Over the past several years, the Russian defense industry regularly talks about the promising Sosna anti-aircraft missile system. According to the latest reports received at the end of March, the new air defense system has successfully passed the necessary tests and is now preparing to enter service. Also, new observation and detection equipment has been developed, suitable for use with the "Sosnaya" and other types of weapons.
The most important news about the Sosna air defense missile system and related developments came on March 29. RIA Novosti published an interview with the managing director of the Precision Engineering Design Bureau named after V. I. A. E. Nudelman by Valery Makeev. The head of the enterprise spoke about the current work, as well as the completion of the main activities for the most important modern projects.
Advertising image of the Sosna air defense missile system. Photo KB Tochmash / kbtochmash.ru
One of the current developments of KB Tochmash is the Sosna air defense missile system, first shown to the public at last year's Army-2018 exhibition. This development is said to have a number of positive qualities. The complex is distinguished by high efficiency and accuracy of hitting air targets, high survivability, full automation of processes and minimal reaction time. Also, this type of air defense system shows the maximum range of destruction among all existing systems with a laser-beam missile control system.
According to V. Makeev, by now the Sosna air defense missile system has successfully completed state tests. Now the organizations of the defense industry and the Ministry of Defense are carrying out the measures necessary to put the complex into service.
In the context of the Sosna air defense missile system, the managing director mentioned another new development. So, in the past three years, KB Tochmash has been conducting development work to create a promising optical-electronic station with a circular view. The project provides for the creation of an ECO capable of monitoring the surrounding space, finding and tracking aerial targets. The station is capable of simultaneously tracking up to fifty objects, determining their coordinates, and also giving target designation to other anti-aircraft weapons.
A promising ECO can be built in land and sea versions, suitable for operation on different platforms. The variant with the installation of such equipment on the self-propelled SAM "Sosna" is especially noted. In this case, the latter turns into a unique anti-aircraft complex with completely passive detection means, ensuring the highest possible survivability on the battlefield. The absence of any radiation will seriously complicate the detection and identification of such an air defense system, which is necessary for its subsequent destruction.
By now, this ROC is close to completion. State tests were also carried out, which ended in success. In the near future, a decision should be made on the adoption of the ECO for the supply of the armed forces. At the same time, V. Makeev spoke about the possibility of such a document appearing in the last days of March.
The managing director of the developer company also mentioned the commercial prospects of the Sosna air defense missile system. By now, even before the order for mass deliveries of the Russian army appeared, third countries were interested in this development. There are already applications, but it has not yet been specified which countries have submitted them.
General view of a combat vehicle. Photo NPO "High-precision complexes" / npovk.ru
It is curious that in the near future, the development of a new air defense system may begin. V. Makeev said that now the Ministry of Defense is carrying out research work on the further development of the means and weapons of air defense of the ground forces. During 2019, specialists from the Ministry of Defense will formulate requirements for future air defense systems, and KB Tochmash plans to take part in the further development of real samples.
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According to the latest reports, the newest Sosna air defense missile system has successfully coped with the tests and should soon enter service with the Russian army. Then, units of the ground forces will receive the first production samples of such equipment. Together with the latest machines, the army will have to get some new capabilities directly related to the characteristic features of the proposed complex.
According to known data, "Sosna" is intended for military air defense, as part of which it must provide protection for ground formations on the march, in places of concentration and in a combat situation. The air defense missile system is responsible for the destruction of a wide range of targets located at ranges up to 10 km and altitudes up to 5 km. "Sosna" is intended to combat low-flying aircraft and helicopters in a jump, as well as aircraft weapons of various types.
SAM "Sosna" is intended to work as part of an echeloned military air defense system. Its task is to protect the near zone by hitting targets that have broken through other elements of the defense. For more efficient operation, "Sosna" can be included in existing communication and control systems, providing target designation from third-party sources.
The declared increased survivability on the battlefield, provided by the characteristic features of the combat vehicle, its equipment and weapons. A built-in optoelectronic station with a laser rangefinder is used to detect and track air targets. An additional OES with a completely passive operating principle has also been developed. Such equipment does not use radio waves, which excludes its detection by means of electronic intelligence. Consequently, the probability of an attack on air defense systems is sharply reduced.
Missile weapons are controlled using a laser beam directed at the target. The rocket is automatically held in the beam, and the receiving devices are located in its tail section. Such control principles exclude the possibility of disrupting a missile defense attack using electronic warfare systems, and also render useless the means of optoelectronic suppression.
SAM "Sosna" at the training ground. Photo Rbase.new-factoria.ru
According to open data, the standard OES of the Sosna complex is capable of tracking air targets at ranges of up to 25-30 km, depending on their type. Combat work is performed in automatic or semi-automatic mode. In both cases, most of the various operations are taken over by automation, which reduces the burden on the operator and increases the efficiency of his actions. The minimum reaction time is 5 seconds. Improved electronics provide the ability to fire both with a stop and while driving.
The ammunition load of one Sosna air defense system consists of 12 3M340 Sosna-R guided missiles in transport and launch containers on two launchers of a combat vehicle. TPK mounts provide vertical guidance from -5 ° to + 82 °. The combat module allows you to shoot in any direction.
SAM 9M340 differs in weight reduced to 30 kg (40 kg in TPK), which made it possible not to introduce a separate transport-loading vehicle into the complex. The rocket is equipped with a solid-propellant engine that provides a flight speed of up to 900 m / s. The design of the warhead is optimized for the best performance. Undermining is carried out by a contact-non-contact fuse with a laser target sensor. Guidance is carried out using a laser beam aimed at the target.
The Sosny equipment is made in modular form, which allows it to be mounted on various chassis with a carrying capacity of at least 3.5 tons. The Sosna air defense missile system for the Russian army is built on the basis of a serial MT-LB chassis. The combat module of the complex is mounted on the site of the combat / airborne compartment of the chassis. According to some reports from the recent past, the Pine module is planned to be used as part of the Ptitselov air defense system intended for the airborne troops. In this case, it will be mounted on one of the chassis operated by the Airborne Forces.
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From the point of view of origin, the newest Sosna air defense system is a variant of a deep modernization of the older Strela-10M3 system. At the same time, it is considered as a replacement for all existing complexes of the Strela-10 family, which no longer fully meet modern requirements. According to open data, the Russian ground forces now have about 400 Strela-10 combat vehicles of all major modifications. In the foreseeable future, they must be replaced with modern designs.
The known data allow us to present the approximate volumes of future orders for the serial production of Sosna. Apparently, over the next few years, industry will have to build and transfer at least several hundred anti-aircraft complexes of a new type to the army. The increase in efficiency in comparison with the available equipment makes it possible to somewhat reduce the required fleet of the Sosna air defense missile system, but in this case, too, large numbers of combat vehicles are required.
Targeting TPK with missiles. Photo Rbase.new-factoria.ru
Also, in the context of the transfer of military air defense to the "Sosna" complex, one should recall the air defense systems of the "Wasp" line. This technique, having fighting qualities at the level of "Strela-10", is distinguished by its considerable age. More than 400 combat vehicles of the latest modification "Osa-AKM" remain in the army. It is likely that the new Sosna air defense system will have to replace the old Wasps. In this case, the volume of orders for serial production will increase significantly.
According to the leadership of KB Tochmash, foreign armies have already become interested in the new domestic development, but the details of this are unknown. It is known that air defense systems of the Strela-10 family are in service with 17 foreign countries, another 16 continue to operate Osa vehicles of various modifications. Some of the countries interested in updating the military air defense can turn to Russia for help and purchase the latest Sosna system.
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Thus, the latest news about the Sosna air defense missile system indicates the completion of one long and difficult stage of work, as well as the imminent start of another - no less difficult and important. Development work has been completed, state tests have been passed. Now the official acceptance of the complex for service and the launch of mass production is expected. In the future, production of serial equipment for foreign customers is possible.
In the near future, together with the newest serial Sosna air defense systems, the Russian army will receive a number of opportunities and advantages. First of all, it will be able to update the fleet of military air defense vehicles. In addition, it will be possible to increase the potential of air defense in the near zone by increasing tactical and technical characteristics and reducing risks. In the future, modern developments can lead to a partial unification of the equipment of the ground forces and airborne forces with known positive consequences.
The completion of the development and the successful conduct of state tests of the Sosna air defense system is the most important event in the modern history of the Russian military air defense. On the basis of new ideas and modern components, an improved complex has been created, and soon it will enter the troops.
