A 1980s artist's concept of a Daryal ('Pechora') facility.

Another artist's 1980s concept of the Don-2NP ('Pill Box') ABM radar.

The A-135 or ABM-3 anti-ballistic missile system is a Russian military complex deployed around Moscow to counter enemy missiles targeting the city or its surrounding areas. It became operational during 1995.

[edit] Development

A successor to the previous A-35, it is compliant with the 1972 ABM Treaty which the US unilaterally withdrew from in 2002. ABM-3 was considered to be equivalent technologically to the United States Safeguard system of the 1970s.^[1]

[edit] Design

An integrated system, it is composed of:

• 'Hen House' radars at Mishelevka (Irkutsk), Olenegorsk, Sary Shagan, Kamchatka and Abalakova, near Krasnoyarsk.

• The Pushkino Don-2NP (NATO reporting name : 'Pill Box') large battle-management phased-array radar with 360º coverage for the long-range interceptors supplementing the 'Dog House' and 'Cat House' radars.(56°10′30″N 37°45′54″E / 56.175°N 37.765°E / 56.175; 37.765 )^[2]

• Two Daryal-type (NATO: 'Pechora') bistatic phased-array early warning radars,^[3] deployed at Pechora and Qabala radar in Qabala, Azerbaijan (40°52′14.6″N 47°48′09.6″E / 40.870722°N 47.802667°E / 40.870722; 47.802667)^[4] Five other Daryal sites have never been completed.

• The ABM-3 phased-array short-range battle management radar, replacing the 'Try Add' radars.
• 16 launchers of long-range SH-11 'Gorgon' exoatmospheric interceptor missiles at two launch sites with eight missiles each (56°14′55.40″N 38°35′13.18″E / 56.248722°N 38.5869944°E / 56.248722; 38.5869944 and 55°20′49.70″N 36°28′59.08″E / 55.347139°N 36.4830778°E / 55.347139; 36.4830778), originally designed with nuclear warheads. Comparable to LIM-49A Spartan (at least in function).

• 68 launchers of short-range SH-08 'Gazelle' endoatmospheric interceptor missiles at five launch sites with 12 or 16 missiles each, though designed originally with nuclear warheads. Designed by NPO Novator, similar to US Sprint missile.

• Command, communications and intelligence services.

[edit] Operational history

The A-135 system attained "alert" (operational) status on February 17, 1995. It is currently operational although its SH-11 component is deactivated (as of February 2007). A newer missile is expected to replace it.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Globalsecurity.org on the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system.