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 S-25 Berkut (SA-1 'Guild') and V-75 (SA-2 'Guideline'). 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).

1 Description
2 History
3 Naval version
4 Modern upgrades
5 Deployment
6 Radar photos
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Description

Simulated S-125 site at Nellis AFB

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:

Fixed S-125 quadruple launcher. Photo by US Navy Expeditionary Warfare Training.

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)
"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

A pair of S-125 missiles in transit. Photo by GulfLINK.

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.

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

ZIF-101 launcher of Volna system on the Kashin class destroyer Strogiy.

Works on naval version M-1 Volna (SA-N-1) started in 1956, along with works on 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. Basic missile was 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 two-missile ZIF-101, with a magazine for 16 missiles. From 1963 an improved two-missile launcher ZIF-102 with a magazine for 32 missiles was introduced to new ship classes. From 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

Two S-125 dual missile launcher trailers.

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 kill probability (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 reinducted as the S-125 Pechora 2M.[1]

NewaSC laucher ("Samobieżny - Cyfrowy" self-propelled - digital)

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).

Later in 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, fuze 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, 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.