Laser complex compression. “stiletto” and “compression”: laser tanks of the USSR
In the late 70s - early 80s of the 20th century, the entire world “democratic” community was dreaming under the euphoria of Hollywood “Star Wars”.
At the same time for " iron curtain"Under the canopy of the strictest secrecy, the Soviet "evil empire" little by little turned Hollywood dreams into reality. Soviet cosmonauts flew into space, armed with laser pistols, "blasters", designed battle stations and space fighters, and Soviet “laser tanks” crawled across Mother Earth.
One of the organizations involved in the development of combat laser systems was NPO Astrophysics. General Director The “astrophysicists” was Igor Viktorovich Ptitsyn, and the General Designer was Nikolai Dmitrievich Ustinov, the son of that same all-powerful member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee and, concurrently, the Minister of Defense - Dmitry Fedorovich Ustinov. Having such a powerful patron, Astrophysics experienced virtually no problems with resources: financial, material, personnel. This did not take long to affect - already in 1982, almost four years after the reorganization of the Central Clinical Hospital into an NGO and the appointment of N.D. Ustinov's general designer (before that he headed the laser ranging department at the Central Design Bureau) was SLK 1K11 "Stiletto" figure from the magazine "ATM" No. 5 2010. Czech
The task of the laser complex was to provide countermeasures to optical-electronic systems for monitoring and controlling battlefield weapons in the harsh climatic and operational conditions imposed on armored vehicles. The co-executor of the chassis theme was the Uraltransmash design bureau from Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), the leading developer of almost all (with rare exceptions) Soviet self-propelled artillery.
Under the leadership of the General Designer of Uraltransmash, Yuri Vasilyevich Tomashov (the director of the plant was then Gennady Andreevich Studenok), the laser system was mounted on a well-tested GMZ chassis - product 118, which traces its "pedigree" to the chassis of product 123 (ZRK "Krug") and product 105 (self-propelled gun SU-100P). Uraltransmash produced two slightly different machines. The differences were due to the fact that in the order of experience and experiments, the laser systems were not the same. The combat characteristics of the complex were outstanding at that time, and they still meet the requirements for conducting defensive-tactical operations. For the creation of the complex, the developers were awarded the Lenin and State Prizes.
As mentioned above, the Stiletto complex was put into service, but for a number of reasons was not mass-produced. Two prototypes remained in single copies. Nevertheless, their appearance, even in conditions of terrible, total Soviet secrecy, did not go unnoticed by American intelligence. In a series of drawings depicting the latest designs equipment of the Soviet Army presented to Congress for "knocking out" additional funds The US Department of Defense also had a very recognizable “Stiletto”.
Formally, this complex is in service to this day. However, about the fate of experimental machines for a long time nothing was known. At the end of the tests, they turned out to be virtually useless to anyone. The whirlwind of the collapse of the USSR scattered them across post-Soviet space and reduced it to scrap metal. Thus, one of the vehicles in the late 1990s - early 2000s was identified by amateur BTT historians as it was being disposed of in the sump of the 61st BTRZ near St. Petersburg. The second, a decade later, was also discovered by connoisseurs of BTT history at a tank repair plant in Kharkov. In both cases, the laser systems from the machines had long since been removed. The “St. Petersburg” car only had its body preserved; the “Kharkov” “cart” is in better condition. At present, enthusiasts, in agreement with the management of the plant, are attempting to preserve it with the goal of subsequent “museumification.” Unfortunately, the “St. Petersburg” car has apparently been disposed of by now: “We don’t keep what we have, but when we lose it we cry...”
This is how the Soviet laser complex was imagined in the West. Drawing from the magazine "Soviet Military Power"
The best share fell to another, undoubtedly unique device, jointly produced by Astrophysics and Uraltrasmash. As a development of the “Stiletto” ideas, the new SLK 1K17 “Compression” was designed and built. It was a new generation complex with automatic search and targeting of a multichannel laser (solid-state laser on aluminum oxide Al2O3) at a glare object, in which a small part of aluminum atoms is replaced by trivalent chromium ions, or simply on a ruby crystal. To create population inversion, optical pumping is used, that is, illuminating a ruby crystal with a powerful flash of light. The ruby is shaped into a cylindrical rod, the ends of which are carefully polished, silvered, and serve as mirrors for the laser. To illuminate the ruby rod, pulsed xenon gas-discharge flash lamps are used, through which batteries of high-voltage capacitors are discharged. The flash lamp is shaped like a spiral tube that wraps around a ruby rod. Under the influence of a powerful pulse of light, an inverse population is created in the ruby rod and, thanks to the presence of mirrors, laser generation is excited, the duration of which is slightly less than the flash duration of the pump lamp. An artificial crystal weighing about 30 kg was grown especially for "Compression" - " laser gun“In this sense, it cost a pretty penny.” New installation demanded and large quantity energy. To power it, powerful generators were used, driven by an autonomous auxiliary power unit (APU).
As a base for the heavier complex, the chassis of the latest at that time self-propelled gun 2S19 "Msta-S" (product 316). To accommodate a large amount of power and electron-optical equipment, the Msta conning tower was significantly increased in length. The APU is located in its stern. In front, instead of the barrel, an optical unit was placed, including 15 lenses. System of precision lenses and mirrors in hiking conditions was closed with protective armor covers. This unit had the ability to point vertically. In the middle part of the cabin there were workplaces for operators. For self-defense, an anti-aircraft machine gun mount with a 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun was installed on the roof.
The vehicle body was assembled at Uraltransmash in December 1990. In 1991, the complex, which received the military index 1K17, entered testing and was put into service the following year, 1992. As before, the work on creating the Compression complex was highly appreciated by the Government of the country: a group of Astrophysics employees and co-executors were awarded the State Prize. In the field of lasers, we were then ahead of the whole world by at least 10 years.
However, this is where Nikolai Dmitrievich Ustinov’s “star” waned. The collapse of the USSR and the fall of the CPSU overthrew the former authorities. In the context of a collapsed economy, many defense programs have undergone serious revision. “Compression” did not escape this fate either - the prohibitive cost of the complex, despite advanced, breakthrough technologies and good results, forced the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to doubt its effectiveness. The super-secret “laser gun” remained unclaimed. The only copy was hidden behind high fences for a long time, until, unexpectedly for everyone, in 2010 it truly miraculously ended up in the exhibition of the Military Technical Museum, which is located in the village of Ivanovskoye near Moscow. We must pay tribute and thank the people who managed to pull this most valuable exhibit out from under the stamp of complete secrecy and made this unique car public domain - a clear example of advanced Soviet science and engineering, a witness to our forgotten victories.
December 5th, 2012
The second half of the 20th century can rightfully be called the era of laser euphoria. Theoretical advantages laser weapons, at the speed of light hitting the target direct fire, regardless of wind and ballistics, were obvious not only to science fiction writers. The first working prototype of the laser was created in 1960, and already in 1963, a group of specialists from the Vympel design bureau began developing an experimental laser locator LE-1. It was then that the main core of scientists of the future NPO Astrophysics was formed.
In the early 1970s, the specialized laser design bureau finally took shape as a separate enterprise and received its own production capacity and a test bench. An interdepartmental research center OKB "Raduga" was created, sheltered from prying eyes and ears in the numbered city Vladimir-30.
In 1978, the NPO Astrophysics was formed, the post of general designer of which was taken by Nikolai Dmitrievich Ustinov, the son of the USSR Minister of Defense Dmitry Ustinov. It is difficult to say whether this affected the already successful developments of NPOs in the field of military lasers. One way or another, already in 1982, the first self-propelled laser complex 1K11 “Stilet” was put into service with the Soviet army.
The Stiletto was designed to disable the optical-electronic guidance systems of enemy weapons. Its potential targets include tanks, self-propelled artillery, and even low-flying helicopters. Having detected the target by means of radar, the Stiletto carried out laser probing, trying to detect optical equipment by glare lenses. Having precisely localized " electronic eye", the device hit him with a powerful laser pulse, blinding or burning him out sensing element(photocell, photosensitive matrix, or even the retina of the aiming soldier’s eye).
Guidance combat laser horizontally was carried out by turning the tower, vertically - using a system of precisely positioned large mirrors. The aiming accuracy of the Stiletto is beyond doubt. To get an idea of it, it is enough to remember that the LE-1 laser locator, with which NPO Astrophysics began, was capable of pointing 196 laser beams into the target space - ballistic missile, flying at a speed of 4-5 km/s.
The 1K11 laser system was mounted on the GMZ (tracked minelayer) chassis of the Sverdlovsk Uraltransmash plant. Only two machines were manufactured, differing from each other: during the testing process, the laser part of the complex was refined and changed.
Formally, the Stiletto SLK is still in service to this day. Russian army and, as the historical brochure of the NPO Astrophysics says, answers modern requirements conducting defensive-tactical operations. But sources at Uraltransmash claim that 1K11 copies, except for two prototypes, were not assembled at the plant. A couple of decades later, both machines were discovered disassembled, with the laser part removed. One is being disposed of in the settling tank of the 61st BTRZ near St. Petersburg, the second is at a tank repair plant in Kharkov.
The development of laser weapons at NPO Astrophysics proceeded at a Stakhanov pace, and already in 1983 the Sanguin SLK was put into service. Its main difference from the Stiletto was that the combat laser was aimed at the target without the use of large mirrors. Simplification of the optical design had a positive effect on lethality weapons. But the most important improvement was the increased mobility of the laser in the vertical plane. "Sanguin" was intended to defeat optical-electronic systems air targets.
A shot resolution system specially developed for the complex allowed it to successfully shoot at moving targets. During testing, the Sanguin SLK demonstrated the ability to reliably detect and engage helicopter optical systems at ranges of more than 10 km. At close distances (up to 8 km), the device completely disables enemy sights, and at extreme ranges it blinds them for tens of minutes.
The Sanguina laser complex was installed on the chassis of the Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. In addition to the combat laser, a low-power probing laser and a guidance system receiving device were mounted on the turret, which recorded reflections of the probe beam from a glare object.
Three years after Sanguin, the arsenal Soviet army was replenished with the Aquilon shipborne laser complex with a principle of operation similar to the ground-based SLC. Sea-based has an important advantage over land-based: the power system of a warship can provide significantly more electricity to pump the laser. This means you can increase the power and rate of fire of the gun. The Aquilon complex was intended to destroy the optical-electronic systems of the enemy coast guard.
SLK 1K17 “Compression” was put into service in 1992 and was much more advanced than the “Stiletto”. The first difference that catches your eye is the use of a multi-channel laser. Each of the 12 optical channels (upper and lower rows of lenses) had an individual guidance system. The multichannel scheme made it possible to do laser installation multi-band. To counter such systems, the enemy could protect their optics with light filters that block radiation of a certain frequency. But the filter is powerless against simultaneous damage by rays of different wavelengths.
The lenses in the middle row are aimed systems. The small and large lenses on the right are the probing laser and receiving channel automatic system guidance The same pair of lenses on the left is optical sights: small daytime and large nighttime. Night sight equipped with two laser range finders. IN stowed position both the optics of the guidance systems and the emitters were covered with armored shields.
SLK "Compression" used a solid-state laser with fluorescent lamps pumping. Such lasers are compact and reliable enough for use in self-propelled units. This is evidenced by Foreign experience: V American system ZEUS, mounted on a Humvee all-terrain vehicle and designed to “set fire” to enemy mines from a distance, primarily used a laser with a solid working fluid.
In amateur circles there is a story about a 30-kilogram ruby crystal grown specifically for “Squeeze”. In fact, ruby lasers became obsolete almost immediately after their birth. Nowadays, they are used only to create holograms and tattoos. The working fluid in 1Q17 could well have been yttrium aluminum garnet with neodymium additives. The so-called YAG lasers in pulse mode capable of developing impressive power.
Generation in YAG occurs at a wavelength of 1064 nm. This is infrared radiation, which in complex weather conditions less susceptible to scattering than visible light. Thanks to the high power of a YAG laser on a nonlinear crystal, it is possible to obtain harmonics - pulses with a wavelength two, three, four times shorter than the original one. In this way, multi-band radiation is formed.
the main problem any laser is extremely low efficiency. Even in the most modern and complex gas lasers, the ratio of radiation energy to pump energy does not exceed 20%. Pump lamps require a lot of electricity. Powerful generators and auxiliary power point occupied most of the enlarged self-propelled cabin artillery installation 2S19 "Msta-S" (already quite large), on the basis of which the SLK "Compression" was built. The generators charge a battery of capacitors, which, in turn, gives a powerful pulse discharge to the lamps. It takes time to “refuel” the capacitors. The rate of fire of the Compression SLK is perhaps one of its most mysterious parameters and, perhaps, one of the main tactical shortcomings.
Performance characteristics of 1K17 “Compression”
Case length, mm 6040
Case width, mm 3584
Ground clearance, mm 435
Armor type: homogeneous steel
Weapons:
Machine guns 1 x 12.7 mm NSVT
Engine - V-84A supercharged diesel, max. power: 618 kW (840 hp)
Highway speed, km/h 60
Suspension type: independent with long torsion bars
Climbability, degrees. thirty
Wall to be overcome, m 0.85
Ditch to be overcome, m 2.8
Fordability, m 1.2
SLK "Compression" is exhibited at the Military Technical Museum, which recently opened in the village of Ivanovsky, Moscow region. There, a rare exhibit is also displayed without an annotation. They say that a decommissioned copy in a very depressing condition was given to the museum by a certain military unit near Kolomna. The local soldiers did not tell us about the purpose of the apparatus: not because it was secret, but because they themselves had somehow not thought about it. Otherwise they wouldn't have given it away.
A military apparatus that NPO Astrophysics can really be proud of, the KDHR-1N Dal remote chemical reconnaissance laser complex, was put into service in 1988.
The MT-LBu amphibious armored personnel carrier was used as a carrier. On its tower there was a probing laser and two receiving channels, which made it possible to observe in real time the formation of clouds of toxic substances without coming into direct contact with toxic fumes. The equipment is capable of determining the distance to an aerosol cloud, its size and depth, height above earth's surface and coordinates of the epicenter. Scattering spectroscopy made it possible to determine the type of toxic substance. In addition, the KDHR-1N Dal was equipped with remote radiation reconnaissance and monitoring devices and all necessary means collective and individual protection personnel. The main advantages of KDHR-1N over similar machines relate to the working conditions of the crew. The vehicle was equipped with a television sight, which allowed operators to confidently operate on the ground. Control chemical reconnaissance was carried out from a single console interfaced with the on-board computer. Information system displayed the operating status of all elements of the system and its main malfunctions. For work in hot climates, it was possible to install a small-sized air conditioner. The KDHR-1N Dal is currently in service with the Russian Army. Information about him is not classified.
KDHR-1N "Dal"
1. TV viewer
2. Receiving comparison channel
3. Working receiving channel
4. Probing laser
5. Laser power supply
6. Thermal stabilization blocks of receiving devices
7. Non-contact rotating device
8. Laser cooling unit
9. Precision guidance system
10. Information display
11. Remote sensing equipment control panel
12. Interface equipment control panel
The most important advantage of laser weapons is direct fire. Independence from the vagaries of the wind and a simple aiming scheme without ballistic corrections means shooting accuracy inaccessible to conventional artillery. If you believe the official brochure of the NPO Astrophysics, which claims that the Sanguine could hit targets at a distance of over 10 km, the Compression range is at least twice the firing range of, say, modern tank. This means that if a hypothetical tank approaches 1Q17 at open area, then he will be disabled before he opens fire. Sounds tempting.
However, direct fire is both the main advantage and main drawback laser weapons. It requires direct line of sight to operate. Even if you fight in the desert, the 10-kilometer mark will disappear beyond the horizon. To greet guests with blinding light, a self-propelled laser must be placed on the mountain for everyone to see. IN real conditions such tactics are contraindicated. In addition, the vast majority of theaters of military operations have at least some relief.
And when the same hypothetical tanks come within shooting distance of the SLC, they immediately gain advantages in the form of rate of fire. “Compression” can neutralize one tank, but while the capacitors are charged again, the second one will be able to avenge its blinded comrade. In addition, there are weapons that have much longer range than artillery. For example, a Maverick missile with a radar (non-dazzle) guidance system is launched from a distance of 25 km, and the SLC on the mountain overlooking the surrounding area is an excellent target for it.
Do not forget that dust, fog, precipitation, smoke screens if they do not negate the effect of an infrared laser, then at least they significantly reduce its range. So the self-propelled laser system has, to put it mildly, a very narrow area of tactical application.
Why were SLK “Compression” and its predecessors born? There are many opinions on this matter. Perhaps these devices were considered as test benches for testing future military and military space technologies. Maybe, military leadership the country was ready to invest in technologies, the effectiveness of which at that moment seemed doubtful, in the hope of experimentally finding the superweapon of the future. Or maybe three mysterious cars with the letter “C” were born because Ustinov was the general designer. More precisely, Ustinov's son.
There is a version that the SLAK “Compression” is a weapon of psychological action. The mere possibility of the presence of such a vehicle on the battlefield makes gunners, observers, and snipers wary of optics for fear of losing their sight. Contrary to popular belief, Compression is not covered by the UN Protocol prohibiting the use of blinding weapons, as it is intended to defeat electro-optical systems, not personnel. Use of weapons that may blind people side effect, not prohibited.
This version partly explains the fact that news about the creation of highly classified weapons in the USSR, including the Stiletto and Compression, promptly appeared in the free American press, in particular in the Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine.
