• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

TSKB Almaz

The Almaz Central Design Bureau [not to be confused with the Almaz Central Naval Design Bureau TsKMB] was established for Sergo Lavrent'evich Beria, the son of Politburo member Lavrentiy Beriya. The resolution of the Council of Ministers OF USSR of 8 September, 1947, 3140-1028, on the base of the number of scientific organizations formed design bureau as main enterprise for the development of controlling systems class of "air to surface" rocket weapons to increase the effectiveness of bomber aircraft operations on enemy ships. This organiation obtained the designation "special bureau 1 of the Ministry of Armament."

Council of Ministers of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Decree No. 3140-1028ss "The Council of Ministers of the USSR decides: 1) In order to increase the effectiveness of heavy bomber aircraft on enemy ships and increase the safety of attacking aircraft, begin developing an integrated radar-guidance and homing system for jet-launched missiles dropped from heavy bombers on large marine targets (cipher of the Kometa system). 2) For the general technical management of the development of the project of the integrated system "Kometa" and the parts included in it, organize a special bureau, giving it the name "Spetsbyuro No. 1 MV". 3) To appoint PN Kuksenko, Chief and Chief Designer of the Special Bureau No. 1, MV Appoint Deputy Chief of the Special Bureau No. 1 MW T. Beria S.L. Chairman of the Council of Ministers I. Stalin From September 8, 1947 , the Kremlin , Moscow"

In accordance with stated requirements, the enterprise developed the systems "Komet", K-10, K-20, K-22 -- class systems "surface-surface" P-15 "dragon". The duo of Kuksenko and Sergey Beriya, who remained at NII-20, cooperated with the Mikoyan KB to develop the Kometa, a cruise missile that was supposed to strike a sea target after it separated from the carrieraircraft. The Kometa was launched from the Tu-4 carrier aircraft approximately 150 kilometers from the targetand was supposed to enter the beam of the radar mounted on the carrier aircraft. The radar guided the Kometa tothe sea target. When the Kometa was approximately thirty kilometers from the target, it was supposed to switchto homing mode and strike the target. This was the projected mission that Sergey Beriya and his academicadvisor Pavel Kuksenko presented at the meeting in Ustinov’s office in 1947. The radar portion of the systemwas to be developed at the small SB-1, which had been located at NII-20. In August 1950, SB-1 was reorganized into the much bigger KB-1.

The first launch of the guided class missile "air-surface" in the was produced during April 1952 from the carrier aircraft of system "comet". For the successful implementation of the government task to create new types of weapons (rocket system "Kometa") - was awarded the Order of Lenin and awarded the Stalin Prize. Working in the SB-1 and KB-1, Sergo Beria in 1948 defended his thesis, and in 1952 - his doctoral dissertation. Sergo's first youthful love was Stalin's daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva.

Products S-25 SA-1 S-75 SA-2 S-125 SA-3 S-200 SA-5 S-300PMU SA-10 K-10 K-20 K-22 P-15

During the subsequent years new tasks in strengthening of the defense capability of the country were set. When in 1950, the KB-1 was formed on the basis of it to create an anti-aircraft missile system for Moscow’s air defense system, S.Beria became one of his two chief designers (the second — PN Kuksenko). In 1950 the resolution of the government of the USSR on the bureau entrusted the task in the creation the first domestic air defense ["zenith"] rocket system S-25 for the air defense of Moscow and the Moscow industrial region. The direction on the creation of zenith rocket air defense systems subsequently determined the basic profile of the work of the enterprise, named since 1950 KBY, then subsequently MKB Strela ["arrow"], and then TSKB Almaz (Diamond).

The multichannel zenith rocket system S-25, which did not have analogs in the world practice, was created and put into use in the period 1950-1955. The development of this system and subsequent developments of zenith rocket systems S-75, S-125, S-200 for the National Air Defense Forces was headed by design project leader, academician A.A. Raspletin. Under his management was begun the development of the standardized multichannel zenith rocket system of a new generation, the S 300P. The development of this system and a number of its modifications was realized under the management of the successor of Raspletin, the design project leader, academician B.V. Bunkin.

Under the leadership of A.A. Raspletin in the period 1951-55. With the growing tensions of the Cold War and the real atomic threat, the first Russian anti-aircraft missile defense system S-25 was created to protect the city of Moscow and the Moscow industrial region. This system had the world's first multi-channel radar, performing time-sharing work on targets and missiles. Placed in stationary combat positions in the Moscow region, the C-25 system performed its functions for 30 years. At the same time, the creation of a new infrastructure of the Moscow region was ensured - residential towns, highways, communication lines, electricity transmission lines, etc.

The development of air attack equipment and the need to protect the most important facilities in the country required the development of mobile systems of flying missiles capable of withstanding massive air strikes and cruise missiles, including at extremely low altitudes of their combat use. The solution of these problems was achieved when creating anti-aircraft missile systems S-75 and S-125 , developed in 1957-1961. under the supervision of General Designer A.A. Raspletin.

The task of defeating carriers of cruise missiles, jammers, strategic aviation aircraft at extreme ranges and altitudes was solved in 1963-1967. when creating the system C-200. Along with the development of many of the latest scientific and technical solutions for the C-200 system, A.A. Raspletin attached primary importance to creating a homing head for an anti-aircraft guided missile. In the S-200 system, the anti-aircraft guided missile was first equipped with self-homing equipment.

The C-25 , C-75 , C-125 , C-200 systems developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau formed the basis of the country's anti-aircraft missiles in the 1950-70s. Systems S-75 , S-125 , S-200 were delivered to many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America and are still in operation. S-75 systems reliably withstood US air strikes during the Vietnam War, ensuring the defeat of several thousand aircraft. The C-125 system confirmed its high combat capabilities during the Arab-Israeli conflict.

In May 1960, the U-2 US reconnaissance aircraft, which was considered invulnerable in the United States, was shot down in the sky over the Urals. Working on the systems of anti-aircraft missile weapons in cooperation with the country's leading experts in the field of rocket production, S.A.Lavochkin, P.D.Grushin, A.A. Raspletin created the Almaz Central Design Bureau and related systems , design bureaus and factories, fully solving the tasks of developing, manufacturing and ensuring the operation of weapon systems. In cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, state testing grounds were created on Lake Balkhash and Kupustin Yar.

In the different years on the base TSKB Almaz were formed by Central Scientific Research Institute TsNII Kometa ["comet"], NPO Vympel ["message"], Machine-building Design Bureau MKB Fakel ["torch"] (head developer of rockets for the zenith rocket air defense systems, design project leader, academician A.D. Grushin). Development of the class of systems "air-surface" and "surface- surface" were headed by chief designer A.I. Savin.

The first domestic systems of the space defense of the country were created under the management of A.A. Raspletin and A.I. Savin. All zenith rocket systems, which equipped the National Air Defense Forces, were developed TSKB Almaz. Systems reated by TSKB Almaz include zenith rocket air defense systems delivered and are exploited in tens of countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America. At present TSKB Almaz accomplishes work on the creation of new systems, including for the deliveries for the export, and also the work on the improvement of tactical-technical characteristics, the prolongation of the periods of the operation of systems, which are found in arsenal.

The main asset of the Almaz Central Design Bureau is its specialists, the accumulated experience of development, the cooperation of development companies and manufacturing plants that has developed over the decades. Over the years, the Central Research Institute "Kometa", NPO "Vympel", NKB "Fakel" (lead developer of missiles for anti-aircraft missile defense systems, General Designer, Academician Grushin AD) were formed on the basis of the Almaz Central Design Bureau.

The development of air-to-surface and surface- to-surface systems was headed by Chief Designer A.I.Savin , later an academician, General Designer of the Central Research Institute Kometa. The first domestic anti-space defense systems of the country were created under the leadership of A. Raspletin. and Savina A.I. All anti-aircraft missile systems, which are equipped with the Air Defense Forces of the country, are developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau. The air defense anti-aircraft missile systems created by the Almaz Central Design Bureau have been installed and operated in dozens of countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

In 1967, Russian Almaz Central Design Bureau began the development of the S-300P Grumble air defense system which is regarded as one of the most effective all-altitude regional air defense systems in the world. There are many different versions of S-300 missiles. The only export models of the S-300 SAM systems are S-300PMU, S-300PMU1, and S-300PMU2.

After the arrest of his father, L.P.Beria, in July 1953, Sergo Beria and his mother were interned. Sergo was arrested before the end of 1954, first in Lefortovo and then in Butyrka prisons. After being released from prison, Sergo Beria received a passport in the name of Sergei Alekseevich Gegechkori and sent to exile to the Urals. In the city of Sverdlovsk, under constant supervision, he worked for almost ten years as a senior engineer in the scientific research institute pb 320. At the request of the government, a group of prominent scientists of the country in connection with the mother’s illness Nina Teymrazovna allowed him to transfer to the city of Kiev.

Mikhail Yangel wanted Sergo to move to Dnepropetrovsk to work at Yuzhmash. At first, he continued to work with the missile control systems and anti-missile systems. Then ballistic missiles were created for firing from railway platforms in motion. Later Sergo worked in the Academy of Sciences where he was attracted to create a protection system for the train he was talking about. [the particulars of his professional career are rather jumbled]

Then he worked at NPO Kvant (now the State Scientific-Research Institute Kvant). Until September 1988 he worked there as a leading designer, head of the sector, head of the department. Later, he was involved in the work of the Department of New Physical Problems of the IPM of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR as head of the system design department, the main designer of the complex. From 1990 to 1999, S.L.Beria was the Scientific Director and Chief Designer of the Kiev Scientific and Research Institute Kometa (formerly the Kiev branch of the Kometa Scientific and Production Association).

Since 1999 he retired. He was married to Marfa Maksimovna Peshkova (granddaughter of Maxim Gorky from his first marriage), they had three children: the daughters Nina and Nadezhda, the son Sergey. The marriage broke up during the stay of S. Beria in exile. Sergo wrote a book dedicated to his father, "My father - Lavrenty Beria", where he believes that repression and terror were an integral part of the existence of the Soviet state since its inception and that is why his father suffered. Sergo died October 11 2000 in Kiev.