Soviet Union | 1957
"The SA-2 was a potent, high-value air defense weapon system in its prime, perhaps best known for downing a United States U-2 spyplane during the volatile Cold War years."
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
The original SA-2 Guideline design was engineered to track down and destroy the less-maneuverable high-altitude American bombers, more precisely - the Air Force's stalwart, the B-52 Stratofortress. The capabilities of the Guideline system were highly valued, so much so that all other primary air defense systems (with the exception of those marking Moscow), were replaced by the newer SA-2's. By 1965, no fewer than 1,000 SA-2 Guideline launch sites had been established throughout the Soviet Empire and its satellite locations with a large contingent residing in the Soviet-controlled East Germany. The first confirmed downing of an aircraft by the SA-2 system was of a Taiwanese reconnaissance aircraft of the RB-57 type, destroyed in 1959 over China. Successes continued to follow the system including the notable downing of Gary Power's U-2 Spy plane that reached the global headlines (more than one missile was actually launched and the aircraft was hit several times before going down). This single act resulted in a re-thinking of military and reconnaissance planning when dealing with high-altitude Soviet air defense systems. During the Vietnam conflict with America, Soviet-supplied SA-2's to the North Vietnamese were responsible for aggressively targeting and destroying US Navy, Air Force and Marine aircraft. As a direct response, the United States was forced to develop counter-weapons systems to help combat the very serious SA-2 threat. Despite advancements in Electronic CounterMeasure (ECM) systems and tactics, the SA-2 system still enjoyed relative success throughout the conflict and afterwards (some running through modernization programs to help extend the service life of the system). Never the less, the SA-2 Guideline would eventually begin giving way to the more advanced SA-10 series of surface-to-air missile systems. The base system combines fragmentation warhead with proximity, contact and command fusing capability mounted to a two-stage solid rocket fuel booster system. The warhead weighs in at roughly 434 pounds and can be fitted with an alternative nuclear-capable warhead if need be. Range is reported to be up to 30 miles and the missile system can reach upwards of 60,000 feet. NOTE: Specifications shown above are for the SA-2A Guideline model of the SA-2 Guideline series of air defense missiles. Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the SA-2 (Guideline) / S-75 Dvina High-Altitude Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM).
1 x two-stage solid-fuel booster with upper-stage liquid fuel.
Installed Power
1,864 mph
3,000 kph
Road Speed
19 miles
30 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the SA-2 (Guideline) / S-75 Dvina High-Altitude Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM).
6
(MANNED)
Crew
34.8 ft
10.6 meters
O/A Length
1.6 ft
0.5 meters
O/A Width
5,042 lb
2,287 kg | 2.5 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the SA-2 / S-75 (Guideline / Dvina) High-Altitude Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM).
1 x Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) with various warheads available); radar-targeted.
AMMUNITION:
1 x 35ft, 5,041lb surface-to-air missile (various available warheads).
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
Nightvision - NONE.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Protection (CBRN) - NONE.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the SA-2 / S-75 (Guideline / Dvina) family line.
SA-2 - NATO Reporting Designation.
SA-2A - Featured with Fan Song-A radar system and utilizes either V-750 or V-750V missiles.
S-75 Dvina - Russian designation of the SA-2A model.
SA-N-2A - Navalized Version.
S-75M-2 Volkhov-M - Russian designation of the SA-N-2A model.
SA-2B - Features Fan Song-B radar system and utilizes V-750VK or V-750VN missiles.
S-75 Desna - Russian designation of the SA-2B model.
SA-2C - Features Fan Song-C radar system and utilizes V-750m missiles.
S-75M Volkhov - Russian designation of the SA-2C model.
SA-2D - Featured with Fan Song-E radar system and utilizes V-750SM missiles.
SA-2E - Featured with Fan Song-E radar system and utilizes V-750AK missiles.
SA-2F - Featured with Fan-Song-F radar system and utilizes V-750SM missiles.
C-75 - Russian Reporting Designation.
HQ-1 - Chinese-produced Variant.
HQ-2 - Chinese-produced Variant.
HY-2 - Chinese-produced Variant of upgraded SA-2 base model.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the SA-2 / S-75 (Guideline / Dvina). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 4,600 Units
Contractor(s): State Factories - Soviet Union
[ Afghanistan; Algeria; Albania; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; China; Cuba; Czechoslovakia; East Germany; Egypt; Georgia; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Kyrgyztan; Libya; Mongolia; Myanmar; North Korea; Pakistan; Poland; Romania; Russia; Somalia; Soviet Union; Sudan; Syria; Tajikistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Yugoslavia; Zimbabwe ]
Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to battlefield requirements.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.
Going Further...
The SA-2 / S-75 (Guideline / Dvina) High-Altitude Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM) appears in the following collections:
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