The development of military space technology in the fifties occurred mainly in the direction of creating intercontinental means capable of causing damage of a strategic nature. At the same time, humanity has already accumulated experience gained in the development of a special type of ammunition that combined the properties of aircraft and missiles. They were driven by a jet liquid or solid fuel engine, but at the same time they used the lifting force of the plane, which was an element of the overall structure. These were cruise missiles. For Russia (then the USSR), they were not as important as intercontinental ones, but work on them was already underway. Decades later, it was crowned with success. Several examples of this type of weapon are already in the arsenal or will soon take their place in the ranks of means that deter a potential aggressor. They cause fear and completely discourage the desire to attack our country.
"Tomahawks" with a neutron bomb - a nightmare of the eighties
At the very end of the eighties, Soviet propaganda paid great attention to two new types of American weapons. The neutron bomb, which the Pentagon threatened “all progressive humanity,” could only compete with Tomahawks in its deadly properties. These shark-shaped projectiles with thin short planes were able to sneak up on targets on Soviet territory unnoticed, hiding from detection systems in ravines, river beds and other natural depressions in the earth's crust. It is very unpleasant to feel your own insecurity, and the citizens of the USSR were indignant that the insidious imperialists were again dragging the country of developed socialism into a new round of the arms race, and these cruise missiles were to blame. Russia needed to respond to the threat with something. And only a few particularly informed people knew that, in fact, something similar was already being developed in the Soviet Union, and things were not going so bad.
American ax
The prototype of all modern cruise missiles can be called the German V-1 (V-1) projectile aircraft. Outwardly, it resembles the American Tomahawk, created four decades later: the same straight planes and narrow fuselage, a silhouette simple to the point of primitiveness. But there is a difference, and a very big one. The ammunition, which received the English name Cruise Missile, is not just a missile equipped with a wing, it is something more. Behind the outward simplicity lies a very complex technical scheme, the main element of which is an ultra-fast computer that instantly makes decisions about changing course and altitude in order to avoid collisions with obstacles. This is necessary for flying at an extremely low altitude with a speed sufficient to meet another condition of surprise - the speed of delivery of the charge to the target. It was also important that the “eyes” of this “shark” work well. The radar installed in the nose of the projectile saw all obstacles and transmitted information about them to the electronic brain, which analyzed the terrain and issued control signals to the rudders (slats, flaps, ailerons, etc.). The Americans did not succeed in producing a full-fledged supersonic cruise missile at that time: the Tomahawk reaches its maximum operating conditions only in the final part of its trajectory, but this does not prevent it from posing a real threat today, especially in relation to countries that do not have sophisticated air defense and missile defense systems.
Design features of the Tomahawk Block I cruise missile
It should be noted that the Americans took a practical approach to creating new weapons. Nuclear parity, achieved with the Soviet Union in the mid-70s of the 20th century, required the creation of new means of delivering nuclear weapons, so initially a new cruise missile, the new battle ax, was developed in several modifications. The main, strategic version of the Tomahawk missile system had three modifications (A, C, D) and was designed to strike ground targets deep in the territory of a potential enemy. The second, tactical version of the missile included modifications B and E. These cruise missiles were supposed to destroy any surface targets.
Despite the differences in intended use, all modifications had the same design and device. The tactical and technical characteristics of the missiles were identical. The differences concerned only the combat equipment of the missiles - either a nuclear warhead or a warhead with a conventional high-explosive fragmentation charge.
Tomahawk I
The design of the cruise missile had all the characteristic features characteristic of this type of weapon. The body was a cylindrical monoplane, equipped with a fairing in the nose. The stability of the projectile in flight was ensured by protruding wings located in the central part of the body. The rocket had a cross-shaped stabilizer at the tail section. The main structural material was aircraft-grade aluminum and durable plastic. The use of protective materials in the body design ensured a significant reduction in the radar signature of the missile. The main engine for the new rocket was initially equipped with Williams F107-WR-400 turbojet engines with a thrust of 2.7 kN. Later, more powerful engines were installed on other modifications. For modifications of air-launched missiles, Teledyne CAE J402-CA-401 turbojet engines capable of producing a thrust of 3.0 kN were used.
A powerful propulsion engine provided the rocket-projectile with a flight speed of over 800 km/h. The flight range varied in the range of 800-2500 km, depending on the modification of the missile and the basing option. Typically, nuclear-tipped cruise missiles had a longer range. Tactical modifications were capable of flying shorter distances. The summarized tactical and technical characteristics for Tomahawk cruise missiles are as follows:
- flight range for ground (surface) launch missiles 1250 – 2500 km;
- flight range of submarine-based missiles (underwater launch) up to 1000 km;
- cruising flight speed 885 km/h;
- maximum flight speed during the final phase of flight at certain angles of attack – 1200 km/h;
- the rocket body had a length of 6.25 m;
- wingspan 2.62 m;
- the weight of the loaded missile varied in the range of 1450-1500 kg, depending on the type of warhead;
- the missile could be equipped with a nuclear warhead, a high-explosive fragmentation charge, or a cluster warhead.
The power of the nuclear charge that the BGM-109A cruise missile could carry was 200 kt. The non-nuclear cruise missiles BGM-109C and BGM-109D were equipped with a semi-armor-piercing warhead weighing 120 kg or a combined action cluster warhead.
TTX
During the development process and subsequent serial production, the missiles were equipped with three types of guidance systems:
- inertial;
- correlation;
- correlation electron-optical.
The latest modification of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles, which is due to enter service with the US Army today, is already equipped with a completely new electro-optical guidance system DSMAC correlation action. During the marching flight, the missile's course can be adjusted taking into account the meteorological situation in the target area and the combat situation. In current conditions, weapons are a fully automated combat system, capable of making decisions independently depending on the characteristics of combat use.
Soviet X-90
It is not known for certain what prompted the Soviet leadership to give instructions to begin development of the missile defense system. Perhaps intelligence reported the beginning of American research in this area, but it is possible that the idea itself, which arose in the depths of classified research institutes, interested someone from the Ministry of Defense. One way or another, work began in 1976, and the deadline for its completion was set short - six years. From the very beginning, our designers took a different path than their US counterparts. Subsonic speeds did not appeal to them. The missile had to overcome all lines of defense of a potential enemy at ultra-low altitudes. And at supersonic speed. By the end of the decade, the first prototypes were presented, which showed excellent results in field tests (up to 3 M). The secret object was continuously improved, and in the next decade it could fly faster than four speeds of sound. Only in 1997 the world community was able to see this miracle of technology at the MAKS exhibition in the pavilion of the Raduga scientific and production association. Modern Russian cruise missiles are direct descendants of the Soviet X-90. Even the name has been preserved, although the mentioned weapon has undergone many changes. The element base has become different.
The launch of this missile was supposed to be carried out from the Tu-160, a huge strategic bomber capable of carrying 12-meter ammunition with folding planes in its bomb bay. The carrier remains the same.
"Koala"
The modern Russian cruise missile X-90 Koala has become lighter and shorter than its ancestor: its length is less than 9 meters. Little is known about it, mainly that its very existence (without disclosing details) causes concern and irritation to our American partners. The cause of concern was the increased flight radius of the projectile (3,500 km), which formally violates the terms of the INF Treaty (medium- and short-range missiles). But this is not what scares the United States, but the fact that these strategic cruise missiles (as they are called, although they cannot overcome the ocean) are capable of “hacking” all the boundaries of the missile defense system, which the United States is unobtrusively but persistently moving towards Russian borders.
This sample has already received its “NATO” designation: Koala AS-X-21. We call it differently, namely a hypersonic experimental aircraft (GELA).
The general principle of its operation is that, having left the bomb bays of the Tu-160 at an altitude of 7 to 20 kilometers, it straightens the delta wing and tail, then the accelerator is launched, accelerating the projectile to supersonic, and only after that the main engine starts. The descent speed reaches 5 Mach, and at it the GELA rushes towards the target, which can already be considered doomed. It is almost impossible to intercept this missile.
"Uranus", naval and aviation
Anti-ship missiles are also most often cruise missiles. Their trajectory, as a rule, is similar to the combat courses of their ground-based counterparts. The development of this type of weapon in the USSR was carried out by the Zvezda design bureau. In 1984, chief designer G.I. Khokhlov was entrusted with the creation of a set of means to combat surface sea targets with a displacement of up to five thousand tons (that is, relatively small) in conditions of active electronic countermeasures and difficult meteorological conditions. The result of the team’s efforts was the X-35 “Uran”; its characteristics roughly correspond to those of the American Harpoon missile launcher and can be used in salvo mode. The destruction range is 120 km. The complex, equipped with a detection, identification and guidance system, is installed not only on combat units of the Navy, but also on aircraft carriers (Ka-27, Ka-28 helicopters, MiG-29, Su-24, Su-30, Su-35, Tu-142, Yak-141 and others), which significantly expands the capabilities of this weapon. The launch is carried out at ultra-low altitudes (from 200 m), anti-ship missiles of this type rush at a speed of more than 1000 km/h almost above the waves (from 5 to 10 m, and at the final segment of the trajectory it drops to three meters). Considering the small size of the projectile (4 m 40 cm in length), it can be assumed that intercepting it is very problematic.
“Zircon”, “Uran”, “Sarmat”: the best weapons in the world are being transferred to the Russian military
Speaking at an extended meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense , the head of the defense department, Sergei Shoigu , announced that the military would receive launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic missile carriers, new air defense systems and a nuclear submarine cruiser.
In turn, as Lenta.ru reports, 257 aircraft will be transferred to the Aerospace Forces. Some of the equipment and weapons will be supplied to the troops for the first time in 2022. And some promising developments will reach the finish line in terms of their adoption.
Hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile "Zircon"
On December 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful salvo launch of Zircon missiles. Such a significant event was a milestone in the long-term development and testing of a hypersonic missile. Shortly before this, Sergei Shoigu spoke about serial deliveries of the rocket in 2022.
The missile was launched from the submarine Severodvinsk and the frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov.
Strategic missile system RS-28 "Sarmat"
According to the Minister of Defense, in 2022 the arsenal of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) will be replenished with 21 launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Speaking about new products, Shoigu mentioned the Sarmat complex, which is being tested.
Earlier, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev , said that the first regiment armed with the Sarmat ICBM would go on combat duty in 2022. The Uzhur missile formation will receive new weapons.
It is believed that the RS-28 can deliver a warhead weighing up to ten tons to anywhere in the world. The promising silo-based strategic missile system will replace the R-36M2 Voevoda missiles.
Anti-aircraft missile system "Gibka-S"
This year, air defense units will receive platoon sets of Gibka-S anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) for the first time.
The head of the military air defense of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Alexander Leonov , noted that the new air defense system received reconnaissance equipment and an automatic control system, which allows the military to maintain round-the-clock duty and control fire in real time.
“Gibka-S” became the first Russian self-propelled short- and ultra-short-range complex of the VSHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defense) type. The air defense system can hit airplanes, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles that fly at a minimum altitude. The complex uses ammunition from man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) “Igla”, “Igla-S” and “Verba”.
Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopter
At the August international military-technical forum Army 2021, the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Helicopters holding company signed a contract for the supply of modernized Ka-52M helicopters. As part of the agreement, the military will receive 30 reconnaissance and attack vehicles. A source in the aircraft industry later said that helicopter deliveries would begin this year.
The Ka-52M now has a modernized optical-electronic system and a new radar system with an active phased array antenna (AFAR). Also, the modernized helicopter will be able to carry new weapons, including Ataka, Vikhr and Vikhr-M missiles.
Loitering ammunition KUB-BLA
On December 17, the press service of the ZALA Aero company (part of the group) announced the successful completion of state tests of the KUB-BLA drone. The device was recommended for adoption, and deliveries could begin in the coming year.
KUB-BLA received an electric motor, providing a maximum speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour. The ammunition can stay in the air for up to thirty minutes, the mass of the warhead is three kilograms.
Robotic complex "Uran-9"
Last October, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov , announced that trial military operation of Uran-9 combat robots was planned for 2022. After this stage, the military will determine the number of robotic systems to be purchased.
Uran-9 has already been successfully used at the joint strategic exercises between Russia and Belarus “Zapad-2021”. Robots hit armored vehicles of a mock enemy at a distance of up to five thousand meters.
Fifth generation fighter Su-57
In 2022, the first multifunctional fifth-generation Su-57 fighters will be received by the troops of the Eastern Military District (VMD), said the commander of the VVO troops, Colonel General Alexander Chaiko.
Su-57. Illustration: Anna Zvereva/Flickr
The fighter is designed to destroy all types of ground, air and surface targets. The aircraft received a radio-absorbing coating and weapon compartments inside the fuselage, which makes it stealth. The first production aircraft was handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces in December 2022.
Strategic bomber-missile carrier Tu-160M
On January 12, the completely new Tu-160M strategic bomber-missile carrier took off from the airfield of the Kazan Aviation Plant for the first time. This event is of great importance for the development of domestic combat aviation. It shows that the production of the most complex aviation complex has been fully restored and is ready to fulfill orders from the Ministry of Defense.
Heavy multi-purpose helicopter Mi-26T2V
Serial production of the Mi-26T2V will begin in 2022. An upgraded version of the world's largest transport helicopter will make its first flight in 2022. The Ministry of Defense plans to buy rotorcraft with a payload capacity of twenty tons.
"Weave X"
After air defense systems, both Soviet and American, reached high capabilities in their development, almost all countries abandoned the use of free-falling ammunition. The presence of high-quality, reliable and powerful strategic bombers prompted the military leadership to look for a use for them, and it was found. In the USA, the B-52, and in the USSR, the Tu-95 began to be used as flying launchers. In the nineties, the main ammunition of Russian carriers of tactical and strategic charges, delivered to the target by aircraft without crossing air defense lines, was the X-101. In parallel with them, almost completely identical samples were developed, capable of carrying nuclear charges. Both missile launchers are currently classified, and only a limited circle of people should know their tactical and technical characteristics. It is only known that a certain new model has been adopted for service; it is distinguished by an increased combat radius (more than five thousand kilometers) and stunning accuracy (up to 10 meters). The Kh-101 warhead has a high-explosive fragmentation filling, and for it this parameter is the most important. The carrier of the special charge may not be so accurate: in an explosion with a power of tens of kilotons, a few meters to the right or left do not play a big role. For the X-102 (nuclear carrier), range is more important.
Change of milestones
Generals from the US Air Force were not too happy with the accuracy and reliability of the AGM-86 missile, and therefore, back in 1983, they ordered the development of a next-generation air-launched missile under the ACM program. And in 1993, the AGM-129 (and McDonnell Douglas) with a launch range of up to 3,000 km began to enter service. In addition to the inertial system with laser gyroscopes, it is distinguished by the comprehensive use of stealth technology - this is manifested in the contours, and in the widespread use of composite materials and radar-absorbing coating, and in the reduction of thermal signature. However, the new missile system did not replace the AGM-86 type missiles. In the new conditions, more attention was paid to the modernization of already proven models.
Some of these activities have been mentioned above in the article. One of the most serious problems is the preparation time for launch. In 1991, flight missions were introduced into the Kyrgyz Republic at central bases; for the Tomahawk they were specified using ship-based missile control systems. The preparation time reached 80 hours, and in 2003, thanks to a new system for entering tasks, they began to manage them within a day. In addition, it was proposed to equip the missile with a satellite communication channel for automated data exchange in real time with reconnaissance and control devices. This will make it possible to retarget missiles in flight if the target coordinates change, strike moving targets, and “build” the most optimal formation of missiles fired in one salvo. The emergence of a data exchange channel includes the rocket in a single control network along with other aerospace assets, but also requires appropriate protection of the channel. Otherwise, it may turn out to be too sensitive to information warfare means - remember the joke about Russian hackers who reprogrammed Tomahawks into boomerangs? However, the exchange channel may not be used.
The satellite correlation system also looks vulnerable. In the event of a major war, NAVSTAR will be one of the first targets of physical and information attacks. In the “era of information”, the confrontation between means of attack and defense moves to a new level. But the United States and its allies, apparently, expect to fight an enemy that is already hopelessly behind technologically.
As part of the JASSM program in the United States, the AGM-158 air-to-surface missile launcher (Lockheed-Martin) has been created with a launch range of up to 350 km with a circular probable deviation of no more than 3 m. It can already be launched by both strategic and tactical aircraft and carrier aircraft. The combined missile guidance system includes an inertial system with trajectory correction according to data from the NAVSTAR system and a thermal imaging homing head, as well as, which is significant, software and hardware for autonomous target recognition in conditions where the enemy uses camouflage means. A data transmitter about the missile’s own position in flight is mounted on the missile launcher. The warhead is unitary concrete-piercing or cassette. The latter can carry submunitions to destroy armored vehicles, vehicles, anti-aircraft systems, and parked aircraft. The JASSM-ER program is close to completion - the missile launcher of the same Lockheed-Martin with an increased launch range to 1,000-1,150 km and widespread use of stealth technology. Launch is possible from stealth strike aircraft. The combination of “stealth carrier and long-range stealth munition” is expected to provide a qualitative increase in combat capabilities.
Operational-tactical cruise missile of the JASSM-ER project, USA, 2006. Air-to-ground class
Not wanting to depend on the United States, Europeans continue to create cruise missiles. True, they do not encroach on “strategic” ranges - especially since, according to experience, even strategic missile launchers were often launched from a range of 200 to 600 km. Let's say the Franco-British developed the tactical missile system "Storm Shadow" ("Shadow of the Storm"). With a launch range of 250 km, it uses a flight mode at extremely low altitudes with terrain following, correction based on GPS signals, and optical-electronic homing at the final segment. A program for comparing a three-dimensional thermal image of a target with one stored in memory allows the missile to be aimed at an object even in smoke conditions, and also to retarget if the target object has already been destroyed. To use a missile, preliminary satellite reconnaissance of targets and terrain is also required, and here the Europeans use their own spacecraft. During the aggression in Iraq in 2003, Storm Shadows were already launched from British Tornado fighters.
They don’t want to lag behind in the “third world.” Thus, Pakistan in 2005 announced the testing of the Hatf VII (Babur) missile launcher with a launch range of up to 500 km, capable of carrying a nuclear or conventional warhead. It is not surprising that this statement is linked to the entry into Indian service of the universally based supersonic Brahmos missile launcher with a launch range of about 300 km. It was developed by an Indian-Russian enterprise on the basis of the Yakhont rocket, created at NPO Mashinostroenie under the leadership of Herbert Aleksandrovich Efremov. It realizes the long-standing desire of the military and designers - a single cruise missile with the possibility of over-the-horizon launch, implementation of the “fire and forget” principle, sea, ground (with vertical launch) and air launch. And information about the appearance of long-range missiles in Iran caused a big stir and accusations were brought against Ukraine for selling former Soviet X-55s abroad.
The Kh-55 strategic missile itself was subjected to deep modernization in Russia, using it as a basis for the non-nuclear Kh-555 with increased guidance accuracy and lower radar signature. The inertial-Doppler guidance system received a multi-channel receiver of the GLONASS satellite navigation system and an optical-electronic homing head. The missile, of course, does not hit the window, but still the probable circular deviation has decreased to 20 m, so the missile can deliver the warhead to a small target. The warhead itself can be penetrating or cassette. Although here, too, the conventional warhead reduced the launch range to 2,000 km. The X-555 could put an end to the American “monopoly” on the use of long-range non-nuclear missiles. It is not for nothing that President V.V. personally observed the launch of four such missiles in August 2005. Putin from a Tu-160 bomber. For the X-101 modification of the same missile, the declared launch range increased to 5,000 km.
An interesting addition to sea-based strategic missile systems is the Russian 3M-14 “tactical” range (300 km), developed by NPO Novator as part of a complex of guided missile naval weapons. The missile system is capable of hitting ground targets from the sea located at a distance from the coast; it flies over the sea at an altitude of 20 m, over land - 50-150 m, bending around the terrain and correcting the trajectory based on signals from the GLONASS system.
A search is also underway to improve combat units. Autonomously guided submunitions make it possible to give the characteristics of an attack cruise missile to an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft - after recognizing and selecting targets, it can drop its warheads and return. In terms of electronic warfare, warheads that generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse are of interest - they will not replace other destructive weapons, but will significantly help their use.
"Winged" strategy
All items, including types of weapons, can only be considered in terms of comparison. There are different defense doctrines, and while some countries strive for absolute global dominance, others simply want to protect themselves from possible aggressive encroachments. If we compare the cruise missiles of Russia and the United States, we can come to the conclusion that the technical parameters of American weapons do not exceed the capabilities of their rivals. Both sides are relying on increasing the combat radius, which gradually removes the missile from the category of tactical weapons, giving them more and more “strategicity.” This is not the first time that the idea of being able to resolve geopolitical contradictions by delivering an unexpected and all-crushing blow has crossed the minds of Pentagon generals - just remember the plans to bomb Soviet large industrial and defense centers, developed back in the late forties and early fifties, immediately after the advent of The US has a sufficient number of nuclear warheads.
US reliance on cruise missiles does not guarantee success in war
The US Army in all large-scale military conflicts of our time has used the massive use of sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) and air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs). Since 1991, the Tomahawk CRBM has undergone many modifications based on the results of combat use, and has occupied an important niche in the planning and conduct of combat operations. Cruise missiles operate at the forefront of attacking forces, can hit enemy territory to a depth of up to 2,500 kilometers, are a type of precision weapons and difficult targets for most air defense systems.
Naturally, such advantages served as the best recommendation for SLCMs to be included in the US New Nuclear Doctrine (NND), under which the Pentagon plans to “use low-yield nuclear warheads, and in the longer term move to the use of sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCM).” .
The winged “instrument of democracy”
In 1991, the elimination of the main opponent - the USSR - allowed the United States to begin remaking the world order to its own model. For those countries that agreed to such rules, the change took place peacefully, through reforms, as a result of which they found themselves in vassal dependence on the United States. To those states that chose an independent path of development, “democracy” flew literally on the wings of military aircraft of the United States and NATO countries.
Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Haiti, Yemen and Somalia were affected. In terms of the number and composition of their armed forces, these countries were significantly inferior to the armed contingents deployed to their borders. It is worth noting that not all of these countries surrendered without a fight - Yugoslavia and Iraq, despite the superiority of the aggressor, were able to destroy both the enemy’s ground and air forces.
© af.mil F-16 over Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).
There have been four major combat operations against Iraq: the Gulf War (1991), Desert Strike (1996), Desert Fox (1998) and Iraqi Freedom (2003). In the war against Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Force in 1999), the American coalition operated primarily with air and naval forces without a ground campaign.
In all these local conflicts, the main striking forces were combat aircraft and cruise missiles (CR), the latter being used en masse. Moreover, the number of missiles used only increased from year to year.
Thus, in 1991, 297 Tomahawk-class SLCMs were used to destroy important targets in Iraq’s military infrastructure (air defense systems, command posts, military airfields), of which over 100 were used in the first day of the war. In 1996, more than 420 cruise missiles were used, including 90 ALCMs. In Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia, 870 cruise missiles (792 SLCMs and 78 ALCMs) were already used, of which 375 SLCMs were used against targets in Kosovo alone.
© navy.mil
Launching a Tomahawk from a submarine
The massive use of missile launchers allowed the Americans to obtain real statistics on their effectiveness, with the aim of subsequently modernizing these weapons. So, if the effectiveness of the use of missile launchers during the Gulf War was quite high (out of 297 SLCMs, 282 were hit by targets), then in Yugoslavia only 65% of launched missile launchers hit targets. This decrease in results was caused by the effectiveness of the Yugoslav Air Force and Air Defense, as well as measures to create false positions of air defense systems and aviation.
After the war in Yugoslavia, in order to identify the real positions of the Iraqi air defense, the command of the coalition forces, when planning Operation Iraqi Freedom, attracted forces subordinate to the DIA (DoD Intelligence Agency). According to the results of reconnaissance and additional reconnaissance during combat operations, the effectiveness of the use of cruise missiles approached the 100% mark: out of 800 SLCMs, 790 were hit by targets!
The effectiveness of the CD was also affected by the modernization carried out (Block III) in 1994, according to which the Tomahawk received new warheads, a new optical-electronic recognition system DSMAC IIA and corrective navigation systems TERCOM and GPS. These innovations made it possible to increase the missile's flight range to 1,600 km and reduce the deviation from the target point to 5 meters.
© wikimedia.com
None
Currently, since 2004, a new modification of the Tomahawk missile launcher, the Tactical Tomahawk, has been in service with the US Army. The CD received additional capabilities: retargeting in flight to any of the pre-programmed targets, increasing the flight range - up to 2500 km. The Tactical Tomahawk is now the main modification that Raytheon supplies to the US Navy (440 missiles per year). The total number of Tomahawk-type missile launchers in the US armed forces ranges from 5,500 to 7,500. This difference in numbers is due to the fact that several missile launcher programs are simultaneously operating in the United States: to extend the service life of the Tomahawk (Block III) and to purchase new Tactical Tomahawks.
The accumulated practical experience in combat tactics, the effectiveness of hitting targets, and the ability to carry various types of warheads have made the Tomahawk missile launcher a key element of the “Global Instant Strike” doctrine. The Pentagon leadership believes that massive strikes by the Kyrgyz Republic can undermine the enemy’s military and economic potential and disorganize the administration of the state and its armed forces. In order to increase the effectiveness of the first strike, US military analysts insisted that the New Nuclear Doctrine rely on low-yield nuclear charges.
The first modifications of the Tomahawk missile launcher already had W80 nuclear warheads in their arsenal (removed from service under the START-1 treaty), i.e. equipping existing and those under construction Tomahawks with a nuclear charge is just a matter of technology and time. The United States does not even hide who will receive such missiles first. Submarines are hidden behind the abbreviation SLCM mentioned in the NYD. The new Virginia-class nuclear submarine can carry 20 Tomahawk SLCMs, the Ohio-class nuclear submarine can carry up to 154 SLCMs, and the Columbia class that is replacing it can be converted to carry 96 SLCMs with nuclear warheads.
© wikimedia.com
Armament diagram of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
In the program to increase the US Navy to 355 ships and submarines, a special item of expenditure includes the purchase and modernization of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, which, in addition to 45 Tomahawk SLCMs, also carry Aegis anti-missile systems. The squadron of such destroyers should be increased to 70 pennants by 2022, and this, offhand, is 3150 Tomahawk SLCMs. It is important to understand that some of them (if not all) may turn out to be tactical nuclear cruise missiles (TNCMs) of medium range.
New application tactics
In order to finally clarify the US strategic bet on low-yield nuclear charges, which they are trying to justify from an environmental point of view, it is necessary to understand the likely tactics of using TNCR in future conflicts.
The most likely thing now, according to American analysts, is a conflict between the DPRK and the United States. Before the publication of the NYD, US President Donald Trump, threatening the DPRK with the use of nuclear weapons, most likely had in mind the MiniTrident-2 ICBM. But the team of Pentagon head James Mattis stopped Trump in time at the stage of arguing “whose nuclear button is bigger.” Apparently, Trump was told that there is also a “Plan B”, which will increase not only the military budget to record levels, but also show the “insolent” Russians and Chinese that their hopes for world dominance will not go unanswered.
According to Mattis and his circle, dropping powerful ICBM nuclear warheads on North Korea is costly and ineffective. Most of North Korea's strategically important sites are located deep within rock formations. Breaking through a rock shield could cost half of the US nuclear arsenal and still not achieve any results. The DPRK missile forces, having removed the mobile launchers of the Hwangsong-15 ICBMs from their shelters, will be able to strike back at the United States. The DPRK army has been preparing to fight in the face of the use of nuclear weapons since 1953.
© wikimedia.com
Mobile complex "Hwangsong-15"
It’s another matter when a high-precision missile system with a nuclear warhead finds the entrance to such a shelter and fills it with an explosion of 5-10 kilotons. At the same time, contamination of the territory will be minimal, which means that Russia and China will be able to be persuaded not to interfere in the establishment of “democratic order.”
In order to disarm the DPRK, the United States needs 800 - 1000 SLCMs. Cruise missiles will perform various missions. SLCMs and ALCMs will destroy communication and control centers, positions of air defense systems, airfields and bases of the North Korean Navy, and TNCRs will work against protected strategic targets. In parallel with the launch of the missile system, US carrier-based aircraft will attack air defense systems with air-to-radar missiles, and B-52 strategic bombers will launch up to 200 ALCMs. At the same time, the control and communication nodes will be affected by air-based electronic warfare systems.
© af.mil
Launch of a cruise missile from a B-52
The implementation of such a US operation has so far been stopped by the unpredictability of the use of ICBMs by the DPRK. The Americans still do not know the exact coordinates of the launch areas of the Hwangsong-15 mobile missile systems and cannot even determine their actual number.
Versatility does not mean perfection
The US's bet on cruise missiles is still flawed. According to Russian military experts, the possibility of fighting the Kyrgyz Republic is quite real. In addition to the advantages advertised by the Americans, the Kyrgyz Republic also has significant disadvantages. For example, the Kyrgyz Republic carries out its combat mission only according to a program that does not ensure evasion of air defense fire. American analysts do not take into account that Russia has long been developing means of destroying missiles at all stages of their use.
Inconvenient facts for the United States indicate that even during “successful” military conflicts with the massive use of missile defense systems, they were shot down by portable air defense systems of the Strela and Igla types. The Iraqi army organized air surveillance posts that detected missiles visually and reported their appearance to MANPADS crews. The Osa-AK air defense system also showed its effectiveness against missile defense.
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Iraqi air defense system "Osa-AK"
Of course, the sudden massive use of missiles - in nuclear and non-nuclear versions - poses a real threat to countries with weak air forces and air defenses. Yes, and industrialized countries need to develop modern tactics to combat the Kyrgyz Republic, intelligently combining the capabilities of their air force, air defense, missile defense and UAV systems.
Of course, all this is known to Russian military leaders, which is why most of the weapons systems currently supplied to the Aerospace Forces are immediately included in automated reconnaissance and strike circuits. It is automation that ensures the harmonious and coordinated work of all levels of control, allows you to quickly respond to changes in the combat situation and repel massive attacks from a potential enemy.
AGM-158B extended range, USA
The emergence of a new type of weapon in the United States is a national event. Taxpayers are pleased to know that with the money they paid into the budget, the state acquired yet another proof of American global dominance. The ruling party's ratings are rising and voters are rejoicing. This was the case in 2014, when US strategic forces received a new air-launched AGM-158B missile, created as part of the Joint Air To Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range defense program, abbreviated JASSM-ER, which means that this weapon is designed to strike the earth's surface and has an extended range of application. The widely advertised new weapon, judging by published data, is in no way superior to the X-102. The flight range of the AGM-158B is indicated vaguely, in a wide range - from 350 to 980 km, which means it depends on the mass of the warhead. Most likely, its actual radius with a nuclear charge is the same as that of the X-102, that is, 3500 km. Cruise missiles of Russia and the United States have approximately the same speed, mass and geometric dimensions. There is also no need to talk about American technological superiority because of better accuracy, although, as already noted, it does not have such a great significance in the event of a nuclear strike.
"Tomahawk" and its successors
Cruise missiles (CR) fit very well into the trend described in the article In a sense, they turned out to be the first combat drones, only disposable ones. Deputy Director of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis Alexander Khramchikhin discusses the differences in the combat use of missile launchers and UAVs in his article on the pages of the Russian Arms news agency.
The combat use of cruise missiles began earlier than UAVs. The ancestor of this class of weapons in its modern sense were American missiles, primarily the BGM-109 Tomahawk SLCM, which are now perceived almost as synonymous with the very concept of “cruise missile.”
The US Navy ordered 361 Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles from Raytheon for a total cost of $337.84 million.
The Tomahawk became an extremely successful weapon, despite such serious disadvantages as low speed and a complete lack of defensive capabilities.
The main advantage of Tomahawks is the safety and impunity of their use with very high efficiency; this allows us to neglect these disadvantages.
The United States has already spent more than 1.9 thousand SLCMs and ALCMs in wars with fairly good results. Although there were missile misses and losses due to various reasons, most of them hit their intended targets.
US Army cruise missile carriers
In the US Navy, 7 types of ships carry SLCMs.
1. Ohio-class SSGN (4 units) – up to 154 SLCMs each in special silos (instead of silos for SLBMs).
2. Virginia-class submarines (9 units, a total of 30-40 will be built) - each with 12 SLCMs in special shafts, up to 38 more can, along with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, be part of the ammunition intended for firing through torpedo tubes.
3. SSNs of the “Seawolf” type (3 units) – each with up to 50 SLCMs as part of the ammunition fired through the tube.
4. SSNs of the “Los Angeles” type (42 units + 1 in reserve, gradually being withdrawn from the Navy) - each with 12 SLCMs in special silos (for 31 SSNs) and up to 37 as part of the ammunition fired through the tube.
5. Ticonderoga-class cruisers (22 units) – each with up to 122 SLCMs in 2 Mk41 UVP.
6. Orly Burke-class destroyers (60 units, will be 75 or 99) – up to 90 SLCMs in 2 Mk41 UVP on the first 28 ships, up to 96 on the next.
7. Destroyers of the Zamvolt type (3 will be built) - each with up to 80 SLCMs in 2 Mk57 UVP.
In total, the US Navy has approximately 2.5-2.8 thousand SLCMs, primarily the latest modification of the Tactical Tomahawk (361 more were recently ordered). It should be noted that this missile cannot be launched from SSN torpedo tubes, but only from special silos.
In the US Air Force, the only ALCM carrier is the B-52 strategic bomber , capable of carrying up to 20 such missiles (AGM-86 and AGM-129). The number of B-52s in the Air Force theoretically reaches 89, of which 13 are located at the base - the Davis-Monthan warehouse.
Presumably, the total number of B-52s will soon be reduced to 40-50 vehicles; they will remain in service until 2044. Currently, the Air Force has approximately 1.6 thousand ALCMs (a total of 1,733 AGM-86 and 676 AGM-129 were manufactured ).
UK Army cruise missile carriers
In addition to the United States, Tomahawks are in service with the British Navy; all British submarines are equipped with them (6 Trafalgar types and 2 Estute types, 6 of the latter will also be built)
Very high efficiency, high flight range (1.2-2.5 thousand km depending on modification), safety and impunity of use with the relative cheapness of the American Tomahawks have generated significant interest in cruise missiles.
Main competitors of Tomahawks
Today, the main competitors of the Tomahawks are the Yakhont-Oniks-Brahmos (Russian-Indian) and Kalibr (Club) (Russian) families of cruise missiles. The Brahmos missile is distinguished by a fairly powerful warhead (250 kg) and a long flight range (300 km) with a very high flight speed (up to 2.5M) and a minimum flight altitude of 5 m, which makes it practically invulnerable to any existing air defense/missile defense systems .
Aviation cruise missile "Onyx"
In addition, this missile is universal in terms of carriers (submarines, surface ships, Su-30 fighters, ground-based launchers). In terms of speed and versatility, this family of missiles is superior to the American Tomahawk missiles (inferior to it in range), and has no other analogues in principle.
Already now, all 10 submarines of Project 877, 5 Rajput-class destroyers, the last 3 Delhi-class destroyers, all frigates of Project 17 and Talwar of the Indian Navy are armed with Brahmos anti-ship missiles. They will also be used to arm the Calcutta-class destroyers, of which it is planned to build from 7 to 11 units.
BrahMos missile launchers on Indian Navy destroyer Rajput
Obviously, the ground version of the missile will be widely used; all (more than 270) Su-30s of the Indian Air Force will be carriers of the Brahmos. In Russia itself there will be much fewer Onyx carriers. So far these are only promising submarines of Project 885M “Severodvinsk”; in addition, it is planned to re-equip the Project 949A submarines with these missiles.
Promising submarine pr. 885M "Severodvinsk"
The Bastion complex is offered in two versions: mobile "Bastion-P" and stationary "Bastion-S"
Also in Russia, Vietnam and Syria there is a coastal version of the Onyx-Yakhont missiles (called “Bastion”). The most important advantage of the "Caliber" (Club) missiles is the possibility of hidden deployment in containers that are no different in appearance from conventional cargo ones.
Accordingly, they can be used from civilian ships (container ships can carry hundreds of such missiles), car trailers, and trains. Whether Russia itself or any other country has such a deployed version of the “Caliber” is unknown.
Ground version of the BrahMos missile of the Indian Armed Forces
But it is known that these missiles are in service with diesel submarines Project 877 and 636 of the Russian Navy, the Chinese Navy, India, and in the future Vietnam. They can also be used from Russian submarines Project 971, promising frigates Project 11356 and 22350, corvettes. 20385, Indian frigates of the Talwar and Shivalik types (Project 17).
These missiles can hit ground and surface targets, and there is also an anti-submarine version. In general, both of these families are superior to the Tomahawk in terms of launcher versatility.
Taking into account the high flight speed, the possibility of use from ground-based launchers and from tactical (front-line) aircraft makes Russian missiles more functional than American ones, although they are inferior to them in flight range.
At the same time, India is also creating its own Nirbey cruise missile. It will be as versatile in terms of carriers as the Brahmos, and its flight range will reach 1 thousand km, although its speed will be subsonic. In addition to these countries, cruise missiles are being developed by states that have the technological capabilities for this, while being ready for a serious war.
These are China, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Pakistan. Moreover, for Taiwan, the massive deployment of cruise missiles of various types is the only (albeit very slim) chance of salvation in the event of Chinese aggression.
Naturally, China is the most active in creating cruise missiles, which has at its disposal both Soviet X-55s received from Ukraine and Tomahawks purchased from Pakistan. By synthesizing them, the DH-10 and CJ-10 missiles were created, which can be used against both ground and surface targets, used from automobile and ship launchers, as well as from the N-6M bomber.
CJ-10 missiles were created by synthesizing existing missiles
It is assumed that these missiles combine supersonic speed with a very high range (2.5-4 thousand km). A family of subsonic cruise missiles, the HN, is also being created, which will be launched from various launchers, including the JH-7 tactical bomber, submarines, destroyers and frigates of Project 054A. The Republic of Korea has created the Hyunmu-3 family of subsonic SLCMs with a flight range of 500 to 2000 km, launched from existing submarines and destroyers, as well as from promising Incheon-class frigates.
Taiwan is creating cruise missiles based on the Hsiung Feng-2 anti-ship missile system. They are subsonic, their flight range is, according to various sources, from 600 to 1000 km. A significant part of the largest cities and objects of the “new economy” in southeast China, the most developed region of the PRC, fall within their reach.
Taiwanese supersonic cruise missile "Hsiung Feng-3"
In combination with numerous “Xiong Feng” variants of the anti-ship missile system itself (including the supersonic “Xiong Feng-3”), they can create certain problems for China in the event of an attempt to solve the “Taiwan problem” by force, although they are unlikely to prevent the seizure of the island. The Pakistani Babur and Raad cruise missiles were discussed in the article “Unofficial Potentials”.
The same article stated that Israel is capable of using SLCMs, incl. in nuclear equipment, with Dolphin-class submarines, but it is not very clear what kind of missiles these are. Apparently, we are talking about a naval version of the Popeye aircraft missile, the range of which may reach 1.5 thousand km. Air-launched cruise missiles have a shorter range than SLCMs due to weight and size limitations.
In addition to the Brahmos and the Chinese HN-1, these include the American JASSM AGM-158 missile, the range of which is 360 km, and the latest modification is 980 km. Almost all American combat aircraft carry it.
German-Swedish Taurus ALCM with a range of 500 km
European fighters can be armed with the German-Swedish Taurus ALCM with a range of 500 km and the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp with a range of 250 km.
All these missiles are subsonic. High accuracy and significant range, exceeding the range of the vast majority or even all air defense systems, guarantee further expansion of the use of cruise missiles of all deployment options.
These missiles can be successfully used in both classical and counterinsurgency wars. In this case, of course, the main area for the development, production and use of this class of weapons will be the new center of the world - Asia.
Other CDs in Russia and the USA
Kh-101 and Kh-102 are not the only cruise missiles in Russia's arsenal. In addition to them, other models are on combat duty, equipped with pulsating air-breathing engines, such as 16 X and 10 KhN (they are still experimental), anti-ship KS-1, KSR-2, KSR-5, with high-explosive penetrating or fragmentation warheads. high explosive or nuclear action. One can also recall the more modern missile launchers X-20, X-22 and X-55, which became the prototype of the X-101. And then there are “Termites”, “Mosquitoes”, “Amethysts”, “Malachites”, “Basalts”, “Granites”, “Onyxes”, “Yakhonts” and other representatives of the “stone” series. These Russian cruise missiles have been in service with the aviation and navy for many years, and the public knows quite a lot about them, although not everything.
The Americans also have several types of missiles of an earlier generation than the AGM-158B. These are the tactical "Matador" MGM-1, the "Shark" SSM-A-3, the "Greyhound" AGM-28, the mentioned "Harpoon", the universally based "Swift Hawk". The United States is not abandoning the proven Tomahawk, but is working on the promising X-51, capable of flying at hypersonic speeds.
What is the Tomahawk missile launcher?
The American army became one of the first in the world to be equipped with a new tactical missile system on a large scale. The cruise missile, which appeared in 1983, became the most popular in its class. In addition, this is one of the few examples of modern types of weapons that were involved in almost all military conflicts. The Tomahawks are associated with the history of military operations during the first Gulf War (1990-1991), as well as the subsequent actions of multinational NATO forces in Yugoslavia in 1999. Already in the new millennium, American Tomahawks, with a twenty-year track record, again became one of the main types of weapons on the battlefield.
Downed tomahawks
The Americans actually managed to create a universal means of struggle - a weapon that has become a convenient tool in modern military-political conditions. The name of the rocket is also symbolic; a tomahawk is a battle ax, a legendary weapon of the North American Indians. For a modern army, the presence of such weapons is invaluable. Equipped with a new guidance system, this cruise missile, like the Indian ax, is barely noticeable in flight, fast and deadly. The strike is always accurate, not expected and unpredictable.
The reason for such qualities of the weapon lies in the design of the rocket and in the features of its design. For the first time, a guidance system was installed on a cruise missile, providing the projectile with complete autonomy in flight. The missile operates on the principle of pointing, releasing and forgetting. To control a flying projectile, neither the help of a gunner operator nor the presence of a satellite guidance system is required. The combat filling of several hundred kilograms of explosives was capable of disabling any target, both at sea and on land. High combat characteristics were the fruit of long-term design development, on which the American military department spent enormous sums. In 1973, American taxpayers spent $560 thousand on the development of the project alone. Subsequently, it took over one million dollars to fine-tune the prototype.
Creation of the Tomahawk
Testing of the first samples of the new rocket lasted 6 years. Only in 1983, after more than 100 test launches, the Pentagon announced the adoption of a new cruise missile for service with the American armed forces. This missile was created as a universal strike weapon capable of carrying nuclear weapons and conventional charges. It was planned to use ships of various classes as a launch platform, including nuclear submarines and strategic aircraft of the US Air Force, so modifications of cruise missiles were initially created, adapted for surface and underwater launch. The new Tomahawk missile system consisted of cruise missiles, launchers and a missile fire control system.
For reference: The first weapons were developed in two versions:
- Tomahawk Block I BGM-109A TLAM-N strategic carrier with a nuclear warhead;
- Tomahawk Block I BGM-109B TASM anti-ship missile with a conventional warhead.
In other countries
Even in distant lands, where military analysts can talk about the Russian or American military threat only in a fantastic-hypothetical aspect, engineers and scientists are developing their own cruise missiles. The not very successful experience of combat in the Falkland Islands prompted the Argentine leadership to allocate funds for the design of the Tabano AM-1. Pakistan's Hatf-VII Babur can be launched from ground-based installations, ships and submarines, has a subsonic speed (about 900 km/h) and a range of up to 700 km. It even has a nuclear warhead, in addition to the usual one. There are three types of ballistic missiles produced in China (YJ-62, YJ-82, YJ-83). Taiwan responds with Xiongfeng 2E. Work is underway, sometimes very successful, in European countries (Germany, Sweden, France), as well as in Britain, the goal of which is not to surpass the cruise missiles of Russia or the United States, but to obtain an effective combat weapon for their own armies. The creation of such complex and high-tech equipment is too expensive, and advanced achievements in this field are available only to superpowers.
