Russian anti-missile tests in the foreign press
3 June, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a video of the next test launch of a promising Russian missile for a strategic missile defense. The short video attracted the attention of specialists, lovers of military equipment and the media. Russian work in the field of missile defense always attracts the foreign press, and the last launch was no exception. According to its results, various publications reappeared with admiration, criticism and attempts to give an objective assessment.
Curious, though controversial material was published by 26 in May, the Chinese online publication Phoenix (Ifeng.com). The main question was put in the title: 俄罗斯 电子 工业 很 落后 ， 为何 俄军 反导 武器 如此 强大 强 (“If Russia is lagging behind in electronics, why does it have such a powerful missile defense?”) However, the “power” of the Russian missile defense is questioned.
The Chinese edition acknowledges that Russia is creating highly effective anti-aircraft missile systems for air defense, but in the area of missile defense there is a lag behind foreign countries. It is argued that in this area the United States and the "main eastern countries" are ahead of Russia by 20 years.
Phoenix examines the composition and known characteristics of the Russian PRO A-135 complex. At the same time, there are weak points of such a system. So, until 2005, the short-range anti-missiles 53Т6 and the long-range missile 51Т6 were on duty. After the decommissioning of the latter, the potential of A-135 decreased due to the drop in the maximum interception range.
An improved missile defense system called A-235 is being tested. It includes a new interceptor missile 53Т6М. This product has higher performance and is capable of carrying a non-nuclear warhead.
The Chinese edition indicates that Russia has not yet mastered the kinetic interception of ballistic targets. Currently, such methods of interception are used in American projects and in Chinese systems of the Dongfeng family. Thus, according to Phoenix, in the field of kinetic interception missiles, Russia lags behind foreign countries by 20 years.
About a week after publication in Phoenix, the Russian military conducted a regular launch of an interceptor missile for a conventional target. According to the Ministry of Defense, the rocket coped with the tasks and showed the required characteristics. How such results relate to the assessments of the Chinese press is a big question.
News from the Ministry of Defense of Russia naturally attracted the attention of the American edition of The National Interest. On June 8, it published an article “Watch It’s Very Own Missile Defense System” (“See how Russia is testing its missile defense system”). It discusses messages from the Russian media and draws interesting conclusions.
Although official Russian sources did not specify the type of rocket tested, TNI suggests that this was an ORS-1М / 53Т6М product. It is a modernized version of an older 53Т6 rocket from the A-135 complex. With reference to the Russian press, the PRS-1М is capable of reaching speeds of more than 3 km / s, hitting targets at altitudes up to 50 km, and also maneuvering with overloading up to 300 g. All this leads to a significant increase in the interception of targets and increase efficiency.
The Russia 24 TV channel claims that the 53Т6М rocket has no analogues in the world, but TNI argues with this and reminds of the old American design. Back in the sixties in the United States was created anti-missile Sprint. The product of conical shape left the launcher with the help of compressed air and in 5 seconds developed the speed M = 10, facing an overload to 100. To defeat the combat parts of the ICBM used neutron warhead
The Sprint missile was part of the Safeguard missile defense system and solved low-level interception tasks. Also in the complex there was a Spartan rocket with a greater range and altitude. The Safeguard complex was deployed by the mid-seventies. A limited number of such systems were on duty at location areas with ICBMs. Later, Safeguard complexes were removed from service. It turned out that a massive nuclear missile strike would easily penetrate such a defense, and missile defense with sufficient reliability would be extremely expensive and difficult.
TNI reminds that this problem is still relevant. The American missile defense system is capable of handling several primitive North Korean ICBMs, but a volley from hundreds of Russian missiles will be successful. The publication notes that the Russian anti-missiles PRS-1M look impressive, but in the event of a conflict, they will have to face the same problems.
June 10 responded to the German anti-missile test by the German edition Stern - its article was named “Start einer PRS-1M Rakete - Putins Abwehrschirm wird noch schneller” (“The launch of the PRS-1M - Putin’s missile defense will be faster”). Like TNI, Stern assumes that the 53Т6М / PRS-1М type rocket passed the tests and draws appropriate conclusions.
Stern recalls that the ORS-1M is not capable of solving a wide range of tasks, as is done by the C-400 or C-500 SAM systems and cannot attack airplanes or cruise missiles. Such weapon created in case of atomic war. He will have to intercept the ICBM of the enemy, defending the major Russian cities.
Considering the well-known characteristics of the product 53Т6М, Stern calls it the fastest rocket in the world. It is especially noted that the hypersonic speed up to 4 km / s is already developing at takeoff, and not in planning, like in the promising warheads. The range and height of the ORS-1M exceeds its predecessors.
ORS-1M is called the "Doomsday weapon". It can only be used in a war that can destroy the world. Unlike the "Phoenix", Stern writes that the anti-missile is not a high-explosive charge, but a nuclear warhead, which represents a particular threat. Undermining several missiles at high altitude, intercepting the enemy’s attack, will have disastrous consequences for the atmosphere.
Having reviewed the Russian missile defense system, Stern pays attention to their American counterparts and how to deal with them. Since the United States withdrew from the missile defense treaty in 2002, Russia is striving to create promising weapons capable of breaking through American defenses. New hypersonic systems or submersible “Poseidon” are being developed for this very purpose. In this context, Stern again recalls ORS-1M. This rocket has a powerful engine providing high acceleration at take-off. It is possible that such a power plant will be used in new weapons projects.
The Ministry of Defense regularly conducts tests of various components of a strategic missile defense system, but it is precisely missile interceptor launches that traditionally attract the most attention. This is probably due both to the special role of such weapons, and to a very effective launch - the military department regularly publishes video footage of such events.
To date, several test launches of the upgraded 53T6M / PRS-1M rocket have been carried out, and almost all of them ended in success. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense is not in a hurry to clarify the current status of the project. It is not known when exactly the new anti-missiles from the A-235 complex will take up combat duty. Other details of the work remain undisclosed.
However, the lack of a part of the most important information does not affect the interest of foreign media. Any news about anti-missile tests or other ways of developing Russian missile defense becomes a pretext for new publications in the foreign press.
Based on the available information, foreign publications are trying to determine the real potential of promising systems and give them a general assessment. Their findings differ markedly from each other. Some publications believe that Russia has lagged behind foreign countries in the area of antimissiles, while others fear the use of such technologies in other projects. Also referred to the problems of missile defense systems present at the level of the overall concept.
It should be noted that the actual background and reason for new publications in the press is the continuation of work in Russia. Ignoring foreign assessments and assumptions, enterprises and the Ministry of Defense continue to test and improve interceptor missiles and other components of the missile defense system. Among other things, this means that in the future new results will be obtained - which will immediately become the reason for the next wave of publications.
On the eve of the test
Curious, though controversial material was published by 26 in May, the Chinese online publication Phoenix (Ifeng.com). The main question was put in the title: 俄罗斯 电子 工业 很 落后 ， 为何 俄军 反导 武器 如此 强大 强 (“If Russia is lagging behind in electronics, why does it have such a powerful missile defense?”) However, the “power” of the Russian missile defense is questioned.
The Chinese edition acknowledges that Russia is creating highly effective anti-aircraft missile systems for air defense, but in the area of missile defense there is a lag behind foreign countries. It is argued that in this area the United States and the "main eastern countries" are ahead of Russia by 20 years.
Phoenix examines the composition and known characteristics of the Russian PRO A-135 complex. At the same time, there are weak points of such a system. So, until 2005, the short-range anti-missiles 53Т6 and the long-range missile 51Т6 were on duty. After the decommissioning of the latter, the potential of A-135 decreased due to the drop in the maximum interception range.
An improved missile defense system called A-235 is being tested. It includes a new interceptor missile 53Т6М. This product has higher performance and is capable of carrying a non-nuclear warhead.
The Chinese edition indicates that Russia has not yet mastered the kinetic interception of ballistic targets. Currently, such methods of interception are used in American projects and in Chinese systems of the Dongfeng family. Thus, according to Phoenix, in the field of kinetic interception missiles, Russia lags behind foreign countries by 20 years.
About a week after publication in Phoenix, the Russian military conducted a regular launch of an interceptor missile for a conventional target. According to the Ministry of Defense, the rocket coped with the tasks and showed the required characteristics. How such results relate to the assessments of the Chinese press is a big question.
American reaction
News from the Ministry of Defense of Russia naturally attracted the attention of the American edition of The National Interest. On June 8, it published an article “Watch It’s Very Own Missile Defense System” (“See how Russia is testing its missile defense system”). It discusses messages from the Russian media and draws interesting conclusions.
Although official Russian sources did not specify the type of rocket tested, TNI suggests that this was an ORS-1М / 53Т6М product. It is a modernized version of an older 53Т6 rocket from the A-135 complex. With reference to the Russian press, the PRS-1М is capable of reaching speeds of more than 3 km / s, hitting targets at altitudes up to 50 km, and also maneuvering with overloading up to 300 g. All this leads to a significant increase in the interception of targets and increase efficiency.
The Russia 24 TV channel claims that the 53Т6М rocket has no analogues in the world, but TNI argues with this and reminds of the old American design. Back in the sixties in the United States was created anti-missile Sprint. The product of conical shape left the launcher with the help of compressed air and in 5 seconds developed the speed M = 10, facing an overload to 100. To defeat the combat parts of the ICBM used neutron warhead
The Sprint missile was part of the Safeguard missile defense system and solved low-level interception tasks. Also in the complex there was a Spartan rocket with a greater range and altitude. The Safeguard complex was deployed by the mid-seventies. A limited number of such systems were on duty at location areas with ICBMs. Later, Safeguard complexes were removed from service. It turned out that a massive nuclear missile strike would easily penetrate such a defense, and missile defense with sufficient reliability would be extremely expensive and difficult.
TNI reminds that this problem is still relevant. The American missile defense system is capable of handling several primitive North Korean ICBMs, but a volley from hundreds of Russian missiles will be successful. The publication notes that the Russian anti-missiles PRS-1M look impressive, but in the event of a conflict, they will have to face the same problems.
German concerns
June 10 responded to the German anti-missile test by the German edition Stern - its article was named “Start einer PRS-1M Rakete - Putins Abwehrschirm wird noch schneller” (“The launch of the PRS-1M - Putin’s missile defense will be faster”). Like TNI, Stern assumes that the 53Т6М / PRS-1М type rocket passed the tests and draws appropriate conclusions.
Stern recalls that the ORS-1M is not capable of solving a wide range of tasks, as is done by the C-400 or C-500 SAM systems and cannot attack airplanes or cruise missiles. Such weapon created in case of atomic war. He will have to intercept the ICBM of the enemy, defending the major Russian cities.
Considering the well-known characteristics of the product 53Т6М, Stern calls it the fastest rocket in the world. It is especially noted that the hypersonic speed up to 4 km / s is already developing at takeoff, and not in planning, like in the promising warheads. The range and height of the ORS-1M exceeds its predecessors.
ORS-1M is called the "Doomsday weapon". It can only be used in a war that can destroy the world. Unlike the "Phoenix", Stern writes that the anti-missile is not a high-explosive charge, but a nuclear warhead, which represents a particular threat. Undermining several missiles at high altitude, intercepting the enemy’s attack, will have disastrous consequences for the atmosphere.
Having reviewed the Russian missile defense system, Stern pays attention to their American counterparts and how to deal with them. Since the United States withdrew from the missile defense treaty in 2002, Russia is striving to create promising weapons capable of breaking through American defenses. New hypersonic systems or submersible “Poseidon” are being developed for this very purpose. In this context, Stern again recalls ORS-1M. This rocket has a powerful engine providing high acceleration at take-off. It is possible that such a power plant will be used in new weapons projects.
Tests and their consequences
The Ministry of Defense regularly conducts tests of various components of a strategic missile defense system, but it is precisely missile interceptor launches that traditionally attract the most attention. This is probably due both to the special role of such weapons, and to a very effective launch - the military department regularly publishes video footage of such events.
To date, several test launches of the upgraded 53T6M / PRS-1M rocket have been carried out, and almost all of them ended in success. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense is not in a hurry to clarify the current status of the project. It is not known when exactly the new anti-missiles from the A-235 complex will take up combat duty. Other details of the work remain undisclosed.
However, the lack of a part of the most important information does not affect the interest of foreign media. Any news about anti-missile tests or other ways of developing Russian missile defense becomes a pretext for new publications in the foreign press.
Based on the available information, foreign publications are trying to determine the real potential of promising systems and give them a general assessment. Their findings differ markedly from each other. Some publications believe that Russia has lagged behind foreign countries in the area of antimissiles, while others fear the use of such technologies in other projects. Also referred to the problems of missile defense systems present at the level of the overall concept.
It should be noted that the actual background and reason for new publications in the press is the continuation of work in Russia. Ignoring foreign assessments and assumptions, enterprises and the Ministry of Defense continue to test and improve interceptor missiles and other components of the missile defense system. Among other things, this means that in the future new results will be obtained - which will immediately become the reason for the next wave of publications.
Information