In the modernized air defense missile system "Tunguska-M1" a number of technical solutions have been implemented, which made it possible to expand its capabilities
The Buk-M2E multipurpose medium-range highly mobile anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) of the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant hits any aerodynamic targets, including tactical and strategic aircraft, fire support helicopters, including hovering helicopters, as well as an extensive range of tactical ballistic and anti-radar missiles, special aviation and cruise missiles.
The complex can strike at surface targets (destroyer and missile boat classes), as well as ground-based radio-contrast targets, both in a noise-free environment and in conditions of intense radio countermeasures. The affected area of the complex is:
- at a distance from 3 to 45 km;
- in height from 15 m to 25 km.
The minimum time for the deployment and folding of the air defense system is no more than 5 minutes with the possibility of changing the positions of the main combat assets with the equipment turned on in 20 seconds. The placement of combat assets on high-speed self-propelled tracked chassis determines the high mobility of the complex.
The use of modern phased antenna arrays in the air defense missile system with an effective command method of phase control makes it possible to simultaneously track and hit up to 24 targets with a minimum time interval. A highly efficient optoelectronic system based on sub-matrix thermal imaging and CCD-matrix television channels provides round-the-clock operation of the main combat means of the complex - SOU 9A317E. The optical mode significantly increases the noise immunity and survivability of the air defense system. All combat assets of the complex are covered by modern digital computing systems, which allow in the shortest possible time to process the current parameters and select the most dangerous targets, capture and set them for auto-tracking. Already after 10-12 seconds from the moment the target is detected, a single or salvo launch can be made at it.
Mobility and survivability, a wide range of targets to be hit, a high probability of hitting them with one missile (0, 9-0, 95) - all this draws attention to the Buk-M2E air defense system and determines the ever-increasing demand for it in the world arms markets.
As Russian expert Ruslan Pukhov told RIA Novosti on February 6, the superiority of Russian air defense systems over foreign, in particular, American aircraft, is explained by historical factors. According to him, "during the Cold War, Soviet aircraft lagged behind foreign counterparts in terms of their tactical and technical characteristics (TTX), so even then the military leadership of the USSR focused on the development of air defense systems to compensate for the shortcomings of aviation."
He believes that Russian "state-of-the-art air defense systems and systems are significantly ahead of their foreign counterparts." According to him, the Russian S-300 and especially the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems can serve as a vivid example of this. "In addition, it is precisely because of the awareness of the fact that the S-300 system has advantages over the American F-15, F-16 and F-18 aircraft that the United States reacts so painfully to news reports about possible deliveries of these systems to Iran," Pukhov said.
Experts recognize the superiority of Russian air defense over US aviation
Another well-known product of the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant is the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun-missile system (ZPRK). It was developed in the 70s of the XX century and is intended for air defense of motorized rifle and tank units in all types of hostilities. Combat vehicles of the complex - self-propelled anti-aircraft installations (ZSU) provide detection, identification of nationality, tracking and destruction of air targets (tactical aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, remotely piloted aircraft) when working from a place, on the move and from short stops. ZPRK can destroy ground and surface targets, as well as targets dropped by parachutes. In the Tunguska anti-aircraft self-propelled gun, for the first time, the combination of two types of weapons (rocket and cannon) with a single radar and instrumentation equipment was achieved on one machine.
But times are changing, the requirements for the effectiveness of air defense systems are becoming more stringent. That is why it became necessary to modernize Tunguska. Its purpose is to create a new ZSU with significantly improved combat characteristics. In the upgraded Tunguska-M1 air defense missile system, a number of technical solutions have been implemented, which made it possible to expand its capabilities:
1. A new rocket with a pulsed optical transponder has been applied and the rocket control equipment has been modernized. This made it possible to significantly increase the noise immunity of the missile control channel from optical interference and to increase the likelihood of hitting targets operating under the cover of such interference. Equipping the rocket with a radar proximity fuse with a firing radius of up to 5 m significantly increased the effectiveness of the ZSU in the fight against small targets. The increase in the operating time of the rocket elements made it possible to increase the range of destruction of targets by the rocket from 8000 to 10000 m.
2. A system of "unloading" of the gunner was introduced, which provides automatic, high-speed, two-dimensional tracking of the target with an optical sight, which made it possible to significantly simplify the process of target tracking while simultaneously increasing the tracking accuracy and reducing the dependence of the effectiveness of the combat use of missile weapons on the level of professional preparedness of the gunner.
3. The equipment for automated reception and processing of external target designation data has been introduced, which significantly increases the effectiveness of the combat use of the ZSU battery during a massive raid of targets.
4. In the modernized digital computing system of the ZSU, a new computer was used, which made it possible to expand the functionality of the DCS when solving combat and control tasks.
5. The radar system has been modernized to ensure the reception and implementation of external target designation data, the operation of the gunner's “unloading” system, the reliability of the equipment has been increased, and the technical and operational characteristics have been improved.
The consequence of the modernization was a significant improvement in the tactical and technical characteristics of the ZSU, an increase in the reliability of the modernized systems and, as a consequence, an increase in its combat effectiveness. The Tunguska-M1 air defense missile system has acquired a "second wind" and meets all modern requirements for modern military air defense systems.
