Osprey New Vanguard 134 : Red SAM : The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile

The Russian SA-2, nicknamed 'Red SAM', is history's dominant antiaircraft missile. In 1960 it famously downed Gary Powers' U-2 spyplane, and two years later it was one of the missiles deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which almost sparked a nuclear showdown between America and the USSR. The SA-2 was also deployed in Vietnam, North Korea, Egypt, and even the Gulf War. Using photographs, colour artwork, and rare accounts from the weapon's designers, Steven J Zaloga examines the missile's development, linking this to its massive impact on Cold War air campaigns, and investigates the design changes that have helped the SA-2 stand the test of time. Text by Steven J Zaloga with illustrations by Jim Laurier.

Contents

• SAM Origins
• The Spyplane Menace
• Operation Anadyr : The Cuban Missile Crisis
• Deep Modernization
• The Flying Telephone Pole in Vietnam
• Operation Kavkaz : S-75 in the 1967-73 Middle East Wars
• Foreign Guidelines
• Final Refinements
• Further Reading
• Colour Plate Commentary
• Index