The S-75 Daugava (NATO designation: Guidance SA-2) is a Soviet surface-to-air missile designed to destroy medium- and high-altitude targets during the Cold War. The SA-2 was a two-stage missile with a range of up to 45 kilometers, capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 200 kilograms and capable of destroying targets at an altitude of up to 25,000 meters. In the early 1950s, the American aviation began to intensively develop a fleet of strategic bombers (B-47, and later B-52), which were supposed to carry out nuclear strikes on the territory of the USSR. This fact led to the fact that in 1953, in the Soviet Union, work began on a new anti-aircraft missile, which finally became the SA-2. It was first presented to the public in 1957. Probably, in the same year, SA-2 began to be mass mastered by anti-aircraft units of the Soviet Army. At the time of its appearance, the system had high combat capabilities and turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for the USAF. It proved its worth in 1960 when an SA-2 missile shot down a U-2 piloted by Francis Powers. These weapons were also sold by the USSR to North Vietnam and actually limited the freedom of operation of American aircraft during the Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975). Many system upgrades were later introduced, the most important of which is the S-75M Volkhov (NATO designation: SA-2C), with significantly higher performance, shorter response times, and better guidance systems. SA-2 missiles were exported to many countries, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Moldova, Poland and Romania. They also took part in many armed conflicts. In addition to the mentioned war in Vietnam, they participated, for example, in the Six-Day War (1967), the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Iraq-Iran War (1980-1988). the most important of which is the S-75M "Volkhov" (NATO designation: SA-2C) with significantly higher parameters, shorter response time and better guidance systems. SA-2 missiles were exported to many countries, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Moldova, Poland and Romania. They also took part in many armed conflicts. In addition to the mentioned war in Vietnam, they participated, for example, in the Six-Day War (1967), the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Iraq-Iran War (1980-1988). the most important of which is the S-75M "Volkhov" (NATO designation: SA-2C) with significantly higher parameters, shorter response time and better guidance systems. SA-2 missiles were exported to many countries, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Moldova, Poland and Romania. They also took part in many armed conflicts. In addition to the mentioned war in Vietnam, they participated, for example, in the Six-Day War (1967), the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Iraq-Iran War (1980-1988).
