S-300 Series Tactical and Technical Performance

the S-300V was developed as tactical SAM system, while the S-300P was developed as a strategic SAM system. The S-300V was developed for Land Forces and the S-300P system for long-range air defense.

SA-10 GRUMBLE is the low-end S-300PS/PT series with FLAP LID radar and 5V55 radars. SA-20 GARGOYLE is the high-end S-300PM-1/2 series with TOMB STONE radar and 48N6 missiles. The 9M96 missiles don't fit into the larger 48N6 tubes, rather, the four-round 9M96 launcher replaces a 48N6 tube.

The S-300P has a similar code name but in fact is an entirely different missile system. The S-300V series includes two systems, S-300V (SA-12), and the improved S-300VM Antey 2500. These two weapons systems use two types of missiles, the 9M83 SA-12A Gladiator and the 9M83 SA-12B Giant.

The S-400 can selectively use several types of missiles, both previously developed SAMs and the new, unique SAMs. The Triumph air defense system can use 48N6E missiles of the S-300PMU-1 system and the 48N6E2 missiles of the S-300PMU-2 Favorit system. There are two new missiles in the S-400 system: the quad-packed missile has a range of 120-150km and the big one has a range of 400km.

Almaz is working on an S-500, described in September 2002 as an improvement of the Phase 2 S-400, with new missiles and radar. As of 2007 it appeared that the merged Antey-Almaz was working on the S-500 Samoderzhets (Autocrat) system, that will include elements from both the S-400 system and the S-300VM (Antey 2500).