Over the past few weeks, the promising anti-aircraft missile system S-350 "Vityaz" has repeatedly become the topic of news. The reason for this was the completion of the development of the project and testing of experimental equipment, as well as preparation for serial production and deliveries to the troops. Reportedly, this year the first sample of the new air defense system will be built and handed over to the customer; in the future, the required number of military units will be transferred to such equipment.
Official announcements
On December 30, 2018, the press service of the Ministry of Defense revealed the plans of the department for the new year 2019. The army was to receive several anti-aircraft systems of different types. Together with other complexes, it was planned to deliver the first sample of the S-350 air defense system. No details of the future delivery were announced.
The first sample of PU 50P6E in the workshop of the manufacturer
This year, the Vityaz air defense missile system was first remembered at the very beginning of spring. On March 1, the newspaper "Krasnaya Zvezda" published an interview with the head of the Military Academy of Aerospace Defense. Marshal G. K. Zhukov by Lieutenant General Vladimir Lyaporov. The topic of the conversation was the current state of affairs in the field of training VKO personnel and its prospects.
Touching upon the issue of the material part and training of specialists, the general recalled the work of the Gatchina training center for anti-aircraft missile forces, which is part of the academy. According to V. Lyaporov, this center is preparing calculations for the S-400 and S-500 air defense systems. In addition, at the end of the year, the center will receive the first complexes of the S-350 "Vityaz" type. This technique will be involved in the learning process.
On April 12, another Unified Day of Acceptance of Military Products took place, during which not only current, but also future supplies of material were discussed. During this event, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko spoke about the progress of the S-350 project. According to him, state tests of the new complex are being completed with successful launches. In parallel, the assembly of the first serial Vityaz was launched. Equipment of this type is intended to replace the existing S-300PS air defense systems.
Against the background of such reports, on April 16, RIA Novosti published a consolidated material entitled "Fan of missiles: can the new air defense system scare off NATO aircraft from Russia", which collected the available data on the S-350 project. In addition, the news agency received comments from leading defense experts. This publication repeated the already known information about the "Vityaz", and also revealed some new aspects of the project.
Launcher at the exhibition
Thus, an optimistic picture is emerging. To date, R&D work on a new project has been completed and state tests have been successfully carried out. The complex was put into series, but the first sample will go to the troops only by the end of the year. He will not be put on combat duty - this "Vityaz" is intended for training personnel.
Long way to the troops
Recent events around the S-350 Vityaz air defense system are very important, especially against the background of the history of this project. According to known data, the development of a new anti-aircraft complex started in the second half of the last decade. The start of work and the delivery of the first serial sample are about 12 years apart.
According to known data, the development of the S-350 started in 2007; the Almaz-Antey concern was responsible for the creation of the new complex. Development work was opened by order of the Russian Ministry of Defense after the military got acquainted with another development of the concern. Earlier, Almaz-Antey created the KM-SAM medium-range air defense system for South Korea, and the resulting sample was of interest to the Russian command. According to the terms of the order, the concern was to develop a new type of air defense system, taking into account the requirements of the Russian army and bring it into service in 2012-13.
However, the plans of 2007 could not be fulfilled. The development of "Vityaz" regularly faced various difficulties, which led to several time delays. For example, in 2014 it was planned to complete state tests no later than the beginning of next year, but in fact they were completed only now.
However, the development of the project was carried out and solved the assigned tasks. In 2011, the design phase was completed, after which testing of individual elements of the complex began, including new anti-aircraft guided missiles. Later it became known about the unsuccessful launches of experimental missiles. Such results were associated with the problems of guidance systems, and the refinement of the necessary components continued.
Machine 50P6E in firing position
In June 2013, the new air defense system was shown publicly for the first time. Some means of this complex got into the lenses of the media at the Obukhov plant, during the visit of President Vladimir Putin. Subsequently, the S-350 funds were demonstrated at domestic military-technical exhibitions.
Complex appearance
According to open data, the Vityaz air defense missile system includes several components. These are the 50P6E launcher for 9M96 and 9M100 missiles, the 50K6E combat command post and the 50N6E multifunctional radar, as well as auxiliary vehicles. All means of the complex are produced in a mobile version. The equipment is mounted on three- and four-axle special chassis of the Bryansk Automobile Plant. According to the characteristics of strategic and tactical mobility, the S-350 is not inferior to a number of other anti-aircraft complexes of domestic and foreign development. The anti-aircraft battery should include several launchers and a control vehicle. The work of the unit is supported by several auxiliary machines.
Each 50P6E launcher has a package for mounting 12 transport and launch containers with missiles. The total ammunition load of a battery or a battalion depends on their structure and, accordingly, the number of launchers. One of the main features of the Vityaz project is the emphasis on the duration of combat work and the number of targets shot down. Due to the increased ammunition load of each launcher and the entire complex as a whole, the S-350 can repel a massive attack using combat aviation and aviation weapons. It also provides for the fight against some types of ballistic targets.
SAM type 9M100 is designed to protect objects in the near zone. Its launch range is 15 km. The second missile is 9M96. This product is designed to intercept targets within a radius of 120 km. Both products are capable of fighting various targets flying at a speed of no more than 1000 m / s. Guidance is carried out using active radar seeker. The defeat is provided by high-explosive fragmentation warheads.
Place in the troops
In the recent past, the media have repeatedly raised the topic of the future operation of the S-350 "Vityaz" and the place of this complex in the air defense system. It was argued that the new air defense system will find application in both facility and military air defense. However, according to newer estimates, Vityaz is not a one-size-fits-all system for both areas.
Multifunctional radar 50N6E
It is known that initially the S-350 air defense system was created as a modern and more effective replacement for the outdated S-300P and S-300PS systems. The operation of these complexes was supposed to be completed in 2010-15, and then they needed replacement. The vacant niche was to be occupied by Vityaz. The actual deliveries of new samples were delayed for several years relative to early plans, but in the near future the S-350 will still enter service with units of the object air defense.
The number of complexes of the new type required by the troops is unknown. In the past, it was reported that by 2015, due to the depletion of the resource, up to fifty S-300P / PS air defense systems will have to be withdrawn. Probably, about the same number of new systems were required to replace them.
The version about the future use of the Vityaz as a replacement for the Buk-M1 air defense missile system in the military air defense has received a certain distribution. However, experts in the field of air defense question the feasibility of such plans. Recent publications on the S-350 focus on the original purpose of this complex. At the same time, the possibility of supplementing the Buks with a more modern Vityaz is not excluded.
Thus, the newest S-350 "Vityaz" air defense system will be operated by the air and missile defense forces of the aerospace forces. In this structure, it will complement the S-300 complexes of later modifications and modern S-400s. In addition, in the future, Vityaz will serve together with the expected S-500. The prospects for the new development in the context of the air defense of the ground forces are unclear.
Letters "E" in the name of the components may indicate the plans of the concern "Almaz-Antey" to promote the S-350 complex on the international market. Nevertheless, any information about the real interest of foreign customers in this sample has not yet been received. It is possible that consultations on the contract will begin later. In the context of export, it should also be remembered that mass production has begun recently and has not yet managed to satisfy the needs of even its own army. Only after saturation of the Russian air defense and missile defense forces with new equipment will it be possible to start production for foreign customers.
Differences and advantages
It is easy to see that the newest S-350 air defense system is similar to its predecessors and at the same time differs from them. Apparently, the differences are associated with some change in views on the role and functions of the new air defense system. Moreover, it is they who provide a certain increase in characteristics and combat qualities.
Control center 50K6E
The S-350 is intended for joint work with the S-300PM and S-400 within the framework of a developed layered air defense and should be responsible for protecting objects in the range of ranges up to 100-120 km. In this case, aerodynamic or ballistic targets that have broken through other echelons of defense will be destroyed by Vityaz missiles at a safe distance from the protected objects. It is also possible to independently use the S-350 air defense system as the only means of covering the corresponding objects.
The most important feature of the S-350 is the increase in the number of missiles on one launcher. The increase in the battery and battalion ammunition has a positive effect on the duration of combat work and the potential number of targets hit. Transportation is also simplified since all missiles are on the same vehicle.
Recall that the S-300P air defense system uses the so-called. launch complex - a set of one main and two additional launchers. Each such launcher has its own ammunition load of 4 missiles. Thus, one Vityaz vehicle carries the same ammunition load as the S-300P launcher. With similar combat qualities, the S-350 is easier to transport and deploy.
In terms of a number of characteristics, the new model cannot even be compared with the existing air defense systems in service. At the same time, other equally important results were obtained. Thanks to the Vityaz project, the Russian army can strengthen the existing air defense facility with new modern air defense systems that can replace obsolete models, as well as successfully supplement those that remain in service and are planned for adoption.
Its special appearance, as well as differences in characteristics and combat capabilities, can be a commercial advantage. Having established the production of "Vityaz", the Russian industry will be able to bring them to the international market. Expanding the range of export designs will surely attract the attention of potential buyers. They will be able to choose an anti-aircraft complex, the characteristics of which most fully meet their requirements.
However, the S-350 Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system was created primarily for the Russian army. The design, testing and refinement process has already been completed: the complex has recently passed state tests. The assembly of the first production model has begun, and by the end of the year it will go to the troops. The first air defense system is to serve as a training aid, but subsequent samples will go to the army and strengthen the object air defense.
