S-350 Vityaz Missile Defense System

Full Specifications

The S-350 Vityaz is a modern, medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Russia’s state defense conglomerate Almaz-Antey. Designed to bridge the gap between short- and long-range air defenses, the S-350 offers a flexible, mobile shield against a wide range of aerial threats, from cruise missiles to ballistic rockets.

Key Capabilities & Architecture

The S-350 system comprises a 50K6 command post, one or two 50N6A multifunction radars, and four to eight 50P6 launch vehicles mounted on wheeled chassis. Each launcher can carry up to 12 ready-to-fire 9M96-series missiles, with larger stocks kept in reserve.

Two missile types are central to its capability:

• 9M96E / 9M96E2: Active-homing, aerodynamic control surfaces, thrust vectoring; ranges from ~12 km up to 120 km per export data.
• 9M100: Infrared-guided, shorter-range (approximately 10–15 km), with high maneuverability (up to ~60 g).

Performance Profile

• Simultaneous engagement: Up to 16 aerodynamic targets, 12 ballistic targets, and up to 32 missiles in flight.
• Altitude envelope: Can engage threats from as low as 10 m up to 30 km for aerodynamic targets; for ballistic targets, up to ~25 km.
• Reaction time / deployment: About 5 minutes to ready from march state.

Operational Use & Purpose

The Russian Aerospace Forces began fielding the S-350 in late 2021, and it is being deployed to replace older S-300 systems. Designed especially to counter cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft, UAVs, and even short-range ballistic missiles, the system offers robust multi-angle defense. According to Russian sources, one battery can hold far more ready missiles than comparable S-300 or S-400 batteries — increasing its saturation defense capability.

Its all-weather resilience is also notable: the S-350 can operate across extreme temperature gradients (–50 °C to +50 °C) and under heavy electronic interference. Strategically, it serves as a reliable “cruise missile killer,” guarding high-value sites, borders, and coastal regions.

S-350 Vityaz Price

The S-350 Vityaz is not publicly sold in U.S. markets, and Russia has not released an official per-unit cost in U.S. dollars. Pricing estimates vary widely, and the system remains primarily for internal Russian deployment.