The beginning of the tests of the Club-K missile system
The first reports of the work on the Club-K project were accompanied by an animated video, which demonstrated the general principles of operation and the advantages of container-based rockets. However, it was only computer animation. Existing samples of the container-launcher was demonstrated later, in 2011, at the IMMS-2011 cabin. Then at the exhibition site two containers were shown at once, differing from each other in size and, obviously, in the composition of the equipment. However, the samples shown were probably not even prototypes.
22 August on the official website of the group "Morinformsystem-Agat" appeared information about the beginning of the test complex Club-K. A short video was attached to a short press release with one of the first launches. As always happens in such cases, the verification of the new complex began with throwing tests. It is reported that the X-35UE cruise missile was used as a test ammunition. The video shows how the rocket turns on the engine and successfully exits the transport and launch container located inside the launch complex. The latter, judging by the size, was mounted in an 20-foot ISO container. On the last frames of the published video, the rocket’s flight trajectory is noticeably noticeable; it goes somewhere upwards. However, this is not a problem - the essence of the throwing tests is to check the operation of the systems at the initial stage of launch, when the rocket leaves the transport and launch container. Therefore, with regard to the flight path, the main thing is that the rocket fell in the right area and no one was hurt.
For some unknown reason, the press release published in August was widely distributed only after two weeks. Nevertheless, even this lag did not prevent the discussion to revive again regarding the prospects and characteristics of the Club-K complex. The main subject of discussion is the original placement and a kind of disguise of the launcher. The possibility of hidden transfer by any suitable transport over any distances, as well as the possibility of launching almost without any special training, is called its positive sides. It is alleged that the container with the rockets can be installed on the platform of a car, train or cargo ship, and the complex will retain all its capabilities. At the same time, some experts have doubts about the feasibility of masking the launcher under a standard cargo container. For example, the argument is made about the complexity of “introducing” a container launcher into commercial cargo turnover without the risk of its detection or the legal side of installing Club-K complexes on merchant ships.
However, all doubts and criticisms seem to be of little interest to the developer. At the end of August, the first throw tests of the X-35UE rocket were conducted, and in the near future it is planned to carry out the same work with other types of missiles, primarily with 3М-54Е and 3М-14Э. The use of these munitions will provide the necessary combat characteristics of the complex. Thus, the range of 3М-54Е and 3М-14Э missiles is equal to 220 and 300 kilometers, respectively. With a speed of about 850-900 km / h, the missiles deliver a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, penetrating a high-explosive or cassette warhead, weighing 200 and 450 kg, respectively. All missiles of the Caliber family are equipped with an inertial guidance system, and the 3М-54Э and 3М-14Е scheduled for testing also have a radar one. Such a system allows a rocket to relatively easily detect and attack a target: the intended location of the last missile is launched using inertial navigation, and then the radar homing system is activated, which detects the necessary object. It is worth noting that when navigating without using satellite systems, a number of special equipment is required to accurately determine the coordinates of the launcher, the programming of the rocket electronics, etc. For this purpose, the Club-K complex includes combat control modules (MOBU) and power supply and life support (MES). As follows from the available data, in the case of the 40-foot container-based rocket complex, all the modules, including the rocket launcher, are located in a single design. At the same time, the MOBU and MEA can, if necessary, be mounted in separate ISO containers.
Meanwhile, work on the project is still in the initial stages of testing. The technical details of the first launch launches have not yet been announced - representatives of the Morinformsystem-Agat concern have limited themselves to the short phrase “successfully”. Probably, the positive end of the first test launches will have a beneficial effect on the pace of implementation of the entire program, which means that soon there will be new reports on its progress, or even news of the signing of supply contracts.
On the materials of the sites:
http://concern-agat.ru/
http://rg.ru/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
http://arms-expo.ru/
Information