The appearance of helicopters with a sufficiently large payload has seriously influenced the development of the armed forces. Now it is possible to quickly transfer personnel and equipment to one point or another. Among other things, there was the theoretical possibility of transporting tactical ballistic missiles. The development of these ideas first led to the emergence of a mobile technical base based on a helicopter, and then gave a start to the project of the 9K53 Luna-MV missile system. In this project, several new and original ideas were implemented that could significantly increase the potential of the complex.
In 1960, the first flight was made by the Mi-6PRTBV helicopter - "Mobile rocket-technical base of the helicopter type". The standard helicopter received a set of various equipment with which it could transport and service missiles of various types used by several complexes. Such a mobile base could carry missiles and warheads, as well as carry out some operations to prepare them for use. However, the rocket could only fit into the helicopter's cargo bay on a transport trolley, and the launcher had to be moved separately: it was too large and heavy for the Mi-6. For this and some other reasons, the Mi-6PRTBV helicopters did not go into production.
With all its advantages, the technical base of the helicopter type had a characteristic drawback in the form of the impossibility of transporting the entire rocket complex as a whole. At the same time, the air transport complex was of great interest to the troops, since it could seriously increase their strike potential. As a result, there was a proposal to develop a promising tactical complex with the required firing characteristics and the smallest possible dimensions that would allow it to be transported by helicopters.
The first prototype of a promising chassis for the 9P114 launcher
It was proposed to use the 9K52 Luna-M complex, which was being developed at that time, as a basis for a promising rocket system. It was planned to borrow from him a rocket, some units of a launcher, etc. A self-propelled launcher was required to be developed from scratch, taking into account the requirements for dimensions and weight. From the point of view of the weapons used, the promising missile system was supposed to be a further development of the existing Luna-M system. As a result, the project was designated 9K53 and Luna-MV. The letter "B" in the title meant "helicopter".
To work together with promising missile systems, it was necessary to create a new modification of the helicopter, called the Mi-6RVK - "Rocket and Helicopter Complex". The mission of this vehicle was the transportation of self-propelled launchers with missiles and their maintenance in various conditions and at different stages of combat work. The possibility of creating a similar modification of the Mi-10 helicopter was also being considered.
The design of a launcher for the Luna-MV complex began at the end of March 1961. In February of the following year, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was issued on the beginning of a full-fledged development of a new project. This document determined the final composition of the missile-helicopter complex, and also introduced the designation of its new elements. In accordance with the decree, NII-1 (now the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering) was appointed the lead developer of the 9K53 system, which had already developed several missile systems, the design of the launcher was entrusted to the Barrikady plant (Volgograd), and OKB-329 was to submit a draft revision of the existing helicopter.
The main element of the missile system was to be a new type of launcher. In terms of its dimensions and curb weight, this product had to correspond to the capabilities of the Mi-6 helicopter. Recall that a helicopter of this type could carry no more than 12 tons of cargo in the cockpit. The cargo compartment had a length of 12 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.65 m. Thus, the use of finished equipment was not possible, and a new self-propelled platform with a launcher was required. The project of a self-propelled launcher for the Luna-MV complex received the working designation Br-257. Subsequently, he was assigned an additional index 9P114.
The restrictions imposed by the size of the cargo compartment of the Mi-6 helicopter forced the specialists of the Barrikady enterprise to develop a completely new design of a self-propelled vehicle carrying a missile launcher. It was proposed to create a special wheeled vehicle with a two-axle chassis with a specific layout. To meet the existing requirements, it was necessary to reduce the dimensions of the product as much as possible, especially its height. At the same time, the entire set of necessary equipment should be installed on the chassis.
Chassis prototype, aft view
According to available data, a version of the Br-257 machine was originally created, which externally and in layout resembled trucks. He was supposed to have a relatively wide cargo platform and a two-axle chassis. In the front of the machine, it was proposed to place a rotating installation with two wheels having the smallest possible track. This system was to be used as a driving and steering axle. Such a prototype of the Br-257 / 9P114 had an onboard body and could be equipped with an awning.
Tests of the first experimental model showed that the project needs serious revision. The result of the continuation of the design work was the appearance of the second version of the Br-257, which was able to obtain the required units in the form of a launcher, etc. For this, a new version of the general layout of the machine had to be used, which further reduced the dimensions.
The basis of the 9P114 machine was a two-axle wheeled platform with a characteristic layout. In the front of the hull, behind the curved frontal part, there was a small cockpit with crew seats. To reduce the size of the self-propelled launcher had an open cockpit, not even equipped with a windshield. The driver's seat was located at the left side of the car, next to the launcher and the rocket. Behind such a control compartment was a compartment for placing the main equipment, including the power plant and the main elements of the hydraulics. In the rear of the case, fastenings for the guide were provided. A characteristic feature of the Br-257 in the first version was the beveled shape of the rear, which served as the wings.
In the rear of the 9P114 / Br-257 machine, there were mounts for the rocking launcher and some other special equipment. For example, jacks were placed there to stabilize the launcher during firing. The design of the guide, with some changes, was borrowed from the previous project 9K52. For installation on the new chassis, the beam guide has been modified: first of all, its length has been reduced. In addition, some elements of the mountings and the lifting system to the firing position have been changed. In the transport position, the guide was placed in the corresponding groove in the roof of the machine.
It was proposed to equip the launcher with a 45 hp M-407 gasoline engine, borrowed from serial Moskvich passenger cars. With the help of such a power plant, the 9P114 machine could move at speeds up to 8 km / h. Due to the small volume of fuel tanks, the cruising range did not exceed 45 km. Such characteristics made it possible to carry out the transfer of a combat vehicle over short distances after unloading from a military transport helicopter. If necessary, the launcher could perform the functions of a towed transporter and move using a separate tractor. In this case, the towing speed with the rocket should not have exceeded 10 km / h.
Diagram of the first version of the 9P14 pilot plant
The total length of the self-propelled launcher, taking into account the guide rail, was 8, 95 m. Width - 2, 43 m, own height - 1, 535 m. The curb weight of the product was 4.5 t. Weight with a rocket - up to 7.5 t. Thanks to such overall and weight characteristics, the 9P114 / Br-257 could be transported by the existing Mi-6 helicopters inside the cargo compartment.
The 9K53 Luna-MV project did not provide for the development of a new ballistic missile. As a weapon, the new complex was supposed to use the products of the existing 9M21 model with all available types of warheads. The 9M21 was an unguided single-stage ballistic missile with stabilization in flight due to rotation around the longitudinal axis. The firing range could vary from 12 to 68 km.
The 9M21 rocket had a fairly simple design. In the assembled combat-ready form, it consisted of a warhead with combat equipment, a rotation engine for preliminary promotion and a sustainer engine. The main units were placed inside a cylindrical body with a diameter of 544 mm. The length of the early modifications of the rocket was 8, 96 m. The tail unit of the X-shaped structure had a span of 1, 7 m.
A solid-propellant rotation engine with nozzles mounted at an angle to the axis of the product was placed behind the head part in the rocket body. His task was to spin the rocket around the longitudinal axis immediately after leaving the guide. The central and tail parts of the hull were given under the main engine. Both engines used solid fuel. Its total stock was 1080 kg. During acceleration, the main engine allowed the rocket to reach speeds of up to 1200 m / s.
The 9M21 missile could carry several types of warheads. Two variants of special warheads with a charge with a capacity of up to 250 kt were proposed. Also, high-explosive-cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation, cluster and other variants of warheads were developed. The type of warhead used was determined in accordance with the assigned combat mission.
Loading the launcher into the Mi-6RVK helicopter
The design of the launcher continued until the early fall of 1964. After the completion of these works, the Barricades plant assembled the first prototype, known as the Br-257-1. Until the beginning of October, the prototype was tested at the factory, after which it was sent to the test site. The new stage of inspections made it possible to identify the main pros and cons of a promising machine, which made it possible to continue work on the project. Based on the test results, it was decided to refine some structural elements of the existing machine.
Soon, a second prototype of the 9P114 launcher appeared, which differed from the first in the hull design, undercarriage and other features. In the updated design, the relatively complex shape of the body with curved details was abandoned. The front hull sheet was now flat, but still angled to the vertical, while the rear received a box structure with a horizontal roof. More pronounced details of the launcher appeared behind this unit. It was also decided to finalize the design of the chassis. The rear axle retained small diameter wheels, and on the front axle, larger ones were installed, equipped with developed lugs. The rest of the 9P114 / Br-257 launcher of the second version did not differ much from the base sample.
In 1964, the second prototype was tested, with definite results. The results of these tests confirmed the fundamental possibility of operating the 9K53 "Luna-MV" missile systems in the army. In the future, it was decided to test the new equipment not only at training grounds, but also in units of the ground forces.
The intended use of the rocket and helicopter complex was as follows. With the help of a winch installed in the cargo hold, the missile launcher was to be loaded into the helicopter. The Mi-6RVK could transport the 9P114 launcher with the crew to the desired area, after which they were dropped by landing method. Having landed in a given area, the crew of the "Luna-MV" complex could begin to carry out a combat mission.
A self-propelled launcher could enter a firing position, determine its location and calculate the launcher's pointing angles. After that, it was necessary to prepare weapons for firing and launch a rocket. Then the combat vehicle could leave the firing position, returning to the helicopter or leaving to another area.
The second version of the product 9P114
In theory, such a missile and helicopter complex had great advantages over similar systems that existed at that time. The ability to transfer missile launchers to the desired area significantly increased the mobility of the complexes, and also made it possible to choose the most convenient launch area, which allows achieving the best results of shelling. Moreover, with a certain approach, the 9K53 Luna-MV complex could be dropped even behind enemy lines, increasing the depth of the strike. The existing systems, including the Luna-M complex, which also used 9M21 missiles, did not have such capabilities, since it could only move along the ground.
For testing in 1964, the Barricades plant built two self-propelled launchers Br-257 / 9P114, which differed in some design features. This technique was tested without serious claims and could be used further. In 1965, new uses were found for two prototypes. They were transferred to the troops for trial operation. The latter continued for some time and made it possible to establish the pros and cons of new technology, as well as certain features of its operation.
After several months of trial operation, during which the military mastered new self-propelled launchers and their means of transportation, it was decided to abandon such missile systems. Both vehicles from the Luna-M complex were decommissioned. The further fate of this technique is unknown. Probably, it was disposed of as unnecessary.
It should be noted that the abandonment of the 9K53 Luna-M tactical missile and helicopter system was associated not with technical shortcomings of this system, but with characteristic problems at the level of the concept itself. The unification of helicopter technology and a missile complex in one complex had certain positive consequences in the form of expanding the range of tasks to be solved and increasing the depth of strikes. Nevertheless, the joint operation of such equipment turned out to be quite difficult, and some shortcomings simply could not be corrected at the level of development of technology at that time. For example, a light wheeled chassis could not carry a sufficiently complex set of navigation aids required for topographic location, which could negatively affect the accuracy of shooting, which left much to be desired without it.
In 1965, the 9K53 Luna-MV missile and helicopter complex was put into short trial operation. In addition, at that time, several other versions of similar systems were created using other types of missiles. In the course of additional checks, it was found that an interesting and, as at first seemed, promising proposal has a number of characteristic disadvantages. As a result, the full-fledged operation of such missile systems was considered inexpedient. By the end of the sixties, the idea of rocket-helicopter systems was completely abandoned.
