The emergence and development of ballistic missiles has led to the need to create defense systems against them. Already in the mid-fifties, work began in our country to study the subject of missile defense, which by the beginning of the next decade led to the successful solution of the task. The first domestic anti-missile system, which in practice showed its capabilities, was the "A" system.
The proposal to create a new missile defense system appeared in the middle of 1953, after which disputes began at various levels. Some of the military leadership and defense industry specialists supported the new idea, while some other commanders and scientists doubted the possibility of fulfilling the task. Nevertheless, the supporters of the new idea were still able to win. At the very end of 1953, a special laboratory was organized to study missile defense problems. By the beginning of 1955, the laboratory had developed a preliminary concept, according to which it was proposed to conduct further work. In July of the same year, an order from the Minister of Defense Industry appeared on the beginning of the development of a new complex.
SKB-30 was allocated from KB-1 specially for carrying out the necessary work. The task of this organization was the overall coordination of the project and the development of the main components of the new complex. During the first few months of its existence, SKB-30 was engaged in the formation of the general appearance of the new complex. At the beginning of 1956, a preliminary design of the complex was proposed, which determined the composition of its fixed assets and principles of operation.
Rocket V-1000 on the SP-71M launcher, which is a monument. Photo Militaryrussia.ru
Based on the results of the study of existing capabilities, it was decided to abandon the principle of homing of the anti-missile. The technologies of that time did not allow the development of compact equipment with the required characteristics, suitable for installation on a rocket. All operations to search for targets and control the anti-missile were to be carried out by ground-based facilities of the complex. In addition, it was determined that the interception of the target should be carried out at an altitude of 25 km, which made it possible to do without the development of completely new equipment and techniques.
In the summer of 1956, the preliminary design of the anti-missile system was approved, after which the Central Committee of the CPSU decided to begin the development of an experimental complex. The complex received a symbolic designation "System" A ", the chief designer of the project was appointed G. V. Kisunko. The goal of SKB-30 was now to complete the project with the subsequent construction of a pilot complex at a new landfill in the area of Lake Balkhash.
The complexity of the task has affected the composition of the complex. In system "A" it was proposed to include several objects for various purposes, which were supposed to perform certain tasks, from searching for targets to destroying targets. For the development of various elements of the complex, several third-party organizations of the defense industry were involved.
To detect ballistic targets on the approach, it was proposed to use a radar station with appropriate characteristics. Soon, for this purpose, the Danube-2 radar was developed for the "A" system. It was also proposed to use three precision guidance radars (RTN), which included stations for determining the coordinates of the target and an anti-missile. It was proposed to control the interceptor using an anti-missile launching and sighting radar, combined with a command transmission station. It was proposed to defeat targets using B-1000 missiles launched from appropriate installations. All the facilities of the complex were to be combined using communication systems and controlled by a central computer station.
One of the RTN stations. Photo Defendingrussia.ru
Initially, the radar station "Danube-2", created by NII-108, was to become the main means of detecting potentially dangerous objects. The station consisted of two separate blocks located at a distance of 1 km from each other. One of the blocks was the transmitting part, the other was the receiving part. The detection range of medium-range missiles such as the Russian R-12 reached 1,500 km. The coordinates of the target were determined with an accuracy of 1 km in range and up to 0.5 ° in azimuth.
An alternative version of the detection system was also developed in the form of a CCO radar. In contrast to the Danube-2 system, all the elements of the CSO were mounted in one building. In addition, over time, it was possible to provide some increase in the main characteristics in comparison with the station of the basic type.
To accurately determine the coordinates of the rocket and the target, it was proposed to use three RTN radars developed at NIIRP. These systems were equipped with two types of full-circle reflector antennas with mechanical drives, connected to two separate stations for tracking a target and an anti-missile. The determination of the coordinates of the target was carried out using the RS-10 station, and the RS-11 system was responsible for tracking the rocket. RTN stations should have been built on the test site at a distance of 150 km from each other in such a way that they formed an equilateral triangle. In the center of this triangle was the aiming point of intercepted missiles.
The RTN stations were supposed to operate in the centimeter range. The detection range of objects reached 700 km. The calculated accuracy of measuring the distance to the object reached 5 m.
The central computing station of the "A" system, which was responsible for the control of all means of the complex, was based on the electronic computer M-40 (alternative designation 40-KVTs). A computer with a speed of 40 thousand operations per second was able to track and track eight ballistic targets simultaneously. In addition, she had to develop commands for RTN and anti-missile missiles, controlling the latter until the target was hit.
Radar antenna R-11. Photo Defendingrussia.ru
As a means of destruction of targets, the V-1000 guided missile was developed. It was a two-stage product with a solid-propellant starter engine and a liquid-propellant propulsion engine. The rocket was built according to the bicaliber scheme and was equipped with a set of planes. So, the main stage was equipped with a set of wings and rudders of an X-shaped design, and three stabilizers were provided for the launch accelerator. In the early stages of testing, the V-1000 rocket was used in a modified version. Instead of a special launch stage, it was equipped with a block of several solid-propellant boosters of the existing design.
The missile was to be controlled by an APV-1000 autopilot with course correction based on commands from the ground. The task of the autopilot was to track the position of the rocket and issue commands to the pneumatic steering cars. At a certain stage of the project, the development of alternative missile control systems began using radar and thermal homing heads.
For the V-1000 anti-missile, several types of warheads were developed. A number of design groups tried to solve the problem of creating a high-explosive fragmentation system capable of effectively hitting ballistic targets with their complete destruction. The high speed of convergence of the target and the anti-missile, as well as a number of other factors, seriously hampered the destruction of the dangerous object. In addition, it was required to exclude the possible undermining of the target's nuclear warhead. The work resulted in several versions of the warhead with different striking elements and charges. In addition, a special warhead was proposed.
The V-1000 rocket had a length of 15 m and a maximum wingspan of more than 4 m. The launch weight was 8785 kg with a launch stage weighing 3 tons. The warhead weight was 500 kg. The technical requirements for the project set a firing range of at least 55 km. The actual interception range reached 150 km with a maximum possible flight range of up to 300 km. Solid-propellant and liquid engines of two stages allowed the rocket to fly at an average speed of about 1 km / s and accelerate to 1.5 km / s. Target interception was to be carried out at altitudes of about 25 km.
To launch the rocket, the SP-71M launcher was developed with the possibility of guidance in two planes. The start was carried out with a short guide. Several launchers controlled by a central computer system could be placed in combat positions.
The V-1000 missile in the configuration for drop tests (above) and in a full-fledged serial modification (below). Figure Militaryrussia.ru
The process of detecting a dangerous object and its subsequent destruction was supposed to look like this. The task of the radar "Danube-2" or TsSO was to monitor space and search for ballistic targets. After finding the target, data about it should be transferred to the central computer station. After processing the received data, the M-40 computer gave a command to the RTN, according to which they began to determine the exact coordinates of the target. With the help of RTN system "A" had to calculate the exact location of the target, used in further calculations.
Having determined the prolonged trajectory of the target, the TsVS had to give the command to turn the launchers and launch missiles at the right time. It was proposed to control the missile using an autopilot with correction based on commands from the ground. At the same time, the RTN stations were supposed to monitor both the target and the anti-missile, and the TsVS - to determine the necessary amendments. Missile control commands were transmitted using a special station. When the missile approached the lead point, the control systems had to give a command to detonate the warhead. When a field of fragments was formed or when a nuclear part exploded, the target should have received fatal damage.
Soon after the issuance of the decree on the beginning of the construction of an experimental complex at about. Balkhash in the Kazakh SSR began construction work. The task of the builders was to equip many different positions and objects for different purposes. Construction of facilities and installation of equipment continued for several years. At the same time, tests of individual means of the "A" system were carried out as they were completed. At the same time, some checks of individual elements of the complex were carried out at other test sites.
In 1957, the first drop launches of special V-1000 missile models, distinguished by a simplified design, took place. Until February 1960, 25 missile launches were carried out using only autopilot, without ground control. During these checks, it was possible to ensure the rise of the rocket to an altitude of 15 km and acceleration to maximum speeds.
At the beginning of 1960, the construction of a target detection radar and launching missiles for anti-missiles was completed. Soon the RTN was completed and installed. In the summer of the same year, inspections of the Danube-2 and RTN stations began, during which several types of ballistic missiles were tracked and followed. At the same time, some work was carried out earlier.
Antimissile on the launcher. Photo Pvo.guns.ru
The completion of the construction of the main systems of the complex made it possible to begin full-fledged tests with missile launches and radio command control. In addition, in the first half of 1960, trial interceptions of training targets began. According to reports, on May 12, for the first time, the V-1000 anti-missile was launched against an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The launch failed for a number of reasons.
In November 1960, two new attempts were made to fire an interceptor missile at a ballistic target. The first such check ended in failure, since the R-5 target missile did not reach the range. The second launch did not end with the defeat of the target due to the use of a non-standard warhead. At the same time, two missiles diverged at a distance of several tens of meters, which made it possible to hope for a successful target defeat.
By the beginning of 1961, it was possible to carry out the necessary modifications to the design of products and algorithms for their operation, which made it possible to achieve the required effectiveness of destruction of ballistic targets. Thanks to this, most of the subsequent launches of the 61st year ended with the successful defeat of various types of ballistic missiles.
Of particular interest are the five V-1000 missile launches carried out at the end of October 1961 and in the fall of 1962. As part of Operation K, several rockets were fired with special warheads. Warheads were detonated at altitudes of 80, 150 and 300 km. At the same time, the results of high-altitude detonation of a nuclear warhead and its effect on various means of the anti-missile complex were monitored. Thus, it was found that the radio relay communication systems of the "A" complex do not stop working when exposed to an electromagnetic pulse. Radar stations, in turn, ceased their work. VHF systems were turned off for tens of minutes, others - for a shorter time.
Destruction of an R-12 ballistic missile by a B-1000 interceptor, frames taken at 5 millisecond intervals. Photo Wikimedia Commons
Tests of the "System" A "showed the fundamental possibility of creating an anti-missile defense complex capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles. Such results of the work made it possible to begin the development of promising missile defense systems with increased characteristics, which could be used to protect important regions of the country. Further work on the "A" complex was recognized as inexpedient.
The fifth launch in Operation K was the last time a B-1000 missile was used. During the checks, a total of 84 anti-missiles were used in several versions, differing from each other in the set of equipment, engines, etc. In addition, several types of warheads were tested at different stages of testing.
At the end of 1962, all work on the System "A" project was discontinued. This project was developed for experimental purposes and was intended to test the main ideas that were proposed to be used when creating new anti-missile systems. The operation of facilities at the landfill for its intended purpose has ceased. However, radars and other systems have been used for other purposes for a long time. They were used to track artificial earth satellites, as well as in some new research. Also in the future, the objects "Danube-2" and TsSO-P were involved in new projects of anti-missile systems.
With extensive use of the experience gained in the framework of the pilot project "A", a new missile defense system A-35 "Aldan" was soon developed. Unlike its predecessor, which was built only for testing, the new complex passed all checks and was put into service, after which for several decades it was engaged in protecting strategically important facilities from a possible nuclear missile strike.
