Coastal missile system "Bastion" can receive anti-ship missiles "Zircon"
In the near future, the armament of the Russian naval fleet the promising hypersonic anti-ship missile 3M22 "Zircon" will arrive. First bearers of this weapons there will be warships and submarines of several projects, and in the future it may be placed on coastal complexes. A hypothetical modernized version of the 3K55 Bastion complex is now being considered as a potential carrier of the Zircons.
From ship to shore
It became known about the availability of fundamental possibilities for placing 3M22 missiles on a land platform a few years ago, almost simultaneously with the start of tests. In the future, this potential of "Zircon" was repeatedly mentioned in the press and even confirmed by officials. However, no details were provided.
On December 1, Gazeta.ru disclosed a possible way to create a coastal modification of the Zircon. An unnamed source in the defense industry said that the new missile could enter the ammunition load of the upgraded 3K55 Bastion coastal missile system.
As a standard ammunition, this complex uses the Onyx serial anti-ship missile system, previously developed for use by ships and submarines. A similar approach to the creation and deployment of missile weapons can now be used in the further development of the Zircon.
The Gazeta.ru source mentions only the very possibility of modernizing the existing Bastion. The attitude of the Ministry of Defense to such a proposal, the timing of its implementation and possible results of a tactical and technical kind are not specified. Perhaps some new information on this matter will appear later from other sources.
From ready-made components
The available information about the Bastion complex and the Zircon rocket allows us to imagine what the combination of these two products will be. First of all, it should be noted that such a project will allow using the maximum number of ready-made tools and components. A radical alteration of "Bastion" for anti-ship missiles 3M22 is not required, which will give certain advantages and create a big reserve for the future.
3K55 "Bastion" is a complex of means on self-propelled chassis of different types. The missile division equipped with such a complex includes several launchers with Onyx missiles, transport-loading vehicles according to the number of launchers, as well as combat control vehicles and a combat watch support vehicle. If necessary, the complex can receive additional radar equipment. Both independent combat work and the use of coastal forces and the fleet as part of the control loops are provided.
In the basic version "Bastion" is armed with anti-ship missiles 3M55 "Onyx". This product is supplied in a so-called. transport and launch nozzle - a cylindrical container 8,9 m long and 720 mm in diameter. The mass of the TPN with the rocket is 3,9 tons. Each launcher carries two TPNs on lifting devices. Before launch, the missiles are transferred to a vertical position.
Placing Zircon missiles on Bastion launchers shouldn't be a problem. The 3M55 and 3M22 anti-ship missiles were developed for use with the 3S14 universal shipborne firing system, as a result of which they have the same dimensions and are equipped with unified TPS. Accordingly, in terms of size, weight, location of connectors, etc. Zircon should not be different from Onyx.
At the same time, it is necessary to modernize the hardware and software part of the complex, which is responsible for searching for targets, preparing for launch, developing a flight task, launching, etc. The launcher and command post equipment must be able to work with a new missile with special tactical and technical characteristics. It can be assumed that such a modernization of "Bastion" will not be associated with serious difficulties.
Estimated Benefits
The concept of modernizing the 3K55 Bastion coastal missile system to accommodate promising 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missiles has a number of noticeable advantages. The main thing is connected with the absence of the need to develop a completely new complex. In addition, in such a project, the available serial components will be used as widely as possible. In fact, only individual elements of control systems will have to be developed from scratch.
All this will simplify and speed up the design work, as well as shorten the duration of subsequent tests. Based on the results of fairly quick checks, the upgraded Bastion can be put into production. At the same time, it becomes possible to build complexes from scratch or to modernize equipment already available in the troops. The last option is of great interest, since the Russian coastal forces already have a large number of missile systems.
Maintaining the existing platforms and chassis will provide clear technical and operational benefits. The mobility and maneuverability of "Bastion" will remain at the same level and will provide both transport on roads and access to positions on the ground. At the same time, there is no need to revise the organization of services, change the supply system, etc.
The integration of the second missile will significantly improve the combat characteristics of the Bastion, as well as increase the flexibility of its use. The battalion's ammunition capacity can be composed of Onyx and Zircon missiles, the number and proportion of which will depend on the expected threats and fire missions.
According to known data, the 3M55 rocket develops a speed of up to 2,6 M and has a range of up to 600 km. The newer 3M22 accelerates to 6-8 M and flies at least 450 km, and the flight to the maximum range takes only a few minutes. In different conditions, two missiles can show advantages over each other, and the use of a product corresponding to a specific surface target in the current situation will dramatically increase the effectiveness of the upgraded Bastion.
It is curious that the modernization of the 3K55 complex with the introduction of a new hypersonic anti-ship missile system can create an important reserve for the future. If the possibility of integrating a new ammunition is confirmed by practice, other projects of this kind should be expected. So, "Onyx" and "Zircon" can be supplemented with cruise missiles of the "Caliber" family. This is quite possible from a technical point of view, and recently no international agreements have interfered with such a project. In the future, the emergence of new missiles, compatible with "Bastion" and 3S14, is also possible.
Weapons of the future
Not so long ago, the Zircon anti-ship missile passed the necessary tests, and in August this year, the Ministry of Defense issued NPO Mashinostroyenia the first order for its serial production. In the near future, the latest hypersonic anti-ship missiles will enter the arsenals of the navy, and then will be included in the ammunition load of ships and submarines of various projects, dramatically increasing their combat capabilities.
The latest developments in the Zircon project are a great success and cause for pride, but the military and industry are not going to stop there. Work on the development of the rocket and complexes with its use will continue. One of the main ways of such development could be the transfer of a ship / submarine anti-ship missile system to a land platform, and in this context there are already interesting and promising proposals.
It is likely that the Ministry of Defense will agree with the proposed ideas and order the development of a modernized Bastion complex, compatible with several types of missiles. In this case, in the medium term, our coastal forces will face a large and important rearmament, and the protection of the sea lines will improve. A potential enemy will have to take into account the presence of hypersonic "Zircons" not only on ships and submarines in the open sea, but also on the shore.
- Ryabov Kirill
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
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