Editor’s Note: Commercial satellite imagery, thanks to the awesome folks over at DigitalGlobe, reveals Belarus has at least partially converted their S-200 SAM site at Polatsk to support the highly capable S-300 system. The S-300 (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble; SA-12 Giant/Gladiator; and SA-20 Gargoyle) is a whole family of Russian modern long range surface-to-air missile systems.
As NATO beefs up contingency planning for the Baltic States in order to deter any potential aggression, plans for a Joint Regional Air Defense system between Belarus and Russia continue to show signs of progress.
DigitalGlobe space snapshots from 2015 show new “C” shaped drive-through revetments and a raised berm for a mobile engagement radar at the S-200 site at Polatsk. The conversion of the SAM site’s northern launch area has been ongoing since 2014, according to historical imagery. The south launch area, not pictured, still had all six 5P72 semi-fixed rail launcher in place with two 5V28 missiles loaded. A single 5N62 Square Pair radar remained at the nearby bunker complex.
Top: DigitalGlobe imagery of the S-300 site in Polatsk dated April 2015 / Bottom: September 2013
Russia has said for the past several years that it was ready to send close allies like Belarus additional S-300 systems. Kazakhstan was also reported in December to have received further batteries. Recent satellite imagery however offers the first tangible signs that the resurgent power may be following through with statements that echo as far back as 2011.
The site at Polatsk joins two others at Brest and Grodno whose new revetments will probably support the advanced missile defense system. But, unlike those sites, which showed no units in residence, imagery from April 2015 showed a battalion of four TELs parked in a support area along with several bermed missile reloads. It’s likely, given the date of the imagery, that the system is fully deployed in the newly prepared firing positions. In total, new construction activity over the last two years at the sites suggests Belarus could add up to four battalion, corresponding with media reports.
That said, we don’t know if the Polatsk unit is a recently delivered S-300 battalion from Russia, or if this is a jumped Belarusian S-300 system. We currently haven’t acquired a full set of imagery of all current S-300 units deployed in Belarus.
DigitalGlobe satellite imagery of the S-300 site in Polatsk from 12 April 2015 with a battalion of four TELs parked in a support area.
Regardless, the new S-300 position at Polatsk, located approximately 80 kilometers from the Latvian border, will help increase overlapping fields of fire with existing S-300 deployed north and northeast of Minsk. Those battalions were in residence as of October 2015.
The original article can be viewed here.
(Featured photo courtesy of NBC News)