Strela

Strela (Russian: Стрела, meaning "Arrow") is a series of Russian anti-ballistic missile and anti-satellite weapon systems. The Strela system has been in service with the Soviet Union and its successor states, including the Russian Federation, since the 1960s.

History

The Strela system was developed in response to the perceived threat of United States' ballistic missile capabilities during the Cold War. The first version of the system, known as Strela-1, was introduced in 1968. This was followed by the more advanced Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems in the 1970s and 1980s respectively.

Design and Capabilities

The Strela system is designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles and satellites in low Earth orbit. The system uses a combination of radar tracking and infrared homing to detect and track targets. The missiles are launched from mobile launchers, which can be rapidly deployed and relocated to avoid detection.

Operational Use

The Strela system has been used in several conflicts, including the Yom Kippur War and the War in Donbass. It has also been exported to several other countries, including Syria, Egypt, and North Korea.

See Also

• Anti-ballistic missile
• Anti-satellite weapon
• Cold War
• Russian military technology