Light multi-purpose guided missile "305" in Special Operations
Export missile "305E" at the forum "Army-2021"
As part of the current Special Operation, the Russian military aviation actively uses a wide range of guided and unguided weapons, incl. latest designs. So, recently it became known that combat helicopters use a light multi-purpose guided missile, known as the "Product 305" or LMUR, for some targets.
New weapon
On June 19, military commander Alexander Kots posted on his Telegram channel a new video showing the use of precision-guided munitions against enemy targets in the Bakhmut direction. The video is a screen recording of a carrier helicopter and actually shows the use of missile weapons through the eyes of a pilot-operator. At the same time, part of the screen interface is hidden for privacy reasons.
The video included footage of the use of two air-to-surface missiles. The flight of the product to a ground target is shown, and the shooting was carried out by an optoelectronic homing head, and the video signal was transmitted to the carrier. The video shows how the missile holds the reticle on the target and aims at it. An instant before hitting the intended object, the recording is interrupted.
The type of missiles used was not reported, but the first assumptions and estimates soon appeared. So, based on the available data, a number of specialized resources suggested that the light multi-purpose missile LMUR or "305" was used. In addition, it was noted that the carrier helicopter used weapon in the "ISL AS-UAV" mode. This indicated the use of the Mi-28NM helicopter with modern equipment, and also indirectly confirmed the use of LMUR missiles.
Flight to the target, shooting the GOS rocket
Already on June 20, new details appeared. RIA News, referring to his informed source, confirms the use of the new missile "305" in the Special Operation. Mi-38MN helicopters are indeed used as the carrier of this weapon. The target for LMUR is important ground targets of the enemy, such as ammunition depots or fuel and lubricants. The missile is highly accurate and has several guidance modes, which simplifies the solution of combat missions.
The Ministry of Defense has not yet officially confirmed the use of LMUR, but has not denied it either. Perhaps this kind of information will appear later. However, such weapons are quite capable of solving the assigned tasks and helping the processes of demilitarization of Ukraine even without an official announcement.
Unclassified missile
According to known data, the future LMUR missile was developed by the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering in the first half of the tenth years. It is curious that the Federal Security Service, and not the Ministry of Defense, as usual, acted as the customer for the product. The 305 missile was intended for the FSB aviation and was to be used with special modifications of the Mi-8 helicopter.
The project was completed by the middle of the decade, after which the "305" passed the necessary tests and was recommended for the series. The production of missiles for the FSB began in 2016. By this time, the Russian Air Force also became interested in the project, also wanting to get a modern light aircraft missile. After the necessary checks and procedures, the LMUR entered service.
According to various sources, since 2016-17. 305 rockets were regularly used in firing practice. In addition, from a certain time they were used by our helicopters as part of the operation in Syria. However, the details remained unknown. There were only a few mentions.
The official premiere of LMUR took place only last year. At the military-technical forum "Army-2021", the export version of the 305E missile was shown. Also, for the first time, the tactical and technical characteristics of the product were disclosed. The export version of the missile attracted the attention of visitors, but orders for such a weapon have not yet been reported.
According to the latest news, "Product 305" can be used in the current Special Operation to protect Donbass. Perhaps the Ministry of Defense will soon reveal details about the use of such weapons and confirm existing estimates and assumptions.
Lightweight multi-purpose
"305" / LMUR is an air-to-surface missile of limited dimensions and weight. It is intended to destroy a wide range of ground targets, stationary and mobile, incl. with previously unknown coordinates. The missile has high performance characteristics and has several modes of operation, which ensures high efficiency.
The rocket is built in a cylindrical body and has a hemispherical transparent nose fairing. X-shaped rudders are placed in the head part, and a folding wing in the tail. The length of the rocket is 1,945 m, the body diameter is 200 mm. Starting weight - 105 kg. Warhead - high-explosive fragmentation weighing 25 kg.
A second before hit
The product is equipped with a solid propellant engine. With its help, speeds up to 230 m / s are developed and a controlled flight range of at least 14,5 km is achieved. Depending on the selected mode, the flight is carried out at an altitude of 100 to 600 m above the ground.
LMUR is distinguished by a rather complex and effective guidance system. On board there are inertial and satellite navigation devices, as well as an optical-electronic guidance head. The missile can operate on a fire-and-forget basis or communicate with the carrier. In the latter case, a video signal from the GOS and telemetry are transmitted to the carrier, and commands can be sent back, incl. with redirection in flight.
The LMUR missile is intended for use by helicopters. Its first carrier was special modifications of the multi-purpose Mi-8. Army aviation uses such weapons together with Mi-28NM attack helicopters and, probably, with Ka-52 of the original and modernized version. The suspension is carried out on APU-305 launchers, one or two missiles.
For the full use of such weapons, the helicopter requires AS-UAV equipment. It is used to interact with unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles of various types, incl. with "Product 305". In particular, this system is responsible for receiving the video signal and transmitting commands to the missile.
Useful acquisition
In general, the 305 multi-purpose missile is one of the most successful and useful models that have entered service with our Air Force in recent years. High flight characteristics and advanced guidance aids make it possible to solve a wide range of tasks, and also provide important advantages over other modern missile weapons.
The LMUR missile was originally developed for combat helicopters. Its design, principles of operation and application are optimized for use on rotorcraft carriers with all their features. In particular, current trends in the development of on-board equipment and sighting and navigation systems are taken into account. This allows you to get better results of combat use.
"Product 305" is subsonic, but has an increased flight range - 14,5 km. In this regard, LMUR is superior to other modern missiles of its class. The increase in range allows the helicopter to attack a ground target with minimal risk to itself.
New guidance equipment is of great importance. The rocket has instruments with different functions, which gives several modes of operation. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to choose the optimal mode of operation and attack, depending on the tactical situation, the characteristics of the target and threats.
A high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 25 kg was used. This is enough to defeat manpower or unprotected equipment tens of meters away. The use of a rocket on buildings is shown, although without demonstrating the result of their undermining. Also, the warhead is capable of destroying armored vehicles and fortifications, and high targeting accuracy increases the likelihood of a successful attack.
Thus, in terms of the combination of technical and combat characteristics, the new 305 missile turns out to be a convenient and successful tool for solving various combat missions. At the same time, the new LMUR complements other weapons of combat helicopters, which has a positive effect on the flexibility of using army aviation as a whole. And the Air Force is actively using the new opportunities obtained along with the promising missile.
Information