Wikipedia Find

note: I don't work on these systems or have anything to do with them. All of this information is widely available online. Links to the source(s) are included below.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've heard the term "SA-" before. Not a lot, but once or twice is enough to wonder what it is. It's not that it comes up in every day conversation, but living in proximity to a defense-oriented community brings with it certain vernacular, and some terms can come up every now and then - especially when there are models of such systems around town. All of the "SA-7", "SA-10", "SA-etc." got me wondering... what the heck is that?

Well, to find out I went to the source of all incredible knowledge... Wikipedia. Once I got on there, I found myself reading all about this. It's pretty interesting stuff. Wiki says that the NATO-appointed SA term refers to "Strela", a series of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles. There are several former USSR-built versions, and even more versions created by their modification by countries all over the world. Because there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of versions, I'll just go over a few.

SA-2

The SA-1 Guild (S-25 Berkut) was the first operational surface-to-air missile in the world, created by the USSR under the direction of Stalin. With the United States's increased capacity to carry nuclear weapons using the B-47 and B-52 bombers, the Soviets began developing several missile systems to replace the outdated WWII-era gun defenses. From the SA-1 came the SA-2 Guideline (S-75 Dvina). "This program focused on producing a missile which could bring down a large, non-maneuvering, high-altitude aircraft. As such it did not need to be highly maneuverable, merely fast and able to resist aircraft counter-measures."

China first used the SA-2 to shoot down several Taiwanese aircraft in 1960, and then "during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a U-2 piloted by USAF Major Rudolf Anderson was shot down over Cuba by an S-75 in October 1962." The Soviets also gave the North Vietnamese some of the missiles, which were used to shoot down American planes during the Vietnam war.

Shoulder-launched SA-7

The SA-7 (Strela-2) is a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missle, or MANPAD (Man Portable Air Defense System). The SA-7 uses an infrared seeker to lock onto a low-flying aircraft and can be avoided with the use of flares or other heat or infrared decoys. A soldier can setup, launch, and hit a target within 13 seconds of carrying the missile on his back. Since its inception, the SA-7 has been modified and obtained by numerous countries. Al Qaeda is said to have created a training video on how to use the SA-7. Along with its variants, the SA-7 is especially dangerous because of its high portability. Enemies can easily carry one in on foot or in a pickup truck and can shoot it from just about anywhere.

SA-10

The SA-10 (S-300P) was a vast improvement to the SA-2. Deployed in 1979, it implemented a missile-firing system onto the back of a semi, or TEL (Transporter-Erector Launcher). "This system broke substantial new ground, including the use of a phased array radar and multiple engagements on the same FCS. Nevertheless, it had some limitations. It took over 1 hour to set up this semi-mobile system for firing and the hot vertical launch method employed scorched the TEL."

"The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles... The S-300 is also capable of destroying ballistic missile targets, and is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently fielded[2]. Its radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. S-300 deployment time is five minutes." One version of this system, the SA-10d/e, is thought to have been fitted with a nuclear warhead.

S-300V

The SA-12 Gladiator/Giant (S-300V Antey) is a bigger, high-altitude version that has increased mobility over the SA-10. It carries a larger missile (only two at a time can fit on the launcher vehicle) with a 331 lb. warhead and has a better target detection and guidance radar.

SA-21

Even larger is the SA-21 Growler (S-400 Triumf), which was developed by Russia in the late 1990's, and can detect and destroy targets from a distance of up to 250 miles. The Russians announced earlier this year that they would upgrade all S-300 systems in Northwestern Russia with the longer-range S-400 systems. They have already sold some of the systems to China, the UAE, and Greece. Iran has also shown an interest in obtaining the system, which posses a possible threat to the US and to Israel.

See also:

Ground based	SA-1 Guild · SA-2 Guideline · SA-3 Goa · SA-4 Ganef · SA-5 Gammon · SA-6 Gainful · SA-7 Grail · SA-8 Gecko · SA-9 Gaskin · SA-10 Grumble · SA-11 Gadfly · SA-12 Gladiator/Giant · SA-13 Gopher · SA-14 Gremlin · SA-15 Gauntlet · SA-16 Gimlet · SA-17 Grizzly · SA-18 Grouse · SA-19 Grison · SA-20 Gargoyle · SA-21 Growler · SA-22 Greyhound · SA-23 Gladiator\Giant · SA-24 Grinch
Naval based	SA-N-1 Goa · SA-N-2 Guideline · SA-N-3 Goblet · SA-N-4 Gecko · SA-N-5 Grail · SA-N-6 Grumble · SA-N-7 Gadfly · SA-N-8 Gremlin · SA-N-9 Gauntlet · SA-N-10 Grouse · SA-N-11 Grison · SA-N-12 Grizzly · SA-N-14 Grouse · SA-N-20 Gargoyle

note: all of this information is widely available and links to the source(s) are included above.