TECHNOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES OF THE ADVANCED ARMAMENT COMPLEX OF THE ADVANCED BRITISH FRIGITS "GLOBAL COMBAT SHIP"
In early November 2016, BAE Systems CEO Anne Healy announced the laying and initial assembly of the Type 26 head frigate at the Scotstown shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland. The event is scheduled for summer-autumn 2017. According to representatives of the Navy and the developer company, the promising "Global Warship" should gradually replace the outdated "Type 23", and, as the name implies, the new project of frigates should be designed for broad participation in major combat operations in oceanic theaters of war. thousands of miles off the coast of Great Britain. The main purpose of the Type 26 GCS frigates, like their Type 23 ancestors, will be reliable anti-submarine defense of ship strike groups as part of the Daring-class air defense destroyers, as well as AUG as part of the promising aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. ". But in addition to effective anti-ship missiles, these frigates will also have the ability to deliver a powerful anti-ship strike.
To this end, the "Type 26" will be equipped with a universal built-in launcher Mk 41 with 24 launch cells, with which the American stealthy long-range anti-ship missiles AGM-158C LRASM ("chilled" versions of the AGM-158B JASSM-ER), as well as anti-ship missiles, will be unified. version BGM-109B / E "Tomahawk". The range of LRASM ("Long Range Anti-Ship Missile"), in the standard version of the "equipment" (penetrating HE warhead weighing 454 kg or 1000 pounds) and the power plant, is 980 km. If the British frigates "Type 26 GCS" launch these anti-ship missiles from the North Sea (off the eastern coast of Denmark), then the range will fully cover the entire southern and central part of the Baltic Sea, which are the main areas of operation for surface ships and submarines of our Baltic Fleet. If the weight of the missile warhead is significantly reduced (from 454 to 170-250 kg), it will be possible to increase the range from 980 to 1400-1700 km, which will lead to the emergence of a strategic anti-ship missile capable of reaching the BF military facilities in Leningrad area.
In addition, such AGM-158C Block X LRASM variants can be used by the British Navy to support its military contingent armed with MLRS MLRS in Estonia, as well as to strike at air defense and RTV targets in Belarus (it is well known that LRASM has similarities to JASSM -ER parameters, and can hit ground targets). The plans to increase the range of LRASM anti-ship missiles became known from the English resource ukdefencejournal.org.uk, with reference to unnamed advisers to the British Navy, who argue that sacrificing a mass of missile combat equipment in favor of a longer range is a completely prudent decision, since even the lower mass of a well-optimized warhead will disable a fairly large surface ship of the corvette or frigate class. Moreover, the missile can be equipped with a lightweight microwave electromagnetic warhead that is capable of disabling shipborne radar and network-centric communications equipment at a distance of several kilometers.
Anti-ship BGM-109B / E "Tomahawk" have a shorter range (up to 550 km) and a similar 454-kilogram warhead. The speed of the overwhelmed "Tomahawk" can reach 1200 km / h (about 1M). For several tens of kilometers, the rocket rises to 100 m to confirm the coordinates of the target with the help of ARGSN, and on approach, the height of the trajectory is reduced to 2-5 m to reduce the risk of interception by enemy air defense systems. At 2 km from the target, the rocket makes a hill with an anti-aircraft maneuver and rushes to the surface target.
Anti-ship missiles AGM-158C LRASM and BGM-109B / E "Tomahawk" will significantly increase the flexibility of the KUG, in which the frigates "Type 26" will be present. But let's not forget that these missiles, even in spite of the ultra-low radar signature of the first, are subsonic, and they can be intercepted with the help of modern self-defense air defense systems such as "Dagger" / "Tor-M", "Kortik-M" or more long-range "Shtil- 1 "and" Redoubt "will not be difficult, since the reaction time and the minimum values of the RCS of the target for these systems are reduced and the minimum indicators, as they sometimes say," to the size of a bird. " What is also worth noting is the number of anti-ship missiles placed in the Mk 41. It is reported that the manufacturer of the Sea Ceptor air defense system - MBDA, together with the American Lockheed Martin, will unify a part of the UVPU Mk 41 guide cells with the CAMM (S) SAM. And the ratio in which the 24-cell PU will be divided is still unknown. Based on tactical considerations, LRASM and / or Tomahawks will have 8 to 12 slots, the remaining 9 or 13 slots will be upgraded for CAMM (S) missiles. But do not rush to flatter yourself about the small number of anti-aircraft interceptor missiles on Type 26 frigates, since Mk 41 will be unified with CAMM missiles using the same technology as with RIM-162 ESSM missiles. What does this mean?
Anti-aircraft missiles RIM-162 ESSM ("Eloved Sea Sparrow Missile"), designed to repel "star raids" of enemy anti-ship and anti-radar missiles, as well as enemy tactical aircraft, can be used not only from inclined launchers of the Mk 29 type, but also from standard UVPU Mk 41. For this, Lockheed Martin specialists have seriously modified the cell-TPK Mk 14. The internal channel width of the transport and launch container (launch cell) Mk 14 can reach 540 - 560 mm (the width of the hull base is 635 mm), and the diameter of the SAM hull The RIM-162 ESSM is 254 mm, therefore, the specialists were able to install 4 more guides for these missiles into the standard cell channel, which exactly 4 times increased the ammunition load with the combat resistance of the ESSM carrier ship. The dimensions of the missiles of the CAMM (S) family are even smaller. There are two versions of these missiles - the standard CAMM (S) with a mass of 100 kg and a range of 25-30 km (developed by the British division of MBDA), as well as a long-range modification of the CAMM-ER (S) with a mass of 160 kg and a range of 45 km of the Italian division of MBDA.
The British version of the CAMM (S) has a body diameter of 160 mm, thanks to which one Mk 14 TPK can accommodate 9 missiles of this type. It is over this configuration of the Mk 41 that a joint group of engineers from Lockheed Martin and MBDA are now fighting. And now we count. One 24-cell UVPU Mk 41 has 21 working cells-TPK (3 are traditionally occupied by the loading unit for reloading while at sea), 12 cells are occupied by the LRASM or Tomahawk anti-aircraft missiles, and another 9 cells are occupied by anti-aircraft guided missiles CAMM (S) in the launch "packages" of 9 guides, in total we have 81 interceptor missiles of the "Sea Ceptor" complex, which is quite a good deal for the long-term self-defense of a large ship strike group. These are the capabilities of the Type 26 frigates provided by the Mk 41 universal VPU.
The anti-submarine capabilities of the promising Type 26 GCS Global Frigates are also not limited to the use of the MTLS tactical anti-submarine complex with the Stingray short-range torpedo. The same Mk 41 VLS makes all the weather for PLO here. With this launcher, anti-submarine guided missiles RUM-139 VLA of the ASROC complex are unified. The range of this PLUR reaches 28 km, which is 3.5 times farther than that of the British Stingray torpedoes. But the unification of the launcher alone is not a sufficient measure for the use of the RUM-139 VLA from the Type 26 frigates, since programmatically this PLUR is "sharpened" under the control of the means of sonar stations of the AN / SQQ-89 family, integrated into the Aegis BIUS missile cruisers URO "Ticonderoga" and destroyers URO "Arley Burke". Initially, reprogramming will be required for the new CIUS of the British frigate.
For the simultaneous equipping of the UVPU Mk 41 frigates "GCS" with three types of missile weapons at once, only 21 Mk 14 cells will obviously not be enough: the ship will get problems with the rapid depletion of ammunition. For example, if 8 TPKs are assigned for LRASM, and 8 for PLUR RUM-139 VLA, then only 5 units will remain for CAMM (S) missiles, and this is a total of 45 missiles. If missiles with an increased range of CAMM-ER (S) are used, which structurally in Mk 14 will not fit more than 7, then the ammunition for short-range missile defense will not exceed 35 missiles, which is extremely insufficient.
PROJECT "TYPE 26" - THREE IN ONE
To eliminate the deficiency, the "Global Combat Ship" program, which began in 1998, provides for the development of three modifications of the "Type 26": the anti-submarine defense frigate "ASW" ("Anti-Submarine Warfare"), the multipurpose general-purpose frigate "GP" ("General Purpose"), as well as the anti-aircraft / missile defense frigate "AAW" ("Anti-Aircraft Warfare"). Each of the modifications will be equipped with a specific list of weapons. So, for example, on board the ASW version there will be an abundance of anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons, for the CAMM (S) anti-aircraft missiles, on the contrary, a minimum number of TPK Mk 14 will be allocated. complexes, including GAS "Type 2087" and a flexible extended towed antenna, capable of bearing targets in tens or even hundreds of kilometers from the ship's strike group. The ASW helicopter hangar can accommodate a multipurpose / anti-submarine helicopter of the Merlin HM Mk.1 type.
The rotorcraft is capable of taking on board a payload / combat load of up to 3100 kg, 30 infantrymen, up to 4 torpedoes Mk.46 or "Stingray", anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" / "Exoset", or a modular radar station for viewing the sea surface, installed on a specialized suspension over the open ramp of the cargo compartment in a hemispherical radio-transparent fairing. "Merlin" can, within a radius of 350 - 400 km from the frigate, place dozens of hydroacoustic buoys for the operational organization of anti-submarine defense of vast areas of oceans and seas.
General Purpose Type 26 frigates (or General Purpose) are multipurpose warships and will carry in the Mk 41 UVPU a ratio of missile-torpedo armament similar to the ASW anti-submarine missile, but with a large number of anti-aircraft guided missiles for the Sea Ceptor complex … Of the auxiliary information and combat units of this modification, one can note underwater and surface unmanned reconnaissance vehicles, high-speed surface boats for the quick and covert transfer of marines in the most intense areas of the theater of operations, where the enemy uses the now popular concept of "restricting and denying access and maneuver "" A2 / AD ". In such conditions, the approach of the "Type 26" to the coast controlled by the enemy is fraught with a massive attack by anti-ship missiles or other air defense systems, which even the "Sea Ceptor" air defense system will not be able to cope with. And only unmanned small-sized reconnaissance and combat boats of the MAST type, and semi-inflatable landing boats will be able to approach the coast of a potential enemy in order to conduct sabotage and reconnaissance operations, or find out the coordinates of well-camouflaged military objects. The hydroacoustic and radar means of modification of the frigates "Type 23 General Purpose" are similar to those installed on the other two variants.
The anti-aircraft version "AAW" is designed to build a powerful anti-missile "umbrella" of the order of the ship / aircraft carrier strike group. In this version, everything is aimed at realizing the best anti-aircraft qualities. Almost all Mk 14 cells will carry CAMM (S) missiles, the number of which may reach 189. But in addition to these self-defense missiles, Mk 41 British frigates will also be able to accommodate long-range RIM-161A / B (SM-3) anti-missiles, capable of intercept medium-range ballistic missiles at altitudes up to 245 km, as well as ultra-long-range missiles for over-the-horizon interception RIM-174 ERAM (SM-6), capable of target designation at a distance of up to 240 kilometers or more. These missiles can enter service with AAW anti-aircraft frigates, but their worthy effectiveness in anti-missile missions can be achieved only with the involvement of third-party target designation means, among which there may be American Arley Burke-class EM UMW with airborne AN / SPY-1D radar, other "Aegis" -ships, or AWACS aircraft of the E-3D "Sentry" type of the British Air Force.
REASONS OF INSUFFICIENT ANTI-MISSION CAPABILITIES OF ADVANCED FRIGITS: DO NOT DO WITHOUT "DERING"
The low efficiency of the American "Idzhis" interceptor missiles in the combat information and control system of the "Type 26 GCS" frigates of any modification is explained by the relatively low energy capabilities of the "Artisan 3D" general radar survey and target designation planned for installation. This radar system has an instrumental range of about 200 km for a typical target of the "strategic bomber" type at an altitude of 10 km. A target with an RCS of the order of 0.01 m2 (low-signature CR) is detected at a distance of 20 km, which is 4 times less than that of the Sampson radar, and our Su-34 Artisan tactical fighter-bomber will be able to detect only from 65-70 km, when the latter, undoubtedly, will have time to release 6 supersonic X-31AD anti-ship missiles on the British KUG. In this situation, the "Type 26" will be absolutely defenseless even with the arsenal of the most advanced interceptors of the "Standard-3/6" family.
To achieve decent anti-missile capabilities, the frigates "Global Combat Ships" in the "AAW" version should receive an integrated into avionics radar of the "SMART-L" type, which has a standard instrumental range of 470 km and an extended range of 800 km. The passive phased antenna array of this station is represented by 16 transmit-receive modules operating in the AFAR mode (67% of the aperture) and 8 receiving elements that only receive the signal (33% of the aperture), which is a unique indicator for passive PAA. Thales Nederland regularly improves its product, which allows each time to achieve more and more performance in the detection and tracking of small ballistic targets in the passage. Therefore, the language does not dare to talk about the high anti-missile qualities of the Type 26 with the Artisan 3D radar, its only plus is the throughput of 900 air targets.
Having evaluated all the possible ways to upgrade the surface components of the British Navy frigates, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the innovations, let us return to the Daring-class destroyers, which also have a solid modernization potential.
The situation here is not as straightforward as, for example, with Duke-class frigates, since the Type 45 has a built-in vertical launcher of the universal Sylver A50 type, which is already capable of deploying MICA-VL missiles designed to repel a massive blow by modern RCC. But in addition to the A50 modification, there is also a more universal modification of the A70, the length of the TPK cells of this UVPU is 7 m, and therefore its internal configuration can be adapted to any type of American and Western European strike and defensive missile weapons. The A70 launcher is designed to be equipped with long-range tactical cruise missiles "SCALP", strategic cruise missiles "Tomahawk" and their anti-ship missiles BGM-109B / E, anti-ship missiles AGM-158C LRASM, anti-aircraft guided interceptor missiles and anti-missile RIM-161/174, as well as anti-submarine guided missiles of the RUM-139 VLA type of the ASROC complex.
Moreover, sources from the British Department of Defense have repeatedly published information that the department and the Admiralty of the British Navy have long shown interest in SCALP Naval missiles, which differ from the standard modification by a 4 times increased flight range (from 250 to 1000 km), and this says only that London has already finally decided to change the rules of the "game" in the naval theater of operations, changing the defensive concept to the shock one. And this, in turn, also suggests that in the future, all Daring class destroyers in service will be adapted to the strike capabilities, - the ships will receive the Sylver A70 UVPU, and not in the standard version for 48 transport and launch containers, and in the increased - by 72 TPK.
The combat capabilities of the Daring will increase by about an order of magnitude. Not only will the missile ammunition increase by exactly 50%, 6 destroyers of the project will be able to attack enemy submarines at a distance of up to 30 km thanks to the use of the ASROC complex, as well as become a full-fledged structural element within the American European missile defense program. For the first time in the history of the modern British Navy, destroyer-class ships will practically no longer need support from frigates in terms of reliable protection against enemy submarines. For the first time in 7 years of operation, the functionality of the British Type 45 EMs in performing versatile tasks will reach the level of the American destroyers Arley Burke and our Peter the Great TARK.
ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE PROSPECTIVE CONCEPT OF THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY
Summing up the results of our today's review, at first glance it may seem that the changes carried out by the command of the British Navy and the Ministry of Defense in the doctrine of the fleet, thanks to which today there is a deep modernization of the weapon systems and avionics of surface ships, have almost completely eliminated all the shortcomings and "gaps" in issues of interchangeability between classes of ships "frigate" and "destroyer". But not everything is so smooth here.
Modern highly maneuverable warheads or aeroballistic missiles, adapted to perform a wide range of missions, including anti-ship missiles, have an RCS within 0.01 m2. Survey radar "Artisan 3D", which detected them from only 20-25 km, will transmit target designation to the frigate's control system in about 3-5 seconds, it will take another 4-6 seconds to acquire a target to be accompanied by "shooting" radars of the Sea Ceptor complex and prepare missiles CAMM (S). A ballistic target moving at a speed of 1000 to 1500 m / s in these 10 seconds will fly another 10-15 km, finding itself 10-15 km from the KUG defended by AAW-class frigates. From this moment, the launch of CAMM (S) interceptor missiles will begin with a minimum interval of about 1 s. If the approaching swarm of 4-swing missiles consists of more than 10 missiles, the Sea Ceptor of one frigate will not even technically have time to intercept all the attacking elements of high-precision weapons and the KUG may suffer serious losses. But there can be 15, 20 or even more attacking missiles.
In short, these frigates cannot be considered self-sufficient air defense-missile defense ships of the XXI century, and they look worthy only in anti-submarine or search and rescue operations. On the frigate line in the Royal Navy of Great Britain, interchangeability was not achieved.
In the course of technological transformations of the surface component of the British fleet, only partial interchangeability is realized, which will become possible exclusively due to the Daring class destroyers. And the anti-ship and strike qualities of both NK classes cannot be considered high, as for the beginning of the 21st century, since the SCALP Naval and LRASM subsonic missile launchers still remain extremely vulnerable to modern super-efficient ship-based air defense systems.
