The world's best missile defense systems

(Baonghean.vn) -Future wars will be quick and decisive, with modern weapons, including missiles with great destructive power. Therefore, the absence of an effective missile defense system will cause heavy losses to a country if attacked by long-range missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned vehicles.

1. THAAD

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was developed by the US military to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. In 2008, the THAAD system officially entered service with the US military. THAAD destroys targets using a “hit-to-kill” approach, meaning that the interceptor missiles do not carry nuclear warheads and destroy targets through impulse and kinetic energy. During the approach phase to the enemy missile, THAAD uses an interceptor module equipped with an infrared homing warhead to track the target. The missile destroys the target using kinetic energy from the high-speed collision, without using an explosive warhead like a conventional missile.

2. S -300V

The S-300 is a series of long-range surface-to-air missile defense systems produced by the Almaz Arms Industries Corporation of Russia. It is the Russian military's third-tier air defense system, against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and tactical aircraft, replacing the older SA-4 "Ganef" system. The defense system features "GLADIATOR" missiles with a maximum combat range of about 75 km and "GIANT" missiles that can engage targets 100 km away and at altitudes of about 32 km. Unlike THAAD, the S-300V missile system carries a nuclear warhead to destroy the target.

3. Antey 2500

This is an upgraded version of the S-300V system, also known as the S-300VM or "Antey-2500". It is designed to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at a range of up to 2,500 km, cruise missiles and space-launched missiles, tactical and strategic aircraft, and precision-guided weapons.

4. S-300PMU1/2

The S-300PMU-1 (US, NATO designation SA-20A) was introduced in 1999, typically using the 83M6E command and control system, although it is also compatible with the older Baikal-1E and Senezh-M1E CCS command and control systems. The 83M6E system incorporates the 64N6E (BIG BIRD) surveillance/detection radar. The fire/explosive control and guidance radar is the 30N6E, which can be combined with a 76N6 low-altitude surveillance radar and an all-altitude surveillance radar, the 96L6E.

5. Patriot Pac 1/2/3

The Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) anti-ballistic missile system, or Patriot for short, was developed by the United States to replace the Nike Hercules system (the Pentagon's medium- and high-altitude air defense system) and replace the MIM-23 Hawk system (the US military's medium-range tactical air defense system). Patriot uses an advanced high-performance airborne interceptor missile and radar system. Patriot is manufactured at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, which previously developed the ABM (anti-Ballistic Missile) defense system and the Spartan and Sprint missiles that are part of the Patriot system.

6. S-400

The S-400 is a new generation missile defense system designed by Russia to replace the S-200, S-300V, S-300PMU1, S-300PMU2. Introduced in 1999, the S-400 is capable of shooting down all airborne targets, such as strategic, tactical, reconnaissance aircraft..., intercepting medium-range and tactical ballistic missiles... from a distance of 400 km, an altitude of 30 km and a maximum target speed of up to 4,800 m/s. Notably, the S-400 can intercept strategic missiles with a range of 3,500 km, 3.5 times that of the US Patriot missile.

7. Aegis (ACS)

The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System (ACS) is a mobile naval weapons system deployed at sea, developed by the US Missile and Surface Radar Agency and currently produced by Lockheed Martin Corporation. Aegis is designed to destroy medium- and long-range ballistic missiles with SM-3 interceptors and intercept short-range missiles with SM-2 interceptors. The SM-3 missile generation is designed based on the SM-2 version, has a range of about 500 km with an altitude of about 160 km, using modern radars, computer systems along with satellite positioning systems (GPS) to adjust and orient to approach the target.

8. Arrow

The Arrow missile interceptor system is a joint project between the Israel Aerospace Industries and the US Boeing Company. The Arrow project was launched in 1986 and is currently 50% funded by Israel's close ally, the US. The Arrow missile defense system is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 100 km.

9. MEADS

The MEADS air defense missile system was jointly developed by the US Lockheed Martin Corporation and the German and Italian MBDA Corporation. The MEADS system provides combat capabilities beyond the atmosphere. Combining radar systems and multinational communications creates a wide-area air defense network, helping countries in the program effectively deal with air threats such as operational-tactical missiles and cruise missiles, fighter aircraft and enemy drones.

10. Pantsir-S

The Pantsir-S short-range air defense system was researched and manufactured by the KBP Tula Technical Equipment Research Institute of Russia. This is a short-range air defense system mounted on a mobile vehicle, integrating artillery and air defense missiles. This type of air defense missile has a speed of 1300m/s, a range of 20km, and a maximum firing ceiling of 15km. The missile is guided by radio and can track and aim at multiple targets at the same time. Each Pantsir-S system also has 2 spare missile series, and can also use the missile transport vehicle that accompanies the system.

11. S-500

The S-500 missile defense system is a high-quality version of the S-400 system. The S-500 is capable of simultaneously intercepting 10 medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of 3,500 km. In terms of interception altitude and speed, the S-500 is the world's leading. The S-500 is capable of shooting down targets flying up to 200 km high, at a speed of 7 km/s. In addition, the S-500 is also capable of intercepting all types of medium-range and short-range ballistic missiles of the operational and tactical levels, and supersonic cruise missiles.

12. Boeing YAL-1

YAL-1 is a high-energy laser weapon, also known as the Airborne Laser (ABL). YAL-1 was researched and manufactured by the American Boeing Corporation. YAL-1 is capable of destroying tactical ballistic missiles, such as Scud missiles, immediately after they leave the launch pad. YAL-1 releases a beam of high-energy light (laser) onto the missile flying in the air, this beam will heat the missile and cause it to explode before it hits the target. The entire process of destroying a missile only takes about 10-12 seconds.

Peace

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