By the early sixties, it became obvious that promising tactical missile systems should be equipped with missiles with control systems. Only in this case could the required accuracy of hitting the target be ensured. In order to accelerate the development of new systems, it was proposed to use the developments for some existing projects. For example, the Yastreb missile was supposed to be based on the weapon design of one of the latest anti-aircraft systems.
The start of the project "Hawk" and some other developments was preceded by research work under the code "Hill". This program was intended to study the existing capabilities and shape the appearance of promising tactical missile systems. According to the results of the research "Holm", two variants of rocket systems were formed, the development of which could be carried out at that time. The first option involved the use of a radio command-controlled missile in the active phase of the trajectory. In the second, it was proposed to use inertial homing equipment.
TRK "Yastreb" in the stowed position. Figure Militaryrussia.ru
According to the results of the "Holm" project, the development of two variants of the missile system was started. The system with radio command control of the missile was named "Yastreb", with autonomous guidance systems - "Tochka". It should be noted that the Tochka project at the beginning of the sixties had a very indirect relationship to the missile system of the same name, which was put into service in the mid-seventies.
Preliminary study of the Hawk project began in March 1963 in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Council of the National Economy Commission on military-industrial issues. Preliminary work continued for about two years. Draft design started in February 1965 after the release of the corresponding decree of the USSR Council of Ministers. The preliminary design was required to be completed in the third quarter of the same year.
The main work on the project was entrusted to OKB-2, headed by P. D. Grushin (now MKB "Fakel"). Several other design organizations were involved in the creation of automation and individual systems for the launcher and rocket. KB-11 engineers under the leadership of S. G. Kocharyants was entrusted with the development of a special warhead and all related equipment. The self-propelled launcher was to be presented by the Bryansk Automobile Plant and OKB-221 of the Barrikady plant (Volgograd).
Within the framework of the Yastreb missile complex project, some original ideas were proposed that had not previously been used in the creation of such military equipment. The main element of the complex was to be a self-propelled launcher, which also served as a control machine. It was proposed to mount a set of special equipment necessary for transporting and launching a rocket on it. The ammunition of the complex was proposed to make a solid-propellant rocket using a radio command control system. By monitoring the flight parameters and their timely correction, it was proposed to increase the accuracy of the output to the required trajectory.
Rocket M-11. Photo Wikimedia Commons
Especially for the Yastreb complex, a promising wheeled chassis was developed, on which all the necessary systems and assemblies should be mounted. On its basis, it was proposed to build a self-propelled launcher. In addition, such a chassis could become the basis for a transport-loading vehicle, which is necessary for the full-fledged combat operation of the complex.
The self-propelled launcher of the Yastreb complex was supposed to have a four-axle wheeled chassis with the required lifting capacity. The surviving materials show the design of the developed chassis. It received a relatively low and wide elongated body with large front and rear overhangs. The cockpit was located in the front of the hull, behind it was the power compartment with engines and part of the transmission units. With the help of cardan shafts and other equipment, the power compartment was connected to all wheels of the chassis. The central and aft parts of the hull were given for the placement of the launch guide. It was proposed to transport the rocket above the level of the roof of the hull. In this case, the guide was placed in a housing niche, on the sides of which there were volumes for accommodating various equipment.
To provide the required mobility, the relatively heavy vehicle received a four-axle all-wheel drive chassis. An increased gap was provided between the second and third axles. Stabilization and leveling of the self-propelled launcher during firing were to be carried out using a set of hydraulic jacks. A pair of such devices was placed in the central part of the chassis, in a large gap between the second and third axles, two more - in the stern.
Transportation and launch of the rocket were to be carried out using a beam-type launch rail. In the aft part of the chassis, hinges were provided for installing an oscillating guide. The guide itself was supposed to be a beam with mountings for the rocket. With the help of hydraulic drives, the beam could swing in a vertical plane and rise to the required elevation angle. No launch pad or similar equipment was provided.
Presumably a prototype chassis for the Yastreb complex during testing. Still from the film "Cars in uniform", dir. And Kryukovsky, studio "Wings of Russia"
The rocket of the "Yastreb" complex was supposed to have a radio command control system. To implement such guidance principles, the self-propelled launcher received a set of necessary electronic equipment. So, to track the rocket in the active phase of the flight and determine the parameters of its movement, it was proposed to use its own radar station with the required characteristics. The radar antenna was located on the roof of the combat vehicle hull, behind the cockpit, and was covered with a radio-transparent casing.
With the help of the radar, the complex's automation was supposed to track the missile and compare its trajectory with the required one. In case of deviation from the calculated trajectory, it was necessary to develop commands transmitted to the rocket equipment through the corresponding antenna device. This method of guidance made it possible to provide the required hit accuracy indicators with a comparative simplicity of the rocket design. All the necessary complex equipment was placed only on a self-propelled launcher.
The Yastreb guided ballistic missile was designated B-612. This product was supposed to be based on the design of the V-611 anti-aircraft missile from the M-11 "Storm" ship complex. The basic anti-aircraft missile was developed by OKB-2, which should have greatly simplified the creation of new weapons. The design of the body and planes, the control system, the engine and other units were borrowed from the existing project with minimal changes. In addition, the need to create some new devices has emerged.
The V-612 rocket was supposed to receive a complex-shaped body formed by a long conical head fairing, a cylindrical central section and a tapering tail compartment. It was decided to keep the swept trapezoidal wings of the X-shaped structure in the central part of the hull. In the tail, aerodynamic rudders of a similar design remained. At the same time, calculations have shown that the use of the required special warhead will lead to a change in the balancing of the rocket. Because of this, the head fairing of the product had to be equipped with small-scale destabilizers.
The chassis descends from the obstacle. Still from the film "Cars in uniform", dir. And Kryukovsky, studio "Wings of Russia"
The V-611 anti-aircraft guided missile was equipped with a dual-mode solid-propellant engine, which provided a launch from a descent from the guide and the subsequent achievement of the target. The engine parameters allowed the rocket to accelerate to 1200 m / s and fly towards the target at an average speed of 800 m / s. Due to the large supply of fuel, the engine operation time coincided with the flight time to the maximum firing range of 55 km. A similar solid fuel engine with high performance could be used as part of the B-612 product.
The control systems of the V-612 missile were supposed to receive incoming commands from the launcher and convert them into commands for steering machines. Correction of the trajectory according to the commands of the onboard automation of the combat vehicle was to be carried out throughout the active phase of the flight. At the same time, it was planned to carry out the launch of the rocket to the required trajectory, after which it could continue uncontrolled flight until it hit the target.
According to reports, the B-612 product was to be completed only with a special warhead. The power of such combat equipment is unknown. There is no information about the possibility of developing and using conventional warheads.
The terms of reference required to ensure the possibility of firing a guided missile at a range of 8 to 35 km. It is interesting that the B-612 ballistic missile had to differ from the B-611 anti-aircraft missile in a shorter flight range. Apparently, the difference in these indicators was associated with the need to install a heavier special warhead, which could lead to an increase in the starting mass of the product or to a reduction in the size of the engine with a decrease in its fuel supply.
In front of the roof, a simulated missile tracking radar is visible. Still from the film "Cars in uniform", dir. And Kryukovsky, studio "Wings of Russia"
By the end of the first half of the sixties, experts from OKB-2 and related organizations completed the bulk of the preliminary work on the Yastreb project. The main features of the promising missile system were identified. In addition, some of its elements were brought to the stage of assembling prototypes with their subsequent testing. Successful completion of such work allowed the continuation of the project.
By 1965-66, by the forces of the Bryansk Automobile Plant, a prototype of a promising four-axle chassis was built, intended for use as the basis for a launcher of the Yastreb complex. According to reports, this machine did not receive the launcher units, but was equipped with a simulator of the radar antenna unit. Because of this, a large unit appeared on the roof of the hull, behind the cockpit, which, for reasons of secrecy, was covered with a canvas cover.
There is information about testing a promising chassis, which made it possible to establish the real characteristics of the machine when driving on roads and rough terrain. As the surviving newsreels show, the prototype successfully coped with rather difficult obstacles. This fact could open the way for him to further use.
According to available data, the development of the Yastreb complex was stopped at the stage of creating a preliminary design. In parallel with the "Yastreb", OKB-2 employees created the "Tochka" complex with a different missile control system. A comparison of the two projects showed that the use of radio command control leads to over-complication of the self-propelled launcher. Also, the Yastreb launcher was forced to remain in the firing position for some time after the launch, performing the launch of the missile on the desired trajectory, which is why it was at great risk. In addition, the unification of ballistic and anti-aircraft missiles did not allow achieving high firing ranges.
Thus, an interesting and recently seemed promising project could hardly suit the army and reach mass exploitation. No later than 1965-66, the Hawk project was officially closed.
The missile system is in combat position. Figure Militaryrussia.ru
As far as we know, by the time the work on the Yastreb project was completed, only an experimental chassis for a self-propelled launcher had been built. Other elements of the complex never reached the assembly and testing of prototypes. The customer abandoned the new complex before the developers had time to complete the design of its individual systems.
Preliminary study and preliminary design of the Yastreb tactical missile system made it possible to determine the prospects for several original proposals that underlie it. So, it was found that even a relatively heavy and large anti-aircraft missile V-611 cannot become the basis for a ballistic missile with the required characteristics of the range and power of the warhead. In addition, the radio command control of the missile has not justified itself in the context of tactical systems for ground forces.
At the same time, solid experience was gained in the design of missiles and other elements of tactical-level complexes. For example, there is reason to believe that the project of a special four-axle chassis was further developed and led to the appearance of the 9P714 self-propelled launcher of the 9K714 Oka operational-tactical complex. In addition, the Tochka project, developed in parallel with the Yastreb, later became the basis for the 9K79 complex with the same additional name.
The project of the Yastreb tactical missile system was not fully implemented. However, he allowed some of the original ideas to be explored, and then to determine their real perspectives. It turned out that interesting and promising proposals can hardly be used in practice. Thus, the project "Hawk" did not lead to the emergence of new military equipment, but contributed to the further development of missile systems, showing the inconsistency of some ideas.
