Guided complex of missile and bomb weapons "Thunder" in the Special Operation
Fragments of the product "Thunder"
As part of the current Special Operation, the Russian front-line aviation uses a wide range of unguided and guided munitions, including the latest designs. A few days ago it became known that the latest planning bomb "Thunder" was used to destroy some Ukrainian objects. This ammunition has a special design and is capable of hitting targets at a great distance from the drop point with high accuracy.
Curious Wreckage
A few days ago, information about the use of several new types of aircraft weapons by the Russian Aerospace Forces spread through specialized channels and resources. It is reported that in order to destroy enemy targets and support our units in the area of the settlement. Avdiivka aviation for the first time uses bombs of several modern models.
Already on March 12, evidence of this appeared - fragments of a characteristic type were found in the combat zone. In the published photos and video from an unknown operator, you can see the damaged cylindrical body, on which a folding wing fairing is installed. There is no marking, except for technical inscriptions, on the product. The reasons for its fall are unknown, but there are no obvious signs of external influence.
Despite the lack of markings, the wreckage was quickly identified as one of the latest Russian developments. It was a guided planning aerial bomb "Thunder". It is not possible to determine a specific product modification based on the available data.
Hull and wing folding mechanism
Thus, it became known that the range of aviation ammunition used during the Special Operation was recently replenished with another modern model. Obviously, the video bomb is not the only product of its type. Products "Thunder" can be used quite widely and complement other weapons. Probably, the bulk of them successfully hit their intended targets, leaving no fragments suitable for identification. And only a single sample did not cope with the task, but it showed the presence of such weapons in the arsenals of the Aerospace Forces.
From design to application
The Grom guided missile and bomb weapon system (MC RVB) was developed by the Tactical Missiles Corporation. The project was created in the middle of the last decade, and in 2018 the public was first told about it. At the same time, the main solutions, the achieved capabilities and characteristics were disclosed.
By the time the first open information appeared, the Thunder project had reached the stage of flight design tests. KTRV produced experimental ammunition and tested them with regular carriers. As a result of these events, the complex was expected to be put into service and the launch of mass production.
In the future, bombs and missiles of the Grom family were repeatedly demonstrated at domestic military-technical exhibitions. They were positioned as new means of destruction capable of seriously improving the strike capabilities of front-line aviation. At the same time, the launch of the series and the entry into service were not reported until recently.
General view of the product "Thunder"
Only now it became known that KTRV has launched the production of new UK RBV and supplies finished products to the troops. VKS, in turn, mastered this weapon and began to apply it in a real military operation. The details of the application are still unknown. At the same time, the known characteristics and capabilities of the Thunder products allow us to assume that they make a certain contribution to the overall results of the work of front-line aviation.
Modular architecture
As part of the Thunder project, a complex of guided weapons of modular architecture was developed. The complex includes several modules for different purposes, from which it is proposed to collect ammunition with different characteristics and capabilities. At the same time, despite all the differences in the resulting weapons, a high degree of unification is achieved.
Any Thunder ammunition is equipped with a main warhead module (MBCho). It is made in a cylindrical body with an ogive fairing. There is also a module for an additional warhead MBChd in a cylindrical body. The MDU propulsion module is made in the same housing.
Developed by the so-called. planning and control module (MPC), which includes several devices. First of all, this is a fairing with a folding wing, fixed on the MCU. The MPU includes the central instrument compartment connecting the warhead and/or engine modules. Several elements of ammunition are also combined with a fairing module with wiring, antennas, etc. Flight control is carried out at the expense of the tail module of steering gears (MRP).
Structure of the complex
The main version of the MPU is equipped with inertial and satellite navigation systems, as well as an autopilot. Regardless of the flight range, they provide an accuracy of hitting up to several meters. In the past, it was reported that a control system with a laser altimeter could be developed for the Thunder - it is necessary for the use of volumetric detonating warheads.
The MBCho module has a length of 2,35 m and a diameter of 310 mm. It can carry a high-explosive fragmentation charge weighing 315 kg or a volumetric detonating charge of 250 kg. MBChd with the same diameter has a length of 1,13 m. A high-explosive fragmentation charge weighing 165 kg or 120 mm thermobaric is proposed.
At the moment, it is known about three weapons from the Thunder complex, assembled from the presented modules. The first is the 9-A-7759 guided missile. It consists of high-explosive fragmentation MBCho, MPU, MDU and MRP. A product weighing 594 kg is capable of delivering a 315-kg warhead at a distance of up to 120 km.
When replacing the propulsion system with an additional high-explosive fragmentation warhead, a 9-A1-7759 aerial bomb is obtained. Its combat load reaches 480 kg. Gliding flight range - 65 km. Volumetric detonating MBChs are used as part of the 9-A2-7759 bomb. Despite the smaller mass, such a product, according to flight data, does not differ from a high-explosive fragmentation bomb.
According to known data, tests of the promising RVB Grom were carried out using Su-34 and MiG-35 carrier aircraft. At the same time, bombs and missiles of the new family can also be used by other domestic front-line aircraft. The weapon is transported both under the wing and under the fuselage. The drop is carried out from altitudes up to 10 km at speeds not exceeding 1200 km/h.
Thunder products have several interesting features and modes of operation. So, the rocket 9-A-7759 does not immediately turn on the engine. It passes the first part of the trajectory due to the energy received from the carrier. Only after the speed is reduced to a certain limit, the engine is turned on for additional acceleration. This algorithm of operation allows you to increase the maximum flight range.
The high maneuverability of bombs and missiles was reported, as well as their ability to attack targets in the rear hemisphere of the carrier. After being dropped, the product can turn around and fly backward, but the flight range is reduced.
Clear benefits
The appearance and adoption of a new guided aviation munition in itself is an important event. At the same time, the UK RBV "Grom" has a number of characteristic features that make it a more effective weapon and increase its value for the Aerospace Forces as a whole.
The main advantages are provided by the modular architecture. With its help, already in the first version of the project, it was possible to create three unified ammunition with different characteristics and loads. In addition, it is possible to change the composition of modules, upgrade them, etc., obtaining certain advantages.
All Grom products combine a significant mass of warheads and high pointing accuracy. This increases the likelihood of successfully hitting a stationary target - a direct hit or a shock wave. In this case, you can choose the method of influencing the target, using high-explosive fragmentation or volumetric detonating modules of warheads.
It should be noted that products of the Grom series are not the only guided weapons in service with our VKS. Bombs and missiles of other types with different range characteristics and other warheads are available and used. Such a weapon system is flexible and allows you to choose the most effective ammunition for each target. Three products "Grom" have a positive effect on the overall performance and capabilities of the videoconferencing.
From testing to application
Thus, another domestic model of advanced weapons successfully passed all stages of development, and coped with the tests, after which it went into series and entered the troops. Now the Grom complex is used as part of the Special Operation and helps front-line aircraft to solve assigned combat missions.
Obviously, the aerial bomb from the recent video was not the first Thunder product used against Ukrainian formations. In addition, the use of such weapons will not end there. It should be expected that the new complex of missile and bomb weapons will be actively used by the Russian Aerospace Forces and will contribute to the fulfillment of the assigned tasks.
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