| A-350 | |
|---|---|
 An A-350 anti-ballistic missile launcher | |
| Type | anti-ballistic missile (ABM) |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | Phase 1: 1972 A-350 Phase 2; 1974 A-350R (Design 1962) Phase 3: 1978 A-35M System |
| Used by | Soviet Union |
| Wars | Cold War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | TsNPO Vympel andNIIRP A-35/A-35M Systems Designer: K. B. Kisunko A-350/A-350R Missiles Designer:P. D. Grushin |
| Unit cost | unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 32,700 kg |
| Length | 19,800 mm |
| Diameter | 2,570 mm |
| Wingspan | 6,000 mm |
| Warhead | 2–3Megaton A-350thermonuclear weapon |
Detonation mechanism | unknown |
| Engine | solid fuel rocket motor (3) w/ RD-O15Tramjet First stage: 4 x solidrocket boosters 5S47[1] Second stage: 5D22 liquid rocket[2] |
Operational range | 320–350 km |
| Flight ceiling | 120 kmexosphere |
| Flight altitude | unknown |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4 |
Guidance system | RadarCommand guidance |
Launch platform | A-35Aldan[3] |
TheA-350GRAU 5V61[4] (NATO reporting nameABM-1 Galosh,[5] formerly SH-01) was aSoviet, nuclear armedsurface-to-airanti-ballistic missile.[6] The A-350 was a component of theA-35 anti-ballistic missile system.[7] Its primary mission was to destroy U.S.Minuteman andTitanintercontinental ballistic missiles targetingMoscow.
The A-350 was introduced during the 1960s with mechanically steeredsemi-active radar guidance. It contained a high-yieldnuclear warhead, comparable to the U.S.Nike Zeus.
TheA-350R (NATO reporting nameABM-1B) was introduced with the advanced A-35M missile system and became operational during 1978. This system was tested at theSary Shagan Launch Facility with five test flights during 1971, 1976, and 1977, with two more tests during 1993 and 1999.[8]
The next generation of missiles, introduced with theA-135 ABM System, were the53T6 (1970s) and the51T6 (1980s).[5]
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The A-350 was a three-stage solid-fueled design with a range of over 300 kilometers.It was improved with a restartable liquid-fueled third stage.This gave a much improved post-launch and re-targeting capabilities.The A-350 are launched from above-ground launchers.[9]
The missile design was done byMKB Fakel's Chief DesignerPetr Grushin.
The system had multiple radars during the different phases including theDon-2N radar andDnestr radar early warning systems, and theDunay radar target acquisition systems. The A-35 with radar was designed by Chief Designer K. B. Kisunko.[7]
The idea for this system was to protect Moscow from nuclear attack by the United States. The Soviet government began studies during 1958 with preliminary designs from General DesignerK. B. Kisunko. Further designs and development were moved toTsNPO Vympel.Radar systems were tested with Duna-3 single direction search radar and theDunay-3U omni-direction 360-degree search radar, designed by V. P. Sosulnikov and A. N. Musatov, respectively. A more advanced system of radars were included, theDon-2N System; consisting of the 6000 km long-rangeearly warning radars Don-2N and Dnestr, (NATO code namesPill Box andHen House), and the 2800 km short-range target acquisition radars Dunay-3M and Dunay-3U (NATO codenamesDog House andCat House).[7]
The A-350 developed through a period of growth and modifications. Configurations included an improved A-350Zh with tests during 1973. Eventually, the design changed again with radiation-hardened cases and became the A-350R for Phase 2 deployment in 1974.
The construction of the A-35 system began during 1962 with 16 primary sites including command post, radar installations and firing complexes for 8–16 missile launchers. Some of the existing sites of the oldS-25 Berkut were modified. Some known locations are:Naro-Fominsk,Olenegorsk,Skrunda,Angarsk,Nikolaeyev, andSary Shagan.
One of theDunay radar (NATO Code :Dog House)phased array radar systems was located at Naro-Fominsk. This system is comparable to the US'sPAVE PAWS radars of theSentinel andSafeguard ABM programs.
The construction plan changed a number of times, varying the locations, sectors or quadrants, and number of launchers. The system finalized at 8 sites with total of 64 launchers, with 4 major radar centers completed.[9]
With on-going advancements in the ABM system, radars, missile and warheads, the evolution of the A-35 became the A-35M. The "M" for modernization, was brought on through the advanced developments at 10 different Soviet institutes. One primary upgrade was in the Dunay-3U radar systems enhanced with a dedicated sector search functionality. Along with other upgrades, actual air tests were performed with different configurations between 1976 and 1977. Phase 3 of the A-35M went on-line in 1978.[7]
