The best and deadliest ballistic and cruise missiles. Intercontinental ballistic missile

In which there is no thrust or control force and moment, it is called a ballistic trajectory. If the mechanism that powers the object remains operational throughout the entire period of movement, it belongs to the category of aviation or dynamic. The trajectory of an aircraft during flight with the engines turned off at high altitude can also be called ballistic.

An object that moves along given coordinates is affected only by the mechanism that drives the body, the forces of resistance and gravity. A set of such factors excludes the possibility of rectilinear movement. This rule works even in space.

The body describes a trajectory that is similar to an ellipse, hyperbola, parabola or circle. The last two options are achieved at the second and first cosmic velocities. Calculations for movement along a parabola or circle are carried out to determine the trajectory ballistic missile.

Taking into account all the parameters during launch and flight (weight, speed, temperature, etc.), they distinguish following features trajectories:

In order to launch the rocket as far as possible, you need to choose the right angle. The best is sharp, about 45º.
The object has the same initial and final speed.
The body lands at the same angle as it launches.
The time it takes for an object to move from the start to the middle, as well as from the middle to the finishing point, is the same.

Trajectory properties and practical implications

Movement of the body after the influence on it ceases driving force studies external ballistics. This science provides calculations, tables, scales, sights and develops optimal options for shooting. The ballistic trajectory of a bullet is the curved line described by the center of gravity of an object in flight.

Since the body is affected by gravity and resistance, the path that the bullet (projectile) describes forms the shape of a curved line. Under the influence of these forces, the speed and height of the object gradually decreases. There are several trajectories: flat, mounted and conjugate.

The first is achieved by using an elevation angle that is less than the angle of greatest range. If the flight range remains the same for different trajectories, such a trajectory can be called conjugate. In the case where the elevation angle is greater than the angle of greatest range, the path becomes called a suspended path.

The trajectory of the ballistic movement of an object (bullet, projectile) consists of points and sections:

Departure(for example, the muzzle of a barrel) - given point is the beginning of the path, and, accordingly, the countdown.
Weapons horizon- this section passes through the departure point. The trajectory crosses it twice: during release and during fall.
Elevation area- this is a line that is a continuation of the horizon and forms a vertical plane. This area is called the firing plane.
Trajectory vertices- this is the point that is located in the middle between the starting and ending points (shot and fall), has the highest angle along the entire path.
Tips- the target or sighting location and the beginning of the object’s movement form the aiming line. An aiming angle is formed between the horizon of the weapon and the final target.

Rockets: features of launch and movement

There are guided and unguided ballistic missiles. The formation of the trajectory is also influenced by external and external factors (resistance forces, friction, weight, temperature, required flight range, etc.).

The general path of a launched body can be described by the following stages:

Launch. In this case, the rocket enters the first stage and begins its movement. From this moment, the measurement of the height of the ballistic missile’s flight path begins.
After about a minute, the second engine starts.
60 seconds after the second stage, the third engine starts.
Then the body enters the atmosphere.
Lastly, the warheads explode.

Launching a rocket and forming a movement curve

The rocket's travel curve consists of three parts: the launch period, free flight and re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Live projectiles are launched from a fixed point on portable installations, as well as vehicles(ships, submarines). The flight initiation lasts from tenths of a thousandths of a second to several minutes. Free fall is the largest part flight path of a ballistic missile.

The advantages of running such a device are:

Long free flight time. Thanks to this property, fuel consumption is significantly reduced in comparison with other rockets. To fly prototypes (cruise missiles), more economical engines (for example, jets) are used.
At the speed at which the intercontinental weapon moves (approximately 5 thousand m/s), interception is very difficult.
The ballistic missile is capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 10 thousand km.

In theory, the path of movement of a projectile is a phenomenon from the general theory of physics, the branch of dynamics solids in motion. With respect to these objects, the movement of the center of mass and the movement around it are considered. The first relates to the characteristics of the object in flight, the second to stability and control.

Since the body has programmed trajectories for flight, the calculation ballistic trajectory rocket is determined by physical and dynamic calculations.

Modern developments in ballistics

Since military missiles of any kind are dangerous to life, the main task of defense is to improve the launch points of the striking systems. The latter must ensure the complete neutralization of intercontinental and ballistic weapons at any point in the movement. A multi-tier system is proposed for consideration:

This invention consists of separate tiers, each of which has its own purpose: the first two will be equipped with laser-type weapons (homing missiles, electromagnetic guns).
The next two sections are equipped with the same weapons, but designed to destroy the head parts of enemy weapons.

Developments in defense missile technology do not stand still. Scientists are modernizing a quasi-ballistic missile. The latter is presented as an object that has a low path in the atmosphere, but at the same time sharply changes direction and range.

The ballistic trajectory of such a missile does not affect its speed: even at an extremely low altitude, the object moves faster than a normal one. For example, the Russian-developed Iskander flies at supersonic speeds - from 2100 to 2600 m/s with a mass of 4 kg 615 g; missile cruises move a warhead weighing up to 800 kg. During flight, it maneuvers and evades missile defenses.

Intercontinental weapons: control theory and components

Multistage ballistic missiles are called intercontinental missiles. This name appeared for a reason: because long range flight, it becomes possible to transfer cargo to the other end of the Earth. The main combat substance (charge) is mainly an atomic or thermonuclear substance. The latter is located in the front of the projectile.

Next, a control system, engines and fuel tanks are installed in the design. Dimensions and weight depend on the required flight range: the greater the distance, the higher the launch weight and dimensions of the structure.

The ballistic flight trajectory of an ICBM is distinguished from the trajectory of other missiles by altitude. Multistage rocket goes through the startup process, then moves upward at a right angle for several seconds. The control system ensures that the gun is directed towards the target. The first stage of the rocket drive separates independently after complete burnout, and at the same moment the next one is launched. Upon reaching a given speed and flight altitude, the rocket begins to rapidly move down towards the target. The flight speed to the destination reaches 25 thousand km/h.

World developments of special-purpose missiles

About 20 years ago, during the modernization of one of the medium-range missile systems, a project for anti-ship ballistic missiles was adopted. This design is placed on an autonomous launch platform. The weight of the projectile is 15 tons, and the launch range is almost 1.5 km.

The trajectory of a ballistic missile for destroying ships is not amenable to quick calculations, so it is impossible to predict enemy actions and eliminate this weapon.

This development has the following advantages:

Launch range. This value is 2-3 times greater than that of the prototypes.
Flight speed and altitude make military weapon invulnerable to missile defense.

World experts are confident that weapons of mass destruction can still be detected and neutralized. For such purposes, special out-of-orbit reconnaissance stations, aviation, submarines, ships, etc. are used. The most important “countermeasure” is space reconnaissance, which is presented in the form of radar stations.

The ballistic trajectory is determined by the reconnaissance system. The received data is transmitted to its destination. The main problem is the rapid obsolescence of information - for short period Over time, the data loses its relevance and may diverge from the actual location of the weapon at a distance of up to 50 km.

Characteristics of combat systems of the domestic defense industry

Most powerful weapon Currently, an intercontinental ballistic missile is considered to be stationary. Domestic missile system"R-36M2" is one of the best. It houses a heavy-duty military weapon"15A18M", which is capable of carrying up to 36 individual precision-guided nuclear projectiles.

The ballistic flight path of such a weapon is almost impossible to predict; accordingly, neutralizing a missile also poses difficulties. The combat power of the projectile is 20 Mt. If this ammunition explodes at a low altitude, the communication, control, and missile defense systems will fail.

Modifications given rocket launcher can also be used for peaceful purposes.

Among solid fuel missiles, the RT-23 UTTH is considered especially powerful. Such a device is based autonomously (mobile). In the stationary prototype station ("15Zh60"), the starting thrust is 0.3 higher compared to the mobile version.

Missile launches carried out directly from stations are difficult to neutralize, because the number of projectiles can reach 92 units.

Missile systems and installations of the foreign defense industry

Height of the missile's ballistic trajectory American complex Minuteman 3 is not particularly different from the flight characteristics of domestic inventions.

The complex, which was developed in the USA, is the only “defender” North America among weapons of this type to this day. Despite the age of the invention, the gun’s stability indicators are not bad even today, because the complex’s missiles could withstand missile defense and also hit a target with a high level of protection. The active part of the flight is short and lasts 160 seconds.

Another American invention is the Peakkeeper. It could also ensure an accurate hit on the target thanks to the most favorable trajectory of ballistic movement. Experts say that the combat capabilities of the above complex are almost 8 times higher than those of the Minuteman. The Peacekeeper's combat duty was 30 seconds.

Projectile flight and movement in the atmosphere

From the dynamics section we know the influence of air density on the speed of movement of any body in various layers of the atmosphere. The function of the last parameter takes into account the dependence of density directly on flight altitude and is expressed as a function of:

N (y) = 20000-y/20000+y;

where y is the height of the projectile (m).

The parameters and trajectory of an intercontinental ballistic missile can be calculated using special computer programs. The latter will provide statements, as well as data on flight altitude, speed and acceleration, and the duration of each stage.

The experimental part confirms the calculated characteristics and proves that the speed is influenced by the shape of the projectile (the better the streamlining, the higher the speed).

Guided weapons of mass destruction of the last century

All weapons of this type can be divided into two groups: ground and airborne. Ground-based devices are those that are launched from stationary stations (for example, mines). Aviation, accordingly, is launched from a carrier ship (aircraft).

The ground-based group includes ballistic, cruise and anti-aircraft missiles. Aviation - projectile aircraft, ADB and guided air combat missiles.

The main characteristic of calculating the ballistic trajectory is the altitude (several thousand kilometers above the atmospheric layer). At a given level above the ground, projectiles reach high speeds and create enormous difficulties for their detection and neutralization of missile defense.

Well-known ballistic missiles that are designed for average range flights are: “Titan”, “Thor”, “Jupiter”, “Atlas”, etc.

The ballistic trajectory of a missile, which is launched from a point and hits specified coordinates, has the shape of an ellipse. The size and length of the arc depends on the initial parameters: speed, launch angle, mass. If the projectile speed is equal to the first cosmic speed (8 km/s), a military weapon, which is launched parallel to the horizon, will turn into a satellite of the planet with a circular orbit.

Despite constant improvements in the field of defense, the flight path of a military projectile remains virtually unchanged. At the moment, technology is not able to violate the laws of physics that all bodies obey. A small exception are homing missiles - they can change direction depending on the movement of the target.

The inventors of anti-missile systems are also modernizing and developing a weapon to destroy weapons. mass destruction new generation.

The ICBM is a very impressive human creation. Huge size, thermonuclear power, column of flame, roar of engines and the menacing roar of launch. However, all this exists only on the ground and in the first minutes of launch. After they expire, the rocket ceases to exist. Further into the flight and to carry out the combat mission, only what remains of the rocket after acceleration is used - its payload.

With long launch ranges, the payload of an intercontinental ballistic missile extends into space for many hundreds of kilometers. It rises into the layer of low-orbit satellites, 1000-1200 km above the Earth, and is located among them for a short time, only slightly lagging behind their general run. And then it begins to slide down along an elliptical trajectory...

A ballistic missile consists of two main parts - the accelerating part and the other for the sake of which the acceleration is started. The accelerating part is a pair or three of large multi-ton stages, filled to capacity with fuel and with engines at the bottom. They give the necessary speed and direction to the movement of the other main part of the rocket - the head. The booster stages, replacing each other in the launch relay, accelerate this warhead in the direction of the area of its future fall.

The head of a rocket is a complex load consisting of many elements. It contains a warhead (one or more), a platform on which these warheads are placed along with all other equipment (such as means of deceiving enemy radars and missile defenses), and a fairing. There is also fuel and compressed gases in the head part. The entire warhead will not fly to the target. It, like the ballistic missile itself earlier, will split into many elements and simply cease to exist as a single whole. The fairing will separate from it not far from the launch area, during the operation of the second stage, and somewhere along the way it will fall. The platform will collapse upon entering the air of the impact area. Only one type of element will reach the target through the atmosphere. Warheads.

Up close, the warhead looks like an elongated cone, a meter or one and a half long, with a base as thick as a human torso. The nose of the cone is pointed or slightly blunt. This cone is special aircraft, whose task is to deliver weapons to the target. We'll come back to warheads later and take a closer look at them.

The head of the “Peacekeeper”, The photographs show the breeding stages of the American heavy ICBM LGM0118A Peacekeeper, also known as MX. The missile was equipped with ten 300 kt multiple warheads. The missile was withdrawn from service in 2005.

Pull or push?

In a missile, all warheads are located in the so-called breeding stage, or “bus”. Why bus? Because, having first freed itself from the fairing, and then from the last booster stage, the propagation stage carries the warheads, like passengers, along given stops, along their trajectories, along which the deadly cones will disperse to their targets.

The “bus” is also called the combat stage, because its work determines the accuracy of pointing the warhead to the target point, and therefore combat effectiveness. The propagation stage and its operation is one of the biggest secrets in a rocket. But we will still take a slight, schematic look at this mysterious step and its difficult dance in space.

The dilution stage has different shapes. Most often, it looks like a round stump or a wide loaf of bread, on which warheads are mounted on top, points forward, each on its own spring pusher. The warheads are pre-positioned at precise separation angles (at the missile base, manually, using theodolites) and face different sides, like a bunch of carrots, like a hedgehog’s needles. The platform, bristling with warheads, occupies a given position in flight, gyro-stabilized in space. And in the right moments Warheads are pushed out of it one by one. They are ejected immediately after completion of acceleration and separation from the last accelerating stage. Until (you never know?) they shot down this entire undiluted hive with anti-missile weapons or something on board the breeding stage failed.

But this happened before, at the dawn of multiple warheads. Now breeding presents a completely different picture. If previously the warheads “stuck” forward, now the stage itself is in front along the course, and the warheads hang from below, with their tops back, upside down, like bats. The “bus” itself in some rockets also lies upside down, in a special recess in the upper stage of the rocket. Now, after separation, the breeding stage does not push, but drags the warheads along with it. Moreover, it drags, resting against its four “paws” placed crosswise, deployed in front. At the ends of these metal legs are rearward-facing thrust nozzles for the expansion stage. After separation from the accelerating stage, the “bus” very accurately, precisely sets its movement in the beginning of space with the help of its own powerful guidance system. He himself occupies the exact path of the next warhead - its individual path.

Then the special inertia-free locks that held the next detachable warhead are opened. And not even separated, but simply now no longer connected with the stage, the warhead remains motionless hanging here, in complete weightlessness. The moments of her own flight began and flowed by. Like one individual berry next to a bunch of grapes with other warhead grapes not yet plucked from the stage by the breeding process.

Fiery Ten, K-551 "Vladimir Monomakh" - Russian nuclear submarine strategic purpose(project 955 "Borey"), armed with 16 solid-fuel Bulava ICBMs with ten multiple warheads.

Delicate movements

Now the task of the stage is to crawl away from the warhead as delicately as possible, without disturbing its precisely set (targeted) movement with gas jets of its nozzles. If a supersonic jet of a nozzle hits a separated warhead, it will inevitably add its own additive to the parameters of its movement. Over the subsequent flight time (which is half an hour to fifty minutes, depending on the launch range), the warhead will drift from this exhaust “slap” of the jet half a kilometer to a kilometer sideways from the target, or even further. It will drift without obstacles: there is space, they slapped it - it floated, not being held back by anything. But is a kilometer sideways accurate today?

To avoid such effects, it is precisely the four upper “legs” with engines that are spaced apart to the sides that are needed. The stage is, as it were, pulled forward on them so that the exhaust jets go to the sides and cannot catch the warhead separated by the belly of the stage. All thrust is divided between four nozzles, which reduces the power of each individual jet. There are other features too. For example, if there is a donut-shaped propulsion stage (with a void in the middle - with this hole it is put on the rocket’s upper stage, like wedding ring finger) of the Trident-II D5 missile, the control system determines that the separated warhead still falls under the exhaust of one of the nozzles, then the control system turns off this nozzle. Silences the warhead.

The stage, gently, like a mother from the cradle of a sleeping child, fearing to disturb his peace, tiptoes away into space on the three remaining nozzles in low thrust mode, and the warhead remains on the aiming trajectory. Then the “donut” stage with the cross of the thrust nozzles is rotated around the axis so that the warhead comes out from under the zone of the torch of the switched off nozzle. Now the stage moves away from the remaining warhead on all four nozzles, but for now also at low throttle. When a sufficient distance is reached, the main thrust is turned on, and the stage vigorously moves into the area of the target trajectory of the next warhead. There it slows down in a calculated manner and again very precisely sets the parameters of its movement, after which it separates the next warhead from itself. And so on - until it lands each warhead on its trajectory. This process is fast, much faster than you read about it. In one and a half to two minutes, the combat stage deploys a dozen warheads.

The abysses of mathematics

Intercontinental ballistic missile R-36M Voevoda Voevoda,

What has been said above is quite enough to understand how a warhead’s own path begins. But if you open the door a little wider and look a little deeper, you will notice that today the rotation in space of the breeding stage carrying the warhead is an area of application of quaternion calculus, where the on-board attitude control system processes the measured parameters of its movement with a continuous construction on board the orientation quaternion. Quaternion is such a complex number (over the field complex numbers lies a flat body of quaternions, as mathematicians would say in their precise language of definitions). But not with the usual two parts, real and imaginary, but with one real and three imaginary. In total, the quaternion has four parts, which, in fact, is what the Latin root quatro says.

The dilution stage does its job quite low, immediately after the boost stages are turned off. That is, at an altitude of 100−150 km. And there is also the influence of gravitational anomalies on the Earth’s surface, heterogeneities in the even gravitational field surrounding the Earth. Where are they from? From uneven terrain, mountain systems, occurrence of rocks of different densities, oceanic depressions. Gravitational anomalies either attract the stage to themselves with additional attraction, or, conversely, slightly release it from the Earth.

In such irregularities, the complex ripples of the local gravitational field, the breeding stage must place the warheads with precision accuracy. To do this, it was necessary to create a more detailed map of the Earth's gravitational field. It is better to “explain” the features of a real field in systems of differential equations that describe precise ballistic motion. These are large, capacious (to include details) systems of several thousand differential equations, with several tens of thousands of constant numbers. And the gravitational field itself at low altitudes, in the immediate near-Earth region, is considered as a joint attraction of several hundred point masses of different “weights” located near the center of the Earth in in a certain order. This achieves a more accurate simulation of the Earth's real gravitational field along the rocket's flight path. And more accurate operation of the flight control system with it. And also... but that's enough! - Let's not look further and close the door; What has been said is enough for us.

Flight without warheads

In the photo - launch intercontinental missile Trident II (USA) from a submarine. Currently, Trident is the only family of ICBMs whose missiles are installed on American submarines. The maximum throwing weight is 2800 kg.

The breeding stage, accelerated by the missile towards the same geographical area where the warheads should fall, continues its flight along with them. After all, she can’t fall behind, and why should she? After disengaging the warheads, the stage urgently attends to other matters. She moves away from the warheads, knowing in advance that she will fly a little differently from the warheads, and not wanting to disturb them. The breeding stage also devotes all its further actions to warheads. This maternal desire to protect the flight of her “children” in every possible way continues for the rest of her short life.

Short, but intense.

The ICBM payload spends most of its flight in space object mode, rising to an altitude three times the height of the ISS. The trajectory of enormous length must be calculated with extreme accuracy.

After the separated warheads, it is the turn of other wards. The most amusing things begin to fly away from the steps. Like a magician, she releases into space many inflating balloons, some metallic things that resemble open scissors, and objects of all sorts of other shapes. Durable balloons sparkle brightly in the cosmic sun with the mercury shine of a metallized surface. They are quite large, some shaped like warheads flying nearby. Their aluminum-coated surface reflects a radar signal from a distance in much the same way as the warhead body. Enemy ground radars will perceive these inflatable warheads as well as real ones. Of course, in the very first moments of entering the atmosphere, these balls will fall behind and immediately burst. But before that, they will distract and load the computing power of ground-based radars - both long-range detection and guidance of anti-missile systems. In ballistic missile interceptor parlance, this is called “complicating the current ballistic environment.” And the entire heavenly army, inexorably moving towards the fall area, including combat units real and false, balloons, dipole and corner reflectors, this whole motley flock is called “multiple ballistic targets in a complicated ballistic environment.”

The metal scissors open up and become electric dipole reflectors - there are many of them, and they well reflect the radio signal of the long-range missile detection radar beam probing them. Instead of the ten desired fat ducks, the radar sees a huge blurry flock of small sparrows, in which it is difficult to make out anything. Devices of all shapes and sizes reflect different lengths waves

In addition to all this tinsel, the stage can theoretically itself emit radio signals that interfere with the targeting of enemy anti-missile missiles. Or distract them with yourself. In the end, you never know what she can do - after all, a whole stage is flying, large and complex, why not load it with a good solo program?

Last segment

America's underwater sword, the Ohio-class submarines are the only class of missile-carrying submarines in service with the United States. Carries on board 24 ballistic missiles with MIRVed Trident-II (D5). The number of warheads (depending on power) is 8 or 16.

However, from an aerodynamic point of view, the stage is not a warhead. If that one is a small and heavy narrow carrot, then the stage is an empty, vast bucket, with echoing empty fuel tanks, a large, streamlined body and a lack of orientation in the flow that is beginning to flow. With its wide body and decent windage, the stage responds much earlier to the first blows of the oncoming flow. The warheads also unfold along the flow, piercing the atmosphere with the least aerodynamic resistance. The step leans into the air with its vast sides and bottoms as necessary. It cannot fight the braking force of the flow. Its ballistic coefficient - an “alloy” of massiveness and compactness - is much worse than a warhead. Immediately and strongly it begins to slow down and lag behind the warheads. But the forces of the flow increase inexorably, and at the same time the temperature heats up the thin, unprotected metal, depriving it of its strength. The remaining fuel boils merrily in the hot tanks. Finally, the hull structure loses stability under the aerodynamic load that compresses it. Overload helps to destroy the bulkheads inside. Crack! Hurry! The crumpled body is immediately engulfed by hypersonic shock waves, tearing the stage into pieces and scattering them. After flying a little in the condensing air, the pieces again break into smaller fragments. Remaining fuel reacts instantly. Flying fragments of structural elements made of magnesium alloys are ignited by hot air and instantly burn with a blinding flash, similar to a camera flash - it’s not for nothing that magnesium was set on fire in the first photo flashes!

Time does not stand still.

Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing completed the first and key stage, associated with the development of a defense exoatmospheric kinetic interceptor (Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, EKV), which is integral part mega-project - a global missile defense system being developed by the Pentagon, based on interceptor missiles, each of which is capable of carrying SEVERAL kinetic interception warheads (Multiple Kill Vehicle, MKV) to destroy ICBMs with multiple warheads, as well as “false” warheads

"The milestone achieved is an important part of the concept development phase," Raytheon said, adding that it is "consistent with MDA plans and is the basis for further concept approval planned for December."

It is noted that Raytheon this project uses the experience of creating EKV, which is involved in the American global missile defense system, which has been operating since 2005 - the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GBMD), which is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles and their warheads in outer space outside the Earth's atmosphere. Currently, 30 interceptor missiles are deployed in Alaska and California to protect the continental United States, and another 15 missiles are planned to be deployed by 2017.

The transatmospheric kinetic interceptor, which will become the basis for the currently being created MKV, is the main destructive element of the GBMD complex. A 64-kilogram projectile is launched by an anti-missile missile into outer space, where it intercepts and contact destroys an enemy warhead thanks to an electro-optical guidance system, protected from extraneous light by a special casing and automatic filters. The interceptor receives target designation from ground-based radars, establishes sensory contact with the warhead and aims at it, maneuvering in outer space using rocket engines. The warhead is hit by a frontal ram on a collision course with a combined speed of 17 km/s: the interceptor flies at a speed of 10 km/s, the ICBM warhead at a speed of 5-7 km/s. Kinetic energy a strike of about 1 ton of TNT is enough to completely destroy a warhead of any conceivable design, and in such a way that the warhead is completely destroyed.

In 2009, the United States suspended the development of a program to combat multiple warheads due to the extreme complexity of producing the breeding unit mechanism. However, this year the program was revived. According to Newsader analysis, this is due to increased aggression from Russia and corresponding threats to use nuclear weapons, which were repeatedly expressed by senior officials of the Russian Federation, including President Vladimir Putin himself, who, in a commentary on the situation with the annexation of Crimea, openly admitted that he was allegedly ready to use nuclear weapons in a possible conflict with NATO ( latest events associated with the destruction of a Russian bomber by the Turkish Air Force, cast doubt on Putin’s sincerity and suggest a “nuclear bluff” on his part). Meanwhile, as is known, it is Russia that is the only state in the world that allegedly possesses ballistic missiles with multiple nuclear warheads, including “false” (distracting) ones.

Raytheon said that their brainchild will be capable of destroying several objects at once using an advanced sensor and other latest technologies. According to the company, during the time that passed between the implementation of the Standard Missile-3 and EKV projects, the developers managed to achieve a record performance in intercepting training targets in space - more than 30, which exceeds the performance of competitors.

Russia is also not standing still.

According to the message open sources, this year the first launch of the new RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will take place, which should replace the previous generation of RS-20A missiles, known according to NATO classification as “Satan”, but in our country as “Voevoda”.

The RS-20A ballistic missile (ICBM) development program was implemented as part of the “guaranteed retaliatory strike” strategy. President Ronald Reagan's policy of exacerbating the confrontation between the USSR and the USA forced him to take adequate response measures to cool the ardor of the "hawks" from the presidential administration and the Pentagon. American strategists believed that they were quite capable of ensuring such a level of protection for their country’s territory from an attack by Soviet ICBMs that they could simply not give a damn about the international agreements reached and continue to improve their own nuclear potential and missile defense systems (ABM). “Voevoda” was just another “asymmetric response” to Washington’s actions.

The most unpleasant surprise for the Americans was the rocket's fissile warhead, which contained 10 elements, each of which carried an atomic charge with a capacity of up to 750 kilotons of TNT. For example, bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a yield of “only” 18-20 kilotons. Such warheads were capable of penetrating the then-American missile defense systems; in addition, the infrastructure supporting missile launching was also improved.

The development of a new ICBM is intended to solve several problems at once: first, to replace the Voyevoda, whose capabilities to overcome modern American missile defense (BMD) have decreased; secondly, to solve the problem of dependence of domestic industry on Ukrainian enterprises, since the complex was developed in Dnepropetrovsk; finally, give an adequate response to the continuation of the missile defense deployment program in Europe and the Aegis system.

According to The Expectations National Interest, the Sarmat missile will weigh at least 100 tons, and the mass of its warhead can reach 10 tons. This means, the publication continues, that the rocket will be able to carry up to 15 multiple thermonuclear warheads.
“The Sarmat’s range will be at least 9,500 kilometers. When it is put into service, it will be the largest missile in world history,” the article notes.

According to reports in the press, NPO Energomash will become the head enterprise for the production of the rocket, and the engines will be supplied by Perm-based Proton-PM.

The main difference between Sarmat and Voevoda is the ability to launch warheads into a circular orbit, which sharply reduces range restrictions; with this launch method, you can attack enemy territory not along the shortest trajectory, but along any and from any direction - not only through North Pole, but also through Yuzhny.

In addition, the designers promise that the idea of maneuvering warheads will be implemented, which will make it possible to counter all types of existing anti-missile missiles and promising systems using laser weapon. Anti-aircraft missiles"Patriot", which form the basis of the American missile defense system, cannot yet effectively combat actively maneuvering targets flying at speeds close to hypersonic.
Maneuvering warheads promise to become such an effective weapon against which there are currently no countermeasures of equal reliability that the possibility of creating an international agreement prohibiting or significantly limiting this type weapons.

Thus, together with sea-based and mobile missiles railway complexes"Sarmat" will become an additional and quite effective deterrent factor.

If this happens, efforts to deploy missile defense systems in Europe may be in vain, since the missile's launch trajectory is such that it is unclear where exactly the warheads will be aimed.

It is also reported that the missile silos will be equipped with additional protection against close explosions of nuclear weapons, which will significantly increase the reliability of the entire system.

First prototypes new rocket have already been built. The start of launch tests is scheduled for this year. If the tests are successful, serial production of Sarmat missiles will begin, and they will enter service in 2018.

Presented to the attention of readers fastest rockets in the world throughout the history of creation.

Speed 3.8 km/s

The fastest medium-range ballistic missile with maximum speed 3.8 km per second opens the ranking of the most fast missiles in the world. The R-12U was a modified version of the R-12. The rocket differed from the prototype in the absence of an intermediate bottom in the oxidizer tank and some minor design changes - there are no wind loads in the shaft, which made it possible to lighten the tanks and dry compartments of the rocket and eliminate the need for stabilizers. Since 1976, the R-12 and R-12U missiles began to be removed from service and replaced with Pioneer mobile ground systems. They were withdrawn from service in June 1989, and between May 21, 1990, 149 missiles were destroyed at the Lesnaya base in Belarus.

Speed 5.8 km/s

One of the fastest American launch vehicles with a maximum speed of 5.8 km per second. It is the first developed intercontinental ballistic missile adopted by the United States. Developed as part of the MX-1593 program since 1951. It formed the basis of the US Air Force's nuclear arsenal from 1959-1964, but was then quickly withdrawn from service due to the advent of the more advanced Minuteman missile. It served as the basis for the creation of the Atlas family of space launch vehicles, which have been in operation since 1959 to this day.

Speed 6 km/s

UGM-133 A Trident II- American three-stage ballistic missile, one of the fastest in the world. Its maximum speed is 6 km per second. “Trident-2” has been developed since 1977 in parallel with the lighter “Trident-1”. Adopted into service in 1990. Launch weight - 59 tons. Max. throw weight - 2.8 tons with a launch range of 7800 km. The maximum flight range with a reduced number of warheads is 11,300 km.

Speed 6 km/s

One of the fastest solid-propellant ballistic missiles in the world, in service with Russia. It has a minimum damage radius of 8000 km and an approximate speed of 6 km/s. The rocket has been developed since 1998 by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, which developed it in 1989-1997. ground-based missile "Topol-M". To date, 24 test launches of the Bulava have been carried out, fifteen of them were considered successful (during the first launch, a mass-dimensional prototype of the rocket was launched), two (the seventh and eighth) were partially successful. The last test launch of the rocket took place on September 27, 2016.

Speed 6.7 km/s

Minuteman LGM-30 G- one of the fastest land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles in the world. Its speed is 6.7 km per second. The LGM-30G Minuteman III has an estimated flight range of 6,000 kilometers to 10,000 kilometers, depending on the type of warhead. Minuteman 3 has been in US service from 1970 to the present day. It is the only silo-based missile in the United States. The first launch of the rocket took place in February 1961, modifications II and III were launched in 1964 and 1968, respectively. The rocket weighs about 34,473 kilograms and is equipped with three solid propellant engines. It is planned that the missile will be in service until 2020.

Speed 7 km/s

The fastest anti-missile missile in the world, designed to destroy highly maneuverable targets and high-altitude hypersonic missiles. Tests of the 53T6 series of the Amur complex began in 1989. Its speed is 5 km per second. The rocket is a 12-meter pointed cone with no protruding parts. Its body is made of high-strength steel using composite winding. The design of the rocket allows it to withstand large overloads. The interceptor launches with 100-fold acceleration and is capable of intercepting targets flying at speeds of up to 7 km per second.

Speed 7.3 km/s

The most powerful and fastest nuclear missile in the world at a speed of 7.3 km per second. It is intended, first of all, to destroy the most fortified command posts, ballistic missile silos and air bases. The nuclear explosives of one missile can destroy big city, a very large part of the USA. Hit accuracy is about 200-250 meters. The missile is housed in the world's strongest silos. The SS-18 carries 16 platforms, one of which is loaded with decoys. When entering a high orbit, all “Satan” heads go “in a cloud” of false targets and are practically not identified by radars.”

Speed 7.9 km/s

The intercontinental ballistic missile (DF-5A) with a maximum speed of 7.9 km per second opens the top three fastest in the world. The Chinese DF-5 ICBM entered service in 1981. It can carry a huge 5 MT warhead and has a range of over 12,000 km. The DF-5 has a deflection of approximately 1 km, which means that the missile has one purpose - to destroy cities. The warhead's size, deflection and the fact that it only takes an hour to fully prepare for launch all mean that the DF-5 is a punitive weapon, designed to punish any would-be attackers. The 5A version has increased range, improved 300m deflection, and the ability to carry multiple warheads.

R-7 Speed 7.9 km/s

R-7- Soviet, the first intercontinental ballistic missile, one of the fastest in the world. Its top speed is 7.9 km per second. The development and production of the first copies of the rocket was carried out in 1956-1957 by the OKB-1 enterprise near Moscow. After successful launches, it was used in 1957 to launch the world's first artificial Earth satellites. Since then, launch vehicles of the R-7 family have been actively used to launch spacecraft for various purposes, and since 1961, these launch vehicles have been widely used in manned astronautics. Based on the R-7, a whole family of launch vehicles was created. From 1957 to 2000, more than 1,800 launch vehicles based on the R-7 were launched, of which more than 97% were successful.

Speed 7.9 km/s

RT-2PM2 "Topol-M" (15Zh65)- the fastest intercontinental ballistic missile in the world with a maximum speed of 7.9 km per second. Maximum range - 11,000 km. Carries one thermonuclear warhead with a power of 550 kt. The mine-based version was put into service in 2000. The launch method is mortar. The rocket's sustaining solid-propellant engine allows it to gain speed much faster than previous types of rockets of a similar class created in Russia and the Soviet Union. This makes it much more difficult for missile defense systems to intercept it during the active phase of the flight.

Up close, the warhead looks like an elongated cone, a meter or one and a half long, with a base as thick as a human torso. The nose of the cone is pointed or slightly blunt. This cone is a special aircraft whose task is to deliver weapons to the target. We'll come back to warheads later and take a closer look at them.

Pull or push?

The breeding step has different forms. Most often, it looks like a round stump or a wide loaf of bread, on which warheads are mounted on top, points forward, each on its own spring pusher. The warheads are pre-positioned at precise separation angles (at the missile base, manually, using theodolites) and point in different directions, like a bunch of carrots, like the needles of a hedgehog. The platform, bristling with warheads, occupies a given position in flight, gyro-stabilized in space. And at the right moments, warheads are pushed out of it one by one. They are ejected immediately after completion of acceleration and separation from the last accelerating stage. Until (you never know?) they shot down this entire undiluted hive with anti-missile weapons or something on board the breeding stage failed.

Fiery Ten, K-551 “Vladimir Monomakh” is a Russian strategic nuclear submarine (Project 955 “Borey”), armed with 16 solid-fuel Bulava ICBMs with ten multiple warheads.

Delicate movements

To avoid such effects, it is precisely the four upper “legs” with engines that are spaced apart to the sides that are needed. The stage is, as it were, pulled forward on them so that the exhaust jets go to the sides and cannot catch the warhead separated by the belly of the stage. All thrust is divided between four nozzles, which reduces the power of each individual jet. There are other features too. For example, if on the donut-shaped propulsion stage (with a void in the middle - this hole is worn on the rocket's upper stage like a wedding ring on a finger) of the Trident II D5 missile, the control system determines that the separated warhead still falls under the exhaust of one of the nozzles, then the control system turns off this nozzle. Silences the warhead.

The abysses of mathematics

Intercontinental ballistic missile R-36M Voevoda Voevoda,

What has been said above is quite enough to understand how a warhead’s own path begins. But if you open the door a little wider and look a little deeper, you will notice that today the rotation in space of the breeding stage carrying the warhead is an area of application of quaternion calculus, where the on-board attitude control system processes the measured parameters of its movement with a continuous construction on board the orientation quaternion. A quaternion is such a complex number (above the field of complex numbers lies a flat body of quaternions, as mathematicians would say in their precise language of definitions). But not with the usual two parts, real and imaginary, but with one real and three imaginary. In total, the quaternion has four parts, which, in fact, is what the Latin root quatro says.

In such irregularities, the complex ripples of the local gravitational field, the breeding stage must place the warheads with precision accuracy. To do this, it was necessary to create a more detailed map of the Earth's gravitational field. It is better to “explain” the features of a real field in systems of differential equations that describe precise ballistic motion. These are large, capacious (to include details) systems of several thousand differential equations, with several tens of thousands of constant numbers. And the gravitational field itself at low altitudes, in the immediate near-Earth region, is considered as a joint attraction of several hundred point masses of different “weights” located near the center of the Earth in a certain order. This achieves a more accurate simulation of the Earth's real gravitational field along the rocket's flight path. And more accurate operation of the flight control system with it. And also... but that's enough! - Let's not look further and close the door; What has been said is enough for us.

Flight without warheads

The photo shows the launch of a Trident II intercontinental missile (USA) from a submarine. Currently, Trident is the only family of ICBMs whose missiles are installed on American submarines. The maximum throwing weight is 2800 kg.

Short, but intense.

The ICBM payload spends most of its flight in space object mode, rising to an altitude three times the height of the ISS. The trajectory of enormous length must be calculated with extreme accuracy.

After the separated warheads, it is the turn of other wards. The most amusing things begin to fly away from the steps. Like a magician, she releases into space many inflating balloons, some metallic things that resemble open scissors, and objects of all sorts of other shapes. Durable balloons sparkle brightly in the cosmic sun with the mercury shine of a metallized surface. They are quite large, some shaped like warheads flying nearby. Their aluminum-coated surface reflects a radar signal from a distance in much the same way as the warhead body. Enemy ground radars will perceive these inflatable warheads as well as real ones. Of course, in the very first moments of entering the atmosphere, these balls will fall behind and immediately burst. But before that, they will distract and load the computing power of ground-based radars - both long-range detection and guidance of anti-missile systems. In ballistic missile interceptor parlance, this is called “complicating the current ballistic environment.” And the entire heavenly army, inexorably moving towards the area of impact, including real and false warheads, balloons, dipole and corner reflectors, this whole motley flock is called “multiple ballistic targets in a complicated ballistic environment.”

Last segment

Time does not stand still.

Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing have completed the first and key phase associated with the development of a defense Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), which is part of the mega-project - the Pentagon's global missile defense system, based on interceptor missiles, each of which is capable of carry SEVERAL kinetic interception warheads (Multiple Kill Vehicle, MKV) to destroy ICBMs with multiple warheads, as well as “false” warheads

“The milestone achieved is an important part of the concept development phase,” Raytheon said, adding that it is “consistent with MDA plans and is the basis for further concept approval planned for December.”

It is noted that Raytheon in this project uses the experience of creating EKV, which is involved in the American global missile defense system that has been operating since 2005 - the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GBMD), which is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles and their combat units in outer space outside the Earth's atmosphere. Currently, 30 interceptor missiles are deployed in Alaska and California to protect the continental United States, and another 15 missiles are planned to be deployed by 2017.

The transatmospheric kinetic interceptor, which will become the basis for the currently being created MKV, is the main destructive element of the GBMD complex. A 64-kilogram projectile is launched by an anti-missile missile into outer space, where it intercepts and contact destroys an enemy warhead thanks to an electro-optical guidance system, protected from extraneous light by a special casing and automatic filters. The interceptor receives target designation from ground-based radars, establishes sensory contact with the warhead and aims at it, maneuvering in outer space using rocket engines. The warhead is hit by a frontal ram on a collision course with a combined speed of 17 km/s: the interceptor flies at a speed of 10 km/s, the ICBM warhead at a speed of 5-7 km/s. The kinetic energy of the impact, amounting to about 1 ton of TNT equivalent, is enough to completely destroy a warhead of any conceivable design, and in such a way that the warhead is completely destroyed.

In 2009, the United States suspended the development of a program to combat multiple warheads due to the extreme complexity of producing the breeding unit mechanism. However, this year the program was revived. According to Newsader analytical data, this is due to increased aggression on the part of Russia and corresponding threats to use nuclear weapons, which were repeatedly expressed by senior officials of the Russian Federation, including President Vladimir Putin himself, who, in a commentary on the situation with the annexation of Crimea, openly admitted that he allegedly was ready to use nuclear weapons in a possible conflict with NATO (recent events related to the destruction of a Russian bomber by the Turkish Air Force call into question Putin’s sincerity and suggest a “nuclear bluff” on his part). Meanwhile, as we know, Russia is the only state in the world that allegedly possesses ballistic missiles with multiple nuclear warheads, including “false” (distracting) ones.

Raytheon said that their brainchild will be capable of destroying several objects at once using an improved sensor and other latest technologies. According to the company, during the time that passed between the implementation of the Standard Missile-3 and EKV projects, the developers managed to achieve a record performance in intercepting training targets in space - more than 30, which exceeds the performance of competitors.

Russia is also not standing still.

According to open sources, this year the first launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 “Sarmat” will take place, which should replace the previous generation of RS-20A missiles, known according to NATO classification as “Satan”, but in our country as “Voevoda” .

The RS-20A ballistic missile (ICBM) development program was implemented as part of the “guaranteed retaliatory strike” strategy. President Ronald Reagan's policy of exacerbating the confrontation between the USSR and the USA forced him to take adequate response measures to cool the ardor of the “hawks” from the presidential administration and the Pentagon. American strategists believed that they were quite capable of ensuring such a level of protection for their country’s territory from an attack by Soviet ICBMs that they could simply not give a damn about the international agreements reached and continue to improve their own nuclear potential and missile defense systems (ABM). “Voevoda” was just another “asymmetric response” to Washington’s actions.

The development of a new ICBM is intended to solve several problems at once: firstly, to replace the Voevoda, whose capabilities to overcome modern American missile defense (BMD) have decreased; secondly, to solve the problem of dependence of domestic industry on Ukrainian enterprises, since the complex was developed in Dnepropetrovsk; finally, give an adequate response to the continuation of the missile defense deployment program in Europe and the Aegis system.

According to The National Interest, the Sarmat missile will weigh at least 100 tons, and the mass of its warhead can reach 10 tons. This means, the publication continues, that the rocket will be able to carry up to 15 multiple thermonuclear warheads.
“The Sarmat’s range will be at least 9,500 kilometers. When it is put into service, it will be the largest missile in world history,” the article notes.

According to reports in the press, NPO Energomash will become the head enterprise for the production of the rocket, and the engines will be supplied by Perm-based Proton-PM.

In addition, the designers promise that the idea of maneuvering warheads will be implemented, which will make it possible to counter all types of existing anti-missile missiles and promising systems using laser weapons. Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, which form the basis of the American missile defense system, cannot yet effectively combat actively maneuvering targets flying at speeds close to hypersonic.
Maneuvering warheads promise to become such an effective weapon against which there are currently no countermeasures of equal reliability that the possibility of creating an international agreement banning or significantly limiting this type of weapon cannot be ruled out.

Thus, together with sea-based missiles and mobile railway systems, Sarmat will become an additional and quite effective deterrent factor.

If this happens, efforts to deploy missile defense systems in Europe may be in vain, since the missile's launch trajectory is such that it is unclear where exactly the warheads will be aimed.

The first prototypes of the new rocket have already been built. The start of launch tests is scheduled for this year. If the tests are successful, serial production of Sarmat missiles will begin, and they will enter service in 2018.

The standard distance along the Earth's surface that intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) cover is 10,000 km. This is enough for old friends the United States and Russia to be able to hit any targets on each other’s territory. It is more difficult for China due to America’s greater distance, although the Celestial Empire’s ability to launch spacecraft allows it to reach any point on the globe with a thermonuclear club. And Russia is just a stone's throw away from a good neighbor.

Image source:http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/space/lectures/lec18.html

Optimal in terms of energy consumption are trajectories with an apogee of 1000 - 1500 km. In this case, the flight time is about 30 minutes, and the active part of the trajectory ends at an altitude of 200 - 350 km.The relatively short acceleration section can be ignored when assessing the flight range of the missile warheads. The latter describe long ballistic curves, accelerating up to 7 km/sec in sections of descent towards the target. Let us model them numerically using the following equations of the dynamics of a material point:

The center of the Earth is at the origin, and when falling onto its surface, the following occurs:

Let us assume that at time t = 0 the deployment platform (bus) is at an altitude h km and has a speed v km/sec directed at a certain angle to the horizontal (pitch angle). Neglecting the fact that in the disengagement area the trajectory of each warhead changes slightly, we summarize the calculation results for different initial data in the table:

The table shows that a slight decrease in flight range, which is not significant for SLBMs, leads to a sharp decrease in flight time. The time factor can be critical in a situation where the attacking side launches a preemptive strike on the enemy’s control centers and nuclear forces.The first escape velocity at an altitude of h = 100 km is 7.843 km/sec, and at an altitude of h = 200 km - 7.783 km/sec. It can be seen that with the intercontinental flight range of the so-called. flat trajectories are possible only in the case when, in the active phase, the rocket accelerates to a speed significantly exceeding 7 km/sec and approaching the first cosmic speed.

Who are you, Mr. Topol M?

The most modern of Russian ICBMs, which is a minor modification of a still Soviet product, is the 15Zh65 rocket, also known as “Topol-M”. The propaganda myth that there is no effective missile defense against Topol became very popular in the 2000s. Let's consider this subject national pride closer.

Length 22.5 m, maximum diameter 1.9 m, take-off weight 47 tons. It has 3 stages with solid propellant engines and a warhead weighing 1.2 tons, which is equipped with a warhead with a capacity of 0.55 Mt. In addition to this, Topol’s payload includes dozens of decoys + electronic means of countering missile defense: both radar and infrared methods of target selection. According to information from http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/topol_m/topol_m.shtml, the first stage engines create a thrust of 91 tons. Circular Probabilistic Deviation (CPD) expresses the radius of the circle into which the warhead has a probability of at least 50%. The CEP indicator is critical in terms of strikes against missile silos and underground control centers. A vague estimate of 200 - 350 m is given for it. It is possible that in this Topol-M is not inferior to the veteran Minuteman-3, which has been the main American ICBM for more than 30 years.

There is no reliable information about Topol-M flight data. It is stated that the range reaches 11,000 km and there is an estimate of the speed of 7.3 km/sec that the warhead has when entering the ballistic part of the trajectory. Numerical simulation leads to various options. For example, it is possible that the warhead separates at a level of 300 km with a pitch angle of 6 degrees and, rising to a maximum altitude of 550 km (apogee), covers a distance of 11,000 km along the surface in 27 minutes globe. However, such a flight profile is not adequate to popular ideas about the low, flat trajectory of the Topol-M. The scenario looks very realistic, according to which the monoblock separates at an altitude of 200 km with an initial pitch of 5 degrees, ultimately flying 8,800 km in 21 minutes and reaching an apogee of 350 km. This range is quite sufficient for shelling US territory from various directions, and the flight time is significantly less than that typical for ICBMs at a distance of 10,000 km (~30 minutes). This creates additional difficulties for the missile defense system, which must have time to select the warhead among the decoys. It is clear that the reduced flight time is more important factor with a preemptive strike rather than a retaliatory strike.

In order to somehow understand the “exceptional” capabilities of the Topol-M, it is useful to compare it with its American counterpart LGM-30 Minutemen-3. Length 18.2 m, maximum diameter 1.67 m, take-off weight 36 tons. It has 3 stages with solid propellant engines and a warhead of unknown mass. Which is currently equipped with a 170 kiloton W62 warhead, and also carries decoys along with small metal debris that impedes radar detection. The CEP of Minuteman-3 is estimated at 150 - 200 m. According to data from http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=113 , the starting thrust of the first stage reaches 92 tons, and when entering the ballistic section, the warhead has a speed of about 6.7 km/sec. Moreover, the ICBM has a range of 9,600 km and an apogee1,120 km. This “classical” flight profile corresponds to an initial pitch angle of 15.5 degrees and an altitude of 450 km when entering the ballistic phase. The Minuteman's flight time is 28 minutes. With such modest speed characteristics, a flat trajectory of intercontinental flight is out of the question. This contrasts with the Minuteman-3's thrust-to-weight ratio, which is 1.3 times that of the Topol-M. In the video of the launches, he doesn’t look like a particularly fast sprinter.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHuFh_PNc68&feature=related , and the relic Minuteman-I took off no worse even without a “kick” from the mortar launchhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrnfRfawtI0&feature=related . Let's try to explain this discrepancy.

Available information about the flight data of Minuteman-3 relates to its modification, which was equipped with three W78 335 Kt warheads, with individual targeting. But the same missile is capable of accelerating a relatively lightweight monoblock to a higher speed than the stated 24,000 km/h in order to throw it over a longer range and along a flatter trajectory. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that there is information about Miniman’s maximum range of 15,000 km. For the United States, such a distance is relevant due to the growing military power of China, which is located quite far from America. The high thrust-to-weight ratio of Minuteman 3 could also be important in a three-warhead configuration, providing a more energetic launch and escape of the missile from the affected area. nuclear strike according to the area where the launch mines are located.

Horror flying on the wings of the night?

Thus, Topol's outstanding abilities in terms of the ability to quickly gain speed and reach a flat trajectory are greatly exaggerated.But if the Topol-M warhead flies along a flat trajectory, then this means the following. At the end of the active section, the monoblock practically enters a circular orbit, having an unlimited flight range. In this case, the trajectory can be very low (see lines 7, 8 in the table), although this circumstance is a dubious advantage, given the capabilities of missile defense interceptorsoperate at altitudes up to 200 km. ABOUTit is also obvious that the new generation of class anti-missiles Standard-3 will reach great heights. In addition, a monoblock flying along a flat trajectory, as a target for interception, differs little from a conventional satellite. But shooting down a satellite in low orbit has not been a problem for a long time. In this case, you won’t be able to go too low, because... atmospheric resistance comes into its own - already atat an altitude of 120 km, the Shuttles used aerodynamic maneuvering instead of rocket engines ( new article about the problems of flat trajectory) .

This can be objected to by other popular property of Topol-M, which supposedly consists in the ability of a monoblock to perform maneuvers using special mini-engines in the ballistic section of the trajectory. This ability is partly mythological in nature, because in many sources it is written only that Poplar May be equipped with such monoblocks. Enthusiastic reports about something elusive to interceptors and really The existing monoblock is not confirmed by serious sources, while frivolous sources have added that there are combat units with ramjet engines that fly and maneuver like hypersonic aircraft.

Orbital maneuvers of warheads have poor reverse side, about which propaganda is modestly silent. Namely, during any maneuver of the monoblock, the surrounding shielding cloud of false targets, sources of interference and any metallized debris will remain aside, continuing to move along the ballistic trajectory. The warhead will seem to emerge from under the protective blanket and remain naked, which will immediately remove the selection task for the missile defense system. After the first maneuver, the monoblock will be clearly visible on radars. At the same time, he will not have enough fuel and time to scour from side to side for a long time, given the not very large reserve payload Topol-M and the need for targeting.

Thus it is doubtful that good ICBM"Topol-M" is significantly superior to "Minuteman-3" in any way, except for the use of a mobile launcher. However, the number of such deployed installations, according to various estimates, is 20 - 25, so they are not the main part Russian forces nuclear deterrence. Interestingly, China also loves mobile ICBMs and has no less of them.

Dmitry Zotyev

Articles about flat trajectories, hypersonic warheads and other missile defense nightmares:

"Heat of the Stratosphere"

"Space slalom".

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