S-125
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The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora (Russian: С-123 "Нева"/"Печора", NATO reporting name SA-3 Goa) Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the SA-1 and SA-2. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more maneuverable targets. It is also able to engage lower flying targets than the previous systems, and being more modern it is much more resistant to ECM than the SA-2. The 5V24 (V-600) missiles reach around Mach 3 to 3.5 in flight, both stages powered by solid fuel rocket motors. The SA-3, like the SA-2, uses radio command guidance. The naval version of this system has the NATO reporting name SA-N-1 Goa and original designation M-1 Volna (Russian Волна – wave).
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[edit] Description
The SA-3 is somewhat mobile, an improvement over the SA-2 system. The missiles are typically deployed on fixed turrets containing two or four but can be carried ready-to-fire on ZIL trucks in pairs. Reloading the fixed launchers takes about a few minutes. The launchers are accompanied by a command building or truck and three primary radar systems:
- P-15 "Flat Face" or P-15M(2) "Squat Eye" 380 kW C-band target acquisition radar (also used by the SA-6 and SA-8, range 250km/155 miles)
- SNR-125 "Low Blow" 250 kW I/D-band tracking, fire control and guidance radar (range 40km/25 miles, second mode 80km/50 miles)
- PRV-11 "Side Net" E-band height finder (also used by SA-2, SA-4 and SA-5, range 28 km/17 miles, max height 32 km/105,000 ft)
"Flat Face"/"Squat Eye" is mounted on a van ("Squat Eye" on a taller mast for better performance against low-altitude targets), "Low Blow" on a trailer and "Side Net" on a box-bodied trailer.
[edit] History
The SA-3 was first deployed between 1961 and 1964 around Moscow, augmenting the SA-1 and SA-2 sites already ringing the city, as well as in other parts of the USSR. In 1964, an upgraded version of the system, the S-125M "Neva-M" and later S-125M1 "Neva-M1" was developed. The original version was designated SA-3A by the US DoD and the new Neva-M named SA-3B and (naval) SA-N-1B. The Neva-M introduced a redesigned booster and an improved guidance system. The SA-3 was not used against U.S. forces in Vietnam, because the Soviets feared that China (after the souring of Sino-Soviet relations in 1960), through which most, if not all of the equipment meant for the NVA had to travel, would try to copy the missile. It has seen some service in the Israeli-Arab wars.
The SA-3 is mostly obsolete now due to its short range and easily jammed radar but despite this an SA-3 system managed to shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk "Stealth Fighter" on March 27, 1999 during the Kosovo War (the only recorded downing of a stealth aircraft), reportedly the SA-3 used had been modified by Yugoslavia with thermal imaging and a laser rangefinder. Serbia's strategic air defense was based around the older S-125 Pechora (SA-3) system. Although old, upgrades and clever tactics enabled it to down a F-117 stealth aircraft.
On an interesting note, the "Neva-M" upgrade gives the new 5V27 (V-601) missiles the capability of being launched against surface targets including ships due to their improved guidance which allows them to dive down onto their target with a parabolic-type trajectory (somewhat ballistic in nature).
[edit] Naval version
Work on a naval version M-1 Volna (SA-N-1) started in 1956, along with work on a land version. It was first mounted on a rebuilt Kotlin class destroyer (Project 56K) Bravyi and tested in 1962. In the same year, the system was accepted. The basic missile was a V-600 (or 4K90) (range: from 4 to 15 km, altitude: from 0.1 to 10 km). Fire control and guidance is carried out by 4R90 Yatagan radar, with five parabolic antennas on a common head. Only one target can be engaged at a time (or two, for ships fitted with two Volna systems). In case of emergency, Volna could be also used against naval targets, due to short response time.
The first launcher type was the two-missile ZIF-101, with a magazine for 16 missiles. In 1963 an improved two-missile launcher, ZIF-102, with a magazine for 32 missiles, was introduced to new ship classes. In 1967 Volna systems were upgraded to Volna-M (SA-N-1B) with V-601 (4K91) missiles (range: 4-22 km, altitude: 0.1-14 km).
In 1974 - 1976 some systems were modernized to Volna-P standard, with additional TV target tracking channel and bigger immunity against jamming. Then improved V-601M missiles were introduced, with lower minimal attack altitude against aerial target (system Volna-N).
[edit] Modern upgrades
Since Russia replaced most of its SA-3 sites with SA-10 and SA-12 systems, they decided to upgrade the SA-3 systems being removed from service to make them more attractive to export customers. Released in 2000, the Pechora-2 version features better range, multiple target engagement ability and a higher probability of kill (PK). The launcher is moved onto a truck allowing much shorter relocation times. It is also possible to fire the Pechora-2M system against cruise missiles.
In 1999, a Russian-Belarusian financial-industrial consortium called Oboronitelnye Sistemy (Defensive Systems) was awarded a contract to overhaul Egypt's S-125 SAM system. These refurbished weapons have been reintroduced as the S-125 Pechora 2M.[1]
In 2001, Poland began offering an upgrade to the S-125 known as the Newa SC. This replaced many analogue components with digital ones for improved reliability and accuracy. This upgrade also involves mounting the missile launcher on a T-55 tank chassis (a TEL), greatly improving mobility and also adds IFF capability and data links. Radar is mounted on an 8-wheeled heavy truck chassis (formerly used for Scud launchers). Serbian modifications include terminal/camera homing from radar base. Missiles with these modifications managed to shoot down a F-117 stealth aircraft for the first time in history. During the Kosovo war, Yugoslav Army SA-3 missiles also shot down numerous UAV's and one F-16C. A number of NATO aircrafts was also shot down during the war, but there is no official conffirme.
Later the same year, the Russian version was upgraded again to the Pechora-M which upgraded almost all aspects of the system - the rocket motor, radar, guidance, warhead, fuse and electronics. There is an added laser/infra-red tracking device to allow launching of missiles without the use of the radar.
There is also a version of the S-125 available from Russia with the warhead replaced with telemetry instrumentation, for use as target drones.
[edit] Deployment
- North Korea owns many SA-3 systems (around 32 batteries), along with SA-2, SA-5 and SA-7.
- Yugoslavia operated around 14 SA-3 batteries with a total of about 60 launchers.
- Iraq operated a number before and during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Other operators include Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland (no longer in use), Hungary, India, Libya, Mozambique, Peru, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Somali Republic, South Yemen, Syria, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia.
- The SA-N-1 naval version is deployed on Kresta I class cruisers and Kashin class destroyers (two installations each, fore and aft), as well as Kynda class cruisers, Kotlin-SAM class destroyers and Kanin class destroyers (one installation each, aft). Some Indian frigates also carry the SA-N-1 system.
[edit] Operators
- Template:AKJE
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Czechoslovakia
Cuba
East Germany
Egypt
Ethiopia
Finland (retired in 1990s)
Georgia
Hungary
India
Iran
Iraq
Libya
Moldova 12 missiles And 1 surface-to-air missile battalion
Mozambique
North Korea
Peru
Poland
Romania (retired in 1999)
Serbia 8 surface-to-air missile system, with 32 rocket launchers (being modernized)
Somalia
South Yemen
Soviet Union
Syria
Saudi Arabia in retirement
Tanzania
Vietnam
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zambia
[edit] Radar photos
 P-15 "Flat Face" radar. Photo by Nellis AFB |
 "Low Blow" radar. Photo by Nellis AFB |
 PRV-11 "Side Net" radar. Photo by Nellis AFB |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Jane's Defence news on Egyptian S-125 upgrade, April 2006
- Defencetalk on Egyptian S-125 upgrade, October 2006
| The SA designation sequence: SA-1 Guild | SA-2 Guideline | SA-3 Goa | SA-N-3 Goblet | SA-4 Ganef | SA-5 Gammon | SA-6 Gainful | SA-7 Grail |
| List of Russian and former Soviet missiles Missiles |
