Recently, several photos have appeared on the network, taken by someone from the photospotters in the area of the Ramenskoye airfield (Gromov Flight Research Institute). They showed another version of the heavy MiG-31BM interceptor, this time not in the MiG-31K version with the Kinzhal hypersonic universal aeroballistic missile, but with a more massive product, something clearly two-stage, black, with a clearly visible radar active seeker under a radio-transparent cover.
Someone decided that this was something like the development of the "Dagger", while others made a much more correct conclusion - this is a mass and size model (MGM) of the latest anti-satellite missile, the successor to the famous Soviet 79M6 "Contact". Then this topic was not brought to a series, it was curtailed for political contractual reasons, and then, due to the collapse of the USSR, there was no one to continue the work and there was no need.
The tests eventually reached the only, but successful launch (besides it, there were many flights along the standard trajectory and other things). It took place on July 26, 1991, when a prototype aircraft of the 07-2 edition (MiG-31D) with a suspension of a standard 79M6 rocket launched from the Sary-Shagan airfield over a group of Bet-Pak Dala test ranges. The crew of the MiG Design Bureau that performed the launch: test pilot Alexander Garnaev, test navigator Leonid Popov. However, in this test there was no hot start, that is, the engine of the product did not start (it was not yet finalized after the decision to make changes based on the results of unsuccessful tests of the 1st stage 3 years earlier), but the work was carried out according to the real object and with real telemetry. In any case, the rest of the details of that story are still classified. It is known that two stages of the rocket were solid-propellant, and the last stage, which controlled the pre-aiming of the kinetic warhead at the target, was liquid.
MiG-31D
Anti-satellite missile 79M6 "Contact"
And now, 30 years later, Russia now again "has contact" with satellites of very likely partners.
Many people, including the author, were reminded of the development of "Contact" by an outward resemblance to the existing photographs and drawings of that product. In addition, information about this development was leaked from time to time - obviously, deliberately. The topic itself "MiG-31 + anti-satellite missile" was periodically pulled out into the light of day even during the timelessness of the "saints" of the 90s. Thus, it was reported about the development of a complex for launching small satellites "Ishim" as part of the MiG-31I aircraft (the same MiG-31D, but demilitarized) and the same "Contact", in which the warhead was planned to be replaced with a payload in the form of a small satellite. But this topic did not go further than statements and layouts with posters at exhibitions. Then, somewhere in the late 2000s, the topic of "Contact" was pulled out of the far drawer again, but for the "main purpose". Already in 2009, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel-General A. Zelin, said that the system based on the MiG-31 aircraft and the missile "is being reanimated to solve the same problems as before." At the same time, by the end of 2010, the ground complex "Krona", which is now part of the system for detecting and tracking space objects of the space forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces, was completely renewed. This radar-optical complex, consisting of high-precision centimeter and decimeter radars for detecting and identifying spacecraft and determining their parameters, electro-optical means and a laser channel for accurately determining the distance and position of the target, was designed to target a fighter and an anti-satellite product. As part of a large-scale modernization of space object tracking facilities, this work somehow "got lost", as well as the creation of mobile complexes for a similar purpose. "Kron", by the way, several, besides the Sary-Shagan "Krona", there is one more in the Far East and one in the North Caucasus, a fully complex capable of processing up to 30,000 space targets per day, was put into operation in 2017. in its final form, and the interface with missile attack warning systems, in particular, the Voronezh radar, was also implemented.
The fighter itself with tail number 81 "shone" in Zhukovsky since 2016, but if it flew with a model of this rocket or with it itself, then no one recorded it. And now, suddenly, it is exposed. Although the photos were later removed by the person who posted them, it is clear that the stuffing is of the same nature as the "accidental" slide showing the characteristics of the "Status-6" weapon system at a meeting of the Russian Security Council. In which then almost no one believed - but in vain. Anti-satellite work with the MiG-31 was also mentioned in one of the programs of the "Military Acceptance" series, they even showed the nose of, probably, the same or similarly equipped aircraft. And now the product itself has been "lit".
I would like to note that the product shown is probably not MGM - they are usually painted in bright colors, usually red or orange (at least this is the case with aircraft missiles). And the detailing of such products is usually completely different. Here you can see the GOS, and the approximate location of the steps and other details. No, probably, this is still a real rocket, especially since the information that the product has been tested for several years has been leaking out. And in 2013, the State Duma even included the revival of the Contact topic in its recommendations to the government.
And there are many differences both in the shape of the new rocket and in the shape of the aircraft. So, the current MiG does not have the "flippers" that the MiG-31D had - such triangular ridges on the wingtips. These "flippers" are needed to ensure the stability of the flight of the carrier with the suspended massive and heavy missile on the climb practically in terms of ballistics at high altitudes. Obviously, on the new version, this stability is somehow provided differently, and the rocket, it seems, is lighter. There are no signs of removing the airborne radar system and replacing the radio-transparent cone-fairing with a metal one, as was done on the "D-plane". Obviously, the mass was too large for the fighter, and he needed an airborne radar for this task, when operating under control and automated guidance from the "Krona", like a polar bear needs a sheepskin coat. Therefore, the radar was removed and the cone was replaced with a lighter metal one, and the navigator-operator was also removed. But here, apparently, there is no such urgent need to part with excess weight, and the ability to use the aircraft for its standard functions would be desirable (or, perhaps, for carrying the "Dagger"). Although the pylons for armament have been removed from the wings, it will not take long to return them, but with the deployment of the "main caliber of the interceptor" - the R-37-1 missiles, it will be more difficult. In general, the plane itself looks almost unchanged in comparison with the MiG-31BM / BSM, from which it was redesigned (the presence of a periscope clearly indicates what it was reworked from).
By the way, some in the media also predicted the removal of the radar for the "dagger-bearers", but there it was needed, and it is obvious that no one removed it from the MiG-31K (the cones would also be replaced, they are heavy).
The rocket itself also differs in appearance, of course. The unofficial "coverage" of this complex is probably due to the fact that during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly Russia introduced a draft resolution on preventing an arms race in outer space. weapons in space and anti-satellite weapons will play primarily against them. As it happened with missile defense, with hypersonic systems, as it will be with medium-range missiles - so it will be in space. Rumors that the number of complexes with anti-satellite capabilities or purely anti-satellite, being developed in Russia, is at least 4-6, leaked out, although there was no official confirmation of this. But at this point, we can say that several anti-satellite systems have already lit up and so. This is the strategic missile defense system A-235 "Nudol" ("Airplane-M", there was also the code "Perfumeria"), which is replacing the A-135, which also had the ability to intercept in low orbits, but the "Nudoli" clearly has such capabilities. more will be. In addition, its long-range intercept missiles are located on a mobile platform. It is also the S-500 Triumfator-M air defense system, which will be able to operate on low-orbit spacecraft (as well as on BB ICBMs, SLBMs, partly on hypersonic vehicles and missiles, and in general on everything that flies). Well, and revived on a new technological base "Contact". Let's not forget about the Peresvet laser complex, which, it seems, is also designed to disable equipment on the satellites of the view electro-optical reconnaissance and other similar "dirty tricks". Although there is other information that "Peresvet" is intended to protect the base areas of the Strategic Missile Forces from attack UAVs, this, frankly, is doubtful. Most likely, he can do this too, but the fight against such devices by means of traditional air defense is already quite effective, and the "flying trifle" is burned with a complex of several healthy trailers, when a laser capable of destroying it can fit on an armored personnel carrier - but who is in it? will believe? But the blinding of the enemy's orbital grouping is much more necessary and important, especially since neither the S-500, nor the A-235, nor the MiG-31 with such a missile can almost instantly eliminate all interfering satellites, but to blind some of them with a laser you can quickly.
There remains, of course, the question of how to get to the devices on the geostationary, but how it will be solved, of course, we do not yet know. In the USSR, the IS-MD "Naryad" complex with a 14F11 interceptor satellite and a Cyclone-3 launch vehicle was developed, but not completed and deployed, capable of reaching orbits up to 40 thousand. km high. How this issue will be resolved in Russia - one day we and the "probable partners" will know.
However, the most effective statement that Russia has a combat-ready anti-space weapon can be by destroying a real satellite - but, obviously, they are not taking this step yet. Including because if you do it the way our Chinese friends-allies did, then it is better not to do it at all - a lot of debris from that interception scattered in orbits and they were a danger for a long time. But sooner or later, some kind of demonstration will be required.
I wonder how our American counterparts will react to the appearance of a mobile and practically invulnerable means of fighting space targets? Maybe the brains will fall into place in this issue? Although no, what are we talking about, what kind of brains, where - some kind of nonsense …
