New man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. Modern man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems: a brief overview. Latest Russian air defense systems

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems have long and firmly taken their place in the system of mobile air defense systems of the ground forces of many countries. New Russian MANPADS have unique capabilities that the military had never dreamed of before.
In all ranges
First, about the uniqueness of “Verba”. Despite the external similarity of this MANPADS with its predecessors - the same “pipe” as the “Igla”, the same sighting mechanism that helps the anti-aircraft gunner identify the target and fire a shot - this is a completely different weapon, with different characteristics. And they are that the missile is capable of hitting not only traditional aircraft - airplanes and helicopters, but also cruise missiles, as well as unmanned 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 "Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering" (JSC NPK "KBM"), emphasized, in terms of the totality of its characteristics, the "Verba" MANPADS surpasses all world analogues. And this is not some kind of bragging of the designer for his brainchild. The complex has actually significantly improved its performance in overcoming pyrotechnic interference (including the already mentioned heat traps), increased shooting accuracy, and optimized other indicators. For example, an automated control system detects air targets, including group targets, determines their flight parameters, and even distributes the detected objects among gunners in an anti-aircraft unit, taking into account the location of personnel on the ground.
"Stinger" nervously smokes on the side...
It’s not for nothing that MANPADS stands for “complex”. In addition to the missile in the guide tube, the Verba also includes a launcher, a ground-based radar interrogator “friend or foe” (to prevent unauthorized use on friendly aircraft), as well as a mobile control point, a small-sized radar detector, planning, reconnaissance and management. There is also a portable fire control module, which is supplied to troops in a brigade kit, and a built-in installation kit - for use as part of a divisional kit.
The missile's characteristics are more than optimal for portable anti-aircraft weapons on the battlefield. The new solid-fuel engine makes it possible to carry out a successful shot at an object located at a distance of over six kilometers from the shooter and flying at a speed of 500 meters per second. The mass of the missile is only one and a half kilograms, but the height of the attack varies from ten (!) to 4.5 thousand meters. The closest foreign competitor to the Russian MANPADS, the American FIM-92 Stinger complex, can only be used against air targets located at an altitude of 180 meters. That is, an enemy helicopter will be able to calmly shoot at American infantry positions from a height below this mark: it will simply be impossible to hit a hovering rotorcraft from a Stinger. The US MANPADS do not have the best performance in terms of other characteristics either. Thus, the target height that the Stinger missile can reach cannot exceed 3.8 thousand meters, and the distance from the shooter’s location is 4.8 thousand.
Economical "Verba"
A new Russian MANPADS was presented within the framework of 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 immediately anti-aircraft units of brigades and divisions. Prior to this, the product passed the stage of practical testing in formations of the Airborne Forces and in brigades of the Eastern Military District. According to the military, the use of new MANPADS will provide reliable cover for military units from 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, education and training, makes it possible to ensure full combat readiness of units, to develop and maintain among personnel the skills of using missile systems.
Arctic test
Verba has simplified maintenance: now there is no need to carry out periodic checks with cooling of the homing head with nitrogen. This makes it possible to 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.

Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) occupy an important place in the structure of military air defense. Weapons of this class complement other air defense systems, providing enhanced protection against air attack. The first serial MANPADS of a modern appearance appeared in the sixties, and still remain in service with the armies of the world. Further development of such systems continues. Through the use of new technologies and ideas, it is possible to significantly increase the characteristics of MANPADS and, as a result, the protection of troops from attack from the air. Let's consider the latest MANPADS projects created in leading countries of the world.

Russia – “Igla-S” and “Verba”

In the armed forces of Russia and some other states, MANPADS of the Igla family have become widespread. The newest system of the family is the 9K338 “Igla-S” complex, developed at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (Kolomna) and put into service at the beginning of the 2000s. This project used some ideas borrowed from previous projects of the family, and also applied several new technologies and solutions. Using this approach to design, it was possible to ensure the ability to destroy various targets, including cruise missiles and UAVs, both in pursuit and on a collision course.

Like previous domestic MANPADS, the Igla-S system has several main units. The weapons include a transport and launch container with a missile, a power source and a coolant bottle, as well as a reusable launch mechanism that is attached to the container before use. In addition, the complex includes a mobile control point, as well as control, verification and training equipment.

The Igla-S complex uses a 3M342 guided missile with a solid propellant engine and an infrared homing head. To detect a target, two photodetectors operating in different ranges are used. To simplify the design of the rocket, the control system has only one pair of rudders, which is used to control both pitch and yaw. During flight, the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis, and maneuvering is carried out by timely deflection of the rudders to the desired angle.

The 3M342 rocket has a length of 1.635 m and a body diameter of 72 mm. The starting weight is 11.7 kg, the total weight of the complex is 19 kg. The product is equipped with two (starter and sustainer) solid propellant engines. The missile reaches speeds of up to 600 m/s, and is capable of hitting targets at ranges of up to 6 km and altitudes in the range of 10-3500 m. On a collision course, the missile can hit targets moving at speeds of up to 400 m/s, and on catch-up courses - up to 320 m /With. The missile is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 2.5 kg with contact and remote fuses. The missile control system uses the so-called. displacement scheme - the missile is aimed not at the engine nozzle, but at the target body.

In 2001, the 9K338 Igla-S MANPADS passed state tests, and in 2002 it was put into service. At the same time, deliveries of the new serial model began. According to some reports, the production of Igla-S systems is still ongoing. A certain number of such MANPADS were supplied to foreign countries: Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.

In the summer of 2014, it became known about the start of deliveries of serial MANPADS of the new model 9K333 “Verba”. Like a number of other similar systems, “Verba” was developed by Kolomna specialists. The creation of the new complex has been going on since at least the middle of the last decade. Its testing began approximately in 2007. Over the next few years, the development and refinement of the new system continued. Since 2012, Plant named after. Degtyarev (Kovrov) produced missiles of a new complex, and the first production batch, intended for delivery to the troops, was manufactured last spring.

Most of the information about the Verba complex has not yet been made public. Moreover, even the appearance of this system remains unknown. According to some reports, the new MANPADS is equipped with an infrared tri-band homing head and has higher performance compared to previous domestic systems of this class. Thus, the maximum firing range is estimated at 6-6.5 km, the maximum height of hitting the target is up to 4-4.5 km. More precise information is not available.

USA – FIM-92 Stinger

Since the early eighties, the armed forces of the United States and a number of foreign countries have been using the 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 to a large number of 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 by several types of aircraft.

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. An interesting feature of the complex is the ability to perform 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 independent combat 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. Having hit an enemy aircraft or helicopter, the flechette-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. The total mass of three miniature warheads mounted on striking elements is 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, based on this MANPADS, several variants of anti-aircraft systems were developed, differing from each other in basic vehicles, 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 an interesting solution that compensates for the heavy weight of the rocket, but 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. The warhead is 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, as well as anti-aircraft systems made on the basis of self-propelled chassis.

China – FN-6

In the late nineties, the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology began designing 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 the general architecture and composition of the FN-6 MANPADS, it is a typical representative of 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.

Based on materials:
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://pvo.guns.ru/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-544.html
Vasilin N.Ya., Gurinovich A.L. Anti-aircraft missile systems. – Mn.: Potpourri LLC, 2002

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

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

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

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

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

The British can

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beam guidance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Autonomous weapons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Different types

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Air superiority

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

“In the Western world, for many years, MANPADS were not such an important weapon due to air superiority. But in other parts of the world they are definitely becoming more dominant,” Mallon said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modernization potential

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 kind 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 the 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 man-portable anti-aircraft missile system, 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 sufficiently unpretentious in operation for use by infantrymen in a combat zone. The research 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 mock-up missiles called "Redai" (" Red eye" or " red-eyed"for the infrared homing head of a characteristic shape in 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 missile division issued a press statement announcing the development of a new type of infantry weapon with a homing missile, light enough for operation 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.

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, 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.
• There is no need for routine maintenance and minimal requirements for inspection of launch tubes with missiles stored in caps in warehouses.
• An extremely short training course for an anti-aircraft gunner.
• 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, such as 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 properly transported and serviced 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. Comparative analysis and evaluation of functional models and accompanying technical documentation of the three above-mentioned complexes were carried out by an expert commission of officers of the US Army Missile Command chaired by Francis Duval 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 anti-missile development 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 of rocket fuels 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 demanded extreme simplicity for all types of weapons of this type operation (according to the “shoot and throw” principle), and the British side, on the contrary, pressed for the training of qualified operators, as a result of which the “British Stinger”, like the “American Blowpipe”, did not materialize as serial 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 infrared 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 means of air defense, coupled with the support of the Soviet Union, China, the United States and Great Britain for various national liberation movements and rebel groups in the world, as well as as a result of the independently implemented policies of leaders socialist-oriented countries (primarily, such as Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Fidel Castro in Cuba, under whose leadership intensive international military-technical cooperation was carried out from their countries), which had at their disposal impressive arsenals of Soviet weapons, led to the fact that various complexes (mainly Soviet-made or Soviet bloc countries) 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) low cost (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 fewer of them in the hands of various dubious organizations. Since the end of the Cold War, under the auspices of the UN and other international organizations, various events 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

MOSCOW, December 25 – RIA Novosti, Andrey Stanavov. 1.5 meter khaki tube, compact sighting mechanism and shoulder strap. This, at first glance, simple device behind the back of an infantryman poses a mortal threat to pilots of airplanes and helicopters operating at altitudes below 4.5 thousand meters.

It is almost impossible to escape from an “off-leash” missile from the latest Russian man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) 9K333 “Verba” - it does not respond to heat traps and other tricks, but, tethered, pursues the main goal. Until he gets it and destroys it. Read about what the unique complex is capable of in the RIA Novosti article.

Pocket air defense

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

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

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

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

From "Strela" to "Verba"

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

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

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

The picky bride

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

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

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