"Constellation-2015": long-awaited and controversial
This term, “network-centric”, no matter what it is used with, most likely associates with foreign very expensive projects. Toys for overseas guys who don’t have nowhere to put their money, but when you can cut something new (especially if the old one has already been sawn), then why not?
However, as strange as it may sound, they began to think and work on a new method of command and control back in the Soviet Union, under such leaders of the military department as Marshals of the Soviet Union Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov and Dmitry Timofeevich Yazov.
Under these ministers, the concept of a “network-centric type system” was theoretically created in the USSR, calculated in terms of cost and timing. Moreover, the concept has been quantified in terms of equipment and even developed training programs for military academies to train senior officers in new methods of warfare.
Naturally, everything collapsed in 1992. But it is worth noting that at that time in NATO, among our potential ones, there was still no talk of such breakthrough projects at all. They all started much later, but the implementation is much more successful. Moreover, with the implementation of their methods of warfare.
But yes, NATO soldiers had a place to test new techniques and concepts. In our country, after Afghanistan, there was some calm, right up to the Chechen wars. And then it became clear that the former system of command and control, which originated from the First World War, was completely outdated and had to be changed.
And after the end of the Second Chechen, the task was set. But since nothing new had to be invented conceptually, everything looked pretty simple. Use Soviet developments with the Russian technical base. The Sozvezdie concern took over the work in 2001.
In 2010 the work was completed.
The output was the ESU TZ product (“Sozvezdie-M”), a unified tactical level control system, which was intended for the integrated command and control of troops using navigation systems, as well as satellite and unmanned surveillance equipment. Separate elements of the system began to arrive for testing in the troops in 2007.
The idea was striking in scale: each piece of equipment, from the KShM of the brigade commander to the armored personnel carrier of the commander of a motorized rifle division, is equipped with an on-board computer that allows you to receive and give combat orders, determine the coordinates of your location and display an electronic map with a combat situation on the laptop screen.
The control system was supposed to interconnect ALL units of the brigade equipped with it (it was the brigade sets that were to be implemented). Since it was supposed to bind heterogeneous equipment in large quantities, the control program turned out to be simply gigantic: more than 50 lines of code, which is much larger than Microsoft Windows.
By the way, it is worth noting that similar work in the United States has come to a standstill. Future Combat Systems were being developed, an even more global system involving the rearmament of the US Army. The project pulled on 300 billion dollars, but after spending 18 billion, President Obama closed it in 2009. They didn't pull.
In some incomprehensible way, ours dragged the work to the end and in December 2018 a state contract was signed for the supply of products for ESU TZ. The contract is concluded until 2027. According to the contract, the Sozvezdie concern will have to supply 40 brigade sets of ESU TK to the troops and ensure their functioning. The kits will include 11 subsystems that control electronic warfare systems, artillery, air defense, engineering and logistics, as well as a single information network that integrates various types of communications, including radio relay, tropospheric and digital.
So what? And while silence. No, not that complete, but they do not indulge in information at all.
And I was prompted to start a conversation by Alexander Sergeevich Khodakovsky, who appeared on Solovyov's TV, a very peculiar and remarkable personality. Old-timers of VO should remember several of his rather vivid performances in front of our audience on our video channel (unfortunately destroyed by YouTube). Yes, the Vostok commander is grouchy and it may seem that he is one of the “eternally dissatisfied”, but no one will say that Khodakovsky suffers from a lack of intelligence and courage.
And on August 7, I saw him at Solovyov's. There are now often interesting people appear. So I watch from time to time.
And what did I hear?
And I heard a lot of criticism towards the Russian command, which is really unable to organize artillery and aviation support for the actions of the infantry and spending HOURS on all sorts of agreements.
As a result, the infantry, left without support, leaves the occupied lines and retreats, losing people. I understand Alexander Sergeevich, we are talking about fighters who have more than one year of war behind them.
Alas, my personal conversations with participants in the events only confirm what critics from the other side say: the Russian army in terms of control is still at the level of the Soviet model of 1945. Only the TA army was less vulnerable. There was no proper electronic warfare, there were no Chinese radio stations and cell phones, through which so much information leaks today, and nowhere to go.
Today it is quite a common thing in the troops, I myself have repeatedly witnessed: “Baofengi” and “Motorola” are our everything. With all the ensuing consequences.
So how can the ESU TK system be useful in the army, where there is still a communication problem at the squad-platoon-company level?
In general, it can be useful by its very presence in the troops. There is information that ACS TZ
(automated tactical control system) "Constellation-2015", modified by "Constellation-M", began a combat test in parts. Four brigades of the Russian army are already fully equipped with this system and are taking part in the SVO.
In general, the path that "Constellation-M" went through to "Constellation-2015" was thorny and difficult. There is no doubt that this is a very complex system that requires a special approach. And - importantly - training of personnel. It's very difficult. One of our authors and experts witnessed a show put on by a general who was training officers to use this system in test mode.
“We stood like a herd, watched him rushing about, giving instructions, poking at the keyboard and sniffing with the mouse. And on the screens and - horror - on the tablets, the marks of the targets that could be worked on were lit up. We stood, completely unaware of how it all works, and “Ku!” came to mind. and "Yyy!" from the famous movie.
Sozvezdie-M did not pass tests three times, the system was sent for revision three times, until, finally, it worked out fully at the Kavkaz-2016 maneuvers. The first pancake didn’t exactly come out lumpy, but the results were not encouraging: the “red” side was frankly confused in the data, and the “blue” ones were not at a loss and practically paralyzed a fair part of the enemy units included in the tactical network with their electronic warfare equipment.
But everyone understood that this was solely due to insufficient training of personnel and an unfinished system. And finally, slowly, but the troops began to receive sets of this system, which eventually received the name ESU TZ "Constellation-2015".
The result is a really advanced system, consisting of 11 subsystems capable of exchanging information about the tactical situation, transmitting orders and interacting with other branches of the military in the form of target designation.
The fact that the system is automated is very good. The fact that representatives of different branches of the military are in a single information space is simply luxurious, it’s worth reminding those who have forgotten that we have our own radio frequencies for each branch of the military, which does not create a comfortable space for transmitting information.
In general, such a complex on board makes a tank or infantry fighting vehicle / armored personnel carrier an element of a network structure, where data from UAVs, air reconnaissance, ground reconnaissance, electronic warfare are integrated, data from radar detection and guidance systems, counter-battery systems, target designation.
It looks great on paper, in demo mode too. On the battlefield - here there are doubts.
But first, a few words about how Constellation works without highly professional vocabulary.
It's simple: all commanders in the brigade are included in a single information network (or in the battlefield environment), from the commanders of squads / combat vehicles /tanks to brigade command. Intelligence, headquarters, MTO points and so on. Priority, of course, is determined in accordance with the position held. The brigade commander can get information from anyone, at any level.
There is a moment that is useful in combat conditions: with the simultaneous incapacitation of the entire brigade headquarters, the neighbors in the system can take over the leadership of the units left without command.
Each combat vehicle, unit, reconnaissance and destruction means transmits data on identified targets and other important information to the general field. This is seen by all other participants in the operation who have access to the ESU TK "Constellation", especially the higher commanders. If the lead watch is ambushed while an armored column is moving, everyone will be immediately notified of the problem in real time.
Based on the general information picture, the commander of a brigade (regiment, battalion) will be able to make a decision on actions very quickly.
In a normal battle, such a system is also very, very useful, because it will be able to “suggest” that it is better to strike with your own forces when the enemy forces suddenly appear, transferring part to the breakthrough point, or coordinate with neighbors who can strike at the specified coordinates.
They say that the use of "Constellation" in the "platoon-brigade" chain speeds up control processes by 4-5 times precisely due to the fact that the system operates automatically. Somewhere in a secluded place there are servers on which the information and analytical field of the program is deployed, and the troops equipped with software and hardware systems (translation - a walkie-talkie and a tactical tablet) receive the amount of information they need through data processing and distribution centers. And those whose duties include the supply of information to the system, those, respectively, bring it there.
A single organism - so many speak of the "Constellation". And this single organism must communicate through radio stations of several types and voice, and for data transmission, of course, via secure channels. And here the skeptic begins, because until now, with radio stations in our troops, it is very so-so. If we discard the "Baofengi" and "Motorola", then it's really bad.
And there are a few questions about how all this will work. An information field will only be such if an exchange is provided between all subscribers included in it.
Let's analyze the simplest situation. The column with ammunition is moving in the rear. The column is attacked by the enemy DRG, as happened many times during the NWO, especially in its first part.
Scenario one: the column commander presses the "panic button" on the tablet, an alarm signal and a beacon light up at the brigade headquarters, which shows on the tactical map where the events are taking place. The radio operators of the column yell on the air information about the number and equipment of the enemy. BMPs with rapid reaction teams start roaring from the hangars, the duty link of helicopters takes off from the site (although it should hang over the column anyway, but anything can happen) and so on. BMP drivers imagine where to rush, and helicopter pilots - where to fly and who to beat from above.
Perfect, right?
What is needed for this? Smallness: coverage of the entire area of responsibility of the brigade with the Internet. It doesn't matter what kind of Internet it will be, satellite or WiMAX, but without it, the whole idea with Constellation will cost nothing.
Scenario two: the situation will look the same as it has for the last 70 years: the radio operator will yell into the radio, trying to convey to the headquarters where everything is happening at least approximately, and the detachments sent to help, as always, will be able to find the burnt trucks.
This is where the weakest point of ESU TK will be. Internet. Like radio communication today, only worse, because it will be necessary to cover a fairly decent area. The way out is repeaters based on radio relay stations of the Granit or Andromeda type, or MP-1IM Mednogorets based on an armored personnel carrier, as a more passable option.
Considering that the network must operate constantly, the stations will work constantly and there is a wide field for counteraction. A station that is constantly working, included in a common network, is an object for attacks. As shown by the exercises in which Sozvezdie-M was used, individual elements are quite normally disabled by electronic warfare systems.
The second unpleasant moment is anti-radar missiles, which can be launched from a variety of carriers.
The military Internet system will require special attention and protection, this is a fact.
The second option is satellite internet. But for this, we must have a really strong constellation of satellites capable of providing brigades with the Internet at any time of the day and in any place.
It is difficult to say which is easier to provide.
No, of course, with the dismissal of Rogozin, the hope dawned that we would still have a complete satellite constellation. And Roskosmos will turn into a reliable assistant to the army. But hope is such a thing...
But imagine yourself in the place of a commander who has a tactical tablet in his hands, with which you can solve all problems, notify headquarters, call for help at a specific point in space - and all this is useless, because there is no connection to the server. And all the hope is for the quickness of the radio operator and the efficiency of the headquarters, to which the radio operator will reach.
In general, it is no different from the moments of the Second World War, to be honest.
Moving on.
It is worth imagining how many tablets will be needed for the brigade? Respectively. In any case, people will be needed who will repair and “pump out” these tablets after contract sergeants. I have nothing against those great guys who are going to the contract today. But I am well aware of how often they are "successful" in terms of computer training.
Let's simulate the situation again. Fight in the village, which is now not just a lot on the territory of Ukraine. Zapoloshnaya shooting from all sides, throws, rolls, withdrawals, jerks. Grenades, machine-gun bursts, mines ... Is it up to the tablet? And how many tablets will be destroyed, trampled on and so on? Or not to take him into battle?
It's not easy with the infantry squad. It's easier with a tank. Our expert Alexei Kuznetsov (who is AlexTV) believes that the tank commander will be able to cope with the appearance of another component of the tank battle.
In general, I would like to make a small announcement of an article specifically about the work of a tank commander, which Alexei will publish in the very near future. And while reading, everyone will be able to draw a conclusion for themselves about how real all this is.
In general, everything is real. Tablets in tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, anti-aircraft crews, anti-tankers ... The people who will serve the servers and tablets are a separate headache. These people are not yet in the army, they will have to appear there.
Why so minor? Because it is enough to look at the cost of domestic IT specialists to understand how difficult this task is, both quantitatively and financially. And the fact that each team should have a decent number of specialists capable of coping with any problem in the shortest possible time. The task is not an easy one, given that there will be about 1500 tablets in a motorized rifle brigade. Which are expected to fail, be corrupted by users, and stuff like that.
Plus, training in the proper operation of these devices for those who will work on them.
And an important part of the work is equipment equipment. Yes, almost all samples of modern equipment for the ground forces have such software and hardware kits. "Kurgans", "Boomerangs", "Typhoons", "Coalition-SV", "Armata", "Terminators", in general - everything that is not yet in the troops. On them, similar devices (like the "Aqueduct") are provided at the manufacturing stage. This is a plus.
The old equipment in equipped brigades receives "Constellation" in the process of modernization. First of all, the T-90M tanks, the Msta-SM2 self-propelled guns, the Smerch MLRS, and all air defense systems are being equipped.
Big job.
Today, many ordinary people are very loudly talking about the fact that the pace of the NWO needs to be accelerated. Moreover, at least 3-5 times. But for this it is necessary not to increase the number of troops and equipment (as was done in the First and Second World Wars), but the efficiency of using the troops already at the disposal of the command of the Northern Military District.
And here the "Constellation" will be very useful. It is precisely so that the soldiers of the same Khodakovsky do not leave, swearing, from their positions, because the aircraft remained on the ground, and the MLRS were hollowed out by some other targets. Storming a fortified area with light mortars and machine guns, followed by repulsing enemy attacks supported by armored vehicles - this was permissible 80 years ago, in the Great Patriotic War, but today it looks simply unacceptable.
What's in the news From time to time, the R-149MA1 KShM with equipment from the Constellation and the R-142NMR radio station on the KaMAZ chassis appear from military correspondents - this is very encouraging.
The creation and launch of the Constellation, with a clear organization of all moments and overcoming all difficulties, can really bring the Russian army to the forefront among other armies in the world. But for this, it is really necessary to do a lot of work to introduce the Constellation into the troops and create an orbital group capable of ensuring the operation of the system.
Information