| 51T6 (ABM-4Gorgon) | |
|---|---|
 DIA drawing of an SH-08/ABM-3A GAZELLE 53T6 missile launching with Don-2 phased array radar in background | |
| Type | Anti-ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1995–present |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | NPO Novator Design Bureau |
| Designed | 1978 |
| Produced | 1988 |
| No. built | 68 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 33,000–45,000 kg (73,000–100,000 lb) |
| Length | 19.8 m[1] |
| Diameter | 2.57 m[1][2] |
| Blast yield | 10 kilotonnes of TNT (42 TJ) |
| Engine | 2-stage, solid-fuel |
Operational range | 350–900 km[2] |
| Flight ceiling | 350–900 km |
| Maximum speed | Mach 7 (8,600 km/h; 5,300 mph; 2.4 km/s) |
Launch platform | silo, launcher(?)[2][3] |
TheA-135[5] (NATO:ABM-4 Gorgon) is a Russiananti-ballistic missile system deployed aroundMoscow to intercept incoming warheads targeting the city or its surrounding areas. The system was designed in theSoviet Union and entered service in 1995. It is a successor to the previousA-35, and complies with the 1972Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.[2]
The system is operated by the 9th Division of Anti-Missile Defence, part of the Air Defence and Missile Defence Command of theRussian Aerospace Defence Forces.[6][7]
A memo from the archives of Vitalii Kataev, written around 1985, had envisaged that the system "will be completed in 1987 to provide protection from a strike of 1–2 modern and prospectiveICBMs and up to 35Pershing 2-type intermediate-range missiles".[8]
The A-135 system attained "alert" (operational) status on February 17, 1995. It is operational although its 51T6 component was deactivated in February 2007. A newer missile (PRS-1M) is expected to replace it.[citation needed] There is an operational test version of the system at theSary Shagan test site inKazakhstan.
In November 2017, a successful test of the53T6 interceptor was carried out. Target speed up to 3 kilometers per second (53T6 speed 3[9]), acceleration overload – 100 G, preload maneuvering – 210 G.[10]
A-135 consists of the Don-2N battle management radar and two types of ABM missiles. It gets its data from the wider Russianearly-warning radar network, that are sent to the command centre which then forwards tracking data to the Don-2N radar.[4] TheDon-2N radar is a large battle-managementphased array radar with 360° coverage.[11][12] Tests were undertaken at the prototype Don-2NP in Sary Shagan in 2007 to upgrade its software.[12][13]
Russian early-warning radar network consists of:[14]
There are at least 68 active launchers of short-range53T6 endoatmospheric interceptor nuclear armed missiles, 12 or 16 missiles each, deployed at five launch sites. These are tested roughly annually at the Sary Shagan test site.[15] In addition, 16 retired launchers of long-range51T6 exoatmospheric interceptor nuclear armed missiles, 8 missiles each, are located at two launch sites.[4]
| Location[14] | Coordinates[4] | Number[4][14] | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | |||
| Sofrino | 56°10′51.97″N37°47′16.81″E / 56.1811028°N 37.7880028°E /56.1811028; 37.7880028 | 12 | Co-located with the Don-2N radar |
| Lytkarino | 55°34′39.04″N37°46′17.67″E / 55.5775111°N 37.7715750°E /55.5775111; 37.7715750 | 16 | |
| Korolev | 55°52′41.09″N37°53′36.50″E / 55.8780806°N 37.8934722°E /55.8780806; 37.8934722 | 12 | |
| Skhodnya | 55°54′04.11″N37°18′28.30″E / 55.9011417°N 37.3078611°E /55.9011417; 37.3078611 | 16 | |
| Vnukovo | 55°37′32.45″N37°23′22.41″E / 55.6256806°N 37.3895583°E /55.6256806; 37.3895583 | 12 | |
| Retired | |||
| Sergiyev Posad-15 | 56°14′33.01″N38°34′27.29″E / 56.2425028°N 38.5742472°E /56.2425028; 38.5742472 | 8 | Site was also used in the A-35 system |
| Naro-Fominsk-10 | 55°21′01.16″N36°28′59.60″E / 55.3503222°N 36.4832222°E /55.3503222; 36.4832222 | 8 | Site was also used in the A-35 system |
The successor system, dubbed 'Samolet-M' (and more recentlyA-235) will employ a new, conventional, variant of the 53T6 missile to be deployed in the former 51T6 silos.[16][17][18] The new PRS-1M is a modernized variant of the PRS-1 (53T6) and can use nuclear or conventional warheads. It can hit targets at ranges of 350 km and altitudes of 50 km.[19]
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).