Destruction of an A-50 reconnaissance aircraft by an anti-aircraft missile S-200 complex has drawn the attention of many to this Soviet air defense system, which was considered obsolete and allegedly decommissioned in Ukraine in 2013. The conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war at the stage of full-scale invasion encourage the Ukrainian Defense Forces to use creative approaches and any means to accomplish their tasks. Let’s try to figure out whether such a defeat is possible given the characteristics of the SAM.
The S-200 long-range air defense missile system was introduced into service in the Soviet Union back in 1967. The SAM is designed to combat aircraft and cruise missiles at altitudes from 300 m to 40 km and within a radius of up to 300 km (parameters depending on the modification) in conditions of intense electronic warfare.
In the 1970s, the S-200 became the main anti-aircraft missile system in the Soviet Union’s air defense system, protecting virtually all important targets. In 1970, the S-200V («Vega») model was released, and in 1975 the S-200D («Dubna») model was released, both of which received an increase in altitude and range (initial values were — 20 km and 160 km, respectively). Short modification history displays the available options for these systems:
In 1989-1990, the S-200V was modernized to create remote missile batteries for launching missiles at targets using the ROC radar, which is located up to 140 km away from the launchers. An intermediate cockpit was added to the system, and many other changes were made, but it is believed that the work was not completed.
A classic regimental launcher consists of the following elements:
Means of the firing channel:
In modern conditions and in combination with other means of target acquisition and guidance, the configuration may be different.
The deployment time of the system at the prepared position is 24 hours. Getting into combat readiness from the standby mode — 1.5 minutes, preparation for missile launch — 40 seconds.
The targets are hit by guided missiles with four solid-fuel boosters (first stage). The missiles are launched from launchers at the starting positions. After the rocket is accelerated by the accelerators, the liquid rocket engine is launched. Depending on the distance, the rocket selects the engine mode to maintain maneuverability.
The missiles are quite large, 11 meters long and weighing 7.1 tons. The speed varies depending on the range and is 700-1200 m/s.
The on-board power system is powered by a 5I43 power supply (BIP) with a turbine that runs on the fuel of the missile’s main engine and two electric generators. The missile is guided by the reflection of the target by the target illumination radar (TIR). The missiles have a semi-active homing head. The warhead — is of the high-explosive fragmentation type.
Each type of missile has its own characteristics that are taken into account when preparing to fire at specific targets. The 5V21A missile has a 5G23 homing head that does not have a system for detecting a target signal by speed. This missile cannot be used for firing at intermittent targets and target acquisition.
The 5V21V and 5V28 missiles have a 5G24 homing head with a velocity target acquisition system. The missiles can be launched with or without such a search. These missiles are used to shoot at jammers, as well as to engage targets with the homing head in flight.
The 5V28 missile has an extended range (240 km) compared to the 5V21A and 5V21B. The radio fuze of the 5V21A and 5V21B missiles works more reliably with passive obstacles.
The 5B14Sh high-explosive fragmentation warhead strikes spherical steel elements with an initial velocity of 1000-1700 m/s. The weight of such an element is — 3.5 g (21 thousand pieces) and 2 g (16 thousand pieces). The elements are placed in the cavity between the warhead shells and filled with cerezine. The lesion area is spherical, with two conical cavities in front and behind.
The weight of the warhead is 217±3 kg. The weight of the explosive charge is 87.6-91 kg. The explosive used is TG-20 (20% TNT / 80% hexogen). Detonation is triggered by an active radar detonator at a distance of several tens of meters in the immediate vicinity of the target.
When fired, a cone-shaped kill field is formed in the direction of flight with an inclination of approximately 60° from the longitudinal axis of the missile. In the event of a significant miss, the warhead is detonated at the end of the missile’s guided flight after the onboard power supply is lost.
The above characteristics are the maximum for the system, they belong to the S-200D modification. The maximum range of large subsonic aircraft is 300 km,
fighter-bombers — 190 km, cruise missiles — 60 km (depending on the type of target). Maximum target speed — up to 4300 km/h. Number of simultaneously hit targets — up to 5 (with a five-channel regimental complex). Number of missiles simultaneously aimed at one target — up to 3.
The S-200 system’s 5H62 target illumination radar (TIR) has a detection range of about 400 km and is used for tracking and illumination it is the main weakness of the complex: due to its parabolic design, it is capable of tracking only one target and switching to another manually if necessary. It has a high continuous power of 3 kW, which leads to incorrect interception of larger targets. It has a mode with a signal power of 7 W to reduce interference.
Target acquisition is carried out on command from the control panel, which provides information on the azimuth and range of the target, taking into account the location of the ROC. The locator is automatically deployed in the right direction and, if the target is not detected, switches to the sector search mode. Once detected, the radar determines the range to the target and follows it, and when the missile captures the target, a launch command is issued In the presence of obstacles, the missile is aimed at the radiation source, while the target may not be illuminated. To combat low-speed objects, there is a special mode of operation of the ROC.
Thus, given the distance, the type of target (a slow aircraft, and a radiation source), and the means of destruction, it is more than possible to shoot down a reconnaissance aircraft with an S-200 over the Sea of Azov. The weakest point of this plan *is* the ROC’s regular radar, which is highly visible, in particular to a powerful reconnaissance aircraft such as the A-50. But when combined with modern radio reconnaissance systems on the Ukrainian side, some of which have zero radiation, this scenario is not fantastic.