Tx hypersonic missiles. Hypersonic missiles of Russia and their tests. Hypersonic missiles USA. Hidden threats, or what is behind nasa space programs

Series Name: 3m22;

Affiliation: interspecific missile system 3k22 Zircon;

Developer: NGO Engineering;

Start of development: 2011.

Main characteristics:

  • Hypersonic (that is, at least 5 times faster than the speed of sound);
  • Winged, unmanned, single launch;
  • High precision.

Appearance: a boxed chopped case made of new heat-resistant alloys, a flattened shovel-shaped fairing (“nose”).

New Russian rocket Zircon.

The performance characteristics of the new generation rocket

The information is indicative, according to indirect data and unconfirmed information, since officially the Russian hypersonic cruise missile Zircon 3M22 has not yet entered service.

Parameter Value A comment
Launcher 3s14, "revolving" type, deck and below deck placement 2 to 8 missiles

Deck placement - vertical launch; deck placement - inclined

Length 8-10 m The latest Russian missiles, Onyx (P-800) and Caliber (3m54), similarly launched from 3s14
Warhead mass 300-400 kg
Flight altitude small (30-40 km), low dense layers of the atmosphere The flight is conducted under the influence of its main engine (not starting, not accelerating and not all kinds of auxiliary, correcting course)

At lower altitudes, due to air resistance at this speed, the skin can simply melt.

Mach number from 5 to 8 (according to some statements, this is not the limit) Primitively speaking, the Mach number shows how many times the speed of the 3M22 cruise missile (at a specific height) exceeds the speed of sound. At different heights, the speed of sound is different (the higher the lower), so the Mach number helps to control the stability of the rocket and the observance of the course

Mahmeter readings:

Below 0.8 - subsonic;

0.8 - 1.2 - transonic;

1 - 5 - supersonic;

More than 5 - hypersound

Range 300-500 km Warhead delivery is carried out by new Russian launch vehicles
Trajectory arbitrary, including winding (for circumventing air defense), with envelope relief (for circumventing radar) Unlike ballistic missiles, it is controlled from the inside (independently) and from the outside
Guidance Inertial + radio altimeter + active radar + optoelectronic complex for target search
Engine direct-flow, supersonic combustion It is possible to use fuel with high energy intensity "Decilin-M".



The estimated movement of the new generation rocket can be found in the report of Channel One.

Possible carriers (sea based):

  • heavy nuclear-powered cruisers of the "Orlan" type; "Peter the Great"; "Admiral Nakhimov";
  • heavy aircraft carrier “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” (after modernization);
  • atomic destroyers "Leader" (project 23560);
  • nuclear submarines of the Ash-M series (improved fourth generation, project 885m); Antey (949a); Husky (fifth generation, in a special modification).

Background to the Russian hypersonic cruise missile

The Soviet Union was the first to arm itself with serial anti-ship cruise missiles. Zircon was the latest development of Russian scientists. And the first copy was the Termite rocket (P-15). In the 70s, a new generation of supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles (X-50) was developed, but the work was not completed due to the collapse of the USSR.

this year the Spiral project was launched

The first hypersonic aircraft should be an accelerating aircraft for the Spiral project (orbital aircraft), which began in 1965.

The scout-scout, - he is also the product "50-50" - is:

  • 38 meter tailless aircraft;
  • a triangular wing with a swim of 16.5 m long;
  • omitted nose;
  • hypersonic air intake;
  • fundamentally new turbojet engines:
      on kerosene: M \u003d 4, range \u003d 6-7 thousand km,
      on liquid hydrogen: M \u003d 5, range \u003d 12,000 km.

The plane was tested at TsAGI, but in the 70s the project was also closed.

In 1979 they again returned to the topic of hypersonic engines. To recreate the conditions of their work, anti-aircraft missiles were used: instead of the warhead, a block with test equipment was placed.

  • On the basis of 5V28 missiles, which were just about to be sent for decommissioning, there was a hypersonic flying laboratory, Kholod. For seven launches in 1991-1999. the operating time of the tested E-57 engine was brought up to 77 seconds, speed - up to 1855 m / s (~ 6.5 M);
  • On the basis of the Rokot launch vehicle (a descendant of the intercontinental UR-100N), the Igla flying laboratory was created. The layout of which can still be seen at air shows. Laboratory operating conditions: M \u003d 6-14, altitude \u003d 25-50 km, flight time - 7-12 minutes.

Timeline for the development of hypersonic cruise missiles


  NPO Mashevsky patent shows a feature of the rocket - detachable warhead

The development of the hypersonic Zircon belongs to the NPO Engineering and begins in 2011.


  NPO Mashevsky patent shows a feature of the rocket - detachable warhead
date A source Event
End of 2011 Air show "Max", Lytkarino The first mention of the Zircon 3K22 complex, prototypes of hypersonic shells
2011 Corporate newspaper "Tribune VPK" NPOMasha A group of chief designers was officially formed for the 3M22 project
2011 The annual report of PKB "Detail" The draft designs “Zircon-S-ARK” (automatic radio compass) and “Zircon-S-RV” (radio altimeter) were approved
2011 Report of NPO Granit-Electron Draft designs and finished design documentation for inertial navigation and 3M22 autopilot system
2011 Strela Software Report Plans for serial production of new products, including Zircon missiles
2012 NGO Engineering Report Development of production technologies for optoelectronic and laser guidance and detection systems for hypersonic and supersonic missiles
2012 Dmitry Rogozin Unfulfilled plans to create a super holding for the development of hypersonic technologies
Summer 2012 Open News Sources Aktyubinsk, landfill of the 929th state. flight research center, throw tests of Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles from the Tu-22M3 bomber (successful and unsuccessful)
September 2013 Boris Obnosov A prototype hypersonic missile (4.5 M), the problem is a stable and long flight
Fall 2015 Modernization project of Admiral Nakhimov Almaz-Antey, among other things, must supply the 3K22 complex, that is, Zircon, for re-equipment of the cruiser, no later than 2018
December 15, 2015 News sources Arkhangelsk region, Nenoksa village, launch of an experimental sample (unsuccessful)
February 2016 News sources 3K22 will arm the modernized Peter the Great (project 1144, a heavy nuclear cruiser), as well as the fifth-generation Husky submarine in one of the options

Tests of anti-ship cruise missiles 3m22 Zircon

News of the tests appeared several times in various news agencies, but there was not a single official confirmation, and sources were also not disclosed. The reality of the claimed trials is in question - are they not just a demonstration of strength to intimidate a likely adversary?

They promise to adopt a promising missile in 2020, mass deliveries and the transition to hypersound are predicted for a longer term - by 2040.

Prospects and Criticism

According to the project, the new generation Zircon 3M22 anti-ship cruise missile is universal, it can be used by almost all ships, as well as the army (ground forces), military space forces, etc. However, due to the small amount of official information, many aspects of the design remain controversial.

Problem Possible Solution
The operability of the radio channel or homing under aerodynamic heating. When flying in low atmospheric layers, a projectile surrounds a cloud of plasma (a layer of ionized gases) and serious distortion of target designation and radio exchange occurs. In space landers, the problem of this property has not been solved Nuclear warhead and huge target (for example, a small city)
Decreasing speed to transonic (Mach number \u003d 0.8) near the target, turning on the homing head
After determining the coordinates of the target, the separation of the power plant (by means of pyrodevices) and the defeat of the target by the planning combat homing module (also less noticeable).
High-precision satellite guidance, hit by "smart" homing darts or HE shells (a very controversial solution, like a thermal imaging homing head)
Window for radio waves in the tail of a rocket (external control channel), repeated repetition of commands
Low noise immunity of existing anti-ship hypersonic cruise missiles
The homing radar can melt from aerodynamic heating The use of high temperature oxide ceramics for fairings and housing (can withstand 1,500 degrees)

With the successful resolution of all possible problems, Zircon is a weapon that threatens to become exactly that formidable answer, as it is positioned in the media. It is assumed that the new Zircon missile will reduce the importance of aircraft carriers and large ships in the battle, as well as stimulate other states to modernize naval air defense.

Zircon rocket reaches 8 sound speeds

The hypersonic anti-ship missile Zircon reached eight speeds of sound in trials. TASS reports citing a source in the military-industrial complex.

“During the tests of the rocket, it was confirmed that its speed on the march reaches 8 Machs,” the agency’s source said.

The agency’s source also noted that Zircon missiles can be launched from 3C14 universal launchers, which are also used for Caliber and Onyx missiles. At the same time, the interlocutor of the agency did not specify when and from which platform the launch was carried out.

According to TASS sources, Zircon is undergoing state tests this year. Adoption is expected in 2018.

The same interlocutor noted that the Zirkon missiles will be armed with the latest Russian fifth-generation Husky-class nuclear submarines (nuclear submarines), as well as the Peter the Great, Russian heavy nuclear missile cruiser.

For the first time, statements about the beginning of development of a complex with a sea-based hypersonic cruise missile Zircon appeared in the media in February 2011. Tests of the Zircon rocket began in March 2016. They passed from the ground-based launch complex, since apparently the marine carriers were not ready.

The Zircon rocket is being developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Reutov, Moscow Region) for the Russian Navy. It will implement the principle of so-called motor hypersound.
  Hypersound is a speed above five Mach numbers. 1 Mach corresponds to the speed of sound - approximately 300 meters per second or 1 thousand 224 km / h.

Hypersonic rocket "Zircon"

Zircon (3M22) - Russian hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile, which is part of the 3K22 Zircon complex. The fundamental difference between this missile is its significantly higher (8 Mach) flight speed, both in comparison with other Russian anti-ship missiles and with anti-ship missiles in service with other countries. At the beginning of 2017, there are no anti-aircraft missiles in the world capable of shooting down hypersonic targets. With this missile, it is planned to replace the P-700 Granite heavy anti-ship missile. Zircon will also complement the latest Russian anti-ship missiles P-800 Onyx, Caliber (3M54), X-35 Uranus.

Approximate performance characteristics:
  - range 350-500 km.
  - length is 8-10 m.
  - speed 8 Mach
  - guidance: ANN + ARLGLS

Possible carriers: TARKR “Admiral Nakhimov”; TARKR "Peter the Great" (during the modernization of 2019-2022); nuclear destroyers of the project 23560 "Leader"; Nuclear submarine of project 885M "Ash-M"; Fifth-generation submarine Husky in a modification for the destruction of aircraft carrier strike groups.

In 2015, it became known that for hypersonic cruise missiles in Russia, a fundamentally new fuel, Decilin-M, had already been created, which allows increasing the range of strategic cruise missiles by 250-300 km.

According to Dmitry Bulgakov, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, "the recipe has already been created, and the energy that is accumulated in this fuel will allow our products to exceed the speed of 5 Machs." The representative of the Ministry of Defense added that experts have developed using aluminum nanoparticles a number of rocket fuel components with a density and energy intensity increased by almost 20%. This allows you to increase the payload.

Forecasts and Comments

In September 2016, Boris Obnosov, general director of the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (KTRV), stated that hypersonic weapons could appear in Russia “at the beginning of the next decade.” “A number of projects are underway with the Advanced Research Foundation under the Military-Industrial Commission. Believe me, we already have interesting results in this area, ”the head of the KTRV said and noted that when working on hypersonic projects, Russian scientists are using the Soviet Union's research work -“ Cold ”and“ Cold-2 ”.

He emphasized that “it would be simply impossible to make hypersonic weapons from scratch,” but today “technology has reached the required level.”

The difficulty, according to Obnosov, is that no one knew how the speed rocket in Machs 8-10 would affect the work of a missile. “Under such conditions, a plasma forms near the surface of the rocket, the temperature regimes are outrageous,” he said.

Comparison

In his article, military analyst, Doctor of Military Sciences Konstantin Sivkov writes: “Comparison of the performance characteristics of Zircon and Standard 6 shows that our missile hits the border of the American missile range in height and almost doubles the maximum speed allowed for it by aerodynamic targets - 1,500 versus 800 meters per second. Conclusion: the American “Standard-6” cannot hit our “swallow”. On the whole, it can be stated that Standard 6 has the most effective missiles in the Western world, the meager possibilities of defeating Zircon. ”

The researcher emphasizes that “in the USA, hypersonic IOS is also being intensively developed. But the Americans directed their main efforts at creating hypersonic strategic missiles. There is no data on the development of anti-ship hypersonic missiles in the USA like Zircon, at least not in the public domain. Therefore, we can assume that the superiority of the Russian Federation in this area will last quite a long time - up to 10 years or more. ”

China made the tests of an ICBM equipped with a detachable planning hypersonic warhead in 2014. Currently, India is also developing high-tech hypersonic strategic weapons in addition to the United States, Russia and China.

Soviet X-90

X-90 (according to the classification of the Ministry of Defense of the USA: AS-X-21) - hypersonic cruise missile
  The main performance characteristics:
  - Weight \u003d 15 t
  - Speed, cruising \u003d 4-5M
  - Wingspan \u003d 6.8-7 m
  - Length \u003d 8-9 m
  - Launch range \u003d 3000-3500 km (RMD-2)
  - Number / power of BB, pcs / ct \u003d 2/200

According to the designers, the machine was quickly heated by air resistance, which destroyed the device or rendered inoperative mechanisms inside the case. To achieve hypersound for a ramjet rocket engine, hydrogen, or at least a fuel consisting essentially of hydrogen, was required. And this is difficult to accomplish technically, since hydrogen gas has a low density. The storage of liquid hydrogen created other insurmountable technical difficulties. Also, during a hypersonic flight around the X-90, a plasma cloud appeared that burned radio antennas, which led to a loss of controllability of the device.

These flaws have been fixed. The problem of cooling the hull and hydrogen fuel was solved by the fact that a mixture of kerosene and water was used as its components. After heating, it was fed into a special catalytic mini-reactor, in which the endothermic reaction of catalytic conversion took place, as a result of which hydrogen fuel was generated. This process led to strong cooling of the apparatus body. The problem of burning radio antennas was also solved, in which the plasma cloud itself began to be used.

At the same time, the plasma cloud allowed the device not only to move in the atmosphere at a speed of 5 km per second, but also to make it “broken” trajectories. In addition, the plasma cloud also created the invisibility effect of the device for radars. X-90 did not enter service, work on the missile was suspended back in 1992.

The flights of the “three-swing” aircraft were accompanied by frantic heating of the structure. The temperature of the edges of the air intakes and the leading edge of the wing reached 580-605 K, and the rest of the skin was 470-500 K. The consequences of this heating are evidenced by the fact that even at a temperature of 370 K the organic glass used in glazing the cabins softens and begins to boil fuel. At 400 K, the strength of duralumin decreases, at 500 K the chemical decomposition of the working fluid in the hydraulic system and the destruction of the seals occur. At 800 K, titanium alloys lose the necessary mechanical properties. At temperatures above 900 K, aluminum and magnesium melt, and heat-resistant steel loses its properties.


Flights were conducted in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20,000 meters in very thin air. Achieving a 3M speed at lower altitudes was not possible: the skin temperature would reach four-digit values.

Over the next half century, a number of measures have been proposed to combat the burning fury of atmospheric heating. Beryllium alloys and new ablative materials, composites based on boron and carbon fibers, plasma spraying of refractory coatings ...

Despite the successes achieved, the thermal barrier remains a serious obstacle to hypersound. Obstacle mandatory, but not the only one.

Supersonic flight mode is extremely costly in terms of traction and fuel consumption. And the level of complexity of this problem is growing rapidly with decreasing flight altitude.

To date, none of the existing types of aircraft and cruise missiles could not reach speed \u003d 3M at sea level.

The record holder among manned aircraft became the MiG-23. Due to its relatively small size, variable sweep wing and powerful R-29-300 engine, he was able to develop 1700 km / h near the ground. More than anyone in the world!

Cruise missiles showed a slightly better result, but also could not take the “bar” in Mach 3.

Among the variety of anti-ship missile systems in the world, only four anti-ship missiles can fly twice as fast as sound speed at sea level. Among them:

ZM80 “Mosquito”  (starting weight of 4 tons, max. speed at an altitude of 14 kilometers - 2.8M, at sea level - 2M).

ZM55 “Onyx”  (starting weight of 3 tons, max. speed at an altitude of 14 km - 2.6 M).

ZM54 “Caliber”.

And finally, Russian-Indian BrahMos  (starting weight 3 tons, design speed at low altitude 2M).

The closest to the coveted 3M was a promising “Caliber”. Thanks to the multi-stage layout, its detachable warhead (which itself is the third stage) is able to reach a finish speed of 2.9M. However, not for long: the separation and acceleration of warheads is carried out in close proximity to the target. On the marching section, the ZM54 flies on a subsonic basis.

It is worth noting that there is no information about testing and testing in practice the ZM54 separation algorithm. Despite its common name, the ZM54 missile has little in common with those “Caliber” that set up an unforgettable firework in the sky over the Caspian in the autumn of last year (subsonic CD for strikes on land targets, index ZM14).

It can be stated that a rocket with a speed of\u003e 2M at low altitude is, literally, just tomorrow.

You have already noticed that each of the three anti-ship missiles capable of developing 2M on the marching flight section (Moskit, Onyx, Bramos) is distinguished by its exceptional weight and size characteristics. The length is 8-10 meters, the starting weight is 7-8 times higher than the performance of subsonic anti-ship missiles. At the same time, their warheads are relatively small, they account for about 8% of the starting mass of the rocket. And the flight range at low altitude barely reaches 100 km.

The possibility of air-based these missiles remains in question. Due to their length, the Mosquitoes and Bramos do not fit in the UVP; they require separate launchers on the decks of the ships. As a result, the number of carriers of supersonic anti-ship missiles can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

At this point, you should turn to the title topic of this article.

ZM22 “Zircon” - a hypersonic sword of the Russian Navy.  Myth or reality?

The rocket that is talked about so much, but no one even saw its shape. What will this superweapon look like? What are its features? And the main question: how realistic are the plans for the creation of such anti-ship missiles at the modern technological level?

After reading a long introduction about the torment of the creators of supersonic aircraft and the Kyrgyz Republic, many of the readers probably found doubts about the realism of the existence of Zircon.

A fire arrow flying at the border of supersonic and hypersound, capable of hitting sea targets at ranges of 500 kilometers or more. Whose overall dimensions do not exceed the established limits when placed in UKKS cells.


The 3S14 universal ship-borne shooting system is an 8-shot vertical under-deck launcher for launching the entire range of Caliber family missiles. Max. the length of the transport and launch container with a rocket is 8.9 meters. Starting weight limit - up to three tons. It is planned that ten such modules (80 launch mines) will form the basis of strike weapons on the modernized nuclear-powered Orlan.

A promising superweapon or another unfulfilled promise? Doubts are in vain.

The appearance of a supersonic anti-ship missile capable of developing 4.5M in flight is the next logical step in improving missile weapons. It is curious that rockets with similar characteristics have been in service with the world's leading fleets for 30 years. One index is enough to understand what is at stake.

48N6E2 anti-aircraft missile as part of the S-300FM “Fort” marine anti-aircraft system

The length and diameter of the hull are standard for all S-300 missiles.
Length \u003d 7.5 m, diameter of the rocket with folded wings \u003d 0.519 m. Launch weight of 1.9 tons.

The warhead is a high-explosive fragmentation weighing 180 kg.

The estimated range of the AC defeat is up to 200 km.

Speed \u200b\u200b- up to 2100 m / s (SIX speeds of sound).


SAM 48N6E2 as part of the S-300PMU2 Favorit land complex

How justified is the comparison of anti-aircraft missiles with anti-ship missiles?

There are not so many conceptual differences. Anti-aircraft 48N6E2 and promising “Zircon” are guided missiles with all the ensuing consequences.

Sailors are well aware of the hidden capabilities of naval air defense systems. Even half a century ago, during the first firing of anti-aircraft missiles, an obvious discovery was made: at the line of sight, the first to go into the course of the SAM. They have a smaller mass of the warhead, but their reaction time is 5-10 times shorter compared to RCC! The indicated tactics were universally used in “skirmishes” at sea. The Yankees damaged the “Standard” Iranian frigate (1988). Russian sailors with the help of "Wasp" dealt with Georgian boats.

The bottom line is that if a conventional SAM with a detached fuse can be used against ships, then why not create a special weapon on its base to destroy surface targets?

The advantage will be a high flight speed, at the turn of hypersound. The main disadvantage is the high-altitude flight profile, which makes the missile vulnerable to an enemy air defense breakthrough.

What are the main design differences between missiles and anti-ship missiles?

Guidance system.

To detect targets beyond the horizon, anti-ship missiles require an active radar seeker.

It is worth noting that anti-aircraft missiles with ARGSN have long been used in the world. The first of them (the European “Aster”) was adopted more than ten years ago. A similar rocket was created by the Americans (Standard-6). Domestic counterparts are 9M96E and E2 - anti-aircraft missiles of the Redut ship’s air defense system.

At the same time, finding a 100-meter ship should be simpler than hitting an actively maneuvering object of point dimensions (airplane or KR).

Engine.

Most anti-aircraft missiles are equipped with a solid propellant rocket engine, whose operating time is limited to seconds. The 48H6E2 rocket marching engine’s operating time is only 12 s, after which the rocket flies by inertia, being controlled by aerodynamic rudders. As a rule, the missile range along a quasi-ballistic trajectory, with the marching section high in the stratosphere, does not exceed 200 kilometers (the most “long-range”), which is quite enough to carry out the tasks assigned to them.

Anti-ship weapons, on the contrary, are equipped with turbojet engines - for a long, for tens of minutes, flight in dense layers of the atmosphere. At a much lower speed than conventional anti-aircraft missiles.

The creators of the 4-fly “Zircon”, obviously, will have to abandon any turbojet and ramjet engines, using the proven technique with a powder turbojet engine.

The task with increasing flight range is solved by a multi-stage layout. For example: the American Standard-3 interceptor missile has a range of 700 km, and the height of the interception is limited by low Earth orbit.

Standard-3 is a four-stage rocket (Mk.72 launch accelerator, two marching stages and a detachable kinetic interceptor with its own engines for path correction). After the separation of the third stage, the speed of the combat unit reaches 10 Machs!

It is noteworthy that Standard-3 is a relatively light compact weapon, with a starting weight of ~ 1600 kg. A missile is placed in a standard UVP cell aboard any American destroyer.

The missile has no warhead. The main and only striking element is its fourth step (infrared sensor, computer and engine kit), crashing at full speed into the enemy.

Returning to Zircon, the author does not see fundamental obstacles to the fact that an anti-aircraft missile, which has a lower speed and a flatter trajectory than Standard-3, can safely return to the dense layers of the atmosphere after passing apogee. Then find and attack the target, falling a star on the deck of the ship.

The development and creation of hypersonic anti-ship missiles based on existing anti-aircraft missiles is the most optimal solution from the point of view of minimizing technical risks and financial costs.

A) Shooting at moving sea targets at a range of over 500 km. Due to the high speed of Zircon’s flight, its flight time will be reduced to 10-15 minutes. That will automatically solve the problem of data obsolescence.
Previously, as now, anti-ship missiles are launched in the direction of likely finding a target. By the time of arrival in the indicated square, the target can already go beyond its limits, making it impossible to detect the GOS missile.

B) From the previous paragraph follows the possibility of effective firing at very long distances, which will make the missile a “long arm” of the fleet. The ability to deliver operational strikes at a great range. The reaction time of such a system is ten times less than that of the wing of an aircraft carrier.

C) The attack from the zenith, along with an unexpectedly high missile flight speed (after braking in dense layers of the atmosphere, it will be about 2M), will make most of the existing short-range defense systems ineffective (Daggers, Goalkeepers, RIM-116 etc.)

At the same time, the negative aspects will be:

1. Altitude flight path. Within a second after the start, the enemy will notice the launch of the rocket and begin to prepare to repel the attack.

Speed \u200b\u200b\u003d 4.5M is not a panacea here. The characteristics of the domestic S-400 allow the interception of air targets flying at speeds up to 10M.

The new American Standard-6 missiles have a maximum strike height of 30 km. Last year, with its help, the farthest interception of the CC in the naval (140+ kilometers) was carried out in practice. A powerful radar and computing capabilities of Aegis allow destroyers to hit targets in near-Earth orbits.

The second problem is a weak warhead. Someone will say that at such speeds you can do without it. But this is not so.


The Talos anti-aircraft missile without a warhead nearly cut the target in half (exercises off the coast of California, 1968).

The main stage of Talos weighed one and a half tons (more than any of the existing missiles) and was equipped with a ramjet engine. When it hits the target, it detonated an unused amount of kerosene. Speed \u200b\u200bat the time of impact \u003d 2M. The target was an escort destroyer of WWII times (1100 tons), whose dimensions corresponded to the modern RTOs.

Logging Talos in the cruiser or destroyer (5000-10000 tons), could not lead to serious consequences. In marine history, there are many cases where ships, having received numerous through holes from armor-piercing shells, remained in service. So, the American aircraft carrier Kalinin Bay in a battle near Fr. Samar was pierced through 12 times.

The Zircon anti-ship missile needs a warhead. However, in view of the need to ensure a speed of 4.5 M and limited mass dimensions when deployed in the CWP, the mass of the warhead will not exceed 200 kg (the estimate is given based on examples of existing missiles).

DATA FOR 2019 (standard replenishment)
Complex 3K-22 "Zircon" / "Zircon-S", rocket 3M-22 - SS-NX-33


Interspecific missile system with hypersonic missile / anti-ship missile for operational purposes. According to available information, the development of the complex is carried out by "NPO Mashinostroyeniya" ( east. - Annual Report, p. 15) The first statements about the development of the complex in the media date back to February 2011. There was also an officially unverified assumption that the export version of the Zircon missile was the RCC "". Until 2012, there was also a hypothesis that the complex is the successor to the complex "" developed by the same NGO Engineering.

In 2011, at NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a group of leading designers on the topic 3M-22 with Sergey Bunakov, Denis Vitushkin, Yuri Vorotyntsev and Alexei Naydenov () was organized as part of the Directorate 15-51. In the same 2011, a preliminary design of the Zircon-S complex was developed, and, accordingly, preliminary designs of the subsystems of the complex were developed. Part of the development - “Zircon-S-ARK” and “Zircon-S-RV” was carried out by the structural unit of KTVR - UPPB “Detail” (). As of 2011, the organization of serial production of Zircon missiles in the coming years is planned at the Strela Production Center (Orenburg, east. - Annual Report, p. 15) It is planned to complete the creation of the missile system by 2020.

According to the analysis of information on the topic for the second half of 2012, an assumption was made that the topic "Zircon" is either closed or changed. There was no actual evidence of this assumption, but there is a possibility that it was precisely the difficulties with the work on the topic for technical reasons that could have led to the Government’s proposal to merge the Raduga ICD with the NPO Mashinostroyeniya to organize work on hypersonic devices.

On February 8, 2017, the media reported on plans to conduct a test launch of the Zircon missile from a marine carrier in the spring of 2017. It is also reported that previous missile launches were carried out from the Plesetsk training ground, which runs counter to the points of view existing in the expert community (). Most likely Plesetsk was named by mistake and we are talking about the Nenox training ground.

The data are speculative in nature and are at best approximate. Sources are indicated. 3M-22 missile identification -. mention of the 3K-22 index -. western name SS-NX-33.



Hypersonic rocket test table:

Npp date Location Carrier Status Note sources

july-August 2012 Akhtubinsk, Air Force GLIC Tu-22M3? catchy or unsuccessful start According to the newspaper Izvestia ()

july-August 2013 Akhtubinsk, Air Force GLIC Tu-22M3? short flight failed start According to an interview with the head of KTRV at the MAKS-2013 air show ()

09/30/2013 Akhtubinsk, Air Force GLIC Tu-22M3? failed start According to the publication, the launch was September 30, 2013, or 1-2 days earlier ()

fall 2015


the beginning of flight tests of the rocket
(, 2016)

12/15/2015 Nenoksa, 21st GTsMP ground launch complex emergency start
Alleged Identification
01 March 16 or 17, 2016 Nenoksa, 21st GTsMP ground launch complex successful launch Media reported on the start of tests of the Zircon rocket from a ground-based launch complex ()
02
september-December 2016
Nenoxa, 21st GTsMP?
ground launch complex?

Start-up, which completes the first stage of flight design tests of the rocket. Plans announced in the media on August 8, 2016 ()
03
April 10-15, 2017
White Sea
presumably submarine K-560 "Severodvinsk" pr.885
first launch from a sea carrier
The plans for carrying out tests from a marine carrier in the spring of 2017 were announced in the media on February 8, 2017 ().

02/23/2017, a forecast was made about the test launch of a rocket from the Severodvinsk submarine.

04/15/2017, it is reported that the missile has reached a speed of 8M ().

04/21/2017, the Minister of Defense of Russia announced the successful completion of the PLA "Severodvinsk" the first combat mission in the history of the boat.

04 May 30, 2017 White Sea?
05 December 10, 2018 White Sea? presumably submarine K-560 "Severodvinsk" pr.885 successful launch according to western data Quoting Western Data ()

December 21, 2018 reports that the Zircon rocket tests have been conducted for about 4 years and more than 10 launches of the product against sea targets have been completed, and tests from surface ships are scheduled to begin in 2019. This message has not been confirmed and, possibly, not true.


Model of the BrahMos-II rocket on the opening day of the Aero India 2013 exhibition, Bangalore, 02/06/2013 (photo - Shiv Aroor, http://livefist.blogspot.ru).

Launch equipment - on the modernized missile cruiser pr.11442M, it is planned to use 3M-22 missiles from the universal vertical launch launcher UVPU 3S-14-11442M. The design and manufacture of 3C-14-11442M launchers is carried out by the "design bureau of special engineering" (St. Petersburg, part of the Almaz-Antey concern). Production will be carried out on the basis of joint Decision No. 235/1/1/8565 of November 6, 2014. and terms of reference "Finalization of UVPU 3S-14-22350 for complexes 3K-14, 9K, 3M55, 3K-22 as applied to order 11442M ()

I believe that the version of the 3C-14 launcher for using Zircon missiles is probably designed for higher launch loads than the standard 3C-14 launcher (May 2017).

The media reported that the missile should "achieve universality in the destruction of naval and ground targets, as well as unification by launch type - underwater, surface, ground" (, 2016).

Control and guidance system:
In 2011, NPO Granit-Electron developed a conceptual design for the creation of an autopilot and inertial navigation system (SAIN) for the 3M22 product (source - Annual report of NPO Granit-Electron for 2011). In 2012, the Granit-Electron concern led to the development of detailed design documentation and control equipment for PKR 3M22 ( east. - Annual report of Concern Granit-Electron OJSC).

The development of control system instruments (at least gyroscopic instruments) is carried out by the NPO of Electromechanics (Miass, see. - Annual report of JSC NPO Electromechanics for 2011.) During 2012, NPO Electromechanics planned to carry out work on the topic "Zircon".

Outline designs of equipment on the topics Zircon-S-ARK and Zircon-S-RV were carried out by the KTVR - UPKB Detal structural unit and reviewed in 2011. Probably, these are radio altimeters involved in the missile control system ().

3M-22 rocket:
Design - presumably the missiles are made according to the "carrying case" scheme with wings of small elongation. Also, presumably, the rocket has launch and marching stages. The design of the rocket is designed to heat when moving in the atmosphere up to 1500 degrees. C and above.



Propulsion system
: Probably, the starting solid propellant rocket engine and march ramjet.

The development of the rocket propulsion engine is probably being carried out by the 08 branch of NPO Mashinostroeniya. As of 2009-2010, a power plant with ramjet engine "for a foreign customer", presumably for a BrahMos-II missile, is being developed in conjunction with Design Bureau Orion. In 2009, successful firing tests of engines were carried out ().

FSUE NIIPM (Perm) in its annual report for 2013 reports on solid fuel charges, on igniters and gas generators, including for the Zircon weapons system.

There is an assumption that the rocket uses a classic ramjet without supersonic combustion. The assumption is based on an interview with Academician Fedosov on September 4, 2017 in which he said that the work on the creation of the ram ramjet has not yet left the experimental phase.

TTX missiles:
Length - estimated from 8 to 10.5 m (more likely a large figure)
Range of action:
- 300-400 km ( east. - USA tested, )
- 800-1000 km (forecast)
Speed:
- not less than 4.5 M ()
- presumably 5-6 M ()
- 6 M (, 2016)
- up to 8 M (, 04/15/2017, 2018)

Combat equipment:
The warhead of the rocket was developed and manufactured by GosNIImash as of 2014 ( east. - Annual report of GosNIImash for 2014).

Carriers:
- Submarine K-560 "Severodvinsk" pr.885 / GRANEY - in the winter of 2016-2017. The submarine was refitted for testing RCC Zircon from the UKSK 3S-14 launcher.

PLA pr.885M "Ash-M" - probably the PLA will be equipped with an advanced 3C-14 complex with the possibility of using Zircon missiles.

PLARK pr.949AM - likely to get the opportunity to use anti-ship missiles Zircon after modernization (instead of anti-ship missiles P-700 Granit).

The heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great" - after the modernization, which is planned for 2019-2022. as part of 3C-14 launchers ().

Heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov - after modernization, which is underway as of 2016, it is planned to use 3C-14-11442M launchers ().

Promising 5th generation PLACR

Status: Russia - the conclusions that the Zircon missile was involved in the events indicated below are an assumption!

2012 July-August is a supposedly missile test (or test failure) of a rocket from an airplane. Presumably with the Tu-22M3. Tests were conducted in Akhtubinsk ().

August 2013 - presumably the second test launch - unsuccessful or partially successful - after the launch, an interview appeared with the head of KTRV Obnosov with information that we already have rockets that briefly fly in hypersound (4.5M) ().

September 2013 - until the end of the month another test launch is expected - presumably a prototype Zircon rocket or similar hypersonic rocket ().

2013 September 30 - a source reports that the test launch of the rocket was probably unsuccessful ().

July 15, 2015 - announces readiness for testing of the Zircon anti-ship missiles. Probably, we are talking about full-fledged flight design tests.


Unsuccessful missile launch at the Nenox training ground on December 15, 2015. Presumably this is the first launch of the Zircon missile from the ground launch complex (photo - http://defendingrussia.ru/).

Sources:
Annual report on the activities of OAO PO Strela for 2011 2012 ()
The annual report of OJSC Concern Granite-Electron for 2012, St. Petersburg, 2013
Annual report of JSC NPO Electromechanics for 2011, Miass, 2012 ().
Tape.ru. 2011 year
Summing up the year. Website http://www.dancomm.ru, 2011, 2013
The United States tested a new supersonic missile. Site "Sight", 2011 ().

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