ABM-1 Galosh
Encyclopedia
ABM-1 Galosh was a Soviet
, nuclear tipped surface-to-air anti-ballistic
missile
(ABM). The Galosh (NATO reporting name
) is based on the A-35 ABM System
using Grushin model A-350 missile. The primary mission was to destroy U.S. Minuteman and Titan
Intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBMs) targeting Moscow
.
The ABM-1 was introduced during the 1960s with a mechanically steered radar
for its guidance. It contained a high-yield nuclear warhead, comparable to the U.S. Nike Zeus.
The ABM-1B with the advanced A-35M missile system and A-350R missile/warhead became operational during 1978. This system was tested at the Sary Shagan
Launch Facility with five test flights during 1971, 1976, and 1977, with two more tests during 1993 and 1999.
The next generation versions using the A-135 ABM System
were the ABM-3 Gazelle (1970s), and ABM-4 Gorgon (1980s) missiles.
ABM-1B was improved with a restartable liquid-fueled third stage.
This gave a much improved post-launch and re-targeting capabilities.
The Galosh are launched from above-ground launchers.
The missile design was done by MKB Fakel
's Chief Designer Petr Grushin.
The system had multiple radars during the different phases including the Pill Box and Hen House early warning systems, and the Dog House and Cat House target acquisitioning systems. The A-35 with radar was designed by Chief Designer K.B. Kisunko.
.
Radar systems were tested with Duna-3 single direction search radar and the Dunay-3U omni-direction 360-degree search radar, designed by V.P. Sosulnikov and A. N. Musatov, respectively. A more advanced system of radars were included, the Don-2N System; consisting of the 6000 km long range early warning systems, (NATO code names Pill Box and Hen House), and the 2800 km short range target acquisition radars (NATO codenames Dog House and Cat House
).
were modified. Some known locations are: Naro-Fominsk
, Olenegorsk
, Skrudna, Angarsk
, Nikolaeyev, and Sary Shagan
.
One of the Dog House phased array radar systems was located at Naro-Fominsk. This system is comparable to the US's PAVE PAWS
radars of the Sentinel and Safeguard
ABM programs.
The construction plan changed a number of times, varying the locations, sectors or quadrants, and number of launchers. The system finalized at 8 sites with total of 64 launchers, with 4 major radar centers completed.
Treaties
Related US missiles
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, nuclear tipped surface-to-air anti-ballistic
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
(ABM). The Galosh (NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
) is based on the A-35 ABM System
A-35 anti-ballistic missile system
The A-35 anti-ballistic missile system, or A-35 Aldan, was a Soviet military battle management radar complex deployed around Moscow to intercept enemy missiles targeting the city or its surrounding areas. In development since the 1960s and in operation from 1971 until the 1990s, It featured the...
using Grushin model A-350 missile. The primary mission was to destroy U.S. Minuteman and Titan
Titan (rocket family)
Titan was a family of U.S. expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. A total of 368 rockets of this family were launched, including all the Project Gemini manned flights of the mid-1960s...
Intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
(ICBMs) targeting Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The ABM-1 was introduced during the 1960s with a mechanically steered radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
for its guidance. It contained a high-yield nuclear warhead, comparable to the U.S. Nike Zeus.
The ABM-1B with the advanced A-35M missile system and A-350R missile/warhead became operational during 1978. This system was tested at the Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan is an anti-ballistic missile testing range located in Kazakhstan at coordinates .On 17 August 1956 the Soviet Council of Ministers authorized plans for an experimental facility for missile defense located at Sary Shagan, on the west bank of Lake Balkhash...
Launch Facility with five test flights during 1971, 1976, and 1977, with two more tests during 1993 and 1999.
The next generation versions using the A-135 ABM System
A-135 anti-ballistic missile system
The A-135 or ABM-3 anti-ballistic missile system is a Russian military complex deployed around Moscow to counter enemy missiles targeting the city or its surrounding areas. It became operational during 1995...
were the ABM-3 Gazelle (1970s), and ABM-4 Gorgon (1980s) missiles.
Design
The ABM-1 Galosh was a three-stage solid-fueled design with a range of over 300 kilometers. TheABM-1B was improved with a restartable liquid-fueled third stage.
This gave a much improved post-launch and re-targeting capabilities.
The Galosh are launched from above-ground launchers.
The missile design was done by MKB Fakel
MKB Fakel
MKB "Fakel" also known as P.D.Grushin Machine-building Design Bureau is a Russian government-owned aerospace defense corporation located in Khimki. It was founded in 1953 to facilitate development of guided surface-to-air missiles in response to a growing threat of US air attack on the Soviet...
's Chief Designer Petr Grushin.
The system had multiple radars during the different phases including the Pill Box and Hen House early warning systems, and the Dog House and Cat House target acquisitioning systems. The A-35 with radar was designed by Chief Designer K.B. Kisunko.
Radar systems
The idea for this system was to protect Moscow from nuclear attack by the United States. The Russian government began studies during 1958 with preliminary designs from General Designer K. B. Kisunko. Further designs and devlopement were moved to TsNPO VympelVympel NPO
Vympel NPO is a Russian research and production company based near Moscow, mostly known for their air-to-air missiles. Other projects include SAM and ABM defenses. It was started in the Soviet era as an OKB .-OKB-134 Toropov:...
.
Radar systems were tested with Duna-3 single direction search radar and the Dunay-3U omni-direction 360-degree search radar, designed by V.P. Sosulnikov and A. N. Musatov, respectively. A more advanced system of radars were included, the Don-2N System; consisting of the 6000 km long range early warning systems, (NATO code names Pill Box and Hen House), and the 2800 km short range target acquisition radars (NATO codenames Dog House and Cat House
Cat House radar
The Cat House Soviet radar system was part of the Soviet radar system originally based in the former Soviet Union, what is today Russia. The 'Cat House' system is a long range early detection radar built to detect American ballistic missiles fired at Moscow.-System:Cat House was one part of a...
).
Missile warhead
The A-350 developed through a period of growth and modifications. Configurations included an improved A-350Zh with tests during 1973. Eventually, the design changed again with radiation hardened cases and became the A-350R for Phase 2 deployment in 1974.Construction
The construction of the ABM-1 system began during 1962 with 16 primary sites including command post, radar installations. and firing complexes for 8-16 missile launchers. Some of the existing sites of the old SA-1 GuildSA-1 Guild
The S-25 Berkut is a surface-to-air guided missile, the first operational SAM system in the world. Its NATO reporting name is SA-1 Guild. It was used only to defend Moscow, while the more mobile S-75 would be used in almost all other roles...
were modified. Some known locations are: Naro-Fominsk
Naro-Fominsk
Naro-Fominsk is a town and the administrative center of Naro-Fominsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated southwest from Moscow, on the Nara River. The Moscow – Kiev railway passes through the town. Population: -History:...
, Olenegorsk
Olenegorsk
Olenegorsk is a town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located north of the Arctic Circle, south of Murmansk. Population: 25,166 ; -Railway:...
, Skrudna, Angarsk
Angarsk
Angarsk is a city in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Angara River, from Moscow. It serves as the administrative center of Angarsky District, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population:...
, Nikolaeyev, and Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan
Sary Shagan is an anti-ballistic missile testing range located in Kazakhstan at coordinates .On 17 August 1956 the Soviet Council of Ministers authorized plans for an experimental facility for missile defense located at Sary Shagan, on the west bank of Lake Balkhash...
.
One of the Dog House phased array radar systems was located at Naro-Fominsk. This system is comparable to the US's PAVE PAWS
PAVE PAWS
PAVE PAWS is a United States Air Force Space Command radar system operated by three 21st Space Wing squadrons for missile warning and space surveillance. Operational PAVE PAWS radars are located at:...
radars of the Sentinel and Safeguard
Safeguard Program
The Safeguard Program was a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system developed during the late 1960s. Safeguard was designed to protect U.S. ICBM missile sites from counterforce attack, thus preserving the option of an unimpeded retaliatory strike. Safeguard used much of the same technology...
ABM programs.
The construction plan changed a number of times, varying the locations, sectors or quadrants, and number of launchers. The system finalized at 8 sites with total of 64 launchers, with 4 major radar centers completed.
Advanced A-35M system (ABM-1B)
With on-going advancements in the ABM system, radars, missile and warheads, the evolution of the ABM-1 Galosh became the ABM-1B Galosh. The "M" for modernization, was brought on through the advanced developments at 10 different Russian institutes. One primary upgrade was in the Dunay-3U radar systems enhanced with a dedicated sector search abilility. Along with other upgrades, actual air tests were performed with different configurations between 1976-77. Phase 3 of the Galosh went on-line in 1978.See also
Treaties
- Strategic Defense InitiativeStrategic Defense InitiativeThe Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic...
- Strategic Arms Limitation TalksStrategic Arms Limitation TalksThe Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty refers to two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the Cold War superpowers—on the issue of armament control. There were two rounds of talks and agreements: SALT I and SALT...
- Anti-Ballistic Missile TreatyAnti-Ballistic Missile TreatyThe Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was a treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union on the limitation of the anti-ballistic missile systems used in defending areas against missile-delivered nuclear weapons....
Related US missiles
- Nike Zeus
- MPQ-64 SentinelMPQ-64 SentinelThe AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is a three-dimensional radar used to alert and queue Short Range Air Defense weapons to the locations of hostile targets approaching their front line forces. The Sentinel radar is deployed with forward area air defense units of the U.S. Army and USMC. The radar uses an...
- Sprint (missile)Sprint (missile)The Sprint was a two-stage, solid-fuel anti-ballistic missile, armed with a W66 enhanced radiation thermonuclear warhead. It was designed as the short-range high-speed counterpart to the longer-range LIM-49 Spartan as part of the Sentinel program. Sentinel never became operational, but the...
- LIM-49A SpartanLIM-49A SpartanThe LIM-49A Spartan was a United States Army anti-ballistic missile, whose warheads were developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It was a three-stage, solid-fuel surface-to-air missile that carried a W71 thermonuclear warhead with a lethal radius of up to 30 miles to intercept...