Russian hypersonic aircraft Yu 71. Confirmation of the creation of hypersonic weapons in Russia has appeared. Unmanned and controlled vehicles

Russia has tested a hypersonic aircraft. This was reported by Western media, citing a report by analysts from the British edition of Jane's Intelligence Review.

According to the authors of the publication cited by The Washington Free Beacon (WFB), in February of this year, the Yu-71 apparatus was launched into near-Earth orbit, where it was delivered by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) UR-100 N (SS-19 "Stiletto" ). Its launch was made from the position area of ​​the Dombarovsk formation of the Strategic Missile Forces in the Orenburg region. It is it that, as alleged, will receive 24 Yu-71 units by 2025, which, most likely, will be used as combat equipment for the new one.

Analysts suggest that the development of the experimental device is carried out as part of a top-secret program with the designation "4202", carried out since 2009. Its goal is to create a super-new strategic strike weapon that will significantly increase the capabilities of the strategic missile forces and will be the answer to any anti-missile defense. Yu-71 will be able to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

The trajectory of a hypersonic vehicle is unpredictable. It flies at speeds in excess of 11,000 kilometers per hour (7,000 miles per hour) and can maneuver, making it almost impossible for it to be intercepted by air defense or missile defense elements.

According to Jane's analysts, the Yu-71 was developed at the end of the 2000s, and its February tests were the fourth in a row. The first test launch took place in December 2011, the second - in September 2013, the third - in 2014. The authors of the publication name these dates on the basis of a number of documents related to the construction of new military facilities.

According to WFB, a Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on Jane's information. However, Mark Schneider, a former US Department of Defense official, told the publication that the US military is closely following Russian developments in this area.

According to him, Russia, unlike China, does not hide its intention to create hypersonic technology. The existence of such projects was repeatedly confirmed by Russian officials, who did not provide details. Schneider recalled that the first tests of hypersonic military facilities were carried out under the USSR in the 1980s. Then, according to available information, tests of such devices took place in 2001 and 2004.

Jane's analysts also did not rule out that one of the Yu-71 variants could be adapted for the promising PAK DA strategic bomber.

WFB notes that hypersonic vehicles are also being developed by China and several organizations in the United States. According to experts, so far it is the Celestial Empire, which has been actively launching experimental vehicles since 2014, that has managed to achieve the greatest results in this area.

Launch of the Stiletto ICBM / Photo: TASS, Sergey Kazak

Russia has successfully conducted the second test of a hypersonic aircraft (HLA) this year designed to equip existing and future intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a source familiar with the situation told Interfax-AVN on Friday.

"The purpose of the launch is another test of a hypersonic warhead designed to equip the promising Sarmat ICBM"

"The launch was carried out on October 25 in the Orenburg region from the position area of ​​​​the Dombarovsky formation of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN). The purpose of the launch is another test of a hypersonic warhead designed to equip the promising Sarmat ICBM," the agency's interlocutor said.

According to him, "the tests were successful."

"Previous successful tests took place in April of this year. Thus, this is the second completely successful launch of a hypersonic unit, which received the name "object 4202" in the press," the agency's interlocutor said.

He clarified that a promising hypersonic aircraft (HLA) is capable of flying at a speed of six Machs. One Mach corresponds to the speed of sound - approximately 300 meters per second or 1,224 km / h. () The GLA was tested by launch (according to Western classification - "Stiletto"), the source explained.

Earlier it was reported that experimental design work (R&D) under the code "4202" is underway in Russia to develop and create a GLA designed to guarantee the overcoming of existing and future missile defense systems. This R&D is being conducted by the Mechanical Engineering NPO from Reutov, near Moscow.

An expert in the field of rocket technology previously told Interfax-AVN that "if Russia gets an aircraft that has already become known as the 'object 4202', capable of performing maneuvers in pitch (vertical plane) and yaw (horizontal plane) at hypersonic speed) , our country will have the opportunity to solve the problem of guaranteed overcoming of any promising missile defense system.

According to him, a promising Russian hypersonic aircraft "will make it possible to level the combat potential of the US global missile defense and, in fact, make it meaningless."

Technical reference

Russia will be able to limit the effectiveness of the US missile defense system with the help of the Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft, which is currently being tested, writes the American edition of the Washington Times. The new weapon will be able to carry a nuclear charge at a speed of 10 times the speed of sound.

Estimated view of Yu-71 / Image: nampuom-pycu.livejournal.com

In the strictest secrecy, Russia is testing a new Yu-71 hypersonic maneuvering aircraft that will be capable of carrying nuclear warheads at a speed of 10 times the speed of sound, reports the Washington Times. The Kremlin is developing similar devices to overcome US missile defenses, InoTV notes, citing the newspaper. The Yu-71 (Yu-71) has been in development for several years. The last tests of the aircraft took place in February 2015. The launch took place from the Dombarovsky training ground near Orenburg. Previously, it was purely presumptively reported on other Western sources, but now this launch has been confirmed by new analysts. The publication refers to a report released in June by the well-known Western military think tank Jane's.

Previously, this designation - Yu-71 - did not appear in open sources.

Yu-71 - hypersonic aircraft / Photo: azfilm.ru

According to The Washington Free Beacon, the aircraft is part of a secret Russian project with the creation of a certain object 4202. Analysts say that the February launch was carried out using a UR-100N UTTKh rocket, in which object 4202 served as the warhead, and ended unsuccessfully.

It is possible that this index refers to the developed modifications of hypersonic maneuvering nuclear warheads, which have been equipped with Russian ICBMs for several years now. These blocks, after separation from the launch vehicle, are capable of changing the flight path in altitude and course, and as a result, successfully bypass both existing and future missile defense systems.

This will give Russia the ability to deliver precision strikes against selected targets, and combined with the capabilities of its missile defense system, Moscow will be able to successfully hit a target with only one missile.

24 hypersonic aircraft with nuclear warheads will be deployed at the Dombarovsky training ground from 2020 to 2025, the military-analytical center Jane's Information Group is sure. By that time, Moscow will already have a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying the Yu-71, the newspaper writes.

The speed of hypersonic aircraft reaches 11,200 km / h, and unpredictable maneuverability makes the task of finding them almost impossible, the Washington Times emphasizes.

30-06-2015, 16:01

By 2025, Russia will have a serious nuclear trump card in negotiations with the United States

Russia is testing a new Yu-71 (Yu-71) hypersonic glide vehicle capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This was reported on June 28 by the Washington Free Beacon, citing a publication by the well-known British military think tank Janes Information Group.

According to WFB, Russia has been developing the device for several years, but its first tests were carried out in February this year. The device is allegedly part of the Russian secret project "4202" associated with the missile program. According to the authors of the publication, this will give Russia the opportunity to hit the target with only one missile. According to the Washington Times, Russia intends to use the hypersonic military project as an instrument of pressure during negotiations with the United States on arms control.

Hypersonic devices like the one created by Russia are extremely difficult to track down and shoot down, as they move along an uncalculated trajectory, and their speed reaches 11,200 km / h, experts from the British center say. According to them, up to 24 of these hypersonic aircraft (warheads) can be deployed in the Dombarovsky regiment of the Strategic Missile Forces in the period from 2020 to 2025. Previously, this designation - Yu-71 - did not appear in open sources.

It is worth noting that even retired generals of the Strategic Missile Forces prefer to refrain from commenting on the 4202 object, referring to the closed nature of the topic and the possible consequences of discussing this topic in the "SP".

Plans for the adoption of objects "4202" were not really announced. But it is known from open sources that the development of devices is carried out by NPO Mashinostroeniya (Reutov), ​​and it was started before 2009. The formal customer of R&D "4202" is the Federal Space Agency of Russia, which, according to some experts, can serve as a kind of "cover". In the 2012 NPO Mashinostroeniya's New Year's greetings, the 4202 facility was named one of the most important for the corporation for the next few years. Most likely, the first test of the device from object "4202" was carried out not in February 2015, according to British experts, but as part of the "Safety-2004" exercises at the Baikonur training ground, because at a press conference, the then First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Russian Yuri Baluyevsky said that during the training, "a spacecraft was tested that is capable of flying at hypersonic speed, while performing maneuvers, both in course and in height."

Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences (RARAN), doctor of military sciences Konstantin Sivkov says that the current warheads of intercontinental ballistic missiles develop hypersound in the passive section. However, the difference between a promising hypersonic warhead, most likely, lies in the fact that it acts not just like a ballistic warhead, but follows a rather complex trajectory, that is, it maneuvers like an aircraft with a huge flight speed.

It is possible that experts on the subject of "4202" use Soviet technologies, which were developed by one of the leading developers of Soviet aerospace technology, Gleb Lozino-Lozinsky. Let me remind you that he was the head of the Spiral aerospace fighter-bomber project, the lead developer of the Buran MTKK, oversaw the project of the MAKS reusable aerospace system and a number of other programs where work was carried out, including on hypersonic.

It must be understood that hypersonic warheads are quite heavy - 1.5-2 tons. Therefore, probably, it can become a warhead of a light Topol-M ICBM (after all, the last tests were carried out on the UR-100N UTTKh), however, the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, which should be put into service by the end of the decade, will be able to throw several such warheads at once, which will follow complex trajectories, which will make them practically invulnerable to enemy missile defense systems. For example, even in the interception of old ballistic missiles, the warheads of which do not maneuver, the American ground-based exatmospheric GBI interceptors give a very low probability of defeat - 15-20%.

If our Strategic Missile Forces really adopt missiles with hypersonic warheads by 2025, then this will be a rather serious application. It is logical that in the West, ICBMs with hypersonic warheads are called Moscow's new possible trump card in negotiations with Washington. As practice shows, the only way to bring the United States to the negotiating table is to put in place systems that will make Americans really scared.

In addition, Russia is also developing hypersonic cruise missiles that can fly at low altitudes. Accordingly, their defeat by advanced missile defense systems is problematic, because these are, in fact, aerodynamic targets. In addition, modern missile defense systems have limits on the speed of hitting targets within 1000 meters per second: as a rule, the speed of an interceptor is 700-800 meters per second. The problem is that when firing at a high-speed target, an interceptor missile must be able to maneuver with overloads measured in tens and even hundreds of g. Such anti-missiles do not yet exist.

The editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, a member of the Expert Council under the chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission under the Government of the Russian Federation, Viktor Murakhovsky, notes: it is no secret that the combat equipment and payload of our ICBMs are constantly being improved.

And when President Vladimir Putin, speaking on June 16 at the Army-2015 forum, said that this year more than 40 new intercontinental missiles would replenish the nuclear forces, all the media paid attention to this figure, but somehow missed the continuation of the phrase - "which will be able to overcome any, even the most technically advanced missile defense systems."

In the program to improve combat equipment, work is underway, including the creation of hypersonic maneuvering warheads precisely on the maneuver trajectory - after the separation of the payload, which will really allow ignoring any conceivable promising missile defense system. Yes, the intercontinental ballistic missiles in service with the Strategic Missile Forces even now have units that are bred at a speed of 5-7 kilometers per second. But it is a completely different matter to carry out a maneuver, moreover, a controlled one, at such speeds. It is quite possible that these warheads can be installed on the new Sarmat heavy missile, which will replace the legendary Soviet R-36M2 Voyevoda in the army. I think that in the future, similar warheads will be installed on the missiles already entering service with the Strategic Missile Forces.

"SP": - According to information from open sources, on February 26, the launch of "object 4202" was carried out by the UR-100N UTTKh missile system, the mass production of which continued until 1985. This missile is a modification of the "Stiletto" (UR-100N, according to NATO classification - SS-19 mod.1 Stiletto) ...

The service life of this missile system seems to have been extended until 2031, and it is used only for testing. Naturally, before each launch, this missile is examined, but it has always demonstrated reliability. So, in our country, the Dnepr launch vehicles put the payload into orbit - launch vehicles, to put it mildly, are not young, but also reliable, during the operation of which, as far as I remember, major accidents did not happen.

"SP": - The media has repeatedly reported that the Chinese, in addition to the WU-14, are developing a hypersonic cruise missile.

Hypersonic missiles are, of course, a completely different direction. To be honest, I do not really believe in the appearance of such weapons, even in the long term, because I cannot imagine how it is possible to disperse a cruise missile to hypersonic in dense layers of the atmosphere. Of course, you can build something gigantic, but in relation to the payload, this will be absolutely not a rational expenditure of funds.

"SP": - In the United States, hypersonic projects as part of the implementation of the concept of "Fast Global Strike" are being developed by various departments: the X-43A aircraft - NASA, the X-51A rocket - the Air Force, the AHW apparatus - the Ground Forces, the ArcLight missile - DARPA and the Navy, the glider Falcon HTV-2 - DARPA and Air Force. Moreover, the timing of their appearance is called different: missiles - by 2018-2020, reconnaissance aircraft - by 2030.

All these are promising developments, it is not for nothing that there are so many of them. For example, the AHW project, according to various sources, is also a combined weapon consisting of a three-stage launch vehicle and a directly hypersonic warhead. But it is difficult to say how much the Americans have advanced in the development of this project (the tests were recognized as either successful or unsuccessful - “SP”). As you know, the Americans did not particularly bother about equipping their missiles with anti-missile defense systems, meaning, for example, creating a “cloud” of decoys around a real warhead.

The Cold War that took place between the US and the USSR in 1946-1991 is long over. At least that's what many experts think. However, the arms race did not stop for a minute, and even today it is in the stage of active development. Despite the fact that today the main threats to the country are terrorist groups, relations between world powers are also tense. All this creates conditions for the development of military technologies, one of which is a hypersonic aircraft.

Need

Relations between the United States and Russia are greatly aggravated. And although at the official level the United States is called a partner country in Russia, many political and military experts argue that there is a tacit war between the countries not only on the political front, but also on the military in the form of an arms race. In addition, the United States is actively using NATO to encircle Russia with its missile defense systems.

This cannot but worry the leadership of Russia, which has long begun to develop unmanned aerial vehicles that exceed hypersonic speed. These drones can be equipped with a nuclear warhead, and they can easily deliver a bomb anywhere in the world, and quickly enough. A similar hypersonic aircraft has already been created - this is the Yu-71 liner, which is being tested today in strict secrecy.

Development of hypersonic weapons

For the first time, aircraft that could fly at the speed of sound began to be tested in the 50s of the 20th century. Then it was still connected with the so-called Cold War, when two developed powers (the USSR and the USA) sought to overtake each other in the arms race. The first project was the Spiral system, which was a compact orbital aircraft. It was supposed to compete with and even surpass the US X-20 Dyna Soar hypersonic aircraft. Also, the Soviet aircraft had to have the ability to reach speeds of up to 7000 km / h and at the same time not fall apart in the atmosphere during overloads.

And although Soviet scientists and designers tried to bring such an idea to life, they could not even get close to the cherished characteristics. The prototype did not even take off, but the Soviet government breathed a sigh of relief when the American plane also failed during the tests. The technologies of that time, including in the aviation industry, were infinitely far from the current ones, so the creation of an aircraft that could exceed the speed of sound several times was doomed to failure.

However, in 1991, an aircraft was tested that could reach speeds exceeding the speed of sound. It was the flying laboratory "Cold", created on the basis of the 5V28 rocket. The test was successful, and then the plane was able to reach a speed of 1900 km / h. Despite the progress, the development after 1998 was stopped due to the economic crisis.

Technologies of the 21st century

There is no accurate and official information about the development of hypersonic aircraft. However, if we collect materials from open sources, we can conclude that such developments were carried out in several directions at once:

1. Creation of warheads for intercontinental ballistic missiles. Their mass exceeded the mass of standard missiles, however, due to the ability to maneuver in the atmosphere, it is impossible or at least extremely difficult to intercept them with missile defense systems.
2. The development of the Zircon complex is another direction in the development of technology, which is based on the use of the Yakhont supersonic missile launcher.
3. Creation of a complex whose missiles can exceed the speed of sound by 13 times.

If all these projects are united in one holding, then by joint efforts an air, ground or ship-based missile can be created. If the Prompt Global Strike project, created in the USA, is successful, then the Americans will have the opportunity to hit anywhere in the world within one hour. Russia will be able to defend itself only with technologies of its own development.

American and British experts are recording tests of supersonic missiles that can reach speeds of up to 11,200 km/h. Given such a high speed, it is almost impossible to shoot them down (not a single missile defense system in the world is capable of this). Moreover, they are even extremely difficult to track. There is very little information about the project, which sometimes appears under the name Yu-71.

What is known about the Russian Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft?

With the fact that the project is classified, there is very little information about it. It is known that this glider is part of the rocket supersonic program, and in theory it is able to fly to New York in 40 minutes. Of course, this information has no official confirmation and exists at the level of speculation and rumors. But given that Russian supersonic missiles can reach speeds of 11,200 km/h, such conclusions seem quite logical.

According to various sources, the Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft:

1. Possesses high maneuverability.
2. Can plan.
3. Able to reach speeds of over 11,000 km / h.
4. Can go into space during the flight.

Statements

At the moment, tests of the Russian Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft have not yet been completed. However, some experts argue that by 2025 Russia may receive this supersonic glider, and it will be possible to equip it with nuclear weapons. Such an aircraft will be put into service, and in theory it will be capable of delivering a pinpoint nuclear strike anywhere in the world within just one hour.

Russia's representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said that the once most developed and advanced industry of the USSR has lagged behind the arms race over the past decades. However, more recently, the army began to revive. Outdated Soviet technology is being replaced by new samples of Russian developments. In addition, the fifth-generation weapons, stuck in the 90s in the form of projects on paper, are taking on a visible shape. According to the politician, new samples of Russian weapons can surprise the world with unpredictability. It is likely that Rogozin is referring to the new Yu-71 hypersonic aircraft, which can carry a nuclear warhead.

It is believed that the development of this aircraft began in 2010, but in the United States they learned about it only in 2015. If the information about its technical characteristics is true, then the Pentagon will have to solve a difficult task, since the missile defense systems used in Europe and on its territory will not be able to provide opposition to such an aircraft. In addition, the United States and many other countries will simply be defenseless against such weapons.

Other features

In addition to the possibility of inflicting nuclear strikes on the enemy, the glider, thanks to powerful modern electronic warfare equipment, will be able to carry out reconnaissance, as well as disable devices equipped with electronic equipment.

According to NATO reports, from approximately 2020 to 2025, up to 24 such aircraft may appear in the Russian army, which can quietly cross the border and destroy an entire city with just a few shots.

Development plans

Of course, there is no data on the adoption of the promising Yu-71 aircraft, but it is known that it has been developed since 2009. In this case, the device will be able not only to fly in a straight line, but also to maneuver.

It is maneuverability at hypersonic speeds that will become a feature of the aircraft. Doctor of military sciences Konstantin Sivkov claims that intercontinental missiles can reach supersonic speeds, but at the same time they act like conventional ballistic warheads. Consequently, their flight path is easily calculated, which makes it possible for the missile defense system to shoot them down. But guided aircraft pose a serious threat to the enemy, since their trajectory is unpredictable. Therefore, it is impossible to determine at what point the bomb will be thrown, and since the drop point cannot be determined, the trajectory of the fall of the warhead is not calculated either.

In Tula on September 19, 2012, at a meeting of the military-industrial commission, Dmitry Rogozin announced that a new holding should soon be created, whose task would be to develop hypersonic technologies. The enterprises that will be part of the holding were immediately named:

1. "Tactical Missiles".
2. "NPO Engineering". At the moment, the company is developing supersonic technologies, but at the moment the company is part of the Roscosmos structure.
3. The next member of the holding should be the Almaz-Antey concern, which is currently developing technologies for the aerospace and anti-missile industries.

Rogozin believes that such a merger is necessary, but legal aspects do not allow it to take place. It is also noted that the creation of a holding does not imply a takeover by one company by another. This is precisely the merger and joint work of all enterprises, which will accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies.

Igor Korotchenko, chairman of the council under the RF Ministry of Defense, also supports the idea of ​​creating a holding company that would develop hypersonic technologies. According to him, the new holding is really necessary, because it will allow directing all efforts to create a promising type of weapon. Both companies have great potential, but individually they will not be able to achieve the results that are possible with a combination of efforts. It is together that they will be able to contribute to the development of the defense complex of the Russian Federation and create the fastest aircraft in the world, the speed of which will exceed expectations.

Weapons as an instrument of political struggle

If by 2025 not only hypersonic missiles with nuclear warheads, but also Yu-71 gliders will be in service, this will seriously strengthen Russia's political positions during negotiations with the United States. And this is completely logical, because all countries in the course of negotiations act from a position of strength, dictating favorable conditions to the opposite side. Equal negotiations between the two countries are possible only if both sides have powerful weapons.

Vladimir Putin during his speech at the conference "Army-2015" said that the nuclear forces receive new intercontinental missiles in the amount of 40 pieces. These turned out to be precisely hypersonic missiles, and they can currently overcome existing missile defense systems. Viktor Murakhovsky, a member of the expert council of the military-industrial commission, confirms that every year ICBMs are being improved.

Russia is also testing and developing new cruise missiles capable of flying at hypersonic speeds. They can approach targets at ultra-low altitudes, making them virtually invisible to radar. Moreover, modern missile defense systems in service with NATO cannot hit such missiles due to their low flight altitude. In addition, in theory, they are capable of intercepting targets moving at speeds up to 800 meters per second, while the speed of the Yu-71 aircraft and cruise missiles is much higher. This renders NATO's missile defense systems almost useless.

Projects from other countries

It is known that China and the United States are also developing an analogue of the Russian hypersonic aircraft. The characteristics of enemy models are still unclear, but we can already assume that the Chinese development is able to compete with the Russian aircraft.

Known as the Wu-14, the Chinese aircraft was tested in 2012, and even then it was able to reach speeds of over 11,000 km / h. However, the weapons that this device is capable of carrying are not mentioned anywhere.

As for the American Falcon HTV-2 drone, it was tested several years ago, but it crashed in 10 minutes of flight. However, the X-43A hypersonic aircraft, which was handled by NASA engineers, was tested before it. During the tests, he showed a fantastic speed - 11,200 km / h, which exceeds the speed of sound by 9.6 times. The prototype was tested in 2001, but then during the tests it was destroyed due to the fact that it got out of control. But in 2004 the apparatus was successfully tested.

Similar tests by Russia, China and the United States call into question the effectiveness of modern missile defense systems. The introduction of hypersonic technologies in the military-industrial sector is already making a real revolution in the military world.

Conclusion

Of course, the military-technical development of Russia cannot but rejoice, and the presence of such an aircraft in the armament of the army is a big step in improving the country's defense capability, but it is foolish to believe that other world powers do not attempt to develop such technologies.

Even today, with free access to information via the Internet, we know very little about the promising developments of domestic weapons, and the description of the "Yu-71" is known only by rumors. Consequently, we cannot even come close to knowing what technologies are being developed right now in other countries, including China and the United States. The active development of technology in the 21st century allows you to quickly invent new types of fuel and apply previously unfamiliar technical and technological methods, so the development of aircraft, including military ones, is very fast.

It is worth noting that the development of technologies that allow aircraft to reach speeds that exceed 10 times the speed of sound will affect not only the military, but also the civilian sphere. In particular, such well-known airliner manufacturers as Airbus or Boeing have already announced the possibility of creating hypersonic aircraft for passenger air transportation. Of course, such projects are still only in the plans, but the likelihood of developing such aircraft today is quite high.

An ordinary passenger plane flies at a speed of about 900 km/h. A jet fighter jet can reach about three times the speed. However, modern engineers from the Russian Federation and other countries of the world are actively developing even faster machines - hypersonic aircraft. What are the specifics of the respective concepts?

Criteria for a hypersonic aircraft

What is a hypersonic aircraft? By such it is customary to understand an apparatus capable of flying at a speed many times higher than that for sound. Researchers' approaches to determining its specific indicator vary. There is a widespread methodology according to which an aircraft should be considered hypersonic if it is a multiple of the speed indicators of the fastest modern supersonic vehicles. Which are about 3-4 thousand km / h. That is, a hypersonic aircraft, if you follow this methodology, should reach speeds of 6 thousand km / h.

Unmanned and controlled vehicles

The approaches of researchers may also differ in terms of determining the criteria for classifying a particular apparatus as an aircraft. There is a version that only those machines that are controlled by a person can be considered as such. There is a point of view according to which an unmanned vehicle can also be considered an aircraft. Therefore, some analysts classify machines of the type in question into those that are subject to human control and those that function autonomously. Such a division can be justified, since unmanned vehicles can have much more impressive technical characteristics, for example, in terms of overload and speed.

At the same time, many researchers consider hypersonic aircraft as a single concept, for which the key indicator is speed. It does not matter whether a person is sitting at the helm of the apparatus or the machine is controlled by a robot - the main thing is that the aircraft is fast enough.

Takeoff - independent or with outside help?

The classification of hypersonic aircraft is widespread, which is based on classifying them as those that are capable of taking off independently, or those that involve placement on a more powerful carrier - a rocket or a cargo plane. There is a point of view according to which it is legitimate to refer to the devices of the type under consideration mainly those that are capable of taking off independently or with minimal involvement of other types of equipment. However, those researchers who believe that the main criterion characterizing a hypersonic aircraft, speed, should be paramount in any classification. Whether it is classifying the device as unmanned, controlled, capable of taking off independently or with the help of other machines - if the corresponding indicator reaches the above values, then it means that we are talking about a hypersonic aircraft.

The main problems of hypersonic solutions

The concepts of hypersonic solutions are many decades old. Throughout the years of development of the corresponding type of vehicles, world engineers have been solving a number of significant problems that objectively prevent the production of "hypersound" from being put on stream - similar to organizing the production of turboprop aircraft.

The main difficulty in the design of hypersonic aircraft is the creation of an engine that can be sufficiently energy efficient. Another problem is the alignment of the necessary apparatus. The fact is that the speed of a hypersonic aircraft in the values ​​that we considered above implies a strong heating of the hull due to friction against the atmosphere.

Today we will consider several samples of successful prototypes of aircraft of the corresponding type, the developers of which were able to make significant progress in terms of successfully solving the problems noted. Let us now study the most famous world developments in terms of creating hypersonic aircraft of the type in question.

from Boeing

The fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, according to some experts, is the American Boeing X-43A. So, during testing of this device, it was recorded that it reached a speed exceeding 11 thousand km / h. That is about 9.6 times faster

What is special about the X-43A hypersonic aircraft? The characteristics of this aircraft are as follows:

The maximum speed recorded in the tests is 11,230 km / h;

Wingspan - 1.5 m;

Hull length - 3.6 m;

Engine - direct-flow, Supersonic Combustion Ramjet;

Fuel - atmospheric oxygen, hydrogen.

It can be noted that the device in question is one of the most environmentally friendly. The fact is that the fuel used practically does not involve the release of harmful combustion products.

The X-43A hypersonic aircraft was developed by the joint efforts of NASA engineers, as well as Orbical Science Corporation and Minocraft. created for about 10 years. About 250 million dollars were invested in its development. The conceptual novelty of the aircraft under consideration is that it was conceived to test the latest technology for ensuring the operation of motive thrust.

Developed by Orbital Science

Orbital Science, which, as we noted above, took part in the creation of the X-43A, also managed to create its own hypersonic aircraft, the X-34.

Its top speed is over 12,000 km/h. True, in the course of practical tests it was not achieved - moreover, it was not possible to achieve the indicator shown by the X43-A aircraft. The aircraft in question is accelerated by the use of the Pegasus rocket, which operates on solid fuel. The X-34 was first tested in 2001. The aircraft in question is significantly larger than the device from Boeing - its length is 17.78 m, the wingspan is 8.85 m. The maximum flight altitude of the hypersonic vehicle from Orbical Science is 75 kilometers.

Aircraft from North American

Another well-known hypersonic aircraft is the X-15, produced by North American. Analysts refer to this apparatus as experimental.

It is equipped, which gives some experts reason not to classify it, in fact, as an aircraft. However, the presence of rocket engines allows the device, in particular, to perform So, during one of the tests in this mode, it was tested by pilots. The purpose of the X-15 apparatus is to study the specifics of hypersonic flights, evaluate certain design solutions, new materials, and control features of such machines in various layers of the atmosphere. It is noteworthy that it was approved back in 1954. X-15 flies at a speed of more than 7 thousand km / h. Its flight range is more than 500 km, its altitude exceeds 100 km.

The fastest production aircraft

The hypersonic vehicles we studied above actually belong to the research category. It will be useful to consider some serial samples of aircraft that are close in characteristics to hypersonic or are (according to one methodology or another) hypersonic.

Among these machines is the American development of the SR-71. Some researchers are not inclined to classify this aircraft as hypersonic, since its maximum speed is about 3.7 thousand km / h. Among its most notable characteristics is its takeoff weight, which exceeds 77 tons. The length of the device is more than 23 m, the wingspan is more than 13 m.

One of the fastest military aircraft is the Russian MiG-25. The device can reach speeds of more than 3.3 thousand km / h. The maximum takeoff weight of the Russian aircraft is 41 tons.

Thus, in the market of serial solutions, close in characteristics to hypersonic ones, the Russian Federation is among the leaders. But what can be said about Russian developments in terms of "classic" hypersonic aircraft? Are engineers from the Russian Federation capable of creating a solution that is competitive with machines from Boeing and Orbital Scence?

Russian hypersonic vehicles

At the moment, the Russian hypersonic aircraft is under development. But she is quite active. We are talking about the Yu-71 aircraft. Its first tests, according to media reports, were carried out in February 2015 near Orenburg.

It is assumed that the aircraft will be used for military purposes. Thus, a hypersonic vehicle will be able, if necessary, to deliver striking weapons over considerable distances, monitor the territory, and also be used as an element of attack aviation. Some researchers believe that in 2020-2025. the Strategic Missile Forces will receive about 20 aircraft of the corresponding type.

There is information in the media that the Russian hypersonic aircraft in question will be placed on the Sarmat ballistic missile, which is also at the design stage. Some analysts believe that the Yu-71 hypersonic vehicle being developed is nothing more than a warhead that will have to separate from a ballistic missile in the final flight segment, so that, thanks to the high maneuverability characteristic of an aircraft, it will overcome missile defense systems.

Project Ajax

Among the most notable projects related to the development of hypersonic aircraft is Ajax. Let's study it in more detail. The Ajax hypersonic aircraft is a conceptual development of Soviet engineers. In the scientific community, talk about it began back in the 80s. Among the most notable features is the presence of a thermal protection system, which is designed to protect the case from overheating. Thus, the developers of the Ajax apparatus proposed a solution to one of the "hypersonic" problems we have identified above.

The traditional scheme of thermal protection of aircraft involves the placement of special materials on the body. The Ajax developers proposed a different concept, according to which it was supposed not to protect the device from external heating, but to let heat into the car, while increasing its energy resource. The main competitor of the Soviet apparatus was the Aurora hypersonic aircraft, created in the United States. However, due to the fact that designers from the USSR significantly expanded the capabilities of the concept, the widest range of tasks, in particular, research, was assigned to the new development. We can say that Ajax is a hypersonic multi-purpose aircraft.

Let us consider in more detail the technological innovations proposed by engineers from the USSR.

So, the Soviet developers of Ajax proposed to use the heat that arises as a result of the friction of the aircraft body against the atmosphere, to convert it into useful energy. Technically, this could be implemented by placing additional shells on the apparatus. As a result, something like a second building was formed. Its cavity was supposed to be filled with some kind of catalyst, for example, a mixture of combustible material and water. The heat-insulating layer made of a solid material in Ajax was supposed to be replaced with a liquid one, which, on the one hand, was supposed to protect the engine, on the other hand, would contribute to a catalytic reaction, which, meanwhile, could be accompanied by an endothermic effect - the movement of heat from the outside body parts inside. Theoretically, the cooling of the external parts of the apparatus could be anything. Excess heat, in turn, was supposed to be used in order to increase the efficiency of the aircraft engine. At the same time, this technology would make it possible to generate free hydrogen as a result of the reaction of fuel and species.

At the moment, there is no information available to the general public about the continuation of the development of Ajax, but researchers consider it very promising to put Soviet concepts into practice.

Chinese hypersonic vehicles

China is becoming a competitor to Russia and the United States in the hypersonic solutions market. Among the most famous developments of engineers from China is the WU-14 aircraft. It is a hypersonic glider mounted on a ballistic missile.

An ICBM launches an aircraft into space, from where the vehicle dives sharply down, developing hypersonic speed. The Chinese apparatus can be mounted on various ICBMs with a range of 2,000 to 12,000 km. It was found that during the tests, the WU-14 was able to reach speeds in excess of 12 thousand km / h, thus turning into the fastest hypersonic aircraft according to some analysts.

At the same time, many researchers believe that it is not quite right to attribute the Chinese development to the class of aircraft. So, the version is widespread, according to which the device should be classified precisely as a warhead. And very effective. When flying down at a marked speed, even the most modern missile defense systems will not be able to guarantee the interception of the corresponding target.

It can be noted that Russia and the United States are also developing hypersonic vehicles used for military purposes. At the same time, the Russian concept, according to which it is supposed to create machines of the corresponding type, differs significantly, as evidenced by data in some media, from the technological principles implemented by the Americans and the Chinese. So, developers from the Russian Federation are concentrating their efforts in the field of creating aircraft equipped with a ramjet engine capable of being launched from the ground. Russia is planning cooperation in this direction with India. Hypersonic devices created according to the Russian concept, according to some analysts, are characterized by lower cost and a wider scope.

At the same time, the Russian hypersonic aircraft, which we mentioned above (Yu-71), suggests, according to some analysts, just the same placement on ICBMs. If this thesis turns out to be true, then it will be possible to say that engineers from the Russian Federation are working simultaneously in two popular conceptual areas in the construction of hypersonic aircraft.

Summary

So, probably the fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, if we talk about aircraft, regardless of their classification, this is still the Chinese WU-14. Although you need to understand that real information about him, including those related to tests, can be classified. This is consistent with the principles of Chinese developers, who often strive to keep their military technology secret at all costs. The speed of the fastest hypersonic aircraft is over 12,000 km/h. It is "catching up" with the American development of the X-43A - many experts consider it to be the fastest. Theoretically, the X-43A hypersonic aircraft, as well as the Chinese WU-14, can catch up with the development from Orbical Science, designed for speeds of more than 12 thousand km / h.

The characteristics of the Russian Yu-71 aircraft are not yet known to the general public. It is possible that they will be close to the parameters of the Chinese aircraft. Russian engineers are also developing a hypersonic aircraft capable of taking off not on the basis of ICBMs, but independently.

The current projects of researchers from Russia, China and the United States are somehow connected with the military sphere. Hypersonic aircraft, regardless of their possible classification, are considered primarily as carriers of weapons, most likely nuclear ones. However, in the works of researchers from around the world there are theses that "hypersound", like nuclear technology, may well be peaceful.

The point is the emergence of affordable and reliable solutions that allow organizing the mass production of machines of the appropriate type. The use of such devices is possible in the widest range of branches of economic development. The greatest demand for hypersonic aircraft is likely to be found in the space and research industries.

As the cost of production technologies for the corresponding machines becomes cheaper, transport businesses may begin to show interest in investing in such projects. Industrial corporations, providers of various services may begin to consider "hypersound" as a tool to increase the competitiveness of business in terms of organizing international communications.