Interaction Between SAM Launchers and STRs

[pdmarsh]

I'd like to understand the interaction, if any, between a SAM battery and a standalone search and track radar system.

 

The Kub 2P25 LN SAM launcher, for example, is shown as having both optical and radar modes. Will placing a radar system such as the Kub-M1 1S91 STR nearby allow the SAMs to be launched in radar mode? If an STR is not nearby, or is destroyed, will the missiles still launch, but in optical mode? There is a vague reference to this in the manual, but it isn't clear. ("For Surface to Air Missile (SAM) batteries like SA-10, SA-11, etc., all the needed units of the SAM battery must all be part of the same Vehicle Group.") I guess another question would be, where is "all of the needed units" explained?

 

For mission success goals, I'm wondering if the missiles need to be destroyed or just an STR if the above is indeed how they interact.

 

Thanks,

Paul

[Grimes]

I guess another question would be, where is "all of the needed units" explained?

 

It is not explicitly stated anywhere and each sam site is different. Also, unfortunately the encyclopedia isn't always the most accurate or up to date source of information regarding unit capabilities. It has a healthy mix of real world data that does and doesn't apply to the game.

 

The general rule is that every object listed with the same root name is required to allow for the sam site to function. There are some slight variations on this though due to the capabilities of different units. For instance the S-300 and Buk are great examples of this. The S-300 has two radars, at least one is required but the site works best with both. The Buk is a little more complex because it actually does have an optical sight and the launcher has the tracking radar built in. So it effectively has two modes.

- Radar acquisition. Requires the search radar and control center to send target data to the Launcher to track and shoot the target.

- Optical acquisition. If a Buk launcher detects an aircraft optically it can attain a lock with the tracking radar and engage the target even if the search radar and control center are dead. Its worth noting that its range is severely diminished when the search radar is destroyed.

 

I believe any sam site that has separate search and tracking radars will still be able to engage already tracked targets IF the search radar is destroyed. However once tracking is lost on a given target the tracking radar won't be able to require lock.

 

For mission success goals, I'm wondering if the missiles need to be destroyed or just an STR if the above is indeed how they interact.

 

Again it depends on how the sam site operates. For a KUB taking out the STR is all you need to do to neutralize it.

[pdmarsh]

Thanks Grimes. I'll have to let this sink in a bit, but I do appreciate the information.

 

Paul

[Mike5560]

Obviously SAMs are most effective with an IADS and all operational radars working, but the minimum requirements to actually engage are different based on each system.

 

Most, if not all SAM systems deploy with:

A search radar, which is usually omnidirectional (spinning)which supplies general location data.

A tracking radar, which generally provides refined elevation and range to the launcher (command guided) and/or the missile (SARH guided). Typically the target tracking radar has a very narrow beam and without a search radar to provide azimuth and range data, it can become difficult to engage but still possible.

 

On SAM sites that employ the search radar, track radar and missiles on seperate vehicles, it is usually most efficient to target the tracking radar as usually there only one of them or less tracking radars than vehicles with missiles.....target tracking is required for a guided engagement. (Patriot, SA-10/S-300, SA-3, HAWK)

 

SA-11 Buk has a seperate search acquisition radar (SNOW DRIFT) but each launcher has an integrated track radar. So destroying the search radar greatly reduces it's effectiveness, but guided engagement is still possible.

 

SA-6 Kub Has a search and track radar on one vehicle (STRAIGHT FLUSH) and the TELs, or launcher vehicles have missiles only.

 

SA-8 Osa, SA-15 Tor, Roland and 2S6 Tunguska all are all all-inclusive, or Transporter Erector Launcher And Radar (TELARs) and require no additional supporting vehicles.

 

If you check out sam simulator and read the documentation about the different systems if you want a more detailed understanding. Google it, it's a free download.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Mike5560

[pdmarsh]

@Mike5560 -- Thank you very much for the detailed explanation and for the lead about sam simulator. I will definitely have a look at that.

 

Paul