"Yars-M" and "Aspen-RV". Directions for the development of the strategic missile system
"Yarsy" at the parade, May 9, 2023
At the end of the 2000s, Russian missile In 1941, the strategic forces received and put the latest Yars missile systems on experimental combat duty. Later, these systems reached serial production and almost completely replaced the equipment of the previous generation. At the same time, technology did not stand still, and it was decided to develop projects to modernize the Yars itself.
With the letter "M"
The decision to carry out the first modernization of the Yars complex was made in the early 2012s. For the first time, the launch of these works was announced in September XNUMX. For obvious reasons, at that time, officials did not disclose the details of all plans and managed only with general formulations. It was reported that the Yars-M complex would show higher performance characteristics and become a more effective means of strategic nuclear deterrence.
In the future, the Yars-M project was repeatedly mentioned in various statements. In addition, curious data about him were present in some officially published documents from the organizations participating in the project. Also, information of an unclear degree of reliability came from foreign sources. All this made it possible to form an approximate picture.
The lead developer of the project, as in the case of the base complex of the family, was the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (MIT). From the published documentation, the designations of new developments and products became known. So, the mobile version of Yars, known as 15P155M, after modernization, was supposed to receive the index 15P180. The mine version 15P165M, in turn, was updated as part of the 15P180 project. The upgraded missiles were referred to under the indices 15Zh80 and 15Zh81.
"Yars" on the patrol route
According to fragmentary data and estimates, the Yars-M project had several main tasks. A general improvement of the rocket and other means of the complex was required, incl. with some upgrades. It was also necessary to reduce to a minimum dependence on components of foreign production.
It has been suggested that new combat equipment be developed based on the existing multiple warhead. So, warheads of individual guidance could get their own propulsion system. Products of this kind, in theory, can improve the firing range and accuracy of hitting targets. However, such assumptions have not been officially confirmed or refuted.
At the test stage
Just a few months after the first mention of the Yars-M project, in April 2013, domestic media reported on the imminent start of deliveries of new missiles. The first product was expected in the troops before the end of the year, but again there was no confirmation. Moreover, for a long time representatives of the Ministry of Defense and industry did not mention the name "Yars-M" at all.
In the absence of official information, foreign sources became more active - foreign organizations that track rocket and space launches. They regularly report on the conduct of certain launches at Russian test sites, and since 2016, the name Yars-M has appeared in their reports. It is not known how much the information of such services corresponds to the real state of affairs.
According to foreign sources, the first tests of the Yars-M / 15Zh80 missile took place in August 2016. In 2017-19. allegedly three more launches of missiles of modifications 15Zh80 and 15Zh81 took place. It was alleged that flight design tests of the new complex were underway, incl. with the development of original combat equipment. The Ministry of Defense, even reporting on the conduct of new test launches, for obvious reasons, did not specify their goals and objectives.
After February 2019, when the alleged fourth launch of the Yars-M rocket took place, there were no new reports on the missile system modernization project for a long time. As it now turned out, this break was not a cause for concern. Work to improve the "Yars" continued and gradually led to the desired result.
According to new data
On May 15, the well-known domestic resource MilitaryRussia.ru again raised the topic of the Yars-M project in its Telegram blog. Its author drew attention to the documents posted by MIT on the Public Procurement portal. According to applications and tenders, the development of a new project continues, and preparations for production are underway.
It is reported that several enterprises involved in the construction of missile systems are modernizing their production facilities. The upgrade program included Votkinsky Zavod, which assembles Yarsy, the manufacturer of Titan-Barricade launchers, the engine manufacturer of the FTSDT Soyuz, and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPTsAP, which is responsible for control systems and combat equipment.
Loading the Yars rocket into the silo launcher
MilitaryRussia.ru offers a variant of the appearance of the upgraded missile system. The 15P180 Yars-M mobile soil complex can save the existing 15U200 launcher from the serial Yars. He will receive the 15Zh80 rocket, partially unified with the current 15Zh55 product.
It is assumed that the main differences of the 15Zh80 rocket will be hidden under the head fairing. Instead of "ordinary" warheads, she will receive the so-called. blocks of individual breeding (BIR) - products with their own engines. Such equipment will radically change the principles of guidance and significantly improve all the main combat characteristics of the missile as a whole.
The timing of the start of production of the Yars-M complex and the receipt of serial equipment by the troops remains unknown. However, the fact that production facilities are being prepared indicates that all this will happen in the near future. As for the ten-year-old information about the first rocket until the end of 2013, then we could talk about the first product for certain tests. Now a full series is being prepared.
Cipher "Aspen"
In 2021, information appeared in the open press about another project, the purpose of which is the further development of the Yars family. It was reported that back in September 2019, the Ministry of Defense issued an order to MIT for development work with the Osina-RV code. Its goal was to create a strategic missile system with the index 15P182. It was considered as a modernized version of the product 15P180 / 181 "Yars-M".
Test run
It took a couple of years to design. Flight design tests of the Aspen were required to begin in 2021 and be completed in the shortest possible time. The tests were going to be carried out at the Plesetsk training ground using one of the available silo launchers.
Shortly after the first reports of the Osina-RV ROC, on June 28, 2021, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched at the Plesetsk training ground. According to domestic media, these were tests of a rocket from MIT, the type of which, however, was not specified. Known information and news from the test site led to the appearance of a version about the start of testing the 15P182 Aspen-RV complex. However, in this context, other MIT developments were also mentioned at the level of assumptions.
Almost two years have passed since the alleged testing of the Aspen-RV product, but new information about this project has not yet been received. Perhaps, as in the case of Yars-M earlier, the design organization continues to work on this project and cannot yet talk about its successes.
Development processes
At the turn of the XNUMXs and XNUMXs, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces received, began to deploy and put on combat duty the latest Yars missile system in mobile and silo versions. Just a couple of years after that, the industry began to develop its modernized version of the Yars-M with a number of important innovations. To date, this project has been brought to the pre-production stage. In addition, another modernized complex, Osina-RV, was developed and tested.
Thus, the development of new modifications and new models of missile technology for the Strategic Missile Forces continues and remains a continuous process. The situation is practically the same with the re-equipment of combat units involved in combat duty. This means that the Strategic Missile Forces and all strategic nuclear forces maintain high combat capability and meet the requirements of the time - and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure this.
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