How many air defense systems do we have? In the second half of the 1950s. it became clear that anti-aircraft artillery, even with the use of gun-targeting radar stations, could not provide effective protection of troops from jet combat aircraft. The first generation anti-aircraft missile systems were too bulky, had poor mobility and were not able to deal with air targets at low altitude.
SAM "Osa"
In the 1960s, simultaneously with work on the creation of battalion-level air defense systems (MANPADS "Strela-2") and regimental level (SAM "Strela-1" and ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"), the design of the divisional anti-aircraft missile system " Wasp". The highlight of the new air defense system was the placement of all radio equipment and anti-aircraft missiles on one chassis.
Initially, the Osa air defense missile system planned to use semi-active radar-guided missiles. However, in the development process, after assessing the technological capabilities, it was decided to use the radio command guidance scheme. Due to the fact that the customer demanded to ensure high mobility and amphibiousness, the developers for a long time could not decide on the chassis. As a result, it was decided to stop at the wheeled floating conveyor BAZ-5937. The self-propelled chassis provided an average speed of the complex on unpaved roads in the daytime 36 km / h, at night - 25 km / h. The maximum road speed is up to 80 km / h. Afloat - 7-10 km / h. The Osa air defense missile system consisted of: a combat vehicle with 4 9M33 missiles, with launch, guidance and reconnaissance means, a transport-loading vehicle with 8 missiles and loading equipment, as well as maintenance and control vehicles mounted on trucks.
The process of creating and fine-tuning the Osa air defense system was very difficult, and the development time of the complex significantly went beyond the specified framework. In fairness, it should be said that the Americans were never able to bring to mind a conceptually similar Mauler air defense system. SAM "Osa" was put into service on October 4, 1971, 11 years after the release of the decree on the beginning of development.
Due to the fact that there have been no such complexes in the troops for a long time, few people now remember that the missiles of the first modification of the Osa air defense system did not have transport and launch containers. The 9M33 rocket with a solid-propellant engine was transferred to the troops in a fully equipped form and did not require adjustment and verification work, except for routine random checks at arsenals and bases no more than once a year.
SAM 9M33, made according to the "duck" scheme, with a starting weight of 128 kg was equipped with a 15-kg warhead. Missile length - 3158 mm, diameter - 206 mm, wingspan - 650 mm. The average speed in the controlled flight section is 500 m / s.
SAM "Osa" could hit targets flying at speeds of up to 300 m / s at altitudes of 200-5000 m in the range from 2, 2 to 9 km (with a decrease in the maximum range to 4-6 km for targets flying at low altitudes, - 50-100 m). For supersonic targets (with a speed of up to 420 m / s), the far boundary of the affected area did not exceed 7.1 km at altitudes of 200-5000 m. The course parameter ranged from 2 to 4 km. The probability of destruction of the F-4 Phantom II fighter, calculated from the results of simulations and combat launches, was 0.35-0.4 at an altitude of 50 m and increased to 0.42-0.85 at altitudes above 100 m.
Due to the fact that the combat crew of the Osa air defense missile system had to fight against targets operating at low altitudes, the processing of their parameters and defeat had to be done as quickly as possible. Taking into account the mobility and the ability of the complex to operate in an autonomous mode, a number of new technical solutions were applied. The peculiarities of the OSA SAM application required the use of multifunctional antennas with high values of the output parameters, capable of moving the beam to any point of a given spatial sector in a time not exceeding fractions of a second.
The radar station for detecting air targets with an antenna rotation frequency of 33 rpm operated in the centimeter frequency range. Antenna stabilization in the horizontal plane made it possible to search and detect targets while the complex was moving. The elevation search was carried out by transferring the beam between three positions at each revolution. In the absence of organized interference, the station detected a fighter flying at an altitude of 5000 m at a distance of 40 km (at an altitude of 50 m - 27 km).
The centimeter-range target tracking radar provided target acquisition for automatic tracking at a range of 14 km at a flight altitude of 50 m and 23 km at a flight altitude of 5000 m. The tracking radar had a system for selecting moving targets, as well as various means of protection against active interference. In the case of suppression of the radar channel, tracking was carried out using a detection station and a television-optical sight.
In the system of radio command guidance of the Osa air defense missile system, two sets of medium and wide-beam antennas were used to capture and further enter into the beam of the target tracking station two anti-aircraft guided missiles at launch with an interval of 3 to 5 seconds. When firing at low-flying targets (flight altitude from 50 to 100 meters), the "slide" method was used, which ensured the approach of the guided missile to the target from above. This made it possible to reduce the errors in launching missiles to the target and to exclude the premature operation of the radio fuse when the signal was reflected from the ground.
In 1975, the Osa-AK air defense system entered service. Outwardly, this complex differed from the early model with a new launcher with six 9M33M2 missiles placed in transport and launch containers. The refinement of the radio fuse made it possible to reduce the minimum height of destruction to 25 m. The new missile could hit targets at a range of 1500-10000 m.
Thanks to the improvement of the computing-decisive equipment, it was possible to increase the guidance accuracy and fire at targets flying at a higher speed and maneuvering with an overload of up to 8 G. The noise immunity of the complex was improved. Some of the electronic blocks were transferred to a solid-state element base, which reduced their weight, dimensions, power consumption and increased reliability.
As of the second half of the 1970s, the Osa-AK air defense system was considered a fairly perfect complex, quite effective against tactical aircraft combat aircraft operating at altitudes up to 5000 m. attacks by anti-tank helicopters armed with ATGM TOW and HOT. To eliminate this drawback, the 9M33MZ missile defense system was created with a minimum application height of less than 25 m, an improved warhead and a new radio fuse. When firing at helicopters at an altitude of less than 25 meters, the complex used a special method of targeting an anti-aircraft guided missile with semi-automatic tracking of targets in angular coordinates using a television-optical sight.
The Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile system, put into service in 1980, had the ability to destroy helicopters hovering at almost zero altitude and flying at speeds up to 80 m / s at ranges from 2000 to 6500 m with a course parameter of up to 6000 m. This SAM "Osa-AKM" was able to fire at helicopters with rotating propellers located on the ground.
According to the reference data, the probability of hitting the AH-1 Huey Cobra helicopter on the ground was 0, 07-0, 12, flying at an altitude of 10 meters - 0, 12-0, 55, hovering at an altitude of 10 meters - 0, 12-0, 38 …Although the probability of defeat in all cases was relatively small, launching a rocket at a helicopter hiding in the folds of the terrain in most cases led to a disruption of the attack. In addition, the realization by the pilots of combat helicopters that flights at ultra-low altitude no longer guarantee invulnerability from air defense systems had a considerable psychological impact. The creation in the USSR of the Osa-AKM mass mobile anti-aircraft complex with a range exceeding the ATGM firing range led to the acceleration of work on the more long-range AGM-114 Hellfire ATGM with laser and radar guidance.
The use of advanced technical solutions in the OSA family of air defense systems ensured an enviable longevity. Due to the high energy ratio of the signal reflected from the target to interference, it is possible to use radar channels to detect and track targets even with intense interference, and when suppressing radar channels - a television-optical sight. The Osa air defense system surpassed all mobile anti-aircraft missile systems of its generation in terms of noise immunity.
In the state of the Soviet motorized rifle divisions there was a regiment of the "Osa" air defense missile system, in most cases consisting of five anti-aircraft missile batteries and a command post of the regiment with a control battery. Each battery had four combat vehicles and a battery command post equipped with a PU-12 (M) command post. The regiment's control battery included the PU-12 (M) control point, communication vehicles and the P-15 (P-19) low-altitude detection radar.
Serial production of the "Osa" air defense system was carried out from 1972 to 1989. These complexes are widely used in the Soviet Army. Until now, about 250 "Osa-AKM" are in the armed forces of Russia. However, unlike the Strela-10M2 / M3 air defense missile system of the regimental echelon, the leadership of the RF Ministry of Defense did not consider it necessary to modernize the Osa-AKM air defense system. According to available information, up to 50 complexes per year have been decommissioned over the past few years. In the near future, our army will finally part with the Osa-AKM air defense system. In addition to obsolescence, this is due to the deterioration of the chassis, radio equipment and the lack of spare electronic units necessary to maintain the hardware in working order. In addition, all available 9M33MZ missiles have long been outside the warranty period.
SAM "Tor"
The first "alarm bells" regarding the need to improve the air defense of the divisional link sounded in the early 1970s, when it became clear that the first versions of the "Osa" air defense system were unable to effectively counteract anti-tank helicopters using the "jump" tactics. In addition, at the final stage of the Vietnam War, the Americans actively used AGM-62 Walleye planning bombs and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles with television, radio command and laser guidance. Homing anti-radar missiles AGM-45 Shrike posed a great danger to radar air monitoring systems.
In connection with the emergence of new threats, it became necessary to intercept combat helicopters before launching anti-tank missiles and guided aircraft weapons from them after separating them from the carrier aircraft. To solve such problems, it was required to develop a mobile anti-aircraft missile system with a minimum reaction time and several guidance channels for anti-aircraft missiles.
Work on the creation of a divisional autonomous self-propelled air defense missile system "Tor" began in the first half of 1975. When creating a new complex, it was decided to use a vertical missile launch scheme, placing eight missiles along the axis of the combat vehicle turret, protecting them from adverse weather effects and from possible damage by shell and bomb fragments. After changing the requirements for the possibility of crossing water obstacles by swimming by the military anti-aircraft complexes, the main thing was to ensure the same speed of movement and the degree of cross-country ability for the combat vehicles of the air defense missile system with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles of the covered units. In connection with the need to increase the number of ready-to-use missiles and the placement of the radio device complex, it was decided to switch from a wheeled to a heavier tracked chassis.
The base used was the GM-355 chassis, unified with the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun and missile system. The tracked vehicle was equipped with special equipment, as well as a rotary antenna launcher with a set of antennas and vertical launchers for anti-aircraft missiles. The complex has its own power source (gas turbine unit), which provides electricity generation. The time for the turbine to reach the operating mode does not exceed a minute, and the total time for bringing the complex to combat readiness is about three minutes. In this case, the search, detection and recognition of targets in the air is carried out both on the spot and in motion.
The mass of the air defense missile system in a combat position is 32 tons. At the same time, the mobility of the complex is at the level of the tanks and infantry fighting vehicles available in the troops. The maximum speed of the Tor complex on the highway reached 65 km / h. The power reserve is 500 km.
When creating the "Tor" air defense system, a number of interesting technical solutions were applied, and the complex itself had a high coefficient of novelty. Anti-aircraft missiles 9M330 are in the launcher of a combat vehicle without TPK and are launched vertically using powder catapults.
The 9M330 anti-aircraft missile with radio command guidance is made according to the "canard" scheme and is equipped with a device that provides gas-dynamic declination after launch. The rocket used folding wings, which were deployed and fixed in flight positions after launch. The length of the rocket is 2.28 m. Diameter - 0.23 m. Weight - 165 kg. The mass of the fragmentation warhead is 14.8 kg. Loading missiles into a combat vehicle was carried out using a transport-loading vehicle. It takes 18 minutes to load new missiles into the launcher.
After receiving the command to launch, the missile defense system is ejected from the launcher with a powder charge at a speed of about 25 m / s. After that, the missile is deflected towards the target, and the main engine is launched.
Since the start of a solid-propellant engine occurs after the rocket is already oriented in the desired direction, the trajectory is built without significant maneuvering, leading to a loss of speed. Thanks to the optimization of the trajectory and the favorable operating mode of the engine, the firing range was brought to 12,000 m. The altitude reach was 6,000 m. Compared to the Osa air defense missile system, the capabilities for destroying targets at an extremely low altitude were significantly improved. It became possible to successfully fight an air enemy flying at a speed of up to 300 m / s at an altitude of 10 m. Interception of high-speed targets moving at twice the speed of sound was possible at a distance of up to 5 km, with a maximum altitude of 4 km. Depending on the speed and course parameters, the probability of hitting aircraft with one missile is 0.3-0.77, helicopters - 0.5-0.88, remotely piloted aircraft - 0.85-0.95.
On the turret of the "Tor" air defense missile system, in addition to eight cells with missiles, there is a target detection station and a guidance station. The processing of information about air targets is carried out by a special computer. Detection of air targets is carried out by a coherent-pulse radar of a circular view, operating in the centimeter range. The target detection station is capable of operating in several modes. The main was the review mode, when the antenna made 20 revolutions per minute. The complex's automation is capable of tracking up to 24 targets simultaneously. At the same time, the SOC could detect a fighter flying at an altitude of 30-6000 m at a distance of 25-27 km. Guided missiles and gliding bombs are confidently taken for escort at a distance of 12-15 km. The detection range of helicopters with a rotating propeller on the ground is 7 km. When the enemy sets up strong passive interference for the target detection station, it is possible to blank signals from the jammed direction and the distance to the target.
In front of the tower there is a phased array of a coherent pulse guidance radar. This radar provides tracking of a detected target and guidance of guided missiles. At the same time, the target was tracked in three coordinates and one or two missiles were launched, followed by their guidance to the target. The guidance station has a command transmitter for missiles.
Tests of the "Tor" air defense system began in 1983, and their adoption into service in 1986. However, due to the high complexity of the complex, its development in mass production and among the troops was slow. Therefore, in parallel, the serial construction of the Osa-AKM air defense system continued.
As well as the complexes of the Osa family, the serial air defense systems "Tor" were reduced to anti-aircraft regiments attached to motorized rifle divisions. The anti-aircraft missile regiment had a regimental command post, four anti-aircraft batteries, service and support units. Each battery included four 9A330 combat vehicles and a command post. At the first stage, the Tor combat vehicles were used in conjunction with the regimental and battery control centers PU-12M. At the regimental level, in the future, it was envisaged to use the MA22 combat control machine in conjunction with the MP25 information collection and processing machine. The command post of the regiment monitored the air situation using the P-19 or 9S18 Kupol radar.
Immediately after the adoption of the "Tor" air defense system, work began on its modernization. In addition to expanding combat capabilities, it was envisaged to increase the reliability of the complex and improve the ease of use. During the development of the Tor-M1 air defense missile system, the electronic units of the combat vehicle and the control equipment of the battery link were primarily updated. The hardware part of the modernized complex includes a new computer with two target channels and a selection of false targets. During the modernization of the SOC, a three-channel digital signal processing system was introduced. This made it possible to significantly improve the ability to detect air targets in a difficult jamming environment. The capabilities of the guidance station have increased in terms of escorting helicopters hovering at low altitude. A target tracking machine was introduced into the television-optical sighting device. SAM "Tor-M1" was able to simultaneously fire at two targets, with two missiles pointing at each target. The reaction time was also shortened. When working from a position, it was 7, 4 s, when firing with a short stop - 9, 7 s.
The 9M331 anti-aircraft guided missile with improved warhead characteristics was developed for the Tor-M1 complex. In order to speed up the loading process, a rocket module was used, consisting of a transport and launch container with four cells. The process of replacing two modules with the TPM took 25 minutes.
The actions of the Tor-M1 air defense missile system are controlled from the Ranzhir unified command post on the MT-LBu self-propelled chassis. The command vehicle "Ranzhir" was equipped with a set of special equipment designed to receive information about the air situation, process the received data and issue commands to combat vehicles of anti-aircraft complexes. On the indicator of the operator of the control room, information was displayed about 24 targets detected by the radar interacting with the "Ranzhir". It was also possible to obtain information from the combat vehicles of the battery. The crew of a self-propelled command post, consisting of 4 people, processed data on targets and issued commands to combat vehicles.
SAM "Tor-M1" was put into service in 1991. But in connection with the collapse of the USSR and the reduction of the defense budget, very few modernized complexes were received by the Russian armed forces. The construction of the Tor-M1 air defense system was mainly carried out for export orders.
Since 2012, the Russian army began to receive the Tor-M1-2U air defense system. Detailed characteristics of this complex have not been announced. A number of experts believe that the changes in the hardware have mainly affected the means of displaying information and the computing system. In this regard, a partial transition to foreign-made components was carried out. There was also a slight increase in combat characteristics. There is information that the Tor-M1-2U air defense system is capable of firing at four targets simultaneously, with two missiles being guided at each.
As in the case of the previous modification, the volume of supplies of "Tor-M1-2U" to the Russian armed forces was small. Several complexes of the experimental series entered the Southern Military District in November 2012. Within the framework of the State Defense Order for 2013, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2012 signed a contract with OJSC Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol in the amount of 5.7 billion rubles. As part of this contact, the manufacturer undertook to transfer to the customer 12 combat vehicles, four maintenance vehicles, a set of spare parts, 12 transport loaders, and a set of equipment for testing missiles by the end of 2013. In addition, the contract provided for the supply of control vehicles for the battery and regimental level.
On the basis of the latest serial modification of the Tor-M2 air defense system, several variants have been created that differ in hardware and chassis. A dramatic increase in the combat characteristics of the new complex was achieved through the use of new radio equipment, anti-aircraft missiles with an extended engagement zone. It also became possible to fire on the move without stopping. The most noticeable external difference of the Tor-M2 air defense missile system from earlier versions is a different antenna of the target detection station with a slotted phased array. The new SOC is capable of operating in a difficult jamming environment and has good capabilities for detecting air targets with low RCS.
The new computing complex has expanded the capabilities of information processing and simultaneously track 48 targets. The Tor-M2 combat vehicle is equipped with an electro-optical detection system capable of operating in the dark. Now it is possible to exchange radar information between combat vehicles within line of sight, which expands situational awareness and allows rationally distributing air targets. An increase in the degree of automation of combat work made it possible to reduce the crew to three people.
The maximum range of destruction of a target flying at a speed of 300 m / s when using the 9M331D missile defense system is 15,000 m. The reach in height is 10-10000 m. According to the course parameter, up to 8000 m. It is possible to simultaneously fire on 4 targets with guidance of 8 missiles. All equipment of the anti-aircraft complex, at the request of the customer, can be installed on a wheeled or tracked chassis. All the differences between combat vehicles in this case are only in the characteristics of mobility and operational features.
"Classic" is "Tor-M2E" on a tracked chassis, designed to provide air defense for tank and motorized rifle divisions. SAM "Tor-M2K" is mounted on a wheeled chassis developed by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. There is also a modular version - "Tor-M2KM", which can be placed on any self-propelled or towed wheeled chassis of suitable carrying capacity.
At the Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9, 2017, the Tor-M2DT, an Arctic version of the air defense missile system with a combat vehicle based on the DT-30 two-link tracked conveyor, was presented. According to the information announced by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, 12 Tor-M2DT air defense systems are in a separate motorized rifle brigade of the Northern Fleet.
At the time of its appearance, the Tor air defense system in its class was superior to all foreign and domestic anti-aircraft systems. An anti-aircraft system that has similar capabilities has not yet been created abroad. At the same time, it is a very complex and expensive complex that requires constant qualified maintenance and support by the manufacturer's specialists. Otherwise, it is practically impossible to maintain the systems available in the troops in working order for a long period of time. This is confirmed by the fact that the Tor air defense missile system, which remained after the division of Soviet military property in Ukraine, is now incapable of combat.
According to The Military Balance 2019, the RF Ministry of Defense has more than 120 complexes of the Tor family at its disposal. A number of open sources indicate that the Tor air defense missile system, built in the late 1980s - early 1990s, is still in active operation after refurbishment and partial modernization. However, it should be recognized that after the Osa-AKM air defense missile system is removed from service, the air defense units of the divisional and brigade level of the Russian army may have a shortage of modern anti-aircraft systems capable of fighting air attack weapons in the dark and in poor visibility conditions.
