The S-300PMU2/SA-10E Favorit system, later redesignated SA-20 Gargoyle, is the last of the Almaz S-300P variants to carry the S-300 designation. Developed between 1995 and 1997, it was intended to compete directly against the Antey S-300V and Patriot PAC-2/3 systems as an Anti-Ballistic Missile system.

The Favorit incorporates incrementally upgraded 30N6E2 Tomb Stone, NIIIP 64N6E2 Big Bird radars and a 54K6E2 command post, and the LEMZ 96L6E Cheese Board as its early warning and primary acquisition system, replacing the 36D6/ST-68UM Tin Shield and LEMZ 76N6E Clam Shell. While the system retains compatibility with earlier 48N6 missiles, a new extended 108 nautical mile range 46N6E2 missile was added.

The Favorit's new command post has the capability to control S-300PMU / SA-10, S-300PMU1 / SA-20 batteries, and also S-200VE / SA-5 Gammon batteries, relaying coordinates and commands to the 5N62VE Square Pair guidance and illumination radar.

While the Favorit superficially appears like the SA-10C/D, it has a wide range of incremental improvements internally, and a range of optimisations to improve performance in the Anti-Ballistic Missile role. Almaz, the system integrators, and Fakel, the missile designers, claim to have repeatedly caused Scud target vehicle warheads to detonate during test intercepts at the Kapustin Yar range in 1995.

The S-300PMU2 is the most advanced variant of the S-300P series to be exported in larger quantities, with the PLA being the principal client at this time.

The S-300PMU2 is a direct evolution of the S-300PMU1, it turn having evolved from the S-300PM / SA-10C variants, which were a deep redesign of the self-propelled S-300PS / SA-10B. The system became a platform for a series of technology insertion upgrades, most of which became production features in the subsequent S-400 Triumf, which was initially designated as the S-300PMU3. An example is the four round launcher for the 9M96E/E2 interceptor missiles.

A recent option available for both the S-300PMU1 and S-300PMU2 is the NK Orientir precision navigation system, developed since 2004 by a consortium comprising the NVP Protek, NII Radiotekhniki KGTU, NPP Radiosvyaz and FGUP TsNII Elektropribor. This system uses a FOG inertial reference with corrections provided by a GPS and Glonass satnav receivers, LORAN-C and Chaika  radio navaids,  and an odometer. The system is equipped with a moving map display and is intended to provide a geolocation accuracy of 15 metres, and angular positioning accuracy of 6 minutes of arc, for “hide, shoot and scoot” operations. The system has been deployed on the 30N6E2 Tomb Stone engagement radar. It employs a characteristic arrangement of three rooftop antenna domes on a rigid tubular frame.

Also see D.K. Barton's  Design of the S-300P and S-300V SAM Systems [Click for more ...]
Almaz S-300P/PT/PS/PMU/PMU1/PMU2 / S-400 SAM System Technical Analysis [Click for more ...]
Almaz 5P85 Series Transporter Erector Launcher Technical Analysis [Click for more ...]

Antey S-300V/VM SAM System Technical Analysis [Click for more ...]
NKMZ 40V6M/40V6MD Universal Mobile Mast Analysis [Click for more ...]

Almaz 30N6E2 Tomb Stone Engagement Radar

Almaz 1T12 Site Survey Vehicle

22T6E2 Missile Transloader

Technical Report APA-TR-2009-0502

---