The absence of an effective missile defense system exposes countries to destructive missiles, stealth aircraft and drones.
Here are the missile defense systems that are rated as the best in the world today:
The S-300 are long-range missile defense systems produced by Russia’s Almaz Arms Industry Corporation, based on the first version of the S-300P. The S-300 system was developed for the Soviet Air Defense Forces to intercept enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. Each new version of the S-300 has its own unique features.
The S-300V is the Russian military’s third-tier air defense system against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and tactical aircraft.
The S-300V was created from the same S-300 project but was built by the Antey Corporation, so it is also known as the Antey-300 . The S-300V is the Russian military’s third-tier air defense system against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and tactical aircraft. This defense system uses Gladiator missiles with a maximum effective range of 75km and Giant missiles that can hit targets 100km away and at an altitude of about 32km. The S-300V is mounted on the MT-T tracked vehicles, making it more maneuverable. The S-300V is also slightly different from the S-300P. Although both have radar to search for targets, the S-300V is capable of automatically searching for targets.
It also has a separate ABM radar – 9S19 HIGH SCREEN phased array radar . A typical S-300V unit consists of a target and designation device, a navigation radar and up to six vehicles carrying launchers and radars. S-300V can launch nuclear warheads to destroy targets.
S-300VM is an upgraded version of S-300V, also known as Antey-2500.
S-300VM is an upgraded version of S-300V, also known as Antey-2500. This is a new Russian anti-ballistic missile system. It is designed to engage medium and short-range ballistic missiles, cruise and space-launched missiles, tactical and strategic aircraft, and precision-guided weapons. S-300VM uses new 9M82M and 9M83M missiles with long range, flexible maneuverability. With a comprehensive observation radar station, the S-300VM is capable of effectively destroying high-speed, small-kill ballistic missiles.
The interceptor missile of the S-300VM is controlled throughout the entire flight trajectory. The combat staff of the S-300VM missile complex includes: headquarters 9S457M; 9S15M2 wide observation radar station; Ginger 9S19M2 programmable observation radar station to detect ballistic missiles; SRAM-class ballistic missiles and jamming patrol aircraft within 100km; 9S32M multi-frequency missile guidance station; two launchers 9A83M carrying 4 anti-aircraft missiles 9M83M and 9A83M carrying 2 anti-aircraft missiles 9M82M with technical and maintenance facilities.
The S-300PMU-1 missile system is capable of fighting short-range ballistic missiles and medium-range tactical ballistic missiles.
The S-300PMU-1 was introduced in 1999. In addition to the 5V55R, 48N6E and 48N6E2 missiles, the S-300PMU-1 can use two new types of missiles, the 9M96E1 and 9M96E2 (smaller than the previous missiles, at a level 330 and 420 kg, carrying a small warhead of 24 kg). The 9M96E1 has a combat range of 40km and the 9M96E2 has a 120km range. Due to its smaller size, each launcher can carry up to 16 missiles if using the 9M96E1 or 9M96E2. The S-300PMU-1 typically uses the 83M6E command and control system, although it is also compatible with the older Baikal-1E and Senezh-M1E CCS command and control systems. The 83M6E system is integrated with the 64N6E surveillance/detection radar (BIG BIRD). The fire/explosion control and guidance radar is the 30N6E, which can be combined with a 76N6 low-altitude surveillance radar and a 96L6E all-altitude reconnaissance radar. The upgraded version of the S-300PMU – 1 is the S-300PMU – 2 with an extended range of 195 km with the use of the new 48N6E2 missile. This missile system is capable of not only short-range ballistic missiles but also medium-range tactical ballistic missiles.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was developed by the US military to shoot down short and medium-range ballistic missiles. This project is implemented in cooperation with Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet, Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, MiltonCAT and Lockheed Martin as the main contractor. After a long time of testing, in 2008, THAAD officially entered service with the US military.
THAAD destroys its target in a “chase-kill” approach.
THAAD engages its targets in a “chase-and-destroy” approach, which means that the interceptors do not carry a nuclear warhead and destroy the target through impulse and kinetic energy. In the phase of approaching enemy missiles, THAAD uses an interceptor module equipped with an infrared self-guided warhead to track the target. The missile destroys the target with kinetic energy from the high-speed collision, without using an explosive warhead like a conventional missile.
Each THAAD battery includes 4 missile launchers (8 launchers/vehicle), AN/TPY fire control and targeting radar – 2 with a mobile control center vehicle and 2 operations centers TOC strategy (“the heart” of each center is the data processing system Hewlett – Packard HP – 735). In particular, AN/TPY-2 is a phased array radar operating in the X-band, capable of detecting threats from short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at a range of 1,000km. When fighting, the “divine eye” AN/TPY – 2 will perform the task of searching and detecting targets (threats from tactical ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles). It can also receive target information from other ballistic missile defense radar systems. The combat data system then calculates the target parameters and activates the interceptor missile. This missile is capable of intercepting targets at a range of 150-200km and an altitude of 25km.
THAAD has undergone many tests, many successes but also many failures. However, this is still one of the most advanced tactical ballistic missile interceptor systems in the world today. They establish an “umbrella shield” for the US and its allies from the threat posed by enemy ballistic missiles.
S-400 is a new generation missile defense system designed to replace the S-200, S-300V, S-300PMU1 and S-300PMU2. Introduced in 1999, the S-400 immediately became the main weapon of Russia’s sky guard with unique features in the world, compatible with 4 different types of missiles.
S-400 is Russia’s main air defense weapon, with “unique” features in the world.
S-400 is capable of shooting down all air targets, such as strategic, tactical, reconnaissance aircraft…, intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles, tactical… from a distance of 400km, altitude 30km and maximum speed of the target up to 4,800 m/s. Notably, the S-400 can intercept strategic missiles with a range of 3,500km, 3.5 times more than the US Patriot missile.
The standard structure of the S-400 long-range mobile air defense missile system includes the 30K6E control complex, the 98Z6E missile, the 48H6E/48H6E3 missile and the 30S6E technical guarantee complex. All are arranged on wheeled vehicles capable of easy movement, maneuverability, power supply, communication, navigation and independent living systems. In order to increase combat capability within a radius of 100 km and divided terrain, the S-400 is equipped with transmitters for data transmission and communication, with a 40V6M tower to enhance the 92N6E multi-purpose radar antenna.
In addition, S-400 is superior to some modern air defense missile systems in the world in terms of the ability to detect targets at a maximum distance of 600km. At the same time, the S-400 can track 300 targets, shoot down 32 targets simultaneously, and guide 72 missiles.
S-400 is capable of destroying targets flying only 10 meters above the ground to a maximum altitude of 27km. The target of the guided missile will be shot down within a range of 2 – 27km. The time to deploy the complex takes only 5 minutes, the shortest compared to other systems with the same function in the world.
The S-400 is considered the “trump card” of the Russian defense system at least for the next few decades.
The S-500 missile defense system is a high-quality version of the S-400 system . The S-500 is capable of simultaneously intercepting 10 medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3500km. Particularly in terms of altitude and interception speed, the S-500 ranks first in the world.
The S-500 is capable of shooting down targets flying up to 200km high, at a speed of 7km/s. In addition, the S-500 is also capable of intercepting all types of medium-range ballistic missiles, short-range operational, tactical, supersonic cruise missiles.
The combat deployment time of the S-500 system only takes 3-4 seconds to fire another target. The search and fire control radar system of the S-500 radar is built on the core of the X-Band active phased array radar, with a coverage and search range of 800-1,000km.
With its superior long-range, high-altitude ballistic missile interception, the S-500 overshadowed all three Patriot-3 air defense and missile defense dual-use missile systems, the The newest fire is the THAAD and the Aegis missile defense system (including SM-3 and SM-2). These three systems are the 3-tier umbrella, low, medium and high range missile defense for the US.
Patriot Advanced Capability anti-ballistic missile system, or Patriot (PAC) for short , was developed by the US to replace the Nike Hercules system (which is the Pentagon’s medium and high-altitude air defense system) and to replace generation MIM -23 Hawk system (mid-range tactical air defense system of the US military). Patriot uses an advanced airborne radar and interceptor missile system. Patriot is built at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, which previously developed the ABM defense system and the Spartan and Sprint missiles as part of the Patriot system.
Patriot uses an advanced radar and interceptor missile system.
When reaching the combat position, the tractor will separate from the missile carrier, the rocket launcher will be fixed by hydraulic supports. Patriot uses an integrated target search and fire control radar AN/MPQ-53/65. This is a passive electronically scanned array radar. The radar’s antenna array can transmit 5,000 beams per second, in addition there is an IFF “friend-foe” identification system and a subsystem to reduce the influence of interference measures on the operation of the radar.
The AN/MPQ-53/65 is a unique radar designed according to the “detection – pursuit” technology. The radar can control 100 targets within 170 km and can control 9 missiles at the same time. This integrated radar design has the advantage of reducing the need for additional common control systems, reducing system bulkiness.
Patriot has a rather complex and sophisticated guidance mechanism, the first stage of the missile is guided by inertia, the middle stage of the missile is guided by the TVM mechanism (following the bullet), the last stage of the missile uses Active radar to lock the target. Patriot has a combat range of 30 – 160km depending on the variant.
The US has sold some Patriot defense systems to allies such as Egypt, Germany, Israel, Japan, the United Arab Emirates…
The Aegis Ballistic Missile Interception System (ACS) is a mobile deployed naval weapon system at sea, developed by the United States Missile and Ground Radar Agency and currently manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The Aegis is designed to destroy medium- and long-range ballistic missiles with SM-3 interceptors, and to intercept short-range missiles with SM-2 interceptors.
The Aegis Ballistic Missile Interception System (ACS) is a mobile naval weapon system deployed at sea.
In the US Navy, the Aegis combat system has been fitted on Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. More than 100 warships equipped with the Aegis interceptor system have been deployed to the navies of allied nations, namely South Korea, Japan, Norway, and Spain. The Australian Navy has also selected this system to equip its new frigates.
The control system (AWS) – “heart” of ACS – includes AN/SPY-1 radar, MK 99 fire control system, SM-2 standard missile system… ACS is controlled by a single control unit. 3-D multi-function electronic scanning radar with automatic detection and orientation, it can track more than 100 targets at the same time at a distance of 190km.
