Man-portable missile systems. Modern man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems: a brief overview

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems have long and firmly taken their place in the system of mobile air defense systems of the ground forces of many countries. New Russian MANPADS have unique capabilities that the military had never dreamed of before.
In all ranges
First, about the uniqueness of “Verba”. Despite the external similarity of this MANPADS with its predecessors - the same “pipe” as the “Igla”, the same sighting mechanism that helps the anti-aircraft gunner identify the target and fire a shot - this is a completely different weapon, with different characteristics. And they are that the missile is capable of hitting not only traditional aircraft - airplanes and helicopters, but also cruise missiles, as well as unmanned aircraft, that is, the so-called “low-emitting targets”.
The missile of this complex is equipped with a unique three-spectral homing head operating in the ultraviolet, near-infrared and mid-infrared ranges. It is this difference in spectra that allows one to obtain more information about the target, which makes MANPADS a “selective” weapon. In addition, the Verba head also has significantly greater sensitivity compared to the Igla-S MANPADS. This increases the range of capture of airborne objects. Also, the homing head automatically selects false thermal targets (thermal interference) and focuses on the object with the strongest thermal radiation.
As Valery Kashin, a representative of the company that developed this weapon, the general designer of the Research and Production Corporation "KBM Design Bureau" (OAO NPK "KBM"), emphasized, in terms of the totality of its characteristics, the "Verba" MANPADS surpasses all world analogues. And this is not some kind of bragging of the designer for his brainchild. The complex has actually significantly improved its performance in overcoming pyrotechnic interference (including the already mentioned heat traps), increased shooting accuracy, and optimized other indicators. For example, an automated control system detects air targets, including group targets, determines their flight parameters, and even distributes the detected objects among gunners in an anti-aircraft unit, taking into account the location of personnel on the ground.
"Stinger" nervously smokes on the side...
It’s not for nothing that MANPADS stands for “complex”. In addition to the missile in the guide tube, the Verba also includes a launcher, a ground-based radar interrogator “friend or foe” (to prevent unauthorized use on friendly aircraft), as well as a mobile control point, a small-sized radar detector, planning, reconnaissance and management. There is also a portable fire control module, which is supplied to troops in a brigade kit, and a built-in installation kit - for use as part of a divisional kit.
The missile's characteristics are more than optimal for portable anti-aircraft weapons on the battlefield. The new solid-fuel engine makes it possible to carry out a successful shot at an object located at a distance of over six kilometers from the shooter and flying at a speed of 500 meters per second. The mass of the missile is only one and a half kilograms, but the height of the attack varies from ten (!) to 4.5 thousand meters. The closest foreign competitor to the Russian MANPADS, the American FIM-92 Stinger complex, can only be used against air targets located at an altitude of 180 meters. That is, an enemy helicopter will be able to calmly shoot at American infantry positions from a height below this mark: it will simply be impossible to hit a hovering rotorcraft from a Stinger. The US MANPADS do not have the best performance in terms of other characteristics either. Thus, the target height that the Stinger missile can reach cannot exceed 3.8 thousand meters, and the distance from the shooter’s location is 4.8 thousand.
Economical "Verba"
A new Russian MANPADS was presented at the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2015. As the manufacturers note, an important feature of the product is that the complex allows you to destroy air targets with fewer missiles, which saves the missiles of large anti-aircraft missiles complexes - very expensive weapons.
According to Valery Kashin, general designer of JSC NPK KBM, today the Russian Ministry of Defense has concluded contracts for the supply of Verba complexes to the troops in a complete version, that is, for arming immediately anti-aircraft units of brigades and divisions. Prior to this, the product passed the stage of practical testing in formations of the Airborne Forces and in brigades of the Eastern Military District. According to the military, the use of new MANPADS will provide reliable cover for military units from attacks by air assets using modern means countering air defense systems, defending against massive strikes by cruise missiles, and creating an effective close line of defense.
The chief designer of the scientific and technical direction of JSC NPK KBM for MANPADS, Alexander Smirnov, is confident that the adoption of the Verba into service will make it possible to achieve a gigantic gap from competitors and consolidate Russian leadership in this area for many years. The principle of complete delivery, when troops immediately receive all the components necessary to carry out a combat mission, operation, inspection, maintenance, education and training, makes it possible to ensure full combat readiness of units, to develop and maintain among personnel the skills of using missile systems.
Arctic test
Verba has simplified maintenance: now there is no need to carry out periodic checks with cooling of the homing head with nitrogen. This makes it possible to refuse additional equipment, from nitrogen storage facilities, save human resources. The commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the 98th Airborne Division, Colonel Andrei Musienko (Verba MANPADS were also tested as part of this formation), emphasizes that with the arrival of the new complex, the process of controlling air combat in airborne units has accelerated more than 10 times. Previously, more than three to five minutes passed from the moment the senior commander discovered the target to the launch of the missile by the anti-aircraft gunner; now it takes just a few seconds. Such parameters, military officers believe, fully correspond to the needs of modern anti-aircraft combat - highly mobile and dynamic countermeasures of air attack, requiring the use of modern weapons and their operational control.
By the way, the Verba MANPADS, which includes elements automated system controls are fully interfaced with the Andromeda-D automated control system used in the Airborne Forces. “Verba” also performed well during one of the paratroopers’ exercises in the Arctic zone. Even in abnormal conditions low temperatures There were no failures or failures in the use of these weapons and their control systems. As Valery Kashin, general designer of JSC NPK KBM, noted, sea and helicopter versions of the Verba are currently in development.

1.5 meter khaki tube, compact sighting mechanism and shoulder strap. This, at first glance, simple device behind the back of an infantryman poses a mortal threat to pilots of airplanes and helicopters operating at altitudes below 4.5 thousand meters. It is almost impossible to get away from a 9K333 Verba man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) missile that is “off the leash” - it does not respond to heat traps and other tricks.

Pocket air defense

The first MANPADS appeared in the 1960s and immediately became enemy number one for pilots who had adapted to take cover from long-range anti-aircraft missiles at low altitudes. It is almost impossible to notice a “man with a pipe” camouflaged in the folds of the terrain from the cockpit of an airplane or helicopter, while, unlike machine guns and cannons, a single successful hit from a small missile can “land” even a large aircraft in one fell swoop. In the case of MANPADS, there is no need to waste precious time on deployment, loading and installation. Pointed, fired, forgot.

Soviet designers achieved particular success in developing a fundamentally new air defense weapon at that time. The command ordered to create, in a short time, the most inexpensive and compact complex, suitable for effectively covering ground units and units from the air without unnecessary fuss. The task was non-trivial: to make a system suitable for combating all types of air targets at altitudes of up to 1.5 kilometers and at a distance of up to three. The missile was supposed to be guaranteed to hit aircraft that were approaching and following. A prerequisite is the ability to fire by one person, and from an unprepared position.

Thus was born the first Soviet MANPADS 9K32 "Strela-2", which created a real revolution in the development of air defense systems. The complex, which entered service in 1967, included a launch tube, a rocket with a canard airframe and propulsion system, a ground power supply, a portable passive direction finder and a ground radio interrogator, as well as maintenance equipment.

Shock, horror and complete misunderstanding of what is happening - this is how one can characterize the emotions of the Israeli pilots who were “lucky” to be the first to be hit by a hail of Russian Strels during the Arab-Israeli conflict. In the first air attack, 30 percent of the planes were shot down, after which the Israeli Air Force decided to suspend raids for several days.

From "Strela" to "Verba"

Then there was the improved and more noise-resistant Strela-3, then the 9K38 Igla, which was also modernized several times, and now it has been replaced by the Verba. The complex, accurate, sensitive and resistant to interference, clearly distinguishes aircraft into “friends” and “foes” and strikes without a miss, without reacting to heat traps and other interference. With the help of "Verba", an infantryman can single-handedly "remove" a variety of aircraft from the sky, starting with attack helicopters and aircraft and ending with cruise missiles. The range of distances and altitudes is no longer what the first Strels had, but is comparable to the performance of more serious military air defense systems.

The solid-fuel missile of the new MANPADS effortlessly reaches targets at altitudes of up to 4.5 thousand meters and at a distance of up to 6.5 kilometers. In fact, this completely covers the altitude range of front-line aviation—attack aircraft, tactical bombers and helicopters can be “laid down” directly from the trench. In this sense, "Verba" is significantly superior not only to "Igloo-S", but also foreign analogues, including the famous American FIM-92 "Stinger". For comparison: “Igla-S” takes on air targets at altitudes of up to 3.5 kilometers, and “Stinger” - up to 3.8. In addition, the lower limit of the target acquisition altitude for the Stinger is 180 meters, and the Verba starts working at ten. The kit comes with a compact radar that is resistant to interference. The station “sees” air targets at a distance of up to 80 kilometers.

The automated control system takes into account the speed and direction of flight of aircraft or cruise missiles and distributes them among anti-aircraft gunners, the location of each of whom on the ground is determined by GLONASS. The fighters have precise vectors for shooting. It is interesting that “Verba” is integrated into the Barnaul-T tactical complex common system Air defense and can receive information about air targets that are “guided” by large radars.

The picky bride

The Verba missile owes its high sensitivity and “selectivity” to target types to its proprietary three-spectral homing head, the “vision” of which operates in the ultraviolet, near and mid-infrared ranges. Even on approach, the rocket is able to distinguish an airplane or helicopter from the thermal “trap” it has released and make the right choice.

Like many other similar air defense systems, Verba can not only operate “from the shoulder,” but can also be installed on ships and attack helicopters as an auxiliary anti-aircraft weapon. An important innovation is that the complex is much easier to maintain than Igla. It no longer needs to be “frozen” - the new design of the homing head does not require cooling it with nitrogen. Getting ready to fire takes a matter of seconds from the moment the target is detected.

"Verba" began to be supplied to the troops relatively recently, in kits and batches. So, just the other day, another brigade set of the latest MANPADS arrived at the motorized rifle unit of the Central Military District (CMD), stationed in the Altai Territory. According to the military, the new complexes will provide reliable cover for military units not only from air attacks, but also from massive cruise missile attacks. In addition, anti-aircraft squads, anti-aircraft missile platoons and batteries in anti-aircraft divisions, as well as other units of the Russian Armed Forces are now armed with thousands of complexes of the Igla family, among which there are both early modifications and advanced ones with the “C” index.

S-300VM "Antey-2500" air defense system

The only one in the world mobile system Air defense that can intercept small and small ballistic missiles medium range(up to 2500 km). “Antey” can also shoot down a modern aircraft, including the invisible Staelth. The Antey target can be hit simultaneously by four or two 9M83 (9M83M) missiles (depending on the launcher used). Besides Russian army the Almaz-Antey concern supplies Antey to Venezuela; a contract was also signed with Egypt. But Iran abandoned it in 2015 in favor of the S-300 air defense system.

ZRS S-300V

The S-Z00V military self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system carries two types of missiles. The first is the 9M82 in order to shoot down ballistic Pershings and SRAM-type aircraft missiles, as well as long-flying aircraft. The second is 9M83, for destroying aircraft and ballistic missiles of the Lance and R-17 Scud types.

Autonomous air defense system "Tor"

Bearing the proud name of the Scandinavian deity, the Thor air defense system can cover not only infantry and equipment, but also buildings and industrial facilities. "Thor" protects, among other things, from precision weapons, guided bombs and enemy drones. At the same time, the system itself controls the designated airspace and independently shoots down all air targets not identified by the “friend or foe” system. That's why they call it autonomous.

Anti-aircraft missile system "Osa" and its modifications "Osa-AK" and "Osa-AKM"

Since the 60s of the 20th century, the Osa has been in service with the Soviet and subsequently Russian armies and the armies of the CIS countries, as well as more than 25 foreign countries. She is able to protect ground forces from enemy aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles operating at extremely low, low and medium altitudes (up to 5 m at a distance of up to 10 km).

MD-PS air defense system with increased secrecy of operation

The stealth of the MD-PS is ensured through the use of optical means for detecting and guiding the missile using infrared radiation of the target in the wavelength range of 8-12 microns. The detection system has an all-round view and can simultaneously find up to 50 targets and select the most dangerous ones. Guidance is carried out according to the “fire and forget” principle (missiles with homing heads that “see” the target).

"Tunguska"

The Tunguska anti-aircraft gun missile system is a short-range air defense system. In battle, it protects infantry from helicopters and attack aircraft operating at low altitudes, and fires at lightly armored ground and floating equipment. She opens fire not only from a standstill, but also while moving - as long as there is no fog or snowfall. In addition to the ZUR9M311 missiles, the Tunguska is equipped with 2A38 anti-aircraft guns, which can turn towards the sky up to an angle of 85 degrees.

"Pine - RA"

Lightweight mobile towed anti-aircraft gun-missile system Sosna-RA, like Tunguska, is equipped with an anti-aircraft gun that hits targets at an altitude of up to 3 km. But the main advantage of Sosna-RA is hypersonic missile 9M337 “Sosna-RA”, which fires at targets at altitudes of up to 3500 meters. The destruction range is from 1.3 to 8 km. "Sosna-RA" - light complex; this means that it can be placed on any platform that can support its weight - Ural-4320, KamAZ-4310 trucks and others.

New items

Long- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile system S-400 "Triumph"

The destruction of targets at long range in the Russian army is ensured, among other things, by the S-400 Triumph air defense system. It is designed to destroy aerospace attack weapons, and is capable of intercepting a target at a distance of more than 200 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 30 km. The Triumph has been in service with the Russian army since 2007.

"Pantsir-S1"

The Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system was put into service in 2012. Its automatic cannons and radio command-guided missiles with infrared and radar tracking make it possible to neutralize any target in the air, on land and on water. Pantsir-S1 is armed with 2 anti-aircraft guns and 12 surface-to-air missiles.

SAM "Sosna"

The Sosna mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system is the latest Russian innovation; The complex will enter service only at the end of this year. It has two parts - armor-piercing and fragmentation-rod action, that is, it can hit armored vehicles, fortifications and ships, shoot down cruise missiles, drones and precision weapons. The Sosna is guided by a laser: the rocket flies along the beam.

When planes flew slowly, were built of wood and canvas, and were armed with conventional machine guns, infantry could even defend against them with rifles. But by the time of World War II, airplanes began to fly higher, faster, and attack from distances exceeding the effective range of infantry weapons.

The emergence and development of homing guided missiles helped change the situation. And in the 60s, portable anti-aircraft missile systems appeared that were capable of effectively hitting aircraft. “Igla” is one of the most famous modern representatives of such weapons.

History of creation

In the 60s, the Soviet Union adopted the Strela-2 MANPADS (essentially a direct copy of the American Red Eye complex). Deliveries of Strels to friendly regimes and “developing countries” began immediately. Over the next decade, she showed fairly high fighting qualities. But the Strela also had disadvantages, which were, in principle, characteristic of all early anti-aircraft missiles.

The infrared homing head did not have sufficient sensitivity and could not capture a target following, for example, a collision course. Protected against MANPADS and such simple ways, like the upward deflection of helicopter engine exhaust.

Task for the development of a new “individual” anti-aircraft missile system with improved combat qualities was received in 1971, and ten years later it entered service.

The new MANPADS was named “Igla”.

Description of design

Since the development of Igla was delayed, in 1981, not the final, but a “transitional” version of the 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS was adopted. On this model they decided to use the already existing homing head from the Strela 3 MANPADS. Such a scheme was supposed to facilitate both the deployment of Eagle production and the retraining of anti-aircraft gunners.

The 9M313 solid propellant rocket was located in the launch tube, to which a launcher with a handle was attached from below. An interrogator for the “friend or foe” system was built into it, preventing the possible launch of a missile at friendly aircraft. The commander of a unit of anti-aircraft gunners armed with Iglas used an electronic tablet, which displayed the positions of the missilemen and the situation in the air, data about which were transmitted from air defense radars.

The missile is made according to the canard aerodynamic design, the warhead is high-explosive fragmentation, directional action, equipped with 390 g of octogen. A non-contact induction fuse ensures that the charge is detonated when the Igla missile passes near the target. It is duplicated by a contact fuse in case of a direct hit. To enhance the impact, the charge also explodes the remaining fuel in the rocket.

The missile has a built-in mechanism for automatic turning, which includes an electronic circuit in the homing head and impulse steering motors - thanks to this, it is automatically directed to the lead point.

The main version of the MANPADS, the Igla 9K38, was put into service just two years later. The “final” version differed from the “simplified” version by the use of an improved homing head in the design of the 9M39 missile. Now the seeker, due to increased sensitivity, “Igla” could distinguish the true target from heat traps.

For this purpose, an auxiliary guidance channel was used, which responded specifically to the spectral density of heat traps. If the signal from the auxiliary channel was higher than that of the main one, the target was determined to be false. The aerodynamics of the rocket were improved due to the fact that the conical fairing mounted on a tripod was replaced with a needle-shaped fairing.

The electronic tablet of the commander of the 1L110 model differed from the previous model in that the commander could now transmit target designation data not by voice, but directly to the indicators of the MANPADS launchers, via wire. At the same time, the Igla 9K38 launcher can also be connected to the launch tube of a “simplified” missile of the 9K310 complex.

The launch tubes themselves are not disposable, and after the launch they can be reloaded with another rocket.

« Weak point“It remains impossible to capture a target located (in direction) close to the sun.

Other modifications

For airborne units, always interested in more compact weapons, a variant of the Igla D MANPADS was developed, the launch container of which can be disassembled into two halves. To increase the efficiency of using “Eagle” through salvo launches, the so-called “support-launcher” “Dzhigit” was created - a kind of machine on which two MANPADS launch containers are installed. The missile shooter sits in a fairly comfortable chair.

So that the missiles of the complex could be used on ships as a short-range air defense system or on helicopters as an air-to-air missile, the designers created the Strelets module. A special model of MANPADS received the designation “Igla-V”.

The newest modification of the Igla MANPADS - 9K338 - entered service in 2004. It is known that total mass the warhead increased from 1.1 to 2.5 kg, and the mass of the charge increased to 585 g of okfol. This should increase both the high-explosive impact and the number of fragments hitting the target. The mass of the missile (and MANPADS as a whole) increased by only a kilogram. It was also reported that the range had increased from 5 to 6 km.

The homing head is modified in such a way that the missile, when approaching the target, moves and hits not the jet engine nozzle (which it is aimed at in the first place), but the aircraft fuselage or tail. The fuse delay is also automatically set so that when a missile is launched at a large aircraft, the detonation does not occur at a distance when shock wave and the fragments will not be able to cause serious damage.

To increase the efficiency of use in the dark, the Igla-S complex is equipped with a 1PN97 night sight, equipped with a 2nd generation electro-optical converter and providing a twofold magnification.

It is possible to use the launcher in conjunction with the “Needles” of previous modifications, and the 9K338 launch tube can be used with launchers of previous generations.

Other countries have also mastered the assembly of complexes. In Poland, since the 90s, the Grom MANPADS have been produced, developed on the basis of the Igla with the assistance of Russian designers, and initially produced using Russian components. Later, the production of MANPADS was completely transferred to Poland. The Needles were produced under license in North Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.

Proliferation and combat use

In addition to Russia and the former Soviet republics, Igla MANPADS of various modifications are used in all corners of the planet. They are used by Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru; Egypt, Libya and Morocco; Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Russian MANPADS even reached North America - it was put into service in Mexico. The geography of distribution is extensive.

Although the complex began to enter service with the troops in the 80s, when the war was going on in Afghanistan, there was no use for MANPADS there, due to the lack of aviation among the Mujahideen. The complex was first tested in combat during the Gulf War.

In January 1991, “Needles” shot down a British Tornado fighter-bomber, and in February, at least two American A-10 attack aircraft and an F-16 fighter. At the same time, at least one A-10 received heavy damage to the tail section, but was able to return to base and land. Four American Harriers were also shot down with the help of MANPADS. Marine Corps.

In 1992, during another escalation of the dispute over control of the Siachen glacier, an Indian “Needle” shot down a helicopter carrying a Pakistani commander. After which the Pakistani offensive stalled.

During the local border conflict between Ecuador and Peru in 1995, the Ecuadorians shot down a Peruvian Mi-24 helicopter with MANPADS, and the Ecuadorian A-37 attack aircraft was damaged by the Igla, but was able to land.

Also in 1995, Republika Srpska forces used the complex to shoot down a French Mirage over Bosnia.

Back in the 70s, it became obvious that man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems are a very suitable weapon for terrorists, and terrible in their hands. After all, a passenger or transport plane is completely defenseless against them, and the crew and passengers have no means of evacuation.

“Igla” did not escape the same fate. In the spring of 1994, its missile shot down a Falcon 50 plane with the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi on board. This became the reason for the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, during which more people than per day in Nazi death camps. In 2002 Chechen fighters used MANPADS to shoot down a transport of military personnel. The helicopter crashed into a minefield, killing more than a hundred people.

Currently, “Needles” are actively used in the Syrian conflict, mainly by the opposition.

In 2012, they shot down a Su-24 of state troops, and in 2013, a MiG-23. There is probably a larger list of losses, but it is not always possible to accurately identify the MANPADS used.

During the civil war in eastern Ukraine, the Igla MANPADS destroyed a Ukrainian Il-76 cargo plane in 2014. In the same year, Azerbaijani forces shot down an Armenian Mi-24 helicopter using a portable anti-aircraft missile system. One of the latest incidents involving the use of the complex was the destruction of a Turkish Super Cobra helicopter by Kurdish militias.

Sometimes the beginning of combat use of the "Needle" is attributed to civil war in El Salvador, but other sources indicate that Salvadoran A-37 and AC-47 attack aircraft were shot down by Strela-2M. Old MANPADS were also used in 1988 to destroy a DC-6 cargo ship supplying the Contras in Nicaragua.

Performance characteristics

Let’s compare the main parameters of the main version of “Needle”, its simplified version and the famous American one, also commissioned in the 1980s.

So, if you believe the numbers, then at the time of its appearance the Stinger had more power and was a faster missile. However, it is worth noting that the Americans did not provide for fire control using an electronic tablet. The Stinger's homing head was also equipped with a system to counteract heat traps, but it was achieved mainly complex systems data processing.

In terms of combat effectiveness, MANPADS can be considered equivalent means of destruction - although no one managed to turn the tide of a campaign or ignite a civil war with just one Stinger.

It is interesting that the ease of development and operation of both domestic and American man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems stemmed from the fact that they were initially considered as a means of waging guerrilla warfare and special operations.

The opposite approach was demonstrated by the British Blowpipe MANPADS, which was superior to competitors in noise immunity and was truly all-weather. This was “compensated” by a long and complex training program for rocket scientists, which served to develop the required level of qualifications and maintain it at the required level.

The Igla man-portable anti-aircraft missile system has become an important achievement of the domestic industry and has earned its popularity (in fact, the Igla was chosen by most countries that did not purchase the Stinger).

However, today this is no longer the most advanced development.

Since 2014 it has been put into service new MANPADS"Verba" However, this system is further development solutions included in “Igla”, so this also serves rather as proof of the qualities of the solutions included in the complex back in the 80s. And there are no plans to remove Igloo-S itself from service.

Video

Is there a resurgence of interest in shoulder-launched and tripod-launched surface-to-air missiles due to advancements in capability-enhancing technologies and the financially compelling need to do more for less? Opinions of Western experts in this field.

Recent advances in microprocessor and propulsion technology have greatly expanded the range and accuracy of modern man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), allowing them to neutralize a vastly expanded range of airborne targets at longer ranges with unprecedented efficiency.

Shoulder-launched missiles offer defensive and offensive capabilities disproportionate to their size, allowing a single MANPADS-equipped soldier to shoot down virtually any aircraft that comes within range of the system. In addition, the new systems are capable of shooting down smaller air targets, such as drones and ballistic missiles.

The fire-and-forget missile of the Mistral MANPADS, according to MBDA, has advantages over a laser-guided missile

The advanced capabilities offered by next-generation MANPADS are attracting increased interest from major militaries seeking to optimize the combat effectiveness of smaller combat units and find ways to mitigate the negative impact of shrinking budgets.

The British can

Thales UK has been continuously improving its Starstreak short-range surface-to-air missile system since it entered service with the British Army in 1997. Starstreak, which replaced the Javelin MANPADS of the same company, was created to provide close range air defense from threats such as fighter jets and attack helicopters.

The newest modification, designated Starstreak II HVM (High Velocity Missile), is a development of the existing model, which has significantly increased range and increased accuracy, as well as improved characteristics that allow it to operate on targets at much higher altitudes.

Chief Missile Systems Technologist at Thales UK, Paddy Mallon, said the Starstreak II pushes the boundaries of Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORADS) range.

“The Starstreak II is arguably the most advanced anti-aircraft missile in the VSHORADS world, as it has been constantly refined, with regular mid-life upgrades carried out jointly with the Ministry of Defense. Now the missile’s range has reached approximately 7 km, that is, it is a very effective weapon both against short-range high-speed targets that cross the line of sight, and against long-range targets.”

“The rocket has a very high acceleration, which means about Mach 3.5 per second; that is, you have a super-high-speed rocket, which, moreover, due to its high speed provides high lateral acceleration. This way, you are able to intercept high-speed targets crossing the line of sight, and you can also fire the missile over a longer range.”

The missile consists of three boom-shaped kinetic tungsten submunitions, which have their own guidance and control system; warhead with a fuse with delay; two-stage solid propellant rocket engine; expelling charge, operating at the moment of launch; and the second stage propulsion engine.

“The key element at the heart of the warhead itself is obviously the impact effect, that is, the entire mass of the warhead, the entire mass of the missile, hits the target. Due to the high flight speed (over the entire flight range, submunitions have sufficient maneuverability to destroy targets flying with an overload of up to 9 g), the striking arrow-shaped submunition of the Starstreak missile pierces the target’s body and then explodes inside it, causing maximum damage. Whereas with many other anti-aircraft missiles, you lose most of the fragments in the air around the aircraft, not inside the target itself,” Mallon explained.

Beam guidance

“Starstreak MANPADS are a means of hitting targets within line of sight. The complex is not illuminated by a laser in the literal sense; when people talk about laser targeting, they are really talking about high power semi-active laser targeting systems. Thales has developed a laser emitter that is much lower in power and therefore undetectable,” Mallon continued.

“Our laser is scanning, imagine a laser diode scanning from left to right and a second laser diode scanning from bottom to top, and this happens hundreds of times per second. Basically the laser beam creates a coded information field, we call it a laser information field, meaning that no matter where you are within that field, the submunition that hits you knows where it is. All he’s trying to do is get into the middle of that field.”

According to the developer, the system is difficult, if not impossible, to jam because the MANPADS transmitter is not activated until the operator pulls the trigger, so the target does not know that it has already become a target until the missile leaves the launch tube and is aimed towards a target at more than three times the speed of sound.

“When you pull the trigger, the transmitter turns on. You essentially keep the crosshairs on the target, and if the crosshairs are on the target, then the center of the laser information field is also on the target and then the projectile is guaranteed to hit the target.”

“At the rear of the submunition there is a small laser receiver window that looks at the launcher. The receiver receives the transmitted information and we use it to keep the submunition in the center of the field."

The crew of the complex, as a rule, consists of two people: an operator and a commander. All Thales MANPADS currently on the market use the LML (Lightweight Multiple Launcher) tripod, which is available in several versions.

“The LML has a launch control unit that includes optics, a thermal imager and a trigger mechanism. We also install it on some lightweight platforms for several overseas customers. Our LML tripod with tracking and fire control unit can accommodate up to three missiles,” Mallon said.

Update

The Swedish defense company Saab also presented a modernized version of the RBS 70 MANPADS, which has been in service with many countries since the late 60s. New complex received the designation RBS 70 NG. Despite the same designation, the new version is a completely different system.

The RBS 70 NG is a Command Line of Sight (CLOS) system with laser-guided missiles. Launcher consists of a transport and launch container with a missile, a tripod and a sight. Although the complex is based on the previous model in order to simplify upgrades, it has a more advanced integrated guidance system and a fourth-generation Bolide missile capable of combating targets maneuvering with accelerations greater than 20 g (!).

“What's new in the RBS 70 NG guidance system? Integrated thermal imaging sight with a very long detection range of all types of targets, more than 20 km. We have integrated a target tracking machine into the complex, which minimizes the number of control commands sent to the missile on its way to the target. In the previous system, operators controlled the rocket using a joystick.”

“Here we have left the same capabilities, the operator can still shoot manually, but with a tracking machine everything is much more pleasant. Compared to a human operator, it generates significantly less interference that degrades the characteristics of the missile control system during flight, and as a result we get greater accuracy... We have automatic video recording of the entire firing process, so you can then see how everything happened, what was done , whether the target was captured correctly, and the like.”

Forsberg explained that the system provides a three-dimensional visual image of the target, which allows the operator to more confidently engage the target and reduces the overall reaction time to one second. Another key feature of the RBS 70 NG MANPADS is its noise immunity.

“We also have the ability to interrupt the firing process at any second, right up to the moment the target is intercepted. We have laser guidance receivers at the back of the missile and a communications link directly from the sight to the missile. So in order to jam that signal, you have to get between the sight and the missile, which is unlikely or even impossible,” Forsberg said.

“We have a remote fuse that is optimized to deal with small attack targets, such as ballistic missiles. Our complex can really fight almost all targets, we can shoot at everything, from ground targets at zero altitude to helicopters and fighter jets at an altitude of 5,000 meters, and these are unique characteristics.”

Forsberg said the missile could also penetrate any existing armored personnel carrier, hinting that the MANPADS could be used both for self-defense on the ground and against attack helicopters with improved crew protection.

Saab's "jam-resistant" RBS 70 NG missile can be used on a variety of platforms, including vehicles and man-portable systems

“There are no other anti-aircraft systems that are capable of fighting ground targets, and we can shoot at anything that is at a distance of 220 to 8 km,” he said. – The interception range of our complex is 8 km. When our competitors talk about firing range, they mean the maximum range, but then we talk about our maximum range, which is up to 15.7 km.”

Forsberg continued: “Most customers keep their systems in either a platoon or battalion configuration, which is a battalion with multiple platoons. A platoon usually consists of three or four fire crews. Three calculations can cover an area of ​​460 square kilometers. Compared to any infrared homing system, a platoon with such complexes will cover only about 50 square kilometers.”

Autonomous weapons

European missile manufacturer MBDA is offering the latest version of its Mistral MANPADS with improved target designation and noise immunity.

Homing missile Mistral type"fire and forget" has a high-explosive fragmentation combat unit weighing 3 kg, which contains ready-made tungsten spherical striking elements (1500 pieces). The warhead itself is equipped with a laser non-contact (remote) fuse and a contact fuse, as well as a self-destruct timer.

The infrared homing head is placed inside a pyramidal fairing. This shape has an advantage over the usual spherical one, as it reduces drag. The homing head (GOS) uses a mosaic-type receiving device made on indium arsenide and operating in the range of 3-5 microns, which significantly increases the ability to detect and capture targets with reduced IR radiation, and also allows you to distinguish a useful signal from a false one (sun, brightly lit clouds, IR traps, etc.); the stated probability of defeat is 93%.

“Currently, in units of the French army, we are modernizing the Mistral MANPADS, installing a new homing head in the missiles,” said a representative of the MBDA company. “We now have the ability to engage targets with weak thermal signatures, such as missiles and UAVs, which was a requirement of the French army and navy.”

“We have achieved significant improvements in resistance to countermeasures in the IR region of the spectrum, which typically consist of decoys and radiated jammers, we can handle them all. Of course, this increases the detection range of targets with a low infrared signature, such as an aircraft in a frontal projection, when you cannot see the engines.”

Currently, the actual range of the system is 6.5 km. As a rule, the complex is deployed by two operators, a commander and a gunner. Although it can be deployed by one person, a two-person team is preferable for ease of carrying, interaction and psychological support.

“We have also improved other parts of the rocket, such as the electronics. The protection block has been improved because when you integrate more compact modern electronics, you free up some space. In addition, we have improved the MANPADS sight, as well as the coordinate system; Based on our experience, we have simplified logistics, and we have maintained compatibility between previous versions of MANPADS and new generations,” said an MBDA representative.

Different types

Manufacturers of MANPADS produce two types of these systems: with missiles with an infrared seeker and with missiles with laser beam guidance. An MBDA representative noted that most of the anti-aircraft missiles with infrared seekers produced by MBDA's Russian and American competitors are shoulder-launched systems and, as a result, have less effective on-board electronics and warheads.

“Shoulder-launched missiles are, of course, smaller in size, their seeker is weaker and less effective. We conducted a direct assessment of the systems different countries and demonstrated that the effectiveness of the Mistral missile is significantly better than the effectiveness of shoulder-mounted competitors with a smaller warhead, without a remote fuse,” he said.

“As for beam-guided missiles, this is not at all like fire-and-forget or homing. This targeting is less accurate and the longer the range, the worse the accuracy, since your aiming block is on the ground and therefore the range directly affects the accuracy.”

“Beam-guided missiles require more training, they require a heavier and more complex guidance unit, the only advantage is their low susceptibility to countermeasures. But with the implementation of the latest improvements for Mistral MANPADS, the advantages of IR guidance are reduced to zero.”

Mallon argued that infrared missiles with a seeker and a remote fuse are prohibitively expensive and have their own disadvantages.

“Once you decide to install a remote fuse and a standard-sized warhead, then get ready for increased aerodynamic drag and reduced flight time. Take the Starstreak MANPADS, you won’t find anything like this in it, since our most important requirement when creating it was to destroy high-speed targets or helicopters with a low approach to the target and a subsequent sharp climb,” he explained.

Starstreak MANPADS, in accordance with the contract signed in September 2015, was sold to Thailand

“Systems such as Mistral and Stinger have a remote fuse and warhead, but they are limited in range, they are quite expensive, since they have a seeker. Whereas we try to reduce the cost of our systems as much as possible.”

"The Starstreak rocket has a very short time flight and this, first of all, is facilitated by high acceleration, and secondly, this is facilitated by the small diameter and low aerodynamic drag of the submunitions themselves. There are obviously advantages to remote fuzes, but the critical requirement for Starstreak was to engage such targets at high speed in the shortest amount of time,” Mallon continued.

Air superiority

Western armies for a long time enjoyed air superiority and therefore reduced their needs for inexpensive air defense systems to a minimum. In contrast, the MANPADS market was dominated by the armies of developing countries, seeking increased combat capabilities at a minimal price.

"IN Western world for many years MANPADS were not so important means due to air superiority. But in other parts of the world they are definitely becoming more dominant,” Mallon said.

“If you look at the Asia-Pacific region, militaries there are continuously updating their systems amid healthy economic growth. It is obvious that they have now gained access to modern weapons platforms and the countries in this region are expected to increase their defense spending.”

He continued: “Countries like China are increasing their spending, and countries around it are watching this process with alarm and are starting to think about increasing their military spending. “We are therefore seeing an increase in interest in MANPADS, but this is still just the beginning.”

Forsberg suggested that the need for MANPADS will increase worldwide, however, noting that the recent drop in sales was most likely the result of depressed trends in the global economy.

“Many countries have programs under which they either buy new weapons systems, or modernize those they already have, or exchange these systems for something else. But based on the economic situation, they postponed their investments and programs for the future, maybe for one, or maybe for several years,” he said.

“That is, as far as I understand, the market, at least in 2016-2017, will feel better. For the most part, these will be customers who want to replace their existing legacy systems.”

An MBDA spokesman expressed his view, saying that the need for man-portable air defense systems is not directed towards MANPADS, as the military wants more integrated solutions. “More and more armies are choosing more comfortable solutions for their air defense systems. Simple MANPADS have these negative traits, like the fatigue and openness of the shooter, who must stand and wait for hours for his moment.”

“In the cold, in the winter, it’s very difficult to stand in position for more than two hours and that’s why you need to put a rocket in the system, put the guy in a container or in an air-conditioned car where he can stay for a long time. I think for this reason MANPADS cannot yet occupy the niche that is due to them.”

The MBDA representative also noted that the market for MANPADS is not growing in real terms. It’s just that the previous generation systems are reaching the end of their service life and, as a result, new purchases are made only because armies are being replaced existing systems what is currently available on the market.

“But we are seeing growth in Eastern Europe, where armies are switching to Western MANPADS as part of the process of moving away from Russian weapons. Among these countries we can note Hungary and Estonia and some others. This is proof that these countries are turning to the West to obtain their weapons and in particular MANPADS,” he said.

Modernization potential

Regarding future upgrades to the RBS 70 NG complex, Forsberg said that Saab is always striving to improve its systems and is working on integrating the system with vehicles and ships.

“Of course, we have a “friend or foe” interrogator for this system, both in the MANPADS configuration and for the complex installed on a vehicle. So it could be an integrated sighting system on top of an off-road vehicle,” he said.

“We are looking at rockets weighing more than 100 kg, I think they are not that heavy. We also offer our clients who need mobile systems a MANPADS on a tripod, which can be used in two ways. For example, you arrived at the intended position, but you are limited there by buildings and trees, then you take a tripod and a complex and place it on the ground where you need it, and use the same sight that you used in the car, simply disconnecting it and installing it on the MANPADS. So, you buy a machine-integrated platform and you get two capabilities in one.”

Mallon explained that Thales is seeking to better understand and define the short-range air defense requirements of different countries, including the UK. It is considering several options to expand the capabilities of the Starstreak HVM MANPADS, not only the missiles, but also the launcher itself.

“The progress of automatic target tracking systems and the like is obvious, so we are striving to develop smaller systems. Compared to previous complexes, this will make it possible to obtain a truly integrated system,” he continued.

“As for the missile itself, we want to improve the characteristics of the submunition guidance system. We also want to increase the missile’s range beyond 8 km and for this range make it more effective in terms of guidance accuracy.”