Portable anti-aircraft missile launcher. What is the newest Russian man-portable air defense system "Verba"

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) is an anti-aircraft missile system designed to be transported and fired by one person. Due to their small size, MANPADS are easily camouflaged and mobile.

The first samples of MANPADS with guided missiles entered service in the late 1960s, having received widespread use during the fighting of the Arab-Israeli “war of attrition” in 1969 - the first complexes tested in a combat situation were the Soviet MANPADS “Strela- 2". Since the 1970s, MANPADS have been actively used in wars and military conflicts around the world by various partisan and rebel formations as a fairly cheap and effective means of combating aviation.

Background

The immediate predecessors of MANPADS were anti-aircraft grenade launchers, developed primarily as a means of covering troops and designed to destroy low-flying aircraft in takeoff/landing, dive or hover modes. The striking elements of this type of weapon were feathered or unfinned unguided rockets, and the required probability of destruction was achieved by a phased (with an interval of 0.1 to 0.8 seconds - German MANPADS "Luftfaust" model 1944-1945) or a one-time salvo launch ( MANPADS "Kolos", 1966-1968).

Story

The development of MANPADS in the modern sense of the term began in the 1950s, simultaneously with experiments on grenade launchers and rocket launchers with unguided anti-aircraft missiles, as well as work to improve, modernize and extend the service life of anti-aircraft machine guns. For the first time, the idea of creating an individual air defense system with a recoilless type launcher (like the most serial American grenade launcher of the Second World War “bazooka”), allowing firing guided missiles at air targets from the shoulder to equip infantrymen with it, arose in 1950 along with the beginning of the Korean War war among rocket engineers of the Californian company Convair, led by Karel Bossart. But then, a group of scientists had reasonable doubts about the prospects for the instrumental implementation of their plan on the existing production and technical base, with existing rocket technology and the existing level of development of guided missile weapons guidance systems. In 1955, taking into account the accumulated experience and developments gained, they returned to their idea, they initiated internal corporate research work with a feasibility study for the fundamental possibility of creating and organizing serial production of a light portable anti-aircraft gun missile complex, providing the ability to destroy low-flying air targets with a probability higher than that specified for existing tactical anti-aircraft weapons (otherwise the idea would be impractical) and is unpretentious enough to operate for use by infantrymen in a combat zone. The research and development work they carried out with a feasibility study confirmed the fundamental feasibility of the plan (therefore, the winter of 1955-56 can be conditionally considered the date of birth of the modern MANPADS) and already in January 1956, the engineering and technical staff of the company were given a tactical and technical task for the development and creation of a functional dimensional model missiles called "Redai" (" red eye" or " red-eyed» for the infrared homing head characteristic shape at the head of the rocket). The first mention of the Redeye MANPADS in the open press dates back to mid-May 1957, when representatives of the management of the Convair rocket-building division issued a press statement announcing the new type they had developed infantry weapons with a homing missile light enough to be operated by one person. In May 1958, USMC military personnel launched unguided mass-dimensional light-noise simulators of missiles to establish risk factors during their launch for humans and the negative impact on the tactical situation as a whole (unmasking factors, fire hazard due to the spread of the jet stream, smoke and dust from the firing position, loss of target visibility, etc.) and a month later, at the end of June, test launches of missiles with an infrared seeker began. The complex was presented to the press in mid-November 1958, and in August 1959 it was presented in the exhibition pavilion at the annual symposium of the Association of the US Army, where, in addition to important officials, foreign guests were invited.

Information about early models man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems in chronological order (by start date of work)

Name	Year	Chief designer	Parent organization		Subdivision	Location	Rocket type	Comments
Redeye	1955Expression error: not expected operator =	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	did not enter service
Lancer	1957Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Heinz Fornoff	Sperry Gyroscope Co.	Missile Flight Control Dept.		Garden City, New York	homing
SLAM	1957Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Norman Francis Parker	North American Aviation, Inc.		Autonetics Div.	Downey, California	homing	did not go beyond experiments
not assigned	1957Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Ludwig Bölkow	Bolkow-Entwicklungen KG		Flugkörper-Abteilung	, Baden-Württemberg	unknown	did not go beyond experiments
Harpy	1958Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Rodney Evert Gage	Audio-Sonics Corp.			Canoga Park, California	homing	did not go beyond experiments
Strela-2	1960Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	B.I.Shavyrin	Special design bureau GKOT			Kolomna, Moscow region. , RSFSR	homing
not assigned	1960Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Emil Stauff	Nord Aviation S.A.	Section des Engins Spéciaux		Châtillon-sous-Bagneux, Ile-de-France	unknown	did not go beyond experiments
Thunderstick	1960Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Alfred Zeringer	American Rocket Co.			Taylor, Michigan	uncontrollable	did not go beyond experiments
Blowpipe	1962Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Hugh Graham Conway	Short Brothers & Harland Ltd		Guided Weapons Div.	Castlereagh, Down, Northern Ireland	managed	entered service in 1972
Redeye Block I	1964Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	entered service in 1968
Dagger	1964Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Richard Sutton Ransom	Short Brothers & Harland Ltd		Guided Weapons Div.	Castlereagh, Down, Northern Ireland	homing	did not enter service
Ear	1966Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	A. G. Novozhilov				Kolomna, Moscow region. , RSFSR	uncontrollable	did not enter service
Redeye 2	1967Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	did not enter service
Strela-2M	1968Expression error: not expected operator =Expression error: not expected operator =	S. P. Invincible	Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering MOP			Kolomna, Moscow region. , RSFSR	homing	adopted in 1970

The placement of federal orders in the United States, including orders for R&D in the field of weapons and military equipment, is carried out on a competitive basis, the winner is determined in the competition, therefore in 1957, before the start of the field testing stage, the Redeye MANPADS competed with similar complexes from rocket manufacturing companies “Sperry-Gyroscope” and “North American Aviation”, a sample of the first was called “Lancer”, the second was called “Slam” (a backronym for “ shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile"). The main requirements that the army command imposed on the control samples of the three competing companies were as follows:

The combat weight of the complex should ensure its normal transportability on foot.
The overall dimensions of the complex must correspond to the volume of internal space of existing serial vehicles and armored vehicles (the NAR Mk 4 was taken as a model).
The complex's guidance system must ensure reliable engagement of low-flying targets, both manned and unmanned fixed-wing aerial vehicles (airplanes) and rotary-wing aircraft (helicopters).
The missile in a sealed launch tube must be unitary ammunition, supplied loaded in factory configuration and ready for combat use.
No need for routine maintenance and minimum requirements to inspect launch tubes with missiles stored in caps in warehouses.
Extremely short course anti-aircraft gunner training.
Safety for the shooter at the time of launch.
Easy to use.

SAM "Lancer" ( Lancer) was carried disassembled by a crew of two people, further operation after deployment to the firing position and installation of the launch tube with the missile on the guide could be carried out by the shooter alone, the missile was launched from a machine installed on the ground or mounted on a vehicle. It corresponded to the definition of a limited-portable air defense system; as a means of ensuring mobility, it required a unit of motor transport, like a standard light army all-terrain vehicle such as a half-ton jeep. Based on the results of the assessment, it was recognized as not meeting the requirements of an individual weapon (since it could not be normally transported and maintained alone) and many times exceeding the requirements for the maximum permissible combat weight of weapons (subsequently, in December 1958, the Sperry would again compete with the Convair , when he brings to the attention of the army command an improved version of the Lancer against the self-propelled modification of the Redeye, which will be presented among other models of self-propelled air defense systems as part of the Mohler project). MANPADS "Slam" ( SLAM) was carried and maintained by one soldier, the rocket was launched from the shoulder and in its design it was in many ways identical to the Redeye. When assembled, the complex with the rocket weighed about 23 kg (that is, 2.5 times more than the control sample of the main competitor). Further development was rejected by the military command due to exceeding the maximum permissible combat weight of the weapon. A comparative analysis and assessment of functional layouts and accompanying technical documentation of the three above-mentioned complexes was carried out expert commission officers of the US Army Missile Command under the chairmanship of Francis Duvall until January 17, 1958, when Redeye was recognized as the winner of the competition. After representatives of the top management of North American Aviation appealed this decision to higher authorities (because they considered the advantages of the latter to be not so obvious), specialists from the US Army Ordnance and Technical Committee were tasked with conducting an in-depth comparative analysis of the technical qualities of Slam and “Redai”, which was carried out until April 1958 and confirmed the commission’s conclusions regarding the superiority of the latter.

A little after the publication of data on the Redeye MANPADS in the press, several more portable anti-aircraft weapons were proposed (“Harpy” and “Thunderstick”), which, however, did not reach military testing. The same period of time includes work on the creation of rocket launchers with unguided rockets with hypersonic flight speed, which were a by-product of the Sprint missile defense program (all of them, to one degree or another, copied it in their form), one of the results of which was the synthesis of high-calorie varieties rocket fuel with a combustion intensity significantly superior to those already available, which predetermined their use for these rocket launchers. Most of them were intended to combat armored vehicles and ground targets, but some were universal and made it possible to simultaneously fight against high-speed air attack weapons. Almost all missiles of this type had a “carrying cone” type layout and were thin elongated cone-like projectiles. None of the MANPADS (as well as ATGMs) with unguided missiles were ultimately adopted for service. First half of the 1960s is characterized by the simultaneous intensification of work on the creation of MANPADS in various NATO countries (mainly in the USA and Great Britain, individual experiments were undertaken by German and French rocket scientists). The American-British included a mutual exchange of technologies between military-industrial companies (the main counterparties in which were Northrop and General Dynamics on the American side; Shorts and Elliotts on the British side) - this exchange owes its appearance projects to create MANPADS with command guidance in the USA and complexes with an automatic guidance system with missiles equipped with homing heads in the UK, none of which ultimately reached military testing, since the American military leadership all types of weapons of this type were required to be extremely easy to operate (according to the “shoot and throw” principle), and the British side, on the contrary, emphasized the training of qualified operators, as a result of which the “British Stinger”, like the “American Blowpipe”, did not took place as serial models of weapons. The development of such MANPADS as the Redeye in the USA, the Blowpipe and the Dagger in the UK dates back to this period. Meanwhile, the baton in the creation of MANPADS was picked up by the Soviet Union and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of the USSR, using the method of reverse engineering, the Strela-2 complex was created, tested in a combat situation (ironically, on American planes and helicopters) and put into service even earlier than its American source is "Redeye".

By the end of the 1960s. MANPADS with anti-aircraft guided missiles of traditional aerodynamic designs (normal and “duck”) finally defeated alternative projects, which subsequently arose only sporadically, during the next round of the international arms race, as a cheap alternative to expensive homing missiles. However, the first samples of MANPADS with an infrared homing head (IR seeker) missiles suffered from low noise immunity and high weather dependence; they were at all effective only in conditions of clear visibility, in cloudless weather and in the absence of infrared countermeasures (heat traps) from the enemy. and MANPADS with manual radio command control of the missile did not provide the required guidance accuracy, which led to the creation of new MANPADS with IR seeker “Redai-2”, and then “Stinger”, as well as MANPADS with laser beam command guidance - “Blowpipe” and “Oltenit” in the USA, and "Rayrider" in Sweden (of which only "Stinger" and "Rayrider" reached the stage of mass production).

As more and more countries around the world mastered the production of MANPADS, their military industries produced hundreds of thousands of missiles, put them into service with their own troops and exported abroad. The popularity of MANPADS on the international arms market (including the black market) as a relatively cheap and effective air defense weapon, coupled with support Soviet Union, China, the United States and Great Britain, various national liberation movements and rebel groups in the world, as well as as a result of the independently implemented policies of the leaders of socialist-oriented countries (primarily, such as Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Fidel Castro in Cuba, under whose leadership their countries carried out intensive international military-technical cooperation), which had at their disposal impressive arsenals of Soviet weapons, led to the fact that various complexes (mainly of Soviet production or countries of the Soviet bloc) fell into the hands of terrorist organizations and began to pose a serious threat to civil aviation . The particular popularity of specifically Soviet MANPADS was due to 1) the scale of their production (many times higher than the production of similar foreign models); 2) cheapness (the average cost of the Strela-2 PRZK and one missile for it abroad in 1988 prices was about $7 thousand compared to $100 thousand for the Stinger) and availability, especially with the beginning of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany and the disintegration of the USSR, when weapons and military equipment poured out en masse from storage warehouses in an unknown direction; 3) ease of operation, which did not require. MANPADS of NATO countries were often more difficult to operate, requiring the dispatch of instructors or training courses for operators, and obtaining them was much more problematic, so there were an order of magnitude less of them in the hands of various dubious organizations. With the end of the Cold War, under the auspices of the UN and other international organizations, various activities and programs have been carried out to disarm and dispose of MANPADS arsenals in order to prevent their illegal acquisition by attackers.

List of MANPADS by country

Year	Name (NATO code)	Pointing type	Length, m	Diameter, mm	Rocket mass, kg	MANPADS combat weight, kg	Warhead type	Weight of warhead (WU), kg	Target engagement range, m	Target engagement height, m	Average rocket speed (max.), m/s	Max. target speed (towards/towards), m/s	Spreading	Probability of hitting a target 1 missile
Surface-to-air missiles
	9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail)	TPV	1,42	72	9,15	14,5	OFC	1,15 (0,37)	800-3600	50-1500	430 ( =1,3)	220	60 countries	0,19-0,25

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 ones appeared anti-aircraft missile systems, 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.

The task to develop a new “individual” anti-aircraft missile system with enhanced 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 put into service. On this model they decided to use the already existing homing head from the Strela 3 MANPADS. This 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 detonation of the charge 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.

A mechanism for automatic reversal was built into the rocket, including electronic circuit in the homing head and pulse 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 channel, 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 the total mass of 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 the shock wave and fragments cannot 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. Under license, "Needles" were produced 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 adopted 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. With the help of MANPADS, four Harriers of the American Marine Corps were also shot down.

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 was the reason for the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, during which more people were killed per day than in the day in the 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 AS-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 conducting 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 the majority of 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

The Verba MANPADS is the latest Russian man-portable anti-aircraft missile system, adopted for service in 2014. This weapon has just begun to arrive in combat units; the first to receive this MANPADS were the anti-aircraft gunners of the 98th Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo).

The anti-aircraft complex was presented to potential foreign customers at the Defexpo India exhibition in 2019. Rosoboronexport expects that not only the Indian military, but also the defense departments of Algeria, Egypt and a number of other countries will show interest in the Verba complex.

The Verba MANPADS is designed to destroy low-flying air targets (both on a collision course and on a catch-up course) in the face of enemy opposition and the use of decoy thermal targets. This anti-aircraft missile system is especially effective for destroying stealth targets: unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.

The new anti-aircraft complex uses several new and original technical solutions, which allows it to more effectively destroy enemy aircraft and carry out air defense. When developing the Verba, the rich experience in the development and use of domestic weapons of this class was taken into account. Very often, Verba MANPADS are called weapons of a new generation, which are superior not only to Soviet and Russian developments(“Igla-1”, “Igla”, “Igla-S”), but also the best foreign analogues: American Stinger-Block-I and Chinese QW-2.

History of creation

The first information about the Verba MANPADS appeared back in 2008. However, the messages were rather scarce and vague. It was stated that the Verba would be put into service in 2009, but these deadlines were constantly pushed back. In 2011, military tests of the new complex began, but its adoption into service was delayed until 2014.

The development of the complex was carried out by the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, one of the world leaders in the creation of such weapons.

Currently, the new MANPADS have entered service with the Ivanovo Airborne Division. It is planned that in the coming years "Verba" will be delivered to other units Russian army and will replace outdated anti-aircraft missile systems.

Description

MANPADS "Verba" is designed to destroy low-flying air targets (airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles) on catch-up and oncoming courses. The firing range of MANPADS is 6 km, and the target engagement height is 4 km. The complex includes a missile with an infrared homing head (GOS), the guidance of which is carried out in three ranges at once, which significantly increases its characteristics and efficiency of use. A similar principle is implemented on most modern MANPADS (for example, the seeker of the Igla MANPADS has two channels), but only the Verba uses three separate photodetectors, each of which operates in its own range. In this regard, it can truly be said that “Verba” is truly a new generation MANPADS.

In addition, the missile seeker is protected from laser jamming systems that are installed on modern combat aircraft and helicopters.

Another feature of the complex is the presence automated system control system (ACS), which detects air objects, determines their flight parameters, and also distributes targets between anti-aircraft gunners in one unit.

A common problem when using MANPADS is the late detection of flying objects. Previously, MANPADS crews tried to visually detect a target, but this is not always an easy task.

To make the work of anti-aircraft gunners even more difficult, pilots often fly at low or ultra-low altitudes. In this case, the enemy aircraft suddenly appears in the field of view, moves at high speed, so it’s difficult for a fighter to react in time and prepare for shooting.

The Verba MANPADS automated control system includes a small and noise-proof radar station that can detect an air target at distances of up to 80 km. After this, the anti-aircraft gunners are given beep about the presence of the enemy, the automated control system, using the GLONASS system, determines the location of the shooter and gives him the azimuth for shooting.

The Verba anti-aircraft complex is part of the tactical complex air defense"Barnaul-T", it is integrated into the overall air defense system and can receive information about air targets from higher-level detection systems.

The Verba MANPADS includes the following components:

trigger 9P521;
surveillance radar 1L122 with a target detection range of 40-80 km;
guided missile 9M336;
system for determining “friend or foe”;
mobile control point 9В861;
reconnaissance and control, planning and fire control module;
installation kit 9С933−1 (for division);
anti-aircraft gunner automation kit 9S935;
means for education and training of personnel.

The 9M336 missile has a new solid propellant engine with higher performance compared to MANPADS currently in service with the Russian army. The missile has an enlarged warhead and is also equipped with an adaptive contact-proximity fuse. The complex also includes a Mowgli-2M night vision sight, which allows firing at night and in conditions of limited visibility.

Another undoubted advantage of the Verba is the simplification of its maintenance. Now the homing head does not need to be regularly cooled with liquid nitrogen. This allows you to refuse additional equipment, containers with refrigerant, save time and effort.

The commander of the anti-aircraft regiment of the 98th Airborne Division, which has already received Verba MANPADS, said that the new systems can significantly reduce the deployment time of crews. Previously, it could take up to five minutes from detecting a target to opening fire, but now this period has decreased by almost ten times.

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems have long and firmly taken their place in the system of mobile air defense systems ground forces many countries. New Russian MANPADS have unique abilities, which 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 aerial vehicles, 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 us 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 against 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 is American complex FIM-92 "Stinger" 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 missile systems - 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 anti-aircraft units of brigades and divisions at once. 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 counter air defense systems, protect against massive strikes cruise missiles, create 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, training 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 abandon additional equipment, nitrogen storage facilities, and 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 of an automated control system, are fully compatible with the Andromeda-D automated control system used in the Airborne Forces. “Verba” performed well during one of the paratroopers’ exercises in 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.

Well, it doesn’t, but what to do? I have to say so... :-)

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.

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 aerial vehicles, 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 Engineering Design Bureau” JSC, 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.

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 against 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 a Stinger missile can reach cannot exceed 3.8 thousand meters, and the distance from the shooter’s location is 4.8 thousand.

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 missile systems - 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 anti-aircraft units of brigades and divisions at once. 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 air attacks using modern means of countering air defense systems, protect against massive attacks by cruise missiles, and create 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, training and training, makes it possible to ensure full combat readiness of units, to develop and maintain among personnel the skills of using missile systems.

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 abandon additional equipment, nitrogen storage facilities, and 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 of an automated control system, are fully compatible 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 conditions of abnormally low temperatures, no failures or failures in the use of these weapons and their control systems occurred. As Valery Kashin, general designer of JSC NPK KBM, noted, sea and helicopter versions of the Verba are currently in development.

At the Army-2015 military-technical forum held last week, the complex was presented to the public for the first time. Business Insider emphasizes that in the future the Verba MANPADS, superior to all world analogues, can become a threat to the United States and its allies.
It is ten times more effective than its predecessors in overcoming pyrotechnic interference. And the capture and destruction zone, compared to, say, Igla, has increased by 2.5 times. In addition, missiles with MANPADS are directed to targets using a three-spectrum optical finder, which operates in the ultraviolet, near-infrared and mid-infrared ranges, which increases the accuracy of the weapon and speeds up target acquisition, the media notes. Another advantage of Verba is that the homing system of the complex is capable of deceiving anti-missile systems. Using MANPADS does not require any special skills.

According to the American publication, the export of such a complex is a “threatening event.”

« There are dozens of irregular forces and terrorist groups who want to get their hands on something like the Verba MANPADS, and they could use it to harm the US or allies", writes Business Insider.

And what do other countries have?

USA – FIM-92 Stinger

Since the early eighties, the armed forces of the United States and a number of foreign countries have been using FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS. Over the past decades, this complex has undergone several upgrades aimed at improving its performance. First of all. The guidance and control systems were modified, which led to a noticeable increase in performance. In addition, certain measures are being taken to increase service life.

Stinger complexes of all modifications have a similar composition. These MANPADS use an anti-aircraft missile in a transport and launch container, a trigger mechanism, an optical sight for visual preliminary guidance of the missile, a unit with an electric battery and coolant, as well as friend-or-foe identification equipment.

FIM-92 MANPADS missiles of all modifications are built according to the “canard” design and are equipped with solid propellant rocket engines. The missiles use dual-band infrared homing heads. The latest modernization projects provide for the use of seekers operating in both the infrared and ultraviolet ranges. Such equipment provides more effective target detection and is less susceptible to interference.

Missiles of all modifications have a length of about 1500 mm and a body diameter of 70 mm. The launch weight of the rocket is about 10 kg. In combat position, the complex weighs about 15-16 kg. The solid propellant rocket engine used provides flight speeds of up to 700-750 m/s. A high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 2.3 kg is used to hit a target. The latest modifications of the Stinger complex are capable of flying at a range of up to 8 km and hitting targets at altitudes of up to 3.5 km.

The FIM-92 Stinger complex was adopted by the US Army in 1981 and soon replaced similar systems of its class. In addition, Stinger MANPADS were supplied in large quantities foreign countries. Such systems were actively used in various armed conflicts, starting with the battles for the Falkland Islands. There are projects for using Stinger missiles as weapons for ground-based air defense systems. In addition, such weapons can be used aviation technology several types.

UK – Starstreak

In 1997, Great Britain adopted the Starstreak MANPADS, which had been developed since the mid-eighties. In this complex it was proposed to use a number of original ideas. A curious feature The complex is capable of being implemented in three configurations: portable, lightweight easel and self-propelled. Moreover, all variants are equipped with the same equipment and use the same rocket.

The main element of the Starstreak MANPADS is the Starstreak HVM (High Velocity Missile) guided missile. Like other products of its class, this missile is delivered in a transport and launch container, which is docked with other elements of the complex. The Starstreak HVM missile is very different from other anti-aircraft weapons. Instead of a traditional high-explosive fragmentation warhead, an original one is installed on it, consisting of three warheads independent parts. Three arrow-shaped striking elements are attached to the head of the missile, which are equipped with their own guidance systems and high-explosive fragmentation warheads.

For some reasons, the authors of the project from Thales Air Defense decided to use semi-active laser guidance in the Starstreak complex. Before launch and until the target is hit, the operator of the complex must hold the aiming mark on the attacked object, illuminating it with a laser beam. According to some reports, automatic target tracking can be used in self-propelled and mounted air defense systems.

After detecting and tracking a target, the operator must launch while continuing to track the target. With the help of the launch engine, the rocket leaves the container and turns on the propulsion engine. With the help of the latter, the rocket covers a certain distance to the target. After the solid fuel charge has been depleted, three arrow-shaped striking elements are released. They, using their own systems, find the target and aim at it. It is argued that the use of three arrow-shaped elements can increase the likelihood of hitting a target. Once it hits an enemy aircraft or helicopter, the arrow-shaped ammunition pierces its skin and damages internal components, and then explodes, increasing the damage.

The Starstreak HVM missile has a length of 1.37 m and a maximum body diameter of 130 mm. The weight of the transport and launch container with the missile is about 14 kg. Arrow-shaped striking elements with a length of 45 cm and a diameter of 2 cm are equipped with small stabilizers and rudders. Total weight three miniature warheads mounted on striking elements - about 900 g. The Starstreak air defense system can hit targets at ranges of up to 6 km and altitudes of up to 5 km.

Starstreak HVM missiles can be used in several types of anti-aircraft systems. First of all, this is a portable version, which uses a trigger mechanism and some other equipment. In addition, there is a modification of the LML, the basis of which is a lightweight machine for three containers with missiles and guidance equipment. For installation on self-propelled chassis, the Starstreak SP combat module with mounts for eight containers and a set of special equipment is offered.

The main operator of the Starstreak MANPADS is the British Armed Forces. Since the beginning of the 2000s, a number of systems of this family have been supplied to foreign countries: Indonesia, Thailand and South Africa.

France – Mistral

Since the late eighties, the French military has been using the Mistral MANPADS, developed by Matra BAE Dynamics (now part of the MBDA concern). In the mid-nineties, an updated modification of the complex appeared, which had higher characteristics compared to the basic version. In addition, several variants have been developed based on this MANPADS. anti-aircraft systems, differing from each other in basic machines, etc.

Despite all the efforts of the developers, the Mistral complex rocket turned out to be quite heavy - its launch weight reaches 18.7 kg. The mass of the rocket with the transport and launch container is 24 kg. For this reason, the authors of the project had to use a curious solution that compensates heavy weight missiles, however, significantly reduces the mobility of the complex in comparison with other systems of its class. All units of the portable version of the complex are mounted on a machine of a special design. A vertical stand with a small seat for the operator and holders for the missile transport and launch container is mounted on a tripod support. In addition, sighting devices are mounted on the stand. Using such a machine, the operator can aim the missile in two planes.

The Mistral missile has a standard layout and configuration for such products. At the same time, there were some original ideas. Thus, the rocket's head fairing has the shape of a multifaceted pyramid, which improves aerodynamic characteristics in comparison with traditional spherical fairings. The infrared seeker is built on the basis of a mosaic-type receiving device, thanks to which it can find targets with a reduced level of radiation, as well as distinguish them from interference and reflected radiation.

The Mistral MANPADS is equipped with one of the largest missiles in its class. Its length reaches 1.86 m, the body diameter is 90 mm, and the weight with the transport and launch container is 24 kg. The rocket is equipped with launch and sustainer solid fuel engines. The sustainer propulsion system accelerates the rocket to 800 m/s. It ensures the capture of aircraft-type targets at ranges of up to 6 km, which is equal to the maximum flight range of the missile. The maximum height of damage is 3 km. When using the Mistral complex to attack other targets, such as helicopters, the maximum range and height of detection and destruction are reduced. The target is hit using a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 3 kg. Warhead equipped with contact and remote laser fuses.

Despite its large dimensions and the lack of serious advantages over other modern analogues, the French-made Mistral complex was of interest not only to the armed forces of France, but also to the military of other states. This MANPADS in various modifications was supplied to 25 countries around the world. In the interests of foreign armies, both systems were produced in
basic configuration and anti-aircraft systems, made on the basis of self-propelled chassis.

China – FN-6

In the late nineties, the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology took up the project of a new man-portable anti-aircraft missile system. A new development called FN-6 was first demonstrated in 2000. By this time, the complex was being mass-produced and supplied to units of the People's Liberation Army of China. Later, contracts were signed for the supply of such systems to foreign countries.

In terms of its general architecture and composition, the FN-6 MANPADS is typical representative weapons of its class. It includes a transport and launch container with a missile, a launch mechanism and a set of special equipment. Like other missiles of this class, the ammunition of the FN-6 complex is equipped with an infrared seeker. A photodetector with four cells that receive target radiation is used. The seeker is covered with a pyramidal fairing. According to some reports, a Chinese-developed homing head is capable of finding a target using active jamming.

The rocket is 1.49 m long with a diameter of 71 mm and weighs 10.8 kg. The weight of the ready-to-use complex is 16 kg. The rocket leaves the container using the starting engine, after which the sustainer engine is turned on. The solid propellant propulsion engine accelerates the rocket to a speed of about 600 m/s. It ensures that targets are hit at ranges of up to 6 km and altitudes of 15-3800 m. When firing on a collision course, the FN-6 MANPADS can hit targets moving at speeds of up to 800 m; when firing in pursuit, the target speed is limited to 500 m/s. In flight, the rocket can maneuver with an overload of up to 18 units.

The FN-6 MANPADS was created by order of the People's Liberation Army of China, which received the first production batches of weapons. Subsequently, several foreign countries acquired such weapons: Malaysia, Cambodia, Sudan, Pakistan, Syria, etc.

It is known that modernized versions of the FN-6 complex are being developed. Thus, in 2006, the FN-16 complex with improved characteristics was first introduced. According to some reports, the missile of this MANPADS is equipped with a dual-band homing head, which significantly increases its resistance to interference. Other modifications of the complex were also created.

Link to the article from which this copy was made -