Fatal hypersound! Will R-37M dominate NATO aircraft without a direct-flow partner?
A lot of discussions on the Russian Internet caused news about the upcoming acquisition of operational combat readiness of the heavy super-long-range P-37M air-to-air missile, which should become the most “large caliber” to gain air supremacy in Su-5 X-ray generation multipurpose fighters. Nevertheless, the announcement of an experimental-military batch of these products to combat units of the VKS equipped with the first production Su-57, announced by the Director General of Tactical Missile Armament Corporation JSC Boris Obnosov, unfortunately, is difficult to count as section of high-profile news in the field of the formation of the Air and Space Forces of Russia. And there are several extremely good reasons.
First, taking into account the July statement by the chairman of the State Duma commission on the legal support of the development of military-industrial organizations Vladimir Gutenev about the allegedly “unjustified expensiveness of the Su-57 mass production and the provision of thin services of these machines”, as well as information from the deputy minister of Alexei Krivoruchko’s defense of the transfer of only the 2019 PAK FA to the Lipetsk 4 th center for combat use and retraining of the air force personnel in 2 year, it’s easy to assume that on the same European theater of operations hundreds of modern fighter jets of the transitional generation (F-16C / D Block 52 +, Rafale and Typhoon), a bundle of two Dryers and 8 Р-37М in their internal weapon compartments will not make special weather. The maximum that can be expected from such a small link in combat conditions is, for example, the destruction of one or a couple of radar patrol and E-3A / C airplanes with the aid of Р-37М missiles, as well as the interception of a two-three F-15E " Strike Eagle and F-35A with medium-range air combat missiles.
Secondly, the R-37M URVB does not belong to the promising types of air-launched interceptor missiles, but is only an improved modification of the already well-known ultra-long-range air-to-air missile R-37 (RVV-BD), developed on the basis of the R-33 /S for integration into the weapons control complex of the MiG-31BM long-range interceptor, which provides for hardware-software synchronization of the 610M Product with the powerful Zaslon-AM airborne radar system. As a result, the optional R-37M upgrade package, in comparison with the regular R-37, includes only a more advanced data exchange bus, which allows it to be used not only in the KUV and ammunition of the upgraded Foxhound, but in the armament sets of low-observable Su-57 fighters, as well as vehicles of the transitional generation "4 ++" Su-30SM and Su-35S. At the same time, the slightly modified brainchild of the Vympel state machine-building design bureau, apparently, has retained all the design features (and hence the shortcomings) of the R-33S / R-37 family of missiles, which will allow it to be effectively used only for the elimination of air operations. - strategic means of information support of the enemy (drones RQ-4A / B "Global Hawk", MQ-4C, RTR RC-135V / W aircraft, E-8C radar reconnaissance, etc.), as well as tactical fighters carrying a full combat load on the hardpoints in the strike version and with mediocre maneuverability.
The fact is that, despite the maximum speed on the march section of the trajectory in 6М (6380 km / h), the constructive safety margin of the Р-37М allows it to realize its own overload only in 20 — 22 units, which causes the maximum overload of the target in 7 —8 units Moreover, a similar indicator can be achieved only in the case when the flight speed of the P-37М is of the order of 1700 km / h or more. Conclusion: if the maneuvering fighter of the enemy flies in low-altitude or medium-altitude mode, it will be extremely difficult to intercept it during launch from the 250 — 300 km distance, since the P-37M moving along the aeroballistic trajectory will consume the engine’s solid propellant charge even at the beginning of the march and the martial carrier will spend the march at the beginning of the march, leaving the start of the march. and this means that when returning to the dense layers of the stratosphere and troposphere, the interceptor rocket will lose speed at a galloping pace due to aerodynamic deceleration, which will eventually reduce its maneuver Evolutionary quality to zero. Of course, the mass in 600 kg contributes to the partial preservation of the speed parameters of the rocket in the dense layers of the atmosphere, but the hull diameter in 380 mm, which provides a high drag coefficient, is still a decisive characteristic in the deterioration of the energy parameters of the P-37M at distances close to the maximum radius of action.
As for the onboard radio-electronic equipment of the rocket, in particular, the active radar homing, then, at first glance, everything is pretty good. The active radar homing head 9B-1103М-350 "Washer" with antenna web diameter in 350 mm (installed on standard Р-37) allows you to capture a target with an EPR in 1,5 square. m (F / A-18E / F "Super Hornet" with a suspension) at a distance of 30 km, while the frequency of a more high-performance on-board computer reaches 50 MHz, and the usual mechanical gyros are replaced with fiber-optic and mechanical with a forced launch.
The developer claims that the range of the radio correction channel from the carrier at the standard P-37 reaches only 100 km (1 / 3 from the radius of action). This means that starting from a distance of 100 km, the P-37 (and possibly the P-37M) switches to semi-active radar homing, which can be frustrated by modern electronic warfare stations like AN / ALQ-249 "Next Generation Jammer", which will soon be equipped with US deck-mounted EW EA-18G “Growler” aircraft. Consequently, P-37 / M will switch to inertial guidance mode with all the ensuing consequences, one of which is the error in reaching the target, which does not stand still. And if, at the moment of approaching the target 30 — 40 km, the cone of the GOS “Washer” will cover the last (this may not happen), then a “re-capture” will occur, allowing the interception to continue. But this will require a sharp maneuver of the P-37M, which will deprive the rocket of another 15 — 20% speed. There will be nothing to compensate for this loss, since the solid propellant charge spent. Here are the main drawbacks of AA-13 "ARROW". To exacerbate the problem of a large EPR P-37M, which makes it vulnerable to ship-based SM-6 SAM (RIM-174 ERAM) and AIM-120C-7 / D air combat missiles, there is no point; This is known to specialists for a long time. It is time to recall another long-range air combat missile, which was also forgotten by the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Aerospace Forces.
We are talking about the unique “Product 180-PD” (air-to-air missile RVV-AE-PD), equipped with an integral rocket-ram engine, which allows maintaining the highest maneuverability and speed even at critical distances close to range. This product, the experimental design and research work on which were completed back in 2012, could not only complement the far from brilliant capabilities of the R-37M in the fight against tactical aviation enemy, but also fend off the threat from similar British MBA Meteor missiles, which have long been ahead of our serial RVV-SD and R-27ER. The possibility of regulating the supply of the gas generator to the IRPD by means of a special valve in front of the combustion chamber would make it possible to maintain flight at a moderate speed of 2,7-3M for more than 140-150 km from the discharge point from the suspension unit, after which the full fuel supply was opened, and the rocket accelerated to 4,3-4,7 M, which would ensure the interception of even maneuvering anti-ship missiles at a distance of 170 km. Nevertheless, neither the "pennants" (amid a lack of funding), nor the Ministry of Defense, are still in a hurry to implement this remarkable project, and this is alarming ...
Information sources:
http://nevskii-bastion.ru/rvv-ae-pd/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-106.html
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/meteor/meteor.shtml
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/630714
First, taking into account the July statement by the chairman of the State Duma commission on the legal support of the development of military-industrial organizations Vladimir Gutenev about the allegedly “unjustified expensiveness of the Su-57 mass production and the provision of thin services of these machines”, as well as information from the deputy minister of Alexei Krivoruchko’s defense of the transfer of only the 2019 PAK FA to the Lipetsk 4 th center for combat use and retraining of the air force personnel in 2 year, it’s easy to assume that on the same European theater of operations hundreds of modern fighter jets of the transitional generation (F-16C / D Block 52 +, Rafale and Typhoon), a bundle of two Dryers and 8 Р-37М in their internal weapon compartments will not make special weather. The maximum that can be expected from such a small link in combat conditions is, for example, the destruction of one or a couple of radar patrol and E-3A / C airplanes with the aid of Р-37М missiles, as well as the interception of a two-three F-15E " Strike Eagle and F-35A with medium-range air combat missiles.
Secondly, the R-37M URVB does not belong to the promising types of air-launched interceptor missiles, but is only an improved modification of the already well-known ultra-long-range air-to-air missile R-37 (RVV-BD), developed on the basis of the R-33 /S for integration into the weapons control complex of the MiG-31BM long-range interceptor, which provides for hardware-software synchronization of the 610M Product with the powerful Zaslon-AM airborne radar system. As a result, the optional R-37M upgrade package, in comparison with the regular R-37, includes only a more advanced data exchange bus, which allows it to be used not only in the KUV and ammunition of the upgraded Foxhound, but in the armament sets of low-observable Su-57 fighters, as well as vehicles of the transitional generation "4 ++" Su-30SM and Su-35S. At the same time, the slightly modified brainchild of the Vympel state machine-building design bureau, apparently, has retained all the design features (and hence the shortcomings) of the R-33S / R-37 family of missiles, which will allow it to be effectively used only for the elimination of air operations. - strategic means of information support of the enemy (drones RQ-4A / B "Global Hawk", MQ-4C, RTR RC-135V / W aircraft, E-8C radar reconnaissance, etc.), as well as tactical fighters carrying a full combat load on the hardpoints in the strike version and with mediocre maneuverability.
The fact is that, despite the maximum speed on the march section of the trajectory in 6М (6380 km / h), the constructive safety margin of the Р-37М allows it to realize its own overload only in 20 — 22 units, which causes the maximum overload of the target in 7 —8 units Moreover, a similar indicator can be achieved only in the case when the flight speed of the P-37М is of the order of 1700 km / h or more. Conclusion: if the maneuvering fighter of the enemy flies in low-altitude or medium-altitude mode, it will be extremely difficult to intercept it during launch from the 250 — 300 km distance, since the P-37M moving along the aeroballistic trajectory will consume the engine’s solid propellant charge even at the beginning of the march and the martial carrier will spend the march at the beginning of the march, leaving the start of the march. and this means that when returning to the dense layers of the stratosphere and troposphere, the interceptor rocket will lose speed at a galloping pace due to aerodynamic deceleration, which will eventually reduce its maneuver Evolutionary quality to zero. Of course, the mass in 600 kg contributes to the partial preservation of the speed parameters of the rocket in the dense layers of the atmosphere, but the hull diameter in 380 mm, which provides a high drag coefficient, is still a decisive characteristic in the deterioration of the energy parameters of the P-37M at distances close to the maximum radius of action.
As for the onboard radio-electronic equipment of the rocket, in particular, the active radar homing, then, at first glance, everything is pretty good. The active radar homing head 9B-1103М-350 "Washer" with antenna web diameter in 350 mm (installed on standard Р-37) allows you to capture a target with an EPR in 1,5 square. m (F / A-18E / F "Super Hornet" with a suspension) at a distance of 30 km, while the frequency of a more high-performance on-board computer reaches 50 MHz, and the usual mechanical gyros are replaced with fiber-optic and mechanical with a forced launch.
The developer claims that the range of the radio correction channel from the carrier at the standard P-37 reaches only 100 km (1 / 3 from the radius of action). This means that starting from a distance of 100 km, the P-37 (and possibly the P-37M) switches to semi-active radar homing, which can be frustrated by modern electronic warfare stations like AN / ALQ-249 "Next Generation Jammer", which will soon be equipped with US deck-mounted EW EA-18G “Growler” aircraft. Consequently, P-37 / M will switch to inertial guidance mode with all the ensuing consequences, one of which is the error in reaching the target, which does not stand still. And if, at the moment of approaching the target 30 — 40 km, the cone of the GOS “Washer” will cover the last (this may not happen), then a “re-capture” will occur, allowing the interception to continue. But this will require a sharp maneuver of the P-37M, which will deprive the rocket of another 15 — 20% speed. There will be nothing to compensate for this loss, since the solid propellant charge spent. Here are the main drawbacks of AA-13 "ARROW". To exacerbate the problem of a large EPR P-37M, which makes it vulnerable to ship-based SM-6 SAM (RIM-174 ERAM) and AIM-120C-7 / D air combat missiles, there is no point; This is known to specialists for a long time. It is time to recall another long-range air combat missile, which was also forgotten by the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Aerospace Forces.
We are talking about the unique “Product 180-PD” (air-to-air missile RVV-AE-PD), equipped with an integral rocket-ram engine, which allows maintaining the highest maneuverability and speed even at critical distances close to range. This product, the experimental design and research work on which were completed back in 2012, could not only complement the far from brilliant capabilities of the R-37M in the fight against tactical aviation enemy, but also fend off the threat from similar British MBA Meteor missiles, which have long been ahead of our serial RVV-SD and R-27ER. The possibility of regulating the supply of the gas generator to the IRPD by means of a special valve in front of the combustion chamber would make it possible to maintain flight at a moderate speed of 2,7-3M for more than 140-150 km from the discharge point from the suspension unit, after which the full fuel supply was opened, and the rocket accelerated to 4,3-4,7 M, which would ensure the interception of even maneuvering anti-ship missiles at a distance of 170 km. Nevertheless, neither the "pennants" (amid a lack of funding), nor the Ministry of Defense, are still in a hurry to implement this remarkable project, and this is alarming ...
Information sources:
http://nevskii-bastion.ru/rvv-ae-pd/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-106.html
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/meteor/meteor.shtml
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/630714
Information