Red SAM: The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile

Osprey New Vanguard #134

by Steven J. Zaloga, Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

The SA-2, nicknamed Red SAM, is the most widely used air defense missile in history, most famous for nearly sparking a nuclear exchange between the USSR and America when one brought down a U-2 spy plane in 1960. Deployed widely against American aircraft in Vietnam the SA-2 has seen service in North Korea, Egypt, and various world conflicts including the 2003 Gulf War and remains in service today despite its aging 50-year-old technology.

Using rare interviews and accounts from the Russian designers of the weapon, and supported by photographs and color artwork, Steven J Zaloga examines the development of the SA-2, linking the technical history of the weapon to its massive impact on air campaigns during the Cold War, and investigates the design changes, which helped the SA-2 stand the test of time.

48 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2007

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Mohammad Juma · Rating 5 out of 5]

أعجبني مزج التاريخ وتكتيكات القتال عند التحدث عن الخواص القتالية لهذا السلاح, ونجح الكاتب في شد القارئ لقراءة هذه القصص التاريخ وأن يعيشها. ولكن أغفل دور هذا السلاح في الحروب الصهيونيه العربيه وأغفل معلومات هامه في عمل الصاروخ فأنا كنت أذن أن الصاروخ يعمل بتكنولوجيا تتبع البصمه الحراريه ولكنه بالعكس يعمل بالتتبع الراداري, ولكن لم توضح هذه النقاط بشكل جيد. الكتاب من أفضل كتب هذه السلسلة.

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight into the development of the SA-2 'Red SAM' the missile that shot down Gary Powers and was the chief opponent of US aircraft in Vietnam. Artwork is excellent and the text is quite readable with many photos.