53T6M / PRS-1M/45T6 missile defense system
The Ministry of Defense conducted the launch of a modernized missile defense system, the PRS-1M missile defense system at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan, on 12 February 2018. As the official printed organ of the department, the newspaper "Krasnaya Zvezda" , the tests were successful. The military department published a video of the launch. At the end of the events, the deputy commander of the Air Defense Missile Defense (Special Assignment) of the Russian Air and Space Forces, Colonel Andrei Prikhodko, said that the antimissile missile had accomplished the task and struck the conventional target with the specified accuracy.
Its tactical and technical characteristics concerning the range, accuracy, and duration of operation are much higher than the firearms currently in service, and there is no doubt that this antimissile system, like all components of the ABM system undergoing modernization, will be able to fulfill their task of ensuring reliable defense of the assigned district, "the publication of Prikhodko quotes. The article noted that the missile defense system is designed to protect Moscow from air strikes and from outer space. She also warns of a missile attack and helps the Russian military to control outer space.
According to Andrei Prikhodko, the system is able to protect the territory from both single and group strikes, including a new generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) equipped with anti-missile defense capabilities. The developers have preserved the mass-dimensional characteristics of the previous interceptor. In this case, the PRS-1M received a new engine and a fundamentally new on-board radio-electronic equipment. Also, the speed and height of the missile interception were increased, and the effectiveness of destroying targets was increased.
The expert stressed that the tests carried out fit into the concept of creating an aerospace defense system in Russia, which is especially important in the light of new threats. For example, hypersonic and shock space weapons, which are being developed in the United States. To counter these challenges will be a principally new anti-aircraft missile system of the fifth generation S-500. Its advantage, according to Korotchenko, will be the implementation of the method of direct kinetic interception of the ICD. In addition, the SAM is mobile, which allows the grouping of ABM forces and assets, the analyst added.
Modernization of the anti-missile system is the response of domestic designers to specialists of NATO countries engaged in the improvement of offensive systems, military expert Viktor Baranets believes. "There is an A-135 system that protects the capital ... And this A-135 was decided to modernize or make a new missile for this system, it was tested with a throw test in Plesetsk - there is a legendary test site - to move to Kazakhstan, because the rocket needs a lot of space. "She needed a Russian-wide flight," Baranets said on Sputnik radio.
According to the expert, not a single missile of a potential enemy will reach to Moscow. Baranets compared the new system with a "vacuum cleaner", which "disperses mosquitoes" - blows them away with a "powerful vacuum cleaner".
On December 4, 2018, the upgraded PRS-1M anti-missile missile system of the A-135 missile defense system near Moscow was launched for the seventh time from site No. 35 of the Saryshagan test site. The launch was carried out at a pre-emptive point. The measuring complex of the test site recorded minimal misses, and the tests at the Ministry of Defense were considered successful.
In order to test the A-135 anti-missile defense system near Moscow at the Saryshagan training ground, the Amur-P multichannel firing complex (ISSK) was deployed, which, in fact, is a shortened version of the A-135 missile defense system near Moscow. The complex includes spatially spaced at a distance of up to 100 km means - a multifunctional radar (MRS) "Don-2NP" and a command and computing center (KVP) 5K80P with a computing system "Elbrus", launch positions of short-range intercept missiles with a mine-based, technical position for the preparation of PR and the data transmission and communication system 5Ya67. "Amur-P" is deployed at sites No. 7, 8, 35, 6/52 of the 10th missile defense test site. Anti-missile missiles are launched directly from site number 35. "Don-2NP" with large-sized phased antenna arrays represents one facet of the "Don-2N" radar near Moscow, deployed near the town of Sofrino.
From the ISSK Amur, PRS-1M short-range interceptor missiles are launched, made according to a single-stage scheme with a detachable controllable head stage (developed by the Novator Design Bureau). The PRS-1M anti-missile is an atmospheric high-speed short-range anti-missile of the A-135 missile defense system. In July 1979, at site number 35, the first throw-in launch of the PRS-1 short-range interceptor missile was made. The first launch of the 53T6 rocket in a closed control loop took place in July 1981, and already on June 18, 1982, two anti-missiles, launched from site number 35, intercepted RSD-10 ballistic missiles (launched from the Kapustin Yar test site) and an R-29 ballistic missile launched from the strategic missile submarine cruiser of the Northern Fleet.
On February 17, 1995, the A-135 missile defense system was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces.
All 53T6 antimissiles (over 100 units) for the A-135 system were manufactured back in Soviet times. After the collapse of the USSR, their production was stopped. In the early and mid-2000s, tests at the Saryshagan test site were carried out in fact with one goal - to extend the service life of antimissiles. The next product was removed from a silo near Moscow, sent to the test range, where it was launched. Based on the results of successful tests, an act was drawn up, which determined the possibility of extending the service life of the PRS-1M. However, this process could not continue indefinitely. Sooner or later, either the anti-missile missiles would end, or their period of being on combat duty would finally end.
Since 2010, Almaz-Antey has resumed production of solid-propellant rocket engines for 53T6 interceptor missiles. On December 20, 2011, the first launch of PRS-1M with a new engine was carried out. Then the cooperation of the concern's co-executors began to resume the mass production of interceptor missiles as a whole. On November 23, 2017, a completely new product took off from site number 35. In appearance, this is the 53T6 anti-missile missile of the previous version, whose body is made of high-strength steels using winding from composite materials with conical solid fuel charges of a specific shape and which has a detachable controlled warhead with gas-dynamic steering engines.
Now, the anti-missile missile has a new engine, onboard equipment based on a modern electronic component base, and construction materials. Hence the completely expanded combat capabilities of this product. The updated anti-missile missile began to develop even greater speed. 53T6 and in the old days flew several times faster than a bullet and gained a speed of more than 3 km / s in a matter of seconds, being the fastest missile in the world. In the modernized version, its speed has already approached 4 km / s. Available product overloads have increased significantly. If earlier they exceeded 200 g, now they have come close to 300 g (for example, the S-75 air defense missile system could withstand only 8 g, missiles of modern systems are, as a rule, not more than 30 g). And with such overloads, the onboard equipment of the PRS-1M anti-missile remains operational. For the new product, the affected area in height and range has increased by almost one and a half times. Now, the interception of warheads of enemy ICBMs is confidently carried out at an altitude of well over 50 km.
The missile is equipped with a nuclear warhead with a capacity of several kilotons. According to some reports, a directional fragmentation warhead has been developed recently. But there is no unequivocal confirmation of this yet.
Thus, with the arrival of the new PRS-1M interceptor missile to equip the A-135 system near Moscow, the effectiveness of the anti-missile defense of Moscow and the Central Industrial Region will significantly increase. In fact, the A-135 missile defense system acquires a completely new quality with a new product. On December 4, 2018, the seventh modernized PRS-1M interceptor missile was launched at the Saryshagan training ground. The new missile has great capabilities in terms of target interception speed, better accuracy characteristics, and therefore will seriously strengthen the security of the Russian capital from ballistic missile attacks from a potential enemy.
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