killbill2 said:
Why don't you try to read the rest of the article. please^^^^^
It's
not the early warning and the C2, queing, that is in doubt (Didn't the SU have early warning systems?). The weak link is the approach to intercepting and killing the ballistic missile. If a proper C2ISR was enough, then every high altitude interceptor could do the job. They can't
Let's take a look at the dedicated (the best Russia has) conventional warhead ABM system.
"
S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
Country: Russia
Alternate Name: SA-20 Triumf
Basing: Land
Status: Operational, Exported
Details
The S-400, also known by its NATO designation, SA-20 Triumf, is an advanced Russian surface-to-air missile system. Once operational, it will be able to destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. The Russians eventually plan to phase out their existing S-200 (NATO: SA-5 Gammon) and S-300P (NATO: SA-10 Grumble) systems and replace them with S-400 complexes.(1)
http://www.missilethreat.com/systems/s-400.html"
From top of mind I will add that it is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles with a reentry speed of 4,500 m/s and has a ceiling of 30,000m+. This means it does endoatmospheric intercepts of short to medium range missiles. Let's say the Russians are tightlipped and secretive
and it can intercept BM's with thrice that speed - 13,500 m/s. A Trident SLBM has a reentry speed of 29,000 m/s and a Minuteman III has a reentry of 24,000 m/s. Pretty much says it all.
Their missiles use the right method for a terminal phase intercept of theatre ballistic missiles, but does so with a dual use warhead (AA + ABM) and does so with a AA missile. it lacks the accuracy and warhead. Comparable to PAC-2 perhaps?
See the mods done to make a PAC-3 into an ABM.
"The PAC-3 upgrade carried with it a new missile design, nominally known as MIM-104F and called PAC-3 by the Army. The PAC-3 missile is the most advanced aerial interceptor ever developed, dedicated almost entirely to the anti-ballistic missile mission. Miniaturization has made the PAC-3 missile much smaller than the previous Patriot missiles; a single "can" can now hold four missiles where one was once held. The PAC-3 missile is also much more maneuverable than previous variants, thanks to dozens of tiny rocket motors mounted in the forebody of the missile (called ACMs, or Attitude Control Motors). However, the most significant upgrade to the PAC-3 missile is the addition of a Ka band active radar seeker. This allows the missile to drop its uplink to the system and acquire its target itself in the terminal phase of its intercept, which improves the reaction time of the missile against a fast-moving ballistic missile target; the PAC-3 missile is, in fact, accurate enough to select, target, and home in on the warhead portion of an inbound ballistic missile. The active radar also increases the missile's ability to discriminate debris and decoys that may be around the warhead, and gives the warhead a "hit-to-kill" capability that completely removes the need for a traditional proximity-fused warhead. This greatly increases the lethality against ballistic missiles of all types.
All told, the PAC-3 upgrade has effectively quintupled the "footprint" that a Patriot unit can defend against ballistic missiles of all types, and has considerably increased the system's lethality and effectiveness against ballistic missiles. It has also increased the scope of ballistic missiles that Patriot can engage, which now includes several intermediate range and intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the Nodong and the CSS-2 and CSS-3. However, despite its increases in ballistic missile defence capabilities, the PAC-3 missile is a less capable interceptor of atmospheric aircraft and air-to-surface missiles. It is slower, has a shorter range, and has a smaller explosive warhead compared to older Patriot missiles (although it generally relies on its kinetic "hit to kill" warhead)."
Patriot's PAC-3 interceptor will be the primary interceptor for the new MEADS system, which is scheduled to enter service alongside Patriot in 2012."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot#PAC-3
But PAC 3 is still a terminal phase interceptor. The best way is the trajectory-apex intercept. This is in its nature exoatmospheric and uses proper hit-to-kill vehicles. SM-3A and THAADS, which intercept at altitudes of 130-150 km.
So. the Russians have a TBMD. Unfortunately neither the US, UK or France uses TBM's for delivery of their nukes. They use ICBM's SLBM's and cruise missiles (+ free fall bombs).
Sorry, but no cigar. This is also why Russia use nuke warheads for ICBM intercepts. They don't have a choice. Maybe Russia has 10,000 high altitude interceptors and IIRC the S-400 is still experimental. The number of ABM's depend on what Russia is shooting at. The intercept parameters required for intercept of Western BM's are outside of what their best missile can handle.
The clue is to take a look at which of Russia's neighbours use TBM's for nuke delivery and who coincidentally also has most of their nukes pointed towards Russia.
