S-125 Credit - © Mark Wade Media Gallery

Russian all-solid propellant mid-range surface-to-air missile system.

In 1961 the PVO accepted for military service a mid-range two-stage all-solid propellant surface-to-air missile, the S-125 4K90 Neva system with the V-600 5V24 missile. This had been developed in the 1950's in parallel with the S-25 / V-750. The missile had a novel layout, using snap-out stabilizers with two active control surfaces, providing good control at all altitudes and speeds. The system was used successfully in Viet Nam and the Middle East, but it was not as robust as the S-25 and required specialists of the highest quality to keep it in service.

Radars: P-15/1RL13 Flat Face target acquisition radar, C band, range 250 km. P-15M Squat Eye target acquisition radar, C band, range 200 km. RSN-125 Low Blow target tracking radar, I band, range 110 km. PRV-11 Side Net height finding radar, E band, range 180 km.

Manufacturer: Almaz/Grushin. Total Mass: 923 kg (2,034 lb). Core Diameter: 0.37 m (1.21 ft). Total Length: 5.89 m (19.31 ft). Span: 1.50 m (4.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Maximum range: 25 km (15 mi). Guidance: Radio command. Maximum speed: 2,160 kph (1,340 mph). Minimum range: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). Ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft). Floor: 300 m (980 ft). Surveillance Radar: Flat Face /C. Tracking Radar: Low Blow/I.

Improved V-601 with new booster and warhead.

In 1961 the 4K91 (V-601) missile was accepted for service with the S-125 system for the PVO, the same missile being accepted for use by the land forces in May 1964. This missile used some improvements developed for the naval M-1/V-600 system. In comparison to the V-600 the missile used a new booster and warhead. Variants of the missile included the V-601P and V-601V.

Further improvement to the S-125 system.

Missile variants used by the system include the V-601PD, V-601G, V-601GP, V-601GPU. Pechora-2 upgrade uses 39N6E early warning radar, UHF band, range 150 km and UNV 1999 target tracking radar. Vehicles for the Pechora-2 include:

• 5P73-2 twin launcher on KAMAZ truck
• UNK command post vehicle on KAMAZ-4320 truck
• 39N6E EW radar on KAMAZ-4320 truck
• Control Post vehicle on KAMAZ-4320 truck

• Parsch, Andreas, DesignationSystems.Net, . Outstanding, unique reference for aircraft, missiles, propulsion, and avionics systems. Accessed at: http://www.designation-systems.net/.

• Yeftifyev, M D, Iz istorii sozdaniya zenito-raketnovo shchita rossii, Vuzovskaya kniga, Moscow, 2000. Comprehensive history of development of the development of surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missiles in the Soviet Union, with summaries of work in other countries as well. Accessed at: http://www.eastview.com/xq/ASP/sku=A2010232/f_locale=/Evtif'ev/MD/Moskva/Russia/Russian/qx/russian/books/product.asp.