Promising long-range precision weapon systems: Iskander-1000, Kinzhal-M and Kinzhal-MD
During the Russian Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine, high-precision weapon Long-range (WTO) is used in quantities in which it has never been used before. Operations “Desert Storm”, “Allied Force”, “Enduring Freedom” - all this is kindergarten in terms of the scale of the use of long-range high-tech weapons compared to air defense.
According to Western experts, Russia's long-range high-tech weapons should have ended long ago, but the attacks continue, while along with the production of serial products, promising complexes are being developed. In turn, Ukraine is making full use of cruise missiles (CR) and operational-tactical missiles (OTR) from Western countries.
One of the most effective long-range high-tech missile systems was the 9K720 operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) Iskander-M and aviation hypersonic complex 9-A-7660 (X-47M2) “Dagger”, it is logical that such a formidable weapon does not stand still and is developing - new modifications of the Iskander-M OTRK and the Kinzhal aviation complex should soon appear.
From Iskander-M to Iskander-1000
Due to the provisions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), the flight range of the Iskander-M OTRK missiles was limited to a distance of 500 kilometers. This applied to both the 9M723 quasi-ballistic missile and the R-500 cruise missile.
By the way, it was the R-500 missile launcher from the Iskander-M missile system that the United States used as a reason to withdraw from the INF Treaty, accusing Russia of the fact that the range of the R-500 missile launcher exceeds the restrictions imposed by the said treaty, while the United States forgot about the launchers ( PU) missile defense (BMD) systems located in Europe and allowing the launch of the Tomahawk missile system with a flight range of about 3 kilometers.
OTRK "Iskander-K" with missile launcher R-500 in a transport and launch container (TPK). Image by Mil.ru
The Iskander-M OTRK has become a vital component of reconnaissance and strike contours, allowing for the rapid destruction of high-priority targets located in the enemy's rear identified by reconnaissance means. These include enemy combat aircraft and helicopters located at air bases, NIMARS launchers, artillery systems, accumulations of armored vehicles and manpower.
When firing the 9M723 quasi-ballistic missile, the Iskander-M OTRK has an important advantage - the time interval between the launch of the missile and its approach to the target is too short for the enemy to react.
Launcher with OTR 9M723 and transport-loading vehicle (TZM) with KR R-500 OTRK "Iskander-M" / Image Wikimedia Commons / Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Of course, the long range of the Iskander-M OTRK would make it possible to hit targets deep into enemy territory, and given the fact that Russia, following the United States, withdrew from the INF Treaty, and compliance with the restrictions of this treaty became meaningless, it is not surprising that a version of the Iskander-M OTRK is being developed, which, according to open sources, has received the name Iskander-1000 OTRK.
The flight range of the Iskander-1000 OTRK missile will be 1 – 000 kilometers, depending on the type of warhead, while the speed and altitude of its flight path should be comparable to the parameters of the 1-S-300 hypersonic missile of the Kinzhal aviation complex. .
An increase in the missile’s flight range and speed, according to open sources, was achieved through the use of new, more energy-intensive fuel, while simultaneously increasing its volume by approximately 10–15% and reducing the mass of the warhead (warhead) to 300 kilograms. A maximum range of 1 kilometers can be achieved for a warhead with an even smaller mass - about 300 kilograms; we can assume that this will be a special warhead (SCU).
At the final stage of the flight, the Iskander-1000 OTRK missile should be capable of performing anti-aircraft maneuvers with an overload of about 25-30 g. Also, presumably, the Iskander-1000 OTRK missile should be equipped with on-board self-defense systems, in particular, an electronic warfare system (EW), as well as means for firing dipole and heat traps.
Comparison of Iskander-M and Iskander-1000 OTRK missiles. Image MilitaryRussia.Ru
The appearance of a new modification of the Iskander-M OTRK missile suggests that similar work is being carried out in the development of the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation complex.
"Kinzhal-M" and "Kinzhal-MD"
The Kinzhal aviation hypersonic complex, created on the basis of missiles from the Iskander-M OTRK, has two possible development paths.
The first is to reduce the size and weight of the Kinzhal complex missile in order to integrate this complex onto a larger number of tactical aircraft.
The second is to maximize the flight range of the Kinzhal missile complex, with the aim of ensuring the defeat of American medium-range missiles throughout Europe.
Somewhere in 2022, designations such as “Kinzhal-M” and “Kinzhal-MD” appeared in open sources. No details were given there, so we will conditionally designate the modified Kinzhal complex with a decrease in size and weight as Kinzhal-M (modernized), and the Kinzhal complex with an increase in range as Kinzhal-MD (modernized, long-range).
Rocket complex "Dagger" on the carrier MiG-31K
So, the Kinzhal-M aviation hypersonic complex should be used from tactical aircraft; most likely, first of all it will be integrated on aircraft such as the Su-34, and then on the Su-35S, Su-30SM, and possibly as on the Su-57.
Presumably, by analogy with the Iskander-1000 OTRK missile, the mass of the warhead will be reduced to approximately 300 kilograms and means of protection against interception will be installed - electronic warfare equipment, as well as means of shooting dipole and thermal traps.
Exact information about the flight range of the Kinzhal complex missile is classified, but, according to data from open sources, taking into account the flight radius of the MiG-31K carrier, the range of the Kinzhal complex is 2 kilometers, and taking into account the flight radius of the Tu-000M22 carrier - 3 kilometers
Some sources say that the range of the Kinzhal complex is 2 kilometers without taking into account the radius of the carrier, but most likely this is an exaggeration, since in this case the MiG-000 carrier aircraft could be based deep in Russian territory to minimize risks their defeat at air bases by Ukrainian long-range kamikaze UAVs. In addition, this would make it difficult for the enemy to obtain information about MiG-Z31K takeoffs.
Based on the above, it can be assumed that the range of the existing Kinzhal missile is about 1 kilometers, plus/minus a couple of hundred kilometers. At the same time, the range of the Kinzhal-M hypersonic aircraft missile will most likely be about 000–500 kilometers.
As for the Kinzhal-MD complex, it can exist in two versions.
The first option is when the increase in range will occur in a similar way to how it is implemented in the Iskander-1000 OTRK missile, using new, more energy-intensive fuel, while simultaneously increasing its volume by approximately 10–15% and reducing the mass of the warhead to 300 kilograms , without significant changes in the weight and size characteristics of the rocket.
In this case, the flight range of the hypersonic missile of the Kinzhal-D complex can be about 1 kilometers without taking into account the radius of the carrier; this version of the Kinzhal-MD complex will be used from existing MiG-500K carriers.
The second option is to increase the dimensions and weight of the Kinzhal-MD complex missile, taking into account the limitations imposed by such carriers as the Tu-22M3 and, potentially, the Tu-160M; the MiG-31K aircraft is no longer an enlarged version of the Kinzhal-MD complex missile will pull.
The Tu-22M3 long-range bomber is capable of carrying three Kh-22 missiles, which are almost 30% heavier and one and a half times longer than the Kinzhal missiles.
In particular, the existing missile of the Kinzhal complex has a mass of 4,3 tons, a length of 7,2 meters, and a diameter of 1,2 meters, while the X-22 missile used by the Tu-3M22 long-range bomber has a mass of 5,78 tons, length - 11,67 meters, diameter - 0,92 meters and height with folded keel - 1,8 meters. If we consider the Tu-160M strategic bomber as a carrier, the maximum length of the missile will be limited by the length of the cargo compartment, which is 11,2 meters.
Thus, for Tu-22M3 and Tu-160M carriers, the missile of the advanced Kinzhal-MD complex may well increase by almost 4 meters in length and by 1,5 tons in weight. It can be assumed that increasing the length of the rocket itself is unlikely to be advisable; rather, it can be equipped with an additional first solid-fuel accelerating stage - a booster.
Accordingly, the Kinzhal-MD complex will represent the second stage - the Kinzhal-M complex rocket, supplemented by the first stage - a booster, which will ensure maximum unification of the Kinzhal-M and Kinzhal-MD complexes. A two-stage missile of the Kinzhal-MD complex in this configuration can have a flight range of about 2 - 000 kilometers without taking into account the radius of the carrier, which completely covers the territory of continental Europe and Great Britain, when launching missiles of the Kinzhal-MD complex from Russian airspace.
Conclusions
The appearance of the Iskander-1000 OTRK will create a serious threat to F-16 fighters stationed at air bases located deep in the territory of Ukraine. The network of American HBTSS and PWSA satellites will not be able to recognize whether the launch of a conventional Iskander-M OTRK missile or an extended-range Iskander-1000 OTRK missile is being launched, as a result of which the enemy will have to respond to all launches of the Iskander family of missiles. This will lead to increased fatigue of flight and engineering personnel, wear and tear of equipment and additional unmasking of aircraft deployment sites.
The Kinzhal-M aviation complex, along with the Iskander-M OTRK, will become the main weapon of reconnaissance and strike contours designed for the operational destruction of enemy aircraft and helicopters located at air bases, HIMARS launchers, artillery systems, accumulations of armored vehicles and manpower.
In turn, the Kinzhal-MD aviation complex may become the main threat to cruise and medium-range ballistic missiles (MBMs), which the United States plans to deploy in Europe, until the moment when domestic ballistic missiles created on the basis of intercontinental ballistic missiles enter service. missiles (ICBMs).
The estimated maximum range of the Kinzhal-MD missiles will allow them to attack targets throughout Europe and the UK
Finally the Kinzhal-MD complex can be used as an offensive weapon to destroy the strategic nuclear potential of such inferior nuclear powers as Great Britain or France.
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