On the night of April 4, after warning the Russian military through the "existing communication channels", two US Navy destroyers USS Ross (DDG-71) and USS Porter (DDG-78) from the waters adjacent to the island of Crete fired 60 winged missiles "Tomahawk". 23 RCs reached their goal, one did not leave the PU mine, 36 are still looking for and, I think, will not find, because they lie at the bottom of the sea.
After the well-known tragic events of November 24, 2015 - the Turkish "stab in the back" - it became necessary to reliably cover our contingent in Syria from the air. Promptly, two days later, an S-400 division was deployed at the Russian Khmeimim airbase in Latakia. In early October 2016, an additional S-300 VM battery was sent to Syria in order to ensure the safety of the naval base in Tartus.
The Western press published a colorful map of Syria, framed by colored circles with a radius of 400 and 200 kilometers. How they gloated when the missile attack went unpunished. But only amateurs can think so. To cover an object from air strikes with S-300/400 systems or other air defense systems, they must be placed in the immediate vicinity of it in the most dangerous directions.
Where the wings grow from
The decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of May 27, 1969 set the development of an air defense system in the version for the Air Defense Forces S-300P of the country as a replacement for the outdated S-75 and S-125 complexes, for the Air Defense of the Lands - S-300V to replace the 2K11 Krug air defense system and Navy S-300 F - M-11 "Storm". Several associations worked on the creation of new weapons. The lead developer of the S-300P was KB-1 (Almaz Central Design Bureau, General Designer Boris Bunkin), missiles - MKB Fakel (General Designer Pyotr Grushin). The first version of the S-300P was adopted in 1979. In the US and NATO, they were designated as SA-10 Grumble.
The lead developer of all three systems, Almaz Central Design Bureau, in cooperation with Fakel Design Bureau, designed a single medium-range complex with a unified missile for the Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces and the USSR Navy. The requirements put forward in the course of work for the air defense system option for ground forces could not be satisfied with one ammunition for all options. Therefore, after the refusal of MKB "Fakel" from designing a rocket for a land complex, the work was transferred in full to the design bureau of the plant. M. I. Kalinina.
Central Design Bureau "Almaz" faced significant difficulties in creating complexes according to a single structure. Unlike air defense systems for the Air Defense Forces and the Navy, which were to be used using the developed RTR system, the land air defense system, as a rule, worked in isolation from other means. The expediency of developing the S-300V variant by a different organization and without significant unification with the air defense and naval systems became obvious. This was entrusted to specialists from NII-20 (NPO Antey), who by that time had experience in creating army air defense systems. As a result, only the radars for detecting the S-300P (5N84) and S-300V (9S15) complexes, as well as the missile defense systems of the Air Defense Forces and the Navy, turned out to be partially unified.
The composition of the combat assets of both air defense systems was significantly different.
The S-300V division consisted of the 9S457 command post, the Obzor-3 detection and targeting station (SOC) 9S15M with a range of over 330 kilometers, the Ginger 9S19M2 program review radar (with a range of over 250 kilometers) for detecting ballistic targets type MRBM "Pershing", four anti-aircraft missile batteries. Each included a 9S32 multichannel missile guidance station (SNR), two 9A82 launchers with two 9M82 long-range missiles, four 9A83 launchers with four medium-range 9M83 missiles, three transport-charging vehicles (TZM) 9A84 and 9A85. All combat assets are located on passable, maneuverable, equipped with navigation equipment, topographic positioning and mutual orientation of unified tracked chassis of the GM-830 type.
The S-300P (S-300PMU) anti-aircraft missile division included KP 55K6E, SOTS 64N6E (91N6E) with a range of more than 300 kilometers and three anti-aircraft missile batteries. Each had one multichannel missile guidance station (SNR) 30N6E (92N6E), six 5P85TE2 or 5P85SE2 launchers and the same amount of TZM. Optionally attached means - 96L6E all-altitude radar, 40V6M mobile tower for 92N6E antenna post.
The S-300 complexes and its modifications are excellent interceptors of ballistic and aerodynamic targets at high and medium altitudes with very impressive capabilities to combat low-flying small targets. But it is too wasteful to shoot expensive 48N6E missiles at cheap plastic Tomahawks. Therefore, they were almost always "backed up" by specialized short-range complexes: in the Osa-M fleet (cruiser of project 1164), Redut / Tor (project 1144), on land "Pantsir-S", equipped with simple and cheap radio command SAM weighing 75-200 kilograms.
The S-300P air defense system for the Air Defense Forces was modernized in the 2000s: the B-500 family of missiles (5V55 and its modifications) replaced the improved 48N6E and 48N6E2 with an interception range of 150 and 200 kilometers, respectively. The complexes were designated S-300PMU. In this version, the air defense missile system could confidently fight against short and medium-range ballistic missiles.
The third generation of the S-300PM complex was armed with light high-speed homing missiles 9M96 and 9M100 of medium and short range, respectively, as well as means for their combat use. These air defense systems transitional to the S-400 type received the designation S-300PMU-1 and S-300PMU-2.
The fourth generation of the S-400 air defense systems (originally the S-300PMU-3) was armed with 40N6 missiles developed by the Fakel ICB with an interception range of 400 and 185 kilometers in height. The S-300V4 complex was armed with the 9M82M and 9M82MD long-range missiles developed by the Novator Design Bureau with a launch range of 200 and 400 kilometers, respectively. Old and new ammunition containers are indistinguishable in appearance. It is quite possible that the new long-range missiles are in the Russian S-300 VM and S-400 battalions stationed in Syria.
Patriot bobble
The efforts undertaken by the engineers of "Raytheon" in the development of a new modification of the "Tomahawk" Block 4 to reduce the RCS of the missile, were crowned with serious success. The fuselage and aerodynamic surfaces were made using the Stealth technology from carbon-fiber materials, in contrast to the previous Block 1-3 modifications made of aluminum alloys. As a result, the RCS was reduced by an order of magnitude: from 0.5 to 0.01 square meters, and even more from frontal projections - from 0.1 to 0.01. 25 kilometers, then new ones - by 7-9 kilometers, depending on the course of the target and under favorable relief conditions (plain without vegetation). An experienced, prepared calculation of the SNR with strong nerves will have time to shoot twice - it will hit up to 12 targets with a consumption of 12-16 missiles per battery. Yes, the calculations of the launch range at first glance are alarming, but it is necessary to take into account that not a single modern Western and even promising air defense system is capable of steadily "taking on such a small target" at the NPP. In addition, the reserves of the Tomahawk's EPR reduction have been completely exhausted.
The most advanced complex of French-British production of medium and long-range sea-based PAAMS Aster-15/30 was tested for five years - until May 2001. During these tests, firing was carried out at targets of various types, simulating an aircraft, KR and MRBM. The most common were the Aerospatiale C.22 and GQM-163 Coyote. The first imitated a subsonic anti-ship missile, the latter - a supersonic anti-ship missile. Both targets are rather large and angular, with RCS ranging from 1 to 5 square meters. For example: F-16 with ammunition suspended on pylons has a frontal projection of 1, 7 square meters, TU-160 - 1 square meter. Most likely, a target with an EPR several orders of magnitude smaller than the PAAMS air defense system will simply not notice.
Retrofitting the S-300 PMU / V air defense missile system with the 55Zh6U "Sky-U" three-coordinate radar in the standby mode of detecting and tracking air objects of the VHF / HF meter range can enhance the capabilities of the complex. Since 2008, the radar has been serially produced and supplied to the Air Defense Forces. In October 2009, the qualification tests were successfully completed. In 2009-2010, work was underway on the deployment of radar at air defense positions.
The radar is designed to detect, measure coordinates and track air targets of different classes - aircraft, cruise and guided missiles, small hypersonic, ballistic, stealthy, using stealth technology. Including in automatic mode and when operating both autonomously and as part of the ACS of air defense connections. The radar provides recognition of target classes, determination of the nationality of air objects, direction finding of active jammers. When coupled with a secondary radar, the radar can be used for air traffic control. In 2010, according to the Niobium development project, the designers of the Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNIIRT) modernized the Sky-SVU standby radar with an AFAR of the meter / decimeter range with a transfer to a new element base. In the same year, the first stage of manufacturing a prototype was completed and its full production began. In 2011, the 55Zh6U "Sky-U" radar was used in the 874th training center for radio-technical troops in Vladimir. Nitel OJSC produced and delivered to the troops seven sets of this meter-range radar. NNIIRT specialists deployed it at the customer's positions.
In the USA, research work on a promising surface-to-air missile system, designed to replace the MIM-23 Hawk air defense system over time, began much earlier, back in 1961, under the FABMDS program (Field Army Ballistic Missile Defense System - field army ballistic defense system). missiles). At this time, the USSR was only testing the Krug 2K11 air defense system of the previous generation with a radio command missile defense system. The name was later changed to AADS-70 (Army Air - Defense System-1970) - an army air defense system-1970 and, finally, in 1964, the SAM-D index was assigned (Surface-to-Air Missile - Development, a promising missile of the class "Ground-to-air"). The terms of reference for the complex, issued by the Ministry of Defense, was vague and changed frequently, but always included the ability not only to shoot down attack aircraft of all types of a potential enemy (USSR), but also to intercept tactical and operational-tactical theater ballistic missiles.
In May 1967, the Raytheon concern became the main contractor for the development of the SAM-D complex. The first test launches were carried out in November 1969. The technical phase of development began in 1973, but already in November of the following year, the terms of reference were radically changed: the Pentagon demanded the use of a control system of the TVM type "Tracking through the rocket", that is, information about the target did not come to the central computer from the guidance station (radar), and directly from the semi-active radar seeker of the missile itself via telemetry channels. At that time, it was believed that since the missile is always closer to the target than the radar (SNR), this method significantly increases the accuracy of determining its current coordinates and the ability to distinguish between real and false targets. This new requirement delayed the development and full-scale testing of the complex until January 1976. In May, the missile received the official designation XMIM-104A, and the complex was named Patriot.
The main organizational and tactical unit of the Patriot air defense system is a division in which there are six fire batteries and one staff battery. The fire unit is capable of simultaneously firing at up to eight air targets. It includes the AN / MSQ-104 fire control command post, the AN / MPQ-53 multifunctional radar (SNR) with a phased antenna array, eight launchers with MIM-104A missiles in the TPK, MRC-137 radio relay stations, power supply and maintenance equipment.
In 1982, the complex entered service with the US Army.
In 1983, a program for the modernization of the complex according to the PAC-1 project (Patriot Antitactical Missile Capability) was launched. The main direction was recognized the creation of new software for the central computer of the CHP. First of all, the "trace algorithms" were changed - the principles of modeling the flight path of a ballistic target and the initial parameters of the radar elevation angle from 0-45 to 0-90 degrees
In September 1986, at the WSMR missile range ("White Sands"), an experimental launch of Patriot missiles was carried out on a real tactical missile "Lance" to check the correctness of the chosen modernization line. The target was intercepted at an altitude of 7,500 meters, about 15 kilometers from the launch site. At the meeting point, she flew at a speed of 460, and the SAM - 985 meters per second. The miss was 1.8 meters. The experiment was found to be successful.
Two subsequent test launches were carried out at the end of 1987. Patriot missiles, flying along a ballistic trajectory, were again used as targets. Both were amazed. After a series of successful firing in July 1988, the Pentagon recommended adopting the PAC-1 complex. Since the rocket has not undergone any changes, the former MIM-104A index was left behind.
In 1988, the second phase of R&D on the PAC-2 project began, which provided for the expansion of the capabilities of the air defense system in the fight against tactical ballistic missiles. Once again, the software of the central computer was upgraded, the MIM-104C missile defense system is equipped with a new high-explosive fragmentation warhead with increased semi-finished fragments (45 instead of 2 grams for the MIM-104A) and a more efficient radio fuse. As a result, the Patriot PAC-2 air defense system is capable of hitting ballistic targets at ranges of up to 20 and a heading parameter of 5 kilometers. He received his baptism of fire in the Gulf War. Several batteries of the modernized complex PAC-1 and PAC-2 were deployed in Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Iraqi Armed Forces conducted 83 launches of OTR Al - Hussein (with a range of 660 kilometers) and Al - Abbas (900 kilometers), created on the basis of the Soviet late 50s BR P-17, better known as Scud-B. While repelling the attack, the Americans managed to shoot down 47, using 158 MIM-104A and MIM-104B / C missiles.
After the Gulf War, taking into account the combat experience gained, the third radical modernization of the complex under the PAC-3 project was carried out. He received a new AN / MPQ-65 radar, which has an increased target detection range with low EPR and better selective capabilities against the background of decoys, ERINT (Extended Range Interceptor) missiles - an extended range interceptor. One launcher accommodates 16 missiles in the TPK against four in the previous versions. By tradition, they were given the ordinal MIM-104F, despite the fact that they have nothing in common with the previous modifications - this is a completely new design.
By August 2007, Lockheed Martin had delivered about 500 PAC-3 missiles to the US Army, the latest modification of the PAC-3 MSE selected as the missile component of the joint US-European missile defense system MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System).
"THAD" narrow focus
The ground-based mobile missile defense system for high-altitude transatmospheric interception of short and medium-range ballistic missiles THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) was developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space. In January 2007, it received its first contract for the production of 48 THAAD missiles, six launchers and two command and control centers. In May 2008, the first THAAD battery was put into service. The Pentagon plans to purchase more than 1,400 THAAD missiles, which will eventually form the upper tier of a theater missile defense system in addition to the Patriot PAC-3. It is not yet known why the THAAD missiles did not receive the Defense Ministry's Standard Missile Index (MIM-NNN), although they have been in service with the US Army for nine years.
The fundamental difference between the THAAD air defense missile system and the latest Patriot modification - PAC-3 from the complexes of the first generations - is the mathematical model of missile control or the guidance method, the "chase method": the velocity vector of the rocket or kinetic warhead is directed directly to the target. The target coordinator of the seeker measures the angle by the position of the velocity vector and the direction to the target - the angle of misalignment. In the process of pointing at the output of the seeker, a signal appears proportional to the mismatch angle. When this signal is processed, the missile or kinetic interceptor controls reduce the angle between the velocity vector and the direction to the target to zero. The "chase method" has traditionally been used in the development of anti-ship missile control systems by all manufacturers of these weapons. And this is understandable: the target is inactive or static, has a huge RCS - 100 square meters or more. Work in two planes, the geometric center of the target is selected - and that's it! Therefore, everyone who is not lazy sculpts hundreds of anti-ship missiles, even those countries whose rocketry is still in the Iron Age, such as Norway, for example. If, in the process of homing, the target moves uniformly and straight, the heading angle and lead angle are close to zero, then the flight path of the missile defense system is rectilinear. Theoretically, the required overloads are equal to zero. It should be noted that the THAAD rocket turned out to be very elegant, thin, the elongation coefficient is 18, 15, which is not typical for such a weapon. Visually, it seems that it is not designed for high lateral overloads (pitch and yaw).
However, if the target maneuvers, the trajectory of the missile defense system is curved and overloads appear. Here another matmodel is more applicable - "proportional navigation": classic for all missiles from the S-75 and Hawk to the S-300/400 and Patriot. High available maximum lateral overloads are generally characteristic of missiles of all generations, and they grow over time. If the first missiles have about 10 units (B-750), then the MIM-104A already has 30, and for modern missiles this parameter reaches 50 and even 60 units. The MIM-104F, THAAD, and RIM-161 interceptors are clearly more fragile than their anti-aircraft sisters. But it cannot be otherwise, I can hardly imagine a rocket with a launch weight of 900 kilograms, capable of rising to an altitude of 150 kilometers and accelerating to nine speeds of sound even with a microscopic payload. Classic SAMs are, of course, more brutal, if you like, muscular. An indirect sign of "narrow specialization" only for ballistic targets of the THAAD and PAC-3 complexes are parallel and equal orders by the army of MIM-104F anti-missile missiles and MIM-104C anti-aircraft air defense missiles. The fleet also purchases along with RIM-161 A, B, C (SM-3) and old RIM-66 / 67C (SM-2).
In September 2004, Raytheon was awarded a seven-year development contract (SDD phase - Development and Demonstration System) of the new SM-6 SAM system to replace the SM-2. In June 2008, the first successful interception of a UAV was performed with a RIM-174A missile. In September 2009, the company got its first LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) contract for SM-6 missiles. In 2010, the missile was brought to its initial operational readiness. No specific TTD SM-6 has been published, but since the airframe and propulsion system are identical to the RIM-156A, the specifications are presumably very similar.
Western experts, gritting their teeth, unanimously admit: the S-400 is the best air defense system in the world today. The proof of this is the long queue of buyers from all over the world.
