Air Defense Eye crossword clue 7. Military pensioners for Russia and its armed forces
MOSCOW, December 25 – RIA Novosti, Andrey Stanavov. One and a half meter tube, khaki color, compact sighting mechanism and a shoulder strap. This, at first glance, simple device behind the infantryman’s back is fraught with death threat for pilots of airplanes and helicopters operating at altitudes below 4.5 thousand meters.
It is almost impossible to escape from an “off-leash” missile from the latest Russian man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) 9K333 “Verba” - it does not respond to heat traps and other tricks, but, like a tethered one, pursues main goal. Until he gets it and destroys it. About what he is capable of unique complex, - in the RIA Novosti material.
Pocket air defense
The first MANPADS appeared in the 1960s and immediately became enemy number one for pilots who had adapted to take cover from long-range missiles. anti-aircraft missiles at low altitudes. It is almost impossible to notice a “man with a pipe” camouflaged in the folds of the terrain from the cockpit of an airplane or helicopter, and, unlike machine guns and cannons, the only successful hit is small rocket can “land” even a large aircraft in one fell swoop. In the case of MANPADS, there is no need to waste precious time on deployment, loading and installation. Pointed, fired, forgot.
All divisions of the Russian Airborne Forces are re-equipped with fourth-generation Verba MANPADSNew complexes short range, unlike their predecessors, have expanded combat capabilities and ensure high efficiency in hitting targets.Soviet designers achieved particular success in developing a fundamentally new air defense weapon at that time. The command ordered to create in a short time the most inexpensive and compact complex suitable for effective cover ground units and units from the air without unnecessary fuss. The task was non-trivial: to make a system suitable for combating all types of air targets at altitudes of up to 1.5 kilometers and at a distance of up to three. The missile was supposed to be guaranteed to hit aircraft that were approaching and following. Required condition- the ability to fire by one person, and from an unprepared position.
Thus was born the first Soviet MANPADS 9K32 "Strela-2", which created a real revolution in the development of air defense systems. The complex, which entered service in 1967, included a launch tube, a rocket with a canard airframe and propulsion system, a ground power supply, a portable passive direction finder and a ground radio interrogator, as well as maintenance equipment.
Shock, horror and complete lack of understanding of what is happening - this is how one can characterize the emotions of the Israeli pilots who were “lucky” to be the first to be hit by a hail of Russian Strels during the Arab-Israeli conflict. In the first air attack, 30 percent of the planes were shot down, after which the Israeli Air Force decided to suspend raids for several days.
From "Strela" to "Verba"
Then there was the improved and more noise-resistant Strela-3, then the 9K38 Igla, which was also modernized several times, and now it has been replaced by the Verba. The complex, accurate, sensitive and resistant to interference, clearly distinguishes aircraft into “friends” and “foes” and strikes without a miss, without reacting to heat traps and other interference. With the help of "Verba", an infantryman can single-handedly "remove" from the sky a variety of aircraft, starting from attack helicopters and aircraft and ending with cruise missiles. The range of distances and altitudes is no longer the same as that of the first Strelas, but is commensurate with the indicators of more serious systems military air defense.
MANPADS "Verba" received a target distribution system from the "Night Hunter"Modern Russian portable anti-aircraft guns missile systems received a target distribution system created taking into account the scientific and technical groundwork accumulated during the development of complexes for Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopters.The solid-fuel missile of the new MANPADS effortlessly reaches targets at altitudes of up to 4.5 thousand meters and at a distance of up to 6.5 kilometers. In fact, this completely covers the altitude range of front-line aviation—attack aircraft, tactical bombers and helicopters can be “laid down” directly from the trench. In this sense, "Verba" is significantly superior not only to "Igloo-S", but also foreign analogues, including the famous American FIM-92 "Stinger". For comparison: “Igla-S” takes on air targets at altitudes of up to 3.5 kilometers, and “Stinger” - up to 3.8. In addition, the lower limit of the target acquisition altitude for the Stinger is 180 meters, and the Verba starts working at ten. The kit comes with a compact radar that is resistant to interference. The station “sees” air targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers.
An automated control system takes into account the speed and direction of flight of aircraft or cruise missiles and distributes them among anti-aircraft gunners, the location of each of whom on the ground is determined by GLONASS. The fighters have precise shooting vectors. It is interesting that "Verba" through tactical complex Barnaul-T is being integrated into common system air defense and can receive information about air targets, which “drive” large radars.
The picky bride
The Verba missile owes its high sensitivity and “selectivity” to target types to its proprietary three-spectral homing head, the “vision” of which operates in the ultraviolet, near and mid-infrared ranges. Even on approach, the rocket is able to distinguish an airplane or helicopter from the thermal “trap” it has released and make the right choice.
Like many other similar air defense systems, "Verba" can not only operate "from the shoulder", but can also be installed on ships and attack helicopters as an auxiliary anti-aircraft. An important innovation is that the complex is much easier to maintain than Igla. There is no need to “freeze” it anymore - new design The homing head does not require cooling with nitrogen. Getting ready to fire takes a matter of seconds from the moment the target is detected.
"Verba" began to be supplied to the troops relatively recently, in kits and batches. So, just the other day another brigade kit the latest MANPADS entered the motorized rifle unit of the Central Military District (CMD), stationed in the Altai Territory. According to the military, the new complexes will provide reliable cover military units not only from air attacks, but also from massive cruise missile attacks. In addition, it is now in service with anti-aircraft squads, anti-aircraft missile platoons and batteries included anti-aircraft divisions, as well as other units of the Russian Armed Forces, there are thousands of complexes of the “Igla” family, among which there are both early modifications and advanced ones with the “C” index.
Generals, get your money ready. And most importantly, pray that at the decisive moment there will be no heavy fog or rain. And so that the attacking side does not learn to call them at will. Appreciate the beauty of the defense: an approaching missile or artillery shell encounters a powerful laser beam. Bang and it's done. Are you already asking how much it costs?
The idea of knocking down objects in the air using a strong laser beam has been floating in this same air for almost as many years as science fiction literature has existed. However, for now, air defense systems are content with missile and cannon armament. After all, in order to explode a rocket with a laser, the latter must be very powerful. And you still need to take this structure with you. Unless, of course, we are talking about air defense for troops, groups of equipment, small and important objects, such as a headquarters or communications point.
Yes, and we are talking about exactly this purpose of laser air defense. More precisely, not us, but American engineers.
Recently, Northrop Grumman general outline announced the project new system Skyguard air defense based on a mobile high-power laser.
The THEL optical system is a key element of the system. It can turn quite quickly in any direction and accurately hold a flying object in sight (photo by Northrop Grumman).
The Skyguard system, which the company is actively developing at present, is based on the already well-developed THEL laser (short for Tactical High Energy Laser).
This is a chemical laser using deuterium fluoride. If anyone is interested in the chains of reactions between the initial components (the laser is powered by a set of reagents - nitrogen fluoride, ethylene, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) that pump the laser with energy, read the THEL description (PDF document).
Laser air defense diagram (stationary version shown here) from Northrop Grumman. Points on the target trajectory mean: 1—target detection by radar, 2—beginning of optical tracking, 3—beginning of precise tracking, 4—beginning of laser irradiation, 5—target destruction. Also shown: 6 – laser complex, 7 – radar, 8 – protected object (illustration by Northrop Grumman).
We will say that all of its equipment is compact enough to fit on a couple of large car trailers or on board multi-axle army trucks. And the power of the beam (the exact data is apparently a secret) is sufficient to heat the body and initiate an explosion of the charge and/or fuel in the flying tactical missile, fired from a Katyusha-like system, a howitzer shell, mortar mine, cruise missile. Well, airplanes, of course, can’t expect anything good from such a beam.
Do you have any doubts? But this laser has been tested in practice for a long time. A couple of years ago we told how THEL shot down a missile. In general, the design and development of the system began in the 1990s and continues to this day.
Real tests of the complex. The missiles launched and exploded by the beam were the most ordinary, without any “indulgences” (photos by Northrop Grumman).
On this page you can find a video showing the system being tested in action. The laser is so powerful that it is visible from the side (on video frames taken in the infrared range), since part of its power is spent (alas) on heating the air, or rather, the dust and water vapor in it.
By the way, why is the mentioned page about Israeli weapons? American engineers are developing this project not only for the US Army, but also for the Israeli Army, while Israeli companies are heavily involved in the work on the system.
Let's continue. According to Northrop Grumman, trucks with this laser, as well as other equipment, turned around in shortest time, are capable of creating a protective bubble around themselves with a diameter of about 10 kilometers. It is in this range that this laser retains sufficient lethal force.
Radar system (photo by Northrop Grumman).
An approaching target is first detected by a radar, which transmits the coordinates to the laser installation computer.
It points the optical system at the target (which we see in the pictures), which plays a dual role. Firstly, through it, the infrared laser camera visually detects and tracks the target, performing precise aiming of the beam. And secondly, through the same “searchlight” the system directs a combat beam to the target - infrared, continuous.
Skyguard can be stationary and cover warehouses... (illustration by Northrop Grumman).
Two, three, five, ten seconds of holding on the target (depending on its type), and it explodes with a spectacular fireworks display.
The system has already been tested (and successfully) with real ammunition (missiles, shells), fired individually and in groups, including several types at the same time, and “unexpectedly” for Skyguard, in order to check the reaction of the electronics.
Note that Northrop Grumman, which created this powerful laser, is actively developing the direction of chemical lasers and it created exactly this, only even more powerful, for the system
How the country's first interceptor targeting system was created.
On January 4, 1960, military tests of the first target guidance system for fighter-interceptors “Vozdukh-1” in the Soviet Union began. It was originally used on jet fighter Su-9. The system has significantly increased the effectiveness of the country's air defense forces.
Antidote against American spies
In the mid-50s, the country was in full swing creating nuclear missile shield. In 1956, when the construction of the Baikonur cosmodrome began, the Americans acquired a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft with such high performance that the air defense systems that existed at that time were not able to cope with it. He could soar for 6.5 hours at an altitude of 21,500 meters. And at the same time, the pilot could periodically turn off the engine, since the plane had a unique airframe aerodynamics. All our deepest secrets could have been revealed by the Americans without much difficulty.
To combat the U-2, the T-3 interceptor was “assigned” - a prototype of the Su-9 aircraft, then being developed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau. When there was very little time left before the production of the prototype, the Design Bureau was required to as soon as possible raise the fighter's ceiling to 21,000 meters. This task was exceeded due to the abandonment of secondary systems, which reduced the weight of the vehicle. Even the cannon was removed from the plane. Despite the fact that the flight characteristics of the Su-9 indicate a figure of 20,000 m, it repeatedly rose above 26 km, and at 23 kilometers it could make long horizontal flight.
The interceptor was armed with six K-5MS air-to-air missiles developed by KB-455 (now the Tactical missile weapons"). And in 1958, by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, it was ordered to create an interception complex on the basis of the Su-9. It was supposed to include ground system guidance and control "Air-1", associated with the boards of interceptor aircraft.
This decision significantly increased combat capabilities fighter. “Vozdukh-1” was a network of ground-based radars (called “Web”), the data from which was sent to the guidance center. The analog computer "Cascade" calculated the coordinates of targets and, correlating them with the position of the interceptor aircraft, transmitted on board, using the Lazur-M radio control line, information about the maneuvers necessary for a successful interception (set course, target designation commands, afterburner activation, radar activation, launching missiles, turning away from the target, etc.). The Su-9, approaching the target at a distance of up to 8 km, captured it with its radar and hit it with missiles guided by a radio beam. The target was attacked in the rear hemisphere at a height equal height interceptor, so maximum height the target being intercepted could be the practical ceiling of the fighter, which is 20 thousand m.
The missile guidance system operated as follows. After detecting the target by the on-board radar, the pilot had to, while controlling the aircraft, bring its mark to the center of the radar screen, that is, align the longitudinal axis of the aircraft with the direction towards the target. After which the station was transferred to capture mode. When approaching a distance of 8 kilometers or less, a rocket was launched. Until the moment of defeat, it was necessary to maintain direction towards the target, keeping it in the irradiation zone.
K-5 air-to-air missile
The K-5MS missile was made according to the canard aerodynamic configuration, the engine nozzles extended to the sides, since the guidance system equipment was mounted in the tail section of the missile. The missile had a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 13 kg and a proximity radio fuse. For suspension and launch of missiles, 4 permanent pylons with launching devices were mounted on the wing of the interceptor.
Slow moving vehicles are the most dangerous
Interceptor operation for various purposes had its own characteristics. It was not difficult to hit targets with transonic speed at medium altitudes. Even moderately qualified pilots coped with this task. Meeting with a supersonic aircraft was not a particular problem either. In this case, when aiming the Su-9 at a target, the lag shooting method was used. The interceptor was deployed to a forward point along the target's course slightly ahead and below it. And he fired rockets when the target overtook him.
It was much more difficult with low-speed targets on high altitude. Because with a significant discrepancy between the speeds of the target and the interceptor, the pilot had very little time to carry out the necessary actions: the Su-9 instantly overtook it and pulled ahead. At the same time, it was impossible to “slow down” much at an altitude of 20 km, since the plane “failed” down. At this altitude, unlike the slow-moving American reconnaissance aircraft U-2, having not such a high aerodynamic quality, the Su-9 could only maintain a speed of 1.7 Mach.
The Vozdukh-1 system significantly increased the effectiveness of interception, due to the fact that the pilot received from the command post accurate information regarding flight modes, taking into account lead, target maneuvers and other flight circumstances.
During the tests, the command post with the Vozdukh-1 ground equipment was located at a distance of 320 kilometers from the airfield. At the same time, the system had the following range characteristics. Recording, transmission and display of the air situation for a radar company takes place within a radius of 150 km to 300 km, for a battalion - from 300 km to 600 km, for a command post of an air defense formation - from 600 km to 1200 km. Target heights are transmitted in the range from 0 to 31750 m with a resolution of 250 m.
The next step the introduction of guidance systems into the troops has become mobile system"Air-1p". And after some time, aerial command posts appeared, installed on AWACS aircraft.
Balloon shooting
Military trials Vozdukh-1 systems began on January 4, 1960. They were successful, and based on their results, the system began to be implemented en masse in air defense combat units. And before that, state tests were carried out. Stepan Anastasovich Mikoyan (son of the People's Commissar of Trade and nephew of aircraft designer Mikoyan), who took part in them as a test pilot, recalled them as a very grandiose event. “The team for testing the interception complex significantly exceeded the usual team for testing any experimental aircraft in terms of the number of specialists,” wrote Stepan Anastasovich in his book “We are the children of war.” - It included more than a hundred engineers and technicians from our Directorate and other divisions of the Institute (VVS Research Institute). The team leader actually also supervised the work of the industry representatives participating in the tests.” And there were also at least a hundred representatives of the design bureau who participated in the creation of the system.
The team of test pilots included 7 people, among whom was the future cosmonaut Georgy Timofeevich Bergovoy.
Two aircraft were used as targets for simulated missile launches - Tu-16 and Yak-25RV. The Tupolev aircraft was only capable of rising to an altitude of 12,500 meters. And Yakovlevsky reached the required 20 thousand due to the fact that on the base model of the Yak-25 the swept wing was replaced with a straight one large area and removed almost all the equipment.
After the simulated missile launches, we moved on to real shooting. Used for execution balloons, rising to a height of 20 kilometers. This one difficult work performed by Beregovoy. And not only difficult, but also dangerous. The fact is that for the first time in the Soviet Union, aircraft were tested at speeds of more than 2000 km/h. The engine surged several times at maximum altitude and speed, with just seconds left before it was destroyed. And only the pilot’s composure and instant reaction saved both him and the plane. And one day the control knob jammed. In such a situation, Beregovoy should have left the plane. However, as S.A. Mikoyan writes, several times “with superhuman strength“I pulled the handle towards myself, and eventually knocked out the stuck bolt. For saving the plane, Beregovoi was awarded a movie camera.
Performance characteristics R-5MS (RS-2US) missiles:
Adopted into service - 1960
Length – 2.5 m
Diameter – 200 mm
Wing span - 0.654 m
Launch weight– 82.7 kg
Speed – 800 km/h
Range – 8 km
Damage zone in height – from 2.5 km to 20.5 km
Warhead– 13 kg
Solid propellant rocket thrust – 1340 kgf
Controlled flight time – 12 s.