"Manual" air defense systems. Part of 3. MANPADS Blowpipe

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Blowpipe (Dudka) - British universal portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS), designed to destroy low-flying aircraft and helicopters. It was put into service in 1972 year. In the UK, this complex was operated up to the 1985 year. Unlike Soviet- and American-made MANPADS, which were also developed in 1960-s, the British portable complex could also be used to destroy enemy unarmored and lightly-armored vehicles and various swimming vehicles.

MANPADS Blowpipe ensured the defeat of aerial targets at a distance of up to 3,5 kilometers and an altitude of up to 2,5 kilometers, the destruction of ground targets was provided at a distance of up to 3,5 kilometers. In addition to the original portable model for infantry weapons in the UK, towed models were developed, as well as modifications of MANPADS designed to accommodate the complex in the body, on the roof and rotating turrets of auto and armored vehicles, aboard ships and hovercrafts, as well as submarines. During production in the UK, more than 34 thousands of Blowpipe MANPADS were collected. In addition to the British army, the complex was in service with the armies of Canada, Afghanistan, Argentina, Malaysia, Chile, Ecuador and other states.



The Blowpipe portable anti-aircraft missile system was developed by Shorts Missile Systems (Belfast, Northern Ireland). Development began in the 1960-e years in a proactive manner. Shorts Company conducted them based on the existing developments; in 1960, the company's engineers conducted work simultaneously on several anti-aircraft control projects weapons for infantry and fleet. Testing of the complex began in 1965, and in September of the following year it was presented to the general public in the framework of the international aviation exhibitions in Farnborough.

Arrows of the 129 Canadian Royal Anti-aircraft Gun in protective suits with Blpipe MANPADS

In the MANPADS "Blowpipe" was implemented radio command guidance system on the target. For this reason alone, the British MANPADS was more difficult to handle compared to MANPADS with thermal homing heads, which were also created in the United States and the USSR. In addition, the work of the radio link and tracer on the rocket unmasked the process of guidance, as well as the location of the firing position of the arrow operator, and the use of manual control led to a strong dependence of the effectiveness of combat use of the complex on the degree of fitness and psycho-physical condition of the fighter. At the same time, the advantages of the British portable complex included the possibility of confident bombardment of air targets of various types at extremely low altitudes.

Shorts Missile Systems' corporate management was able to convince the military to place a preliminary order for an experimental batch consisting of 285 MANPADS for military tests in parts of the British army and the royal marines. Therefore, the mass production of the complex began as early as the end of 1960, even before official adoption, which took place in 1972, year. The air defense battalions of the British Army, which were armed with Dudka portable complexes, included two platoons of three divisions each, each division had four MANPADS. The development of the complex continued after adoption. In the 1979 year in the UK, the semi-automatic guidance system for the Blowpipe complex was successfully tested. A modernized version of the corps, called "Javelin", was adopted by the British army in 1984 year.

The combat equipment of the portable complex “Blowpipe” is located in the launcher, on it, and also mounted on the back of the operator, the time to bring the MANPADS on alert is 20 seconds. Guidance facilities of the complex include:
- a pointing unit (monocular sight, as well as a pointing handle, which the operator had to move using the thumb);
- calculating device;
- a station for the transmission of radio commands to board an anti-aircraft guided missile.

The last two devices were attached to the back of the arrow-operator of the complex. To power the guidance unit, as well as the entire onboard equipment of the rocket (before its launch), an electric battery was placed in the unit. The weight of the guidance unit, which was mounted on the launcher, was 3,6 kg.

"Manual" air defense systems. Part of 3. MANPADS Blowpipe
Missile MANPADS "Bloupayp" at the time of the adoption of the complex

The functions of the aerial target detection and target designation were performed by the operator of the complex, who, using a fivefold optical monocular sight, or without using sighting devices, detected and recognized enemy aircraft, selecting one of them for shelling. The targeting to the MANPADS operator could also be transmitted by radio from a third-party detection and targeting system. After selecting the aerial target, the operator began the process of tracking it, using for this purpose the markings of the field of view of the sight, all the while moving with the launcher on the shoulder. Then the Blowpipe switch operator turned on the equipment, chose the type of fuse used and the frequency of the command transmitter. When the target entered the anti-aircraft missile launch zone (determined by the operator visually), he made a launch. After the launch of the rocket, the gunner-operator “captured” the tail tracer of the rocket into the field of view of the sight, with which he had accompanied the target and, moving the pointing handle, sought to combine the missile defense system with a target, directing the missile at it with the “target covering” method. Angle mismatches between the target line of sight and the anti-aircraft missile tracer went into the counting guidance device, and the commands that were generated by him were transmitted to the radio command station (dimensions 129x15291 mm) via the radio command station, where they were implemented. If the guidance teams did not reach the anti-aircraft missile on board within 5 seconds, then it would self-destruct. For security purposes, special protective uniforms were provided for the shooter-operator of the complex.

The launcher of the portable complex “Blowpipe” included a firing mechanism and a transport and launch container (TLC). TPK was designed according to the principle of minimizing recoil when fired, it consisted of two cylindrical tubes, and the front of them had a larger diameter. After the shooting was completed, instead of the empty container, a new TPK with an anti-aircraft missile was attached to the firing mechanism of the complex, while the empty TPK could be reused. In order to facilitate the work of the arrow operator, a telescopic stand could be attached to the launcher of the complex. The British also envisaged the possibility of dumping TPK with anti-aircraft guided missiles with a parachute, for this they were placed in specially designed boxes.

The main striking force of the Blowpipe complex, of course, was a single-stage anti-aircraft guided missile, which was designed according to the aerodynamic “duck” scheme. The missile system had no parts detached during the flight and was unusual in that its nose, in which the fuse and control system were installed, freely rotated along the longitudinal axis relative to the body of the anti-aircraft missile. Stabilizers, which were fastened in a single unit, could move freely along the rocket body. Before launching, they were in the front position (in a part of a larger diameter container). After start-up, the stabilizers slid along the body of the missile defense system to the rear position, where they were automatically fastened with the help of latches. The high-explosive warhead of the rocket was quite impressive (more than 2 kg), it was located in the central part of the anti-aircraft missile. The warhead was equipped with non-contact infrared and shock fuses.


The British also developed a separate version of the submarine “Blowpipe”. Created by engineers of the English company Vickers at the beginning of the 1980-s, the complex received the designation “SLAM” (Submarine-Launched Air Missile System). Its main purpose was the self-defense of small submarines with a displacement of 500-1100 tons from airplanes, anti-submarine helicopters and small-displacement enemy ships.

The SLAM anti-aircraft complex included a stabilized multiply-charged launcher with 6 missiles “Blowpipe”, a television camera, a control and guidance system, a monitoring and verification system. Air and sea targets were detected using a submarine periscope. Targeting this launcher to the target in azimuth was performed synchronously with the rotation of the periscope, after which the operator of the complex carried out an additional search for the target in elevation and he assumed control of the complex, pressing a special button in the guidance knob, which led to the separation of the SLAM launcher and submarine periscope drives. After launch, the anti-aircraft missile was accompanied by a television camera, and the target was guided by an operator who controlled the process with the aid of a pointing handle.

The pointing angles of the “SLAM” complex in azimuth were 360 degrees, in elevation: from -10 to + 90 degrees. The speed of rotation of the launcher in azimuth was 40 degrees per second, in elevation - 10 degrees per second. The use of the complex was allowed at water temperatures from 0 to + 55 degrees, wind speeds up to 37 km / h and waves of the sea to 4 points. Created by the British, the SLAM anti-aircraft complex was mounted on three Israeli French-made submarines - the Agosta class submarine.

SLAM launcher with 6 missiles in combat

The Blowpipe portable anti-aircraft missile system was widely used during the Falklands War, a military conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom, and both sides used the complex. 21 May 1982, during the landing of a naval assault force in San Carlos Bay, a detachment of 30 Argentine soldiers managed to destroy two British amphibious helicopters using MANPADS. On the same day, an anti-aircraft missile of this complex struck a British Harrier aircraft, which was controlled by Lieutenant Jeffrey Glover, the pilot managed to eject. The total losses of the Argentine Air Force from the use of the Blowpipe MANPADS by the British amounted to 9 aircraft.

In the spring of 1986, portable “Blowpipe” complexes came to Afghanistan, where they were used by Afghan Mujahideen against Soviet forces, mainly to defeat armored personnel carriers. The effectiveness of the use of this complex against aviation by that time, especially in comparison with the already existing American Stinger MANPADS, was very small.

Tactical and technical characteristics of MANPADS Blowpipe:
The range of the targets hit is up to 3500 m.
The height of the destruction of targets - 0,01-2,5 km.
Maximum rocket speed - 497 m / s (1,5 M).
Rocket caliber - 76 mm.
Rocket length - 1350 mm.
Rocket launch weight - 11 kg.
The mass of the missile warhead - 2,2 kg.
Missile mass in TPK - 14,5 kg.
Weight of sighting unit - 6,2 kg.
Preparation time on alert - 20 seconds.

Information sources:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/blowpipe/blowpipe.shtml
http://zonwar.ru/granatomet/pzrk/Blowpipe.html
http://military-informant.com/pzrk/blowpipe-sp-277727716.html
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11 comments
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  1. +5
    24 September 2018 09: 12
    hi Thank. Video on the topic.
    MANPADS Blowpipe ensured the defeat of air targets at ranges up to 3,5 kilometers and altitudes up to 2,5 kilometers ....

    ... For quality - Sorry hi
    1. +2
      24 September 2018 10: 40
      Mdaaaa! "Blopipe" has "grown" in recent years! When I first "heard" about this MANPADS back in "Soviet times", the performance characteristics were: n.d.-3 km; dv - 1,8 km ... recourse
    2. +2
      24 September 2018 18: 46
      san4es No need to apologize, absolutely not necessary. Thank you so much for the video. +++
      1. +2
        24 September 2018 19: 09
        ...You're welcome hi
  2. +6
    24 September 2018 09: 31
    About this complex could write more. In addition, the author is not very friendly with English:
    Blowpipe (pipe)
    No. literally this British MANPADS is translated as "blowpipe".
  3. +3
    24 September 2018 11: 02
    By the way, on one of the sites of "free patents" there was a description of the Russian "radio-controlled" anti-aircraft missile MANPADS. The author of the patent proposed the modernization of the outdated Strela-2 / 2M MANPADS into an analogue of the English Javelina ...: 1. In place of IK.GSN, a "radio receiver" was installed; 2.To the tail-tracer of a "specific" optical range (or an upgraded rocket engine with special additives ...); 3. On the "tube" - a miniature video camera with an optical filter ... a satchel bag was "added" to the complex, which housed a radio transmitter and a microcomputer ... I believe that such a modernized MANPADS would "fit" into the anti-drones system ... and Considering that this is a "rework" of the old "Strela-2 / 2M", it would be relatively inexpensive ...
    1. +5
      24 September 2018 16: 29
      Quote: Nikolaevich I
      By the way, on one of the sites of "free patents" there was a description of the Russian "radio-controlled" anti-aircraft missile MANPADS.

      Vladimir, about 25 years ago I studied Strela-2M closely. I really didn't have a chance to shoot myself ... alas. But I watched this process. For this purpose, a BM-13 MLRS based on the ZIL-131 was specially kept at the Baranovsky training ground near Ussuriysk. Rocket projectiles were used as a target for MANPADS.
      As for modernization, it is probably easier to build a new complex from scratch than to modernize the old one. By the way, all the Strela-2M MANPADS are now inoperative due to the failure of the batteries.
      1. 0
        25 September 2018 01: 46
        Quote: Bongo
        As for modernization, it is probably easier to make a new complex from scratch than to modernize an old one.

        Perhaps ... But still hot ... as evidenced by a considerable list of various "modernizations" on the Internet. The topic of the fight against drones is a "fashion brand" now! But go and land the UAV with an "electronic gun" or shoot it down with a "shotgun"! Zur suggests itself! But to use a "full-fledged" MANPADS (and even with IK.GSN!) Against a drone, sometimes purchased almost in an electronic toy shop ("small" bastards-terrorists, sir ...!) And does not have "powerful" thermal radiation , not "comme il faut"! And here, albeit an old, but "ready" rocket ... For use against drones, even a special tracer is not necessary and the engine does not need to be replaced ... The missile defense system is tracked by an infrared camera (or a simpler IR sensor ...) by torch a running rocket engine. Well, if you don't want to take "Strela-2 ...", I can suggest an "anti-aircraft nail" designed for "Pantsir-S" ... Little is known about this "carnation"; but it should be executed in small "dimensions" (72-80 mm, approximately ...) and radio command ... (laser-beam control system is possible ...). Here's a new rocket for you! Make only a transportable-portable version like "Dzhigit" ... And about the "dead batteries" in "Strela-2" ... Duc, it stops few people! There Ukrainians, without embarrassment, are modernizing old MANPADS! And they offer an "updated" product: "Strela-2MM" and "Igla-1M" ... wink
  4. +8
    24 September 2018 11: 23
    "Blowpipe" in combat conditions was applied three times, all three times unsuccessfully.
    During the Falkland conflict, both parties made more than 200 launches, 95 - only by the British. Initial reports of 9 downed planes were not confirmed, in fact, only one aircraft was shot down (Argentine Aermacchi MB. 339 # 0766) Argentines, having made more than 100 launches, also got a single hit in fact. (RAF Harrier GR3 # XZ972).
    In Afghanistan, after twelve unsuccessful attempts to launch by helicopters, the Dushmans switched to Stinger.
    The third time the complex was used in 1995 during the conflict between Peru and Ecuador.
    The efforts of both sides brought down one Colombian helicopter.
    That is, for all the time using the complex shot down three aircraft.
  5. +2
    24 September 2018 13: 55
    Thank you, we are waiting for the continuation.
  6. 0
    April 11 2022 17: 55
    Somehow it is hard to believe that a tungsten hypersonic dart, with a mass of 900 grams and
    caliber 20 mm contains, in addition to the control and guidance system, also 450 grams of explosives. For a conventional MANPADS missile weighing 10 kg, the amount of explosives in the warhead is less.

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