SAM Surface to Air Missile

SAM short Surface to Air Missile, are the major part when it comes to aerial defence. The units involved in a SAM, form a structure called a SAM Site, except single Vehicle SAMs or shoulder launched solutions. SAMs neutralize their target by searching, tracking and shooting it. It does that while using all units involved the Site. This document differs them into passive and active units. Passive units are all units not directly necessary for a launch. An example could be logistical trucks prividing fuel an munition for the SAM Site. Active units are crucial for the launch of a missile. They could be Search Radars (SR), Track Radars (TR) or Launchers.

The most vunerable unit of a SAM Site is its TR. A SAM can´t launch a missile without its TR because it its also the fire controle radar for all launchers, except those kinds who have a TR build in.

SAMs where produced in multiple versions during the years and by many multiple countries. This Document has its focus on eastern/sovjet SAM Systems.

See:

SA-2 Guidline / S-75 Dwina