Russia to supply Iran with anti-aircraft systems

Breaking news.ie ^ | 5/26/06

[o_zarkman44]

We should never trust Russia. they have been doing things like that behind our backs for years. Just because Russia, and as a matter of fact China, appear to be embracing some Democracy, I think it is a smokescreen for subversion.

[finnman69]

The S-300 system is of greater concern to the Pentagon. It is the premier mobile ballistic/cruise missle knockdown system. It would make cruise attacks very difficult. What the newspapers will not (because they cannot) report is what is the status of Iran's quest for the S-300s.

How would a system like the S-300 shoot down Tomahawk cruise missiles flying at below 300 feet above the ground?

B-52s can carry 20 and launch them from stand off distances.

B-1s can carry 12 JSOWs.
B-2s can carry 16 JSOWs

Granted the S-300 has the range to engage aircraft launching JSOWs at the outer edge of stand off distances, but not cruise missiles.

[stuartcr]

Probably always will be.

[PreciousLiberty]

"How would a system like the S-300 shoot down Tomahawk cruise missiles flying at below 300 feet above the ground?"

Perhaps by being on an elevation and using Doppler radar to detect the moving cruise missiles? I hope we have a nice big stock of the stealthy cruise variants.

Here's a description of the system under discussion here (not the S-300):

The TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile system is a mobile, integrated air defense system, designed for operation at medium-, low- and very low –altitudes, against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, UAVs, guided missiles and precision weapon. The system is capable of operating in an intensive aerial jamming environment. The system is comprised of a number of missile Transporter Launcher Vehicle (TLV). A Russian air defense Tor battalion consists of 3 - 5 companies, each equipped with four TLVs. Each TLV is equipped with 8 ready to launch missiles, associating radars, fire control systems and a battery command post. The combat vehicle can operate autonomously, firing from stationary positions or on the move. Set-up time is rated at 3 minutes and typical reaction time, from target detection to missile launch is 5-8 seconds. Reaction time could range from 3.4 seconds for stationary positions to 10 seconds while on the move. Each fire unit can engage and launch missiles against two separate targets.

Tor M1 missile launched from the vertical container/launcher. The missile uses cold launch to exit and clear the launcher, and the rocket motor and thrusters are ignited at an altitude of 20 meters.Tor M1 can detect and track up to 48 targets (minimum radar cross section of 0.1 square meter) at a maximum range of 25 km, and engage two of them simultaneously, at a speed of up to 700 m/sec, and at a distance of 1 to 12 km. The system's high lethality (aircraft kill probability of 0.92-0.95) is maintained at altitude of 10 – 6,000 m'. The vertically launched, single-stage solid rocket propelled missile is capable of maneuvering at loads up to 30gs. It is equipped with a 15kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead activated by a proximity fuse. The system is offered as fully integrated tracked combat vehicle, or as a modular combat unit (TOR-M1T) comprising a truck mounted mobile control module and launcher/antenna units, carried on a trailer. Other configuration include separated towed systems, as well as shelter-based systems, for the protection of fixed sites.

Sounds quite formidable, one hopes we have appropriate countermeasures. I'm sure it'd be better if Iran didn't have these...

[phalynx]

I sure hope they sell them those cool GPS blockers that they sold to Iraq. Iran needs a friend like Russia.

[Wiz]

ping

[finnman69]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/sa-15.htm


http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/sa-15-pics.htm

[MARKUSPRIME]

Jassm will destroy S-300 and the s-400,not to mention the Tor.It was designed for this purpose.

[Logical me]

Russia is still our enemy plain and simple.

You got that right. Russia is making a big mistake because this system will not stop making Iran a sandbox. We don't need aircraft to level the land. Secondly, Russia thinks they are making themselves safe. They seem to lack the intelligence to see, all they are doing is making their very existence short lived. It all comes back around. Darn nuts.

[rjp2005]

I guess it depends on which version Iran gets. This one can apparently engage multiple missiles as low as 10 meters. (Man that's low).

"The S-300PMU2 Favorit can engage targets flying from 10 m to 27 km above the surface at a speed of up to 10,000 km/h. It is claimed that it has a kill ratio ranging from 0.8 to 0.93 against aircraft and from 0.8 to 0.98 against Tomahawk-class cruise missiles."

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/s-300pmu2.htm

[boomop1]

This is a different ball game, I was there in Nam flying, I was in that ball game.

[GOPJ]

The Wild Weasel lineage for the suppression of enemy air defenses started in March 1965. Flying modified F-100 Super Sabres, the first Wild Weasels launched against North Vietnam targets on Thanksgiving 1965. The Weasels’ primary mission was negating surface-to-air-missile sites. This role eventually evolved into the suppression mission.

The SEAD mission — with a motto of “first in, last out” — means F-16 drivers have to reach out and touch their foe, even at high altitudes. Pilots like Cleet soar into enemy territory hoping enemy ground patrols turn on their radars and find them.

When the enemy turns on its radar, the Wild Weasels find it. Then it’s a race. Who can fire first? Then, who can avoid the oncoming missiles?

Advantage: Wild Weasel. Cleet and his brethren have a Mach 2 — nearly 1,400 mph — passport out of harm’s way. Radar patrols are nearly immobile.

Cool. Thanks for the information.