Defense Missile System is a technology used to detect, track, intercept and destroy any opposite attacking missile. These missiles fall under categories based on the characteristics like type and range of missile intercepted, the trajectory phase of the intercept and place of Intercept whether it is inside or outside. So, here are the top defense missile systems by U.S and Russia.
Top America’s Defense Missile Systems:
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD)
THAAD is the most advanced system that uses kinetic energy to kill incoming targets. In short “hit to kill” phrase is good enough to describe it. THAAD interceptors can hit right out of the sky to kill enemy missiles and has enough defense power to defend eight enemy missiles. There are total of five batteries and one of them will be deployed to deter North Korean missiles as they had made a sudden missile attack a year back and the American government agreed to equip Seoul with THAAD.
Patriot Advanced Capability(PAC-3)
Patriot system can counter-attack different threats of opposite missiles since this is an upgraded version of the proven patriot missile defense system it can engage with aircraft, drones, short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. It is a guided missile system with long-range medium to high altitudes and all-weather conditions. When it is combined with THAAD, it will be a multi-tier missile defense system. The other PAC-2 and PAC-3 act as shipping and launch tubes.
Aegis Ballistic Missile defense system(BMD)
Aegis is the world’s first maritime ballistic maritime defense system. It is able to track short and medium ballistic missiles and currently, there are totally 84 ships equipped with Aegis. Like THAAD and Patriot, it will work based on hit to kill strategy to obliterate targets. It has advantages like the limited capability against the satellites in the lower portion of the earth’s orbit. In 2008, Aegis destroyed ships in the pacific upon the satellite’s hydrazine payload that might contaminate the land upon entry from an uncontrolled orbit.
Top Russia’s Defense Missile Systems:
S-400 Missile system:
It is an Upgrade ofs-300 family and was developed in 1990 by Russia’s Almaz Central Design bureau for Marie Engineering. It is the most advanced air defense system even America has accepted that it is the most powerful among all. It has been bought by most countries around the world. India is also one among them and purchased it from Russia at an amount of $5 billion in October 2018. With the help of s-400, it can defend against drone attacks, missiles, fighter aircraft and Rockets. Here, Each Regiment has 8 launchers and each launcher has 4 missiles so, this regiment can totally fire 32 missiles at a time. It is expected that s-400 will be replaced by s-500 by 2024.
S-300VM
This S-300VM is the surface to air missile which hits the target at the range of 200 kilometres and at a height of 30 kilometres. It is designed to counter-attack cruise missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, ECM systems and precision-guided munitions. This is equipped with highly efficient surveillance radar to detect highly explosive focused enemy missiles.
