Libyan SA-5 / S-200 missile site

Libyan SA-5 / S-200 missile site (Google Maps)
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The S-200 SA-5 GAMMON is a medium to high -altitude surface-to-air missile system. The single-stage missile has four jettisonable, wraparound solid propellant boosters, each of which is is 4.9 m long and 0.48 m in diameter with a single fin spanning 0.35 m from the booster body. The missile is 10.72 m long overall with a wing span of 2.85 m. The main body is 0.85 m in diameter and has a solid fuel dual thrust sustainer rocket motor.

Each missile battalion has one 320 km range P-35M BARLOCK-B E/F-band target search and acquisition radar with an integral D-band IFF system, one 270 km range SQUARE PAIR H-band missile guidance radar, and six trainable semi-fixed single rail launchers.

The missile's minimum range of 60 km is due to the booster burn time and jettison requirements, limiting the system to engagements against relatively large unmaneuverable targets at ranges up to 250 km. Guidance beyond the 60 km booster jettison point is by course correction command signals from the SQUARE PAIR radar with the S-200's own active radar terminal homing seeker head activated near the projected intercept point for final guidance.

The large HE warhead is detonated either by a command signal or the onboard proximity fusing system. When fitted with a nuclear warhead only the command detonation option is used.
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pdunn picture
@ 2005-09-21 20:37:06
It's interesting. The gray structures surrounding each bunker each have a circular platform in front with something in position. It's interesting that if it they are missiles, each is oriented to face in a westerly direction.

Anonymous picture
Anonymous
@ 2005-09-22 02:51:42
This is a Russian SAM-4 site (two-channel S-200 long range complex)
You may find similar sites near Tula, Russia (2-channel)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=tula,+russia&ll=54.195136,37.439175&spn=0.034298,0.084556&t=k&hl=en
or near Olenegorsk, Russia (3-channel)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=olenegorsk,+russia&ll=68.058877,34.137611&spn=0.043812,0.192759&t=k&hl=en
or near Sevastopol, Ukraine (3-channel)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=sevastopol,+ukraine&ll=44.517011,33.487015&spn=0.042036,0.096379&t=k&hl=en
Each square zone is a launch site with a shelter.
kjfitz picture
@ 2005-09-22 10:34:52
Thanks for the info. I googled around and the S-200 is referred to as the SA-5. I can't find SAM-4 designation used with the SA-100.

This site:

http://www.wonderland.org.nz/rasa.htm

Says the S-200 (SA-5) is used in Libya but not the SA-4.

Thanks for getting me on the right track!
Analogman picture
@ 2005-09-22 18:24:11
This is absolutely, positively NOT an SA-4 site. It IS, however, absolutely, positively an SA-5 site. The SA-4 is a mobile missile mounted in pairs on a tracked vehicle.

The gray structures in each launcher position are maintenance and weather sheds. In the event of a sand storm, or simply to get some shade for the maintenance workers, the missiles can be moved into the shed. The orientation of the launcher is not really important since it can be rotated to point in whichever direction is necessary.

You can see what appears to be a "Squat Eye" EW radar and a either a "Bar Lock" or "Back Net" EW radar on the two mounds immediately north of the main road, just inside of the site entrance gate.

Somewhere nearby should be a VERY LARGE, fairly easy to spot Tall King long range search/EW radar.
Analogman picture
@ 2005-09-22 18:26:31
This is one of two SA-5 sites in Libya, the other being near Sirte, just south of the airport.