Air Defense System : S-350E Vityaz

Efran Syah       Air Defense System    Comment   

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The S-350E is a Russian medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by GSKB Almaz-Antey. Its purpose is to replace the S-300 air defense system. The system design traces its roots from the joint South Korean/Russian KM-SAM project and uses the same 9M96 missile as the S-400 missile system.

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The missiles for S-350E were created on the basis of the Russian 9M96. After the Russian was acquainted with KM-SAM, it decided to launch an R&D in 2007 and create a Russian new-generation medium-range air defense weapon with another concept and improved characteristics. Vityaz began trials in 2015 and Almaz-Antey handed over to the Defense Ministry the first S-350 set in December 2019. In February 2020, the first S-350 was supplied to the Gatchina training center in the Leningrad region of the Aerospace Forces. In 2021, the rearmament of the 24th antiaircraft brigade deployed in the Krasnoyarsk region and Khakassia will begin. S-300 will be replaced by S-350. Three years later the antiaircraft regiment in Achinsk will begin to receive Vityaz.

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The main trend in air and missile defense is increased multichannel capability to destroy high-speed targets, including ballistic ones. S-350 has a round view of targets. The number of channels to simultaneously fire at targets has been considerably increased.

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

S-350 considerably exceeds S-300, as it has more missiles per launcher and can effectively repel massive strikes. It tracks 48 targets and provides guidance for eight aerodynamic and six ballistic objects. S-300 can track 12 targets and fire at six. S-350 can be integrated into a single combat control system and obtain guidance from a more powerful radar of S-400. An active phased antenna array of Vityaz reliably locks on a target at a distance of 250 km even in conditions of electronic warfare.

S-350E command post. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

S-350 fires two types of missiles. 9M96 destroys any aerodynamic and ballistic objects at a distance of 120 km and an altitude of 30 km. Guidance is provided by an inertial adjustment system and a homing warhead in the final section of the flight. 9M100 missile can intercept targets at a distance of 15 km. It is equipped with an infrared homing warhead that locks on the target right after the launch and operates by the fire-and-forget principle. The weapon destroys low-flying cruise missiles, airplanes and helicopters, medium and heavy drones, and tactical ballistic missiles.

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

The S-350E Vityaz launcher missile canisters are mounted on the 8x8 truck chassis BAZ-6909. The power plant comprising an engine, a clutch and a gearbox that are mounted behind the cab. The engine is the YaMZ-8424.10-033 multi-fuel four-stroke eight-cylinder V-type liquid-cooled diesel with a power of 470 hp.

S-350E multifunctional radar. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

In September 2017, it was reported that the missile system was deployed in the town of Masyaf in Hama province, Syria, delivered from Russia via the Tartus port.

The first launches, made on March 26, 2019, were positive and the air defense missile system successfully passed state tests.

S-350E multifunctional radar. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

In late December 2019, at Kapustin Yar, the S-350E was officially handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The handover involved tracking of aerodynamic targets.

In February 2020, the S-350 Vityaz was officially commissioned into the service of the Aerospace Defence Forces as the new missile system had been delivered to Zhukov Air and Space Defense Academy to train crews for the equipment.

S-350E Vityaz SAM system. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

Each S-350E Vityaz 50R6 system typically includes:

• Three launcher trucks 50P6
• Fire control system with target and surveillance radar 50N6A
• Command and control vehicle 50K6
• Relay station for communication.

S-350E transporter erector launcher. (Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wiki Common)

Basic performance characteristics of the S-350E Vityaz:
Maximum number of simultaneously engaged targets:

• Aerodynamic : 16
• Ballistic : 12

Maximum number of simultaneously induced missiles : 32
Affected area of aerodynamic purposes:

• Range : 1.5–120 km (0.93–74.56 mi)
• Height : 10 m-30 km (98,000 ft)

Affected area of ballistic targets:

• Range : 1.5–30 km (0.93–18.64 mi)
• Height : 2–25 km (6,600–82,000 ft)

Deployment time : 5 minutes