1534th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
Unit Overview and Identification
Designation: 1534th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (1534-y zenitno-raketnyy polk). Military unit number: 25512 (v/ch 25512). Service: Russian Federation Aerospace Forces (VKS), Air and Missile Defense Troops (PVO). The regiment is publicly associated with the S-300PM surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. Open-source references consistently link military unit 25512 to this regiment; the Russian Ministry of Defense does not maintain a publicly accessible, authoritative registry with full unit details.
Subordination and Command Structure
Open-source military rosters and regional reporting typically place the regiment within the Western Military District under the 6th Air and Air Defense Army, generally associated with the 2nd Air Defense Division that covers the northwestern direction. Official, current subordination details for this specific regiment are not published in the public domain. Within the VKS PVO, a regiment of this type operates under divisional and army-level air-defense command posts and integrates into the national aerospace defense network.
Mission and Operational Role
Primary tasks include air defense of assigned sectors and critical infrastructure against tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, with limited capability against certain types of ballistic targets consistent with the S-300PM family. The regiment functions as part of a layered Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (IADS), coordinating with neighboring SAM regiments, radio-technical (radar) units, and fighter aviation. Tasking and engagement authority are exercised through automated command-and-control networks, subject to established rules of engagement.
Primary Equipment: S-300PM System
The S-300PM (NATO: SA-20A Gargoyle) is a mobile, long-range SAM system. Typical system components include 5P85-series transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) on heavy wheeled chassis; a 30N6-series engagement radar; a 64N6-series long-range surveillance radar; and a regimental/battalion command post (54K6/83M6-series). A 76N6 low-altitude detector and 40V6-series mast systems may be used depending on terrain and coverage needs. The S-300PM commonly employs 48N6-series missiles with an engagement envelope cited in open sources up to approximately 150 km against aerodynamic targets and engagement altitudes exceeding 20 km; system radars provide long-range detection typically reported up to about 300 km, dependent on target characteristics and conditions. Engagement capacity is commonly described as up to six targets simultaneously with two missiles per target at the battalion level, subject to configuration.
Organization and Order of Battle (Typical for S-300PM Regiments)
A standard S-300P-series regiment comprises a regimental headquarters and two to three firing battalions (diviziony), though unit-specific structures are not publicly disclosed. Each firing battalion typically includes an engagement radar, a battalion command post, multiple TELs (commonly six to twelve in practice, varying by configuration), and associated reload/transport vehicles. Regimental-level assets generally include a long-range surveillance radar, signals and communications elements, logistics and maintenance companies, security and medical support, and a technical position for missile storage, assembly, and testing. Exact numbers and the current internal table of organization and equipment for military unit 25512 are not publicly available.
Basing and Deployment
The regimental headquarters is designated under military unit 25512. The precise HQ location and the list of permanent or prepared firing positions are not officially published. Open-source materials generally associate the regiment with Russia’s northwestern sector within the Western Military District; some public reporting variably places units of this type in Leningrad and/or Novgorod Oblasts. In the absence of authoritative, current official releases, exact siting for the HQ and firing battalions cannot be stated here. S-300PM regiments normally employ a mix of garrison facilities and prepared launch sites, with the ability to reposition within the road network as required.
Infrastructure and Site Layout (S-300P Practices)
Permanent S-300P-series firing positions in Russia commonly feature hardstand launch pads arranged in circular or semi-circular patterns with internal service roads, cabling trenches, and separate radar pads. Technical positions typically include missile storage bunkers or magazines, warhead handling areas, test/checkout shelters, and fueling points for support vehicles (S-300PM missiles are canisterized and do not require on-site fueling). Radars may be elevated on 40V6-series masts to improve low-altitude coverage, and positions are typically enclosed by perimeter fencing and guarded checkpoints. Exact infrastructure for the 1534th Regiment and the locations of its technical and firing positions are not publicly disclosed.
Command, Control, and Sensor Integration
Regiments equipped with S-300PM normally operate within automated air-defense control systems, exchanging target data with higher-echelon command posts and neighboring units. Russian PVO formations commonly use systems such as Polyana-D4M1 or Baikal-1ME for air-picture management and resource allocation; the specific automated control set for this regiment is not disclosed publicly. Long-range surveillance is augmented by regional radio-technical brigades/regiments, whose data are fused to support timely cueing of the regiment’s 30N6-series engagement radars. Standard communications include secure VHF/UHF, fiber/field cable, and, when available, troposcatter or satellite channels.
Readiness and Training
VKS air-defense regiments follow cyclical training that includes command-staff drills, radar and fire-control crew proficiency events, and logistical readiness checks. Live-fire evaluations for S-300P units are periodically conducted at established ranges such as Ashuluk (Astrakhan Oblast) or Telemba (Republic of Buryatia). Western Military District air-defense units are regularly reported participating in large-scale strategic-operational exercises (e.g., the Zapad series). Specific, current-year exercise participation by the 1534th Regiment is not consistently detailed in public releases.
Logistics and Support
S-300PM regiments rely on wheeled heavy transport for TELs, radars, generators, and support equipment, enabling road mobility between prepared sites. Routine sustainment encompasses missile canister storage and environmental control, radar and vehicle maintenance, spare parts and POL stocks, communications support, and security elements for both garrison and field positions. Technical operations are performed at a dedicated regimental technical position; depot-level maintenance and missile overhaul occur at higher-echelon facilities. Detailed stock levels, munitions holdings, and resupply procedures for military unit 25512 are not publicly available.
Modernization and Outlook
Across the VKS, S-300PS and older S-300PM variants have been progressively supplanted or augmented by S-400 and, more recently, S-350 systems, with the pace varying by region and unit. As of publicly available reporting through 2024–2025, the 1534th Regiment continues to be associated with the S-300PM; no official public announcement confirms a completed rearmament of this regiment to S-350 or S-400. Where modernization occurs, it typically entails new launchers, updated engagement and surveillance radars, and integration with newer command posts. Absent official disclosure, the regiment’s current upgrade status cannot be confirmed.
Operational Environment and Coverage Considerations
Without confirmed current siting of the regiment’s firing battalions, precise defended-area modeling cannot be provided. Generally, an S-300PM battalion with 48N6-series missiles provides area air defense out to roughly 150 km against aerodynamic targets, subject to terrain masking and radar line-of-sight constraints. When integrated with regional long-range surveillance radars, adjacent SAM regiments, and fighter aviation, overall coverage is layered and overlapping. If subordinated within the 6th Air and Air Defense Army, the regiment’s notional role would align with defense of the northwestern strategic direction; exact sectors and alert postures are not publicly stated.
Public Reporting and OSINT Trace
The linkage of the 1534th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment to military unit 25512 appears across open-source compilations and personal postings, which are not official records. Russian MoD press releases and regional media occasionally reference regiment-level air-defense activities but rarely provide detailed orders of battle, exact locations, or full equipment lists. Discrepancies across sources can reflect unit relocations, reorganization, or limited/dated reporting. Where open sources conflict or lack corroboration, details are withheld here.
Classified and Non-Public Information
Specifics such as the exact headquarters address, current commanding officers, the number and locations of firing battalions, missile stockpiles, alert rosters, and real-time readiness states are not publicly released and may be classified. Those details are not provided here.
Summary Assessment
The 1534th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (military unit 25512) is a VKS PVO unit publicly associated with the S-300PM system and generally linked to the Western Military District’s northwestern air-defense architecture. Its mission aligns with area air defense of critical assets and airspace within a layered IADS. The S-300PM provides long-range, multi-target engagement capability against aerodynamic threats and limited capability against some ballistic targets, integrating with regional radar and command networks. Precise basing, order of battle, and modernization status for this regiment are not confirmed in official public sources and therefore are not asserted here.