Yuri Semenovich Solomonov
General Designer, Hero of Russia and State Prize laureate, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Semenovich Solomonov was a direct participant in the creation of the RSD-10 "Pioneer" medium-range complex (by the way, this missile is in the Air and Space Museum in Washington) and the strategic complex RT-2PM "Topol". In 1997, Yuri Solomonov became the head of MIT, becoming the director and general designer of the enterprise. Replaced Boris Lagutin in this post. Yuri Solomonov participated in the creation of new solid-propellant strategic missile systems mobile and silo RT-2PM2 Topol-M, and the latest mobile and silo strategic missile systems RS-24 "Yars" were created under his direct leadership as the general designer of MIT.
In 1998, the leadership of the Russian Navy decided to develop a new sea-based ICBM R-30 Bulava for strategic submarine missile cruisers of Project 955 Borey class. The work on its creation was entrusted to the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering. In July 2009, after a series of unsuccessful Bulava launches, Yuri Solomonov resigned from the post of MIT director. From 2009 to 2010 he held the position of general designer of the enterprise. After the reorganization of MIT into a corporation in September 2010, he was appointed general designer for the Topol-M and Yars ground-based missile systems. In 2015, by a special decree of the President of the Russian Federation Yu.S. Solomonov was appointed General Designer for the development of strategic missile systems with solid-propellant missiles.
Yuri Semyonovich's father, Semyon Matveyevich, was born in 1916 in Moscow. After the First World War, his parents moved here from Dnepropetrovsk. Matvey Solomonov was a prominent specialist in the organization of production. In the 1920s-1930s, he worked as a manager at various factories - machine-building, processing plants, as well as those that produced consumer goods. The grandmother was engaged in housekeeping. Semyon Solomonov graduated from the Moscow Polygraphic Institute before the war.
Mom - Sofya Nikolaevna, was born in 1908. She came from a peasant family that came to Moscow from the Tula province in the century before last. In the 1930s, Sofya Nikolaevna studied at a medical institute, and then worked as a nurse for a long time. His mother's grandmother, Antonina Fedorovna, sewed clothes for many outstanding people, for example, dress coats for the performance of the famous violinist David Oistrakh. My mother's grandfather was a serf at Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
Yuri Semyonovich's parents met while working in the summer in a pioneer camp: his father is a physical education teacher, his mother is a pioneer leader. Although at that time Semyon Matveyevich and Sofya Nikolaevna had a big age difference - 8 years, the young people got married in 1938.
In 1941, Semyon Matveyevich, literally from the first days of the war, went to the front in a sapper unit. Sofya Nikolaevna stayed to work in Moscow, the children - Lev and Tatiana were transported to their grandmother - away from the bombing, there they were practically until the end of the war. In 1943, Semyon Matveyevich was seriously wounded - he was blown up by a mine, but miraculously survived. In 1945 he was demobilized, but soon, despite multiple wounds received at the front, he was sent to Germany to determine the possibility of requisitioning a printing production base. After the completion of the business trip, he was appointed chief engineer of the 7th printing house of the Military Publishing House, which was based in Sokolniki. For perseverance and achievement of goals (materials for new equipment were almost impossible to get), for a constant creative impulse, a desire to transfer your knowledge,
On November 3, 1945, Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov was born. In his memoirs, Yuri Semyonovich writes about how various yard children's games (Cossack robbers, stander, etc.) influenced the formation of his character. First, they developed in him the ability to make independent decisions. "Over time, it has transformed, of course: I have never been afraid to make decisions in life and in work." Secondly, they contributed to the development of communication skills. “When they played robber Cossacks, scattered from Dokuchaev Lane and up to the Red Gate, the area of ??"three stations" - on a huge territory. All this provided not just an opportunity to communicate, but the ability to communicate in a team. "
In his student years, Yuri Semyonovich was fond of sports: he became a CCM in table tennis, was engaged in scuba diving. He did not ignore collective sports - volleyball, football, etc., as well as intellectual - chess and checkers. Until now, Yuri Semyonovich likes to organize "home" chess tournaments. Speaking of sports, it is worth paying special attention to alpine skiing: his sister Tatyana became Yuri's "guide" to this sport, and for many years he has been an avid skier.
In the childhood of Yuri Solomonov, held in the lanes of the capital at the Red Gate, he had an excellent ear for music was discovered. He could easily whistle any tune from a gramophone record or radio broadcast that he remembered. But his parents - a printing engineer and a nurse, who, in addition to him, had two older children - a son and a daughter, did not have the money to pay for tuition at the music school, where the youngest son was called. And he was engaged in what was free at that time - sports. Swimming and tennis. He even became a candidate for the master.
But the first place was still study. Physics and Mathematics School at MEPhI. Then the Moscow Aviation Institute, where he entered after his older brother Lev. In 1963, Yuri entered the Faculty of Aircraft Engines, where he received fundamental knowledge about plasma and ion engines, which are also used in spacecraft. Yuri Semyonovich graduated from the university with honors, his diploma became a "pass" ticket to graduate school. But then it was already clear that it was much more interesting to engage in applied activities. In the graduation year, a list of orders came to the army - for 2 years Yuri Semenovich Solomonov served in the Strategic Missile Forces, in the famous Kozelsk 28th Guards Missile Division, located in the Kaluga region, not far from the Optina Monastery.
An interesting detail. At the time when Lieutenant Solomonov was serving in the division, who, by the way, very quickly received the class qualification "master of rocket science" and wore a badge with the letter "m" on his flying wings on his uniform, liquid-propellant missile systems UR were in service -100, created in OKB-52 (now - NPO Mashinostroeniya in Reutovo near Moscow) under the leadership of Academician Vladimir Chelomey. The division has now been re-equipped with the RS-24 Yars solid-fuel silo missile systems, created at the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering under the leadership of Academician Yuri Solomonov.
And after serving in the army, reserve senior lieutenant Yuri Solomonov came to work at MIT, where his older brother was already working. At that time, the institute was headed by an outstanding military designer - twice Hero of Labor, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes, Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences Alexander Davidovich Nadiradze, the creator of mobile ground ballistic missile systems on solid fuel. Under his leadership, Yuri Semenovich went through a very good engineering and design school. Not only the design of missile systems, but their defense in various high authorities, support at subcontractors and final assembly, during tests at the Kapustin Yar and Plesetsk test sites. Made together with Nadiradze and his colleagues "Pioneer" and "Topol".
After working for several years at MIT, the engineer realized that he wanted to develop further. His range of responsibilities expanded: he was transferred from the design department to the design department, where he led the "intermediate" development phase. In 1976, having mastered the full range of knowledge and realizing all the possibilities, Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov was transferred to the post of head of the combat equipment department. He held this position inclusively until 1983. In the same period, when Yuri Semenovich's activities were closely associated with manufacturing plants, materiel and landfills, he was awarded the title of laureate of the USSR State Prize for his original work.
From 1983 to 1987, Solomonov was the deputy head of the department. Now his department was in charge of design issues both for the rocket as a whole and for the development of combat equipment. In 1983, Yuri Semyonovich defended his Ph.D. thesis, doctoral - in 1986; both of them are on closed topics. Thanks to his talent, patience and constant desire to learn, Solomonov soon took a high post - Deputy General Designer of MIT. We can say that it was from this moment that he began his rapid ascent up the professional ladder.
In the biography of Yuri Semyonovich there are many episodes that still remain classified as "Secret". The designer lived and worked in a crucial era for our state: let us mention America (cooperation and agreement on the elimination of short- and medium-range missiles, etc.), the "dashing 90s" and the lack of money among employees of all scientific institutes. Whatever difficulties one had to face at that time, under the skillful leadership of Yuri Semyonovich, the Topol-M rocket appeared, which later became the base in the development of missile weapons of the Strategic Missile Forces.
In his memoirs V.I. Bolysov wrote that in the most difficult conditions, in a short time, it was possible to work out the design and manufacturing technology of the first Russian intercontinental ballistic solid-propellant missile so qualitatively that the first launch was completely successful. Then there was the Start-1 launch vehicle, which was designed on the basis of the Topol. In the 1990s, due to the acute shortage of personnel in MIT, the question arose about the renewal of personnel. Then Yuri Semyonovich began to teach students. One of the first universities that began to cooperate with MIT was MSTU - a branch of the department was created on the basis of the institute. As Solomonov writes, “This was a natural result of shock therapy in the early 1990s. Young people were attracted from the street ... ".
And in over 25 years (Nadiradze died in 1987, Boris Lagutin replaced him on the post of general designer) he went from a simple engineer to general designer and director of the institute. Solomonov took this post in 1997.
At that time money was sorely lacking for anything. The state armament program, approved by Russian President Boris Yeltsin and signed by the heads of all ministries, was not being implemented. Funds were simply not allocated for it. The new Topol-M missile system - not only ground-based, but also a silo-based method - was to replace those strategic missiles that had developed their resource of being on alert and were destroyed, including under the terms of the START Treaty. 1, it was impossible to do. Subcontractors and component suppliers asked for funds for the purchase of equipment, materials, various devices and other necessary components, but it was not clear where to get them.
The general designer of MIT took a lot of orders for the institute that were unusual for it. For example, on the creation of a transport system unprecedented for Moscow - a monorail, which was not criticized only by the lazy, but it brought at least a little money. And also an electromagnetic method for purifying drinking water, which few people know about today, but it successfully works in the capital. There was an attempt to create a year-round complex for training alpine skiing enthusiasts. They were going to build it not just anywhere, but on the Lenin (Vorobyovy) Hills, next to the ski jump. The choice of the location was discussed for a long time in the city hall, but Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov, who was with both hands for this project, agreed to place it elsewhere. And instead of a ski complex in Moscow, a cable car appeared from Vorobyovy Gory to Luzhniki and back.
The rampant privatization of industrial enterprises hit the missile plans especially hard. In one of the Russian regions, they managed to sell a chemical plant that produced an ultra-strong thread used for winding rocket cases to a domestic businessman. This plant was the only one in the country. Without him, no "Topols", "Bulava" and "Yarsov" would never have existed. The businessman was not concerned about the problem of ensuring the country's security and maintaining a strategic balance with a potential enemy. He removed the necessary equipment from the workshops and tried to start the production of plastic bottles for Pepsi-Cola there. They were in demand on the market more than any missiles. Solomonov managed to return the plant to the state and again establish the production of ultra-strong synthetic filament. For comparison: now the MIT corporation has more than 800 enterprises, Yu.S. Solomonov actually saved the industry, despite all the resistance of the then authorities.
The money for the creation of "Topol-M" still went. And the first two missiles of the RT-2PM2 complex, according to NATO classification - SS-27, went on experimental combat duty in the silos near the village of Tatishchevo near Saratov on December 25, 1995 in the 60th Taman Missile Division.
In the fall of 1998, at the suggestion of the commander-in-chief of the Navy V.I. Kuroyedov, the Russian Security Council authorized the start of designing the Bulava SLBM at MIT. The government, supported by the president, set the task for the general designer of MIT, Yuri Solomonov, to create a missile for the Borey-class project 955 strategic submarine, which the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, which dealt only with land strategic missiles, had never done. It was impossible to refuse. One of the priority tasks was the formation of cooperation of enterprises, which were to carry out in practice the task of creating a rocket for the submarine fleet. The general designer had to simultaneously deal with a whole range of issues: meetings with heads of enterprises and institutes, coordination of technical tasks, creation of a base for missile testing and much, much more. And flights, trips ... All this continues to make up the life of General Designer Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov today, filled with a continuous search for solutions for the routine and non-routine tasks facing him.
The fact was that the famous design bureau, which created and is creating strategic missiles for almost all submarines of the Soviet Union and Russia, did not cope with the task of preparing a new missile system for Borey. Not only did the three tests of their Bark missile end in failure, but most importantly, it was almost twice as heavy as the weight assigned by the tactical and technical assignment. To put it in simple words, it was impossible to load it into the launch tubes of the nuclear submarine. It was necessary to choose one thing - either remodel the boat for a new rocket, or make another rocket.
There was no money or metal to rework Project 955. And the leadership of the country, the army and the navy decided to make another missile. Such as the "Topol-M", which recently took up combat duty. He suited the cruiser under construction. An information campaign began in the then press to discredit Solomonov and his institute. This became especially massive when tests after the first three successful launches of the R-30 "Bulava" - as the missile was called - were unsuccessful : fourth, fifth, sixth, then tenth, 11th, 12th, 20th ...
In the production of assembling missiles, staff are not always conscientious about their work. Many experienced specialists left factories in the penniless 90s, and young people have not yet acquired the necessary skills. And the incoming control is rather weak. Up to 600 enterprises participate in the cooperation. From the largest to the smallest. And not everywhere there is proper control over the quality of work. In order to increase it, television cameras were even placed in many workplaces to monitor who and how they perform their technological operations.
The fact that everything is in order with the design of the rocket was evidenced by the fact that each failure of the test launch was special. The causes of the accident were not repeated. This means that the source of the problems was not MIT at all. But critics and spiteful critics did not quit. The supporters and fans of the MKB were especially zealous. So many accusations were brought against Solomonov.
In 2009, Yuri Semenovich could not stand it and wrote a letter of resignation. Both as a general designer and as a director of MIT. But his resignation from the post of general designer of the Bulava was not accepted. The directorship was given to one of his deputies, and the most important post was returned to no one but him. And the Bulava, in spite of everything, still flew. Of the 34 test launches, only seven were unsuccessful, the rest were absolutely successful.
In 2009, the same year when Yuri Solomonov wrote a statement of resignation of the powers of general designer and director of the MIT, the RS-24 or RS-12M2R intercontinental missile system was adopted by the Strategic Missile Forces, as it is indicated in the protocol to the START-3 Treaty, "Yars". Mine and ground based. Solomonov was engaged in the creation of "Yars" in parallel with the creation of "Bulava". He found the time and energy to be present both at the tests of a naval missile in the waters of the White Sea, and at the tests of a new ground-based complex at the Plesetsk test site near Arkhangelsk.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia V.V. Putin dated January 8, 2015 "On the General Designer for the Development of Weapons, Military and Special Equipment" Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov was appointed General Designer for the development of strategic missile systems with solid-propellant missiles.
On May 1, 2015, in the Kremlin, Russian President V.V. Putin presented Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov, General Designer of OJSC Corporation Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering, with a special distinction - the gold medal of the Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation. From the speech of the President of Russia V.V. Putin: “Today, on May 1, the gold medal of the Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation is being awarded to our outstanding fellow citizens, those who sincerely serve the Fatherland, work for the development and prosperity of Russia, strengthening its independence and sovereignty.
The country's pride has always been its engineers and designers. They created the weapon of Victory, preserved nuclear parity and the security of the state during the Cold War, and developed unique technologies that made it possible to conquer space. And already in our time they ensure the reliability of the nuclear missile shield of Russia. Great credit goes to Yuri Semyonovich Solomonov. The team under his leadership has developed a unique weapon for the Russian strategic forces.
Today Russia proves once again that it can withstand any challenges and solve the most difficult tasks. And as it was at all times, the movement of the country forward is ensured by those who take responsibility, who understand that the well-being of an individual enterprise or industry, the authority and competitiveness of the country, its creative and constructive energy depend on their personal efforts, on the results of labor. And the more such caring, hardworking people there are, the stronger and richer Russia will be. "
A significant part of the scientific works of Yu.S. Solomonova is devoted to the issues of resistance of all missile systems, as well as their combat equipment to the impact of the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. He conducted research that made it possible to create highly effective means and methods for overcoming missile defense. In 2001-2004 he headed the Department of Spacecraft and Launch Vehicles of the Moscow State Technical University (MSTU) named after N. E Bauman. As of 2020, he was the head of the Department of Information Security at this university. Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council on the Mechanics of Composite Materials Structures (since 2003). Member of the editorial boards of the RAS journal "Mechanics of composite materials and structures", the All-Russian scientific and technical journal "Flight". Chairman of the editorial board of the scientific and technical collection "Proceedings of MIT".
Academician V.E. Fortov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2013-2017): “Of all the great Soviet defense industry specialists, Academician Yuri Semenovich Solomonov is undoubtedly in the first row. We are already 10-12 years ahead of the Americans in missiles. The products of the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering and the cooperation of enterprises headed by it pushed the third world war away from Russia, although after the Crimea the third world war seemed inevitable. "
From an interview with Yu.S. Solomonova: “There are many means that are guaranteed to exclude impunity for a nuclear strike against us. Whoever does what. That is, there will be a retaliatory strike in any case ... Having adopted a somewhat modified system compared to the one in the Soviet Union, we have created a new generation of land and sea strategic nuclear forces that minimized the costs of their creation due to unification. Over the past 10-15 years, we have gone far - from the point of view of tactical and technical characteristics and characteristics that follow from the conditions of combat use, in comparison with Western counterparts. Retaliatory strike in more severe conditions of preemptive strike, survivability, preservation of command and control and communications equipment in critical situations of unexpected aggression, etc. - all this created our advantage.
Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation (2015, "for special labor services to the state and people"). Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1981). He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1990), the medal "For Military Valor" (1970). Marked with gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation (2005).
Academician Solomonov's track record includes more than 300 scientific works, including 194 copyright certificates for inventions and patents. He is an Honored Inventor of the RSFSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Department of Power Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes, Head of the Department at Moscow State Technical University. N.E. Bauman. And also a member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Council for Science and Education under the President of Russia, the International Engineering Academy. Member of the Bureau of the Presidium of the Russian Engineering Academy, the author of several collections of poetry.
Married. Wife - Irina Alexandrovna. Son - Mikhail (was the general manager of a subsidiary of MIT, JSC "MMD", which was involved in the project of creating a Moscow monorail). The daughter is Marianne.
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