A few years ago, the domestic media reported on the development of promising types of weapons designed to destroy the enemy's electronic systems with a powerful electromagnetic pulse. For obvious reasons, full official information about such projects was not made public at that time. Only now the defense industry considered it necessary to lift the veil of secrecy over the old and new projects of electromagnetic weapons.
On September 28, RIA Novosti published some statements by Vladimir Mikheev, Advisor to the First Deputy General Director of the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern, related to the development of fundamentally new weapons systems. A representative of a leading organization in its industry commented on numerous reports about the allegedly existing Alabuga missile, the warhead of which is an electromagnetic pulse generator.
According to V. Mikheev, KRET specialists did indeed work on a program with the Alabuga code, but this name did not hide a specific model of weapons. The Alabuga program was implemented in 2011-12, and a whole range of scientific research was carried out within its framework. The purpose of these works was to study the prospects for electronic warfare. First of all, it was planned to determine the ways for the further development of such complexes.
The representative of the Concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" said that in the past, a serious theoretical assessment and practical testing was carried out, in which various laboratory models and specialized test sites were used. The main result of the "Alabuga" program was the definition of the nomenclature of electronic weapons and their impact on the equipment of the imaginary enemy.
Such an impact, as V. Mikheev noted, can be different and differ in intensity. Depending on the operating principles and systems used, a simple interference effect with a temporary disabling of equipment, or its complete defeat, is possible. In the latter case, electronic damage should lead to energetic and destructive damage to electronic components and circuits.
After completing the research program with the code "Alabuga", the industry has classified all its results. At the same time, according to V. Mikheev, the topic of electromagnetic weapons fell into the category of critical technologies with the highest secrecy label. At the moment, we can only speak openly about the very fact of applying the existing theoretical developments in promising development work. In the future, the latter may lead to the emergence of special bombs, missiles or shells equipped with the so-called. explosive magnetic generators.
The latest statements by the official representative of the concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" have brought some clarity to the existing picture. Previously, information about the development of weapons based on an electromagnetic pulse had already appeared in open sources, but the main details of such work, for obvious reasons, were absent. As the most recent official reports show, previous news and publications on this topic did not fully correspond to the real state of affairs.
Let us remind you that the first messages about a promising project with the code "Alabuga" appeared several years ago. For example, in early October 2014, the domestic media, referring to unnamed representatives of the Rostec state corporation, told about the existence of an electronic warfare complex, which has certain differences from existing systems.
According to that data, the Alabuga project envisaged the construction of a rocket equipped with a special warhead. Instead of a high-explosive fragmentation or other warhead that exerts a mechanical effect on the target, it was proposed to use a powerful generator of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Working at a given point in space, such a generator was supposed to have a negative effect on the enemy's electronic systems. The result could be a disruption of communication and control, damage to navigation and guidance equipment, etc. The systems could receive the most serious damage and fail.
According to data three years ago, the explosive-magnetic generator of the rocket of a new type was supposed to be triggered at an altitude of about 200-300 m, which made it possible to "cover" ground objects with an electromagnetic pulse within a radius of 3.5 km. As a result of such an attack, the communication and control systems were to be the first to fail. Also, damage to radar detection equipment and other electronics was not ruled out. Left without the ability to monitor the situation, use modern weapons and coordinate joint work, enemy units on the battlefield would not be able to continue the battle and fulfill their assigned tasks.
As reported in the past, the main challenge in the development of such weapons is the creation of a missile capable of delivering an electromagnetic pulse generator to a given point. So far, such equipment is distinguished by its large dimensions and weight, which leads to corresponding consequences. A large missile can be detected by enemy air or anti-missile defenses.
By the beginning of October 2014, as the press wrote, the "Alabuga" system passed field tests, after which the finalization of the project began. The purpose of the new work was to improve the main characteristics of an explosive magnetic generator: pulse power and exposure range.
Subsequently, the project "Alabuga" has repeatedly become the topic of new publications, but all of them to one degree or another repeated the original messages. No new details of a technical or other nature were disclosed. The last time a new rocket with an unusual warhead was recalled at the end of last summer, but this time all new publications were actually a retelling of materials three years ago.
Apparently, it was the last wave of discussions about the Alabuga product that led to the long-awaited official comments. As it turned out, by the time the first reports about the rocket appeared, the research program had already been completed with the desired results in the form of a mass of necessary information. In addition, the research made it possible to begin the development of full-fledged models of promising weapons, which in the future can enter service and lead to an increase in the army's combat effectiveness.
It cannot be ruled out that the news of the fall of 2014 was nevertheless related to real events in the field of electromagnetic weapons, but was not fully accurate. Indeed, by that time, KRET and other enterprises of the radio-electronic industry, having completed their research program, could begin the development of practically applicable samples. As for the name "Alabuga", originally used for research work, then its use in the context of development work may be associated with some confusion.
Regardless of the exact course of events in the recent past, the veracity or inaccuracy of old press publications and other factors, it is now known that the program for the creation of electromagnetic weapons does not stand still. An official representative of a leading enterprise in the industry confirmed that the design of such systems has begun. However, all work is carried out under the heading of secrecy, and therefore no details of interest to specialists and the public have not yet been announced.
Recent reports from official sources allow us to look to the future with optimism. In our country, a fundamentally new weapon is being developed that can have a noticeable impact on the course of a hypothetical conflict. Reportedly, new weapons will be created in the formats of missiles, bombs and artillery shells. Thus, ammunition with explosive magnetic generators as a warhead will be able to enter service with different types of troops, which will lead to a certain increase in their potential in the fight against the enemy.
It should be noted that the officials have not yet specified the timing of the completion of the current projects. Apparently, development work based on the results of "Alabuga" started several years ago, and therefore may be completed in the very near future. Perhaps, in the near future, the military and designers, without violating the existing secrecy regime, will talk about new successes in the development of a promising direction.
