Shipborne self-defense air defense systems: the last frontier of combat stability. Is the newest Kinzhal missile system an aerial version of the land-based Iskander? Tactical and technical characteristics of the dagger rocket
In the 80s, at the NPO Altair, under the leadership of S.A. Fadeev, the Kinzhal short-range defense system was created. Anti-aircraft guided missiles for the complex were developed by the Fakel Design Bureau.
Ship tests of the complex were launched in 1982 on the Black Sea on a small anti-submarine ship pr.1124. During demonstration firing in the spring of 1986, 4 P-35 cruise missiles were launched from coastal installations at the MPK. All P-35s were shot down by 4 Kinzhal missiles. The tests were difficult and the timing of the adoption of the complex had to be periodically pushed back, and for a long time the industry was establishing the serial production of "Daggers". As a result, a number of Navy ships had to be taken unarmed. So, for example, it was supposed to arm the Novorossiysk aircraft carrier with the Kinzhal, but it was put into service with reserved volumes for the Kinzhal. On the first ships of project 1155, the complex was installed one instead of the prescribed two. And only in 1989, the Kinzhal air defense system was officially adopted.
The Kinzhal air defense system is a multi-channel, all-weather, autonomous system capable of repelling a massive raid of low-flying anti-ship, anti-radar missiles, guided and unguided bombs, aircraft, helicopters, etc. In the "Dagger" air defense system, the principal circuit solutions of the S-300F "Fort" air defense system were used - the presence of a multifunctional radar, the launch of a missile defense system from a TPK to a drum-type air launcher. The complex can receive target designation from any ship-based CC detection radar.
The complex is equipped with its own radar detection equipment (module K-12-1), which provides the complex with complete independence and prompt action in the most difficult environment. The multichannel complex is based on phased antenna arrays with electronic beam control and a high-speed computing complex. The target detection radar has a range of up to 45 km and operates in the K (X,1) range. A distinctive feature of the radar transmitter of the complex is its alternate operation in the target and missile channels. Depending on the operating mode, the frequency of sendings and the duration of the pulses change. AP radar "Dagger" - combined, as in the air defense system "Osa-M": the antenna of the radar detection of the CC is combined with the AP of the firing stations and is a phased array. The main headlight provides additional search and tracking of targets and guidance of missiles on them, the other two are designed to capture the response signal of a launched missile and bring it to a marching trajectory. With the help of its digital computer complex, the Kinzhal air defense system can operate in various modes, incl. in fully automatic mode: taking a target for tracking, generating data for firing, launching and guiding missiles, evaluating the results of firing and transferring fire to other targets. The main mode of operation of the complex is automatic (without the participation of personnel), based on the principles of "artificial intelligence". The television-optical target detection tools built into the antenna post not only increase its noise immunity in conditions of intense radio countermeasures, but also allow personnel to visually assess the nature of tracking and hitting targets. The radar facilities of the complex were developed at the Kvant Research Institute under the guidance of V.I. Guzya and provide a range of detection of air targets of 45 km at an altitude of 3.5 km.
"Dagger" can simultaneously fire at up to four targets in a spatial sector of 60 degrees. at 60 degrees, while simultaneously guiding up to 8 missiles. The reaction time of the complex is from 8 to 24 seconds, depending on the mode of the radar. The combat capabilities of the "Dagger" in comparison with the "Osa-M" air defense system are increased by 5-6 times. In addition to missiles, the Kinzhal complex can control the fire of 30-mm AK-360M assault rifles, completing the firing of surviving targets at a distance of up to 200 meters.
The complex uses a remote-controlled anti-aircraft missile 9M330-2, unified with the rocket of the land complex "Tor". The rocket was developed at the Fakel Design Bureau under the direction of P.D. Grushin. It is single-stage with a dual-mode solid propellant engine. The missiles are placed in transport and launch containers (TLC), which ensures their safety, constant combat readiness, ease of transportation and safety when loaded into the launcher. Missiles do not need to be tested for 10 years. 9M330 is made according to the "duck" aerodynamic scheme and uses a freely rotating wing unit. Its wings are folding, which made it possible to place the 9M330 in an extremely "compressed" square-section TPK. The launch of the SAM is vertical with the help of a catapult with a further declination of the rocket by the gas-dynamic system on the target. Missiles can be launched on roll up to 20 degrees. The engine is started at a safe altitude for the ship after the rocket is declining. Guidance of missiles at the target is carried out by telecontrol. Undermining the warhead is carried out directly at the command of a pulsed radio fuse in the immediate vicinity of the target. The radio fuse is noise-immune and adapts when approaching the water surface. Warhead - high-explosive fragmentation type.
The launchers of the Kinzhal complex were developed by the Start design bureau under the leadership of the chief designer A.I. Yaskin. The underdeck launcher consists of 3-4 drum-type launchers, each with 8 TPKs with missiles. The weight of the module without missiles is 41.5 tons, the occupied area is 113 sq. m. Calculation of the complex 13 people.
Currently, the Kinzhal air defense system is in service with the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, nuclear missile cruisers pr. 1144.2 Orlan, large anti-submarine ships pr. ship "Fearless" pr.11540 "Hawk". At the moment, the Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile system is the best medium-range ship-based air defense system in the world.
Early 1980s It was marked by a sharp increase in the combat power of the military fleets of foreign countries of the world, which began to receive modern anti-ship missiles en masse, which armed surface combat ships of various classes and displacement, as well as combat boats and aircraft (helicopters).
Moreover, these were no longer those bulky and heavy "monsters" with which the first missile boats and ships were armed, but completely different products - small-sized, inconspicuous, with high-precision homing systems and the ability to follow the target almost over the crests of waves, moreover, with using an anti-aircraft maneuver.
All this made it difficult to timely detect such missiles, classify them and issue target designation to combat assets of shipborne air and missile defense systems, which, coupled with the objective complexity of hitting small-sized high-speed low-flying targets, ultimately led to a significant decrease in the effectiveness of combating them and increased the vulnerability of ships to these assets. defeat.
Particularly widespread in foreign fleets were anti-ship missile systems (SCMS) of the Harpoon (USA) and Exoset (France) families, which, due to their relatively low cost, quickly paved the way for the arsenals of the second-line navies, so that soon even the ships of recognized world-class maritime powers could not consider themselves safe in the ocean.
The Anglo-Argentine armed conflict over the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands in 1982, better known as the Falklands War, demonstrated especially brightly the new era that has come in the field of armed struggle at sea. The French Exocet anti-ship missiles, which were then in service with the Argentine air and naval forces (Super Etandar aircraft and surface ships), caused serious damage to the operational formation of Her Majesty's fleet. Almost all the "exocets" released by the Argentines found their targets, so if it were not for the embargo imposed by Paris on the supply of missiles already contracted by Buenos Aires, then the skin of the rearing "British Lion" would have been badly spoiled. It was after the Falklands War that the navies of the leading countries of the world urgently began to create new and modernize old air defense / missile defense systems that could provide reliable protection for surface ships from such high-speed small-sized and low-flying targets as the latest anti-ship missiles.
Anti-aircraft missile system "Dagger" ("Blade")
In the Soviet Union, work on the creation of modern highly effective ship-based self-defense equipment began in the second half of the 1970s. The command and specialists of the USSR Navy were able to discern the threat posed by the latest anti-ship missiles in a timely manner. At the same time, work on the creation of such systems went in two directions - the creation of rapid-firing artillery systems, in the design of the block of barrels of which it was decided to use the principle of the American designer Gatling (a rotating block of barrels), and the development of completely new, by and large, unique shipborne anti-aircraft missile systems, distinctive the features of which were to be a high degree of reaction and accuracy of guidance / homing, as well as high fire performance, ensuring the possibility of effectively hitting such complex targets as low-flying anti-ship missiles.
As part of this process, in 1975, specialists from the State Research and Production Association (GNPO) "Altair" under the leadership of S.A. Fadeev, on the instructions of the command of the Soviet Navy, began work on a new multi-channel shipborne air defense system, which was given the name "Dagger" ( NATO designation -SA- N-nine "Gauntlet”, later the export designation appeared - “Blade”).
In addition to SNPO "Altair" ( today - JSC MNIIRE "Altair"), determined by the general developer of the Kinzhal complex as a whole, the Design Bureau (KB) Fakel ( today - JSC "MKB" Fakel "im. Academician P.D. Grushin"; developer and manufacturer of a combat weapon of the 9M330 anti-aircraft guided missile complex), Serpukhov JSC "Ratep" ( developer and manufacturer of the complex control system), Sverdlovsk Research and Production Enterprise (NPP) "Start" ( developer and manufacturer of the launcher of the complex) and other organizations and enterprises of the domestic military-industrial complex.
When developing a new ship complex, in order to obtain high performance characteristics, the developer decided to widely use the fundamental circuit solutions obtained during the creation of the Fort ship long-range air defense system, namely a multi-channel radar with a phased antenna array with electronic beam control and a vertical launch of a missile defense system from transport and launch containers located in the underdeck launcher of the "revolving" type (for the complex, the option of a launcher for 8 missiles was chosen). In addition, in order to increase the autonomy of the new complex, similarly to the Osa-M air defense system, the control system of the Kinzhal air defense system included its own all-round radar located at a single 3R95 antenna post.
The new air defense system used a radio command system for guiding anti-aircraft guided missiles, which was distinguished by high accuracy (efficiency). Plus, in order to ensure increased noise immunity, a television-optical tracking system was additionally included in the antenna post. In the end, according to experts, compared with the old ship-based air defense system of the Osa-M type, the combat capabilities of the air defense system of the Kinzhal type were increased by approximately 5-6 times.
Tests of the Kinzhal air defense system took place in the Black Sea, starting in 1982, on a small anti-submarine ship MPK-104, completed according to a specially modified project 1124K. According to data published in the open press, in the course of demonstration firing by the complex in the spring of 1986, installed on board the MPK-104, four missiles shot down all four P-35 cruise missiles, which were used as simulators of enemy air attack weapons and launched from coastal launchers. However, the high novelty and complexity of the new missile system led to a serious delay in its development and refinement, therefore, only by 1986, the Dagger-type air defense system was finally adopted by the Soviet Navy. But on the large anti-submarine ships of project 1155, in full, according to the previously approved plan, the configuration option - 8 modules of 8 missiles each - the complex was installed only in 1989. Around the second half of the 1990s. a complex called "Blade" is offered for export, there are already deliveries.
It should be especially noted that the difficulties of a technical and technological nature that the developers of the Kinzhal air defense system had to face led to the fact that, despite the initial requirement of the customer’s tactical and technical assignment, to meet the weight and size characteristics of the ship’s self-defense air defense system of the Osa-M type, to fulfill this condition was not possible. Ultimately, this made it possible to arm only warships with a displacement of 800 tons and more with this complex. However, the characteristics of the complex make it possible to place 2-4 Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile systems on ships of medium and large displacement, and the control system of each of them can control four launchers.
Shipborne multi-channel all-weather autonomous anti-aircraft missile system for self-defense of surface ships "Kinzhal" (3K95) is designed for self-defense of surface ships and vessels - repelling massive attacks operating at low and medium altitudes of unmanned and manned air attack weapons, especially low-flying high-speed high-precision anti-ship cruise missiles with modern guidance (homing) systems, as well as to destroy surface targets (ships and vessels) and such "border" types of equipment as ekranoplanes and ekranoplanes.
The complex has a modular design and a high potential for modernization, and - which is not very widely known - can be used in a coastal version. The Kinzhal complex is capable of independently detecting air and sea targets and hitting up to four targets with simultaneously guided anti-aircraft missiles. The complex can use information - target designation data - from general ship target designation systems, as well as fire control of rapid-fire 30-mm anti-aircraft gun mounts included in the general circuit, which allows you to complete the shooting of air targets that have broken through the lines of fire with anti-aircraft guided missiles or unexpectedly appeared targets at the near line - at a distance of 200 m from the ship. The combat operation of the complex is fully automated, but can also be carried out with the active participation of operators. In the spatial sector 60x60 degrees. the Kinzhal complex is capable of simultaneously firing four air targets with eight missiles.
The composition of the complex "Dagger" in the basic (typical) version includes the following subsystems and tools:
Combat means - anti-aircraft guided missiles of the 9M330-2 family, supplied in transport and launch containers (TPK);
Underdeck launchers of the 3S95 type - revolver type with vertical launch of missiles from the TPK (three to four launch modules (installations) of the "revolver" type, each of which accommodates 8 missiles in sealed transport and launch containers);
Shipborne multichannel control system;
Ground handling facilities.
The 9M330-2 anti-aircraft guided missile was developed at the Fakel design bureau under the direction of P.D. Grushin and was unified with the missile defense system used in the army self-propelled air defense system "Tor", which was created almost simultaneously with the ship's air defense system "Dagger". The missile is designed to destroy various air attack weapons (tactical and naval aircraft, helicopters, guided missiles of various classes, including anti-ship and anti-radar, and guided and guided bombs, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes and types) in a wide range of conditions for their combat use . The use of these missiles is also possible against small surface targets.
Rocket 9M330-2 is single-stage, made according to the aerodynamic scheme "duck" with a freely rotating tail wing unit deployed after launch, has a dual-mode solid propellant rocket engine (RDTT) and is equipped with a unique gas-dynamic engine - produces its inclination (orientation) towards the target. The launch of the rocket is vertical from an under-deck launcher, using a catapult placed in the transport and launch container of the rocket, without first turning the launcher towards the target.
Structurally, the 9M330-2 missile includes several compartments containing the following systems and equipment (equipment): a radio fuse, missile control units, a gas-dynamic missile declination system, a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, on-board equipment units, a dual-mode solid propellant rocket engine and control command receivers.
The warhead of the rocket is high-explosive fragmentation with high-energy fragments (high penetrating power) and a non-contact pulse radio fuse. The missile guidance system is radio command, by radio commands from the guidance station located on the ship (telecontrol). Undermining the missile warhead is carried out when it approaches the target at the command of the radio fuse or at the command coming from the guidance station. The radio fuse is noise-immune, adapts when approaching the water surface.
“The missile has high aerodynamic qualities, good maneuverability, controllability and stability through control channels and ensures the destruction of maneuvering and straight-flying high-speed targets,” emphasizes the reference book “Russian Arms and Technologies. Encyclopedia XXI century. Volume III: Armament of the Navy” (Publishing House “Arms and Technologies”, 2001, pp. 209-214).
The 9M330-2 missile has the following main performance characteristics: missile length - 2895 mm, missile body diameter - 230 mm, wingspan - 650 mm, missile weight - 167 kg, missile warhead weight - 14.5 - 15.0 kg , missile flight speed - 850 m / s, the affected area in range - 1.5 - 12 km, the affected area in height - 10 - 6000 m. The missile is operated in a special sealed transport and launch container, does not require checks and adjustments during the entire its service life (guaranteed shelf life on a carrier or in an arsenal without inspections and maintenance - up to 10 years). It should be noted that the placement of the missile in a sealed transport and launch container makes it possible to ensure its high safety, constant combat readiness, ease of transportation and safety when loading missiles into the launcher of the ship's Dagger air defense system.
Eight-container drum (or "revolving") type launchers 3S95, located under the ship's deck, provide the so-called "cold" (ejection) start of missiles with an inoperative engine - the latter is turned on only after the missile reaches a safe height above the deck (superstructures) and declining it in the direction of the attacked target. This method of launching missiles makes it possible to avoid the destructive effect of a rocket torch on ship structures and makes it possible to ensure the minimum value of the near boundary of the zone of destruction of the Kinzhal complex. A distinctive feature of the launch system of the complex is the ability to conduct rocket firing from under-deck launchers in the presence of rolling up to 20 °. The estimated interval between launches is only 3 seconds. The launcher of the complex includes three or four unified launchers (modules) with autonomous guidance drives, and the launcher - "revolver" or drum type - has a launch cover rotating relative to the launcher drum, closing the launch window through which the ejection is made anti-aircraft guided missile. The launcher was developed by specialists from NPP Start under the guidance of chief designer A.I. Yaskin.
The ship control system of the Kinzhal complex was developed by the specialists of JSC Ratep (Serpukhov). The Kinzhal ADMC control system solves the tasks set out in the software package and includes a detection module that solves the following tasks: detection of air, including low-flying, and surface targets; simultaneous tracking of up to 8 targets; analysis of the air situation with the arrangement of targets according to the degree of danger; generation of target designation data and output of data (in terms of range, bearing and elevation); issuing (data) of target designation to the ship's air defense systems.
The control system of the Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile system includes:
Radar means of detection and identification of targets;
Radar facilities for tracking targets and guiding missiles;
Television-optical means of tracking targets;
High-speed digital computing complex;
Starting automation equipment;
Fire control system for 30-mm AK-630M/AK-306 artillery mounts, which is installed at the request of the customer.
“The original design of the antenna post provides for the placement on a single base of parabolic reflector antennas of the detection module with built-in identification antennas and phased antenna arrays (PAR) with electronic beam control, designed to track targets, capture and guide missiles,” the reference book “Weapons and technology in Russia. Encyclopedia XXI century. Volume III: Armament of the Navy” (p. 209-214). A distinctive feature of the radar transmitter of the missile firing control system of the complex is its alternate operation in the target and missile channels.
The composition of the radar control system of the Kinzhal air defense system includes its own two-coordinate anti-jamming all-round radar for detecting air and surface targets (module K-12-1), which has a constant rotation speed - 30 or 12 rpm - and is capable of detecting air targets at altitude of 3.5 km at a distance of up to 45 km and providing the complex "Dagger" with complete independence (autonomy) and high efficiency of actions, in conditions of the most complicated situation by various circumstances.
The work of the shipborne anti-aircraft missile system is provided by a modern digital computer system, which is distinguished by advanced software created on the basis of multiprogram two-machine real-time information processing, and provides a high degree of automation of the combat operation of the entire complex. The computer complex provides the Kinzhal air defense system with operation in various modes, including fully automatic mode, when all actions to detect a target with its own radars or receive target designation data from general ship radars, take a target (targets) for tracking, generate data for firing, launch and guidance of the missile (missiles), evaluation of the results of firing and transfer of fire to other targets are carried out automatically, using "artificial intelligence" and completely without the intervention (participation) of the operators of the SAM combat crew. The presence of this mode provides the complex with a significantly higher combat potential (combat capabilities), including in comparison with the operation of weapon systems using the “fire and forget” principle (in the case of the operation of the Kinzhal air defense system, the operator does not even have to worry about the fact that it is necessary to find a target and fire at it - the complex does everything on its own).
The use of phased antenna arrays, electronic beam control and the presence of a high-speed computer system (computer) provide the above-mentioned multi-channel air defense system "Dagger". In addition, the presence in the complex of television-optical means of detecting air and surface targets built into the antenna post further increases its noise immunity in conditions of intensive use of electronic warfare by the enemy, and also allows the combat crew of the complex to perform a visual assessment of the results of tracking by the complex of targets and their subsequent defeat .
The development of radar facilities for the Kinzhal air defense system was carried out by specialists from the Kvant Research Institute (NII) under the guidance of V.I. Guzya.
Modernization of the Kinzhal air defense system is carried out in the direction of improving its tactical, technical and operational characteristics, especially in terms of a significant increase in the damaging potential of the complex and expanding its zone of destruction in range and height, as well as reducing the weight and size characteristics of the complex as a whole and its individual elements (subsystems).
The Kinzhal air defense system is currently installed on the following types of warships: TAVKR project 11435 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" (24 launch modules of 8 missiles each, ammunition - 192 missiles), TARKR project 11442 "Peter the Great" (1 installation vertical launch, ammunition - 64 missiles), BOD project 1155 and 11551 (8 launch modules, ammunition - 64 missiles), TFR project 11540 (4 launch modules, ammunition - 32 missiles). The Kinzhal complex was also planned to be placed on aircraft carriers (aircraft carriers) of projects 11436 and 11437, which, however, were never completed.
TABLE 1
The main performance characteristics of the air defense system "Dagger" ("Blade")
TABLE 2
Tactical and technical characteristics of the control system of the air defense system "Dagger" ("Blade")
The unique research of Russian scientists and the development of engineers made it possible to create the unique Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system, which, according to independent experts, is today one of the best and most powerful weapons in the world. In fact, Russia became the first country to successfully test and start using hypersonic weapons, which the United States has so far only dreamed of, which in turn ensures the country's high defense capability and high military potential. What is the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system?
What is a "dagger"?
Due to the fact that the development of domestic scientists and engineers is unique and secret, the true information about the purpose and capabilities of the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system is not disclosed, however, it is known that it includes a carrier aircraft and a hypersonic missile. The warhead of the Kinzhal complex missile can be equipped with both a conventional warhead and a nuclear warhead, which makes it possible to inflict colossal damage on the enemy. The maximum flight speed of the rocket of the Kinzhal air-missile system is about 12,250 km / h, which means that the rocket will be able to cover a distance of 2,000 kilometers in less than 10 minutes.
Given the hypersonic speed of the missile, the Kinzhal air-to-air missile system renders the operation of air defense and missile defense systems useless, which is already a matter of concern for the US Department of Defense, as this means that there is simply no protection against modern Russian weapons.
An equally important key feature of the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system is that a missile with a warhead can maneuver in any part of the terrain, which makes its flight invisible.
Carrier aircraft for "Dagger"
Given the fact that the Kinzhal air and missile system is a modern development, the Russian Su-57 fighter-bomber will most likely be used as a carrier aircraft. There is no official confirmation of this yet, however, given the fact that the aircraft has not yet begun to enter service with the Russian army, it is likely that this model is the best suited for the intended purposes.
Skepticism and facts
Despite the fact that Vladimir Putin himself announced the completion of testing and development of the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system, noting that the complex itself is already on experimental combat duty at the airfields of the Southern Military District, this statement has a lot of skeptics. Skepticism is primarily due to the fact that on the presented video materials, traces of editing were noticed, on which, a few moments before the rocket explosion, the substitution of the object that was struck was visible.
Of course, this can be explained by the fact that the developers, due to the secrecy of the air-missile complex, decided not to disclose its real capabilities, however, this is unlikely.
No less skepticism is caused by the fact that Russian scientists have not previously announced the development of hypersonic weapons, and the implementation of the project itself would most likely take at least 5-6 years, not to mention the allocation of colossal financial resources.
Be that as it may, given the officially presented data, today the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system is an absolute weapon, while, with a high degree of confidence, we can say that scientists will certainly continue to improve it.
How to counter an opponent with overwhelming superiority? Obviously, a way out of this situation will provide available means capable of inflicting unacceptable damage to the enemy. These requirements are met by the Russian hypersonic aviation missile system "Dagger". Its successful trial was officially announced on March 1, 2018.
As expected, most of the information about this weapon remained out of the public domain. But what has become known indicates that there are no world analogues of this complex yet.
Unique missile system
The Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system (ARC) is designed to deliver high-precision strikes against moving surface and stationary ground targets. It includes a high-speed carrier aircraft and an Kh-47M2 aeroballistic missile. Although this alphanumeric index has not yet been officially announced, a number of experts are inclined to just such a designation of the product.
This missile is capable of hitting a moving ship of the aircraft carrier-frigate class or a fortified ground object at hypersonic speed with high accuracy. As you know, hypersonic weapons include aircraft whose speed exceeds the speed of sound by at least five times.
X-47M2 missile
It was the hypersonic X-47M2 that became the main innovative element of the Kinzhal complex. Although, high or even, as some experts believe, overestimated performance characteristics have become the subject of controversy and mistrust. Nevertheless, a comparison of the tactical and technical characteristics of the Kh-47M2 missile and its Western competitors clearly speaks in favor of domestic development.
Comparative characteristics of air-launched missiles
| Type | Kh-47M2 | AGM-154A JSOW-A | AGM-158B | SCALP-EG | ASLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The country | Russia | USA | USA | Great-Fr. | France |
| Class | aero ball. | winged | winged | winged | aero ball. |
| Starting weight, kg | 4000 | 483 | - | 1300 | - |
| Warhead weight, kg | 480 | 100 | 454 | 400 | NBC ≤ 100 kT |
| Max. speed, km/h | 12250 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 3185 |
| Flight number M | 10 | 0,8 | 0,8 | 0,8 | 3 |
| Max. range, km | 2000 | 130 | 925 | 400 | 1200 |
This missile is considered not cruise, but aeroballistic: the flight range is determined by its speed. The aircraft launches at an altitude of about 15,000 m. Separating from the carrier, the rocket starts its own engine, and then climbs along the ballistic curve, which, according to various estimates, reaches 25 ... 50 thousand meters.
Upon reaching the upper point of the trajectory, the engine is turned off, the head of the rocket is separated and its descent begins. Such a launch scheme allows you to develop maximum speed, as well as accumulate enough energy for maneuvering with overloads of at least 25 units.
The capabilities of the ARC "Dagger" require a significant reduction in the reaction time of the enemy's air defense / missile defense.
Firstly, the specified launch range allows the carrier aircraft to bypass the radar detection zone.
At the same time, the enemy does not know where to expect a blow from. For example, the maximum detection range of an aircraft by the THAAD missile defense system is up to 1000 km. Theoretically, the AWACS aircraft would have corrected the situation with detection. But it is unlikely that the combat situation will allow him to do this.
Secondly, the hypersonic speed of approach to the target on an unpredictable flight path for the enemy (including an angle of attack up to 90 °) simply does not leave time to calculate the trajectory of the warhead and ensure a successful interception. In addition, most missiles do not have sufficient speed and the ability to maneuver with the necessary overloads, including the vaunted RIM-161 "Standard" SM3.
Obviously, such conditions impose specific requirements also on the guidance system of the Kh-47M2 missile itself. But it has to be judged so far only approximately. It can be assumed that the algorithm of the guidance system is as follows:
- after separation from the carrier, the primary correction of the trajectory is activated according to the data of the Russian satellite system GLONASS;
- after separation of the warhead - an inertial guidance system with satellite correction;
- at the target search point, the GOS is turned on - radar or optical.
The missile of the Kinzhal complex, in accordance with modern trends in domestic rocket science, will be equipped with a wide range of warheads, including a nuclear version. Thanks to this, it will be able to effectively hit both point and dispersed targets.
Aircraft carrier MiG-31BM
The high-speed carrier aircraft MiG-31BM, the latest modification of the unsurpassed Russian fighter-interceptor, took part in the tests of the Kinzhal ARC. This choice was determined by the high speed of the aircraft, the maximum value of which is 3400 km / h.
All of them, except for the last one, are capable of carrying the Kh-47M2 on an appropriately upgraded external sling. And the "White Swan" can be equipped with four such missiles, using the internal weapons bays without significant alteration.
It is planned that the ARK "Dagger" will be included in the armament of a promising long-range aviation complex as a regular means of destruction.
Thus, the Kinzhal complex received another significant advantage - the versatility of the aircraft carrier.
Expert opinions
Despite the scarcity of information, the expert community is actively discussing the possibilities of the new complex. On the one hand, there is an external similarity between the Kh-47M2 and the 9M723 operational-tactical missile of the 9K720 Iskander-M complex. This suggested that the new missile is the result of a deep modernization of its ground-based counterpart.
Based on this, according to skeptics, the declared flight range could be achieved either at a much lower flight speed (transonic), or by drastically reducing the mass of the warhead.
On the other hand, upgrading a successful product has its advantages over creating a completely new weapon. Along with the unification of components and parts, there is a reduction in the time and cost of development and further production of a new model.
As for the indicated speed and flight range, these indicators are provided by the conditions for launching the rocket.
It is produced at supersonic flight speed of the carrier outside the dense layers of the atmosphere. Part of the flight path passes there, which significantly saves fuel. Therefore, by the time the warhead approaches the border of the air defense zone, its speed may well reach the declared value.
Another problem is the appearance of a plasma shell around a body moving in dense layers of the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. Due to overheating, air molecules break up and form a "cocoon" of ionized gas, which reflects radio waves. Therefore, the reception of navigation data from the satellite and the operation of the radar seeker becomes impossible.
It turns out that already at the time of the start of the search for the target, the speed of the X-47M2 does not reach hypersonic. In addition, maneuvering the warhead without a running engine should, in theory, reduce its speed to supersonic. It follows from this that the "Dagger" for the enemy's air defense poses a threat, albeit a serious one, but surmountable.
However, since the problem of the "plasma cocoon" is far from new, work to overcome it has been going on for a long time, including successful ones. It cannot be ruled out that the result of closed developments was a positive solution to this issue.
It is worth noting that the hypersonic speed of the rocket gives it kinetic energy comparable to the energy of the explosion of a conventional warhead.
In principle, if a large (500 kg) warhead mass prevents acceleration or reduces the missile's flight range, then it can be reduced to a minimum.
Even in this case, hitting the Kh-47M2, say, on an aircraft carrier will put it out of action. Damage to the flight deck or deprivation of the ship's progress, of course, will not drown such a "bearer of democracy", but it will definitely stop carrier-based aircraft from flying.
Summing up
Objectively weighing the pros and cons regarding the combat capabilities of the Kinzhal ARC, we can assume that they are achievable. Everything depends on the extent to which the Russian scientific potential has made it possible to overcome the above difficulties. Naturally, the successes of secret developments are not advertised ahead of time.
Thus, based on the declared characteristics of the Kinzhal ARC, this weapon will have the following decisive advantages:
- The ability to overcome the opposition of enemy air defense / missile defense thanks to such capabilities as:
- launch range beyond the detection radius of the carrier aircraft by existing radar stations of a potential enemy;
- maneuvering at hypersonic speeds with overloads inaccessible to modern anti-aircraft missiles;
- the use of radio countermeasures.
It is expected that the adoption of the ARK "Dagger" will be a breakthrough in expanding the combat capabilities of the RF Armed Forces, although in the medium term it will not reduce the importance of the aircraft carrier groups of the "partner" countries.
“Russia remains the largest nuclear power. Nobody listened to us, listen now,” with these words, Vladimir Putin announced the creation of new types of superweapons during his message to the Federal Assembly. the site has collected the most important samples, which the Russian president spoke about.
"Vanguard"
Able to carry out deep maneuvering, both lateral and vertical, absolutely invulnerable to any means of air defense and missile defense, the Avangard complex is not science fiction, but a real-life weapon model that has entered mass production.
The image is illustrative. Photo: army-news.ru
Vladimir Putin said that this is another type of Russian strategic weapon: “The use of new composite materials made it possible to solve the problem of a long-term controlled flight of a planning winged unit practically under conditions of plasma formation. It goes to the target almost like a meteorite. Like a burning ball, like a fireball. The temperature on the surface of the product reaches 1600-2000 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the winged unit is reliably controlled.
The Russian president also noted that due to great secrecy, it is not possible to show the image of the Avangard.
Perhaps we are talking about a hypersonic combat (object 4202, product 15Yu71), information about which was previously leaked to the media. The maximum speed of the warhead is Mach 15, and most of its flight takes place at an altitude of about 100 km.
Jane's analysts believe that the Yu-71 hypersonic vehicle, developed as part of the secret Object 4202 program, has already been tested more than once - launches were carried out in December 2011, September 2013, 2014 and February 2015.
"Sarmat"
Nuclear missiles are still the main trump card in the sleeve of the generals of the world's leading armies.
Once such a trump card for the Soviet military was the Voevoda missile system, which in the West was nicknamed "Satan" for its terrifying firepower. In modern Russia, an even more powerful weapon was created, which, unlike the Voyevoda (flight range of 11 thousand km), has no range restrictions.
Putin said that the Sarmat is capable of attacking targets both through the North and the South Pole: “Weighing over 200 tons, it has a short active flight segment, which makes it difficult to intercept it with missile defense systems; the range of the new heavy missile, the number and power of warheads is greater than that of the Voyevoda. The warhead is equipped with a wide range of high-yield nuclear weapons, including hypersonic ones, and the most modern systems for overcoming missile defense.”
hypersonic weapons
Putin confirmed the presence of hypersonic weapons. “Russia has such weapons. Already there,” the president said. One of these developments is already known for certain - this is the Zircon rocket, the speed of which on the march reaches Mach 8 (approximately 9792 km / h).
Zircon missiles can be launched from 3S14 universal launchers, which are also used for Caliber and Onyx missiles.
"Zircons" will arm the Russian nuclear super cruisers "Peter the Great" and "Admiral Nakhimov". The firing range of "Zircon", according to the open ones, is about 400 kilometers.
Nuclear "Dagger"
According to Putin, on December 1, 2017, the unique Kinzhal hypersonic aviation and missile system was put on duty in the Southern Military District.
“The unique performance characteristics of a high-speed carrier aircraft make it possible to deliver a missile to a release point in a matter of minutes, while a missile flying at a hypersonic speed that is 10 times the speed of sound also maneuvers in all parts of the flight trajectory. This also allows it to reliably overcome all existing and, I think, promising air and missile defense systems, delivering nuclear and conventional warheads to the target at a distance of up to two thousand kilometers, ”said the Russian president.
Underwater drone with nuclear weapons
Putin called this development "simply fantastic." According to him, Russia has created a unique underwater vehicle capable of moving at great depths.
“I would say, at a very great depth and at an intercontinental range with a speed that is a multiple of the speed of submarines, the most modern torpedoes and all types of even the fastest surface ships,” he stressed.
Such a device can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear weapons, therefore it is capable of destroying a wide range of targets: from infrastructure facilities to aircraft carrier groups. The Russian president said that a multi-year cycle of testing an innovative nuclear power plant to equip this autonomous uninhabited vehicle was completed in December 2017.
Putin stressed that the nuclear installation is distinguished by small dimensions: with a volume one hundred times smaller than that of modern nuclear submarines, it has greater power and two hundred times less time to enter combat mode.
At the end, the politician summed up that the results of the tests made it possible to start creating a fundamentally new type of strategic weapon equipped with high-yield nuclear weapons.
The report of the US military, which featured an underwater intercontinental drone "Status-6". Photo: vk.com/bolshayaigra Most likely, Putin was talking about an underwater nuclear weapon called the Status-6 Ocean Multi-Purpose System. Part of the Status-6 system is an unmanned underwater robot, which is a giant deep-sea high-speed torpedo with a nuclear warhead. Its range is 9977 km, the maximum speed is 56 knots. Not long ago, its existence is the Pentagon.
Weapon of which nothing is known
In his speech, Vladimir Putin also spoke about the development of such new types of strategic weapons that do not use ballistic flight paths at all when moving towards a target, which means that missile defense systems are useless and simply meaningless in the fight against them.
What it looks like and what kind of weapon it is is unknown, one can only guess, given the highest level of secrecy.
Another super-secret novelty is a small-sized heavy-duty nuclear installation that can be placed in a cruise missile, which will provide the latter with an almost unlimited flight range and invulnerability from air defense and missile defense systems.
“A low-flying stealth cruise missile carrying a nuclear warhead, with a practically unlimited range, an unpredictable flight path and the ability to bypass interception lines, is invulnerable to all existing and future systems, both missile defense and air defense,” Putin said.
Weapons based on new physical principles
Vladimir Putin also touched upon the topic of weapons created on new physical principles. According to him, significant results have been achieved in the creation of laser weapons, and this is no longer just a theory or projects, and not even just the start of production.
Laser machine. Photo: vk.com/bolshayaigra_war “Since last year, combat laser systems have already been supplied to the troops. I do not want to go into details in this part, it's just not the time yet. But experts will understand that the presence of such combat systems greatly expands Russia's capabilities in the field of its security," the Russian president said.