The Kapustin Yar test site is rightfully considered the cradle of domestic rocket and space technology. It was opened in the late forties and is still actively used to test new types of missiles of various classes. As it became known a few weeks ago, the efficiency of the landfill will significantly increase by the end of this year. The Ministry of Defense intends to modernize a number of test site systems.
Altimeter PRV-13
In mid-August, it was announced that, according to the plans of the military department, by the end of 2013, at the Kapustin Yar training ground (the official name of the 4th State Central Interspecific Training Ground - 4th State Center for Marine Medicine), work will be carried out to update the means of receiving telemetric information. As part of the work, the test site will receive a new data transmission and reception system based on modern digital systems, including satellite communications. At the same time, as noted back in August, 20 units of radio-electronic equipment by that time had been delivered to the landfill, and 10 more are planned to be brought over the next months. The program for updating the equipment of the 4th GTSMP implies the installation of new receiving and transmitting stations, complexes for processing received information, radio relay stations, etc.
Before the beginning of next year, it is planned to completely renew the complex of means for receiving and transmitting data. After these works are completed, the modernization of the Kapustin Yar landfill will continue. In 2014, it is planned to complete the re-equipment of the test site with antenna complexes and uniform time systems. As a result of all the work on the modernization of the electronic equipment of the 4th GTSMP, it will be able to significantly improve its capabilities for testing missile technology. In particular, the new systems will be able not only to collect information in an automatic mode, but also independently assess the characteristics or effectiveness of the tested products. Thus, for the next few decades, Kapustin Yar with updated equipment will remain one of the main test sites for rocket technology.
During the first work on the re-equipment of the 4th State Central Inter-Service Testing Ground, an inspection was carried out by the Commission of the Strategic Missile Forces Command. From September 9 to September 14, representatives of the Strategic Missile Forces command inspected various objects of the Kapustin Yar training ground. The purpose of the test was to assess the capabilities of the training ground and the military personnel, as well as to prepare for tests of promising missile technology, which will take place in the near future.
The renovation of Kapustin Yar's electronic systems, as well as the inspection of facilities and personnel, clearly show how important this test site is for the Russian armed forces and the defense industry. Over the past few years alone, it has carried out dozens of launches of missiles of various classes and types. In the future, the tests will continue, and, as follows from the statements of representatives of the Ministry of Defense, in the near future it is planned to carry out several particularly important tests.
In early June this year, the fourth test launch of the promising Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile took place at the Kapustin Yar test site. The launch and flight of the rocket was successful, training warheads hit the conditional targets at the Sary-Shagan training ground (Kazakhstan). Shortly thereafter, Colonel-General V. Zarudnitsky, Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, said that another test launch would take place before the end of this year as part of the tests of the Rubezh rocket. After that, the new missile system will be put into service. The deliveries of serial missiles to combat units of the strategic missile forces and the deployment of the first regiment armed with them will begin next year.
To date, as part of the tests of the Rubezh intercontinental missile, four launches have been carried out, three of which have ended in success. Half of the missile launches were carried out at the Kapustin Yar test site. The last of the planned test launches will also be carried out at the 4th MCMP. Thus, the Kapustin Yar test site, and not Plesetsk, where only the first two launches were carried out, can be recognized as the main test site for the Rubezh ICBM.
Completion of tests of the "Rubezh" rocket is currently a priority goal for the military personnel of the 4th State Central Inter-Service Test Site. However, other tests are being carried out at the Kapustin Yar test site. Currently, our country is carrying out several projects of missiles for various purposes. In this regard, the planned upgrade of radio-electronic systems will preserve and improve the capabilities of the unique test complex.
