System approach: promising US missile weapons for deployment in Europe
MLRS HIMARS at the training ground
At present, a certain number of US and NATO land-based missile systems are located and deployed on the territory of European states. In the future, such a system of strike weapons is planned to be developed at the expense of new types of equipment and weapons. Basic information about such rearmament and advanced systems is already known and allows us to determine the main trends in the development of missile systems.
Limited potential
At the moment, the American and NATO grouping of ground strike systems, aimed at "deterring Russia", has a limited size and capabilities. According to official data, it is composed only of ATACMS operational-tactical missile systems. This OTRK includes the M270 and M142 multiple launch rocket launcher, as well as several types of missiles with different characteristics and equipment.
Depending on the missile model, ATACMS can attack targets at ranges up to 300 km. Such characteristics are sufficient for solving basic combat missions, although they impose certain restrictions on the choice of targets and firing positions, as well as on the organization of the strike.
At the same time, there are some advantages that make it possible to more fully realize the technical potential of the complex. First of all, this is a high strategic and tactical mobility of the complex. In the course of various exercises, the possibility of quickly transferring launchers and missiles over long distances was repeatedly demonstrated. Due to this, it is possible to some extent compensate for the lack of missile range.
PrSM missile tests
According to unofficial data and foreign estimates, the anti-missile Aegis Ashore has some strike potential. It is assumed that he can use not only anti-missile weapons, but also Tomahawk cruise missiles. However, the American side denies such possibilities.
It should be noted that the Aegis Ashore in the strike role has limited combat value. Its only advantage is the unconfirmed ability to launch missiles with a range of 1800 km. At the same time, the complex has a limited ammunition load and is stationary. In addition, only one facility is in operation, while the construction of the second is delayed.
Thus, at the moment, the strike potential of the missile forces of the United States and NATO countries is not too high. They are capable of solving tasks of a tactical nature, but cannot participate in operations of a larger scale or participate in deterrence processes.
Soon
To solve such problems, the United States is developing and planning to adopt a number of promising land-based missile systems with different features and capabilities. It is expected that similar systems will be deployed in Europe and complement existing products. This could happen as early as 2023-25. The new series of complexes expected in the coming years are of great interest - and show the views of the Pentagon on the problem.
First of all, the new PrSM operational-tactical missile, developed as a replacement for ATACMS, will reach the troops. It will be used by the same launchers and fly at least 500 km. In the future, it is planned to carry out modernization with an increase in range and other opportunities.
Pilot launch of the Tomahawk rocket from a ground installation
Showing advantages in flight characteristics, the PrSM missile complex will retain the positive features of the previous ATACMS. Thus, the unification of the launcher simplifies the development, production and implementation of the complex in the troops. In addition, with its help, the previous level of mobility will be maintained. All this will make it possible to more fully realize the potential associated with the range of the missile in its original and future versions.
Distant perspective
Not earlier than the middle of the decade, the new MRC Typhon and LRHW Dark Eagle missile systems will go to the unit. They haven't gotten around to flight testing yet, but the Pentagon is optimistic that it could be completed within the next few years. At the same time, it is already clear what exactly the army wants to get from these developments.
The land complex MRC will be made mobile; all its funds will be placed on semi-trailers. He will be able to use the Tomahawk missile and the strike modification of the SM-6 anti-aircraft gun. With the help of such weapons he will attack targets at ranges of at least 1500-1700 km, and it will be possible to choose the ammunition that best suits the task.
The Dark Eagle product has a similar architecture and is also based on towed semi-trailers. However, this complex will use the LRHW missile with a hypersonic gliding combat stage. The range of such weapons will exceed 2775 km; it is planned to obtain all the characteristic advantages of hypersonic systems. It is assumed that "Dark Eagle" will take on complex tasks in the operational-strategic link.
General trends
Considering the current and future developments in the field of US land-based missile systems, several main ideas and trends can be noticed. They determine the combat capabilities of existing systems and influence the further development of missile forces. In addition, a systematic approach to the further development of troops and weapons is demonstrated.
The Dark Eagle complex, handed over to the troops for development
Existing and prospective complexes are carried out mobile, on self-propelled or towed platforms. In addition, they are built taking into account the restrictions of the military transport aviation. As a result, it remains possible to transfer equipment to almost any distance - on its own or by air. This can be used both in the deployment and preparation of the service, and in solving combat missions.
In the current processes, the Pentagon is not limited to one concept and is developing several directions at once. So, within the framework of the PrSM project, the concept of an operational-tactical missile is being developed. The MRC Typhon project is again considering the issue of placing a cruise missile on a land platform. The most ambitious LRHW project, in turn, proposes the creation of a full-fledged hypersonic complex with operational and strategic capabilities.
Thus, several projects represent different classes of equipment and cover a fairly wide range of ranges and capabilities, from tactical to operational-strategic level. All this will make it possible to hit assigned targets in a wide range of ranges, as well as to choose the most convenient complex for a particular operation.
It is noteworthy that new projects develop at different rates. Thus, the PrSM missile, which is designed to replace the existing ATACMS and is distinguished by a certain simplicity, shows the best results at the moment. Other complexes designed to occupy completely new niches are still at earlier stages and have not even been tested yet. This demonstrates both the different complexity of the projects and the differing priority.
Reportedly, all the missiles under consideration will carry only conventional warheads. The use of nuclear warheads is not envisaged - although in some cases it is not technically excluded. It should be noted that it is this feature of the new weapon that is of particular interest.
MRC Typhon complex - so far only in the form of graphics
Thus, the non-nuclear execution of missiles simplifies and reduces the cost of production and operation. In addition, the processes of its transportation and deployment are simplified, incl. in foreign territory. The negative impact on processes in the international arena is also decreasing. At the same time, judging by the declared characteristics, the combat capabilities of missiles with conventional warheads remain at a high level and meet all requirements.
Organizational issues are also being addressed. Missile units, armed with existing and promising systems, will in the future become part of the new "interspecies task forces" MDTF (Multi-Domain Task Force). The headquarters of such a formation will manage and coordinate the actions of complexes of different classes in large theaters of military operations. In essence, the MDTF will gather all the firepower into a common command and control system.
Systems approach
On the whole, it is clear what the American land-based missile system, which is planned to be deployed in Europe and other regions, looks like now and what it could become in the future. So far, its capabilities are seriously limited due to a number of objective factors, but a serious change in the situation is expected in a few years.
Open data show that this time the Pentagon is developing several new types of weapons at once, and already at the stage of drawing up plans, they formed a single strike system with broad capabilities. Now work is underway to create it, however, due to the varying complexity of the projects, they show different progress. However, the customer expects that all work will be completed within the next few years. Whether such expectations are justified, time will tell.
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