Profile
- Type
- Medium-range surface-to-air missile system
- Conflict side
- Russia
- Origin
- Russia
- Service note
- Entered Russian service in 2020; documented in the Russia-Ukraine War
The S-350 Vityaz is a Russian mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed for layered air defense against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs, and some ballistic targets. In the Russia-Ukraine War it has appeared in Russian air-defense deployments near Ukraine and in later reporting from eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian sources and defense reporting documented S-350 equipment being struck or destroyed.
Russian forces have fielded S-350 Vityaz components in and around the Ukraine theater, including documented deployments near the border and reported front-line use or losses in eastern Ukraine.
CrotaleShort-range surface-to-air missile systemCrotale is a French short-range surface-to-air missile family built around radar and electro-optical target tracking. The Crotale NG variant paired the VT-1 missile with an integrated launcher, search radar, tracking radar, and optical sensors, making it useful for point defense of forces and fixed sites against low-altitude air threats. France supplied Crotale NG systems to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War to reinforce layered air defense against Russian missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and drones.
PAC-3 MSEHit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missilePAC-3 MSE is the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of Lockheed Martin's Patriot PAC-3 hit-to-kill interceptor family. It adds a larger dual-pulse solid rocket motor, larger fins, upgraded actuators, and higher performance for defeating ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft while retaining compatibility with modern Patriot launchers.
Arrow-3Exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile interceptorArrow-3 is the upper-tier interceptor in Israel's Arrow Weapon System, developed with U.S. support to destroy ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere. Its hit-to-kill kill vehicle, long-range engagement envelope, and integration with Israeli radar and battle-management systems make it a strategic layer above Arrow-2, David's Sling, and Iron Dome, with documented combat use against Houthi and Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
David's SlingMedium- to long-range air and missile defense systemDavid's Sling is the middle tier of Israel's layered missile-defense network, co-developed by Rafael and Raytheon/RTX around the hit-to-kill Stunner interceptor. It is designed to cover threats above Iron Dome and below Arrow, including heavy rockets, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and tactical ballistic missiles, with recent combat use documented against rockets from Gaza and Lebanon and Iranian ballistic missiles.
SM-3Ship- and shore-launched exo-atmospheric ballistic missile interceptorThe SM-3 is a Standard Missile family interceptor for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships and Aegis Ashore sites. Unlike area air-defense missiles built around blast-fragmentation warheads, it uses a hit-to-kill kinetic vehicle to destroy ballistic missiles in the midcourse phase outside the atmosphere, with Block IB and Block IIA variants forming a key U.S. and allied upper-tier missile-defense layer.