R-39 / SS-N-20 STURGEON - Development
The R-39 missile of the D-19 complex became the first domestic marine solid-propellant missile to be put into service. The R-39 solid-propellant intercontinental missile was a three-stage missile with multiple re-entry vehicles. In addition to the R-39 missile, the D-19 complex and the 941 submarine, a new coastal basing system was created in the strategic naval system Typhoon.
Work on the R-39 missile and the D-19 launch system began in 1971 by NII Mashinostroyeniya (chief designer V. P. Makyeyev). Russia is the only nation that usef liquid-fuel submarine-based nuclear missiles. All other nations deploying SLBMs opt for solid propellants, since they allow for the building of more reliable missiles, which are simpler and cheaper to operate. Soviet SLBMs, including Russia's operational SLBM arsenal, used liquid propellant. This has formed the foundation of the Russian experience with naval ballistic missiles. By contrast, the US Navy never fielded a single liquid-fuel SLBM.
Viktor Petrovich Makeev played a role in re-equipping the fleet with "liquid" missiles rather than solid fuel. Taking up the development of a solid-propellant missile system, it passed a long way of knowing a specific solid fuel direction in a short time. In the short term the necessary units and services were created in the Design Bureau. Together with Viktor Petrovich, talented designers and scientists worked on solid-fuel complexes: Yu.P. Grigoriev, V.E. Kargin, A.P. Grebnev, N.F. Tambu.L., N.A. Obuhov, N.S. Danilov, G.B. Mochalov, LM Scythe and others.
However, the novelty of the problem made itself felt, and individual solutions for the missile were projected unsuccessfully. On the part of solid propellants, this was perceived as a deliberate discrediting of this direction, so the discussions on the Councils of Chief Designers (SGCs) in the Design Bureau were acute, especially on two issues: according to the start-up scheme (torus engine or PAD) and according to the scheme of the third stage (ligament or monobloc ). Well-conducted debate Viktor Petrovich, openly in meshivayas in the debate; he tried to get more arguments from his opponents on the scheme he proposed, which would convince him that in exchange something really better is offered.
Emotional-verbal arguments were not accepted, calculations, results of experiments and researches were required. Thus, in proving the advantages of a monoblock, the group of LNPO "Soyuz" calculators headed by the deputy director for R&D V.V.Hungarian and with the participation of the specialists of CB Miass 2 in the computer center of the CB, according to an agreed program, compared the options and put them on the table to Viktor Petrovich. The next day, starting the work of the SGC, Viktor Petrovich announced the termination of work on the version of the "bundle" and the transition to the version of the monoblock. Sometimes, in order to abandon the previously chosen decision, one SGS was not enough, the issue was studied and discussed for a longer time, but the decision in the end Viktor Petrovich took an objective and correct. So, after a thorough study of the issue, he accepted our launch scheme with the help of the PAD.
He was able to create a state of intense work, constant communication; Coming to Moscow, he asked the Deputy Minister of General Machine Building, G.M.Tabakov to solve this or that issue, often collected to resolve issues in his KB (or SGS, or a meeting on private issues); a large number of issues were discussed and decided by phone. Sometimes critical issues of cooperation in the composition of ministers (general engineering and machine building), the commander-in-chief of the Navy and Viktor Petrovich were circled over critical issues.
Aluminum hydride (alane, AlH3) has been studied as a potential fuel in rocket propellants, air-breathing propulsion systems, and explosives and as a hydrogen storage medium. There are as many as six crystalline phases of alane. The use of metal hydrides as rocket propellants, particularly aluminum hydride (A1H3) and beryllium hydride (BeH2) was explored. However, because hydrides readily react with moisture and ambient gases, hydrides must be handled and stored with special care. In addition, hydrides also react with most conventional propellant binders. Propellants containing aluminum hydride as a fuel additive are proneto failure by internal gas generation causing the grains to develop voidsor cracks. This problem can be alleviated or overcome by adding smallquantities of a gas scavenger.
In fact, at the final stage of the development of the D-19 complex, it was found out that the Navy did not have time to build a storage base for special charges of the III stage containing a toxic component; not had time to carry out environmental activities and the Ministry of General Machine Building, while the Department of Mechanical Engineering has commissioned a factory "Dawn of the East" and a special stand for testing engines to the implementation of all environmental requirements.
As a result, it was decided to switch to a new fuel composition, with all the work done in the shortest possible time and do not disrupt the final design of the complex for the chief designer. In LNPO "Soyuz" under the leadership of V.V.Hungarian this work was successfully completed. Viktor Petrovich highly appreciated the responsiveness of the developers of fuel and charges and our good and trusting relations have become even stronger.
Thanks to Viktor Petrovich, his confidence in the scientists of the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering, his insistence saw the light of the most modern compositions based on aluminum hydride. This product pierced its way through many objections both in the Ministry of Chemical Industry, the Ministry of General Mechanical Engineering, and within our ministry. The ardent opponent of this product was a certain time B.P.Zhukov. Employees LNPO "Union" and personally B.P.Zhukov in his reports to the defense department of the Central Committee of the CPSU referred to the work with aluminum hydride as adventurous, arguing that it was a complex production, explosive, unsuitable due to the formation of pores in fuel, etc.
In this situation the decisive role was played by the consistent and persistent position of Viktor Petrovich, which he brought to the government's decree and did not deviate from it to the end. He convinced the prospects of this product DF. Ustinov, who, in turn, systematically checked the progress of the creation of a new component, including large-scale industrial production for its release, listening to the ministers L.A.Kostandova, S.A.Afanasyeva and V.V.Bakhirev.
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