Air defense missile systems: development trends
Rocket facilities Defense have always been and remain among the leaders of the most advanced intellectual, high-tech and, accordingly, expensive types of military equipment. Therefore, the ability to create and produce them, as well as the possession of advanced technologies at the industrial level, the presence of appropriate scientific and design schools are considered to be some of the most important indicators of the level of development of the country's defense industry.
The current stage of their development is associated with a number of features. First of all, it should be noted that the intensification of the development and procurement of air defense systems is correlated with the continuous strengthening of the role characteristic of modern wars and conflicts aviation and air attack equipment, as well as an avalanche-like growth in demand for weapons designed to protect against tactical ballistic missile (TBR) and tactical ballistic missile (OTDR) attacks. There is a replacement of air defense systems and systems of previous generations due to their mass and complete obsolescence. At the same time, the circle of developers and manufacturers of air defense systems is expanding. Quite intensive work is underway on arms Air defense, which uses new means of destruction of air targets, first of all, laser.
Test launch rocket complex THAAD
For existing and prospective air defense systems, the division into long, medium and short range, as well as short range, which differ not only in the tasks and characteristics, but also in complexity and cost (usually by an order), is maintained. As a result, abroad, the full development of long and medium range air defense systems can only be independently carried out by the United States. Cooperation programs are characteristic for the countries of Western Europe, and a number of states are conducting these works with the assistance of American (Israel, Japan, Taiwan) or Russian (Republic of Korea, India, China) developers.
One of the central tasks that face the long and medium range systems today is their use in the fight against ballistic and cruise missiles. And their improvement is carried out in the direction of building capacity to defeat the largest possible number of such goals.
Such requirements led to a sharp increase in the number of air defense systems that have a pronounced anti-missile potential. The most typical example of such a development is Lockheed Martin's American mobile complex THAAD, designed to hit 40-150 km at altitudes and ranges to 200 km of ballistic missiles that have a firing range of up to 3500 km.
Achieving such high performance was for its creators, who started to work in 1992, a serious exam and required a long working out of promising technical solutions used for THAAD. As a result, only in August 2000. Lockheed Martin received a contract for $ 4 billion, according to which a full-scale development and preparation of THAAD for production was launched. The tests of the prototype complex took place in 2005, and on May 28, 2008 was commissioned the first battery.
In order to further improve the complex THAAD, new software is being created for it, which will allow to triple the size of the area protected by it. Another way to improve its performance should be the installation on the rocket of new engines, which will more than triple the size of the affected area.
Launch of shipboard missile system SM-3
The most ambitious American program to create similar ship-based tools is based on the use of the advanced multi-functional Aegis system and Standard-3 (SM-3) missiles. The main differences of these missiles from the previous Standard versions are the equipment of the third stage double-engagement engine and 23-kg of the kinetic defeat combat stage. To date, a series of tests SM-3, in the process of which successful interceptions of the TBR targets in the process of acceleration and descent, as well as in the process of flight of the head part separated from the accelerator stage, were performed. In February, the X-NUMX of the SM-2008 intercepted an out-of-control USA-3 satellite, which was at an altitude of 193 km.
Representatives of the company SM-3 Raytheon, in collaboration with the US Navy, are working on a variant of using the rocket in combination with the X-band ground radar and the VLS-41 launcher deployed on the ground. Among the scenarios of similar use of SM-3 for intercepting ballistic missiles, the deployment of such complexes in a number of European countries is envisaged.
The anti-missile potential of the most popular American Patriot long-range air defense system, PAC-2 and
RAS-3. In recent years, in accordance with the GEM, GEM +, GEM-T and GEM-C programs, the PAC-2 missiles have gained higher effectiveness in the fight against TBR, as well as manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (LA) with a small effective reflecting surface. To this end, the GEM series missiles are equipped with an improved high-explosive fragmentation warhead and a radio fuse reprogrammed during the flight.
At the same time, with the rate of 15-20 units per month, Lockheed Martin missiles are being produced at PAC-3. The features of the PAC-3 are the use of an active RLGSN and a relatively short range of action - up to 15-20 km for ballistic and up to 40-60 km for aerodynamic targets. At the same time, in order to maximize the capabilities of the Patriot and minimize the cost of performing a combat task, the PAC-3 battery contains missiles of earlier versions (PAC-2). Currently, Lockheed Martin is working under a contract for $ 774 million for the production of 172 PAC-3 missiles, upgrading 42 PU, manufacturing of spare parts, etc.
PAC-2 GEM rocket launch
In July, Lockheed Martin launched 2003 work on the PAC-3 MSE program to improve the PAC-3 missiles, including an increase in the size and a half of their size of the affected area, as well as their adaptation for use as part of other air defense systems, including shipboard ones. For this, it is planned to equip the PAC-3 MSE with a new two-way main engine with a X-diameter of 292 mm from Aerojet, install a two-way communication system for the rocket with the Patriot command and control system and carry out a number of other activities. The first MSE test took place on 21 on May 2008.
In January, Lockheed Martin’s 2008, in addition to the $ 260 million contract to develop the PAC-3 MSE, was awarded a contract for $ 66 million to study the possibility of using this missile as the main fire weapon of the MEADS system. It is designed to replace the classic model of the medium-range air defense system Improved Hawk, which is in service with more than 20 states of the world. This work has been going on for more than 10 years by the consortium MEADS Int (Lockheed Martin, MBDA-Italy, EADS / LFK), and its financing in the proportion of 58: 25: 17 is carried out by the USA, Germany and Italy. It is planned that the mass production of MEADS will begin in 2011.
Significant anti-missile potential also has a series of French-Italian SAMs SAMP / T of the consortium Eurosam, based on the use of two-stage Aster anti-aircraft. Prior to 2014, it is planned to manufacture 18 SAMP / T for France and Italy, as well as the production of various Aster variants for equipping French and Italian aircraft carriers, as well as for the RAAMS air defense system, which is located on the French-Italian frigates Horizon / Orizzonte and English destroyers of the type 45 (Sea Viper version). In the coming years for these ships it is planned to manufacture up to 300 vertical launch systems Sylver, which, like the American VLS-41 launchers, can be used to launch missiles and other types of guided missiles.
The Israeli developers of the air defense system are becoming more and more active, the most significant achievement of which is the Arrow system, which is capable of simultaneously intercepting up to 14 ballistic targets with a range of up to 1000 km. Its creation on 70-80% was funded by the USA. Together with the Israeli company IAI, the American Lockheed participated in this work. Since February, 2003 from the American side has been coordinated by Arrow by Boeing, which currently manufactures about 50% of the missile components, including the hardware unit, the propulsion system and the transport and launch container.
Launcher of the complex RAS-3
In turn, Israeli firms have actively joined in the implementation of India’s anti-missile plans, which has been developing the PAD-1 system with Prithvi anti-missiles, which have been tested for several years. The only of the Indian developments brought to completion is the Akash medium-range air defense system, which was commissioned by the Indian Air Force with 1983 in the city.
One of the notable trends in the improvement of the air defense system, uniting dozens of states, is the work on the replacement of the US air defense system Improved Hawk. In addition to the aforementioned MEADS complex, among the means proposed for its replacement, the systems using AIM-120 (AMRAAM) missiles are increasingly mentioned.
The first of these, in the middle of 1990's, was the Norwegian NАСАМS. However, the most intensive work on the introduction of AMRAAM into various air defense systems began several years ago (HAWK-AMRAAM, CLAWS, SL-AMRAAM). At the same time, research and design work is being carried out to improve this rocket, including giving it the ability to launch from various launchers. For example, 25 March 2009, in the framework of the program for creating a single launcher, was successfully launched two AMRAAM missiles with a HIMARS multiple-launch rocket launcher.
Work is also underway on the radical modernization of AMRAAM, with the aim of bringing its range at launch from the ground to 40 km - similar to the MIM-23В missiles used in the Improved Hawk. The special features of this development, designated as SL-AMRAAAM ER, should be the use of the propulsion system of the ship's anti-aircraft missile ESSM (RIM-162), a more powerful warhead, as well as an active RGGSN capable of interacting with various radar systems and command and control systems.
The first stage of this work, which ended on 29 in May of 2008, with a throw-in launch of the first missile model at the Norwegian Andoya test site, was performed by Raytheon and the Norwegian companies Kongsberg and Nammo on their own initiative. As noted by foreign experts, in the future, these works may allow the creation of a new medium-range missile defense system for ground-based air defense systems (including compatible with the Patriot air defense system) and a new ship-based missile defense system compatible with Aegis facilities.
Launcher of missiles IRIS-T-SL
Undoubtedly, with the successful development of the SL-AMRAAM ER, there may be considerable interest among the developers of MEADS, for whom one of the problems is the high cost of the PAC-3 missiles. To solve it, European developers have already made proposals for the introduction of other missiles into the composition of MEADS. For example, the aviation missile IRIS-T of the German company Diehl BGT Defense. Currently, work is underway on its two options as a vertically launched SAM: IRIS-T-SL with a range of up to 30 km for MEADS and IRIS-T-SLS with a range of more than 10 km, proposed for use as part of a short-range air defense system.
The European concern MBDA (MICA rocket) and the Israeli companies Rafael and IAI (Spyder-SR SAM with Python-5 and Derby missiles) are also actively promoting their use of aircraft missiles as missiles.
In turn, the US Agency for Missile Defense is considering the use of ground-based missiles TNAAD and PAC-3 (ADVCAP-3) in the variant of their installation on F-15 aircraft in order to intercept the TBR located on the active trajectory. A similar concept is being studied regarding the use of B-52H bombers for launching KEI anti-missiles.
Work on the creation of short-range and short-range air defense systems develop mainly in the direction of giving them the ability to destroy high-precision weapons, as well as artillery shells and short-range missiles. At the same time, a certain stagnation is observed in the development of these complexes, resulting from the end of the Cold War, when most of their creation programs were curtailed or frozen. One of the few short-range SAM systems that continues to be improved is the French Crotal-NG, for which the new Mk.3 missile with a range of up to 15 km, as well as a vertical launch from the shipboard Sylver, is being developed.
The basis of most military air defense weapons of short-range are the complexes using MANPADS missiles. Thus, in the ATLAS and self-propelled (ASPIC) variants, various versions of the French Mistral complex are offered. The complex of the Swedish company Saab Bofors RBS-70, equipped with a laser guidance system, continues to be in great demand. In the version of the Mk.2 it has a firing range of up to 7 km, and with Bolide missiles it has up to 9 km. In the USA, 1988 manufactured more than 1500 Avendger complexes using Stinger MANPADS. Currently, work is underway to make the Stinger missiles twice as effective for combatting UAVs by installing an improved fuse. In 2008, this variant of the rocket was successfully intercepted by a mini-UAV.
Arrow missiles are designed to intercept ballistic targets.
Among the promising works that in the coming years will be able to influence this market segment, we should single out the German ground-based short-range complex NG LeFla, which has a range of up to 10 km and using a rocket with IR-GOS. These works are carried out on the order of the MoD of Germany by the firm LFK (MBDA Deutschland). As noted, this air defense system has every chance to replace the Stinger in the German army and the armies of several other European states.
The improvement of ship-based air defense systems is largely focused on existing scenarios for the combat use of ships, which are to one degree or another associated with their conduct of combat operations in the coastal zone. Among such works should pay attention to the rocket SM-6, a contract for the development of which worth $ 440 million was issued in the fall of 2004, the US Navy firm Raytheon.
The SM-6 provides for the use of the SM-2 Block IVA rocket propulsion system and the active seeker. According to Raytheon, the SM-6 developers are aimed at achieving a missile range exceeding 350 km, which should provide protection not only for ships, but also for coastal areas against attacks from promising aircraft and cruise missiles, as well as interception of the TBR. The first launch of the SM-6 took place in June 2008 and ended with an interception target BQM-74.
Gradually, the ESSM (RIM-162) medium-range anti-aircraft defense missile (RIM-10), created by a consortium of state-owned XNUMX firms to replace the Sea Sparrow missile that has been in service for several decades, occupies a dominant position among the ship’s medium-range anti-aircraft defenses. The new rocket can launch both from rotary and vertical launchers.
The short-range Barak missile, which has become one of the most successful Israeli developments of the last decade and has been adopted by a number of fleets Asia and South America. The further development of this missile could be the joint development by Israel and India of the Barak-2008 missile with a range of up to 8 km, which began in 70.
In the process of improving the company Raytheon another widely used shipboard missiles short-range RAM, it was realized the possibility of using it for hitting targets located on the surface of the sea.
Summing up, we can state the multidirectionality of the improvement of modern air defense missiles. Developers strive to create quite compact, high-speed and long-range means of intercepting aerodynamic and ballistic targets. There is also a tendency towards the universalization of a number of air defense weapons, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
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