The anti-ship complex provides control of territorial waters and protection of coastal areas at a long distance
Seaside areas are one of the most important trump cards in the formation and political and economic development of any state. So, for the transformation of Russia into an economically developed and influential European power from the 36 years of the reign of Peter I, the country fought for 26 years for access to the Baltic, Black and Azov Seas. But along with this, an equally important task for any state is the protection of outlets to the seas, which was confirmed by the subsequent stages of the historical development of Russia, which has not lost its achievements and the title of a great maritime power.
DBK "Ball": everyone is good, but …
In our time, the protection of the sea coast in the Russian Federation and abroad is "entrusted" to coastal missile and artillery systems of various ranges. One of them is the Russian coastal missile system (DBK) "Bal" (export version "Bal-E"). As an ancient Russian shield, this modern powerful and effective tool is capable of protecting naval bases and other coastal infrastructure, covering the sea coast in landing areas, and also controlling territorial waters and straits.
Nevertheless, despite the already proven high combat capabilities, from time to time the DBK is criticized, especially for the insufficient firing range and flight speed of its small-sized transonic cruise missile (CR) Kh-35E. Abroad, this is due to unfair competition on the part of Western manufacturers, and in Russia - obsequious confidence in the superiority of everything "Western", lack of special knowledge, and sometimes simple malice of some domestic "specialists".
Actually
However, upon closer examination, the mentioned disadvantages in combination with other characteristics turn into significant advantages of the Bal DBK. So, "insufficient", according to critics, the range is quite enough for a tactical complex. And to hit the enemy at long ranges is already the task of operational-tactical weapons. It is not difficult to "justify" the subsonic flight speed of the rocket. It is this "drawback" that ensures the high controllability of the missile in flight. It, in contrast to heavy supersonic missiles, allows the Kh-35 type missile to "work" more efficiently against small, high-speed and highly maneuverable targets.
Among other characteristics of the missile deserve "respect" for its small geometrical dimensions, flight and target attack using extremely low altitudes - 10-15 and 3-5 m, respectively, as well as its high noise immunity. All these indicators meet the objectives of reducing the likelihood of timely detection and destruction of a cruise missile by the anti-missile defense forces of enemy ships.
Even better characteristics, according to media reports, will be possessed by the improved version of the Kh-35UE missile, especially in conditions of active electronic and fire resistance of the enemy. It is believed that in terms of the cost-effectiveness criterion, the basic version of an anti-ship missile has no equal in the world: a big plus is the high profitability of its serial production. This is due to a significant degree of unification and the possibility of using the X-35 in the shipborne (Uran-E complex) and airborne versions, as well as the use of this missile in the armies of the Russian Federation and other countries.
As for the DBK as a whole, the Bal-E anti-ship complex has no equal in its class in terms of its combat characteristics and effectiveness of firing at a range of up to 120 km. First of all, it is a high probability of hitting the designated target. So, during the tests, each launch was successful, and instead of the allotted several days, it took only a few hours, which significantly saved the funds allocated for this purpose. According to the results of live firing, it was found that one salvo of 32 missiles could destroy at least three enemy ships of the "frigate" type, the total cost of which significantly exceeds that of the ballistic missile ballistic missile system and the missiles used.
Anti-ship coastal missile system "Bal-E". Photo: topwar.ru
Its other distinctive features also contribute to the effectiveness of the complex. Thus, a small interval between missile launches gives them a high density in a salvo and the likelihood of overcoming the collective defense of the enemy's naval grouping, and a significant ammunition load and a high degree of automation of the complex ensure the production of a repeated salvo 30–40 minutes after the first.
The highly mobile self-propelled complex in a short time can be deployed by rail, water and air transport to any theater of military operations. Together with the short deployment time in a new, including an unprepared position, the surprise of the use of the complex is ensured. This, as well as the high survivability due to the small "working time" and the timely exit from the enemy's retaliatory strike, is facilitated by its own high-speed active and passive means of detecting surface targets. Highly efficient means of communication ensure the operation of the Bal DBK practically in radio silence by transmitting the necessary information in messages lasting from milliseconds to tenths of a second. Of no small importance is the ability of the all-weather "Bal" to perform combat missions both when using conventional weapons and in conditions of chemical and radioactive contamination of the area in any weather conditions.
In general, according to the criterion "cost - effectiveness" the complex "Ball" is not inferior, and in a number of indicators it surpasses foreign analogues such as Harpoon Block 2 (USA), Exocet MM 40 Block 3 (France), RBS 15 Mk3 (Sweden) and Penguin NSM (Norway). The long-term use of the latter by foreign armies clearly proves the advisability of using the tactical ballistic missile system "Ball". At the same time, this is also a very eloquent proof of its advantages to opponents who like to refer to foreign experience.
The Ministry of Defense is also talking about the need to increase the number of anti-ship missile systems. According to Admiral Viktor Chirkov, by 2020 the Russian Navy should receive about 20 new coastal missile systems of the Bastion and Ball types. Today, the Navy already has four divisions with the Bal ballistic missile system: two and one in the Black Sea and Pacific fleets, respectively, and one in the Caspian Flotilla.
Purpose and main characteristics of DBK "Ball"
DBK "Bal" (3K60, SSC-6, Sennight - "week" in the western classification) - an all-weather coastal missile system with anti-ship missiles of the Kh-35 (3M-24) type. Created by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the CPSU (dated 1984-16-04) at OKB "Zvezda" (chief designer GI Khokhlov) and adopted by the RF Armed Forces in 2008.
The complex is designed to control territorial waters and strait zones, protect naval bases, other coastal facilities and infrastructure of the country, as well as the coast in landing areas. It is capable of solving these tasks autonomously and as part of other defensive systems in the face of active electronic and fire countermeasures by the enemy day and night in any weather conditions.
The main elements of the complex are: self-propelled command posts for control and communications (up to 2), launchers (up to 4) with 8 anti-ship missiles each in sealed transport and launch containers and transport and reloading machines (up to 4). These means ensure the detection of single and group targets, their shelling and destruction with a high probability of individual missiles or a salvo (up to 32) with a launch interval between anti-ship missiles of up to 3 s.
The X-35 type missile (similar to the American AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile) with a combined guidance system and a launch weight of about 620 kg (145 kg warhead) is capable of hitting surface combatants with a displacement of up to 5000 tons and sea transports. The combined guidance system provides a rocket flight at a speed of 270–280 m / s at altitudes of 4–15 m above the water with sea waves up to 6 points and its aiming at a target with an accuracy of 4–6 m.
The Bal ballistic missile system ensures the destruction of surface targets of the Kh-35 (Kh-35U) anti-ship missiles in the range of 7–120 (7–260) km at a distance of up to 10 km from the starting position from the coast. The time of deployment and readiness of the complex in a new position does not exceed 10 minutes. With a full ammunition load (64 missiles), the complex can move along the highway (off-road) at a speed of up to 60 (20) km / h with a cruising range without refueling of at least 850 km.
The composition and configuration of the "Ball" DBK, which has a large modernization potential, is determined by the customer. The use of additional target designation means (helicopters, drones, etc.) can increase the range and accuracy of target detection, and the use of passive jamming means can increase the survivability of the complex when the enemy uses high-precision guided weapons.
