Compiled from various sources, some still classified, and many of which have never previously been published, this book clearly portrays the development of the Russian air and ballistic missile defense systems.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union invested heavily in its air defense systems. As a result, Russia now possesses the most advanced air and ballistic missile defense systems in the world. Russian air defense systems are also highly proliferated and are currently in use by many countries.

Since the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the USSR, it has become increasingly possible to study Russian air defense, but Russia is by no means an open book on defense-related subjects. Some information circulates in the media, but for the time being, air defense systems are still subject to a degree of speculation.

Air and ballistic missile defense programs in the Soviet Union and Russia have a very long history. Soviet engineers started working on both programs in the 1950s, and by 1960 they had built the first successful systems able to intercept enemy aircraft and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Current Russian air defense doctrine follows a layered multi-level approach providing in depth coverage from any aerial or ballistic missile attack. This layered system allows Russian air defense forces to create zones that can be very difficult to penetrate. The highest level of these defensive networks uses long-range systems providing air defense umbrellas potentially up to 500+ km.

The second level includes medium-range systems like the S-350 and Buk variants (infamous for downing Malaysian Airline’s flight MH17 over the Ukraine in 2014). This medium-range level is intended to provide air defense zones which are also covered under the long-range systems but are more cost-effective in this envelope. The third level presents mobile short-range systems which are intended to provide extra protection for the long-range systems as well as stationary objects. These systems, along with highly mobile systems like the Buk are often also attached to ground forces formations such as armored and mechanized divisions and brigades.

What are the abilities of these systems against NATO? President Putin emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s air defenses amid NATO’s military activities near Russia’s borders. One of the key new concept developments is counter-stealth detection and interception. The other is to counter future hypersonic missile threats. It is, as the author reveals, Russia that is leading the way in these races.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Note to the Reader and Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1 Integrated Air Defence System (IADS)
  • Airspace Control and Surveillance System
  • Fighter-Interceptor Force
  • Missile Defence System
  • Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures System
  • Automated Control System
  • Modern Russian Integrated Air Defence
• Chapter 2 Air Defence ‘Electronic Eyes’
  • The Opponents
  • Counter-Stealth Radar Systems
  • Counter-Stealth Concepts
  • Electronic Warfare
  • EW Systems against Airborne Systems (REB-S)
• Chapter 3 Air Defence and Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence of the Aerospace Forces
  • Ancestors
  • The Mighty S-300
  • S-400 Triumf
  • Defending the Fleet – Naval S-300F
  • S-500 Triumfator
  • S-350 Vityaz
  • Pantsir
  • Prospective Systems: 42S6 Morfey
  • The Moscow Shield – Anti-Satellite Missiles
• Chapter 4 Ground Forces Air Defence
  • Tactical Air Defence
  • Battlefield Threat – Countering Drones
  • Legacy Systems
• Chapter 5 S-300V (9K81) Long-Range Missile System
• Chapter 6 Medium-Range Army Air Defence Systems
  • Legacy: 2A11 Krug (SA-4 ‘Ganef’) and 2K12 Kub (SA-6 ‘Gainful’) Missile Systems
  • Successor: 9K37 Buk (SA-11, SA-17) and 9K317M – Buk M3 Viking
• Chapter 7 Short-Range Air Defence
  • Tor Missile System
• Chapter 8 Gun and Missile Systems, and Point Defence
  • 2K22 Tunguska (SA-19 ‘Grison’)
  • Point Defence and MANPADS
  • Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns (SPAAGs)
  • MANPADS
• Appendix
  • NATO Codenames for Missile Systems
  • NATO Codenames for S-300 and S-400 Missiles
  • NATO Codenames for S-300, S-400, S-500 Systems Radars 234
  • NATO Codenames for S-300V Radars
  • NATO Codenames for Radars that are in Use (Including Older Types used by Other Countries)
  • Most Common Russian Abbreviations
• Notes
• Bibliography