In principle, so much has been written about the Khibiny that, thanks to some not entirely competent journalists, this complex gained the fame of a “miracle weapon” capable of extinguishing everything in its path and turning ships into piles of metal swaying on the waves.
Let's not talk about the sad, let's talk about what the "Khibiny" really are and how they are terrible to the enemy.
The history of the complex began in the distant Soviet times in Kaluga, within the walls of the KNIRTI, the Kaluga Research Radio Engineering Institute. The work was carried out from 1977 to 1990. In 1995, the first test cycle was completed, in 1997 - the second. And only since 2014, the complex was officially adopted for service on the Su-34 aircraft, for which, in fact, it was originally developed.
Naturally, for such a long time, the complex has undergone more than one improvement.
The multifunctional air-based electronic warfare complex "Khibiny" today exists in three versions.
L-175V "Khibiny-10V" - for Su-34 bombers
L-265 "Khibiny-10M" - for Su-35S fighters
"Khibiny-U" - for Su-30SM fighters.
Khibiny-U differs from the two previous complexes in that it is integrated into the airframe of the aircraft, and is not placed in overhead containers, as evidenced by the lack of a container brand.
The differences between the "Khibiny" series 10B and 10M are solely in the suspension container. This is due to the design of the Su-34 and Su-35 wings. There are no fundamental differences in work.
In order to clearly imagine the tasks that the complex is capable of performing, it is worth disassembling its composition.
The complex "Khibiny" includes the following elements:
1. An electronic intelligence system based on the Proran ROC. Precisely at the base, since "Proran" itself has gone very far from what was created in the last century. The RER system performs the functions of detecting enemy radio-electronic means (air defense radar, missile guidance systems, etc.), classifying and determining the operating parameters, determining the location, and gives the information received to the computer system of the complex.
2. On the basis of the received data, the computer system provides data on the coordinates, time and nature of the impact either on the jamming station, or on the shooting of electronic or infrared traps.
3. Block of exact memorization of TSh frequency. All information received by the RER system and processed by the computer system about the frequency parameters of the detected enemy electronic means is dumped into the TSh unit.
The data accumulated in the blocks allow in real time to issue recommendations for setting up interference of any form, depending on the characteristics of the received signal.
4. Station of active jamming SAP-518 "Regatta". Elements of the "Regatta" are installed on the wings of the Su-34 in two containers.
SAP-518 is designed for individual protection of aircraft. The principle of operation is the same as that of an automobile "antiradar". The signal received by the RER system is processed by the computer system and sent back in a fairly distorted form.
The main ways of work of SAP-518:
- delay in the detection of the KREP carrier aircraft as an object of attack for the enemy;
- masking a true object against a background of false ones;
- difficulty in measuring the distance to the object, its speed and angular position;
- deterioration of the characteristics of the tracking mode "on the pass" when scanning the beam of the on-board radar antenna;
- an increase in the time and difficulty in capturing an object when switching to the continuous radio direction finding mode.
Since the signal emitted by the "Regatta" will be more powerful than the radar signal reflected by the aircraft, the enemy's receiver will receive and process the clearer and better quality of the two signals. True, carrying somewhat different from the true information about the range, speed, altitude, angular velocity and coordinates of the aircraft.
The result will be the aiming of enemy air defense missiles at a certain phantom target, the location of which will be at a sufficient distance from the aircraft. This is called "setting off distractions."
The setting of diversion or imitating interference can make it extremely difficult for the enemy's radar to obtain information about the real position of the aircraft.
5. Containers of group protection.
This is the modernization of the "Khibiny", created for the group protection of aircraft.
The structure includes containers U1 or U2, the operating frequency range of which coincides with the frequency range of the "Regatta". In fact, these are powerful transmitters that significantly increase the range of the SAP-518 and are capable of covering not one aircraft, but an entire group.
The second option is with containers Ш0 and Ш1. A slightly different operating frequency range was used here, which required changes to the operation of the RER system. The use of this system allows not only to cover a group of aircraft, but also to carry out target designation for other stations.
Further development of "Khibiny" - introduction of active interferences of group protection SAP-14 "Tarantul" into the container station complex.
"Tarantula" carries out the setting of active noise interference with surveillance radar, air defense missile systems and aircraft radar.
Containerized SAPs allow you to turn any Su-34 into an electronic warfare aircraft, allowing you to cover other aircraft in the strike group directly from the battle formations.
6. A set of fired traps and jammers: dipoles, thermal, electronic. The crew can shoot, or the control system of the complex can do it.
TTX complex:
Container length: 4950 mm
Container diameter: 350 mm
Container weight: 300 kg
Coverage area in the back and front hemispheres: sector + -45 degrees
Operating frequency range of electronic intelligence equipment: 1, 2 … 40 GHz
Operating frequency range of active jamming equipment: 4 … 18 GHz
Operating frequency range of containers of active interferences of group protection: 1 … 4 GHz
Power consumption: 3600 W
Based on the foregoing, the Khibiny complex is a very modern and effective way of protecting our aircraft from the countermeasures of aircraft and air defense systems of a potential enemy.
But, alas, it will not be able to leave a destroyer-class ship without electronics. But in our opinion, this is the last thing that Su-34 pilots should be sad about.
