The Russian Armed Forces will face the PAC-3 tandem - SkyCeptor. The dark horse of the US-Polish deal
Last week and a half, publications on accelerated preparation of all transport interchanges in the states of Central and Eastern Europe repeatedly appeared in RuNet for the transfer of heavy military equipment to the eastern strategic direction, that is, to Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic countries. Thus, according to the plan of the European Commission recently announced in Brussels, until 2020, all railways, highways and bridges should be tested for suitability for moving heavy armored vehicles, including TZM, BREM, bridge laying, etc. The emphasis was made on this by the Deputy Head of the European Commission in Latvia Andris Kuznieks 6 in April, in an interview with the program “Domskaya Ploschad” on “Latvian Radio 4”. It is becoming more and more obvious that a major conflict with NATO’s Allied Forces on the frontiers of the Western Military District may be imposed on Moscow in the coming years. And therefore, at the very time it will be to consider the strength of the “anti-missile umbrella” of a state like Poland. Indeed, against the background of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, this country is the most suitable NATO bridgehead for the construction of the positional areas of the US strategic missile defense system based on Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems near Redzikovo, as well as for the deployment of the 52 tactical fighter air wing of the US Air Force at a military airfield the same town.
The fact is that the large size of the territory of Poland makes it possible to place the above-mentioned strategic objects of the US Armed Forces and other defensive means of the NATO member countries outside the reach of conventional types of cannon and rocket artillery at the disposal of the NE of Belarus and Russia (which cannot be fully realized in Lithuania and Latvia). Thus, the Polish Redzikovo Air Base is located at a distance of about 325 km from the positions of the 79-th separate guards motorized rifle brigade (Gusev) and 215 km from the location of the 244-th guards artillery brigade (Kaliningrad). Conventional artillery at such distances has no tactical value at all. Here there will be a sense from operational-tactical missile systems "Iskander-M", high-precision long-range systems like "Tornado-S" and Belarusian "Polonez". The latter can also be redeployed to the western environs of Kaliningrad to support the Russian army through the so-called Suvalki Corridor, which is now afraid of blocking in Washington and in the Baltic states. This is where the fun begins.
Due to the tremendous vulnerability of all US military facilities in Poland for our highly accurate weapons, Washington did not hesitate to approve the conclusion of a contract between the Polish Ministry of Defense and Lockheed Martin for the purchase of two batteries of the most modern anti-missile modification of the Patriot - PAC-3MSE Missile Segment Enhancement. In accordance with one of the clauses of the contract, the first 8 battery of the M902 PU must be supplied to the Polish Army in the 2022 year. A second similar battery should be adopted for the 2024 year. The contract also provides for the sale of 208 interceptor missiles MIM-104F and 4 upgraded high-energy multifunction radar with active phased arrays AN / MPQ-65. No matter how hard the patriots claimed that the PAC-3MSE does not have the ability to create a reliable “missile defense umbrella” from our air attack weapons, in reality the situation looks much more serious. We are dealing with an anti-aircraft missile / anti-missile missile version of the updated version of MIM-104F, which is equipped with a gas-dynamic control system based on 10 gas-dynamic "belts" with 18 transverse control engines in each. In contrast to missiles only with the aerodynamic control system + gas-jet SUVT, “jumping” of the MIM-104F on the trajectory due to the transverse thrust occurs in hundredths of a second with overloads more than 60G.
As a result, if the target is properly captured by means of an active radar homing head, it will not be so easy to “get away” from MIM-104F not only a poorly maneuverable aerodynamic or ballistic target, but also an object that maneuvers with an overload of 20 — 30 units, especially since MIM-104F has speed of the order of 1480 m / s (5312 km / h). The Patriot PAC-3 MSE complex is fully capable of destroying all anti-radar missiles that are in service with the Russian VKS (including X-XNUMHUSHK and X-58P), strategic cruise missiles of the X-31 and 101М3К / T Caliber-PL / NK, subsonic long-range tactical cruise missiles 14М9 (Р-728) of the Iskander-M complex. Noticeable difficulties can arise only in the process of intercepting the maneuvering tactical ballistic missiles 500М9-723 Iskander-M, but even here the probability of destruction is far from zero, and approaches approximately 1 - 0,15. Maybe this version of the ERAC anti-missile system of the PAC-0,25 + complex can also hit missiles of Tornado-C and Polonez multiple rocket launchers.
The high-frequency active radar homing head operating in the millimeter Ka-wave range, as well as the AN / MPQ-104 multi-function radar are responsible for the accuracy of the MIM-65F missile guidance. The ARGSN millimeter working range provides noticeably greater accuracy than the standard centimeter X / J ranges. An extremely important technical bonus of the multifunctional radar AN / MPQ-65 in comparison with the AN / MPQ-53 is the expansion of the angle of elevation of the beam in the elevation plane from 73 to 83 degrees. This allows the Patriot PAC-3 + battery without third-party targeting tools to destroy high-precision weapons diving at critical angles (almost along a flat trajectory).
The extended elevation sector of the radar is available only in the “rocket guidance” mode, while in the radar detection mode the standard angle of 73 degrees is realized. This station has the highest degree of noise immunity due to flexible modeling of the radiation pattern by controlling each transmitting and receiving module, forming “zero sectors” in the direction of interference sources. The only disadvantage of this method lies in a certain decrease in the energy and range properties of the MPQ-65. It will be eliminated after the introduction of the version of the MRLS with APMs based on GaN nitride-gallium substrates, adapted to significantly higher operating temperatures, and hence power. The target channel of this RPN is 6 simultaneously "captured" goals against the background of quite familiar throughput for tracking in 125 goals. In the same turn, the maximum number of targets simultaneously hit by a single anti-aircraft missile battery can reach 10 and more units thanks to the use of active radar guidance. The maximum speed of the escorted and fired target for the AN / MPQ-65 is close to 7920 km / h, which implies the defeat of the majority of the existing supersonic and hypersonic means of air attack, which are in service with the Russian HVS. Exceptions are the promising 10-flyby aeroballistic medium-range missile “Dagger” (its flight speed is not subject to the AN / MPQ-65 multifunctional radar complex) and hypersonic guided combat units of the Avangard complex.
The essential point of the Polish contract is the acquisition of 5 multifunctional information terminals MIDS / LVT (Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems / Low Volume Terminals), designed to be integrated into a single network-centric tactical information exchange network Link-16. This means that the Poles envisage the combat use of the Patriots against remote low-altitude over-the-horizon targets, in particular, cruise missiles of the Caliber family. In this case, the main means of targeting will be British airplanes of the E-3A “Sentry” radar watch and guidance. However, the field of possibilities here for Polish operators “Patriot PAC-3 +” will be very small, because the small EPR of our 3М14Т (0,03 — 0,05 sq. M) will limit the detection range using the AN / APY-2 radar to 80 — 100 km .
This means that the flying time will be only 5 minutes: with a massive “Caliber” strike (more than 120 missiles), the computing facilities of the EOC command and control points (IBCS Engagement Operations Centers) even theoretically have problems in “posting” such a number of targets. In practice, the British E-3A and the same Swedish S-100B “Argus” will not be able to patrol in the area of the Redzikovo airbase due to the anti-aircraft missile systems of the long range C-300B4 and C-400 “Triumf”, radius deployed in the Kaliningrad region. the actions of which reaches 350 — 400 km, taking into account the replenishment of arsenals with new SAMs 9М82МВ and the transfer of the long-awaited anti-aircraft missiles 40H6 planned for the summer. In such a situation, NATO airplanes will be able to operate only in 120 — 170 km west of Redzikovo, and this means that cruise missiles with a small radar signature will be detected only by Patriot-attached radar AN / MPX-65 at 20 — X km
This is one of the most tangible tactical shortcomings of the Patriot PAC-3 + missile defense system being formed by the Poles, due to the proximity of the Kaliningrad zone of prohibition and restriction of access and the A2 / AD maneuver. Nevertheless, there is also such a disadvantage as the enormous cost of the MIM-104F interceptor missiles, amounting to more than $ 5 million. Consequently, their use against conventional tactical missiles and hundreds of TFRs is extremely expensive for the Polish Ministry of Defense. In addition, two hundred MIM-104F interceptors are clearly not enough to repel massive missileaviation strikes from the Russian Aerospace Forces. Already today, the "first stage" of the Vistula project, approved by the US State Department (based on only two PAC-3 + batteries) is estimated at $ 4,7 billion.
It is for this reason that at the "second stage" of the implementation of the project of the Polish anti-missile defense system "Wisla" it is also envisaged to purchase 5 times less expensive and very effective anti-aircraft guided missile interceptors "SkyCeptor", designed on the basis of the Israeli anti-missile "Stunner" of the "David` complex. s Sling "(" David's Sling "). This was reported on March 29, 2018 by the well-known Polish military-analytical publication www.defence24.pl. It is known that on November 25, 2012, the complex passed a successful test over the Negev desert, intercepting several tactical missiles, while a ballistic target was hit during field tests in 2013. The first David's Sling launchers with Stunner missiles entered combat duty on April 2, 2017 at Hazor Air Force Base, and a year later the complex took part in the Juniper Cobra 2018 exercise jointly with the US Armed Forces.
It is worth noting that initially the Stunner interceptor missile developed by Rafael and Raytheon for the Sharvit Ksamim complex was designed to intercept tactical missiles, unguided missiles, active-reactive guided missiles and maneuvering ballistic objects in small and medium range, but the range of its capabilities allows you to work effectively and aerodynamic objectives. Numerous media make a serious mistake, indicating that the range of “Stannerov” passes for 250 km, and the speed is approaching 8500 km / h, which some of our reviewers take at face value and confuse readers.
In reality, even taking into account the presence of the powerful solid fuel first stage of the Stunner bicalyber antimissile, its speed at the time of separation of the starting stage and the start of the main engine does not exceed 5 - 5,5М, and the range 100 - 150 km. Such a conclusion is made on the basis of information about the range of the anti-aircraft missile “Derby-MR” (for the mobile Spyder-MR), which reaches only 50 km. There is one more example: the Russian two-stage 57-6E bicalyber missile system of the Pantsir-С1 complex. Its flight speed reaches 4680 km / h, the range 20 km, despite the significantly more developed solid fuel stage in relation to the combat stage. The conclusion is unequivocal: applied to the Stunner interceptor missile, the numbers in 40 — 300 km and 7,5М do not mean its range and speed, but the range and maximum flight speed of enemy tactical ballistic missiles. It is even theoretically foolish to assume that the marching section of the Stunner anti-missile trajectory passes at a speed of 7,5M, since the maximum working height of the rocket is 15 — 17 km. The density of the lower layers of the stratosphere is quite high, and therefore the aerodynamic heating of the radome of the optoelectronic homing head will noticeably impede the operation of the infrared guidance channel (there is also a TV channel based on the CCD-matrix and an active radar sensor that allows you to work on targets in difficult meteorological conditions) .
Without looking at the above points with the speed of flight, the anti-missile “Stunner”, as well as its simplified modification for Poland, the “SkyCeptor” (with a slightly reduced solid propellant charge) have rather high flight performance characteristics. Low maneuverability of the product is observed only during the presence of the first (accelerating) stage, after burning out the fuel, the starting stage is separated and the main engine is activated, maintaining the speed of “Stunner / SkyCeptor” at the 5М level, which means high maneuverability in 35 - 45G on the terminal trajectory segment persists over most of the flight path. As a result, developed in addition to the Polish batteries “Patriot PAC-3 +” of the Stanner missile missile worth $ 1 million, it can completely replace the archidoristic MIM-104F in the tasks of interception of a new generation of MLRS guided missiles, most types of anti-radar missiles, guided bombs, also strategic long-range cruise missiles.
A three-channel guidance system with the possibility of radio correction makes it possible to work more effectively on promising elements of high-precision weapons, equipped with electronic warfare tools and heat traps. The active radar homing head is located in the radio-transparent "hump" of the curved head part of the dolphin-nose rocket. This shape of the nose is necessary for expanding the ARGSN field of view, because the correct shape significantly reduces the viewing sector, not allowing the antenna array of the GOS to show its full potential from the overlap of the compartment with the optical-electronic module. This problem was observed in the AIM / RIM-7R air-to-air / ground-to-air missile missile project with semi-active radar and infrared guidance channels, which was developed from 1992 of the year, and then replaced by more advanced AIM-120A / C products and RIM-162 ESSM.
But SkyCeptor / Stunner also has critical flaws that do not allow it to be classified as a promising anti-missile defense. Despite the fact that Rafael and Raytheon specialists implemented the anti-missile principle of intercepting "hit-to-kill" by direct hitting the target, control is realized only through aerodynamic control surfaces, which do not give the maneuverability observed in missiles with thrust vector or gasdynamic pulsed transverse control engines DPU. This technical flaw, even in perspective, will not allow SkySeptor to "hunt" for such aerospace attack means as operational-tactical ballistic missiles of the 9МXNNXX-723 "Iskander" family, despite advertising by the American-Israeli developer.
Information sources:
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/stunner-terminal-missile-defence-interceptor-israel/
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/11092/israel-is-testing-an-air-to-air-variant-of-its-dolphin-nosed-stunner-missile
https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=84200&page=2
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/191956/poland-signs-loa-for-patriot-pac_3.html
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/erint/erint.shtml
Information