Hypersonic weapons: the United States and Russia
To understand the degree of threat posed by hypersonic weapons is possible only through examples. You can talk as long as you like about Russia's superiority in creating hypersonic weapons, but so far all the information about the Kh-47M2 "Dagger", "Zircon" and "Avangard" gives rise to more questions than answers. The first is most often called not hypersonic, but an aeroballistic complex based on Iskander. All that we have seen from the Zircon is two transport and launch missile containers on board the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which are supposedly intended for this very complex. In turn, Avangard is sometimes even called a “step backward” in comparison with conventional ICBMs and submarine ballistic missiles in terms of the destructive power of weapons.
But the Americans are also not doing well: this can be seen even through the prism of American propaganda. In February, it became known that the United States closed due to a lack of funds the project to create a hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon, an air-launched hypersonic missile, which was to be carried by fighters and bombers. Leaving, however, with itself another similar project - ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon). This project, according to available data, is a solid-propellant aeroballistic missile with a warhead, the role of which is played by a detachable hypersonic warhead with a Tactical Boost Glide engine. We saw it with our own eyes last year - as a mass and size model suspended under the wing of a B-52H strategic bomber.
Interestingly, the speed of the warhead, according to Western sources, can reach Mach 20. If this is true, then the speed of the ARRW combat equipment is about twice as high as the speed of the Dagger and, probably, the Zircon, although it is definitely too early to judge about the latter.
It is no secret that the United States traditionally focuses on air power and the navy, not forgetting, however, about ground forces. Last year, information appeared about a land-based hypersonic complex under the uncomplicated name of the Hypersonic Weapons System (for the US Army). Recall, it is a two-container complex towed by an Oshkosh M983A4 tractor. The concept is based on the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) multifunctional highly maneuverable gliding hypersonic warhead. Earlier it was reported that its warhead can be created on the basis of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) warhead, which in theory can develop a speed of Mach 8. Not nearly as impressive as ARRW, but still.
In general, in the development of hypersonic systems, the United States clearly does not look like outsiders: neither against the background of Russia, nor against the background of China, nor against the background of anyone else. Rather, all other countries need to worry. And they understand this.
Complex of usefulness
Since Russia does not have the financial capabilities of the United States, the answer will have to be "cheap and cheerful." On February 12, Izvestia reported, citing a source in the military-industrial complex, that the Russian Federation is currently designing an ultra-long-range air-launched missile for the Soviet MiG-31 and the promising MiG-41. The product has a difficult-to-pronounce name IFRK DP (multifunctional long-range intercept missile system). It is designed to intercept "difficult targets", namely, hypersonic blocks of promising American missiles. Allegedly, for today, they have already conducted theoretical studies on an air-to-air missile with a multiple warhead. Now the technical details of the complex are being determined.
It should be noted right away that this is not a rocket, but a complex with a capital letter, which has several main components. If we sum up all the data, then the principle of the system looks like this:
1. An interceptor fighter launches a carrier capable of flying about 200 kilometers.
2. A block with several air-to-air missiles is separated from the carrier.
3. With the help of active radar homing heads, these missiles search for and hit targets.
The flight of thought really strikes the wildest imagination: even the mythical two-stage KS-172, which should (should have?) Have a range of about 400 kilometers, fades against the background of such weapons. The main question can be formulated as follows: who needs such a complex complex and why? In short, it is designed to dramatically increase the chances of successfully repelling a strike using hypersonic weapons. “An ordinary anti-aircraft missile has one warhead,” said earlier military expert Dmitry Kornev. - The probability of a miss on a hypersonic maneuvering target is very high. But if one ammunition carries several homing shells, then the chances of hitting a high-speed object increase significantly."
In general, it seems to be about a massive strike, since in this case, conventional means may indeed be powerless. The most interesting thing is the choice of the submunition. That is, the missile, which should become a thunderstorm of maneuvering hypersonic units. One of the announced candidates is the promising K-77M medium-range aviation missile, which is another version of the RVV-AE or R-77.
The K-77M must have a very long launch range, and besides, be relatively compact: the missile must be placed in the inner compartments of the Su-57. In this regard, one involuntarily recalls the mysterious product shown last year at the exhibition of NPO Vympel, which is part of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation. Recall that the rocket presented then, according to experts, was much shorter than any known version of the RVV-AE. There are other differences as well. “The nozzle is wider, which may indicate that it (the rocket. - Author's note) has the ability to control the thrust vector,” the Western mass media wrote at the time.
The rocket, judging by the appearance of the bare part, has an active radar homing head. All this theoretically fits into the requirements of the IFRK DP. By the way, it is pertinent to recall that in addition to the K-77M, there is also the K-77ME project - roughly speaking, a similar product, but with an increased flight range.
Again MiG-25
Finally, the most exciting thing for air amateurs is the MiG-41 new generation fighter-interceptor project, which has now been mentioned again. For some reason, in the West they like to call it the “sixth generation” (let's leave it on their conscience). As we know, the MiG-31 in a broad sense is a deeply modernized MiG-25, which made its first flight in 1964. Whatever one may say, but to make an aircraft of the XXI century out of the 31st is very, very difficult: if only because of the inadequacy of modern requirements for maneuverability, efficiency and radar stealth. In turn, the promising fighter, the MiG-41, should be a completely new platform, while retaining the main trump card of the MiG-25/31, namely, very high speed.
The data cited by Izvestia once again show that the MiG-41 is not just a "phantom", but a real project. It is pertinent to recall that back in 2018, the general director of the MiG corporation, Ilya Tarasenko, said that the MiG-41 was not an invention, and the Russian aircraft manufacturing corporation would present the results of work on the creation of a new fifth generation fighter in the foreseeable future. It should be said right away that absolutely all the images of the MiG-41 “walking” on the Web have almost nothing to do with the aircraft. Therefore, such statements are the only thing we have now.
