Weapons of the near future: prospects for the deployment of anti-ship missiles 3M22 "Zircon"

"Admiral Gorshkov" - the first carrier of "Zircon"

In the interests of the surface and submarine forces of the Russian naval fleet a promising hypersonic anti-ship missile 3M22 "Zircon" is being created. In the near future, the tests of this product will be completed, after which it will be adopted by the Navy. At the same time, some plans for the future deployment, operation and use of the new missile are already known.

Latest checks

To date, the test program for the Zircon anti-ship missile system has reached its final stages, which provide for regular test launches. So, last year we conducted three test firing at ground and surface targets. The frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" of project 22350 was used as a test carrier of the rocket. In July this year, another "Zircon" again successfully hit the intended target.

Earlier, official and unofficial sources have repeatedly announced plans to conduct several more tests. Shooting will be carried out from surface and underwater carriers. According to their results, already in 2022, the missile system can be adopted by the fleet. 3M22 products will be used by ships and submarines of various types.

Also at the official level, some details are announced. So, at the end of May, at a meeting of the President of Russia and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, it was announced that "Zircon" is in the final stage of state tests. On August 10, as part of the Single Day of Acceptance of Military Products, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that state tests of the new complex will be completed this year.

The exit of the 3M22 rocket from the 3C-14 installation

One of the future launch vehicles was also mentioned at the United Day. The commander of the 11th submarine division of the Northern Fleet, Rear Admiral Alexander Zarenkov, said that the Zircons, along with other modern missile weapons, would be included in the ammunition load of the Kazan multipurpose nuclear submarine, project 885M Yasen-M. Thanks to this, the submarine will be able to strike at various surface and ground targets. In the future, it is the Yasen-M submarines that will become the basis of the submarine strike forces of the fleet.

New weapon

So far, not too much is known about the anti-ship missile 3M22 "Zircon". Only the most general data are open, and the approximate level of tactical and technical characteristics is also clear. The appearance of the product was also not officially disclosed, although the launch of a rocket from a standard carrier has already been shown.

According to known data, "Zircon" is a hypersonic weapon to defeat large surface targets. During the tests, a flight speed of about 8M was obtained. The marching section of the trajectory passes at altitudes of more than 30 km, which makes it possible to reduce air resistance and increase the flight range. The missile's maximum range is reportedly over 1000 km. The tests demonstrated a flight of 350, 450 and 500 km.

It is assumed that high flight characteristics are achieved due to the ramjet engine. There are infrared or radar homing systems. The defeat of the target is provided with a conventional warhead. In addition, the highest kinetic energy of the rocket becomes an additional damaging factor.

Zircon is compatible with various carriers. A basic modification is intended for the surface fleet, which is used with the 3C-14 universal shipborne firing system. Submarines must use a different modification of the underwater launch anti-ship missile system.

Surface carriers

The first carrier of the Zircon anti-ship missile system, as well as an experimental ship for flight tests, was the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, built on project 22350. The latter provides for the installation of two UKSK 3S-14 with 16 cells for different types of missiles. The number and proportion of 3M22 products and other weapons will be determined by the task at hand. In this configuration, it is planned to build four ships.

It has recently become known that the next frigates, starting with the fifth ship of the Admiral Amelko series, will receive two additional launchers. Due to this, at least six frigates under construction and ordered will be able to carry 32 missiles of different types.

The carriers of "Zircon" will be not only new, but also modernized ships. In recent years, it has been repeatedly reported that heavy nuclear missile cruisers, project 1144, during the upgrade will receive modern UKSK, compatible with all current weapons. Now the cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" is undergoing such an upgrade. In the future, similar events will be held at Peter the Great. Previously also took place news on the possible installation of UKSK 3S-14 on the aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov".

Nuclear submarine "Kazan" during handover to the customer, May 7, 2021

Destroyer project 23560 "Leader", which is planned to be implemented in the medium and long term, is being created taking into account current and future trends in the field of weapons. Accordingly, anti-ship missiles "Zircon" from the very beginning will be included in the ammunition load of future destroyers.

It should be noted that compatibility with UKSK 3S-14 theoretically allows the use of 3M22 missiles on the widest range of launch vehicles. These can be small missile Buyany-M or Karakurt, frigates and corvettes of modern projects, etc., up to the largest ships of the Navy. The range of future carriers will be determined taking into account technical, tactical, economic and other factors.

Start from under the water

As reported, the first carriers of the underwater modification of "Zircon" will be atomic submarines of project 885M. A ship of this type is equipped with 8 vertical launchers, which can accommodate 4 or 5 containers with missiles of different types. As in the case of surface ships, 32-40 cells can be used to transport and launch various types of missiles, incl. hypersonic 3M22.

Two submarines of project 885 (M) have already been transferred to the Navy and are ready to perform training and combat missions. Until 2027-28 seven more are expected. In parallel, older ships will be withdrawn from service, and the modern Yaseni-M will eventually occupy an important position in the submarine forces.

Submarine "Irkutsk" before setting up for repair and modernization

Part of the Zircon submarine carriers will be created by upgrading existing ships. So, next year, the Irkutsk nuclear submarine, originally built on Project 949A Antey and being renovated on Project 949AM, will return to the Pacific Fleet. One of the main features of the AM project is the replacement of standard launchers with new universal products. After that, the modernized submarine will be able to use different missiles, incl. PKR 3M22 in the amount of up to 72 units.

At the moment, two submarines are being upgraded to "949AM" - "Irkutsk" and "Chelyabinsk". They are planned to return to service in 2022 and 2023. respectively. In the future, a similar modernization of other Anteevs is expected. According to the results of such a program, five more ships may become carriers of the Zircon.

In order to further develop the submarine forces, a promising project of the Husky nuclear submarine is now being developed. Among other things, it provides for the construction of multipurpose boats with torpedo and missile weapons. The ammunition load of such a ship will initially include a hypersonic anti-ship missile system.

Hypersonic future

In general, the situation around hypersonic weapons for the Russian Navy looks good and encourages optimism. Already this year, tests of the first product of this class, the 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missile system, will be completed, and next year it will be put into service. Serial production will also be launched with the supply of products to the fleet and gradual deployment on standard carriers.

The exact list and number of future carriers of the Zircon missile, surface and submarine, have not yet been officially disclosed. At the same time, the fundamental possibility of the widest introduction of such weapons is well known. In combination with the highest flight and combat characteristics of the rocket itself, this will give the most interesting results. The potential of the surface and submarine forces of the Russian Navy to combat surface targets will increase dramatically, and this will happen in the very near future.

Comments

[Paul zewike]

Interesting! Is this weapon capable of changing the balance of power at sea? Or an expensive toy?

[BAI]

It has already changed. The United States recognized that aircraft carriers were useless in a major war and adopted a different fleet concept with a focus on a large number of cheap ships.

[Doccor18]

Quote: BAI

The United States recognized that aircraft carriers were useless in a major war and adopted a different fleet concept with a focus on a large number of cheap ships.

US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have been built as they are ... Moreover, they will make UDC like America as aircraft carriers.
The frigate and TDK programs began not from the "uselessness of aircraft carriers", but with a purely pragmatic goal - to increase the number of ships for possible upcoming operations in the Asia-Pacific region, where there are many islands, and a considerable number of small and inexpensive ships will be needed ...
Zircon is formidable, but there are not many carriers of these anti-ship missiles, and what about target designation there will be at a distance of 1000 km ...

[Avior]

The real effectiveness will depend, among other things, on the GOS, and it is not yet known about it even what type it is.

[Timx]

ARGSN (active radar homing head) are traditionally used on anti-ship missiles, but recently, thanks to the miniaturization of the element base and a decrease in energy consumption, it has become possible to add a passive channel (PRGSN) to expand the variability of application and increase the chances of successfully overcoming ship-based air defense-missile defense systems. So, ARGSN will definitely be there, but whether auxiliary channels are being implemented is not yet clear, I have not participated in the project for a long time ...

[Avior]

Traditionally, yes, but recently the situation has changed due to the growth of electronic warfare capabilities. And before that, electronic warfare was very effective against this type of GOS, and now even more so. This is overlaid with problems with the operation of such a GOS on hypersound. Or does the speed decrease when approaching?
Modern seeker is usually combined with different types of guidance - optics, psssivny, active channels.

[Timx]

Well, I wrote above that now a bunch of ARGSN and PRGSN is used, while thanks to advances in the element base, it is possible to minimize losses in weight and dimensions.

Modern seeker is usually combined with different types of guidance - optics, psssivny, active channels.

Well, these are still different heads, not combined ones, you can combine sensors based on general physical principles: radar (active, passive, semi-active), optics (day, night), IR (heat direction finders, or a full-fledged matrix thermal imager) , laser (active, semi-active, etc.), acoustic, etc.
Otherwise, it will not be possible to do with a common power supply and a computing module - these will already be two different systems with a corresponding increase in weight and dimensions ...

[Timx]

This is superimposed on problems with the operation of such a GOS on hypersound.

I often hear this phrase from various commentators and authors of articles, and it has already managed to turn into a kind of axiom that does not require verification or at least analysis. But in fact, it is known only about one test cycle of a hypersonic apparatus (with a flight in the stratosphere at speeds of 5 or more Mach numbers) in our country (the Cold program, and tests were carried out in Kazakhstan on Balkhash in the years 96-98, seems). All other projects never received funding ... Hence, as a practice, I have a lot of questions))) And one of them: who, where and when found problems with the sensors?
PS
And, perhaps, the most curious thing is how, in this case, the Dagger complex, which has been in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces for more than 2 years, and is recognized by all our so-called `` experts '' as the world's only hypersonic aircraft missile, is aimed at the target.

[Avior]

Do you know how the Dagger is aimed? Write, I wonder what kind of GOS is there and whether it is there ...

[voyaka uh]

"how, in this case, the" Dagger "complex is aimed at the target," ///
----
Just like Iskander. The dagger is an air launch Iskander.
Inertial, and at the terminal site - correction using
active radar seeker.
Provides good accuracy on stationary objects.

[Timx]

correction with
active radar seeker

- well, you can not explain it to me))) Just the people `` on the Internet '' 20 years ago decided (it is not clear why at all) that an object flying at hypersonic speed in the atmosphere is isolated from the reception and transmission of any radio signals by a cloud of plasma induced from friction of the aircraft glider skin and its environment))) And as a mantra is repeated in all forums ...
Therefore, I decided to touch on this topic in a suitable thread.

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

Just the people `` on the Internet '' 20 years ago decided (it is not clear why at all) that an object flying at hypersonic speed in the atmosphere is isolated from the reception and transmission of any radio signals by a plasma cloud

If I understand the physics of the process correctly, then it is not isolated there, but simply this very plasma creates very strong interference in the transmission of radio signals. This effect is not invented, but actually present: it is because of it that the descent spacecraft, when entering the atmosphere, for some time lose contact with the MCC (until the speed drops). As far as I know, no reliable solution to this problem has yet been invented.

[Timx]

Well, you are comparing spacecraft that descend from orbit (the speed is close to the first spacecraft) along a steep spiral trajectory, and an aircraft flying (at a speed 5 times lower) in a highly rarefied atmosphere, in fact, in a straight line 80% of the time, similar in concept to aircraft of the type SR-71 and MiG-25 (only unmanned and therefore having the best speed and altitude parameters).
No matter how much I read the literature (both on SR-71 and MiGs), nowhere were there any complaints about interference from ionization. Even the MiG-31 has been turned into an air fighter flight control center using digital radio communication! So who installed it and where? And they twisted legends ...
And then, now this effect is used in the engines of any very low-cost passenger car (ionization in the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine) and, hung with cheap Chinese sensors, the engines somehow work without failures for tens and hundreds of hours ...

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

You are comparing spacecraft descending from orbit (the speed is close to the first spacecraft) along a steep spiral trajectory, and an aircraft flying (at a speed 5 times lower) in a highly rarefied atmosphere, in fact, in a straight line 80% of the time

The described effect persists even after the spacecraft is decelerated to the speeds at which the Zircon is going to fly. The trajectory does not play a special role here. By the way, similar problems arose during the tests of the American X-51, which was dusting "only" at 5.1M.

No matter how much I read the literature (both on SR-71, and on MiGs), nowhere were there any complaints about interference from ionization

So there are other speeds - about 3M with a penny. And "Zircon" is promised something in the range of 7-10M.

Quote: TimX

And then, now this effect is used in the engines of any very low-cost passenger car (ionization in the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine)

And what does this have to do with it? Ionization of ionization is different, and radars are not often installed in combustion chambers.

[Timx]

The described effect persists even after the spacecraft is decelerated to the speeds at which the Zircon is going to fly.

Do you want to say that the Soviet `` Buran '' in its only (unmanned!) Flight passed the entire `` atmospheric '' section without radio communication and telemetry? Well, I don’t know, in my opinion, it’s extremely unlikely ... I am not a fan of this program, (also because my grandmother in the second half of the 80s practically never got out on business trips to Baikonur, being a leading specialist in control systems)), if you read somewhere the memoirs of characters describing this phenomenon, I will be grateful for the link.
PS
And how then did the American Space Shuttle solve this problem (they were in operation for more than 20 years and flew exclusively with a crew, while having, as domestic experts assure us, a much lower degree of control automation).
P.P.S

the speeds at which the Zircon is going to fly.

And this is a very sad story, since the project in the form it was conceived (with the achievement of speeds M = 6 in cruise flight) became after the events of 2014 goals (imposed sanctions and restrictions on the transfer of critical technologies) is simply impossible ... That project what now exists in metal is an evolutionary development of the program known to the public as the X-90 GELA (I have it on my avatar) with a significantly redesigned front and lower part of the hull (a different type of air intake). As far as I understand, the creators were inspired by the Spiral project (the original project, closed in the 70s for the sake of copying the Shuttle), since the air intake and the lower part of the hull are similar one to one ...
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/100498924/1461793241/1500x500

[Timx]

That is why the leadership can no longer just shut up in a rag, since they publicly trumpeted the achievement of breakthroughs (extremely prematurely) and mastered a lot of money from the budget ... This is how all these `` Dagger '' appeared (slightly altered `` Eskander '' with still incomprehensible efficiency), "Petrel" (an attempt to pass off the aging Soviet project of the early 60s as a breakthrough on a world scale), and now tales about "Zircon" and its 8-10 and even (from the words of "the" 'more swings))) Well, they can't admit before the elections that' backward Europe '(scared by the Crimea) did not sell them equipment for the production of breakthrough super-weapons for pride - they are dirty, it means they are afraid ...).
PS
That is, the problem with hypersound is the same as with the Superjet, MS-21 and many others - until a full-fledged production of engines and the necessary materials appears entirely on the domestic base (primarily in terms of equipment) - this will remain a meaningless shaking of air and showing blank videos and low quality 3D graphics ...

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

Do you want to say that the Soviet `` Buran '' in its only (unmanned!) Flight passed the entire `` atmospheric '' section without radio communication and telemetry?

Not all, but some part, apparently. It was due to the high degree of automation: smart electronics guided the ship independently, without commands from the MCC. I read somewhere (I can’t find it now) that shortly before the Buran landing, it also laid some tricky turn: the MCC thought that the electronics had malfunctioned, but the subsequent debriefing showed: the turn was justified, the electric brain - well done ))

Quote: TimX

And how then did the American Space Shuttle solve this problem?

The same as now - in no way: for some period during the descent, the automatics and astronauts control the ship on their own, and in the MCC they cross their fingers and gnaw their elbows.

Quote: TimX

The project that exists now in metal is an evolutionary development of the program known to the public as the X-90 GELA

As I read, the GELA project was successfully closed back in the 90s, all work was curtailed. To what extent "Zircon" is a continuation of these developments is difficult to say, since there is no information in open sources, even the appearance has not yet been revealed. If purely speculative, neither the GELA nor the aircraft in the image from the link you provided looks like something that can be shoved into 3C-14.

[Timx]

I originally wrote about cruise missiles with ramjet engines, for which the operating ceiling ends at around 35-40 km (above, there will not be enough wing bearing properties, and, therefore, the very need for a ramjet engine will disappear). You are making a comparison with spacecraft launched from orbit, in which, as I found, this problem (interference to communication systems from plasma exposure) occurs in the altitude range of 90-40 km and, therefore, goes beyond the range of heights of applicability of the RCC data. Here is this article on Habré from 2017 https://habr.com/ru/post/401297/;
I did not have time to study it in detail, since it is not my subject, but upon a cursory glance, I got the impression that the author himself is not very `` in the subject '' and simply translated information from the popular Western press, which is what the authors on this resource actually do on topics not related to IT (and there is about the same thing), although he gives there a number of interesting graphs and illustrations ... At least now it became clear to me where people got this topic `` with plasma ''.

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

You are making a comparison with spacecraft launched from orbit, in which, as I found, this problem (interference to communication systems from plasma exposure) occurs in the altitude range of 90-40 km

So the point is still not in height, but in speed. In the specified range of altitudes, the speed of the spacecraft is still high to ensure the formation of this very plasma cloud. Further, the speed drops so much that the plasma ceases to form, and the connection is restored.
The GZ KR, on the other hand, will fly at high speed in sufficiently dense layers of the atmosphere, so that the plasma effect will arise. Again, it is alleged that the Americans stumbled over this problem when they drove their X-51.

[Timx]

Forgive me, but it is the flight altitude (and, to a lesser extent, the trajectory or speed) that causes this ionization effect around aircraft))) ...

Modern combat aircraft fly in the troposphere and stratosphere, not climbing above 26-27 kilometers. From 50 to 85 kilometers above the planet stretches the mesosphere - an area of ​​extremely ionized air, at the border of which the temperature drops to –100 ° С. Well, then there is the thermosphere and the exosphere - already near space. Above the stratosphere and the mesosphere is an area that is undeveloped for horizontal flights. Rockets, going into space, penetrate these layers vertically or obliquely, satellites at such altitudes (40-90 kilometers) do not fly: the air is too dense for them, if they do not burn out from friction, they will lose their speed so quickly and fall to the ground.

The mesosphere is a region of the Earth's ionosphere (its lower layer).

The ionosphere, in general terms, is a layer of the planet's atmosphere that is highly ionized due to exposure to cosmic rays. For planet Earth, this is the upper part of the atmosphere, consisting of the mesosphere, mesopause and thermosphere, ionized mainly by solar irradiation.
The Earth's ionosphere (hereinafter we will talk about the Ionosphere of our planet) consists of a mixture of a gas of neutral atoms and molecules (mainly nitrogen N2 and oxygen O2) and quasi-neutral plasma (the number of negatively charged particles is only approximately equal to the number of positively charged ones). The degree of ionization becomes significant already at an altitude of 60 kilometers.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0
PS
Thus, if the aircraft does not go beyond 40 km in height (and this is all, without exception, aircraft and air-jet engines, including scramjet engines), then it will not have problems with ionization (and loss of radio communication).

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

Forgive me, but it is the flight altitude (and, to a lesser extent, the trajectory) that causes this ionization effect around the aircraft))) ...

No. The ionosphere is an area, so to speak, of natural air ionization. During hypersonic flight, it is artificial - it is the result of the interaction of the aircraft and the air.

[Timx]

And I, as one of the creators of the stand with imitation of hypersonic flight (standing in CIAM), I can say that the problem is far-fetched and never manifested itself in field experiments (up to the working ceiling, at least) ...

[Kalmar]

What can I say here: as we see the defeat of the moving ship "Zircon" by the control center from "Liana", so all the questions will be removed))

[Timx]

Ok, let's wait)))

[Timx]

To what extent "Zircon" is a continuation of these developments is difficult to say, since there is no information in open sources, even the appearance has not yet been revealed.

Well, this is exactly what has alarmed me for the last 3 years - that there is no information on the most important military development of the Kremlin, apart from a very miserable cartoon from February 2018, for the presidential elections they could at least make a body, even if it was made of plastic, but they would have given the president and the Edros a real reason for pride, and instead received wild laughter from the west, and from the east, and from the neighbors ...
After all, they staged colorful shows with the Su-57, and with the Armata, and the Su-75 just now ...
Although all these were then only semi-handicraft crafts, assembled on the knee from mostly Soviet parts and assemblies (engines in the first place).

[Kalmar]

Quote: TimX

After all, they staged colorful shows with the Su-57, and with the Armata, and the Su-75 just now ...

The aforementioned products are also aimed at export, so there is no way without a show: potential customers will not give money until they see at least something.
"Zircon", it seems, is not going to be exported anywhere, so it is possible to create an intrigue. It's another matter that this intrigue is already somehow dragging on: every iron regularly reminds of Russia's superiority in hypersonic matters, and at the very least there was no material evidence.

[Timx]

Well, I also thought that in the 10 years that the country's leadership has been promoting this topic, it was already possible to develop a really new modern project, but it turned out ..
Here, just a week ago, I came across one article purely by accident, not even an article, but an interview with a `` military expert '', as he calls himself, Leonkov (he often appears on TV, and on YouTube he is also often taken for comments).
The type is unclear, often swims in technical issues - well, in general, as it should be now for a person from the TV. And in this interview, he also carried fierce nonsense, mixed up all the rumors and gossip from the Internet, added a lot of rubbish from himself, but between the lines he leaked quite important information, I don't know why, - namely, he revealed plans to develop an aviation version. '' Zircon "" (hypersonic missile "Sharpness") and, most importantly, voiced the code of the power plant ("product 71"). -suti, represent the entire hull (glider) without a guidance head and warhead, unlike, for example, jet aircraft. So, knowing the configuration and dimensions of the power plant, you can get a completely comprehensive idea of ​​the rocket itself as a whole.
"Product 71" is a Soviet development of the late 80s (we have nowhere else to come from). Thus, if this is the case, there is little doubt that the base Zircon has the same engine and glider, respectively (well, with minor changes caused by the need to start from a ship / submarine).
PS
Here is an interview:
https://armystandard.ru/news/2021528128-LooET.html

[Barberry25]

and what are the difficulties?

[Volder]

Quote: Doccor18

and what about target designation at a distance of 1000 km ...

The Liana satellite reconnaissance and targeting system will be deployed by the time the Zircon is put into service.

[Castro Ruiz]

This will not be enough. Where are the AWACS planes?

[Romario_Argo]

Zircon is formidable, but there are not many carriers of these anti-ship missiles, and what about target designation there will be at a distance of 1000 km ...

publications on IN on the topic MKRTs Liana and target designation - check out
2017: https://topwar.ru/107061-sistema-kosmicheskoy-razvedki-liana-rabotaet-v-opytno-dezhurnom-rezhime.html
2021: https://topwar.ru/180699-mkrc-liana-v-processe-razvertyvanija.html
Carriers
4 SSGN pr. 855 ~ 32 + 8 = 40 x 4 = 160 (4 more SSGNs are on the way)
7 SSGN pr.949A ~ 48 + 8 = 56 x 7 = 392
2 TARK pr. 1144: 1 x 40/1 x 80 = 120
4 frigates of Project 22350 ~ 4 x 16 = 64 (4 more frigates are on the way)
8 diesel-electric submarines pr.636.6 ~ 8 x 4 = 32 (2 more diesel-electric submarines are on the way)
25 carriers / 768 anti-ship missiles Zircon - the USA has only 68 Em, 22 Cr, 11 AB, 14 UDC = 115
we are waiting for test launches of anti-ship missiles Zircon at 15 meters at a distance of 500-700 km

[Kalmar]

Quote: Romario_Argo

publications on VO on the topic of ICRC Liana and target designation - read

Liana is certainly good, but the satellite system alone is difficult to do. It does not provide a continuous permanent coverage (in any case, with so many spacecraft), the orbits of the satellites are known to the enemy, etc. This, undoubtedly, is still better than nothing at all, but other components are also needed - aerial reconnaissance, for example. Somehow everything is not moving in this direction.

Quote: Romario_Argo

Carriers
4 SSGN pr. 855 ~ 32 + 8 = 40 x 4 = 160 (4 more SSGNs are on the way)
7 SSGN pr.949A ~ 48 + 8 = 56 x 7 = 392
2 TARK pr. 1144: 1 x 40/1 x 80 = 120
4 frigates of Project 22350 ~ 4 x 16 = 64 (4 more frigates are on the way)
8 diesel-electric submarines pr.636.6 ~ 8 x 4 = 32 (2 more diesel-electric submarines are on the way)

Great, but:
1. Rearmament of SSGN 949A to "Caliber" / "Onyx" / "Zircon" did not take place. There were plans, but not a single boat has undergone such modernization. At this rate, all seven will not be pumped for sure: they will already be close to developing a resource and writing it off.
2. "Peter the Great" on the model of "Nakhimov" has already decided not to update: too long and expensive. Apparently, he will continue to live out his life with "Granites".
3. Diesel-electric submarines do not have a TLU; shooting "Zircons" through the TA is extremely unlikely, because this will impose even more severe restrictions on dimensions (specifically - diameter: 533 mm versus the "allowable" 670 in 3C-14).

[Romario_Argo]

Liana is certainly good, but the satellite system alone is difficult to do.

it's a whole complex
Over-the-horizon radar Monolith
in passive mode 450 km
in active mode 250 km
+ pairing the airborne radar with the ship's BIUS that receives target designation by Liana
target designation from - SSGN pr.949A, pr.855, PLAT pr.971, A-50 AWACS, Tu-142 PLO, Tu-95RTs

[Kalmar]

Quote: Romario_Argo

Over-the-horizon radar Monolith
in passive mode 450 km
in active mode 250 km

These are means of coastal defense. No one in their right mind would drive an aircraft carrier 200 km to the coast if some means of detection and destruction remained alive on the coast.

Quote: Romario_Argo

target designation from - SSGN pr.949A, pr.855, PLAT pr.971, A-50 AWACS, Tu-142 PLO, Tu-95RTs

In order:
1. Tu-95RTs has long been removed from service.
2. Tu-142 - in terms of PLO, it is not suitable at all for searching and issuing control commands for surface ships.
3. The A-50 is absent and is not expected to be part of the naval aviation. Then, it was sharpened for air targets (it was done for the Air Force this way); information flashed that they tried to use him to search for NK, it turned out as in the song of Chaif: "I thought it would be good, but it didn't work out very well"... Finally, there are only 9 of them.
5. Submarines for tracking enemy ships are also not particularly suitable: the detection range is small, the organization of two-way communication (for transferring the control center) is a very difficult process when the enemy is nearby.

[Romario_Argo]

but I and our General Staff have different information
success at the bottom of the sea

[Kalmar]

Quote: Romario_Argo

but I and our General Staff have different information

On which of the points, I am ashamed to ask?

[Romario_Argo]

Liana is certainly good, but the satellite system alone is difficult to do.

in addition to the MCRTs Liana, its functions are duplicated by launching into orbit during a threatened period over a certain area of ​​temporary satellites for issuing target designation (day)
Amber 4K2M - 130 days
Amber 4KS1M - 300 days
Resurs-P - 3 years 3 spacecraft all in operation

[Kalmar]

About Amber 4K2M wiki writes:

Precision optics installed on the satellite makes it possible to record details of the earth's surface up to 30 cm in size on photographic film.The captured images are delivered to Earth in two special capsules, as well as in a third capsule delivered to Earth when the spacecraft leaves orbit.

I can't imagine how, with this approach, to use images for issuing the control center.
Amber 4KS1M, judging by the same wiki, was last launched in 2000. Again, this is an optical reconnaissance satellite; I'm not sure if you can track moving targets with it.
Resource-P is generally a civilian satellite for mapping and similar exercises.

[Romario_Argo]

you read more wiki
capsules have not been used for about 15 years
for this, in addition to their channels, there are redundant satellites, repeaters, the same Gonets system

[Devil13]

There are 2 frigates and 2 in service. The rest is on the way. There is NO data on the conversion of the launchers and the inclusion of the missile defense system in the standard armament.
the rest that you have listed "on the way" in the next 20 years, if it does not rot earlier. not a single 949A has yet been re-equipped even for Onyx.
for "+8" do you think? Torpedo tubes? seriously, have you seen the diameter of the Onyx? Give me at least one launch of Onyx or Brahmos from a torpedo tube.
So we cross out 636, 949 in question, 4 frigates - maybe someday, like 4 885, 1144 1 may be released by the year 25, the second is not yet a fact that it will go for the same modernization.

Farther. once again, we are waiting for new laws of physics to fly at "15 meters" at this speed.
I'm not talking about the fact that ALL supersonic anti-ship missiles go to a long range (more than 150 km) at a GREAT altitude of 12+ thousand meters

[Romario_Argo]

RCC uses beryllium alloys and closed-loop cooling systems so don't care at what altitude the 22nd century goes
under 533-mm TA calibers are suitable for both anti-ship missiles and PLUR and SLCM - read more carefully
do not pull out or juggle do not change the interpretation
Do I need to give an explanation for each of your sneezes?
Let me NOT quote Lavrov, especially since this is prohibited by the rules of VO

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Doccor18

The frigate and TDK programs began not from the "uselessness of aircraft carriers", but with a purely pragmatic goal - to increase the number of ships for possible upcoming operations in the Asia-Pacific region, where there are many islands, and a considerable number of small and inexpensive ships will be needed ...

EMNIP, another reason for returning to frigates was that the "universal" LCS was never able to completely replace them. For the same restored Second Fleet (north and center of the Atlantic), littoral lakes are small and under-equipped in anti-aircraft and anti-aircraft defense units.

[Devil13]

I have not heard of such delirium

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Devil13

I have not heard of such delirium

Because there was no such concept.
The US Navy decided that the AUG would not be enough for all threats at sea. And they decided, without abandoning the AUG, to also work with the KUG, for which to increase the anti-ship capabilities of surface ships.
These KUGs want to close those sections where the AUG is redundant or its tasks can be performed by the NDT.

[Ryusei]

They did not admit anything, do not lie, but the balance can and will change until an antidote is found or an analogue will not be adopted by their navy.

[Marachuh]

If there are 1000 missiles available, even without a special charge, this is a very serious force, which can be a deterrent factor no less than nuclear weapons.

[Alexander Koshkin]

The frigate Admiral Golovko will be the first carrier of production anti-ship missiles Zircon. Entry into the fleet is scheduled for December 2022.
The US pledges to deploy its first 12 hypersonic missiles during 2022.
According to the plans, the adoption into service will be almost simultaneous ...

[Bashkirkhan]

At the moment, two submarines are being upgraded to "949AM" - "Irkutsk" and "Chelyabinsk". They are planned to return to service in 2022 and 2023. respectively. In the future, a similar modernization of other Anteevs is expected.

Only "Irkutsk" will be modernized. The rest of the 949A will undergo average repairs at best. The resource of the materiel is not endless, and the energy reserve of the nuclear-powered cores is also. And if we take the intervals between repairs, then it is not so much supposed to go there, especially in the case of loaves where combat ships have already begun to enter the 4th dozen.

[Flooding]

Quote: Bashkirkhan

Only "Irkutsk" will be modernized. The rest of the 949A will undergo average repairs at best.

where is the information from?

[Bashkirkhan]

I can give a link to TASS. "Chelyabinsk" is 31 this year. Apparently, he has been in the suck from the very moment of arrival, since the age of 14.
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/10374675?utm_source=warfiles.ru

[Flooding]

Thank you.
But this does not mean that the modernization program will not affect other squares.

[Bashkirkhan]

"Irkutsk", unlike the other 949A, was on the shore for a long time. If the ship was in the water all the time, then there is an effect of corrosion on the hull and outboard fittings. But in our country, due to the wild terms of repairs, "Irkutsk" stood for a very long time on the shore, where there were no influences other than dirt and dust before the actual start of work. Therefore, it is being modernized.

[Thorvlobnor IV]

I wonder how infrared targeting is combined with the inevitable heating of the rocket when flying at 8M?

[Avior]

And radar - with a cocoon formed at such speeds.
Possible explanation - a decrease in speed when approaching the target

[Thorvlobnor IV]

Well, there is either a cross, or cowards, as they say. Either hypersonic to make intercepting more difficult, or braking to supersonic speed for homing to work properly. It is logical if, at an altitude, where the atmosphere is thinner, the rocket should sink with all the foolishness, and when it descends, it will slow down and cool, perhaps glide / dive with a muffled engine, a snake, in order to cover a larger area with the radar. If everything was conceived in this way, then the Zircon has no cardinal advantage over conventional supersonic anti-ship missiles, except for a reduced flight time. In addition, an anti-ship missile diving from a high altitude is better visible on the ship's air defense radar than flying over the crests of waves.

[Barberry25]

and at what height is the same "opaque cap" formed?

[Thorvlobnor IV]

For a landing spacecraft (speed 20-25M), this is an altitude of 90-40 km - the zone of radio communication loss. A hypersonic rocket flies in denser layers of the atmosphere ("Zircon" up to 30 km altitude), where a lower speed is needed to form a plasma bubble. the friction is greater. The hypersound, the closer to the ground, the more problematic: warming up the rocket unmasks it, the plasma bubble interferes with the operation of the seeker radar and radio communication with the target designation system, and the high speed makes it difficult to maneuver. Still, it looks like the Zircon will be supersonic at the end of its trajectory.

[Barberry25]

or rather, you just don't know

[Thorvlobnor IV]

The question is incorrect. An "opaque cap" is formed both at a height of 1 m and at an altitude of 50 km. It all depends on the ratio of the speed and density of the atmosphere.

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: Torvlobnor IV

How is infrared targeting combined with the inevitable heating of the rocket when flying at 8M?

Well, that means they guessed to cool the required "section" of the rocket ... But you just need a very high speed of the seeker in all "senses"! (The GOS is switched on at the TU (terminal section) ... the TU is very small ...)

[Timx]

I wonder how infrared targeting is combined with the inevitable heating of the rocket when flying at 8M?

... And who talked about infrared targeting ... There, and so it was developed after the statement of the `` sunlit '' about 8-10 or even more swings))) did not know whether to cry or laugh ...

[Barberry25]

hang up because it turns out that they provided incorrect information, therefore this is already their jamb

[voyaka uh]

Before the goal Zircon slows down to supersonic - further, like Onyx / Brahmos.

[Timx]

She already flies at supersonic for most of the distance, if you also slow down in front of the target (a ship with IJIS, or an aircraft carrier order), then it makes sense to spend so much time and effort on it (well, except for ostentatious self-promotion)?
Why is it better then modern subsonic anti-ship missiles with multispectral seeker (RL-, IR-, Optics)?

[voyaka uh]

There's a meaning.
The total flight time to the target is reduced.
The surprise factor is also important.
And the range is likely to increase.
By flying at high altitude most of the time.

[Timx]

Alexey, you are talking about this so confidently, I was already thinking - maybe I coordinated the drawings for the glider with you at the time)))
PS
And since you are so well versed, tell me, on what type of fuel do all these ramjet engines work (SPVRD and GPVRD)? And this is not an idle question, as I already wrote yesterday - only after sorting out this point, you can further analyze something about efficiency and possible parameters ...

[voyaka uh]

I don't understand anything about fuels.
And the posts are based on a public information review. Zircon, I think, is a slightly altered Onyx, launched in an unusual (high) trajectory.
Although there were also authoritative participants at the forum who argued that Zircon is a completely new device.
When the first close-up photograph of the rocket appears, it will become clear which of us is right.

[da Vinci]

Considering that the United States has withdrawn from the INF Treaty and is already preparing ground-based launchers for Tomahawks, is it possible to put Zircons on ground-based launchers? And what will be the reaction of the Pentagon?

[Barberry25]

Zircons are made by the manufacturer of Bastions ..

[Momento]

a bit wrong as I understood. zircon needs cells 3M-14, and caliber 3K-14. but on the last ships (including ash-tree), the cells are put, as it were, in another cell, the cup holder. By the way, it was well thought out - however, everyone is doing the same now.
in fact, you can put any promising rocket, even if you have to increase it a couple of times.

[Devil13]

I recommend reading what is 3C14. and not invent mythical cells)
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D0%9A%D0%A1%D0%9A_3%D0%A114_(%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B0)

[Momento]

if the wiki was true, then the calibers changed to zircons one to one. but in practice, either 5 calibers or 4 zircons fit into an ash-tree cell.
caliber diameter 533mm. diameter of onyx (zircon) 700mm. place both 5 and 4 pieces in a circle and get the diameter of the ash-tree glass. still mathematically obvious.

[Devil13]

Understood the joke. Funny. Try to think like the military and like engineers.

[Boa kaa]

A few comments on the article.
1. To equip the fleet with ZIRCONS it is not enough to have UKSK, they also need SUS ... on each carrier.
2. The rocket is certainly good, but it needs a reliable "goal-setting". Therefore, the external control center definitely needs to be very accurate, because on hypersound, additional reconnaissance of the target, as the previous generations of anti-ship missiles did, will be extremely difficult (if at all possible) to carry out.
3. They take doubts about the infrared sensors (IKGSN) on 3M22, tk. (according to PU), the thermal protection of the rocket during the tests was melted like a popsicle ... Probably there are still optical sensors based on quartz glass ... or some other string of transparent ceramics ...
4. Such ranges with high accuracy are not possible without "space". But for some reason in the article this question is passed over in silence, which is also very interesting ...
In one thing, Kirill is right: so far there is very little information on the topic and the question of "underwater launch" is always slipping away. Maybe something is not quite like the sweet-voiced sirens from KTRV sing to us?

[Barberry25]

well, as if for any missile with a range of more than 40 and even more so for 200 km you need an external control center

[Boa kaa]

Quote: Barberry25

for any missile with a range of more than 40, and even more so for 200 km, an external control unit is needed

No no need. It is enough to know what the target is, its probable location and direction of movement. Further, volley fire at a semi-damaged target location. One of the CDs from above, etc. Even earlier, a single CD was fired for additional reconnaissance. But there was TU ...
So, not everything is clear in this world.

[Barberry25]

for ancient methods, maybe, but for modern missiles, a control center is issued and no one will be perverted

[Boa kaa]

Quote: Barberry25

for modern missiles, a control center is issued and no one will be perverted

And if to ANYONE to give this very TSU !? Then how to be ??? Shouldn't you shoot?
Well, if you are a naval "winged" rocket launcher, or at least stood nearby, can you suggest something original? Can you remember special maneuvering and cruise-bearing?

[Barberry25]

Then it means someone screwed up, but you can continue to use the old methods .. in 2008 they also used it, ditched the carcass ... do you want to repeat? You probably misunderstood these words about "we can repeat"

[Kazarinovsergen]

Cruise bearing. In a dispute, do not be mischievous. ARGS in the target search mode will select all errors of the control center. You want to know a lot about the requirement for laying out modern methods of issuing control points.

[Kalmar]

Quote: Boa constrictor KAA

No no need. It is enough to know what the target is, its probable location and direction of movement.

The target still needs to be at least detected and recognized. And this is almost TSU. Shooting "somewhere there" is fraught with the waste of valuable ammunition, and in a bad case - even the destruction of some neutrals with unpleasant political consequences (remember the same MH17).

[Timx]

3. They take doubts about the infrared sensors (IKGSN) on 3M22, tk. (from the words of PU), the thermal protection of the rocket during tests was melted like a popsicle ...

- this is what VVP has invented Something I missed this opus of his, although it is not surprising - adequate technically competent people no longer have the strength to watch how the `` bald one '' mocks our country and the population ...

[Timx]

I found this quote from VVP, well, only it concerned the Avangard complex ... But this is still a fundamentally different type of apparatus (a glider moving by inertia due to an impulse from the RS-20 Voevoda launch vehicle in the space space, where, in principle, it cannot experience significant resistance and, consequently, heating of the body) and it experiences significant heating for a short time, only at the moment of deceleration and entry into the atmosphere, like any space object, including asteroids, etc.
So, this has nothing to do with the GZUR topic.

[Timx]

PS
From these conditions it follows that both the principle of operation and the materials of thermal protection are completely different for them. The GZUR projects use (at least on early prototypes) the same material as in the RD-180 (170) first-stage engines for decoupling the hot and cold circuits and is purchased from the same supplier (so the Americans have been buy this thermal protection from us)))

[Timx]

How many articles have already been - both here on VO, and on other sites - everywhere there are a lot of comments from technology lovers and even people `` in the subject '': they have discussed and sucked all the subtleties and details many times, but no one was puzzled the question is - what kind of miracle engine is all this driven, who is the developer and, in my opinion, the main thing - what kind of fuel is it fueled with?
PS
Only having thoroughly clarified these points for yourself will it be possible to continue to talk about some of the features and prospects of this `` product '' ...

[Andrei Nikolaevich]

The boa constrictor KAA, there is no doubt that you are an intelligent person and, perhaps, understand such matters. But please, be careful ...)) Take care of yourself ..

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: Boa constrictor KAA

Probably all the same there are optical sensors based on quartz glass ...

Quartz glass? Well, you probably know better! I do not know this ! I only know that in "ordinary" cases germanium, zinc selenide, chalcogenide glass are used for the optics of thermal imagers ... For cases involving high temperatures, sapphire is used ...

[Zaurbek]

We need carriers ... which are few, and the means of the Central Control ... and the starting version and the aviation

[And Makarov]

In the future, it is the Yasen-M-class submarines that will become the basis of the submarine strike forces of the fleet.

To do this, you need to continue to lay and build them.

[Kalmar]

An immodest question arose: "Zircon" is about to be put into service, but all launches, as I understand it, were only for ground (stationary, obviously) targets. Have you ever tried to launch it on a moving ship?

[Devil13]

Try to find info. There was news about sea launches

[Kalmar]

Infa flashed, but very indistinct. For example, the type of goal was not specified anywhere, but we like to use imitated (read - "imaginary"), ie. it is simply the ability of the missile to fall into a certain specified area is assessed.

[Castro Ruiz]

Hotelos bi will see hot 1 of the official ispitatelny launch at 1000 km, because at 450-500 km this is not enough against AUG.
Also a big question with the control center at a distance of 1000 km.
For now, just ask me questions.

[Devil13]

Quote: Romario_Argo

Zircon is formidable, but there are not many carriers of these anti-ship missiles, and what about target designation there will be at a distance of 1000 km ...

publications on IN on the topic MKRTs Liana and target designation - check out
2017: https://topwar.ru/107061-sistema-kosmicheskoy-razvedki-liana-rabotaet-v-opytno-dezhurnom-rezhime.html
2021: https://topwar.ru/180699-mkrc-liana-v-processe-razvertyvanija.html
Carriers
4 SSGN pr. 855 ~ 32 + 8 = 40 x 4 = 160 (4 more SSGNs are on the way)
7 SSGN pr.949A ~ 48 + 8 = 56 x 7 = 392
2 TARK pr. 1144: 1 x 40/1 x 80 = 120
4 frigates of Project 22350 ~ 4 x 16 = 64 (4 more frigates are on the way)
8 diesel-electric submarines pr.636.6 ~ 8 x 4 = 32 (2 more diesel-electric submarines are on the way)
25 carriers / 768 anti-ship missiles Zircon - the USA has only 68 Em, 22 Cr, 11 AB, 14 UDC = 115
we are waiting for test launches of anti-ship missiles Zircon at 15 meters at a distance of 500-700 km

I wrote it "768 anti-ship missiles" Zircon "?

[Alexander Koshkin]

According to the Ministry of Defense, the frigate Admiral Golvko will be the first carrier of serial Zircons. It is expected to enter the fleet in December 2022. Around the same time frame, the United States plans to deliver its first 12 hypersonic missiles to the troops ...

[eehnie]

The logical says, that the modern missiles will be expanded by the fleet to every ship that can carry them and can be modernized.

The end of the process of reduction of the fleet inherited from the Soviet Union will have a positive effect in the budget of the Russian Navy, by a reduction of the financial needs related to the scrapping or conservation to museums of ships and submarines. Also, at same time, to reach a sustainable fleet size, means maintenance for all the ships and submarines assured. To note that the need of reduction of the fleet ends when a sustainable size of the fleet is reached, and as a consequence, it is not possible an inmediate expansion after the reduction, because the fleet reachess easily again an unsustainable size.

All it will allow to Russia to increase the rhythm of modernizations in the next decade, and will increase the rhythm of introduction of the new missiles. Also is likely that Russia continues improving the missiles for the current launchers like every type of ammunition for active weapons is improved.

And this is just what we see Russia is doing. Russia is reducing the rythm of scrapping with the end of the process of reduction of the inherited fleets. Russia is reaching a situation of assured maintenance of all its material. Russia is not engaging in massive productions, but is assuring its capability of production of modern armament and heavy auxiliary material of all the types. And Russia is increasing the rythm of modernizations for the material of the projects to continue in the Russian Armed Forces. Right management in general terms.