Why do we lose long-range air combat? Loss of initiative as a pattern
As you remember, in our early reviews we repeatedly touched on the extremely acute for fighter aviation regiments of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the problem of insufficient anti-aircraft and anti-missile potentials associated with the lack of advanced guided long-range air combat missiles in the ammunition of combat vehicles capable of intercepting enemy maneuvering air targets directly near the extreme boundaries of the range of action (at a distance from 90 to 160 km and more from the launch site). The final point in all disputes on this score was set by two very painful events for the aviation component of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
First of all, it is freezing or “putting it on the back burner” of finalizing the long-range advanced RVV-AE-PD development program (“180-PD Product”) equipped with the 371 high-energy integrated CRDT-TT rocket engine ( due to the presence of a computerized system for regulating the supply of the gas generator to the combustion chamber) allows the rocket to maintain speed in 1,7 — 2M and the ability to realize overload in 25 — 35 units. even on the terminal part of the trajectory (in 160 — 170 km from the vanishing point). Consequently, this type of powerplant would allow future F-XNUMHPDs to destroy fighters, high-speed RCs and other high-precision weapons the enemy, maneuvering with overloads 12 — 17G.
Reached the level of initial combat readiness of air-to-air missiles RVV-SD (“Product 170-1”), equipped with single-mode solid-fuel rocket engines, do not possess such qualities. Indeed, aerodynamic deceleration, which begins immediately after the burnout of a solid propellant charge, slows the rocket down to 1,4 — 1,2М and lower at a distance of all 80 — 90 km, and therefore the level of “energy maneuvering” necessary for interception cannot be achieved even using lattice aerodynamic rudders capable of operating at angles of attack in 40 degrees).
Secondly, this is the acquisition of operational readiness in 2016 by the brainchild of the European military-industrial corporation MBDA - the long-range air combat missile “Meteor”, equipped with an integrated rocket-ramjet engine-analogue of the KPRPT-TT “371”, as well as the prospect of a speedy first production a prototype of an even more advanced product JNAAM, developed by the British division of MBDA in collaboration with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Technology Research and Development Institute. The JNAAM project envisages the development of a long-range URVV, the hull and powerplant of which will be borrowed from Meteor, and the inertial navigation system and active radar seeker from the modern Japanese air combat missile AAM-4B.
Here, it’s not at all that some of our observers have yielded patriotic exclamations about the unique parameters of the only Russian ultra-long-range URVV P-37 / RVV-BD, because the high-energy and ultra-active active FAR millimeters will be the basis for JNAAM's self-guiding head. / W-ranges, represented by nitride-gallium transceiver modules. And no matter how unpleasant it is for us to realize this, but the aforementioned ARGSN will have much more delicate accuracy of “capturing” targets in comparison with domestic “slotted” active 9B-1103М-200PA / PS and 9Б-1103М-350 radar sensors installed on missiles RVV-SD and RVV-BD ("Product 610M"). The ability to select targets with a small EPR against the background of the use of dipole reflectors and the setting of targeted frequency response noise interference will be the most valuable quality promising HLS JNAAM missiles. Heavy interceptors of the Р-37 / РВВ-БД family can not be considered as a means of destroying highly maneuverable ballistic and aerodynamic objects, since disposable overloads of the first hardly reach 22 — 25 units.
Nevertheless, the commissioning of the air forces and fleets of Great Britain and France and Japan, as well as the German and Swedish air forces of the Meteor and JNAAM air combat missiles (to equip the JAS-39C / D / E, Typhoon, Rafale ”, as well as F-35A / B) will not be the only test for the Russian videoconferencing, as well as for the competitiveness of the products of the Scientific-Research Institute“ Agat ”and JSC“ GosMKB “Vympel” in the global arms market.
The latest information about the consequences of the arms race that has broken out between the Middle Kingdom and the United States in the development of promising long-range air combat missiles pushes towards such reflections. One of these consequences is the launch of the promising AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile) development program, which should be a worthy substitute for the AIM-120C-8 / D AMRAAM missiles in service with the Air Force and the US Navy. The start of R & D implementation of this project was announced by US Air Force Brigadier General Anthony Genatempo on 20 in June 2019 and presented to the media as an asymmetric response to the successful acquisition of operational combat readiness by the Chinese air-to-air missile PL-15, equipped with a "long-playing" ramjet engine.
Carefully evaluate the already well-known technical qualities, the appearance of on-board radio-electronic equipment, as well as the average cost of large-scale assembly of the Meteor MBDA integrated rocket-ramjet thrusters, experts from the Lockheed Martin military-industrial corporation and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). ) came to the conclusion that the development of a long-range hypersonic two-stage interceptor missile in one of two system configurations can be a much more economically feasible solution. boards, each of which will cost significantly less than the 2,27 millionth "Meteor". This conclusion suggests itself after careful monitoring of American and Western European analytical resources, on the pages of which you can find several sketches-demonstrators of the future AIM-260.
The first concept (also known as “Long Range Engagement Weapon”) is a two-stage long-range URVV with a developed acceleration-march stage, having a two-mode solid rocket motor that provides acceleration to 4,5 — 5,5 speed and an exit to a ballistic trajectory with apogee in 30 — 35 km, as well as combat-interceptor with aerodynamic controls.
Judging by the sketch, the acceleration-marching stage can be borrowed from the anti-aircraft guided missile RIM-162 ESSM together with the single-chamber dual-mode solid propellant rocket motor Mk 134 Mod0. This is evidenced by the aerodynamic booster circuit for the AIM-162 JATM, represented by the wings of low elongation with a huge chord running along the entire length of the body, as well as stepped edges in the front and rear parts of the stabilizer wings, similar to the RIM-260 ESSM case. Another subject of similarity between the ESSM and the AIM-260 accelerator can be considered similar trapezoid-shaped aerodynamic rudders, allowing the use of JATM in melee air combat (“dogdog”) or mid-range combat. To this end, the booster stage can be equipped with a gas-jet thrust vector deflection system.
As for the layout and parameters of the combat stage of the first concept (LREW) AIM-260, we can talk about a maneuvering kinetic interceptor, designed according to the “duck” scheme with a tail block of stabilizers and front aerodynamic control surfaces, providing the ability to perform maneuvers with overloads up to 35 units . at the time of the dive to the target from the upper stratosphere. At the same time, targeting accuracy can be achieved only through the use of AFAR-ARGSN. At the same time, the above control system effectively intercepts only aerodynamic targets (tactical fighters and reconnaissance ships), maneuvering with overloads of no more than 10 — 17G, and only until the combat stage is slowed down to 1,3 — 1,2М when the rudders lose their aerodynamic properties.
Therefore, the most likely result of R & D on the JATM project could be the development of the second AIM-260 concept, represented by the same acceleration march stage from the improved Sparrow Marine and a unique combat stage of kinetic interception, borrowed from the CUDA / SACM perspective project of self-defense CUDA / T. What does this mean? First of all, about equipping the kinetic interceptor with a belt unit of several hundreds of gas-dynamic control impulse engines, providing “spatial throws” with overloads from 60 to 70G.
And due to the fact that the control unit of the on-board computer will continuously receive information from millimeter AFAR-ARGSN, the destruction of small targets can be achieved using the direct hit-to-kill method. It is quite logical that AIM-260 JATM in this version can be used not only in fulfilling the tasks of gaining air supremacy and long-range interception by enemy tactical aviation, but also in the network-centric systems of zonal-object and regional air defense-missile defense, ensuring the destruction of 30- multiple overloads of warheads of promising ballistic missiles of short and medium range.
The formation of "Meteor" and "freezing" of the P-77PD deprived the fighter aviation regiments of the VCS of the initiative in long-range air combat
First of all, it is freezing or “putting it on the back burner” of finalizing the long-range advanced RVV-AE-PD development program (“180-PD Product”) equipped with the 371 high-energy integrated CRDT-TT rocket engine ( due to the presence of a computerized system for regulating the supply of the gas generator to the combustion chamber) allows the rocket to maintain speed in 1,7 — 2M and the ability to realize overload in 25 — 35 units. even on the terminal part of the trajectory (in 160 — 170 km from the vanishing point). Consequently, this type of powerplant would allow future F-XNUMHPDs to destroy fighters, high-speed RCs and other high-precision weapons the enemy, maneuvering with overloads 12 — 17G.
Reached the level of initial combat readiness of air-to-air missiles RVV-SD (“Product 170-1”), equipped with single-mode solid-fuel rocket engines, do not possess such qualities. Indeed, aerodynamic deceleration, which begins immediately after the burnout of a solid propellant charge, slows the rocket down to 1,4 — 1,2М and lower at a distance of all 80 — 90 km, and therefore the level of “energy maneuvering” necessary for interception cannot be achieved even using lattice aerodynamic rudders capable of operating at angles of attack in 40 degrees).
Secondly, this is the acquisition of operational readiness in 2016 by the brainchild of the European military-industrial corporation MBDA - the long-range air combat missile “Meteor”, equipped with an integrated rocket-ramjet engine-analogue of the KPRPT-TT “371”, as well as the prospect of a speedy first production a prototype of an even more advanced product JNAAM, developed by the British division of MBDA in collaboration with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Technology Research and Development Institute. The JNAAM project envisages the development of a long-range URVV, the hull and powerplant of which will be borrowed from Meteor, and the inertial navigation system and active radar seeker from the modern Japanese air combat missile AAM-4B.
Here, it’s not at all that some of our observers have yielded patriotic exclamations about the unique parameters of the only Russian ultra-long-range URVV P-37 / RVV-BD, because the high-energy and ultra-active active FAR millimeters will be the basis for JNAAM's self-guiding head. / W-ranges, represented by nitride-gallium transceiver modules. And no matter how unpleasant it is for us to realize this, but the aforementioned ARGSN will have much more delicate accuracy of “capturing” targets in comparison with domestic “slotted” active 9B-1103М-200PA / PS and 9Б-1103М-350 radar sensors installed on missiles RVV-SD and RVV-BD ("Product 610M"). The ability to select targets with a small EPR against the background of the use of dipole reflectors and the setting of targeted frequency response noise interference will be the most valuable quality promising HLS JNAAM missiles. Heavy interceptors of the Р-37 / РВВ-БД family can not be considered as a means of destroying highly maneuverable ballistic and aerodynamic objects, since disposable overloads of the first hardly reach 22 — 25 units.
For "Meteors" will follow JATM. Not "straight-through", but just as dangerous
Nevertheless, the commissioning of the air forces and fleets of Great Britain and France and Japan, as well as the German and Swedish air forces of the Meteor and JNAAM air combat missiles (to equip the JAS-39C / D / E, Typhoon, Rafale ”, as well as F-35A / B) will not be the only test for the Russian videoconferencing, as well as for the competitiveness of the products of the Scientific-Research Institute“ Agat ”and JSC“ GosMKB “Vympel” in the global arms market.
The latest information about the consequences of the arms race that has broken out between the Middle Kingdom and the United States in the development of promising long-range air combat missiles pushes towards such reflections. One of these consequences is the launch of the promising AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile) development program, which should be a worthy substitute for the AIM-120C-8 / D AMRAAM missiles in service with the Air Force and the US Navy. The start of R & D implementation of this project was announced by US Air Force Brigadier General Anthony Genatempo on 20 in June 2019 and presented to the media as an asymmetric response to the successful acquisition of operational combat readiness by the Chinese air-to-air missile PL-15, equipped with a "long-playing" ramjet engine.
Carefully evaluate the already well-known technical qualities, the appearance of on-board radio-electronic equipment, as well as the average cost of large-scale assembly of the Meteor MBDA integrated rocket-ramjet thrusters, experts from the Lockheed Martin military-industrial corporation and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). ) came to the conclusion that the development of a long-range hypersonic two-stage interceptor missile in one of two system configurations can be a much more economically feasible solution. boards, each of which will cost significantly less than the 2,27 millionth "Meteor". This conclusion suggests itself after careful monitoring of American and Western European analytical resources, on the pages of which you can find several sketches-demonstrators of the future AIM-260.
The first concept (also known as “Long Range Engagement Weapon”) is a two-stage long-range URVV with a developed acceleration-march stage, having a two-mode solid rocket motor that provides acceleration to 4,5 — 5,5 speed and an exit to a ballistic trajectory with apogee in 30 — 35 km, as well as combat-interceptor with aerodynamic controls.
Judging by the sketch, the acceleration-marching stage can be borrowed from the anti-aircraft guided missile RIM-162 ESSM together with the single-chamber dual-mode solid propellant rocket motor Mk 134 Mod0. This is evidenced by the aerodynamic booster circuit for the AIM-162 JATM, represented by the wings of low elongation with a huge chord running along the entire length of the body, as well as stepped edges in the front and rear parts of the stabilizer wings, similar to the RIM-260 ESSM case. Another subject of similarity between the ESSM and the AIM-260 accelerator can be considered similar trapezoid-shaped aerodynamic rudders, allowing the use of JATM in melee air combat (“dogdog”) or mid-range combat. To this end, the booster stage can be equipped with a gas-jet thrust vector deflection system.
As for the layout and parameters of the combat stage of the first concept (LREW) AIM-260, we can talk about a maneuvering kinetic interceptor, designed according to the “duck” scheme with a tail block of stabilizers and front aerodynamic control surfaces, providing the ability to perform maneuvers with overloads up to 35 units . at the time of the dive to the target from the upper stratosphere. At the same time, targeting accuracy can be achieved only through the use of AFAR-ARGSN. At the same time, the above control system effectively intercepts only aerodynamic targets (tactical fighters and reconnaissance ships), maneuvering with overloads of no more than 10 — 17G, and only until the combat stage is slowed down to 1,3 — 1,2М when the rudders lose their aerodynamic properties.
The second concept of a promising ultra-long-range air combat missile AIM-260 JATM
Therefore, the most likely result of R & D on the JATM project could be the development of the second AIM-260 concept, represented by the same acceleration march stage from the improved Sparrow Marine and a unique combat stage of kinetic interception, borrowed from the CUDA / SACM perspective project of self-defense CUDA / T. What does this mean? First of all, about equipping the kinetic interceptor with a belt unit of several hundreds of gas-dynamic control impulse engines, providing “spatial throws” with overloads from 60 to 70G.
And due to the fact that the control unit of the on-board computer will continuously receive information from millimeter AFAR-ARGSN, the destruction of small targets can be achieved using the direct hit-to-kill method. It is quite logical that AIM-260 JATM in this version can be used not only in fulfilling the tasks of gaining air supremacy and long-range interception by enemy tactical aviation, but also in the network-centric systems of zonal-object and regional air defense-missile defense, ensuring the destruction of 30- multiple overloads of warheads of promising ballistic missiles of short and medium range.
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