SA-12 (Gladiator / Giant) / S-300V

History of the SA-12 (Gladiator/Giant)/S-300V

The S-300V (NATO codename SA-12 Gladiator or Giant) was developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War (1947-1991) as part of the broader S-300 Air Defense (AA) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Defensive vehicle line. However, the series ended up taking a completely different form than the multi-round S-300 airspace denial unit.

It was given to a different developer and manufacturer than the S-300 series, although it contained completely different missiles - the 9M82 "Giant" and 9M83 "Gladiator". Two- and four-barrel launcher formats have been developed, and these types have been used in anti-ballistic missile roles while still being able to provide protection from long-range aerial threats such as aircraft and cruise missiles.

Despite its Cold War origins, it is still used on the battlefield today.

The S-300V series began operations in 1983 and eventually reached full capacity by the end of the century; circa 1988.

The S-300V uses the chassis of the MT-T carrier-based tracked combat vehicle. The tracked nature of this chassis allows it to traverse off-road with ease while keeping pace with the main mechanized forces. Across the top of the vehicle is a large launch tube that houses the primary armament of the 9M82 "Giant" or 9M83 series of missiles, the launcher is hinged to the trailing edge of the fuselage and supports upward as the tube is loaded.

Rockets can not only strike from a distance, but also from high altitudes - making them doubly dangerous. A typical SA-12 formation in the Soviet/Russian ranks consists of up to six of these launchers, each assigned a target acquisition/designation vehicle.

China produced a local variant of the S-300V called the "HQ-18".

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

2 x 9M82 "Giant" or 4 x 9M83 "Gladiator" missiles, depending on the launch vehicle.

Changes