SA-23 Gladiator/Giant
Mobile army SAM, anti-ballistic
The heaviest air defence of the Ground Forces: a fully tracked, anti-ballistic SAM system that protects an army grouping against both aircraft and ballistic missiles. Distinct from the VKS S-300P: the V-line is built for the manoeuvre battle and has a strong anti-TBM capability.
Dimensionsfor imagery analysis
- Vehicle
- 9A83M TELAR on GM-830-series tracked chassis (T-80-based)
- Weight
- ≈ 47.5 t for the comparable 9A82 (S-300V, APA) — V4-specific figure not found
- L × W × H
- Not found in open sources
- Dimension source
- Air Power Australia; WEG (ODIN)
General
- Role
- Army area & anti-ballistic defence
- Vehicle
- Tracked (fully cross-country)
- Belongs to
- Ground Forces (PVO-SV)
Weapon
- Missiles
- 9M82MD (heavy) / 9M83M
- Max range
- ≈ 189–216 NM
- Speed
- up to Mach 7.5–9
- Altitude
- up to ≈ 121,000 ft (37 km) — anti-TBM/IRBM
Sensors / threat
- Radar
- Grill Pan fire control + sector radar
- Countermeasure
- Stand-off, saturation, SEAD on radar
- Threat level
- Very high — protects manoeuvre & against ballistic
News archive 4
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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One of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow this year: Sobyanin claims 630 drones headed for the capital region; fire reported at the 75th Arsenal in Serpukhov, which repairs Buk and S-300 air-defence systems
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow and the surrounding region this year on the night of 21-22 October 2026. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 630 drones headed toward the Moscow region between 20:30 on 21 October and 04:00 on 22 October (Moscow time). He said most were destroyed at long range and 163 were intercepted on the approach…
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«Российская ПВО и опыт Спецоперации: первые успехи» (Topwar: 'Russian air defence and the experience of the Special Operation: first successes')
In the first part of a three-part series, Topwar author Kirill Ryabov reviews the initial phase of Russian air defence in the war against Ukraine from February 2022. Ground Forces air defence carried the main load, with VKS air and missile defence units and naval systems also involved; the article lists the layered Ground Forces structure (S-300V4, Buk-M3,…
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Turkiye Eyes Egypt as S-400 Buyer to Fix F-35 Program Problem, Cairo Already Operates russian S-300VM Claiming 40km Ballistic Intercept
According to Ukrainian outlet Defense Express (citing the Arabic-language outlet Defence Arabic), Turkey is looking at selling its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems onward, with Egypt named among the "probable buyers." Turkey acquired the S-400 from Russia in 2017, a purchase that led to Ankara's expulsion from the US F-35 program; the article suggests…
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Turkey Reportedly Eyes Egypt as S-400 Buyer to Resolve F-35 Impasse; Cairo Already Fields Russian S-300VM
Defense Express (author Ivan Kyrychevskiy) reports that Turkey is still seeking a buyer for its Russian S-400 air defense systems, acquired under a 2017 contract with Moscow and the direct cause of Turkey's exclusion from the US F-35 program. Egypt has reportedly emerged as a probable buyer, with talks said to have taken place when Egypt's defense minister…