launcher that works in conjunction with vserakursnym fixed radar with electronic scanning of space and the command post on the chassis.

S-350 "Hero" is intended for the defense of administrative, industrial and military facilities from the massive strikes of modern and advanced means of air attack. It is capable of hitting at the same time reflect the different means of air attack round at all altitudes of their flight - from very small to large. C-350 can operate autonomously and as a part of air defense groups under the control of the higher command posts. Combat system operation is conducted fully automatically - the combat calculation provides only a preparation for work and monitors the progress of hostilities.

Among other performance characteristics may be noted that the maximum number of simultaneously engaged targets of 16 and 12 ballistic aerodynamic air of defeat objects that get off at a distance of 60 kilometers and the ceiling of 30 kilometers. Any low-flying goal of "clinging" complex almost to the ground, ten meters from the surface, which can effectively shoot down cruise missiles and helicopters. The maximum number of simultaneously induced missiles is 32 pieces, allowing a complex to knock down all the enemy flying objects in the air in a radius of more than a hundred kilometers.

S-350 "Vityaz" is composed of three mobile units on a wheeled chassis - command and control points, two multi-radar and eight self-propelled launchers. Time to deploy for combat use of the march is just five minutes: as they say, to go into battle.

In the complex there are two types of missiles - short and medium range. First, 9M100, equipped with infrared homing head, and not just destroy air targets, but also undermines their warhead. Second, 9M96, equipped with "intelligent" warhead provides defeat both current and future air threats in a wide range of their operational use - by cruise missiles and fighter aircraft to ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

"Homing head mounted on the missiles, provides a direct hit on the object of attack or convergence in range of the warhead, - says the chairman of the military-technical commission" Almaz-Antei "Alexander bitter. - Equipped homing missiles able to "see" the target and lit carrier alone leads to it. Human intervention - the operator of the command post, there is no longer required. The rocket itself will achieve the goal and fulfill its mission. "

In addition to these features, the S-350 "Vityaz" in contrast to the basic model of the S-300 is a complex medium-range exclusively created for the replacement of two weapons systems facing armed VCS, namely S-300PM and "Buk-M1-2 ". This circumstance is due to the fact that the S-300, and the "Book" is not only morally obsolete, and perform almost similar functions. The difference was only in the fact that the latest (and C-300B) is primarily a means of army air defense, and the S-300PM formed the backbone of the air defense forces, now included videoconferencing.

Let the sound unpatriotic, but the emergence of the Russian army S-350 "Knight" was in part due to South Korea. Fifteen years ago, is experiencing some financial difficulties, "Almaz-Antey" almost turned development to create a new national air defense systems, but managed to win an international tender, beating the French and the Americans. Funding for development work performed by the customer - South Korea, making it possible not to close the project. Korean program will not only continue to work on the creation of the complex, but also to gain invaluable access to the latest technology, as South Korea did not limit workers Russian CB access to imported elemental base.

However, and Russian defense industry, and the current leadership of the Ministry of Defense made conclusions for the future from this situation, realizing that the supply of defensive strength to be increased constantly. It is now possible to create new weapons, including air defense systems, significantly increased. And next year, the C-350 will begin to massively enter the army to replace the C-300. It is expected that up to 2020 the Russian Army will be 30 complexes "Hero" and "Almaz-Antey" is already preparing a new and promising developments.