A-135 ABM
The A-135 system was born in agony, through conflicts, passions, clashes of ambitions, scientific and design ideas, a clash of characters, dirty undercover intrigues and denunciations in the KGB. Anatoly Georgievich Basistov had to go through all this to prove his case, to fulfill the "task of the party and government", formalized in the form of a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
Soviet scientists and designers, led and coordinated by Anatoly Basistov, did everything by the end of 1987. To coordinate their work, to extinguish conflicts and ambitions that outstanding scientists and designers always have, to find the only right solution, to push it through the Central Committee of the CPSU - all this had to be done by Basistov. For seven years of shock work (from 1980 to 1987), a huge amount of money was thrown into the construction of the Sofrinskaya pyramid.
The A-135 system really differed from all that existed before it, in that it was intended to intercept not one strategic missile, as Kisunko did, but a group of similar missiles with MIRVs (MIRVed ICBMs). This could be done, Bassistov proved, and his "counterparties overseas" adhered to this point of view, only in automatic mode with high-performance computers, practically without the participation of a person who could hardly keep up with the speed of this battle. There, it was required not only to detect attacking missiles and their warheads, but also to select targets, that is, to separate the true from the false, direct your strike against the real, not the fake ones. And also to resist electronic suppression systems that the enemy can use, and many of his other tricks.
It was necessary to control both the earth and the ocean from space, to monitor all this space and from the country's borders. Combine all information received in real time in one place, instantly process it and, in the event of a real danger to the state and the life of its citizens, in a matter of seconds make a responsible decision on what to do. This is a task for the top leadership of the state and the army, and it must be performed by engineers, designers and the military.
Basistov had to bring all these tasks into one uninterrupted and error-free operating system: satellites for monitoring space and ground space, a missile attack warning system, a computer complex, anti-missiles with their warheads, which could disarm the "foe" and at the same time not cause serious harm protected object.
In the late 1970s a brand-new missile defense system was in development. It was called the A-135 Amur and entered service in 1990 and five years later it was put on combat alert in the Moscow region. Currently, the A-135 is part of the 9th division of the 1st air- and missile-defense army [part of the Russian Aerospace Forces]. The system has been modernized for several times, first of all, including its computing devices. As a result, the system now runs much faster.
The multi missile defense system of the Central Industrial Region and Moscow second-generation A-135 is an evolution of the first-generation A-35. The multi-channel missile defense system of the Central Industrial Region and Moscow city of the second generation A-135 is the development of a similar complex of the first generation A-35.
The development of the missile defense system A-135 began in 1971. The structure of the new missile defense system, which was to replace the outdated A-35M, was supposed to include two types of missiles - 51T6 designed for extra-atmospheric intercept targets at altitudes of up to one hundred thousand meters and range to 600 kilometers, and 53T6.
The development of a modernized version of the A-35 missile defense system - the A-35M system - was carried out by NIO-4 OKB-30 under the leadership of G.V. Kisunko until its removal in 1975. In parallel with G.V. Kisunko, work on the new missile defense system was begun at the direction of Minister V.D. Kalmykov in late 1968. a group of specialists of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry under the leadership of A.G. Basistov. By the end of 1969 The concept of a two-level missile defense system was previously agreed upon with the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1970 the subject of missile defense has completely come under the control of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry - January 17, 1970 the specialized Vympel Center was formed, the scope of which included missile defense problems, missile attack warning systems and space control, etc. The development of the system in the Scientific and Technical Center “Vympel” was carried out on the subject of the “Fon-1” research work.
Decree of the USSR Council of Ministers No. 376-119 on the creation of the A-135 missile defense system with the Amur firing range and the Amur-P firing range was issued on June 10, 1971. The project envisaged the creation of three Amur firing complexes at a distance of 600-800 km from Moscow and three universal close-range systems of the S-225 system, which would minimize the damage from the use of anti-ballistic missiles with powerful thermonuclear warheads in the long-range missile defense system and increase the reliability of intercepting attacking warheads. In December 1971 the advance design of the A-135 system (Research Institute of Radio Engineering of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry) was completed, the advance design of the Amur firing complex (STC TsNPO Vympel, the chief designer was A.G. Basistov).
After the conclusion of the ABM Treaty in June 1972 the redesign of the missile defense system and the Amur firing complex to accommodate all assets on an area of 100 km in diameter (Moscow Region) was begun, the S-225 systems were excluded from the system, and the high-speed missiles PRS-1 / 5Y26 created for these systems in OKB "Innovator" under the leadership of L.V. Lyuleva (since 1985 - Chief Designer P.I. Kamnev) - the future 53T6 (new index since 1973), were included in the near (second) atmospheric level of the A-135 system. The development of the adjusted project was led by A.G. Basistov. The preliminary design of the A-135 system in 1973. proposed by the USSR Ministry of Defense and with some comments approved at the end of 1973. In the same 1973, A.G. Basistov was appointed chief designer of the A-135 missile defense system.
In the spring of 1970, a competitive selection of the firing radar station option began at the NIIRP; the following projects were allowed to participate in the competition:
- "Istra-2" Radar with a rotary transmitter from the Aurora missile defense system design (developed by NIIRP, chief designer G.V. Kisunko);
- "Neman" Radar with a Luneberg lens from the project of the Aurora missile defense system (NIIDAR, Chief Designer Yu.G. Burlakov);
- Don-2N radar (RTI, chief designer V.K. Sloka) Quadrangular radar with fixed antenna.
The winner was the Don-2N radar project.
Elaboration of the upgraded version of the missile defense system A-35 - A system-35M - was conducted NIO-4 OKB-30 under the direction of G.V.Kisunko until his dismissal in 1975. In 1974 After signing the Protocol to the ABM Treaty under the leadership of A.G. Basistov, the third version of the draft A-135 ABM system was developed. In 1975 A discussion of the draft system in the USSR Ministry of Defense took place, the draft was sent for revision with some comments.
In 1975, A.G. Basistov was appointed general designer of SKB-2 TsNPO "Vympel" - the designer of missile defense systems in Moscow (until his death on September 16, 1998, then he was replaced by E.P. Andreichuk), first deputy A .G. Basistova according to the A-135 system was appointed M.G. Minasyan. The preliminary design of the A-135 missile defense system with the elimination of customer comments was developed in 1976.
The system was created as a two-echelon system with 51T6 long-range missiles (see photo ), which were the development of A-35 missile defense systems and 53T6 medium-range missiles, originally created as part of the S-225 KB-1 universal complex project. The objects of the ABM system were designed spaced apart from each other at a distance of up to 100 km. The A-135 system was supposed to use anti-missiles with nuclear warheads of various powers on missiles of different echelons.
The decision to create a test-range prototype of the A-135 - Amur-P 5ZH60P missile defense system for testing components and the system as a whole was made in 1974. The construction and deployment of the missile defense complex of the missile defense system was mainly carried out in 1976-1979. The complex includes Don-2NP radar (range model), command and computing station 5K80P with an Elbrus-type computer, a firing complex and a 5Y67 data transmission system. By 1978 the creation of the firing system of the A-135 Amur-P 5ZH60P system as a whole was completed. Tests of anti-missiles and other means of the system were conducted on the 6th (ShPU PR 51T6), 8th (Don-2NP radar and KVP 5K80P) and 35th (ShPU PR 53T6, experimental missiles used during the tests, according to some given had the designation US / NATO - ABM-X-3A / SH-08) at the sites of the 10th Sary-Shagan State Research Research Site ("Site A", Priozersk, Kazakh USSR).
One of the system’s tests took place on June 18, 1982 as part of the largest exercises of the USSR Armed Forces (called in the West “a seven-hour nuclear war”). Two PR systems 5ZH60P launched from firing range "A" intercepted the 15J45 BRDS "Pioneer" launched from the Kapustin Yar firing range and the R-29 SLBM from the 667B Murena project of the Northern Fleet. Factory testing grounds of the complex with a set of equipment for the complex of the first stage were launched in November 1982 and completed in March 1984 (8 51T6 rocket launches, including 4 in the complex; 5 53T6 rocket launches, including 4 in a closed control loop; 9 postings of custom ballistic targets, 27 AES postings, overflights were made, cycles of modeling and functional control of the complex).
In 1986, tests of the complex with Elbrus-1 computer and a special computer (first stage equipment) were completed. The gradual installation of the equipment of the second stage with a more advanced Elbrus-2 computer at the landfill complex has been carried out since March 1984. until October 1987 Tests of the A-135 Amur-P system with second-stage equipment were conducted from March to October 1987. (2 launches of 51T6 missiles, 5 launches of 53T6 missiles, 2 postings of custom ballistic targets and 36 postings of associated targets were carried out).
Based on the test results, it was concluded that the performance characteristics of the complex are set, including for the destruction of the latest maneuvering warhead BRDSD type "Pershing-2". After some improvements to the system, another stage of control tests of the polygon sample was carried out - January-July 1988. (2 launches 51T6, 3 launches 53T6, 5 postings of custom ballistic targets and 16 postings of associated targets). State tests of the A-135 system near Moscow began in 1989. At the same time, as part of the state tests, the Amur-P test site launched missile defense - 3 launches 51T6 and 4 launches of serial 53T6, 14 postings of custom-made ballistic targets were made. When testing the missile defense system, considerable attention was paid to the assessment of operational, structural and reliability characteristics, the evaluation of noise immunity (a special jamming complex was used).
State tests of the A-135 system at the Amur-P test range complex were successfully completed on December 4, 1989. In addition, during the testing period, additional monitoring of the background and target situation and confirmation of the characteristics of the combat formations of complex targets were carried out in the launches of special ballistic target missiles during the testing of the missile defense system of the A-135 system from the side of the unique Neman-P radar station.
As of the summer of 1986. equipment was installed at the objects of the A-135 missile defense system, an autonomous power supply was installed at the Don-2N radar, construction of silo missile launchers 53T6 on schedule and silo missiles 51T6 missed the schedule. Despite all the difficulties, the supply of A-925 / 51T6 and PRS-1 / 53T6 missiles, in part for putting on duty as part of the A-135 missile defense system, began in 1990, and in December 1990 The system has been put into trial joint operation.
combat duty at the complex is carried out exclusively by officers, that the electronic computer that operates there is the fastest in the country (up to a billion operations per second). That outstanding domestic designers Pyotr Grushin and Lev Lyuliev worked on the creation of missiles for him, the recently deceased academician Vladimir Barmin worked for them. The radar control system was created by Professor Viktor Sloka from the Academician Mints Radio Engineering Institute, the warheads were three times Hero of Labor Academician Julius Khariton.
The A-135 system attained "alert" (operational) status on 17 February 1995. On February 11, 1991, air defense military units took up combat alert on the A-135 complex. The A-135 missile system was completed in 1992. and February 17, 1995 The Decree of the President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin on restoring the operability of the A-135 missile defense system, ensuring the continuous operation of the system and the beginning of work on its modernization was issued.
It is currently operational although its 53T6 (NATO:SH-11) component was deactivated (as of February 2007). A newer missile was expected to replace it. There is an operational test version of the system at the test site in Sary Shagan, Kazakhstan.
Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR to begin construction of the A-135 was signed in 1978; It also contained an order to start developing a modernized missile defense system.
It should be noted that the creation and construction of the A-135 was carried out in the framework of the Soviet-American indefinite "ABM Treaty" signed in 1972. According to the document, each party had the right to build a maximum of two missile defense systems, each equipped with no more than a hundred fixed launchers. In 1974 the terms of the agreement tightened - the parties are now allowed to have no more than one system. US agreement put the system on a military base in Grand Forks, but a year later it was dismantled. The Soviet Union decided to cover the Moscow missile defense system. The ABM Treaty was not valid from June 2002, when the United States withdrew from the agreement and began to develop its own missile defense system in Europe.
By June 1975 it was already possible to clearly define the purpose and time periods of development and creation of the new Moscow ABM system. A.G. Basistov became the general designer. V.K. Sloka was the chief designer of the multifunctional Don-2NP [PILL BOX] radar. A.G. Basistov headed the Council of Chief Designers, who were working on a new effective ABM system.
Construction of the A-135 was mostly completed in the mid 1980s. During the creation of a series of successful tests confirmed the ability to intercept missiles ballistic targets, including such complex as cloven independently targetable warheads. On the alert firing system A-135, has a total of one hundred interceptor missiles, stood up in 1995, after a lengthy testing and debugging.
In addition to the missile (51T6, according to unconfirmed reports, it was equipped with a nuclear warhead to improve the chance of destroying ballistic targets) in the A-135 and entered the radar "Don 2NP" placed not far from the Moscow region Sofrino. Radar is a truncated pyramid, the length and width of which is equal to one hundred meters, and height - 35 meters. This station is able to control the space at a distance of two thousand kilometers (according to other sources - 3.7 thousand kilometers) and at a height of up to 40 thousand kilometers. The radar provides supercomputer "Elbrus-2".
This system became operational at Moscow in 1989. Five new launcher sites were constructed, and two Galosh sites were converted for the new system. The Moscow Industrial Area ABM Defense System (A-135) was accepted on alert duty by presidential edict of 17 February 1995. The Moscow anti-ballistic missile system, known as A-135, includes the full complement of 100 interceptor missiles permitted by the treaty [though published reports provide conflicting accounts as to the exact number of missiles]. The system includes three dozen long-range SH-11 Gorgon missiles, as well as over five dozen short-range SH-08 Gazelle missiles, which are quick-reaction, high-acceleration interceptors. Both types of interceptors are silo-launched.
The A-135 missile-defense system was designed to intercept and destroy warheads during trajectory phases three and four. Our scientists were ahead of their time and the Americans in these developments. The Americans did not yet have a similar system.
Anti-ballistic missile firing complexes were positioned around the capital along a radius of about 100 kilometers. Each complex was a small, heavily guarded town with operational, technical, and residential zones. The technical zone consisted primarily of powerful radar, a super-high-speed computing center that executed rendezvous and control tasks, anti-ballistic missile launch systems, and the anti-ballistic missiles themselves, capable of destroying an enemy nuclear warhead with its own nuclear charge. Hundreds of engineers in officers’ uniforms were on duty around Moscow in the missile-defense bastions that were packed with special-purpose radio engineering complexes. The very well-furnished residential zones of these towns had all the necessities for the tranquil life of the servicemen and their families.
Ballistic missile early warning centers using gigantic antenna systems, or “arrays,” were erected in the Moscow region, Latvia, and Armenia. They were also erected near Krasnoyarsk but never went into service. All the launch complexes and early warning centers were linked by the most state-of-the-art communications system, over which a single command center controlled this massive and once-unique system.
The missile defense is based on a group (the group consists of 12 or 16 silos located several tens of meters from each other) in the mine control rooms developed by Spetsmash under the direction of V. Barmin (development began in December 1971), in fiberglass TPK. Protective device silos of sliding type, weighing 25 tons, of 2 parts. According to some reports, the speed of ejection of the silo cover is 0.4 s. Creating a silo for these PRs was a difficult task - it was necessary to ensure that the launching PR from the mine within one second after receiving a start command. This was accomplished thanks to: the high thrust-to-weight ratio of the missile, many times superior to the thrust-weight ratio of ICBMs of a similar class; ensuring the disclosure of the protective device (roof) of the silo, which has significant mass, in a fraction of a second, and issuing a signal about this to the PR launch control system; the creation of a temperature-humidity regime in the shaft of the mine to ensure long-term storage of TPK with solid propellant PR and special charge. TPK in silos is amortized. The construction of silos began at positions near Moscow in 1980. Since 1982, equipment has been installed, preliminary readiness was in 1985.
Transportation and storage of anti-ballistic missiles in silos is carried out in a transport and launch container, in which all technological work is carried out to check the anti-ballistic missiles at a technical position, storage of anti-ballistic missiles at a technical and silo, transportation and launch of anti-missiles. TPK is tight. Inside it, the necessary temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained, which allows for a long time to store the anti-ballistic missile in the open air, in a vertical and horizontal position. When transporting and storing the TPK from both ends it is closed with special covers, which allows the transportation to use a heating system connected to the conveyor to heat the rocket in the TPK. When installed in the silos, the covers are removed. The missile launch is made from a closed TPK, for which it is closed in front with a special rubber cap, and from the back with a rubber bottom. When a missile is launched, the front cover and the bottom of the TPK break simultaneously at the same time with the toe of the missile and the gas jet of the engine.
Automatic control and testing stations for checking the 51T6 and 53T6 anti-ballistic missiles (AKIPS) were produced by DMZ. To transport the TPK with the rocket and install the TPK on the charging machine, a 5T93 transport machine on the MAZ-543M chassis is used. The machine is equipped with a rocket heating system for the winter season (see To transport the TPK with the rocket and install the TPK on the charging machine, a 5T93 transport machine on the MAZ-543M chassis is used. The machine is equipped with a rocket heating system for the winter season (see To transport the TPK with the rocket and install the TPK on the charging machine, a 5T93 transport machine on the MAZ-543M chassis is used. The machine is equipped with a rocket heating system for the winter season (seephoto ). There are at least two variants of the 5T93 machine.
According to some reports, it is claimed that this system was taken off-line in December 1997 and remained inactive, although this does not appear to be confirmed by American statements on this subject. In February 1998 the commander in chief of the Strategic Rocket Forces -- Colonel General Vladimir Yakovlev -- said that the system needed some minor modifications, After these were completed, however, the "nuclear umbrella" over Moscow would once again be opened, he said. A few days later, Col. Gen. Vladimir Yakovlev, commander-in-chief of strategic missiles forces, said the ABM system with conventional warheads on the Galoshs and Gazelles, was combat ready and would shortly be placed on 24-hour alert status. This suggested that Russia had abandoned plans to employ nuclear warheads on SH-11 Galosh and SH-08 Gazelle missiles. Experts had warned of the potential damage to Moscow, saying the detonation of a single warhead could contaminate a 77 square mile area.
The ABM-3 incorporated several improvements over the Galosh. Mechanically steered radars were replaced by much more capable phased-array radars. And two types of interceptor missiles were used, taking advantage of atmospheric bulk filtering to discriminate decoys from actual warheads. The interceptors were deployed in underground silos to reduce their vulnerability to direct attack. Nonetheless, the ABM-3 was the technological equivalent the U.S. Sentinel/Safeguard ABM, and clearly shared the major limitations and vulnerabilities of that system.
The components include:
- 32-36 of the SH-11 long-range exo-atmospheric interceptor missiles, which are somewhat smaller than the massive Galosh and is probably three-stage solid-fuel rocket with a range of 300-400 kilometers and a multi-megaton warhead.
- 64-68 of the SH-08 short-range endo-atmospheric interceptors, which are a two-stage solid-fuel with a range of about 100 kilometers and a low-yield nuclear warhead. It is similar in design and mission to the U.S. Sprint missile, although its maximum acceleration is reportedly significantly lower. In at least one test of the SH-08 short-range ABM interceptor, two interceptors were fired from a single launcher in an interval of two hours, although no reloading equipment was observed in the area. No other details on this incident have come to light. Given the short battle-time available to ABM systems, two hours does not seem to be particularly "rapid".
- The ABM-3 phased-array short-range battle management radar replaced Try Add radars at Moscow ABM sites to support SH-08 interceptors It is similar in function to American Missile Site Radar, although smaller and less capable.
- The Pushkino large battle-management phased-array radar constructed near Moscow provides 360 degree coverage and will supplement Dog House and Cat House radars in supporting SH-04 long range interceptors.
- The Pechora-type bi-static phased-array early warning radar supplemented the Hen House radars. Deployment began in the late 1970's at seven sites: Pechora, Lyaki, Mishelevka, Olenegorsk, Sary Shagan, Kamchatka and Abalakova.
Officially 51T6 missiles were removed from the set of A-135 in 2002-2003 due to the expiration of the service. However, according to unconfirmed reports, they are still in the silos and are on alert. In addition, it is believed that the modernized or 51T6 missiles, based on them, would be part of a modernized system A-235. The contract to build the latest was signed in 1991, with completion scheduled for 2015.
The Russian military conducted a test in December 2011 of an advanced missile short-range missile defense system at the Kazakhstan Sary-Shagan. The launch was a success; the missile hit a conditional goal in the set time. As announced Ministry of Defense of Russia,antimissile 53T6, which, judging by the index was in service since 1995, passed the test.
Launching missiles 53T6 held at 12:01 by Moscow time on the range Sary Shagan in Kazakhstan. The aim of the test was the confirmation of the tactical and technical characteristics of anti-missile missile defense system. Tools interception index 53T6 is currently included in the missile defense system A-135, put into service in 1995 and deployed around Moscow. Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Defense Sergei Lobov said that running anti-missile missile struck a conditional goal in the set time.
It is surprising that, although the new missile was said to be "a fundamentally new development", its index had not changed, as was done in the case of upgrading an existing or developing new weapons. In any case, many of the important details about the "new" missiles had not been announced, including belonging to a missile defense system, and technical specifications. The predecessor of the new 53T6 - the old 53T6 - with a length of ten meters, diameter of one meter and a mass of about ten tons capable of destroying ballistic objects at a distance of 80 kilometers and at an altitude of 30,000 meters.
The previous time antimissile 53T6 was launched in Kazakhstan was in October 2010. Presumably, the aim was to check the recent launches of various components improved as part of a large-scale program of modernization of the missile defense system to the A-235.
Moscow’s missile defense system will be able to effectively protect the Russian capital against any attack for many decades, a senior Aerospace Forces commander said in a radio interview on 28 November 2015. “The A-135 Amur system will stay ahead of the emerging threats for the next few decades…. We are constantly upgrading our pride and joy – the Don-2N radar — and deploying new missiles that will double the system’s combat characteristics,” Colonel Andrei Cheburin told Russian News Service radio on Saturday.
The missile defense system protecting Moscow and the Central Industrial Region consists of a number of silo-based antimissiles traveling at twice the speed of a bullet. “That’s why the Americans call them ‘gazelles’…Their state-of-the-art homing system ensures 100 percent acquisition and destruction on incoming ballistic targets. Righty now we are modernizing our antimissiles to further improve their combat characteristics,” Colonel Cheburin said.
The A-135 includes the Don-2N radio-radar station, located in Sofrino, near Moscow. It detects warheads flying in space, at a distance of up to 3,700 km and the information is transmitted to the 5K80 command point. Then, the information is processed and transmitted further to missile launching sites. Each of the missile launching sites deployed around Moscow has 12-16 silos containing 53T6 interceptors capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 60 km and at an altitude of up to 45 km. As of 2016, 68 53T6 interceptors were in service.
In February 2018, the Russian military successfully tested a new interceptor missile of for its A-135 Anti-Ballistic Missile system at a testing range in in Kazakhstan. Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces’ air and missile defense task force, Colonel Andrei Prikhodko, said that the technical characteristics of the new interceptor missile by far exceed those of its present-day counterparts. The new interceptor missiles will be reportedly added to the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces and deployed around Moscow to protect the Russian capital and its environs against enemy missile strikes.
The A-135M system of the strategic missile defense of Moscow, as a result of modernization, will double the performance in terms of the detection and destruction range of targets. This was announced by the commander of the 1st army of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense (special purpose), Lieutenant General Andrei Demin. "... The A-135M strategic missile defense system of Moscow. Its modernization is nearing completion - its tactical and technical characteristics will be doubled in the range and quality of detection and tracking of ballistic missiles, in the continuous operation of the system, in reliability and, most importantly, in the range of destruction assigned targets, "Demin said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper published on 21 July 2021.
He clarified that two unique systems are used to equip the troops of the 1st Air Defense and Missile Defense Army (special purpose). The first is the S-50M air defense system of Moscow, which is based on modern automated complexes Baikal-1, Universal-1, as well as the S-400, S-300PM2, Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile systems. The second is the A-135M strategic missile defense system of Moscow. The commander noted that the 1st Air Defense Army is covering the capital from both aircraft and cruise missile strikes, as well as from strikes by warheads of intercontinental ballistic missiles of a potential enemy, that is, from all existing aerospace attack weapons.
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