Managed planning bomb PBK-500U. Drill completes testing
In our country, the development of promising aviation means of destruction. One of the most interesting projects of this kind has come to the test for a long time and successfully copes with the necessary checks. The latest reports on the progress of work suggest that the product will be put into service in the very near future - in accordance with previously announced plans. This is the PBK-500U Drel guided gliding bomb.
The latest PBC-500U project progress reports appeared only a few days ago. On October 1, Interfax-AVN news agency quoted Alexander Kochkin, deputy general director of the Tekhmash concern. A representative of the developer organization said that the tests "Drills" are going according to plans. While the product confirms its characteristics. For this reason, the developers are optimistic: there are no concerns about the successful completion of the tests.
At the beginning of the year, the management of Tekhmash spoke about plans for the near future. Thus, it was stated that at the 2018 year, the completion of state tests of the Drill product, which had been started back in 2016, is scheduled, after which it should be put into service. A few weeks later this information was confirmed. According to the latest reports, the tests are being successfully completed, and, most likely, will be completed as soon as possible - in accordance with the previously announced plans.
Thus, if in the coming months the project developers do not encounter any problems during the tests, then by the end of the year PBC-500U will be accepted for service. Shortly thereafter, the mass production of products should begin with the subsequent dispatch to the line units. The number and cost of the guided bombs planned for the order have not yet been specified.
***
The existence of a new planned guided bomb, or rather, a bomb cassette, became known in 2005, when Bazalt NPO (now part of the Tekhmash concern) was first shown at a MAKS exhibition. Further such weapon demonstrated at a variety of follow-up events. The product was designated PBC-500U, and also had the name "Drill". In some cases, the main index of the project added letters indicating the type of combat load of the bomb.
According to reports of the developer, a promising guided weapon is intended for the destruction of ground targets of various kinds - troops in positions, command posts, means of observation and other objects. Due to the high characteristics of the bomb cassette, the aircraft has the ability to carry out a strike from a considerable distance, without entering the zone of responsibility of enemy short-range air defense weapons. This increases the impact efficiency and also reduces the risks for aviation.
Externally, the "Drill" differs little from other aerial bombs of domestic production, including those managed. It is built on the basis of a cylindrical body of significant elongation, supplemented by a pointed head fairing and a conical tail section. In the central and tail parts of the hull there are X-shaped planes responsible for creating lift and maneuvering along the trajectory.
The PBC-500U bomb case is a cassette for placing combat elements of one type or another. At a given height of the order of 250-300 m above the ground, the bomb cassette automatically opens and scatters combat elements over a certain area, which to a certain extent increases its effectiveness in comparison with other aviation means of destruction.
At the moment, the payload "Drill" consists of 15 self-aiming combat elements of the type SPBE-K. Each such product is a compact autonomous system that can independently study the ground situation, search for targets and hit them. A combined infrared and radar system is used to search for targets. SPBE-K has a cumulative warhead capable of penetrating at least 70 mm of homogeneous armor (according to some sources, more than 100 mm).
In the development of SPBE-K, features of the use of aircraft weapons were taken into account. Thus, the automation of a combat element can not only search for ground targets, but also determine their type. The element attacks only targets identified as military equipment, weapons, etc. In addition, the elements are equipped with a self-liquidator, whose task is to destroy an unserviceable product after a certain time.
Earlier, the possibility of equipping the PBC-500U bomb cassette with another payload was also indicated. A modification was mentioned that carries a high-explosive monoblock warhead with a mass of about 400-450 kg. Instead of self-aiming elements in the cassette there may be BETAB-M concrete-breaking submunitions. Thus, depending on the configuration, the Drill can solve different tasks with the defeat of differing goals.
The PBC-500U project provides for the use of homing systems on a ground object with previously known coordinates. The on-board equipment of the product includes an inertial and satellite navigation system. The latter is fully compatible with the domestic GLONASS complex. After entering the information about the location of the target, the automation can work independently and without human intervention or onboard equipment of the carrier. The information from the two navigation systems is processed by the autopilot and is used to correct the trajectory using the available rudders.
The presence of satellite navigation allows to obtain a relatively high accuracy of hits. The circular deviation does not exceed a few meters. At the same time, the presence of several separate combat elements or the high power of the monoblock warhead compensate for the deviation from a given point.
The PBK-500U product has a length of 3,1 m with a diameter of 450 mm. Cartridge weight - 500 kg. According to the organization developer, such a bomb can be dropped by the carrier at speeds from 700 to 1100 km / h. The allowable altitude range is from 100 m to 14 km. At the same time, the possible planning range of the bomb cassette depends on the speed and altitude of the aircraft. The maximum value of this parameter is stated at 30 km.
The long range of the "Drill" gives obvious advantages in overcoming the enemy's air defense. When dropping a bomb at the maximum distance from the target, the carrier aircraft remains outside the zone of responsibility of short-range and short-range air defense. In addition, the extreme difficulty of intercepting such weapons by existing means was previously mentioned. This is achieved due to the special design of the hull, providing reduced visibility for radar facilities.
Not so long ago, representatives of Tehmash raised the topic of possible carriers of promising weapons. The PBK-500U cassette is compatible with many existing domestic aircraft. It can be used by front and long-range aviation. At the same time, the main trends in the development of aerospace forces were also taken into account: the newest Su-57 fighter is capable of carrying and using the Drill.
***
For the first time, a layout of a planning controlled bomb cassette of a new type was presented in 2005 year. In the future, the project developed, but its real prospects, for several reasons, remained in question. The situation changed only in the middle of this decade. Shortly after the next demonstration of the mock-up at the “Army” exhibition, the producer organization agreed with the military department to conduct the necessary tests, the results of which would lead the weapon to the troops.
State tests of PBC-500U “Drill” started in 2016 year. Since that time, a significant number of test discharges have been performed, with the help of which it was possible to determine the actual characteristics of the prospective weapon. According to the latest reports, during tests, experimental armament confirms design characteristics, which is cause for optimism.
According to information from the recent past, state tests of a new-type bomb cassette will be completed by the end of this year. After that, an order should be issued to put the product into service and an order for its mass production. Accordingly, in the near future, aerospace forces will be able to begin the development of such weapons.
Adoption of the new cassette should have a significant impact on the combat potential of the Russian strike aircraft. "Drill" is a universal means of hitting a wide range of ground targets, from armored vehicles to protected objects. At the same time, PBC-500U favorably differs from other guided bomb armaments with an increased range of a planned flight, which gives obvious advantages. In addition, an advantageous combination of the caliber and efficiency of the bomb should reduce the consumption of ammunition to solve the problem. Despite the presence of serious advantages, "Drill" is hardly considered as a replacement for other guided bombs.
The command understands the value of guided weapons, and the defense industry is able to create the required ammunition. The next development of this kind successfully completes state tests, and in the near future will be able to enter service. After this, a certain increase in the strike potential of front and long-range aviation should be expected.
On the materials of the sites:
http://tass.ru/
https://rg.ru/
https://tvzvezda.ru/
https://defendingrussia.ru/
http://bastion-opk.ru/
http://russianarms.ru/
The latest PBC-500U project progress reports appeared only a few days ago. On October 1, Interfax-AVN news agency quoted Alexander Kochkin, deputy general director of the Tekhmash concern. A representative of the developer organization said that the tests "Drills" are going according to plans. While the product confirms its characteristics. For this reason, the developers are optimistic: there are no concerns about the successful completion of the tests.
At the beginning of the year, the management of Tekhmash spoke about plans for the near future. Thus, it was stated that at the 2018 year, the completion of state tests of the Drill product, which had been started back in 2016, is scheduled, after which it should be put into service. A few weeks later this information was confirmed. According to the latest reports, the tests are being successfully completed, and, most likely, will be completed as soon as possible - in accordance with the previously announced plans.
Thus, if in the coming months the project developers do not encounter any problems during the tests, then by the end of the year PBC-500U will be accepted for service. Shortly thereafter, the mass production of products should begin with the subsequent dispatch to the line units. The number and cost of the guided bombs planned for the order have not yet been specified.
***
The existence of a new planned guided bomb, or rather, a bomb cassette, became known in 2005, when Bazalt NPO (now part of the Tekhmash concern) was first shown at a MAKS exhibition. Further such weapon demonstrated at a variety of follow-up events. The product was designated PBC-500U, and also had the name "Drill". In some cases, the main index of the project added letters indicating the type of combat load of the bomb.
According to reports of the developer, a promising guided weapon is intended for the destruction of ground targets of various kinds - troops in positions, command posts, means of observation and other objects. Due to the high characteristics of the bomb cassette, the aircraft has the ability to carry out a strike from a considerable distance, without entering the zone of responsibility of enemy short-range air defense weapons. This increases the impact efficiency and also reduces the risks for aviation.
Externally, the "Drill" differs little from other aerial bombs of domestic production, including those managed. It is built on the basis of a cylindrical body of significant elongation, supplemented by a pointed head fairing and a conical tail section. In the central and tail parts of the hull there are X-shaped planes responsible for creating lift and maneuvering along the trajectory.
The PBC-500U bomb case is a cassette for placing combat elements of one type or another. At a given height of the order of 250-300 m above the ground, the bomb cassette automatically opens and scatters combat elements over a certain area, which to a certain extent increases its effectiveness in comparison with other aviation means of destruction.
At the moment, the payload "Drill" consists of 15 self-aiming combat elements of the type SPBE-K. Each such product is a compact autonomous system that can independently study the ground situation, search for targets and hit them. A combined infrared and radar system is used to search for targets. SPBE-K has a cumulative warhead capable of penetrating at least 70 mm of homogeneous armor (according to some sources, more than 100 mm).
In the development of SPBE-K, features of the use of aircraft weapons were taken into account. Thus, the automation of a combat element can not only search for ground targets, but also determine their type. The element attacks only targets identified as military equipment, weapons, etc. In addition, the elements are equipped with a self-liquidator, whose task is to destroy an unserviceable product after a certain time.
Earlier, the possibility of equipping the PBC-500U bomb cassette with another payload was also indicated. A modification was mentioned that carries a high-explosive monoblock warhead with a mass of about 400-450 kg. Instead of self-aiming elements in the cassette there may be BETAB-M concrete-breaking submunitions. Thus, depending on the configuration, the Drill can solve different tasks with the defeat of differing goals.
The PBC-500U project provides for the use of homing systems on a ground object with previously known coordinates. The on-board equipment of the product includes an inertial and satellite navigation system. The latter is fully compatible with the domestic GLONASS complex. After entering the information about the location of the target, the automation can work independently and without human intervention or onboard equipment of the carrier. The information from the two navigation systems is processed by the autopilot and is used to correct the trajectory using the available rudders.
The presence of satellite navigation allows to obtain a relatively high accuracy of hits. The circular deviation does not exceed a few meters. At the same time, the presence of several separate combat elements or the high power of the monoblock warhead compensate for the deviation from a given point.
The PBK-500U product has a length of 3,1 m with a diameter of 450 mm. Cartridge weight - 500 kg. According to the organization developer, such a bomb can be dropped by the carrier at speeds from 700 to 1100 km / h. The allowable altitude range is from 100 m to 14 km. At the same time, the possible planning range of the bomb cassette depends on the speed and altitude of the aircraft. The maximum value of this parameter is stated at 30 km.
The long range of the "Drill" gives obvious advantages in overcoming the enemy's air defense. When dropping a bomb at the maximum distance from the target, the carrier aircraft remains outside the zone of responsibility of short-range and short-range air defense. In addition, the extreme difficulty of intercepting such weapons by existing means was previously mentioned. This is achieved due to the special design of the hull, providing reduced visibility for radar facilities.
Not so long ago, representatives of Tehmash raised the topic of possible carriers of promising weapons. The PBK-500U cassette is compatible with many existing domestic aircraft. It can be used by front and long-range aviation. At the same time, the main trends in the development of aerospace forces were also taken into account: the newest Su-57 fighter is capable of carrying and using the Drill.
***
For the first time, a layout of a planning controlled bomb cassette of a new type was presented in 2005 year. In the future, the project developed, but its real prospects, for several reasons, remained in question. The situation changed only in the middle of this decade. Shortly after the next demonstration of the mock-up at the “Army” exhibition, the producer organization agreed with the military department to conduct the necessary tests, the results of which would lead the weapon to the troops.
State tests of PBC-500U “Drill” started in 2016 year. Since that time, a significant number of test discharges have been performed, with the help of which it was possible to determine the actual characteristics of the prospective weapon. According to the latest reports, during tests, experimental armament confirms design characteristics, which is cause for optimism.
According to information from the recent past, state tests of a new-type bomb cassette will be completed by the end of this year. After that, an order should be issued to put the product into service and an order for its mass production. Accordingly, in the near future, aerospace forces will be able to begin the development of such weapons.
Adoption of the new cassette should have a significant impact on the combat potential of the Russian strike aircraft. "Drill" is a universal means of hitting a wide range of ground targets, from armored vehicles to protected objects. At the same time, PBC-500U favorably differs from other guided bomb armaments with an increased range of a planned flight, which gives obvious advantages. In addition, an advantageous combination of the caliber and efficiency of the bomb should reduce the consumption of ammunition to solve the problem. Despite the presence of serious advantages, "Drill" is hardly considered as a replacement for other guided bombs.
The command understands the value of guided weapons, and the defense industry is able to create the required ammunition. The next development of this kind successfully completes state tests, and in the near future will be able to enter service. After this, a certain increase in the strike potential of front and long-range aviation should be expected.
On the materials of the sites:
http://tass.ru/
https://rg.ru/
https://tvzvezda.ru/
https://defendingrussia.ru/
http://bastion-opk.ru/
http://russianarms.ru/
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