In Annex "S" Surface-to-Air Missiles, as examples, both the 9k31M Strela-1M (SA-9b) and 9K35M3 Strela-10M3 (SA-13) have "Y" in their respective "Optical Back-Up" column, but what is it back up to? There are no associated radars with these two systems. Is there some other IR or similar sighting capability not referenced in Annex "S"?

I think the Optical Back-up column is geared towards the radar guided SAMs that might have an optical back-up to their usual radar guidance (like the SA-8 Gecko).

 

So, in the IR guided types, the column is sorta redundant.

I agree about the redundancy, but hope to provoke an FC Column for Annex S.

 

See for example the Annex C's where there is an FC column with RA (Radar) EO (Electro-Optic) and OP (Optical), which in my humble opinion would have gone a long way to clearing up the SA-9 fiasco over the past week.

I guess the answer that I am truely looking for is; Are those land-based SAM systems, without an inherent acquisition radar found in Annex S, considered to be restricted to visual sighting rules unless tied into an air defense network that contains at least one unit with such radar?

 

An game example of such an air defense unit would consist of 4xKub M2 SA-6b TEL's, with their inherent Straight Flush, 4x9K31M Strela-1M SA-9b TEL's, and 4xZSU-23-4 Shilka's. Each system would be fed target designation from the Straight Flush. A PU-12 or PU-12M miniature would be used to denote this C3 vehicle/capability.

 

Does this sound about correct?