Date Posted: 27-Aug-2004
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - SEPTEMBER 01, 2004
China becomes first export customer for S-300PMU2
JIANG JINTAO JDW Special Correspondent
London
China has finalised a $980- million contract with Russia's Rosoboronexport to acquire the Favorit [S-300PMU2] air-defence missile system (ADMS): the first export sale for the system since it became available on the international market in 2001.
The contract includes an 83M6E2 vehicle-mounted command post, eight 90Zh6E2 batteries, one set of 48N6E2 guided missiles and technical support equipment. Deliveries are due for completion within two years.
The command post incorporates the 54K6E2 battle management post and a 64N6E2 acquisition radar, the latter with an effective range of 300km in the S-band. Each of the eight 90Zh6E2 batteries includes a 30N6E2 multipurpose illumination and guidance radar operating in the X-band, a 96L6E all-altitude target designation radar with a multiple-beam phased array antenna - the first such export of this system - and eight 5P85SE launcher units on a MAZ 8 x 8 chassis, with four missiles on each.
This represents a total of 64 launching units with 256 48N6E2 missiles in transport and launch containers plus 41 extra 48N6E2 missiles.
The 54K6E2 battle management post can control the S-300PMU and S-300PMU1 air defence systems previously acquired by Beijing and the Favorit system can also fire 48N6E missiles used by S-300PMU/S-300PMU1 systems.
The Favorit ADMS can intercept targets up to a range of 200km, ballistic targets up to a range of 40km and low-flying targets up to a range of 28-38km. The system can acquire and target all types of threat between altitudes of 10m and 27km. Further, The ADMS can simultaneously engage up to 36 targets and guide 72 missiles at a time towards them.
The Favorit contract is the fourth for Beijing involving variants of the S-300PMU air defence system. The first of these was in 1993 and involved an S-300PMU system comprising two missile battalions, or a total of 32 self-propelled launching units, plus a double ammunition reserve of 5V55R air defence missiles fitted with a radar homing warhead. This indicates that the Favorit system has had a software modification to control the 5V55R missile. The contract was worth $220 million, of which 65% was paid through barter and 35% in hard currency.
In 1994 a new contract, worth around $400 million, was signed, involving four S-300PMU1 systems comprised of four missile battalions, or 32 self-propelled launching units, and 196 48N6E missiles. Fifty percent was paid in barter goods and 50% in hard currency.
A third contract, worth $440 million, was fulfilled in August. This included one S-300PMU1 air defence system comprising four missile battalions, or 32 self-propelled launching units, plus 198 48N6E missiles.