At the rear of the turret of the Tor-M2U self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system, a radar station for detecting air targets with an isodal-partial method of forming a radiation pattern with a change in frequency is installed, which forces the enemy's electronic warfare to put active barrage interference with a low specific power, which does not allow to "score" scanning signal SOC
The escalation of a major regional conflict of the 21st century cannot exclude the massive use of strategic cruise missiles and other high-precision weapons, and therefore the workload of the air defense units that make up the Aerospace Forces will always be maximum: they will cover strategically important industrial facilities, large cities, military-industrial complex enterprises, airbases, naval bases and so on. In such a situation, the ground forces can only rely on the cover of the attached military anti-aircraft missile systems of the S-300V-B4 type, which will also have to resist the "HARMs" planning UAB and other elements of the WTO, which will not fully ensure the security of the ground forces. And then the only true defense are military air defense systems of short and medium range such as "Tor-M1 / 2" and "Buk-M1 / 3".
Until recently, the main modifications of these complexes (Tor-M1 and Buk-M1) fully met all existing threats, but like any weapon system, they slowly began to lag behind modern anti-air defense / missile defense systems, which are gradually switching to hypersonic high-speed frontier of operation, and also become less and less noticeable both in the radar and in the infrared ranges.
Self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) 9K331 "Tor-M1", which differs from the basic modification 9K330 "Tor" by the channel extended to 2 simultaneously hitting targets, software and hardware system linkage with the unified battery command post 9S737 "Ranzhir", increased power 14, The 5-kilogram warhead of the 9M331 missile defense system and the lowering of the lower limit of the targets to be hit to destroy the CD to 10 m, was adopted by the ground forces in 1991. Due to its high combat qualities, the Tor-M1 continues to function to this day as one of the most important air defense systems in the Russian army. The maximum speed of the targeted target - 700 m / s, as well as the minimum RCS - 0.05 m2, allow you to fight almost any modern UAVs, anti-radar missiles like HARM and ALARM, as well as free-falling and guided bombs.
The main feature that keeps the Tor-M1 in the army is the unique version of the 9K331 combat vehicle, represented by the combination of all running, firing and network-centric elements in a single autonomous combat unit. The basis of the basis of the combat vehicle is an MRLS operating in the X-band, having a small-element phased array of a pulse-Doppler type. It fully satisfies the 9M331 radio command guidance system, which requires the highest resolution at the time of convergence with the target. The beam width of 1 degree made it possible to achieve a resolution of 1 m in the elevation and azimuth planes, which made it possible to ensure reliable activation of the missile defense fuse even when the radar was resolved at a range of 100 meters, i.e. the anti-aircraft missile will not "slip" past the target. And modular equipment from two quadruple transport and launch containers 9Ya281 allows you to reload Tor-M1 in 25 minutes.
The ammunition load of the new Tor-M2U will be doubled due to the compactness of the new 9M338 missiles (Product R3V-MD), as well as their placement in small cylindrical TPKs (pictured below). In service with BM 9A331MK "Tor-M2U" equipment from 8 standard 9M331 missiles is placed in 2 quadruple transport and launch modules 9Ya281, stacked in 2, separated by a partition, tower niches (on the top photo)
Despite the fact that later a more advanced version of the Tor-M1V complex was developed with a new optical-electronic sighting device 9Sh319 and the upper target engagement zone expanded from 6 to 10 km, the fire performance of the complex did not change: the number of target channels did not exceed 2, which made it very difficult to repel a massive missile and air strike.
In order to increase the capabilities of the complex, the Scientific Research Electromechanical Institute OJSC developed a new modification of the Tor-M2, which, in addition to the ceiling of the targeted targets increased to 10,000 m, was equipped with a more advanced radar with the ability to simultaneously intercept 4 complex air targets. The performance of the complex has doubled, the reaction time remained the same (4-8 s), which sharply increased the survivability of the battery of the new "Thors" and defended objects. But one more task that had to be solved for several years sat in the minds of developers, specialists of the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant "Kupol" (the manufacturer of the complex) and the military. We are talking about increasing the ammunition load of the 9A331MK Tor-M2U combat vehicle by equipping it with a completely new type of 9M338 missile defense system.
The promising 9M338 anti-aircraft guided missile was developed by the Vympel Design Bureau located in the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation with the support of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern. Detailed characteristics of the new short-range missile interceptor were not disclosed, but it is known that the missile is more compact, maneuverable and high-precision than the early 9M331 and 9M331D missiles. The small size of the new missile will make it possible to double the Tor-M2 ammunition load (from 8 to 16 units). For this, the guides of 2 9M334 anti-aircraft missile modules will be significantly reduced and structurally adapted for the aerodynamic controls of the 9M338 missile, which are located in the tail section. The new rocket has 2 side-by-side cross-shaped blocks of aerodynamic planes. The first one is fixed aerodynamic wings to stabilize the air flow in front of the second block. The second block is represented by 4 rotary aerodynamic rudders, which have maximum efficiency due to the front empennage. A similar design of the control unit is used in the French "Magic-2" close-combat missile, with the only difference that it is located in the nose of the missile ("double duck").
The uniqueness of this design is in high available overloads, up to 45 units. even without OVT and gas-dynamic DPU. During the tests, the 9M338 missiles destroyed 5 small 9F841 Saman target missiles (a modification of the 9FM33M3 missiles of the Osa-AK complex), 3 of which were hit by a direct hit to the target missile using the “hit-to-kill” method of kinetic destruction. "Tor-M2U" showed unique anti-missile capabilities with a 2-fold increased survivability in the most difficult MRAU environment thanks to its doubled arsenal. By mid-November 2014, JSC VMP AVITEK produced 40 new 9M338 missiles, which in the second half of 2016 will enter service with two modernized sets of Tor-M2U air defense systems. The "updated" Torahs will mark the beginning of a large-scale reinforcement of echeloned military air defense in addition to the deeply improved Buk-M3 air defense systems, which will replace the aging Buk-M1 systems. More about this.
The Chief of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces, Lieutenant-General Alexander Leonov, outlining the advantages of the updated Tor-M2U anti-aircraft missile systems, also stipulated the terms of delivery to the RF Ground Forces of promising modifications of the Buk-M3 medium-range air defense system. RIA Novosti reported this on July 2, 2016, with reference to RSN radio. According to A. Leonov, new divisions will begin to enter the troops to replace the Buk-M1 / M1-2 / M2 air defense system at the end of 2016 as well. The Buk-M3 is a fundamentally new medium-range anti-aircraft missile system that blocks the upper boundary of the airspace from the invasion of modern hypersonic air attack weapons. Its element base is built on modern digital computing facilities, and the ammunition load is 50% higher than that of the earlier versions of the complex. The basis of the 9K317M air defense system is a completely new 9M317M missile defense system, the parameters of which are many times better than those of the 9M38M1 family of missiles. In the aggregate of most of the performance characteristics, the Buk-M3 is practically not inferior, and in some qualities even surpasses the basic S-300V anti-missile systems of the first versions.
ALMOST "GLADIATOR" IN THE "SKIN" OF A SIMPLE "BUKA"
Let us consider all the advantages of the Buk-M3, starting from the characteristics of the penultimate version of the Buk-M2 complex.
The most significant advantage of the new Buk-M3 is the new 9M317M SAM. Its structural resemblance to the ship version 9M317ME (KZRK "Shtil-1") determines similar flight performance parameters. In particular, the maximum flight speed of the missile is 1550 m / s (5580 km / h), which is 26% faster than the 9M317 missile of the Buk-M2 complex (4428 km / h) and 82% faster than the 9M38M1 missile of the Buk-M1 complex "(3060 km / h); The 9M317M reached hypersound, and is now capable of catching up with small-sized PRLR and OTBR on the acceleration section of the trajectory. The new semi-active radar seeker 9E432 in conjunction with a modified programmable algorithm for the operation of the 9A317M SOU and the 9S36 low-altitude MRLS for intercepting missile launchers and small UAVs made it possible to intercept hypersonic aerodynamic and ballistic targets with speeds up to 10, 1M (3,000 m / s), which corresponds to the SQ -300V and S-300PM1 / 2 "Favorite". A new dual-mode solid-propellant rocket engine with an extended cruising period made it possible to hit targets at a range of 70 km and an altitude of 35 km, keeping up with the S-300PT / PS air defense system. The maneuverability of the 9M317M SAM exceeds the 9M38M1 by several units, reaching 24 - 27G. In terms of the efficiency of work with complex highly maneuverable targets, the 9M317M missiles correspond to the 9M83M interceptor missiles of the S-300VM Antey-2500 and S-300V4 complexes, which for the first time puts military air defense systems of the Buk family at the level of specialized long-range air defense and missile defense systems.
In addition, there is a specialized package of modular homing heads for missiles of the 9M317M type, which includes the active radar seeker “Slanets”, developed by JSC “Moscow Research Institute“Agat”. Air targets are detected and captured by a slotted antenna array with a monopulse radio direction finder. According to "Agat", ARGSN "Slate" can receive target designation from almost any external sources (AWACS aircraft, multipurpose fighter-interceptor radars, ground and ship radars with appropriate information exchange equipment). The energy potential of the "Slate" makes it possible to capture a target with an RCS of 0.3 m2 at a distance of 35 km, which calls into question the American ambitions to dominate the F-35A in the theater of operations of the 21st century. The use of "Slate" in 9M317M missiles is capable of wreaking havoc in NATO squadrons, since the operators of the Buk-M3 complex, in the presence of external remote target designation means, will be able to fire with the SDU and 9S36 switched off even from natural terrain shelters, which will increase the survivability of the battalion tens or even hundreds of times.
A similar modular ARGSN package was also developed for the early versions of the 9M317A missiles included in the ammunition load of the Buk-M1-2 and Buk-M2 air defense missile systems. But as an active seeker, it is not "Slate" that is used here, but a simplified version of it 9B-1103M "Washer", capable of detecting a VC with an EPR of 0.3 m2 at a distance of about 20 km.
The fire performance of the Buk-M3 is of even greater interest. To begin with, let us dwell on the fact that the target channel of the modification of the complex, in which the 9M317M missiles with the "Slate" ARGSN will be used, will be maximum, corresponding to the total throughput of the division of 36 targets. The target channel of the division, where the 9M317M missiles with the 9E432 PARGSN will be used, will depend solely on the number of 9A317M self-propelled launchers and the 9S36 low-altitude illumination and guidance radars raised on the hydraulic boom. Unlike the first versions of self-propelled firing installations of the 9A310M1 type, equipped with a single-channel radar for illumination and guidance, the 9A317 and 9A317M SOUs are equipped with 4-channel RPNs with a phased antenna array, similar to a phased array is also equipped with 9S36. The productivity of the complex has quadrupled. The RPN captures the target with an RCS of 0.1 m2 (at a flight altitude of 3 km) at a distance of 50 km, at a flight altitude of 10 m - 17 km (only for low-altitude MRLS 9S36). The sector of view and capture in azimuth is 120 degrees in elevation - 90 degrees (from -5 to + 85), which makes it possible to reflect the strikes of high-precision weapons attacking from extreme vertical angles, for example, ALARM PRLR. According to this criterion, "Buk-M2 / 3" are superior to the S-300V, where the 9S19M2 "Ginger" radar and the 9S36 MRLS operate in the elevation sector up to +75 degrees.
One division of the Buk-M1 complex usually consisted of 6 9A310M1 SOUs, due to which the number of channels was limited to 6, or 10 (when one 4-channel 9S36 was connected to a divisional link). The Buk-M3 division has up to 4-8 missile launchers 9A317M and up to 2 RPN 9S36, thanks to which the complex can fire up to 36 air targets. "Three hundred" can fire on such a number of targets only as part of an anti-aircraft missile system of 6 divisions, each of which is assigned a 6-channel RPN 30N6E. One more important conclusion is drawn from this: in terms of survivability, the Buk-M3 can in some cases even surpass the S-300PM1. To destroy one S-300PM1 battery, it is enough to simply disable the "Shovel" (as the Air Defense Forces called the RPN 30N6E for the appropriate form), for this Buk-M3 it is necessary to destroy not only the RPN 9A36, but also each radar fire " self-propelled gun "9A317M, which requires about a hundred anti-radar and cruise missiles, and in one air strike. After the introduction of active radar guidance into the new Buk, it will be able to compete even with such an air defense system as the S-350 Vityaz.
RPN 9S36 on a 22-meter hydraulic boom reveals not only unique capabilities to combat low-altitude cruise missiles, but also allows you to destroy remote ground targets within a radius of 26 km (radio horizon for the 9S36 antenna post raised on the boom)
We have already spoken about the importance of ammunition stock when analyzing the "reinforced" Tor-M2U, the same can be said about the Buk-M3. If on launchers 9A39 and 9A316 it had only 8 "open" guide missiles 9M38M1 / 9M317 (4 of which were located on launching guides, and 4 on transport), the new transport and launcher (TPU) 9A316M is equipped with 2x6 modules of "closed »Inclined TPK with 12 9M317M missiles, any of which can be launched, and not only those 4 that lie on the upper launch carriage. As you can see, there are more opportunities and the ammunition is 50% higher. The same story is with the 9A317M SOU: the ammunition load of 6 TPK is located in a single inclined module. Anti-aircraft missiles are not located in open space, but are reliably protected by a durable hull of transport and launch containers.
Without a grain of doubt, the Buk-M3 can be considered a promising and most effective military air defense system in the world. Even the fact of the development of the 9M317M rocket with ARGSN "Slate" speaks of the enormous modernization potential of the complex. The 9S18M3 Kupol radar detector operating in the centimeter wavelength range has a resolution that makes it possible to issue precise target designation to missiles with an active RGSN, and with appropriate software and hardware upgrades - even a serial 9M317M missile defense system with a standard semi-active RGSN, further increasing the firing capacity of the complex.
At the end of our review, we will dare to suggest that in the coming years after the arrival of the Buk-M3 universal anti-aircraft missile systems in the brigade and divisional units of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, long-range air defense systems of the S-300V / B4 type, depending on the operational situation at the theater military operations, can be transferred to the Aerospace Forces for more reliable protection of strategic important facilities of the state in conditions of established and growing instability in key eastern, southwestern and western air directions.
