SA-2 Guideline

The SA-2 Guideline is the NATO reporting name for the S-75 (Russian: ?-75) high-altitude surface-to-air guided missile system (SAM) of the Soviet Union, the most widely deployed and used air defense missile in history. They gained notoriety when they shot down a USAF U-2 spy plane in 1960, and during the Vietnam War when they were briefly the cause of much consternation among US air-war planners. It has also been locally-produced in the People's Republic of China as the HQ-1 and HQ-2.

Models

SA-2A; S-75 Dvina (Russian ????? - Dvina River) with Fan Song-A guidance radar and V-750 or V-750V missiles. Initial deployment version from 1957. 10.6 m (34.8 ft) long, with a booster diameter of 0.65 m (25.5 in), and missile diameter 0.5 m (19.7 in). Launch weight is 2287 kg (5,041 lb). The missile has a maximum effective range of 30 km (19 miles), a minimum range of 8 km (5 miles) and an intercept altitude envelope of between 450 and 25,000 m (1,500-82,000 ft).

Related Topics:
Dvina River - 1957

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SA-N-2A; S-75M-2 Volkhov-M (Russian ?????? - Volkhov River): navalized version of the -2A fitted to the Sverdlov Class cruiser Dzerzhinski. Generally unsuccessful and not fitted to any other ships.

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SA-2B; S-75 Desna (Russian ????? - Desna River), Fan Song-B radars and V-750VK and V-750VN missiles. Second deployment version, entered service in 1959. The missiles were slightly longer at 10.8 m (35.4 ft), due to a more powerful booster. The system could engage targets at altitudes between 500 m and 30 km (1,640-98,450 ft) and ranges up to 34 km (21 miles).

Related Topics:
Desna River - 1959

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SA-2C; S-75M Volkhov, Fan Song-C radar with V-750 m missiles. Improved -2B deployed in 1961. The V-750 m was externally identical to the V-750VK/V-750VN, but with improved performance for range up to 43 km (27 miles) and reduced lower altitude limits of 400 m (1,312 ft).

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SA-2D; Fan Song-E radar and V-750SM missiles. Differed significantly from the A/B/C in having the new antennas and a longer barometric nose probe and several other differences associated with the sustainer motor casing. The missile is 10.8 m (35.4 ft) long, has the same body diameters and warhead as the SA-2C, but the weight is increased to 2450 kg (5,400 lb). The effective maximum range is 43 km (27 miles), the minimum range is 6 km (4 miles) and the intercept altitude envelope is between 250 and 25000 m (820-82,000 ft). The Fan Song-E was introduced to make it more difficult to jam.

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SA-2E: Fan Song-E radar and V-750AK missiles. Similar rocket to the D, but uses a bulbous warhead section lacking the forward fins. The SA-2E is 11.2 m (36.7 ft) long, has a body diameter of 0.5 m (19.7 in) and weighs 2450 kg (5,400 lb) at launch. The missile can be fitted with either a command detonated 15 kT nuclear or 295 kg (650 lb) conventional HE warhead.

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SA-2F: Fan Song-F radar and V-750SM missiles. After watching jamming in Vietnam and the Six-Day War render the SA-2 completely ineffective, the existing systems were quickly upgraded with a new radar system designed to help ignore wide-bank scintillation jamming. The command system also included a home-on-jam mode to attack aircraft carrying strobe jammers, as well as a completely optical system (of limited use) when these failed. F's were developed starting in 1968 and deployed in the USSR later that year, while shipments to Vietnam started in late 1970.

Related Topics:
Six-Day War - Scintillation - 1968 - 1970

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S-75M Volga (Russian ?-75? ????? - Volga River). Version from 1995.

Related Topics:
Volga River - 1995

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