Optical-location sighting system ZRAK "Pantsir-S1" (later also "Pantsir-M") with a thermal imaging module (right) and an optoelectronic unit (left). This element is the basis for the immunity of the "Pantsir" family: functioning in most spectra of the visible optical and infrared ranges, the sensors will be able to fully compensate for possible guidance errors of the 1PC2-1E "Helmet" target designation radar, which may be allowed as a result of active radio countermeasures from aircraft / electronic warfare UAVs enemy
In the event that a large-scale military confrontation occurs in the naval theater of operations, saturated with surface ships, patrol and tactical aviation of the sides, tens and hundreds of anti-radar and anti-ship missiles, decoy aircraft targets, small-sized UAVs and other high-precision weapons can be used. In such a situation, not every CIUS of medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems is capable of coping with the repulsion of a massive "interspecific" strike by various types of missile weapons. As it turns out, the exception is neither the Aegis system with the AN / SPY-1 radar, nor the hastily developed MRLK AN / SPY-6 (V). New multichannel illumination radars (instead of the old SPG-62) of the latter, in conjunction with RIM-174 (SM-6) missiles, although they are capable of simultaneously intercepting more than 20-30 different targets, are absolutely not immune from suppression by modern electronic warfare systems installed on the airborne forces themselves or electronic warfare aircraft of enemy naval aviation, as well as from the natural restart of the computing facilities of the combat information and control system of the URO ship. As a result, a certain part of an anti-ship missile system or an anti-ballistic missile system can break into the close air defense / missile defense line of a ship formation, where the entire complexity of interception tasks falls on the ship's self-defense air defense systems.
The fate of an entire carrier strike grouping may depend on the effectiveness of these air defense elements in modern combat, and therefore even small states of regional importance focus precisely on the modernization of short-range shipborne air defense systems. The greatest success in this direction has been achieved by Russian specialists, having developed the famous and effective air defense systems "Kortik", "Palma", "Pantsir-M", the turret KUV "Gibka", as well as the "Dagger" air defense system.
The ZRAK 3M87 Kortik, developed by the Instrument Design Bureau, became a real breakthrough in domestic engineering at the end of the 20th century. A fundamentally new design of the complex, based on the 3S87 compact missile and cannon combat modules, made it possible to install several ZRAK modules even on small ships of the frigate and corvette classes. And the high fire performance of each BM 3M87 made it possible to simultaneously intercept up to 4 anti-ship missiles approaching the ship (with a 3-4-second interval from each other), in the improved 3M87-1 Kortik-M they were able to increase the performance to 5-6 targets. The range and density of effective fire of the Kortika-M artillery unit has also increased thanks to the new extended GSh-6-30KD automatic cannons. Compared to the standard GSh-6-30K, the new guns increased the rate of fire by 11% (from 75 to 83 rds / s), as well as the initial speed of the BPS by 27% (from 860 to 1100 m / s). The new 3M311-1 SAM received a high interception altitude (up to 6000 m), a range (up to 10 km). The reaction time was reduced to 3 - 4 seconds, thanks to which the "Kortik-M" to this day continues to outstrip the western shipborne self-defense air defense systems in terms of basic parameters. The most important features of the complex can be considered the autonomy of the BM only in conjunction with the "Positive-ME1.2" radar detector (without integration into the electronic architecture of the ship's CIUS), as well as a hybrid radar-optical guidance system with radio command control of missiles, which dramatically increases the noise immunity of the complex.
Optoelectronic and radar sighting systems of the shipborne ZRAK "Kortik / Kortik-M" received incredibly accurate targeting capabilities (1 m for OLPK and 2.5 m for RLPK). For the highest target sighting resolution, the millimeter range was introduced into the RLPK. This is due to the high requirements of "equipment" high-speed two-stage 3M311 missile guided missiles. The spread of the fragmentation-rod warhead after the rupture is only 5 meters, and the deflection of the missile defense system by 2 extra meters would make the complex useless
Later, the "Kortikam" will be replaced by the more long-range and powerful "Pantsir-M" ("Club"), the radar architecture of which is represented by a multifunctional radar with a 1PC2-1E "Helmet" HEADLAMP of the millimeter range (Ka), and the optoelectronic one - with a 10ES1- E, capable of detecting and "locking" targets for precise auto-tracking in optical and infrared channels. The Shlem radar “captures” targets with an RCS of 0.1 m2 (AGM-88 HARM PRLR) at a distance of 12-13 km, and OLPK 10ES1-E at a distance of 14 km, which is much more than that of the “Kortik”. And the high initial flight speed (4, 4M) and low deceleration coefficient (40 m / s per 1000 m trajectory) of the "slender" two-stage missile defense system 57E6E retained its high flight speed even in the far zone of the complex's radius of action, the rocket can vigorously maneuver towards an evading target even 19 km from the launcher. For example, the speed loss coefficient of the 9M330-2 single-stage anti-aircraft missile of the Kinzhal air defense missile system is much greater, and at a distance of 12 km (the range of the complex), the missile defense system will not be able to cope with a highly maneuverable medium-altitude target, since its speed will be less than 1300 km / h. But the "Dagger" also has serious advantages over the "Kortikas" and "Shells", thanks to which the complex will remain in service for more than one decade in the arsenal of most Russian surface ships of the "frigate", "BOD", "nuclear missile cruiser", "heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser ".
The second (marching) stage of the 57E6E anti-aircraft missile, reaching the target at a speed of 3000 km / h, is capable of maintaining its trajectory even in the most difficult jamming environment thanks to two devices - a radio responder and an optical transponder. The first maintains radio communication with the auxiliary antenna array of the BM "Pantsir" input on a radio channel hopping at a frequency of 3500 Hz (in the range arbitrarily set by the on-board computer of the complex); the second, with the help of low-level laser radiation (also with a coded component), indicates the exact location of the sustainer stage to the optical / IR sensor "Pantsir" in case of powerful optical-electronic interference of the enemy
Developed at NPO Altair and ICB Fakel, the Kinzhal self-defense air defense missile system entered service with the Navy in 1989 to replace the aging Osa-M single-channel complex, as well as to supplement the capabilities and cover the "dead zone" of long-range shipborne air defense systems S-300F / FM. The minimum range of destruction of air targets near the Forts was 5 km, which is why the 5-kilometer "dead zone" of the flagships of the Admiral Kuznetsov type and etc. 1144 was covered only by the AK-630 ZAK and the ineffective Wasps, which could break through the defenses. maybe even a small number of "Harpoons". The developers of the "Dagger" solved the problem by developing for the complex an autonomous antenna post K-12-1 with a radar detector and an MRLS based on a phased array, as well as an advanced VPU 3R-95 with rotating under-deck eight-fold revolving TPK designed for vertical launch of 9M330-2 anti-aircraft missiles with a "dead zone" of only 1.5 km. One antenna post K-12-1 is capable of automatically accompanying on aisle 8 and firing at 4 air targets in azimuth and elevation planes of 60x60 degrees. On the aircraft carrier pr. 11435 "Admiral Kuznetsov" 4 "Dagger" complexes were installed (4 AP K-12-1 and 4 VPU 3R-95), thanks to which the ship can handle 16 enemy attacking missiles simultaneously with only one "Dagger".
Complexes "Kortik", "Pantsir-M" and "Osa" launch a direct-fire missile, which is why the combat modules and launchers installed on the side of the ship opposite to the missile-hazardous direction will not be able to fire at low-flying anti-ship missiles (the direction of fire for them is blocked by superstructures and other structural elements of the ship), which will exactly 2 times reduce the chances of repelling a strike by enemy missiles. Vertically starting SAM "Dagger" are all-round: after the catapult launch, the 9M330-2 leans towards the target with the help of gas-dynamic rudders even before the launch of the main engine, this happens already above the ship's superstructures, due to which missiles from all launchers can attack targets and performance is not lost.
The indisputable advantage of the under-deck placement of the "Dagger" launcher is the survivability of the complex ammunition in the event of the ship being hit by a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of the PRLR or other air attack units, all the electronics of the "Kortikov" and "Armor" on the robotic combat modules are under the "open sky", and therefore can be incapacitated even by one powerful warhead missile that exploded near the ship.
As you can see, various short-range air defense systems of our Navy perfectly complement and replace each other, turning the 15-kilometer zone around the KUG into a “total missile defense shield”, making the enemy only dream of a successful concept of a “global lightning strike” in a maritime theater of operations. How are things going in the "friendly western camp" and what should our RCC developers pay special attention to?
SEA RAM - HALF-MILLION ADVERTISING PROBE FROM RATHEON
The latest version of the short-range missile launcher "SeaRAM" Mk 15 Mod 31 CIWS. 11 inclined guides for SAM RIM-116B in a "package". Unlike the reinforced Mk 49 launcher, the cells are assembled in a single combat module with a radar and optoelectronic correction module for easy placement on small warships. The estimated cost of one RIM-116 is about 450 thousand dollars.
The SeaRAM short-range anti-aircraft missile system (ASMD) was developed by the joint US-German efforts of Raytheon and RAMSYS back in the late 70s. last century and adopted by the US Navy and Western Europe in 1987 (two years before entering our Navy "Kortikov" and "Daggers"). The complex was developed as an autonomous short-range air defense and missile defense system to protect ships from massive attacks by anti-ship missiles and other enemy air forces, as well as to supplement the capabilities of the Mk 15 Vulcan Phalanx anti-aircraft artillery complex and overlap the "dead zone" of the SM-1/2 air defense missile system ". For the complex, three types of inclined rotary launchers have been developed: Mk 49 - for 21 TPK for ships of large displacement, Mk 15 Mod 31 - for 11 TPK for small NKs of the "corvette / frigate" classes, and also Mk 29 - modified TPK KZRK "Sea Sparrow" with 10 guide cells for missiles RIM-116A / B. In order to minimize the architecture of the Mk 15 Mod 31 for the requirements of small ships, a radio transparent fairing with target designation radar and an optical-thermal imaging sighting system was placed on the Mk 15 CIWS platform, which is the same with the TPK missiles; as a result, the complex became fully consistent with the rocket version of the Volcano Falanx ZAK.
Despite the large spatial sector of rotation of the launcher (310x90 degrees, respectively), the complex has similar limitations in dealing with low-altitude targets flying up from the side of the ship's superstructures. The reaction time of "SeaRAM" is close to 7-8 seconds, which is 2 times longer than that of "Kortik" or "Carapace". For example, when an American surface ship was fired upon by the Onyx anti-ship missile system, the SeaRAM SAM system will be able to launch the RAM Block 2 (RIM-116B) missile defense system only 5-7 seconds after it enters the 10-kilometer kill zone, during which time 3M55 will overcome more than 4 km, get close to the ship up to 6 km, and begin to perform vigorous anti-aircraft maneuvers, which RAMs, to put it mildly, "dislike".
Despite the manipulation of some Western PR experts with information about the successful use of SeaRAM in the VandalEx training firing, where the complex is tasked with intercepting the Vandal 2-fly training missile, the actual effectiveness of the RAM Block 1/2 against a modern highly maneuverable anti-ship missile system is much lower claimed 95%. First, the Vandal target rocket moves along a known trajectory at a speed of 2.1M (2300 km / h) and is included in the speed range of targets of the SeaRAM complex, which is approximately 2550 km / h. The Russian anti-ship missile system 3M54E of the Club-S / N complex in the final flight phase accelerates to 3500 km / h with energy maneuvering, which is unattainable for the officially declared speed of the SeaRAM target of 700 m / s. Secondly, "Vandal" flies at an altitude of 15 m, which is 3 - 5 times higher than the final segment of the trajectory of any modern anti-ship missile system (3-5 meters), this allows RIM-116 to knowingly and without difficulty go to an attacking enemy missile. Thirdly, it is also quite obvious that the RIM-116A / B missile launcher, launched from one NK, will absolutely not be able to protect the neighboring AUG ship, located 4 - 5 km away, from 3-swing air attack weapons: for this it simply has not enough speed. SAM 57E6E complex "Pantsir-M" is 2 times faster on any part of its trajectory (1300 - 800 m / s). Calling "SeaRAM" a promising means of self-defense against the enemy's MPAU simply does not dare. For a successful interception of a maneuverable WTO, the missile defense system must have 3-4 times greater permissible overloads and such a quality as a high angular rate of turn, and now take a look at the areas of the aerodynamic controls of the RIM-116 - the answer is obvious.
Now let's look at the "stuffing" of the RIM-116A / B anti-aircraft missiles. A combined two-channel homing head is responsible for the "capture" and destruction of the target, the first and main channel of which is represented by the IKGSN of the POST / POST-RMP type, used in the Stinger MANPADS. The seeker POST also has an additional UV subchannel of target direction finding, which contributes to increased noise immunity of the seeker when using IR traps by the enemy, as well as during natural high-temperature phenomena caused by hostilities at sea (ignition of aviation kerosene on the deck of an aircraft carrier, etc.). An advanced modification of the POST-RMP can be pre-programmed for the conditions of the reconnaissance tactical situation, including the enemy's electronic warfare means and the presence of optical-electronic jamming complexes.
The second channel is represented by two compact passive radar seeker, operating on the principle of the seeker of anti-radar missiles. Multi-frequency radiation receivers (radio interferometers) are placed in miniature fairings located on special outboard bow rods placed in front of the IKGSN. Passive direction finders are designed for early detection of anti-ship missiles by the radiation of operating ARGSN or radio altimeters, which are usually activated 35-40 km from the target ship, this increases the chances of a successful interception, but does not guarantee anything if the attacking missile also uses a passive guidance method.
If the ship is attacked by an anti-radar missile with a passive RGSN, the missile guidance system will be put in a difficult position. The passive radio interferometer will not detect radiation, and the PRLR will move by inertia with a long-term "burned out" rocket engine; the only thing that the IR / UV channel of the RIM-116 anti-aircraft missile can orient itself on is the increased temperature of the RLR nose cone, which is observed as a result of friction against the dense layers of the troposphere. But here, too, our developers have a huge field for activity.
Anti-radar missiles, similar to the 15Zh65 Topol-M ICBM, can be equipped with various missile defense systems (missile defense penetration systems) of the enemy, the basis of which can be a system of capillary channels in the RLR fairing to create a dense haze around it from infrared aerosol generators of infrared radiation. Such a haze completely distorts, or even masks the thermal signature of a missile for atmospheric interceptors with IKGSN. This once again underlines the futility of the development of the American-German project "SeaRAM" with the existing guidance system. Interception difficulties for the complex can also be observed in relation to other airborne weapons with passive or satellite guidance, including UAB, guided ammunition and missiles with a thermal guidance system.
BALANCED FRENCH APPROACH
Despite the widespread use of the SeaRAM air defense system (ASMD) in the fleets of some Western European and Asian partner states of the United States, France, as the military-technical leader of Western Europe, models sometimes much more advanced defensive weapons systems for all branches of the armed forces, and the Navy is no exception.
The VL MICA short-range anti-aircraft missile system was presented to a wide audience at the Singapore exhibition "Asian Aerospace". It was a ground-based modification of a promising air defense system, which proved its effectiveness by the beginning of 2005. The MICA-IR infrared missile, unified with an air-to-air missile, successfully hit small-sized target missiles imitating CDs in the mode of following the terrain, at a distance of 12-15 km. In the same 2000, work began on the naval version of the VL MICA, which later became the basis for the self-defense of the Indonesian Nakhoda Ragam class corvettes, the Sigma Moroccan small frigates, the Falaj 2 Emirati small corvettes, and the Slazak URO Polish corvettes. (project 621 "Gavron") and Omani patrol ships of the "Khareef" class.
Demonstration of a variety of modular vertical launcher for 8 TPK "Sylver A-43" for the NK Navy and ground vertical launcher for the VL MICA complex, launch of the MICA-EM SAM
All modifications of the VL MICA air defense system have a vertical type of missile launch, the merits of which we have already talked about using the example of our "Dagger". The next advantage of the complex is the use of the MICA SAM family with different homing principles: passive infrared and active radar. SAM MICA-IR is equipped with a highly sensitive IKGSN operating in the mid-wave infrared range (MWIR) in the spectrum of 3-5 microns and long-wave infrared (LWIR) in the spectrum of 8-12 microns. Both the first and the last ranges provide excellent display of most heat-contrast targets, and SVIK (3-5 µm) also has the ability to improve the selection of highlighted heat-contrast targets against the background of a complex (in thermal terms) earth surface. The advanced high-performance on-board computer of the missile with loaded algorithms for tracking air targets with medium and low infrared signatures contributes to the improvement of "capture", these include advanced stealthy tactical and strategic cruise missiles with complex nozzle contours to reduce the thermal glow of the jet stream, etc., and also subsonic targets that approach missiles on colliding courses. The IKGSN operation algorithm can be quickly "reflashed" thanks to the digital communication channel synchronized with MIL-STD-1553 with the ship's CIUS or directly with the KZRK interface. IKGSN MICA-IR has a good pumping angle of the coordinator (+/- 60 degrees), which allows it to track complex targets with a high angular velocity (more than 30 degrees / s) for 4 or more seconds relative to the spatial view of the seeker. This seeker is superior to the American POST / POST-RMP ("RAM") not only in target viewing angles, but also in detection and acquisition range by about 2-2.5 times due to a larger matrix receiver with a higher resolution.
MICA-EM is equipped with an active radar seeker AD4A. It was included in the modular configuration of the MICA anti-aircraft missile from the same air version of the rocket, and is designed to eliminate some of the shortcomings of the infrared MICA-IR. The latter, like all thermal missiles, has problems with the defeat of "cold" gliding means of air attack, some UAVs, as well as free-fall and guided bombs. The AD4A seeker with a slotted antenna array is hidden under a radio-transparent radome and operates in the high-frequency J-band of centimeter waves (10-20 GHz), which theoretically gives it a higher, in comparison with the X-band seeker, the accuracy of "capturing" targets with a small reflecting surface (EPR). AD4A has good modernization potential, especially due to the ability to enhance energy parameters, in some sources there is an instrumental capture range of 50-60 km (in relation to large targets such as "bomber" or "transport aircraft"), which means a WTO with an EPR of 0.05 m2 will be found at a distance of 6 km. MICA-EM is capable of hitting any radio-contrast target within a 20-kilometer radius of action, with practically no delay time, since even before the object enters the affected area, target designation to the VL MICA KZRK will come from any radar or optoelectronic detection equipment on the ship or from another network-centrically linked unit.
At the nozzle of the Protac rocket engine, thrust vector deflection drives (OVT) are installed in the form of four controlled aerodynamic lobes, which, together with large aerodynamic rudders, allow MICA IR / EM missiles to maneuver with overloads of over 50 units. The engine itself accelerates the missile defense system to speeds of 3600 km / h and allows a 9-kilometer high-altitude interception line to go out, and also ensures the interception of targets in pursuit (into the rear hemisphere), thereby protecting friendly ships; for "SeaRAM" such an ability is unattainable.
An even more interesting and original solution is the unification of MICA anti-aircraft missiles with the most common European universal built-in vertical launch launchers "Sylver". For the MICA-IR / EM missiles, specialized vertical modules "Sylver" of the A-35 and A-43 types are intended, which can easily replace the A-50 and A-70 in order to increase the individual defensive capabilities of the "Daring" type EM or the "La Fayette" frigate "In favor of keeping the fleet ammunition of the more expensive and long-range" Aster-30 ".
In comparison with the mediocre American-German "SeaRAM", the VL MICA can be considered the most developed and adapted to repel large-scale enemy missile attacks by the shipborne air defense systems of the OVMS of Western Europe. An American ESSM is approaching it with a highly maneuverable missile defense system RIM-162, capable of being used both with an inclined launcher Mk 29 (version RIM-162D) and with a UVPU Mk 41 (RIM-162A), but that's another story, since the missile belongs to the class medium range (50 km), providing not only individual defense of a small KUG within 10 - 15 km, but also the protection of a large formation.
There are a number of similar foreign shipborne air defense systems. One of them is the South African KZRK "Umkhonto". Two types of its missiles (thermal "Umkhonto-IR" and active radar "Umkhonto-R") in combination with various shipborne fire control systems and BIUS are capable of providing a simultaneous attack of 8 air targets in any direction for the ship, but the low speed of these missiles (2300 km / h) limits the defense of even a small ship group, and therefore only Russian and French shipborne short-range air defense systems can rightfully be considered the real "last frontier" of the fleet.
