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military transparency in a habitually secretive region. While both Vietnam and China
have produced formal defence white papers in recent years, much key detai is
missing. Leaking details more quietly serves to deliver messages to potential rivals
and enemies without unduly angering neighbours.
"A country like Vietnam wants people to know what it has got and what it can do,
but it doesn't want to be too provocative about it," another envoy said. "As secretive
as it still is, at some point Hanoi has to let things slip to ensure its weapons can serve
as a deterrent."
Just as East Asia lacks any kind of formal security architecture to promote openness
and transparency beyond the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, no register of
sensitive weapons exists.
Extracts from Carlyle A. Thayer, Vietnam People’s Army: Development and
Modernization. Armed Forces Lecture Paper Series Paper No. 4. Bandar Seri
Begawan: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies,
2009 page 11: “In August 2003, Russia agreed to supply Vietnam with two batteries
of S‐ 300PMU1 surface‐to‐air missile systems in a contract valued at U.S. $200
million. In 2005, Vietnam reported to UNROCA that it had imported twelve missile
launchers and sixty‐two S‐300 missiles but did not specify the seller. The Russian
Federation’s report to UNROCA for that year failed to list this sale. But defence
industry sources confirmed that one S‐300PMU1 battery of twelve missile launchers
and sixty‐two missiles was delivered in August 2005. The S‐300 is regarded as one of
the world’s most effective all‐altitude regional air defence systems.”
THE S‐300PMU1 SYSTEM
The S‐300PMU1, SA‐10 Grumble NATO‐codename, is a long range, Surface‐to‐Air
Missile (SAM) system designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles and theater ballistic
missiles in intense clutter and jamming environment. It can engage up to six targets
simultaneously while providing guidance for up to 12 5V55 or 48N6E surface‐to‐air
missiles (two missiles per target ensuring target kill). In addition, a highly automated
detection and acquisition procedures provides outstanding performance over
previous SAM systems.
The S‐300PMU1 SAM system comprises a 30N6E1 illumination and guidance radar
mounted on an all‐terrain vehicle, up to 12 5P85ME (5P85SE) launcher vehicles each
carrying four 48N6E or 5V55 missiles, a 54K6E command and control (C2) post and
other associated vehicles and equipment for reloading, maintenance and repair (see
sketch below). The 64N6E radar system can be integrated into the S‐300 SAM system
providing improved target acquisition capability.
The 5P85ME launchers act as a Transporter, Erector and Launcher (TEL) vehicle. The
cluster with four sealed 48N6E or 5V55 missiles must be set vertically in order to
launch missiles. The Vertical Launch System (VLS) ensures 360‐degree coverage of
the battle space overcoming the shortfalls related to the ramp‐launched SAM
systems. The S‐300P version utilizing 5V55 missiles can engage airborne threats at
ranges between 5 to 90 kilometers, altitudes between 25 and 30,000 meters and
airspeeds of up to 1,150 meters per second (approx. Mach 4). It can engage tactical
ballistic missiles with maximum ranges of 300 kilometers at ranges of 35 kilometers.
3
The S‐300 SAM system was deployed with the Soviet Army beginning in 1980
defending high value military facilities, industry sites and command centers.
Approximately 100 systems were deployed with the Russian Army in the early 1990s.
The SAM has been sold to China and India and many other countries are interested
on purchasing the S‐300 air defense system. The upgraded S‐300PMU1 employs the
48N6E surface‐to‐air missile to engage airborne targets at ranges between 5 to 150
kilometers, altitudes between 10 and 27,000 meters and airspeeds of up to 2,800
meters per second (approx. Mach 8). In its anti‐ballistic missile (ABM) role, the S‐
300PMU1 can engage theater ballistic missiles with maximum ranges of 1,000 km at
distances over 40 kilometers.
Specifications
Performance: Set Up Time 5 min, Target's Max Altitude 27,000 m (88,583 ft), Target's
Max Speed 2,800 mps (Mach 8.43), Target's Min Altitude 25 m (82 ft), Weapon Max
Range 150 km (81 nm) basic version 90 km, Weapon Min Range 5 km (3 nm)
Other: Engaged Aerial Targets 6 with two missiles directed at each target.
Source:http://www.deagel.com/Air‐Defense‐Systems/S‐300PMU1_a000372001.aspx
4
The photo and chart on this page were downloaded on October 22, 2009.
5
The above photo appeared in the calendar for 2011 issued by the Ministry of National
Defence in Hanoi.