S-500 downsized specs? :confused:

Russia will start serial production of its next-generation S-500 missile system in 2014, an aerospace defense chief said on Thursday.

The S-500 air defense system will be able to track and destroy ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 3,500 kilometers.

“[The S-500] is currently in development. By 2014, it should enter into serial production,” aerospace defense strategic commander Lt. Gen. Valery Ivanov said.

“This system will be able to defend territories at heights of up to 50 kilometers,” he added.

Russia’s aerospace defense troops currently use S-300 and S-400 systems.

New S-400 air defense missiles will be deployed at Dmitrov just outside Moscow in March, Ivanov said.

KAPUSTIN YAR, February 17 (RIA Novosti)

40N6 state-tests ended last year. I don’t know if the 2 last units were supplied with 40N6 or with “old” 48N6DM.

Anyway, 48N6DM are also expensive missiles and differences with 40N6 are lesser than previously expected. I.e. 40N6 is slightly bigger and, in order to handle the apogee of its lofted path, is equipped with a more efficient guidance mechanism.

The 48N6 family of missiles were tested to 400km’s way back when in the mid-1980’s on the original S-300P system. Thus it is very likely that even the S-300PMU line of systems could engage targets that far if there werent software and sensor limits in place to prevent this (export mods are almost certainly crippled to prevent the sort of kill shots the USSR was successfully pulling off utilizing even more primitive S-300P systems as early as 1985).

The 40N6 very likely will be the missile for the S-500. SOC over at Key Publishing and the guy with the image int blog, has long speculated that the reason they keep quoting a 400km range for the S-400 is because it doesnt even need the 40N6 “big missile” to hit things at that range. Improved 48N6 family missiles + improved sensors means shots like that should be no problem.

“Fakel MKB engineers began work on dealing with the issue of a 400 kilometer ranged missile immediately upon the initiation of S-400 development. Boris Bunkin and Petr Grushin analyzed the characteristics of the 48N6 series missiles and realized that there was still potential in the missile for increased range. The missiles of the S-300P series weapons initially fly a near-ballistic profile towards their target. Increasing the altitude at apogee of the trajectory results in an increase in range. In-service weapons had their apogee restricted to 38 kilometers. This was due to the fact that at a higher altitude the aerodynamic control surfaces would no longer function effectively. Thrust vectoring control used during the boost stage was no longer viable either as the motor had already burnt out prior to reaching apogee. It was discovered that operating the control surfaces at higher altitudes resulted in an instability in the flight path, potentially impacting the accuracy of the weapon. Bunkin and Grushin’s solution to increase the range of the missile system was to modify the control surfaces to allow them to lock during the near-ballistic portion of the trajectory. This would eliminate any unwanted movement, with the control surfaces unlocking upon reaching lower altitude to provide maneuverability during endgame. The new missile was tested in 1985 and reached an apogee of 70 kilometers. The significant increase in altitude enabled the missile to fly out to a range of 400 kilometers. Upon descending to 20 kilometers, the missile’s guidance system was recaptured by an experimental engagement radar complex and guided normally, validating the concept of a 400 kilometer missile for the S-400.

After the 400 kilometer test firing, Almaz MKB set about redesigning the experimental engagement radar components to allow the system to be employed on a mobile chassis. The S-400 design was approved in 1988. Events surrounding the breakup of the Soviet Union would affect production of system components, so testing of the S-400 did not commence until 1993. By this time testing of strategic-level SAM systems had been relocated to Kapustin Yar in southwestern Russia as Sary Shagan now resided in the independent nation of Kazakhstan. System testing initially commenced with the existing 48N6D missile, with testing of the new 48N6DM designed for the S-400 being reported in 2004. The first S-400 battallion entered operational service near the town of Elektrostal in the Moscow region on 6 August 2007.

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The long-range weapon designed to give the S-400 its 400 kilometer engagement range is believed to be designated 40N6. As mentioned previously, the 48N6 has proved capable of operating effectively at this range, so 40N6 may in fact be a cover designation for an appropriately modified 400 kilometer ranged 48N6 series weapon destined for the S-400. Alternatively, it may be a wholly different missile designed for a different weapon system, such as the forthcoming S-500 strategic defense system. Ergo, despite rumors persisting of the continued development of what is referred to as the 40N6, it may well be that the S-400 is already capable of engaging targets at maximum range using the existing 48N6DM. This is reinforced by the fact that some sources claim that a 400 kilometer range missile has been in service with air defense units around Moscow since 2001. Were this to be the case, the 400 kilometer missile would almost certainly have to be a variant of the 48N6, as the only air defense units capable of operating such a system around Moscow would have been the various S-300PM batteries. This would also likely imply that off-board targeting of the missile for extreme-range engagements is possible, perhaps using the 64N6 battle management radar system. Endgame intercept without the standard SAGG guidance mode provided by the engagement radar would likely be performed using active radar homing were this to be the case. Active radar homing is another feature commonly attributed to the 40N6 missile, further reinforcing the fact that the missile may be the 48N6DM or another unknown variant. With active radar homing missiles could theoretically be fired using off-board targeting data, allowing them to engage targets outside the range of the engagement radar as SAGG guidance commands would not be required. It may even be possible that new-build 48N6 series weapons came with Bunkin and Grushin’s locking control surfaces, allowing them to be operated at extreme range. Until Russia releases information regarding the 400 kilometer missile system employed by the S-400, the missile providing this capability will have to remain an enigma.”

http://geimint.blogspot.com/2008/07/s-300p-detailed-analysis.html

Still launching in pairs. It should be better to launch on a shoot-look-shoot mode. 40N6 missiles must be really expensive.

The Kh-22/M and Kh-32 look identical according to all reports.

Internal components – especially motor, are different; hence why the massive difference in missile specs.

The Kh-22/Kh-32 size still shocks me. 😮 :diablo:

The Backfire-C to me is the most beautiful and fearsome aircraft ever designed. It will be a sad day to see them go in a few decades.

100% agreed. Unfortunately, it was decide to let them go without the wonderful M5 modernization. 🙁

How about the capability to launch the Kh-101 and the fearsome Kh-15?

AFAIK S-300 regiments comprise 4 batteries. Now S-400 “divisions” seems to be deployed with just 2 batteries.

I don’t see the rational behind this. Is more cost-efficient to group the four batteries already deployed around a 91N6 “Big Bird-E” rather than deploy two “divisions” with two 96L6 surveillance radars.

Impressive 😮

Because SM is just a cheap modernization of legacy Flankers. May be the SM2, if some day becomes a reality, will include the change of the “stoneage” N001 by the Irbis.

Pictures of the early-warning site in Armavir

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_173/index.shtml