Su-34 and “Dagger”: dual sensations
While a separate category of Russian media is overwhelmed by joyful hysteria about the use of the 9-S-7760 missile of the Kinzhal complex from a Su-34 aircraft with all the resulting consequences, we will calmly and thoughtfully weigh all the pros and cons of this moment. The situation is really ambiguous, and we will calculate what is more in it, pros or cons, at the end.
Let's start with the missile, because comparing two aircraft so different from the start (MiG-31 and Su-34) will be a very tricky business.
So, our complex is called “Dagger”. And it consists of a carrier aircraft/air launcher and a 9-S-7760 missile, which in turn is a variation of the 9M723 missile of the Iskander operational-tactical complex.
The missile is quasi-ballistic, capable of maneuvering on any part of its trajectory, seemingly hypersonic. However, any ballistic missile can reach hypersonic speeds at the final stage of its trajectory, but this is not so important in principle now.
9-S-7760 has already been used during the Northern Military District at least three times, but it’s difficult to say anything like that here, because the Ukrainian information troops, who have gone into a frenzy, are shooting down “Daggers” in such quantities that even ours are already saying that Russia does not produce that much. It is also difficult to assess the effectiveness, since all the targets attacked by 9-S-7760 were very far behind the front line and it was not easy to obtain confirmation.
In general, the rocket is really impressive, so that foreign experts don’t talk about it. The best way to evaluate a particular type of weapon is to be exposed to it. Well, as you understand, this is not an expert matter at all.
Now to the planes
And here we will undertake to analyze the situation precisely in the light of some individual performance characteristics and performance characteristics, which were discussed specifically in the light of the use of 9-S-7760.
1. Load capacity.
Here the MiG-31 and Su-34 are approximately equal: 9 tons of load for the MiG-31, 8 tons for the Su-34. The weight of the 9-S-7760 is 4 tons, but this does not mean that the aircraft will be able to take two missiles each. It would be normal to carry one product, why – a little lower.
2. Speed, altitude and range
A very important indicator, because the faster the carrier, playing the role of the first stage, can accelerate the rocket, the further it can fly, spending less fuel on acceleration.
The speed of the MiG-31K is 3 km/h at high altitude. Maximum height – 000 m.
The speed of the Su-34 is 1 km/h, the maximum altitude is 900 m.
As a first acceleration stage, of course, the MiG-31K looks more interesting. True, it is inferior in flight range to a bomber, but this is not surprising. The Su-34 can easily fly up to 4 km at cruising speed, but the MiG-000 can fly no more than 31. Yes, refueling can improve matters, but...
3. Weapon control
Here the advantage is clearly on the side of the Su-34. It is a bomber, that is, its sighting equipment and radar are initially focused on working on the ground. Seeing, “showing” the target of the missile’s seeker, highlighting it is normal for the Su-34.
The MiG-31 is primarily an interceptor, the main purpose of which is to fight enemy aircraft. To carry the 9-S-7760, the car was modified, but in essence the MiG-31 was “plowed” precisely because “fast and high” - yes, that’s it. Plus two people in the crew, that is, there is someone to entrust with the responsibilities of aiming and launching the missile.
4. Quantity and replaceability
There will be a lot of words here. In general, what is a “carrier”? It's just a shipping method weapons to the point of its application. Tracked or wheeled chassis for self-propelled guns, a helicopter for an anti-tank missile, a submarine for a cruise or ballistic missile. The closer the weapon is delivered to the target, the closer the launch is made, the less time the enemy will have to react and counterattack.
And since our carrier is a way and method of delivering weapons closer to the enemy, then the appearance of the “Dagger” from the Iskander is completely justified. In this case, the aircraft provides an increased radius of destruction, flexibility of use, and an increase in the warhead by reducing the mass of the engine and the amount of rocket fuel.” Plus, the plane can “hang” in its airspace for a long time, choosing the most advantageous moment to strike. In this case, fuel is not a problem at all; refueling in the air solves it easily.
And here everything is simple: the more carriers, that is, aircraft with crews, the better. In this regard, the MiG-31 is very difficult. The plane is critically old, the youngest are about 30 years old. Yes, strategic bombers smoke the sky longer, but they do not need to fly at speeds of 2-3 Mach, the loads on the wings and fuselage are completely different.
The MiG-31 is not produced and it is more than doubtful that we will be able to start producing these machines. D-30F6 engines have not been produced for a long time. That is, all hope lies in the old hulls and engines overhauled in Gatchina.
But initially the heavy interceptor was not adapted to carry and use such weapons as the 9-S-7760. The aircraft had to be extensively (and at great expense) redesigned to carry and use the 9-S-7760. After all, not only a powerful suspension unit for a heavy missile was required, but also a guidance and weapons control system was needed.
And they re-equipped a number of copies, trained the crews, because taking off from a 9-S-7760 on a sling is something, because due to such a heavy rocket, the center of gravity is expected to shift, and launching a “Dagger” in manual mode is for aces highest category.
But, of course, the main thing is the MiG resource, which is not eternal. But so far there is nothing to replace these aircraft, nor is it possible to resume production, which is also in the realm of fantasy. But there’s nothing to be done here, the country’s border is too long, an interceptor like the MiG-31 is simply necessary.
Therefore, the vehicles remaining in service will be dragged with repairs and upgrades for who knows how many more years, and nothing can be done about it.
By the way, the situation with the Tu-22M3 is no better. Of course, this aircraft is adapted to carry heavy missiles (the standard X-22 “Storm” weighs more than 5 tons), but again the aircraft are 30 years old and, most importantly, there are not so many of them. About 60 pieces for all Russian Aerospace Forces.
And this has its downsides. On the other side they know very well where the Tu-22M and MiG-31 are parked, so before they have time to take off, it already begins on the Internet on the Ukrainian side: they have taken off, they are flying, we are waiting for cruise missiles. Fair? Fair. Nowadays, maintaining surprise is an art that not everyone is trained in.
With the Su-34 it might be more interesting: if, say, two air regiments take off and fly off in different directions, how can you determine which planes are carrying Daggers and which are not? Of course, if the enemy has agents in the airfield areas... And even that is not an option. Planes can take off at night when there is not much visibility.
But the main thing is that the Su-34 is a “living” aircraft. They are releasing it now, more than a hundred have been released and more will be released. But the Tu-22M and Mig-31 are more than doubtful.
Of course, the Duckling is not an ideal carrier, but it has more advantages than disadvantages over older aircraft.
It can produce the speed required to launch the Daggers. It can be used to install hardpoints for a heavy rocket. Yes, one. Otherwise, climbing with two "Daggers" will turn into a long road, and how it will be with speed, you can not predict: it will not happen. But with one missile, the Su-34 will definitely accelerate to the required minimum mark.
About speed. There is a difference between 1 and 900 km/h. Having launched at a lower given speed, the rocket will still accelerate to the required values and move on. Well, the range will drop a little, but if you think about it arithmetically, it’s not critical.
And the crews will have to be additionally trained to take off and land from 9-C-7760. Especially sitting down. But this is not so scary, takeoff and landing exercises with FAB-500 and FAB-1500 are practiced in the flight units of the Aerospace Forces, so there will be no problems with the Daggers.
In general, the Su-34, despite its lower speed and height than the MiG-31, also has quite tangible advantages, such as the modernity of avionics, the initial ability to work on ground targets and the mass character of the aircraft. Each MiG-31K is the fruit of long work and a lot of money. The Su-34 does not need to be upgraded to carry the 9-S-7760.
To summarize: the Su-34 is quite capable of replacing the MiG-31K in terms of using the 9-S-7760 missile. Its advantages as a bomber more than outweigh the advantages of a huge interceptor. And I hope that the number of Su-34s will soon reach 200 aircraft, which will make it possible to deliver Daggers to the launch point, and to use large-caliber bombs, and missiles for all purposes.
That is, if everything is resolved with the carrier, all that remains is to think about ensuring that the carrier pendants are not empty. But the release of such equipment as “Dagger” and “Iskander” is a completely separate issue.
As for our situation, despite weighing the pros and cons, there is still some understatement. Indeed, why did they choose the MiG-31 then? Have you really decided that speed is really everything? After all, the Su-34 with all its advantages was here, with us! Why did everything turn out this way and do we know everything?
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