OVERVIEW:  The SA-3a GOA (S-125 Neva) SAM battalion is a semi-fixed air defense unit intended to protect targets against low-to-medium altitude air threats at short range.

DETAILS:  Each SA-3 battalion typically has four launchers for their S-125 missiles positioned in a hand-shaped pattern with the thumb consisting of the revetted long-range search and the palm the SNR-125 radar. 

A typical engagement begins with detection by the van-mounted P-15 FLAT FACE or P-15M SQUAT EYE C-band radar providing range and azimuth data, and the accompanying PRV-11 SIDE NET E-band radar providing altitude data.  The target is then handed off to the LOW BLOW trailer-mounted I-band fire control radar, which tracks the both the target and the missile's transponder beacon. An uplink transmits flight commands for the missile's interception. The system can simultaneously track six target aircraft and guide one or two missiles.  For operating in a heavy electronic countermeasure (ECM) environment, upgraded S-125 system SNR-125 are fitted with 25 km range TV cameras to allow a passive mode only command guidance interception.

Specifications:

Maximum Acquisition Range: 	134 nm (FLAT FACE)
Maximum Tracking Range:		46 nm (LOW BLOW)
Engagement Envelope:		656-32,808 feet (200-10,000 m)(altitude),  2.2-8.1 nm range (SA-3)
Max target speed: 		700 km/h (head on); 300 km/h (receding)	
Reload Time:			50 minutes
Mobility:			Semi-fixed.  Several hours needed to redeploy


NOTES:  IOC: 1961. The system is road mobile, but requires significant time to emplace/displace.


SOURCES: IHS. "S-125 Neva/Pechora (SA-3 'Goa')." Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, November 2016 ; PVO.SU. "Missile system S-125 (SA-3 GOA." PVO.SU. Last modified July 25, 2011. http://pvo.guns.ru/s125/ ; "S-125 SA-3 GOA Russia / Soviet Nuclear Forces." Accessed December 3, 2016. https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/s-125.htm ; "S-125M1 Neva (SA-3B Goa) Short Range Surface to Air Missile System Simulator Documentation." Last modified November 21, 2014. https://sites.google.com/site/samsimulator1972/home ; "Almaz 5V24/5V27/S-125 Neva/Pechora / SA-3 Goa." Air Power Australia. Accessed December 5, 2016. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-125-Neva.html.