Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 23, 2026

53T6

The 53T6 is a USSR anti-ballistic missile. Designed in 1978 and in service since 1995, it is a component of the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system.

Last revised
Jun 23, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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384 w
Citations
16
Source
53T6 (ABM-3 Gazelle)
TypeAnti-ballistic missile
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In serviceSince 1995
Used byRussia
WarsCold War
Production history
DesignerNPO Novator Design Bureau
Designed19781
Produced19881
No. built681
VariantsA modernized variant is in service as of July 2018
Specifications
Mass10,000 kg (22,000 lbs)
Length12 m
Diameter1.8 m234
Warheadnuclear 10 kt

Engine2-stage solid fuel
Operational
range
80–100 km2567
Flight ceiling80–100 km
Maximum speedNo verified data
Launch
platform
silo89

The 53T6 (NATO reporting name: ABM-3 Gazelle, previously SH-08)1 is a USSR anti-ballistic missile. Designed in 1978 and in service since 1995,10 it is a component of the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system.

The missile is able to intercept incoming re-entry vehicles at a distance of 80 km. The 53T6 is a two-stage solid-propellant rocket armed with a 10 kt thermonuclear weapon. The missile is about 10 meters in length and 1.8 meters in diameter. Its launch weight is 10 tons.111

The 53T6 missile is kept in a silo-based launch container. Prior to launch its cover is blown off.

Radar support

The Gazelle missile system is supported by the Don-2N Pill Box radar.

See also

See also

Treaties

References

References

  1. Gazelle (SH-08/ABM-3) Archived 2010-08-09 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. "PRS-1/53T6 antimissile missile complex and A-135/RTTS-181 Cupid / 5ZH60". Tonnel-ufo.ru. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  3. O'Connor, Sean (12 December 2009). "Russian/Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems". p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  4. "Отечественная военная техника (после 1945г.) - Статьи - Система А-135 ракета 53Т6 - ABM-3 GAZELLE / SH-08". 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-09-08.
  5. "A-135 SAMOLET (SH-08/ABM-3 GAZELLE)". Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  6. Pike, John. "53T6 Gazelle". www.globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  7. "53T6". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  8. O'Connor, Sean (12 December 2009). "Russian/Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems". p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  9. 53t6 (25 September 2007). "Anti-ballistic missile 53T6 Gazelle Test mission Launch". Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. A-135.
  11. СИСТЕМА ПРО А-135 Archived 2011-01-03 at the Wayback Machine.
External links