The SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile system is designed to provide air defense for troops and mechanized formations on the march, as well as provide anti-aircraft cover for stationary objects of great importance from a massive air attack of a wide range of air targets. Starting from tactical cruise missiles, all types of aircraft and helicopters, as well as various UAVs in all weather conditions, day and night, when the enemy uses various types of jamming. The creator of this air defense complex is the European consortium "Eurosam", formed in 1989 by the union of the firms "Aerospatiale", "Alenia" and "Thompson-CSF". At present, the Eurosam consortium is an integrator of projects for the development of land and sea missile defense systems.
On March 6, 2013, as part of a joint exercise between the French Air Force and the Italian ground forces, the SAMP / T medium-range air defense system was successfully hit by a ballistic missile, the press service of the French Defense Ministry reported. The statement emphasized that this was the first interception of a ballistic target within the framework of the functioning of NATO's unified missile defense system in Europe. It is reported that the downed ballistic missile covered about 300 km before it was destroyed by the Aster 30 interceptor missile.
The launch of the anti-missile missile as part of the missile defense system testing was carried out on the territory of the DGA missile test center in Biscarosse in southwestern France with the participation of soldiers of the 4th artillery regiment of the Italian army and the French air force test center. Previous tests of antimissiles were carried out in October 2010 and January 2011.
The SAMP / T air defense system (in the French Air Force it has the designation "Mamba") is capable of 360-degree circular fire, has a modular design and highly maneuverable missiles that are able to destroy any air target. This complex is already in service in France and Italy and is an important contribution of these two states to the formation of a single NATO missile defense system, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles in Europe. The SAMP-T air defense complex has a high rate of fire and a minimum reaction time (8 missiles can be launched in just 10 seconds), while the complex is able to simultaneously accompany up to 10 different targets and is controlled by a crew of only 2 people.
According to the developers, this air defense system is highly effective against various low-signature, highly maneuverable targets of a wide range. After receiving target designation, a vertical launch of anti-aircraft missiles occurs. Each launcher of the complex includes a launch module with eight TPKs. In the middle segment of the flight of the missile defense system, its guidance to the target is carried out inertially according to information that comes from the multifunctional radar. In the final phase of the flight, targeting is carried out with the help of a coordinator of a missile defense system with an active radar homing head (GOS), which ensures the use of missiles in any weather conditions.
Complex composition
The SAMP-T complex includes:
• multifunctional radar type Thompson-CSF ARABEL, equipped with a phased array antenna (PAR);
• combat control cabin - FCU (Fire Control Unit), which contains the necessary control system equipment, which processes all information about the air situation in real time, as well as the 2nd display system consoles;
• SAM "Aster-30";
• self-propelled launchers of vertical launch on a Renault-TRM-10000 vehicle chassis (wheel arrangement 8x8) or Astra / Iveco with launch modules for 8 combat-ready missiles, placed in transport and launch containers (TPK).
The Aster-30 anti-aircraft guided missile is a two-stage solid-propellant missile designed according to a normal aerodynamic configuration. In the initial and middle sections of the flight path to the target, the rocket receives commands from the ground (command-inertial guidance system), and in the final section of the trajectory, an active seeker enters into action. The radar seeker installed on the rocket operates in the frequency range from 10 to 20 GHz. A distinctive feature of this anti-aircraft missile is the presence of a high-precision combined control system PIF / PAF, which uses gas-jet jet nozzles and aerodynamic rudders. At the same time, gas-jet jet nozzles are close to the center of mass of the missile defense system and create thrust along the normal to the rocket's flight path. The control method implemented on the Aster-30 missile makes it possible to compensate for guidance errors and increases the missile's maneuverability in the final phase of its flight. The Aster-30 missile is equipped with a directional high-explosive fragmentation warhead and a radio fuse.
Multifunctional three-coordinate radar ARABEL, equipped with a passive HEADLIGHT, is able to provide detection, recognition and simultaneous tracking of up to 130 different air targets, as well as aiming missiles at 10 of these targets. To view the airspace, the radar uses a mechanical rotation of the antenna in azimuth at an average speed of 60 rpm (1 rpm) and electronic scanning of the airspace in elevation. The characteristic features of this radar are: control of the directional pattern and antenna directivity characteristics; restructuring of the operating frequency from pulse to pulse and adaptive change of signal parameters; very good accuracy and power characteristics, as well as the ability to provide information in real time; programmed view of space.
The implementation of all the capabilities of the ARABEL radar is achieved through the powerful computing facilities of the SAMP-T complex. The radar is able to view the azimuth space in a circular manner and from -5 ° to + 90 ° in elevation during one rotation of the antenna. The dimensions of the electron beam are 2 °. The detection range of air targets of the tactical ballistic missile (TBR) class is up to 600 km. The ARABEL radar can also additionally include a state identification system (IFF / NIS), which is either integrated with the radar, or receives its own signal reception and emission path.
A typical battery of the Franco-Italian SAMP-T air defense system consists of 6 launchers, remote at a distance of 10 km. from the control cabin, as well as the ARABEL multifunctional radar. The functioning of all subsystems of the complex is carried out under the strict guidance of 2 members of the combat crew. The SAMP-T air defense complex is able to operate independently, as part of an integrated air defense system or with the receipt of target designations from the early warning and target tracking radar. There is also the possibility of integrating other optoelectronic intelligence equipment into the complex.
Each battery of the complex can simultaneously aim 16 missiles at various air targets. Information on the number of combat-ready missiles and the missiles consumed by the complex on each launcher is used in the course of combat work when assigning new missiles to fire on newly discovered air targets. At the same time, the SAMP-T air defense system is distinguished by a high rate of fire and a minimum reaction time, 8 missiles with one launcher can be launched in just 10 seconds.
The scheme of the complex
Under normal conditions, the combat work of the SAMP-T air defense system is carried out as follows. After the announcement of the alarm, the operators of the combat control cabin of the complex bring all its elements into a combat position, also ensuring their uninterrupted power supply. The antenna of the ARABEL multifunctional radar rotates at a speed of 1 rev / s, thereby providing a circular view of the airspace in the azimuth plane. In cases of need for a multifunctional radar, sectors of responsibility can be established, which will have priority in detecting and firing at air targets.
In the given sectors, air targets are detected and identified in 1 rotation of the antenna with the help of additional sensing of the area of space where the primary detection of the target was noted. If, in the case of repeated probing, confirmation of the detection of an air target is noted, then at the next turn of the radar antenna, its path is tied. Further, information about the target track is transmitted to the combat control cabin and displayed on the displays of the complex operators.
Computing means of the complex build the prolongation of the future mark of the appearance of the target, taking into account the expected course of its movement, the speed of movement and its nature. Each detected target is assigned its own individual number. At the moment when the target enters the launch zone of the SAMP-T complex, the combat control cabin issues commands to the selected launchers, after receiving these commands, preparations are made for the launch of the 1st or 2nd SAM "Aster-30".
After that, the command and control center issues commands to launch missiles. On the launcher, after receiving the appropriate command, information on the direction and other important parameters of the movement of the air target, as well as on the value of the angle of declination of the missile defense system during its vertical launch, is transmitted to the board of the missile defense system. At the same time, training is underway to capture and escort anti-aircraft missiles. After that, a vertical launch of the missile defense system occurs, the rocket leaves its TPK. Modes of operation of a multifunctional radar with a phased array make it possible to detect and capture for escort the launched Aster-30 missile defense system, after which its flight path is formed using the computing facilities of the complex. After the missile launches from the transport and launch container, it independently leans towards the intended meeting point with the air target.
At the command post of the complex, the missile flight path is displayed on the displays. The coordinates of the selected air target, as well as other parameters of its movement, are updated every second and issued on board the missile defense system to guide it to the intended meeting point with the target. After the rocket booster stops working with a short time delay, the main engine starts up.
The flight path of the missile defense system is designed in such a way that its convergence with the goal of allowing the target to be captured by the seeker of the rocket, which begins to work at a certain point on the flight path. After the completion of the main engine, the missile defense system continues its flight to the target. To control the flight, the wings and rudders of the rocket are used, if necessary, the PIF guidance system is used in the final section of the flight trajectory in order to minimize the possibility of a miss and inflicting maximum damage on an air target.
The performance characteristics of the SAMP / T air defense system:
Range of destruction of air targets:
- aircraft - 3-100 km.
- ballistic missiles - 3-35 km.
The height of the destruction of air targets is up to 25 km.
The detection range of TBR-type targets is 600 km.
The number of missiles on the launcher - 8
The number of missiles simultaneously aimed at the target is 10.
The maximum flight speed of the SAM is 1400 m / s.
The average flight speed of the SAM is 900-1000 m / s.
Maximum overload of missiles: at an altitude of H = 15 km - 15g, at an altitude of H = 0 - 60g.
The launch mass of the SAM is 510 kg.
The mass of the missile warhead is 15-20 kg.
