Military space. The future begins today

41
Outer space is of great interest in the context of the development of the armed forces. Spacecraft of different classes can solve a wide range of problems and ensure the defense capabilities of countries. Despite the existence of certain limitations, the development of military space systems continues and leads to certain positive results.


Launch of the Rokot rocket with three military spacecraft, July 3 2014, Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / mil.ru




Mastered technology


Due to the overall complexity of the projects and due to known limitations, space technology is mainly used for reconnaissance and surveillance. Other spacecraft are also used, and all satellites as a whole form rather large groups. So, the Russian Ministry of Defense has about a hundred spacecraft for various purposes. Several dozens of spacecraft of other departments can be involved in the work in the interests of the army.

Satellites are currently used in several key areas. Satellite navigation systems, communication systems of a number of types, and many reconnaissance and detection systems are being built and are functioning. Developed countries have missile attack satellites.

Existing systems are maintained in the required state due to the timely replacement of obsolete spacecraft. New satellite systems are also being deployed. So, in recent years, Russia has completed the construction of the GLONASS navigation system, as well as modernized several communication systems and deployed new intelligence tools.

Obviously, further progress in the space industry will allow different countries to improve existing orbital groupings, and there will be no abandonment of cash types. However, existing spacecraft will be replaced by more advanced ones, as well as gradually introducing new technology.

Observers in orbit


In the context of military use of spacecraft, so-called satellite inspectors. These are special devices capable of changing orbits and moving closer to other objects to observe or perform any work. According to various sources, in recent years Russia alone has launched several satellite inspectors, and they regularly become reasons for accusations.


Model of the GLONASS-M satellite. Wikimedia Commons Photos


As far back as 2013, reports appeared in foreign mass media about the Cosmos-2491 maneuvering apparatus. Moving in the near-Earth space, he came close to various objects. As a result of this, there were speculations about the possible military use of the apparatus - for reconnaissance or even destruction of alien spacecraft by ram.

Subsequently, similar capabilities showed the spacecraft of the Cosmos series with numbers 2499, 2501, 2520 and 2521. In the case of the last inspectors, their size and weight became an additional concern. They are larger and heavier than their predecessors, which may indicate the presence of any intelligence equipment. It is possible that now the Russian military can not only track other people's spacecraft, but also monitor from a minimum distance, intercept radio signals, etc.

In July of this year, the military leadership of France made interesting statements about Russian spacecraft. It was alleged that one of the satellite inspectors over the past few months has been monitoring spacecraft from different countries. Eight of them were affected in one way or another by his actions. Such events became one of the reasons for the formation of the Main Space Command of France, which has to take on all the tasks of military use in near-Earth space.

Battle satellites


It is obvious and expected that spacecraft can be used not only for observation, but also for the purpose of hitting designated targets - primarily orbital ones. The unrest with respect to satellite inspectors is mainly related to the alleged availability of such functions. Maneuverable spacecraft can be a carrier weapons or be a striking element.

The defeat of the orbital target can be carried out by a direct collision with it. Concerns of this kind were expressed several years ago, after the first reports and the activities of Russian satellite inspectors. Spacecraft of limited size and mass cannot carry complex equipment, but in theory, other satellites are capable of attacking. However, while Russian or foreign spacecraft did not carry out an attack of another’s technology.


SM-3 missile launch by satellite, February 20 2008. Photo by US Navy


Larger devices can be carriers of various equipment or weapons that comply with existing restrictions. In the past, in our country and abroad, the issues of equipping the spacecraft with small arms, laser or other weapons were studied, however, things did not go beyond some experiments. Influencing enemy spacecraft, incl. with complete incapacitation, it is also possible with the help of radio equipment. A satellite can carry an electronic warfare complex or electromagnetic weapons.

The issue of creating combat satellites with weapons may again become relevant. Thus, the French leadership in the context of creating their space forces mentioned the intention to create new types of satellites. In the distant future, armed spacecraft with various systems for combat may appear. However, in the coming years, the main task of the Main Space Command will be updating the existing group of reconnaissance and communications apparatuses.

"Earth-space"


For several decades, work has continued on the topic of ground-based anti-satellite weapons. In recent years, this topic has again become relevant and attracts attention. To date, three countries in the world have managed to demonstrate their ability to shoot spacecraft in low orbits. The anti-satellite potential of another country is still in question - there is some information, but the launches and defeats of targets are unknown.

Interest in the topic of anti-satellite systems intensified in 2007, when China destroyed a failed satellite FY-1C using a proprietary rocket. Later it became known that the missile used was tested before. New reports on promising Chinese developments are still appearing in foreign media, but the PRC does not confirm or refute them.

In February 2008, the United States conducted a similar operation. The SM-3 missile launcher launched from a surface ship and a few minutes later destroyed the USA-193 reconnaissance spacecraft. As far as is known, new operations of this kind have not been carried out.


Launch of the Indian anti-satellite missile, 27 March 2019 Propulsion Photo Defense Ministry of India


In March 2019, India announced the successful testing of its anti-satellite missile. These weapons were able to hit a small target at an altitude of 300 km; the whole operation took several minutes. The Indian military intends to improve the existing missile and bring it to adoption.

According to foreign reports, Russia is also developing anti-satellite weapons. Now work is underway to create the Nudol missile defense system, which, according to various estimates, will be able to hit not only the combat units of ballistic missiles, but also orbital targets. Nothing is known about launching missiles at such targets. There is also a version about the development of anti-satellite missiles air-based. Detailed information about this project is also missing.

The future begins


The military of the leading countries continues to develop space systems of the main classes, which allows to maintain the required defense capability. In parallel, the development and implementation of fundamentally new complexes for other purposes is being carried out. At the same time, several main trends are traced. So, the main focus is still on communication, navigation and intelligence systems.

Combat systems also attract attention and are present in the plans, but the pace of work in this direction is not too high. They are affected by the complexity and high cost of projects, as well as restrictions of an economic, political and other nature. It also raises doubts about the appropriateness of deploying certain classes of weapons in space. At the moment, it is the support spacecraft that can bring the greatest benefit to armies, while the real potential of combat systems remains in question.

In general, orbital groups have long become an important part of the developed armed forces, and the attitude towards them is purely utilitarian. Measures are being taken to develop and improve them, as well as to gain new opportunities. Fundamental breakthroughs so far should be attributed to the distant future. However, the current state and capabilities of space groups once seemed an unattainable future.
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  1. +10
    1 November 2019 06: 00
    In March 2019, India announced the successful testing of its anti-satellite missile. According to foreign reports, Russia is also developing anti-satellite weapons. Nothing is known about launching missiles at such targets.
    Oops. Even the Indians were let forward. Oh, beautiful capitalist today! And, it seems, an unimaginably beautiful capitalist tomorrow! For 12 years, we have been building the Vostochny cosmodrome, where billions are being stolen, and launches are still practically not being done - count on the fingers of one hand ... But once in space we were the first in almost everything.
    1. -9
      1 November 2019 06: 13
      The fact that ours has not been knocked down from the earth is not one satellite that does not mean that we cannot do this.
      Rather, we don’t intend to disclose what we can do, and there’s enough debris in orbit.
      This is my opinion, we have enough technology.
      1. +2
        1 November 2019 06: 23
        Launch of the Indian anti-satellite missile, 27 March 2019 Propulsion Photo Defense Ministry of India
        Indian rocket, is not going to "steer" when intercepting a satellite? if so, with what? what or is the accuracy guaranteed by mathematical (computer) calculation of the trajectory and accurate "meeting"?
      2. +4
        1 November 2019 06: 37
        The fact that ours has not been knocked down from the earth is not one satellite that does not mean that we cannot do this.
        Is the same story with Vostochny Cosmodrome? Like, we can launch anything from anywhere in any quantity - there are enough technologies. Just why the heck? Indeed, there is enough debris in orbit.
        1. -11
          1 November 2019 09: 34
          The Vostochny cosmodrome has been functioning for a long time. So it’s the same story - no matter how many yells "everything is lost", but they will catch you on lies. The first launch was back in 2016!
          1. +3
            1 November 2019 09: 46
            Can we read?
            launches are still practically not being carried out - count on the fingers of one hand
            How many launches were there? Or just to insert your weighty word? Well, so your opinion is very dear to me, of course.
            1. -9
              1 November 2019 10: 07
              We are able. And you? The spaceport is operational. This is an example of a workable spaceport you have proved the absence of rockets? Better go Navalenka donatte - he, too, for a lie got money.
              I really am silent with whom they compare. From the United States, whose air defense does not catch ancient cruise missiles, and they tested the SM-3 missile for the ability to weed out false targets using the example of Pershing-2 that does not produce such targets ...
              Here they have a rocket - it’s combat ready. already twice
              1. +1
                1 November 2019 10: 27
                Tochnik. As I expected, asking:
                we can launch anything from anywhere in any quantity - there are enough technologies. Just why the heck? After all, there’s enough debris in orbit
                You, along the way, from one incubator.
                Py.Sy. The spaceport has not yet been fully commissioned. Internet to help you.
                1. -6
                  1 November 2019 10: 39
                  No, this is already a clinic. "not fully commissioned". I will upset you, it will be modernized until its closing, but the fact remains - it was opened, built!
              2. -4
                2 November 2019 02: 34
                Do you have a bulk under the bed or something that sleeps in slippers in the morning? Everywhere you are trying to find it. Poor you poor crying
          2. -2
            1 November 2019 09: 50
            The future begins

            It seems, on the contrary, "the past ends": https://topcor.ru/11560-tri-invalida-na-orbite.html wink
            1. -1
              1 November 2019 10: 32
              GLONASS-M will become GLONASS-P (underwater). That's where the "achievements" really are. Shame!
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          3. +2
            1 November 2019 20: 37
            "Vostochny cosmodrome has been functioning for a long time"
            Only messages all for some reason about launches from Plisetsk or Baikonur ...
            1. +1
              1 November 2019 21: 22
              Quote: Ehanatone
              "Vostochny cosmodrome has been functioning for a long time"
              Only messages all for some reason about launches from Plisetsk or Baikonur ...

              crying laughing And there probably incognito space conquer? laughing
      3. +1
        2 November 2019 11: 00
        Based on statistics, the system would already be sold to everyone who would show interest. As with the S-400 or Su-57. I still don’t really have it at home, but I’ve sold more than I plan to take into service abroad.
    2. +4
      1 November 2019 18: 14
      We have tested anti-satellite missiles in Soviet times
  2. -2
    1 November 2019 06: 34
    Gentlemen minusers, the first successful kinetic interception of a rocket by a rocket was carried out by ours at the Shary-Sagal test site back in 1961, and if you think that we have not preserved and developed technology since then ... the flag is in your hands and big drum on the neck wassat
    1. +10
      1 November 2019 06: 42
      And Buran was the first reusable spacecraft (well, the Soviet shuttle can't be called a "shuttle"), which circled the Earth in an unmanned mode. Successfully. And he landed successfully. Only thirty, not sixty years ago, as in the example you have given with Shary-Sagal. And if
      do you think that we have not preserved and developed technology since then ...
      Oh shit! Not preserved and not developed - imagine ??? !!!
      1. -7
        1 November 2019 06: 49
        I will greatly disappoint you .... The Nudol project is the further development of those technologies, and at one time they refused to use kinetic interception for a reason, a whole research institute worked on this. Further, the possibility of intercepting complexes of S-400 and S-500 ballistic missiles is available and declared by the manufacturer. So there are technologies and competencies, but we still don’t breed garbage in orbit, there is so much of it.
        1. +7
          1 November 2019 06: 57
          You will never disappoint me, for 30 years I got used to the fact that Buran is everything. Various projects, including in the space sector, are said to be very promising and have no analogues in our country - even eat with an anus. From a scientific station in near-earth orbit to a stationary one on the Moon. And even flights to Mars. But the fact is that today's oligarchic Russia cannot even repeat the Buran project, let alone present its evolutionary version.
          1. 0
            3 November 2019 02: 41
            So go pack your things and go to socialist China. Do not like the homeland, change the country. And Buran, with all the advantages, costs several times more expensive than Unions. And there was no target load for him. But the capitalists are not interested in this, they don’t invest in it, they can be interested in it and they can lay it out. Or, as an option, create a fund yourself and collect denyushku on a flight to Mars.
        2. -1
          1 November 2019 09: 36
          Maybe it's not a "kinitic" interception after all, but kinЕtic?
    2. +6
      1 November 2019 08: 14
      "How many of them fell into this abyss" (c) for those who understand
      Tempest, Buran and another Buran, Bor, Spiral of all excesses, fighting Unions, Diamond. Where everything is, does not give an answer ... Projects are closed under the adage "green grapes, it didn't hurt and I wanted to". Well, about the trampoline, of course ...
  3. -3
    1 November 2019 11: 28
    Russia is ahead of everyone with a carrier of anti-satellite missiles MiG-31.
    1. +1
      1 November 2019 14: 53
      Oh well
      The F-15 fighter, taking off from the Edwards Air Force Base, rose to a height of 24,384 m and launched a vertical rocket at the target satellite: the target was the American scientific astrophysical satellite Solwind P78-1, weighing 907 kg, launched in 1979 and decommissioned. The missile hit the target at an altitude of 555 km, the counter-impact speed was more than 24 thousand kilometers per hour. Fighter pilot Wilbert Pearson (Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson) was thus the first pilot to bring down a spacecraft.
      1. +1
        1 November 2019 15: 24
        At leisure, study the materiel: the high-speed characteristics of the MiG-31 and F-15 when launching anti-satellite missiles will be pleasantly / unpleasantly (depending on origin) surprised.
        1. -1
          1 November 2019 15: 43
          The main result, the satellite was shot down as a result of the US program, and nothing was shot down in the USSR program
          1. +1
            1 November 2019 19: 22
            Quote: BlackMokona
            The main result, the satellite was shot down as a result of the US program, and nothing was shot down in the USSR program

            You're wrong. The satellite was confused by the satellite, though it was already under Russia, but it was lost by the missile under the USSR, so you don’t have to worry.
            1. -2
              1 November 2019 19: 33
              Can you credit?
              1. -1
                1 November 2019 20: 04
                You can’t follow the news carefully and you will see everything.
              2. 0
                1 November 2019 20: 06
                Quote: BlackMokona
                Can you credit?

                How do you imagine, should I keep links for all news in the archive ?? it’s only this that will have to be done, for a longer time it will not remain.
                1. -2
                  1 November 2019 21: 01
                  Just google it in 15 seconds, you remember the keywords.
                  1. 0
                    1 November 2019 22: 28
                    Quote: BlackMokona
                    Just google it in 15 seconds, you remember the keywords.

                    So you can google, you know what it is about.
                    1. -1
                      2 November 2019 08: 48
                      I find nothing, that's why I ask you to find
            2. +3
              1 November 2019 21: 01
              Quote: 1976AG
              The satellite went astray by satellite, though it was already under Russia

              The satellite sat down for the first time in 1968. This was during the USSR. And he did it again and again ...
              https://topwar.ru/97182-istrebitel-sputnikov-polet.html
              1. +1
                1 November 2019 21: 02
                Thanks, missed this moment.
  4. +1
    1 November 2019 14: 21
    Quote: Operator
    Russia is ahead of everyone with a carrier of anti-satellite missiles MiG-31.

    Yeah. After the Americans decommissioned their ASAT system

    Quote: jonht
    The fact that ours has not been knocked down from the earth is not one satellite that does not mean that we cannot do this.

    In fact, we did this EMNIP even in the 70s - 80s. From Baikonur
    1. +2
      1 November 2019 18: 54
      Quote: Old26
      In fact, we did this EMNIP even in the 70s - 80s. From Baikonur

      In the mid-70s ... Goal-1, Goal-2.
    2. 0
      3 November 2019 02: 34
      It was about modern Russia, but the Russian Federation has not yet done so. And stupid people can not find and honor about Nudol, what it is for warheads in low orbit, the further development of the Amur.
      And all types of successful interceptions were precisely of their satellites with completely known characteristics of the trajectory and speed.
  5. -1
    1 November 2019 15: 25
    Quote: Old26
    Americans wrote off their ASAT system

    After they did not find in their arsenal aircraft carriers similar to the MiG-31.
  6. +2
    2 November 2019 12: 46
    Quote: Operator
    Quote: Old26
    Americans wrote off their ASAT system

    After they did not find in their arsenal aircraft carriers similar to the MiG-31.

    The F-15 did just fine with them. The fact that Congress put a spoke in the wheels of this project with its bans is a political, not a technical decision. They carried out at least one test on a real space target - the R-78-1 satellite in 1985. Our "anti-satellite" MIG-31 did not make a single launch and remained at Sary-Shagan

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