Huge step forward
Showing posts with label Air defence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Air defence. Show all posts
December 31, 2015
January 7, 2015
Chinese version of the Russian Tor M1 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system unveiled
%2Bsystem%2Bunveiled.jpg)
According to pictures circulating on the internet, the Chinese edition of the Tor M1 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system has been unveiled and leaked to the media.
This air defense missile system, dubbed HQ-17 (Hongqi-17), is a cloned edition of the Russian Tor M1 SAM. When a designer from the Russian Kupol factory seeing the photos of HQ17, he said that this confirmed Russia’s long-term suspicion that China had cloned Tor-M1,
July 22, 2014
HQ-16 SAM in Tibet
HQ-16 SAMs of 651st Independent Air Defense Brigade.This will be a permanent deployment of HQ-16 in Tibet.
May 2014 photos of air defense drilll in Tibet
May 2014 photos of air defense drilll in Tibet
May 12, 2014
Air Defense: India Buys Israeli Tech To Stop Hostile Missiles
Discussion happening on Chinese military websites on the point mentioned below:
http://mil.sina.cn/?sa=t134d415443v76&pos=24&vt=4
If the new system works China and Pakistan could only defeat it by firing more missiles simultaneously than the Indians could handle
India is hiring several Israeli defense firms to work with DRDO (the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization) and several state-owned defense firms to design and build an integrated anti-missile defense system. India already has a tested and proven anti-missile ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) but wants something like the anti-missile system Israel has developed and deployed over the last two decades. This may involve buying the latest models of Israeli Green Pine radar, which is a key element of the Israeli anti-missile defenses.
In late 2013 India conducted a final round of development tests of its ABMs. This involved intercepting multiple incoming ballistic missiles and was declared a success. As a result of this, and several other successful earlier tests, Indian missile development officials declared that their anti-missile missiles were ready for mass production and deployment. This would provide some Indian cities protection from Pakistani or Chinese ballistic missiles. But the Indians realized that just having a reliable interceptor missile was not enough. You needed an integrated communications and radar warning system. The Israelis and the Americans are the only ones with years of experience with such anti-missile systems and India was already a steady customer for Israeli weapons and electronics systems.
The Indian anti-missile missiles come in two sizes. The Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) missile is the larger of the two and is used for high altitude (50-80 kilometers up) interception. The short range Advanced Air Defense (AAD) missile is used for low altitude (up to 30 kilometers) intercepts. The two missiles, in conjunction with a radar system based on the Israeli Green Pine (used with the Arrow anti-missile missile), provide defense from ballistic missiles fired as far as 5,000 kilometers away. A third interceptor, the PDV, is a hypersonic missile that can take down missiles as high as 150 kilometers and is still in development. India is the fifth nation to develop such anti-missile technology.
The Indian system has been in development for over a decade. Back in 2003 India ordered two Israeli Green Pine anti-ballistic missile radars. That equipment was used in 2007 in one of the first successful Indian tests, where one ballistic missile was fired at another "incoming" one. The Israeli Green Pine radar was originally developed for Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missile system. Arrow was built, in cooperation with the United States, to defend Israel from Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles. India has since developed, with Israeli help, the Swordfish radar, which has similar capabilities to the Green Pine and has been operational since 2011. Swordfish is part of a system that integrates data from satellites and other sources in order to detect and track incoming missiles.
The interceptor missiles and the fire control systems were designed and built in India, although more Israeli technology may have been purchased to speed things along. India wanted to buy the entire Israeli Arrow system but the United States refused to allow the sale (which involved a lot of American technology). The new deal with Israel is apparently supposed to get around those restrictions.
The Indian ABM system wasn’t supposed to become operational until 2015. But the developers believed it was ready in 2014 and asked parliament for money to start building systems to defend places like New Delhi (where parliament is). At that point there was a debate over the state of the Indian technology and some Indian officials doubted that the ABM system would be operational, even if just around New Delhi using just Indian technology. Questions were asked about just how effective the Indian ABM system really was. India has a shabby reputation with developing weapons. Projects go on for decades, often passing tests but without ever producing operational weapons. Joint-ventures with other countries (like Russia, France, and Israel) have been more successful. Israel was apparently more heavily involved with the Indian ABM than official pronouncements indicated. So it made sense to go public with heavier Israeli participation to get the Indian ABMs operational. If nothing else that would scare, or at least annoy, the Chinese more.
If the new system works China and Pakistan could only defeat it by firing more missiles simultaneously than the Indians could handle. It's also possible to equip warheads with decoys in an attempt to get the interceptor missile to miss. Israel has technology designed to deal with these decoys and India was attracted to that. But against an overwhelming number of incoming missiles, some are going to get through. Yet if you have a defensive system and the other guy does not, you have a big advantage no matter what.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htada/20140305.aspx
http://mil.sina.cn/?sa=t134d415443v76&pos=24&vt=4
If the new system works China and Pakistan could only defeat it by firing more missiles simultaneously than the Indians could handle
India is hiring several Israeli defense firms to work with DRDO (the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization) and several state-owned defense firms to design and build an integrated anti-missile defense system. India already has a tested and proven anti-missile ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) but wants something like the anti-missile system Israel has developed and deployed over the last two decades. This may involve buying the latest models of Israeli Green Pine radar, which is a key element of the Israeli anti-missile defenses.
In late 2013 India conducted a final round of development tests of its ABMs. This involved intercepting multiple incoming ballistic missiles and was declared a success. As a result of this, and several other successful earlier tests, Indian missile development officials declared that their anti-missile missiles were ready for mass production and deployment. This would provide some Indian cities protection from Pakistani or Chinese ballistic missiles. But the Indians realized that just having a reliable interceptor missile was not enough. You needed an integrated communications and radar warning system. The Israelis and the Americans are the only ones with years of experience with such anti-missile systems and India was already a steady customer for Israeli weapons and electronics systems.
The Indian anti-missile missiles come in two sizes. The Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) missile is the larger of the two and is used for high altitude (50-80 kilometers up) interception. The short range Advanced Air Defense (AAD) missile is used for low altitude (up to 30 kilometers) intercepts. The two missiles, in conjunction with a radar system based on the Israeli Green Pine (used with the Arrow anti-missile missile), provide defense from ballistic missiles fired as far as 5,000 kilometers away. A third interceptor, the PDV, is a hypersonic missile that can take down missiles as high as 150 kilometers and is still in development. India is the fifth nation to develop such anti-missile technology.
The Indian system has been in development for over a decade. Back in 2003 India ordered two Israeli Green Pine anti-ballistic missile radars. That equipment was used in 2007 in one of the first successful Indian tests, where one ballistic missile was fired at another "incoming" one. The Israeli Green Pine radar was originally developed for Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missile system. Arrow was built, in cooperation with the United States, to defend Israel from Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles. India has since developed, with Israeli help, the Swordfish radar, which has similar capabilities to the Green Pine and has been operational since 2011. Swordfish is part of a system that integrates data from satellites and other sources in order to detect and track incoming missiles.
The interceptor missiles and the fire control systems were designed and built in India, although more Israeli technology may have been purchased to speed things along. India wanted to buy the entire Israeli Arrow system but the United States refused to allow the sale (which involved a lot of American technology). The new deal with Israel is apparently supposed to get around those restrictions.
The Indian ABM system wasn’t supposed to become operational until 2015. But the developers believed it was ready in 2014 and asked parliament for money to start building systems to defend places like New Delhi (where parliament is). At that point there was a debate over the state of the Indian technology and some Indian officials doubted that the ABM system would be operational, even if just around New Delhi using just Indian technology. Questions were asked about just how effective the Indian ABM system really was. India has a shabby reputation with developing weapons. Projects go on for decades, often passing tests but without ever producing operational weapons. Joint-ventures with other countries (like Russia, France, and Israel) have been more successful. Israel was apparently more heavily involved with the Indian ABM than official pronouncements indicated. So it made sense to go public with heavier Israeli participation to get the Indian ABMs operational. If nothing else that would scare, or at least annoy, the Chinese more.
If the new system works China and Pakistan could only defeat it by firing more missiles simultaneously than the Indians could handle. It's also possible to equip warheads with decoys in an attempt to get the interceptor missile to miss. Israel has technology designed to deal with these decoys and India was attracted to that. But against an overwhelming number of incoming missiles, some are going to get through. Yet if you have a defensive system and the other guy does not, you have a big advantage no matter what.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htada/20140305.aspx
May 10, 2014
China hasn't met Turkish missile defence tender conditions-officials
A Chinese firm has not yet met all of the conditions of a Turkish tender to build a missile defence system that it provisionally won in a $3.4 billion deal and Turkey may consider alternative offers, officials said on condition of anonymity.A Russian bid for the advanced weapons project has been revised, but its price remained far higher than other offers, the Turkish officials also told Reuters late on Tuesday.
Awarding the tender to Russia may do little to ally concerns voiced by Turkey's NATO allies when Ankara said in September it had chosen China's FD-2000 missile defence system over rival offers from Franco-Italian Eurosam and U.S.-listed Raytheon Co . It said then that China had offered the most competitive terms and would allow co-production in Turkey.
May 6, 2014
Russian aerospace defense troops get five advanced radar stations this year
Photo: RIA Novosti
Five advanced radar stations called "All-Altitude Detector" were brought into service of the radio-technical regiments of the Russian Aerospace Defense Troops which are on combat duty for air Defense of Russia's capital, Moscow, and the central industrial district from the start of this year, Defense Ministry's spokesman for Aerospace Defense Troops Col Aleksey Zolotukhin told Itar-Tass on Sunday.
New radar stations can detect simultaneously more than 100 targets, including airplanes, helicopters, remote-controlled aircrafts and missiles at a distance of up to 400 kilometres at low, middle and high altitudes of up to 100 kilometres, he noted."Radar station called "All-Altitude Detector" is designed to survey detection zones, for autoacquisition, selection of targets to give target indication to air Defense systems and detect state belongingness of targets," the colonel added.
As autonomic target marking systems new radar stations are also integrated in air Defense missile systems S-400 Triumf which air Defense regiments of the Aerospace Defense Troops are armed with, Zolotukhin noted."More than ten new radar systems of different modifications will be delivered to radio-technical units and formations of the Aerospace Defense Troops this year, including radar stations and systems Gamma-S, Nebo-U, Podlet-K and radar station titled 'All-Altitude Detector'," the colonel said.Upgraded radar systems Desna, Kasta will also come into service of radio-technical detachments of the Aerospace Defense Troops this year, Zolotukhin added.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_04/Russian-aerospace-defense-troops-get-five-advanced-radar-stations-this-year-0680/
May 2, 2014
Indian Air Force Akash surface-to-air missile test fired
India on Thursday successfully testfired indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile with a strike range of 25 km and capability to carry warhead of 60 kgs from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur as part of a user-trial.Describing the launch as successful, Defence sources said that the sophisticated missile was testfired at about 10.58 hours from launch complex-3 of the Interim Test Range.“The mission was successful. The trial was conducted by Indian Air Force personnel,” ITR Director M V K V Prasad said.
Akash, which aimed at a para-barrel target during the trial, is a medium range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.The missile has the capability to target aircraft up to 30 km away and is packed with a battery that can track and attack several targets simultaneously, the sources said.
With the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles, Defence experts compared Akash to the American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/akash-surface-to-air-missile-testfired/
April 25, 2014
Akash Missile Fails to Destroy PTA Target
Misfortune struck the Akash missile project once again during a user associate trial from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Wednesday. The missile, test-fired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, reportedly failed to destroy the target.After twin successes in February, this sophisticated surface-to-air nuclear capable missile this time missed the ‘missed-distance’ proximity. It was the missile’s first trial of the three-trial series.
Defence sources said the missile was launched from the launching complex-III of the ITR at Chandipur-on-sea at about 2.43 pm. Prior to firing of the missile, a pilot-less target aircraft (PTA) was flown from the launching complex-II at about 2.30 pm.“The missile was to destroy the PTA at an altitude of nearly 2 km as per the pre-designated coordination. But the mission failed as the weapon could not destroy the target.
Though it attained the desired altitude, it failed to pass through missed-distance proximity,” said an official from the launching complex.The official said generally the missile does not directly hit the target, it passes through the missed-distance proximity, which may be 10 metres, 20 metres or 100 metres as per the coordination, causing auto-detonation of the proximity fuse in the target. “This time the missile passed away from the proximity area,” he informed.
Two more rounds of the tests have been planned to be carried out on Friday. “The defence scientists are working to fix the problem and hopefully the missile will be ready for test. The DRDO is providing all logistic supports for the trials,” the official added.On May 28 and May 30, 2012, the missile had failed to take off from the launch pad at the ITR. Two trials of the missile were planned back-to-back within a gap of one minute to gauge the flight consistency and effectiveness of the weapon system.Akash is a short-range anti-aircraft missile and can destroy targets 25 km away. The 5.8-metre sleek missile weighs around 720 kg and can carry a warhead of 50 kg. The missile is crucial to India’s air defence programme as it will be used to counter ballistic and cruise missiles, enemy aircraft and air-to-surface missiles.
This weapon can handle multiple targets with the help of a digitally coded command and guidance system. It is fuelled by solid propellants.The Akash missile system which is similar to the American Patriot air-to-surface missile system can track 64 targets simultaneously through its inbuilt sophisticated radar and fire 12 missiles at a time.
March 29, 2014
Phillipines Department of National Defense (DND) Weighs Options on P3-b Radar
 |
| American FPS-117 |
 |
| Elta ELM 2288 Radar |
The radar units will cost P3 billion or a little more and it’s all up to the Defense officials to decide whether US or Israeli firms will firm up the contract.The planned acquisition came after President Benigno Aquino III earmarked a P75-billion budget to make Defense and military equipment meet the “minimum credible defense”.
The US is offering its TPS-77 model which is very similar to the FPS-117 the American are using.But the DND and PAF are also considering the Israel-made Elta ELM 2288 Radar system.
March 28, 2014
South Africa Boosts Air Defence With Equipment From Rheinmetall
News release from Rheinmetall AG:
Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has just booked another important order in the field of military air defence. The Republic of South Africa has decided to embark on a thoroughgoing modernization of its existing air defence systems. The contract was signed several days ago. Including logistics and training services, the complete package is scheduled for completion by 2017.
Among other items, the contract encompasses the supply of Oerlikon Skyshield fire control units, which will substantially improve the performance and accuracy of South Africa’s current twin-gun systems as well as significantly expanding the operational spectrum of its air defence capabilities. In this context, a number of guns will also be retrofitted with upgrade kits to accommodate Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art Ahead airburst ammunition.
The new Skyshield technology will enable the South African armed forces to protect sensitive installations such as the House of Parliament, power plants, stadiums and other critical military and civilian assets from a wide array of aerial threats, including asymmetric terrorist-type attacks. Because Skyshield air defence systems can be transported without much effort, they can basically be deployed anywhere depending on the evolving threat situation. Ever since the 1980s, South Africa has fielded air defence technology from the former Oerlikon Contraves, which Rheinmetall took over in 1999.
Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading makers of sophisticated short-range air defence systems. In the field of gun-supported air defence it is the market leader as in fire control technology, anti-aircraft guns, integrated guided missile launchers and Ahead airburst ammunition.
March 18, 2014
MH370 and Malaysian Radars - How could the plane evade radar detection?
Focus on MADGE Command and Control System
Malaysian ministry of defense accepted the Malaysian Air Defense Ground Environment Sector Operations Center III (MADGE) Command and control system in February 2013.So equipment is fairly new.
Here is the statement from Thales Raytheon
Malaysia has a similar Radar System for its air defense.
+Program++RaDAR+system+1.jpg) |
| Thales 200 and 400 radars shown at Paris Airshow 2011. ThalesRaytheon picture A Sentry work station. ThalesRaytheon picture |
+Program++RaDAR+system+2.jpg) |
| Hope he is not playing Solitaire in another window. |
+Program++RaDAR+system+3.jpg)
+Program++RaDAR+system+4.jpeg) |
| The Ground Master 400 radar has been integrated into the Royal Malaysian Air Force's MADGE system. Photo courtesy of Thales. |
+Program++RaDAR+system+5.jpg)
March 13, 2014
South Korea to upgrade its Patriot missile system
South Korea will buy upgraded Patriot surface-to-air missiles next year to improve its defenses against North Korea, officials said Wednesday.South Korea currently has 48 PAC-2 missiles from Germany, and plans to add PAC-3 missiles, which have improved anti-ballistic missile capability, to its arsenal next year, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
The country will also upgrade its fire control system to make it capable of firing both types of missiles.The plan was approved by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin in an effort to open bidding in June and have a contract finalized by December.
"Once the Patriot missile system is upgraded, it will be able to directly hit incoming missiles to reduce damage on the ground," Baek Yoon-hyung, spokesman for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said in a briefing Wednesday.
March 11, 2014
Turkey gets cold feet for HQ-9 missile deal with China
Pic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_S-300_launcher.jpg
HQ-9s are paraded in the second half of the video below
Turkey’s defense procurement bureaucracy and industry are increasingly showing signs of developing cold feet over a potential $3.44 billion deal with a Chinese arms maker -China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp (CPMIEC) - for the construction of the country’s first long-range air and anti-missile system.
Some of the Turkish companies that would be subcontracted for the air defense system program named T-LORAMIDS, are skeptical about potential corporate consequences because CPMIEC is on a U.S. list of companies that are sanctioned under the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act.
Military electronics specialist Aselsan, Turkey’s biggest defense firm, has been designated as the program’s prime local subcontractor has become increasingly cautious about the partnership.Turkey has come under strong pressure from its NATO allies since it announced its decision over the T-LORAMIDS. Ankara said it had chosen CPMIEC’s FD-2000 missile-defense system over rival offers from Franco-Italian Eurosam SAMP/T and Raytheon of the United States. It said the decision was based on better price and better terms of technology transfer.
March 5, 2014
Brazilian Army to purchase SAAB RBS 70 VSHORAD Very Short Range Air Defense System Swedish SAAB RBS 70 VSHORAD
After contract for Brazil's Air force another major contract for SAAB Group from Brazil
Wikipedia
Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract on deliveries of the RBS 70 VSHORAD (very short range air defence system) to the Brazilian Army. The order has a value of approximately MSEK 80 and comprises deliveries of man-portable launchers, missiles and associated equipment. First deliveries of materiel are scheduled during 2014.
The deal comprises an undisclosed number of RBS 70 man-portable launchers, Mk II type missiles, simulators, night vision equipment, a test set, maintenance tools, spares, associated equipment, and training for the weapon's operators and maintainers. The systems are among others intended to protectBrazil’s strategic infrastructure, and would be employed in protection of major incoming events, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Wikipedia
Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract on deliveries of the RBS 70 VSHORAD (very short range air defence system) to the Brazilian Army. The order has a value of approximately MSEK 80 and comprises deliveries of man-portable launchers, missiles and associated equipment. First deliveries of materiel are scheduled during 2014.
The deal comprises an undisclosed number of RBS 70 man-portable launchers, Mk II type missiles, simulators, night vision equipment, a test set, maintenance tools, spares, associated equipment, and training for the weapon's operators and maintainers. The systems are among others intended to protectBrazil’s strategic infrastructure, and would be employed in protection of major incoming events, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
February 17, 2013
The orders for the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system is full until 2020 to 2021
Countries interested to purchase the Russian-made air defense missile system S-400 are ready to wait for delivery until 2021, announced Wednesday, 13 February, 2013, in Moscow, the CEO of the Russian State Agency of arms export, Rosoboronexport, Anatoly Issaïkine.
"The queue of countries
wishing to acquire systems S-400
extends until 2020 to 2021," he sai to the reporters.
Mr. Issaïkine indicated also that Russia was conducting negotiations with ten countries over the delivery of combat training aircraft Yak-130.
"Negotiations are also underway with six countries for the delivery of submarine equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP)," said the head of Rosoboronexport.
According to him, many countries want to buy Russian helicopters, including the Ka-52 Alligator, Mi-35 and Mi-28N nicknamed "night hunters".
The S-400 Triumph (NATO code SA-21 Growler) is a long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by Almaz-Antey. The S-400 Trumph is intended to engage, ECM, radar-picket, director area, reconnaissance, strategic and tactical aircraft, tactical and theatre ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and other current and future air attack assets at a maximum range of 400 km, and a altitude of up to 30 km.
The S-400 air defense missile system can simultaneously engage 36 targets.
Mr. Issaïkine indicated also that Russia was conducting negotiations with ten countries over the delivery of combat training aircraft Yak-130.
"Negotiations are also underway with six countries for the delivery of submarine equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP)," said the head of Rosoboronexport.
According to him, many countries want to buy Russian helicopters, including the Ka-52 Alligator, Mi-35 and Mi-28N nicknamed "night hunters".
The S-400 Triumph (NATO code SA-21 Growler) is a long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by Almaz-Antey. The S-400 Trumph is intended to engage, ECM, radar-picket, director area, reconnaissance, strategic and tactical aircraft, tactical and theatre ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and other current and future air attack assets at a maximum range of 400 km, and a altitude of up to 30 km.
The S-400 air defense missile system can simultaneously engage 36 targets.
January 11, 2013
Russia’s defense steps up in aerospace missiles
After shutting down production of the S-300 missile defense system,
Russia is moving to equip its new S-400 and S-500 systems with
hypersonic missiles. A shortage of more advanced missiles, however,
stands in the way of the Ministry of Defense’s plans.
Russia is planning to open two major plants to produce much-needed advanced hypersonic missiles, but experts suggest that the country will be unable to counter a massive NATO attack for the next 10 years.
By 2014, Russia will launch two major plants to produce the 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 hypersonic missiles for its state-of-the-art anti-missile defense systems – S-400 “Triumph” and S-500 “Prometheus.”
The Ministry of Defense has officially announced that, “with these missiles, surface-to-air missile systems will be able to bring down any target flying at a speed of up to 7 kilometers per second, including nuclear warheads of ballistic missiles.”
The S-500 system has yet to be completed, while its S-400 predecessor can currently launch the older 48N6 and 9M96 missiles.
The 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 models will be the first Russian missiles with inert warheads, which can destroy nuclear warheads by force of impact (i.e., by hitting them with precision at great speed). No explosives are needed: engineers’ estimates show that a collision at a speed of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) per second would be sure to destroy just about any flying object.
The new plants are vital for the development of an anti-missile shield above Russia, since new surface-to-air systems are already entering service unequipped with new missiles.
For now, the “Triumph” (S-400) defense system is complete with missiles that have been left over from the old S-300 systems. Their range is around 124 miles, whereas the S-400s are designed to intercept targets at a distance of about 250 miles.
The absence of more advanced missiles stands in the way of fully equipping Russia’s Air Forces and Aerospace Defense Forces with the S-400 systems. Only seven divisions have been supplied with such systems since 2007, with another 49 waiting to receive them, according to official data.
The missile shortage became even worse after production of the old S-300 systems was halted completely.
“The last S-300 was produced for the Russian army in 1994 or so,” says Igor Ashurbeili, co-chairman of an expert council on aerospace defense and former chief designer at the Russian defense company Almaz-Antey. “Since then, Russia has only produced these systems for sale. But now even export orders for the S-300s have been suspended.”
Indeed, Moscow turned down a contract with Iran back in 2010, losing $800 million. Production was completely shut down after rolling out the last S-300 division intended for export, which is to be supplied to Algeria soon. One of the problems faced by the Russian defense industry is that it stopped accepting orders for the S-300s, but has not started to take orders for the S-400s, says Ashurbeili.
The design of S-400 missiles has not been completed either. The system should be fully compatible with short-, medium- and long-range missiles. Presently, however, only short-range missiles intended for hitting targets within 95 miles have been designed without problems. Medium-range missiles (up to 155 miles) are still “raw,” and their design needs to be finalized.
The long-range missiles are non-existent, even though such a missile would be a serious hindrance to potential enemy vehicles, including Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). Without these missiles, the S-400 cannot fulfill its purpose – engaging targets at a long range.
As for the future S-500 system, it will be an S-400 with long-range missiles, according to Alexanderf Khramchikhin, deputy director of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis.
“The S-500s will at best be created in 2020 – no earlier. At present, and for the next 10 years, the chances of countering a massive NATO attack are very low: it takes a long time to recharge the S-300s, so, in the best case, they will only repel the first wave of an assault, which would be 100 to 200 targets,” says Khramchikhin.
Military expert Vladislav Shurygin agrees with Khramchikhin. “For now, the S-500 is an ephemeral dream, and no one knows if it will ever come true,” he said.
Even though the S-300s need to be replaced, there is simply no replacement for them. This is why Almaz-Antey is faced with some very important tasks. “Handling them will determine the future not only of the anti-missile defense system, but also of the country as a whole,” says Shurygin. The company is still capable of manufacturing high-quality products, but it needs to modernize its technologies and refurbish its production facilities quickly.
In other words, the production of modern aerospace defense weaponry is a comprehensive task which requires major technological innovations and modernization of existing production facilities.
Russia is planning to open two major plants to produce much-needed advanced hypersonic missiles, but experts suggest that the country will be unable to counter a massive NATO attack for the next 10 years.
By 2014, Russia will launch two major plants to produce the 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 hypersonic missiles for its state-of-the-art anti-missile defense systems – S-400 “Triumph” and S-500 “Prometheus.”
The Ministry of Defense has officially announced that, “with these missiles, surface-to-air missile systems will be able to bring down any target flying at a speed of up to 7 kilometers per second, including nuclear warheads of ballistic missiles.”
The S-500 system has yet to be completed, while its S-400 predecessor can currently launch the older 48N6 and 9M96 missiles.
The 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 models will be the first Russian missiles with inert warheads, which can destroy nuclear warheads by force of impact (i.e., by hitting them with precision at great speed). No explosives are needed: engineers’ estimates show that a collision at a speed of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) per second would be sure to destroy just about any flying object.
The new plants are vital for the development of an anti-missile shield above Russia, since new surface-to-air systems are already entering service unequipped with new missiles.
For now, the “Triumph” (S-400) defense system is complete with missiles that have been left over from the old S-300 systems. Their range is around 124 miles, whereas the S-400s are designed to intercept targets at a distance of about 250 miles.
The absence of more advanced missiles stands in the way of fully equipping Russia’s Air Forces and Aerospace Defense Forces with the S-400 systems. Only seven divisions have been supplied with such systems since 2007, with another 49 waiting to receive them, according to official data.
The missile shortage became even worse after production of the old S-300 systems was halted completely.
“The last S-300 was produced for the Russian army in 1994 or so,” says Igor Ashurbeili, co-chairman of an expert council on aerospace defense and former chief designer at the Russian defense company Almaz-Antey. “Since then, Russia has only produced these systems for sale. But now even export orders for the S-300s have been suspended.”
Indeed, Moscow turned down a contract with Iran back in 2010, losing $800 million. Production was completely shut down after rolling out the last S-300 division intended for export, which is to be supplied to Algeria soon. One of the problems faced by the Russian defense industry is that it stopped accepting orders for the S-300s, but has not started to take orders for the S-400s, says Ashurbeili.
The design of S-400 missiles has not been completed either. The system should be fully compatible with short-, medium- and long-range missiles. Presently, however, only short-range missiles intended for hitting targets within 95 miles have been designed without problems. Medium-range missiles (up to 155 miles) are still “raw,” and their design needs to be finalized.
The long-range missiles are non-existent, even though such a missile would be a serious hindrance to potential enemy vehicles, including Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). Without these missiles, the S-400 cannot fulfill its purpose – engaging targets at a long range.
As for the future S-500 system, it will be an S-400 with long-range missiles, according to Alexanderf Khramchikhin, deputy director of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis.
“The S-500s will at best be created in 2020 – no earlier. At present, and for the next 10 years, the chances of countering a massive NATO attack are very low: it takes a long time to recharge the S-300s, so, in the best case, they will only repel the first wave of an assault, which would be 100 to 200 targets,” says Khramchikhin.
Military expert Vladislav Shurygin agrees with Khramchikhin. “For now, the S-500 is an ephemeral dream, and no one knows if it will ever come true,” he said.
Even though the S-300s need to be replaced, there is simply no replacement for them. This is why Almaz-Antey is faced with some very important tasks. “Handling them will determine the future not only of the anti-missile defense system, but also of the country as a whole,” says Shurygin. The company is still capable of manufacturing high-quality products, but it needs to modernize its technologies and refurbish its production facilities quickly.
In other words, the production of modern aerospace defense weaponry is a comprehensive task which requires major technological innovations and modernization of existing production facilities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
