Arms_7(2)_2014

7(79).2014

Kornet-EM

multipurpose missile system

“Malachite” JSC Modular Tor–M2KM: latest SAM

C O N T E N T S

7 (79). 2014

front line 2 Indo–Russian

EDITORIAL

cooperation in shipbuilding

General Director Valeriy Stolnikov Chief Editor Egor Dakhnov Deputy General Directors Dmitry Drozdenko Inna Illarionova Sales Director Ilia Kolikov

companies & technologies 6 Powerful Shots 8 Lift&Motion 14 Radio–electronics

technologies

16 Ilyushin turboprops

Executive Director Yuri Moschenskiy

Commercial Director Aleksey Leonkov

weaponry

Marketing Director Anthon Voschevatov Advertising Director Kristina Borodkina Project Manager Alexander Kolomiets Editors Irina Kachan Vladimir Karnozov Svetlana Samchenko Designers Arthur Yegorov Timofey Babkin Aleksey Pirozhkov Olesya Timofeeva Circulation: 5000 The magazine is registered in the Committee for Press of the Russian Federation. Certificate № 016692 as of 20.10.1997. Certificate № 77-15450 as of 19.05.2003.

Any material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The editorial staff’s opinion does not necessarily coincide with that of the authors. Advertisers bear responsibility for the content of provided materials.

for Russian navy

18 Modular Tor–M2KM

is the latest

development of short

range SAMS

20 Kornet–EM multipurpose missile system

Dear readers!

Indodefense 2014 exhibition is unique the way it represents all fields of defense technologies. Being so complicated and large, it gives an opportunity of developing a next step in international cooperation. Speaking about defence technologies, we mean not only means of fighting, but also latest innovations in engineering and science. Perhaps, someday human civilization will be able to use these to move forward, without the neccesity of maintaining peace from those, who, covering with loud words and false ideas, are briniging chaos and injustice.

ARMS magazine is dedicated to defence industry of all forms, but we stand not for destuctive power of weapon itself, but a chance of peace it gives. Please, enjoy reading.

Egor Dakhnov

24 Palma: The final frontier

of the defense of a ship

28 “Malachite” JSC:

hard workers, fighters and “movie stars”

navy 32 Gerald R. Ford –

Palma defense of a ship, p. 24

king of supercarriers 34 Small Submarines:

weapons of the weak?

ARMS, 2014

ADDRESS A4 Press P.O. Box 77, Moscow, 125057, Russia Tel.: + 7 495 459 9072 Fax.: + 7 495 459 6042 E-mail: market@a4press.ru

www.interarms.ru

retrospectives 42 Hypersonic

breakthrough

Indo-Russian cooperation in shipbuilding, p. 2

front line

Indo-Russian cooperation

in shipbuilding

Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (local acronym OSK) has a workforce of over 80 thousand employees. Its share of the global market for warships is 12%. The figure is to rise to 14% by 2018, according to the Kremlin’s command. The share of Russian presence in the market for commercial shipbuilding should also rise, from 0.55% to 1.8% accordingly.

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front line ast year, the volume of new ships construction came to Rouble 189 billion. The respective figure for 2018 should be Rouble 380 billion. Russia gears up production of equipment for exploration of sea shelf areas. The respective orders for OSK amount to Rouble 6.5 trillion. According to the OSK development strategy, approved by the Kremlin by 2020 a total summ of Rouble 220 billion will be invested into technical renovation of Russian dockyards, including half of it from the state budget.

Last year OSK demonstrated a positive financial result, with income rising by one-fourth. In the first quarter of 2014 the net profit exceeded by two billion Roubles. The rise came largely from the growing military orders. The share of Russian defence ministry orders in OSK’s 2014 production output amounts to about 70%.

Today, Russian dockyards – OSK members carry out extensive modernisation programs in the interests of the Russian Navy. Ambitious programmes for production of the most advanced and powerful surface ships practically of all classes are being implemented. These range from the programs for renewal and development of strategic nuclear submarine cruisers. Besides, there is another program, targeting development of a powerful surface fleet, consisting of modern destroyers, frigates and corvettes. There is a separate effort on renewal of nonnuclear submarine groups, capable of providing effective protection of the country's sea borders.

Fourth-generation strategic and fast-attack nuclear submarines for the Russian navy are being built in growing numbers. Modernisation programme of third-generation submarines of Projects 945, 971, 949, 667 and 636/877 is under way.

Three Borei-class strategic underwater cruisers of Project 955, armed with Bulava nuclear-tipped intercontinental missiles are already afloat. Fourth hull is under construction and fifth, the Duke Oleg, was laid down on July 27, 2014. Earlier this year, the Russian navy accept-

P

ed the lead vessel of Project 885, the Severodvisnk. Two more such fastattack submarines, armed with long range cruise missiles, the Kazan and Novosibirsk, are under construction.

On July 27, 2014 the largest builder of Russian nuclear powered submarines laid down two more, the Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk.

As the regime of sanctions tightens, with EU and US implementing one after another, the Russian government makes it a priority to further extend partnership with its trusted friends abroad. India has been the primary customer for

Russian military-industrial complex Aleksei Rakhmanov, since early 1960s. The two countries President of JSC have accumulated a substantial ex- "The United perience in making joint projects Shipbuilding fruitful. India was the first foreign Corporation" customer for the Soviet (and then Russian) shipbuilding industry that acquired warships built specially to be exported, designed to accomodate the specific requirements of the Indian navy. Even under highly dynamical political situation in the world, India and Russia have stayed together as far as military and technical cooperation was concerned.

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from delivery of off-the-shelf products to joint development of warships and their subsequent construction at Indian dockyards.

Starting in 1961, India has been acquiring from Russia: missile and patrol ships, destroyers and submarines. From 1986 to 2000 India received 10 Project 877EKM dieselelectric submarines and thus became the biggest customer for this class of warships with OSK. From 2003 to 2013 six Talwar class frigates have been completed and now in service with the Indian navy. They became one of the most advanced and capable ships of this class in the world.

So far, the most important achievement in the Indo-Russian naval cooperation has been successful fulfilment of major military contracts, unprecedented in the world’s history. Work on implementation of these has resulted in delivery of aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser Admiral Gorshkov. After refit and modernization it turned from the Project 1143.4 cruiser into INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier of project 11430. Besides, a fast6

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attack submarine of the Project 971I, the Nerpa, now serves within the Indian navy under the name of INS Chakra. This is the second nuclear-powered submarine of the Russian origin to operate with the Indian navy on lease terms.“We are grateful to the Government of India for the trust, they put in the Russian shipbuilding industry”, says Alexey Rakhmanov, OSK president. “We have been made happy by a flow of positive feedbacks from our Indian partners regarding operation of this ship”.

In his first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described INS Vikramaditya as "an excellent example of the cooperation between our nations". He called Russia as "the greatest friend" of India. OSK wants to perform so as to live up to such a high credit of trust, according to Rakhmanov.

As far as INS Vikramaditya is concerned, the Russian side promises to provide first-class customer support throughout the entire lifetime of this ship. The Russian shipbuilders promise that the Project

11430 carrier can stay in service for forty years, provided with dock inspections, mid-life repairs, overhaul and modernization, timely carried out. Sevmash Dockyard, that turned the Project 1143.4 cruiser into the Project 11430 carrier, is to establish a permanent office in the city of Karwar so as to provide support and consultancy during the entire service life of the ship.

Setting up joint ventures with Indian shipyards is an important direction of activities for Russian shipbuilding industry and defence industrial complex in general. Through these JVs, they intend to provide first-class customer support services to the Indian operators of Russian hardware. The Russians are ready to share their vast expertize in support of the warships, modernization of Indian shipyards on the way of their technical renovation and training of local specialists.

In one more statement, OSK President says: “Considering the present high level of scientific, technological and industrial development of India, direct delivery of ships, built in the exporting country is becoming a thing of the past. India confirms the status of a leading naval power by developing indigenous fleet of nuclear ships. In this respect, our cooperation has inevitably evolved towards licensed construction of ships in India as well as execution of Indian R&D orders in ship design domain in Russia jointly with Indian partners”.

India began building combat ships of the current generation in the eighties. Some of these ships had been developed by the Soviet design bureaus. They were outfitted with Russian weapons and equipment. Commissioning of INS Delhi destroyer (Project 15 designed by Severnoye Design Bureau) in 1997 was a great achievement for the Indian shipbuilders. For the Russian industry, INS Delhi became the first ship built abroad to acquire a number of state-of-the-art weapon systems that had never been exported earlier, such as Shtil antiaircraft system and Fregat-MA radar. The de-

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stroyer is armed with anti-ship missile system Uran-E. India was the first country to operate this new Russian missile system. The INS Delhi has been followed by INS Mysore and INS Mumbai. These Project 15 destroyers were commissioned in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

Construction of a follow-on batch of three destroyers went with a highscale support from Russia. The lead ship of the Project 15A. INS Kolkata, went into service in July 2014.

The Indian Government sanctioned construction of four more destroyers in 2009. These are being built to the further improved Project 15B. Building Khurki class corvettes of Project 25 is in full gear. These were developed by the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau as replacement to the long-service ships of Project 159E. Four of such patrol ships,

armed with P‑21/P‑22 anti-ship cruise missiles were delivered to the Indian Navy in 1989–1991.

Then, another four ships armed with missile system Uran-E were built under modified Project 25A (Kora class). These were inducted in 1998–2004. With the involvement of Severnoye Design Bureau, India has developed a frigate of Project 17 to be built indigenously and fitted with Russian weapon systems Shtil‑1 and Club-N. Nevskoe Design Bureau, which had developed all Russian aircraft carrying cruisers, renders assistance to its Indian colleagues in development and construction of a Project 71 aircraft carrier. Russia is ready to assist India in its efforts on indigenous aircraft carriers, should the respective program progresses with more laid-downs.

The design bureau is working on

the next-generation aircraft carrier for the Russian Navy.

Russian shipbuilders, as well as all Russians, who participate in various bilateral projects, are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the following words of appreciation. He said: "… Russia always stood side by side with India during the toughest moments and without demanding anything in return."

According to Alexey Rakhmanov, OSK is ready to continue working with the Indian partners on these time-proven principles. He happily observes that “the Indian Navy officers and sailors describe characteristic features of the Russian naval equipment as – the most powerful weapons of the class, with high reliability and ease of maintenance and excellent sea-going qualities”.

Arun Jaitley, the Defence and Finance Minister of the new cabinet, mentioned Project P‑75I among the key programmes, which implementation needs to be accelerated.

This program calls for construction of six conventionally powered submarines with a foreign collaborator.

One is yet to be chosen. Russia hopes for the right choice to be made, as it offers the Amur 1650. The Russian side is ready to meet all customer requirements including those, related to the technology transfer and involvement of Indian industries. In this regards, OSK president has said: “We examined Indian capabilities for the supply of associated equipment and found that a wide range of engineering solutions of Indian industries are of highest international standards. We know the achievements of Indian specialists in the field of electronic warfare systems as well as their valuable experience in the long-term operation of ships in tropical waters. This experience is highly valuable for Russia. Russian shipbuilders also possess state-ofthe-art technologies, and are ready to share them with our Indian partners. We are confident that the strategic cooperation between India and Russia is a guarantee of progressive development and security for both of our countries”.

Vladimir Karnozov 7(79).2014

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companies & technologies

Powerful Shots

Federal State Unitary Enterprise Mechanical Engineering Research Institute NIMI JSC is a leading artillery shot developer in Russian Federation. The history of the company began in the 1932. Since then, the institute has changed a lot of names but its tasks remained the same: providing Russian Federation armed forces with artillery shots and technology of their development. ince mid XX – century, a lot of experts had an opinion that canon artillery becomes obsolete, and soon firepower of field forces will be provided by missiles. Time has proven that this opinion was wrong: one cannot imagine modern battlefield without good old artillery. Thus – without NIMI JSC developments.

152 mm artillery round is intended to destroy enemy manpower, suppress enemy artillery and mortars, eliminate the command and control centers, also capable of destroying field fortifications, anti-aircraft systems and armored transport vehicles.

100 mm round with highexplosive fragmentation for Russian 2A70 BMP‑3 is intended to destroy open and sheltered man power, including using of trenches and bulletproof vests.

With 125mm round with projectile, armored vehicle becomes a tank-killer. 125mm round with heat projectile is intended for use against armored targets, manpower, fortifications, en-

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companies & technologies

125mm round projectile

125mm round with heat projectile

gineer constructions, fire positions of artillery pieces, mortars and launchers. 125mm round with high-explosive fragmentation projectile is intended for use against manpower, field fortifications, engineer constructions, fire positions of artillery pieces, mortars, launchers and infantry fire weapons. The projectile's specific feature is a portion pressed filler. These rounds are being used by T‑90 and

125mm round with fragmentation projectile

T‑72 tanks, spread all around the world.

Long time ago, legendary admiral Makarov stated “Ships are built for guns”. And since today Navy is one of the most active NIMI customers. For naval artillery NIMI can offer 100mm round with high-explosive fragmentation projectile for AK‑100 gun mount intended to defeat shore and sea surface targets.

It is a fixed round fitted with the

Naval artillery projectiles, developed by NIMI

mechanical time fuse. 100mm round with projectile for AK‑100 gun mount is intended to defeat air targets, including Harpoontype antiship cruise missiles, shore and sea surface targets.

It is a fixed round fitted with the type radio fuse.

130mm round with projectile is intended to defeat shore targets of similar firepower capabilities. It is a fixed round fitted with the mechanical time fuse.

76‑mm round with high-explosive fragmentation is intended for being used primarily against air targets – aircraft and homing missiles, fitted with radio fuse. For destroying on-water and shore targets there is a round of the same caliber, fitted with percussion fuse.

100‑mm artillery systems, using NIMI shots are carried by battleships of 1154 project (scout ships of “Yastreb” type), destroyers of “Bespochadniy” type – Admiral Ushakov. Ak‑130 artillery systems as main source of firepower are being used by missile cruiser Moskva – the current flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

NIMI offers a wide selection of ammunition for cannon artillery: high-explosive, incendiary and cluster. Responding to modern trends, the Institute is also developing projectiles that are used in the framework of electronic warfare.

Powerful shots, penetrating any armor, are now guarding peace.

Irina Kachan 7(79).2014

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companies & technologies

Lift&Motion With Crimea having changed hands, the crack between Russia and Ukraine widens. The new regime in Kiev has ordered the Ukrainian industry to halt supplies of its wares to the Russian partners on military technical cooperation. This applies to Ivchenko-Progress and Motor-Sich companies. The first is a developer, and second is a manufacturer of turboshaft power plants for Russia’s Mil and Kamov helicopters.

July the Russian Helicopters company stated that the plant in Ulan-Ude completed shipments under Chinese 2012 order for 52 Mi‑17 series helicopters. These feature a glass cockpit and other improvements similar to those, earlier intro-

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

duced to the Indian Mi‑17V5s, being supplied to the customer by another type manufacturer, the plant in Kazan. The fact, China and India still receiving Russian rotorcraft with TV3–117 engines provides a conclusion: the Ukrainian-made engines went in and went out of here to the customer. In future, however, the

customers shall be prepared to get new helicopters from Russia without motors and then install Ukrainianmade engines arriving from Ukraine directly or through non-Russian mediators. This scheme would be compliant to all current restrictions in place, including those from the side of Ukrainian authorities.

companies & technologies Alexander Mikheyev, general manager at Russian Helicopters, says it had “another round of opinion-exchange on expanding cooperation with our European partners” at Farnborough’2014. He met his counterparts from Turbomeca, AgustaWestland and Austrian companies which have been deeply involved in various industrial programs on the Russian soil.

Russian Helicopters holding The Russian Helicopters is a holding structure uniting all Russian design bureaus and manufacturing plants, specializing in rotorcraft.

The company reports revenues for 2013 at Rouble 138.3 billion, a 10% more than the previous year.

Rotorcraft sales generated 115.8 billion and services 29.6 billion. EBITDA rose by 27% to Rouble 26.3 billion and profit to 9.5 billion (+1.3%). Past year deliveries reduced by 15 units, down to 275 rotorcraft. Last year the production run amounted to 303. Nine types of rotorcraft were shipped to customers in ten countries. The backlog at the year-end was 808. In 2012 this structure delivered 290 rotorcraft, and generated revenues of Rouble 125.7 billion.

Mikheyev says the company will continue efforts on reducing manufacturing costs and waybills for better financial efficiency. Capital investments in 2013 grew by 25%, to Rouble 16.2billion, including those to the manufacturing base by 8.5% to Rouble 8.3 billion. R&D allocations grew by 48.4% to Rouble 7.9 billion.

Russian Helicopters has long been planning IPO, but postpone it several times since 2008, so as to raise more money through demonstration of a longer profitable growth to the market.

“During the past year the Russian Helicopters continued in development as a modern, highly efficient and dynamic company. We managed to deliver everything under the earlier won governmental contracts, continued supplying foreign customers, and produced dozens of civilian helicopters for local and foreign customers”, Mikheyev says. “Now our main goal is to actualize some new projects, whose

foundations have been laid during the past few years”, he carries on.

“Technologies and scientific industrial potentials make their headway.

We consider the Russian Helicopters to be a highly innovative company… These days, almost every aviation company works in the conditions of the open market, competing and cooperating with various companies overseas. No-one can afford standing still. To maintain momentum, we need international partners for cooperation”.

Economic sanctions against Russia from the side of United States and the European Union remain very much a paper tiger. “So far the threat of sanctions has not created a real base for would-be disruption of earlier concluded contracts in the sphere of rotorcraft manufacturing. This applies to state defense orders, civil helicopters and contracts in frame of the military technical cooperation with the third countries”, Mikheyev states. “Our European partners have been following the contractual terms and delivering their contractual obligations. In particular, this applies to the engines, supplied by Turbomeca of France and various items from the European vendors”.

The Russian government has developed a set of measures how to find substitutes to the imported end-user products and vendor items. In frame of the local substitute efforts, Russian Helicopters have been in consultation with the Russian Technologies state corporation and its members including KRET, RadioElectronics and Aviation Equipment. “With support of the Russian government, we hope to create an effective system that would ensure the necessary substitutes to imported items.

But we are in for a long way to go.

This is a very sensitive matter since the talk is about [numerous] vendor items and materials”, Mikheyev said. Then came a rider: this issue is much wider the bounds of the helicopter industry.

The matter was discussed in the Russian president office on 28 July, with Putin saying Russia can resolve “this small issue” in a year or two.

This mostly applies to the Ukrainian wares; at the same time, Russia welcomes the Europeans to step in on a bigger way. The immediate measure to supersede the Ukrainian-made TV3–117 turboshaft series engines is to increase output of the vastly similar VK2500 at Klimov company in St.

Мi-171А2

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Мi-38

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Petersburg. The smaller AI‑450 can sometimes be replaced by Austrian pistons and diesels. The Austrians are also on a number of other Russian programs, sharing their advanced technologies in composite materials and in gearbox designs.

In the long run, the French engines can also be a solution.

Turbomeca’s Arrius 2G1 has been selected onto the Kamov Ka‑226 and Ardiden 3G onto the Ka‑62.

The RTM322 is being considered for the high-speed RACHEL rotocraft, and can also be fitted onto the Mi‑17/Mi‑35. “We are discussing various proposals, and there is one from Turbomeca. They want to be on our newly-launched programs and also expand their involvement in our legacy programs”, Mikheyev says.

“Should our customers request for Turbomeca engines, we will consider them. That’s the issue of time and money, to conduct tests, to make changes to the transmission system and force bearing structure”.

Russia is considering Turbomeca’s proposal to establish a 50/50 joint venture that would develop and co-produce a new 3000‑hp engine on the RTM322 basis, using the newly developed Tech3000 core. The RTM322 is completely out of the US reach on pretext of critical US technologies under EAR600 export aviation rules.

This motor promises considerable

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

advantages over the TV3–117 series powering the Mi‑17/24/35 and Ka‑27/28/29/31/32 families, including higher power/weight ratio and lower fuel burn.

Turbomeca has already established strong presence with two hundred engines in Russian service and plans for 500 by 2021. These are supported through UTair maintenance center in Western Siberian city of Tyumen that will soon be supplemented by UZGA repair plant in the Urals area.

In motion Here comes a new phase of Russian Helicopters development.

“At the previous ones our efforts were focused on consolidation of independent enterprises in the helicopter industry. Today, we are looking more closely at business processes, so as to shape products that would allow for an effective control over the industry. This task is going to stay as the main one for the next two-three years”.

The Russian government renders sizeable support to the industry through placing big orders and helping with getting ones in the open market. There are special federal purpose programs – the channels, through which the government injects money into industrial base of the nation. In addition to these sources and governmen-

tal aid, Russian Helicopters also take credits on commercial terms. “The point of no-return has been passed.

The horizon of our planning is five to seven years”, Mikheyev said.

Speaking about the recent trends on the global rotorcraft market, the source makes a point that this is a growing market. But there will be a high point and then a decline.

Russian Helicopters have been making research into that subject and preparing a set of measures to offset the expected decline. “Services are important and need to be developed further. Newly delivered platforms need to be supported, so that the whole system works immaculately. We need to make the customers services as efficient as the manufacturing. This is one of the important points”.

Today, the focus of attention for the Russian Helicopters management is firmly on preparation to mass production of Mi‑38, Mi‑17A2, Ansat and Ka‑226 helicopters, completion of certification trials on the first three of these models. Marketing and direct talks to potential customers are an important point in the case of Mi‑38. This rotorcraft Mikheyev has described as “a highly promising machine in a class between the highly successful Mi‑17 and Mi‑26”. He noted a considerable interest to this product in the marketplace. Speaking of applications, Mikheyev mentioned Russian governmental programs on development of remote territories and provinces, as well as conventional passenger and cargo transportation.

In the context of Mi‑38, the head of Russian Helicopters spoke about “rather dynamic” programs for Arctic exploration involving aircraft operations in the far northern areas. “These recent developments prompt us to evaluate the capabilities of our Mi‑17, Mi‑26 and Mi‑38 up North”.

The Russian Helicopters continue a major effort on renovation of machine tools at its plants. During 2013, more than 800 pieces of new manufacturing equipment were installed. Investments have been made into metal cutting, galvanic facilities and composite materials.

companies & technologies As a result, in 2013 output per worker rose by 12.4%.

Mikheyev carries on: “We are trying to make best use of this favorable situation so as to carry out a rapid modernization of our production lines, master new technologies and manufacturing methods, make investments into the development of our enterprises, infrastructure, aerodrome network, and flight test stations”.

Together with China Answering questions on a joint effort with China’s Avicopter on the Advanced Heavy Helicopter project, Mikeyev said: “The goal is to carry out various missions inside the Chinese territory. The future helicopter will be a Chinese product”.

He further said that the Advanced Heavy Helicopter is well in line with many other rotorcraft programs China has been pursuing with the focus on widening cooperation with the global manufacturers.

“Consultations between Russian Helicopters and Avicopter have been on since 2008. During the last few years we have made considerable progress in shaping the future product. Main parameters of the project have been agreed on”, according to Mikheyev. In particular, the payload for the new rotorcraft has been set at 15 metric tons.

During the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Shanghai, the two sides held another round of consultations on various co-operational programs in the high-tech sphere. These were carried out in the frame of the meeting between the two responsible vice-premiers, Oleg Rorozin and Van Yan, co-chairing the commission for industrial and economic cooperation between the two countries. The sides shared their views on the future of the project and exchanged their opinions on how the project is being shaped. The Chinese and Russians both expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved so far. “I hope that this year we will complete the technical shape of the helicopter”, Mikheyev said.

Yet to be decided are few issues regarding forms of joint activities to

be carried out. One of the possible ways is to establish a joint venture, in case the future product will be for PRC only. Another possibility is to make a Russian version as well, to meet the specific requirements of the local customers. Wrapping up on the subject, Mikheyev said: “the Advanced Heavy Helicopter is a very promising project that shall give us a strong boost and provide high workload for the Mil design house. The aforementioned rotorcraft will use the technologies of the Mi‑26, but is going to be different from Mi‑26, the latter being very much a niche product. In fact, we are speaking of a brand new machine in the class of its own, to take place in the certain class of takeoff weight and payload capability. This new machine will be created using the Mi‑26 technologies and the new scientific technical achievements, amassed by our design bureau and other establishments”.

Orders and shipments As of early 2014 the Russian Helicopters had 772 firm orders for helicopters worth in excess of Rouble 370 billion. The orders load the manufacturing capacity by 100% in 2014 and by 73% in 2015.

Investments are being made into the Ka‑60/62, Mi‑38, Mi‑171A2 helicopter models. The Russian Helicopters and Turbomeca are in agreement

on a service center for the Ka‑226T and Ka‑62 helicopters. Other major development efforts are perfecting the national helicopter design center in Tomilino, where Mil and Kamov designers are working together, building-up a global support network, introducing lean manufacturing technologies and optimizing current production structure.

Russian Helicopters exported 3,500‑th Mil Mi‑17 family helicopter earlier this year. Assembled at Kazan Helicopters plant, the jubilee machine went to India.

Russian governmental arms vendor Rosoboronexport won Indian MoD contract for 80 Mi‑17V5s in 2008 and firmed up options for 71 more in 2012–2013. Most recently India decided to partly convert the order so as to have a dozen of Mi17s in VIP version for the Indian government transportation after the deal with AgustaWestland on AH101Ws had been cancelled on the charges of corruption/scam.

At AeroIndia’2013 the local sources said that at that point of time the order was 80 firms and 59 options. It seems that since February 2013 till mid-March 2014 India ordered 12 additional Mi‑17V5s. The customized Indian Mi‑17V5 features the KNEI‑8 glass cockpit and PKV‑8 autopilot, making India the first international customer for the glass-cockpit version. According to

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Mi‑35 Mi-26T2 Alexander Mikheyev, India operates almost 250 Russian-made rotorcraft.

These are employed on governmental roles including combat and training, search-and-rescue, medical evacuation and natural disaster relief operations.

Pakistan has requested for Mi‑35 attack helicopters and is potential client for the Mi‑26T2 superheavy champion. The Moscowbased Kommersant Daily newspaper quoted Sergei Chemezov, head of Rostec corporation: “the decision has been made. We are negotiating on deliveries of Mi‑35s to that country”. A anonymous source in the Russian ministry for foreign affairs added: “We are talking to the Pakistani partners on Russian assistance to strengthen Islamabad’s potential to fight terrorism and narcotics traffic, including by means of delivering a batch of Mi‑35 helicopters”. In the presence of India, Russia’s largest customer for weapons, Moscow has been cautions with sales to the neighboring Pakistan for not to heat relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. Last decade sales were limited to Mi‑17 helicopters and support of earlier sold equipment under previous deals in frame of the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Pakistan, dating back to 1960s.

Moscow explains its intent to sell more to Islamabad by the need to diversify export markets and the changing geopolitical situation in the world. Withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the rapid expansion of the radical Islamic movements in the Arabic countries prompt Moscow to help moderate regimes to keep power in Pakistan, Iraq, Syria and Egypt.

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Military wares About half of the helicopters, assembled last year at all plants of Russian Helicopters went to the Russian defense ministry. Officially confirmed 2013 shipments include seventeen Ka‑52 reconnaissance and attack helicopters, eight Mi‑35 assault rotorcraft, four Mi‑26 super heavyweights, ten Mi‑8MTV5 and 53 Mi‑8AMTSh utility choppers.

Despite pressing technical issues, the military flight school in Syzran took six more Ansat-U helicopters.

These come with fly-by-wire systems, whose usefulness on relatively compact rotorcraft continues to receive mixed reports.

Deputy defense minister Yuri Borisov has recently paid a visit to the Progress plant in Arseniev on Russia’s Far East, washed by the Pacific Ocean. Among other things, he inspected the Ka‑52K navalized attack helicopters, being built there for the Mistral class. “The situation at the plant is stable. It has won a long-term contract for delivery of 146 Ka‑52s by 2020, including 32 in the deck version”, Borisov was quoted as saying.

The Russian Helicopters achieved major export breakthrough in 2013 by delivering Mi‑35Ms to the Iraq air force. Freshly inducted, these were shortly dispatched on a real combat mission to fight Islamic militants in dwelling points close to the Syrian border. Deliveries of the more advanced Mi‑28NE were reported to have commenced midsummer, ahead of contract terms.

On 22 November 2013 defense minister Sergei Shoigu applied his signature on the document, rendering the Mi‑28N Night Hunter officially accepted into service with

the Russian air force. Alexander Mikheyev commented that the official induction of the Mi‑28N provides evidence, that the helicopter meets all requirements of the Russian defense ministry for attack helicopters. Besides, “the helicopter proved its merits in all necessary testing, conducted by the military”.

Although the type has been flying with the Russian air force line units for several years already, the customer hesitated to officially accept it due to some teething problems cured only recently. The aircraft in the initial production batches, their weapons and ground support equipment have been subjected to extensive operational trials in various environments. Importantly, in 2013 the Night Hunter finally acquired a workable 360‑degree surveillance radar, that is mounted on top of the Mi‑28N’s mast, above the main rotor.

The Rostverol manufacturing plant in Rostov-upon-Don launched the Mi‑28N into series production back in 2005. It has already assembled several dozen copies. Some went to the Berkuts air display team, that previously flew Mi‑24s. The team commenced formation, flying in public on the new type in 2012 and showcased at MAKS’2013.

In 2013 ten newly-assembled units went to Ostrov AFB and four more – to earlier equipped units as replacements. The Russian Helicopters say, the work on perfecting the Mi‑28N continues, targeting improvement of flight performance and combat capabilities. At MAKS’2013 the company demonstrated for the first time the Mi‑28N in a new version with twin flight controls developed for

companies & technologies

Ka-62 Mi‑17 pilot training. This version had its maiden flight on August 9, 2013.

“Radio-electronic Techologies” Concern (local acronym KRET), a member in the Russian Technologies (Rostec) made an announcement earlier this year. “Trials of the helmet-mounted sight for the Mi‑28NE are about to complete. Besides, we are able to commence deliveries of the mast-mounted [360‑degree observation radar antenna] system starting in 2014. In this regard, KRET offers the Russian Helicopters to change the factory configuration [of the Mi‑28NE] so as to include that system and thus meet the declared needs of the defense ministry in this sort of equipment”, – KRET general manager Nikolai Kolesov said.

He further stated that the issue of high rotorcraft losses in recent conflicts is being addressed. “The losses have been high. Today, the helicopters, entering service with the Russian armed forces, come equipped with the system that prevents antiaircraft missiles from hitting their indented targets. We held field trials at a firing range involving a total of fifty various aircraft systems. None could defeat a helicopter, equipped with our new system”. He added that deliveries of the President-S self-protection suit continue “at a growing pace”.

Dual-use products The theme of lightweight helicopters is quite delicate for Russian Helicopters. Local designs are rather weakly represented in today’s market and meet strong competition from products of the global manufacturers. “It is not that easy for us to pursue national lightweight helicopter programs, partly because

the Mil and Kamov design bureaus are loaded to capacity with other projects. We had better turn foreign competitors into partners”.

An example is the close cooperation with AgustaWestland on the Helivert joint venture assembling the AW139 on the Russian soil.

Mikheyev says: “We need to keep for ourselves our traditional market sectors. In terms of money, we keep 14% of the world’s market for rotorcraft. Our goal for the next twothree years is to go up to 18–20%, to develop these platforms and products that are riding on the tide of success. As per lightweight rotorcraft, we had better place to focus on a union with a global maker”.

In the 2.5‑tonne class, Russian Helicopters are counting on the Ka‑226T, powered by Arrius 2G1 with initial order for 41 engine. Entry into service with launch customer Gazpromavia is due later this year. A military version of the Ka‑226T is offered to the Indian armed forces in frame of the international tender for 175 rotorcraft. Head of the French company made it clear, that Turbomeca’s engines are dual-use products, but this entails no export controls issues with the French government.

“There is no impact on our programs as result of the [EU already imposed] sanctions” [on Russia over Ukraine], “so that, as of this time, there is no reason for us not to pursue expansion of our cooperation with Russian partners, even there is no hint on that”, Turbomeca president and CEO Olivier Andreas said at HeliRussia’2014 in late May. The Ka‑62 is a 7‑tonne medium size rotorcraft for business aviation.

This helicopter is powered by the

Ardiden 3G set for EASA certification in mid‑2015. The initial order for 308 engines has been placed. Eight units has been delivered already.

“We are very proud to be onboard the Ka‑62, which is a modern helicopter, that is going to be successful in the global market”, according to Olivier Andreas.

“By its qualities, the Ka‑62 is a unique machine. There are many advanced tech solutions incorporated into its design, including the intensive use of composite materials, crash-resistant fuel system and gearbox made using the advanced technologies of certain Austrian firms made applicable through efforts of Kamov employees”, Mikheyev stated.

Program status: two prototypes have been assembled. All necessary foreign components and vendor items are in place or stored the manufacturing plant. Maiden flight of the first prototype is planned for later this year. Says Mikheyev: “We are somewhat behind the original schedule. But it is better to be two months late and do everything right on the first and following flights, other than to be on time but with problems observed, when the helicopter gets airborne for the first time”.

According to him, the Ka‑62 needs “careful approach to market entry”, he said. “T his machine should better go to some local operators first, before going abroad for commercial service. Operational trials usually provide the feedback, that is very useful in making the aftersales support systems functioning well, when it comes to mass usage”.

Vladimir Karnozov 7(79).2014

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companies & technologies

Radio-electronics technologies

This year, the Farnborough Aerospace International exhibition welcomed a newcomer from Russia. “Radio-electronic Techologies” Concern (local acronym KRET), a member in the Russian Technologies (Rostec) corporation, exhibited here for the first time. KRET took part in the air show “as a holding structure of the world’s level”, according a press release from the merger. It was established in 2009. Today, it comprises nearly a hundred enterprises, specializing in electronic warfare (EW), avionics, friend-or-foe systems, measuring equipment. In 2013, its revenues came to Rouble 77.3 billion (70% military, including US dollar 370 million from export-related products and components), net profit Rouble 6.6 billion (150% to previous year). Order backlog exceeds Rouble 25 billion.

New head of Russian space organization Andrei Tyulin iding on the wave of military business growth, KRET is all set to expand its presence in the global market for civilian avionics and systems through packages for Kamov Ka‑226T and Mil Mi‑171A2 helicopters, Tupolev Tu‑204SM and Irkut MC‑21 narrow-body jetliners. This year, KRET-outfitted Ka‑226T shall commence deliveries to launch customer GazpromAvia. The Mi‑171A2 is entering production.

State-of-the-art avionics package for the Tu‑204SM is already flying on two operable prototypes.

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A more advanced one is benchtested for the MC‑21.

Though some western vendors won open competitions for the right to supply their production on the Irkut-led jetliner, the rapidly-developing KRET feels enough weight to force them out. “Our previous avionics solutions used to be based on military standards, and hence with, we were not able to compete [with western companies] when the Superjet project commenced. Now, our newer systems feature open architecture and algorithms; they comply with the international standards. We are go-

ing to certify them with ARMAK, EASA and FAA, so that to have a global product able to be selled worldwide”, says KRET deputy general manager Andrei Tyulin.

General manager Nikolai Kolesov adds, that KRET works on a total of 42 systems for the MC‑21; specimens for bench trials have been made. “Our goal is to certify them this year so as to commence production of deliverable sets in 2015”. Many of these systems are elements in “a predominantly Russian integrated avionics suite” for the aforementioned jetliner, with 90% of software and 47% of hardware being of local origin. “We are offering Irkut such an attractive package so that our offer is simply irresistible. We are going to be very pushy and aggressive in this market so as not to have another Superjet with no Russian vendors onboard. We are fighting hard for the MC‑21, and are half-way through the preparation process to embark it”, Kolesov continued.

Within the merger’s structure, KRET member NIIAO (local acronym for Scientific-Industrial Institute for Aviation Equipment) acts the MC‑21 avionics integrator. Another prominent local player GosNIIAS (for State Scientific-Industrial Institute for Aviation Systems) continues development of technologies, demonstrators and specimens in the interests of the program. KRET is investing big money into this project, and channeling in those funds, that are coming from the Russian gov-

companies & technologies ernmental programs for development of the local industry.

KRET’s leaders are optimistic about Russian-made fuel system’s chances in competition to the earlier selected one from Zodiac.

“Techpribor has won the competition for MC‑21 fuel system’s testing rig”, Tyulin insists. Recently, Techpribor’s control stake went to KRET; the latter wants to make further advances. “We are working on what we call the MC‑21.RU, outfitted with a completely Russian set of onboard equipment. In frame of that project we aim to restore Russia’s once-lost competence in such systems through massive investments into Techpribor and other concern’s members. A full-scale testing rig is almost done. We will blend it into the Iron Bird. In the end, Russia’s competence in that area will be restored. I assure you that no-one fuel system will come from the West. We will do them ourselves”, Andrei Tyulin states.

These claims could make KRET look overconfident in the eyes of certain Farnborough exhibitors.

But the Russian heavy-weight has enough ground for confidence.

KRET’s history began in 2009 with 37 enterprises; now the merger comprises 97 companies and has a base capital of Rouble 50 billion.

This makes it Russia’s largest holding structure in the radio-electronic industry. Last year, KRET’s shipments to the Russian defense ministry came to Rouble 41.3 billion (5.4 in 2010, 16.4 in 2011, 26.2 in 2012), with avionics share at 47%, that of electronic warfare at 36%, friend-or-foe systems at 14% and measuring means at 3%. The company is very proud of its advanced electronic warfare systems Moskva, Krasuha, Rtut, Rychag, President and Khibin developed in 2008– 2013. They go to Russian armed forces in growing numbers. For instance, the Krasuha‑4 can make useless all known types of aviation and land radar and radio-communication systems in the range of several thousand kilometers.

The Moskva is further evolution of the Aviabaza system once developed under contract with Iran and

proved an effective tool of grounding US-made UAVs, including the Lockheed Martin RQ‑170 Sentinel (“Beast of Kandahar”).

The Arbalet radar for the Ka‑52 attack helicopter and mastmounted radar antenna for the Mi‑28NE are in production now.

Shipments commence this year.

Series production of the multimode Zhuk-ME radar, equipping the MiG‑29SMT/UPG/K/KUB fighters goes in full gear. Airborne radar specialist Phazotron-NIIR has completed development of the active phased array for MiG‑35’s ZhukMAE unit. Another KRET member,

Tikhomiriov’s NIIP, continues flighttests of the N‑036 active electronically scanned phased array radar on Sukhoi PAKFA (T‑50) fifth generation fighter. Development and production of next-gen products are ensured by big investments into technical renovation of KRETcontrolled factories: the Russian government provided Rouble 5.8 billion in 2013 and agreed to provide additional Rouble 114 billion in 2014–2020. As of December 2013, KRET’s R&D contracts totaled Rouble 8.4 billion.

KRET General manager Nikolai Kolesov

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companies & technologies

Ilyushin turboprops for Russian navy In a wake of deteriorating relations with the new regime in Kiev, Moscow reconsiders plans for a lightweight tactical airlifter that would replace the aged fleet of earlier-generation An-26 and An-72, as well as for the Il-114 passenger turboprop and its militarized versions. he Il-112 and “re-newed” Il-114 would share onboard systems and powerplants, making both projects more economically viable. Specifically for the Russian navy, Ilyushin has developed the Il114MP (suffix for “Maritime Patrol”).

It can loiter for 8–10 hours 300km off base, carrying 1.5 tons of droppable acoustic buoys and depth charges.

This version is outfitted with a modern search-and-attack set including a search radar, a magnetic anomaly finder, a thermal imager etc. The Il-114MP is intended to supplement and then replace the ageing Il-38.

The Russian navy has plans to rework about thirty Il-38s into Il-38N version with the Novella-P-38 ASW set.

Ilyushin holds an initial contract for five aircraft, first of which was delivered to the customer on July 15, 2014.

Worsening relations between Moscow, the new regime in Kiev and the latter’s supporters in the West prompt the Russian government to take dust off the Ilyushin-114. The Kremlin favors this outdated, but home-grown design to Ukraine’s Antonov-140 in low-rate production

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at Aviacor in Samara and Bombardier Q400NextGen being considered by Rostec for localization.

Deputy prime-minister for military industrial complex Dmitry Rogozin (on EU sanctions list for the Crimean issue) acts the driving force behind the Il-114, often pitching it as a direct alternative to Rostec’s Q400 plan. A decision in favor of the Il-114 was made on September 9, when he chaired a big meeting of government officials with various ministries and industrial structures. “The meeting […] approved of Il-114 production restart. Ilyushin design bureau is ready to accept the work”, Rogozin commented. He stressed that the effort requires “a complete digitizing” of the original drawings after “a deep modernization”.

President Vladimir Putin gave his personal approval for Rogozin’s initiative in August, with a rider that the government should evaluate “commercial worthiness” of such a project. Shortly, general manager Aleksei Gusev declared Aviacor’s intent to accept the work. The plant makes broadly similar An-140 under license from Antonov. As a Ukrainian design,

this 52-seat turboprop has fallen into disfavor in view of the deteriorating relations with the new regime in Kiev.

The ministry for industry and trade initially spoke against the move on the ground of the Il-114, being outdated and not commercially viable.

On September 9 the ministry was given two weeks to reconsider its earlier evaluation of the home-grown airplane and prepare a plan of supporting it.

The Aviacor plant in Samara is not a member in Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and instead run by the Russian Machines privately-held corporation. The owners and the Samara regional administration are ready to invest into the Il-114 project. The local authorities have promised “1–1.5 billion Rouble into Aviacor modernization”, according to Samara governor Nikolai Merkushkin. A great total of investments into the Il-114/ Aviacor project is estimated at 8–12 billion Rouble. Rework of the original drawings and their digitizing would take another 3–4 billion.

After some hesitation, Ilyushin agreed rework of the Il-114 so as to refresh the aircraft, originally designed

companies & technologies

to a 1987 specification. First flown in 1990 and certified in 1997, the plane is to transport 64 passengers for 900km.

Its superb loitering capability makes it attractive to the Russian defense ministry and thus creates ground for a larger production run.

The biggest issue is the Klimov TV7–117S/SM turboprops. The Russian engine has demonstrated lower fuel burn than Pratt&Whitney Canada’s PW127H on the westernized Il-114–100 certified in 1999. But the Klimov’s motor has also showed lower reliability and on-wing lifetime in Il114 revenue service. The engine maker has many times reported about newer, more powerful and matured versions, including the TV7–117SM and Bogatyr for the Il-112 tactical airlifter now in development. None of these have so far gone into numeric production. The airplane can be powered by the PW127H (Il-114–100) or the TV3–117VMA-SBM1 (developed for the An-140), if political considerations are not taken into account. The Russian and Ukrainian turboprops have lifetime of 2–3 thousand hours against 7–12 for the Canadian ones.

The Il-114 was developed in the late 1980s as alternative to Advanced Turboprop (ATP). British Aerospace offered it to the Soviet Union for local production in 1985. In the early 1990s, the airplane entered lowrate production at the TAPO plant in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan Republic. About twenty airframes have been built. Seven Il-114–100s with Canadian engines, US-made propellers, APU, avionics and interiors remain in revenue service with Uzbekistan Airways. These have re-

portedly shown annual utilization of 1,800 flight hours, barely sufficient to generate a profit.

At speed of 480–500 km/h the Il114 shows 0.94–0.97 km per kilogram of fuel burnt, compared to 0.74 for the ATR72–600 and 0.68 for fasterflying Q400NextGen. Ilyushin’s empty equipped weight, at 16 tons, is 3 tons above that of the ATR72–600, resulting in twice shorter distances the airplanes can over with a full cabin.

The Franco-Italian aircraft can seat up to 72–74 passengers in high density cockpit layout, while the Ilyushin can take only 64 (in a cockpit with similar dimensions) due to current certification restrictions. The big wing (81.9 square meters against ATR72–600’s 64) retards the plane in cruise flight but give it superb loitering capability at slow speeds, due to a record Cl/Cd ratio, up to twenty.

Only one Russian airline – Vyborg – operated the Il-114 commercially, taking a pair of reworked aircraft, previously operated by Uzbekistan Airways. Revenue flights lasted from 1999 till 2010, when the company disbanded, leaving both aircraft parked at Pskov airport after TV7– 117S engines expired their lifetimes (several examples have logged little over two thousand FH each). The only TV7–117SM-powered airplane still operating belongs to Radar-MMS radar company, serving as a test-bed for radio-electronics.

After cost overruns and slow progress, in 2010 the MoD shelved the Il112 in favor of less expensive An-140T. The latter is a ramp version of the 52-seat turboprop that the Aviacor plant in Samara makes under license

for airlines and governmental customers. The defense ministry has already acquired several An-140s out of a total order for twenty such aircraft.

The customer supported Aviacor’s plans to develop An-140T jointly with Ukraine’s Antonov. Negotiations slowed down in late 2013, when Kiev began zooming off from Moscow. By now this interest has faded away; and Ilyushin has been ordered to resume the Il-112 project, so as to have two prototypes flying in 2018. According to local media, MoD has agreed to provide extra Rouble 8 billion (US dollar 222 million), thought to be enough for completion of design documentation and production preparations.

Dmitry Rogozin has recently confirmed that the Il-112 and Il-114 are back, after talks on the An-140T had stalled. The aircraft will go into production at the VASO plant in Voronezh that is likely to discontinue An-148 68-seat twinjet manufacturing in the view of the political changes. VASO general director Sergei Yurasov confirmed that the talks on making a pair of Il-112 prototypes – one for ground testing, the other for flights – are ongoing.

A handful of Klimov-powered Il114s served with Uzbekistan Airways (1998–1999) and Vyborg (1999–2010).

Revenue flights have been terminated due to limited lifetimes and immaturity of engines and systems. The only TV7–117SM-powered airplanes still operating belongs to Radar-MMS company, which flies it as a flying laboratory for testing various radar antennas and associated systems.

Il‑38N

Vladimir Karnozov 7(79).2014

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weaponry

Modular Tor-M2KM is the latest development of short range SAMS

Antiaircraft missile system with fighting machine Tor-М2КМ on a wheeled chassis

Short range of Surface-to-air missile systems (SAMSs) are the last stand in Air Defense system of any country. In our days defensive potential and external aggression resistance of country are evaluated by availability of modern AD system and primarily by availability of short range SAMS. ntiaircraft missile system Tor-M2KM with modular combat and technical facilities is the latest development of JSC Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol. It provides high reliability and effectiveness against active maneuvering air targets, gliding and guided aerial bombs, cruise, guided and antiradar missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircrafts and helicopters. This system is equipped with computer facilities and modern radio stations that allow to detect and process up to 48 targets, simultaneously track up to 10 targets with the highest level of threat and provide simultaneous engagement of four targets.

Tor-M2KM is a modular system that provides for mounting of independent combat module(ICM) and technical facilities on any motor chas-

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sis, semitrailers, trailers and other platforms of appropriate carrying capacity as well as in the stationary version. The ICM, which is equipped with all special-purpose equipment, computer system, radar and optical facilities, missiles, operators compartment, system of independent and supplementary power supply with own fuel range, life support system, conditioning system, is installed on the motor chassis and another platforms by three special-proposed, quick-disconnect brackets. Special structure of the brackets allows quick remounting of the ICM from one platform to another. Remounting of the ICM from one platform to another is performed by 25-tonnes crane and takes no more than 10 minutes. The only limitation - technical characteristics of platform must comply with the following requirements: for ICM

it's necessary to have a load-carrying capacity of any platform types of not less than 20 tonnes, width of not less than 2500 mm and length of not less than 7000 mm, for technical facilities like transporter-loader, maintenance workshop, group SPTA set, battery command post it's enough to have a load-carrying capacity of 8,5 tonnes, width of 2500 mm and length of 6000 mm.

The ICM is not connected with the platform neither with mechanical drives or hydraulic drives nor with electric systems. It is equipped with gas-turbine unit (GTU) as its own power supply source, which provides electric power generation of required parameters and power.

Time for starting operating mode of the GTU is not more than 60 sec. Total time for the ICM combat readiness is not more than 3 minutes. Electrostatic

weaponry transducer was implemented as supplementary power supply source for the first time ever. It transforms electric power of three-phase voltage 380 V and frequency 50 Hz supplied from external source to electric power of three-phase voltage 220 V and frequency 400 Hz. SAMS Tor-M2KM mounted on serially produced motor chassis of Indian company TATA Motors was shown on International aviation salon MAKS-2013. By this we shown to all world that Kupol has designed surface-to-air missile system, combat and technical facilities of which could be mounted on different motor chassis and on different platforms in accordance with customer's request.

Furthermore there is possibility to mount the ICM on roofs of buildings and constructions, on difficult to access areas, on trailers and semitrailers, on railway platforms and even on low-tonnage vessels, which can carry a load of more than 20 tonnes. It allows to expand functionality of the system significantly, to provide air defense for different Armed Forces, important state, military and industrial objects, big cities (megalopolises), to provide reliable protection of the large sport events like Olympic Games or Football World Cup from air terrorists.

If SAMS is placed within the city or within the territory of protected object, combat capabilities of the system will be limited because of a great amount of surface facilities, buildings, constructions, which are located in the operating area of radar facilities of the system and missile flight trajectories.

Fully equipped independent combat module of SAMS Tor-M2KM has a weight of no more than 15 tonnes, that provides its transportation on an external load of МИ-26Т helicopter with high lifting capacity or its foreign analogues. In such way the ICM can be delivered and installed in the most hard-to-reach places: on highest elevation, on roofs of buildings and constructions, where the ICM will provide reliable defense of objects against all air threats, in range of 15 km killing zone.

The process of lock-on and tracking of the targets in SAMS Tor-M2KM

is automated. Any of targets offered by vehicle can be selected for fire.

When target is in the launch zone and surface-to-air missile (SAM) is ready, commander presses the button ПУСК (Launch). SAM is guided towards the target automatically and its combat part is exploded in the missile-target meeting point that provides reliable engagement of the air target.

High accuracy and modern methods of calculation of guidance parameters in combination with special-proposed combat equipment of SAM provide high killing probability against all types of air targets.

SAM module provides transportation, storage and launch of four surface-to-air missiles. There are two surface-to-air missile modules in each ICM. Transporting-loading module, facilities of maintenance and repair, group SPTA set and simulator, placed on unified containersbodies, can be mounted on motor chassis, on analogous chassis of the ICM or on any motor chassis, semitrailers and trailers in accordance with customer's request.

SAMS Tor-M2KM is equipped with navigation system GLONASS/GPS developed by Russian company Navis.

It determines location of system with high accuracy, at the same time it provides measurement of angle parameters of the ICM (roll and different planes). Now it's not necessary for crew to have geodesic skills, which were required during the previous generation of equipment.

Tests of SAMS Tor-M2KM with modular version of combat and technical facilities mounted on motor chassis TATA of Indian production were undertaken at Kapustin Yar site of Ministry of Defence of Russian Federation in October-November 2013. All performance characteristics were confirmed during these tests, in particular, combat capabilities of target engagement on boundary of the killing zone of 15 km, targets with flight speed of 700 m/s and also targets with course parameter of no more than 6 km in range of 12 km. All-weather and day-andnight capability of the system and its running characteristics were confirmed. Besides, cooperative oper-

ation of group, consisting of ICM, transport-loading module 9Т244К, Kasta-2E2 radar in stand-by mode and battery command post RanzhirMK were checked during these tests.

SAMS Tor-M2KM passed all tests honorably.

Tor-М2КМ in action Rearrange of Tor-M2KM from wheeled to truck chassis

Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant KUPOL, JSC Russia, Udmurtia, Izhevsk, Pesochnaya str., 3 Tel.: (3412) 72-5125, fax: (3412) 72-6819 E-mail: iemz@kupol.ru www.kupol.ru 7(79).2014

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weaponry

Kornet-EM

multipurpose missile system Antitank guided missile systems (ATGM) have been developed and produced globally for already half a century. Since then they became the most popular and wanted type of high precision weapons (HPW) thanks to their usability and relatively low cost. future ATGM system must be a versatile defensiveoffensive guided weapon, whose portable and combat vehicle transportable modifications ensure a wide range of applications in close range tactical zone in various combat environments.

As of today the IIIrd generation Kornet-E portable/transportable laser beam-rider system, developed

by KBP and adopted in 1998 is the weapon, definitively complying with the concept of advanced ATGW, being state-of-the-art specimen of multipurpose tactical short range weapon system allowing engagement of virtually any small-size target within the system's line of sight.

Aiming for further enhancement of Kornet-E ATGW combat capabilities, KBP Instrument Design Bureau developed a new multipurpose missile system – Kornet-EM. The weapon is designed as an automatic combat system, incorporating, besides the firing unit itself, both reconnaissance and control assets, and ensuring full automation of all combat operation constituents – target detection and distribution, issuing and processing of target designation, missiles' guidance. The operator's task within such system is limited to supervision of its proper functioning and launch of missiles.

The open architecture of the system in terms of data exchange with higher-rank and peer units, along with its combat capabilities makes it a vital element of Army network-centric system.

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Kornet-EM multipurpose missile system provides for engagement of modern and future tanks, various fortifications (pillboxes, bunkers) and low-velocity aerial targets (helicopters, assault aircrafts and UAVs) in day&night and adverse weather conditions under enemy ECM and optical jamming at ranges up to 8–10 km.

The Kornet-EM system comprises: combat vehicle with two auto matic launchers and operator’s panel with a display;

 battery commander's reconnaissance and control vehicle, equipped with combined surveillance system including TV, IR and radar reconnaissance aids, navigation, communication and data exchange systems, automated control suite and weapon system (Kornet-EM ATGM and PKTM machine-gun); guided missile with HE warhead with impact and proximity fuses and firing range of up to 10 km;

 an antitank guided missile with a maximum firing range of 8000 m and shaped charge warhead armor penetration of 1100–1300 mm which enables the Kornet-EM system to engage modern and future tanks bearing in mind the tendency to growth of their armor protection.

Due to implementation of stateof-the-art but, however, low cost technical solutions, Kornet-EM acquired a number of new features, allowing significant broadening of its combat capabilities to counter both

conventional ground targets, as well as non inherent to this class of systems ability to engage low-velocity aerial targets: the use of computer vision along with automatic target tracker makes it possible to exclude an operator from missile guidance process and, in fact, implements the “fireand-forget” principle, thus giving a 5‑times increase in accuracy of target tracking during real combat;  engagement of targets in automatic mode reduces stress of operators, requirements to their skills and duration of their training; automation of guidance process  along with automated target detection and distribution, target designation commands generation and processing result in virtually fully automatic combat system, limiting the operator's task to supervision of its proper functioning and launch of missiles;

 combat vehicle with twin-launcher ensures simultaneous salvo firing at two targets, thus significantly increasing the system’s firing rate and number of targets handled and at the same time allowing two-fold reduction of combat assets required to complete a mission. Such performance specifications endow Kornet-EM with the highest target handling capability among similar existing and future systems – min. 3–4 targets per minute at ranges up to 5 km. Thus, in case the weapon systems are positioned at a stand-

weaponry Main Performance Specifications of the System Firing range, m: minimum maximum

150 10 000

Guidance system

automatic, beam riding guidance

Jamming immunity

high

Number of targets engaged simultaneously by a salvo Armour penetration by shaped charge warhead, mm

2 1100–1300

TNT equivalent of high explosive warhead

7

Ammunition load, pcs

16

Including ready-to-fire missiles

8

Fig. 1 Kornet-EM system off range from enemy tanks (more than 4 km) a single Kornet-EM battery of 9 combat vehicles is able to repulse an attack (i. e. destroy min.

50% of targets) of enemy tank (М1 А2 class) battalion (58 tanks).

Actually, such mission may be accomplished by two battery salvos, destroying 32–34 tanks, i. e. 55– 60% of the battalion. The time required to accomplish the mission,

will not exceed 1 minute, allowing to avoid casualties, since the enemy tanks will not be able to to reach their effective firing distance;

 new capability for ATGW – effective engagement of small-size aerial targets – reconnaissance and reconnaissance-attack unmanned aerial vehicles, being the enemy’s crucial and mass combat support

tool, as well as helicopters and assault aircrafts.

UAV on a reconnaissance mission lets enemy well in advance disclose defence, give accurate target designation for firing over-the-horizon munitions, record and transmit information on army relocations, both during operations near the line of contact with enemy and in the rear.

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weaponry Main Performance Specifications Flight range

150 – 10 000

TNT equivalent, kg Fuse

Target velocity 50 m/s Target velocity 100 m/s Target velocity 250 m/s This results in significant increase in casualties and possible failures of combat mission performance. From the point of view of engagement, UAVs are difficult targets due to low altitude of flight. Moreover, in case of mass application they are a teaser for the air defence assets, causing high consumption of expensive surfaceto-air missiles.

Attack helicopters and tactical aircrafts are, by now, the highest threat for land forces, as they can inflict maximum damage in minimum time.

For example, a helicopter is able to destroy a company of armoured vehicles (10–14 armoured vehicles) with one ATGM load.

To efficiently counter the UAVs, attack helicopters and tactical aircrafts, the air defence assets should be available right in the combat formations, because attack or reconnaissance flights are performed at low altitudes, impeding due-time de-

impact and proximity

Maximum flight speed, m/s

320

Weight with launch-tube, kg

34

Length of launch-tube, mm

1210

Fig. 2 9М133FМ-3 guided missile with high-explosive warhead tection with medium and short range air defence systems, which are usually stationed deep in the home front.

Kornet-EM is the system, able to efficiently accomplish low-velocity aerial threats repulsion tasks.

Another distinctive feature of modern combat operations is deployment of sophisticated surveillance and networking technologies in the tactical units. Wide application of integrated surveillance aids (various combinations of optical, radar, TV and IR systems), so-

Main Performance Specifications Flight range

150 – 8000

Armour penetration, mm

1100 – 1300

Maximum flight speed, m/s

300

Weight with launch-tube, kg

32

Length of launch-tube, mm

1210

Fig. 3 9М133М-2 ATGM guided missile 24

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phisticated automatic assets of tactical units operation control, communication and navigation allows continuous monitoring of the battlefield, real-time reception of reconnaissance data (both from peer and higher level units) overlaid on the digital maps and automatic or semiautomatic generation and transmission of target&firing data to the fire units, thus, determining the efficiency of high-precision tactical weapons and ATGW employment.

Availability of surveillance systems, providing detection of wide range of targets and automatic battery operation control aids is a vital need for Kornet-EM with its versatility of combat applications and ability to effectively counter aerial targets.

Timely submission of aerial targets data to the fire units (Line Kornet-EM combat vehicles) directly influences both the efficiency of ATGW counteraction to aerial threats, as well as casualties in the units under air raid.

To provide operational surveillance/data exchange and control of Kornet-EM battery combat operation, a battery commander's surveillance&control vehicle is designed based on standard line Kornet-EM CV. The Surveillance&Control vehicle is special-purpose unit, combin-

weaponry Main Performance Specifications of the System Detection range, m by radar: air targets: aircraft, helicopter, minimum UAV, minimum ground targets, minimum

by TV/IR sight air targets ground targets Surveillance Zone, degr azimuth elevation: by radar

by TV/IR sight Firing range, m guided weapon Target designation transmission time, not exceeding, sec

15 000 10 000 8 000 12 000…16 000 10 000…12 000 ±180 –15…55 –5…45 up to 10 000 2

time and under any weather conditions are the following: detection, identification and  tracking of moving or stationary air and ground targets, automatic measurement, generation and processing of the detected targets' coordinates; friend-or-foe identification;   generation and transmission of target designation data from the anti-tank battery commander to line combat vehicles;

 maintaining radio communication within the battery, as well as with higher-rank and peer unit commander's;

 real-time control of battery fire, relocation and firing pattern planning in case of changing deployment area with data overlaying on the digital map.

These capabilities allow: reduction of ground targets de tection time for line combat vehicles – by 2–3 times at daytime and by 6–10 times at night (if compared to target search using IR sight), aerial targets – more than 10 times;

 automatic determination and firing primarily at the most threatening target;

 maintaining balanced target load on the combat vehicles to avoid multiple firing at a single targets by several vehicles;

 timely readjustment of battery firing pattern in case of casualties.

Fig 4. Kornet-EM Surveillance&Control vehicle ing both reconnaissance/control and fire unit functions.

The control vehicle comprises:

 Integrated surveillance system featuring TV, IR and radar aids;

 navigation aids;  communication and data exchange system;

 automated control suite;  weapon system.

Employment of radar in the control vehicle allows target detection at ranges, significantly exceeding the fir-

ing range of line combat vehicles weapon systems. This provides efficient control of Kornet-EM battery combat operation along with wide sector surveillance by Kornet-EM control vehicle.

Provided with such surveillance capabilities, the task of the control vehicle limits to target detection, friend-or-foe identification and target distribution among the line vehicles in order to avoid multiple firing at a single target.

The battery commander's control vehicle capabilities by day/night

As a result, the Surveillance&Con– trol Vehicle is able to double the combat effectiveness of Kornet-EM battery while countering enemy tanks attack in properly arranged defence formations, or increase it by 2.5 times in case of entering the combat (from march) without prior area survey and missing information about enemy forces.

In case of countering aerial threats (UAV, helicopters) the combat efficiency of ATGW battery will increase by 2.5–5.0 times due to reduction of target detection time and increase of detection probability.

Shipunov A. G. , Zakharov L. G., Yastrebov O. Yu 7(79).2014

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Palma:

The final frontier of the defense of a ship Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau (KBTochmash) has successfully ended its work on Africa Aerospace and Defense 2014 exhibition (took place mid-September in South Africa) and conference, being part of the NPO High-precision weapons JSC delegation of the Rostec state corporation. udelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau (KBTochmash) presented their best developments. Among them – naval air defense missile and gun system at close-in defensive line Palma with anti-aircraft guided missile Sosna-R. This system provides defense of ships and vessels, military and aircraft bases from almost all means of air attack.

As the head of the delegation – Deputy General Director – Managing Director of Nudelman Precision

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PALMA naval air defense missile and gun system at close-in defensive line

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Engineering Design Bureau Vladimir Slobodchikov stated: If we are participating in the exhibition, we always look forward for a positive outcome. During the AAD‑2014, we held meetings with our traditional partners, as well as with potential new customers.

Developments of the enterprise caused interest from traditional countries – customers of defense products, especially from the Middle East and the Asia – Pacific regions.

Asia-Pacific region today is an arena of possible collision of powerful

and still emerging countries. This is evidenced by the overall growth of defense budget of key players and reformatting the regional security structure. The presence of longstanding conflicts and economic competition increased make AsiaPacific countries to strengthen quantity and quality of their defensive capabilities to protect their own national interests.

Perhaps the most dynamic region in terms of military activity is Southeast Asia (SEA). Southeast Asian arms market is small – its

weaponry capacity is estimated at 2–3 billion dollars annually. However, in contrast to the North-East Asia, it is quite diversed in terms of suppliers – here are successfully operating the United States, Russia, Great Britain, France, Sweden and China.

Russian military equipment specifications currently meet all the necessary requirements for the countries of the region. Russian weapons have already managed to gain enough recognition in many countries around the world due to their high combat capabilities, workmanship, durability, and ease of use.

At last year's exhibition in the Malaysian capital city of security and defense DSA‑2014, Russian military equipment has aroused interest of representatives of the Ministries of Defense and Army of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka. For example, the Minister of Defense of Malaysia Hishammuddin Hussein on the last day of the exhibition purposefully visited the stand of NPO High-precision weapons where specialists of Nudelman Precision

Engineering Design Bureau presented already rightfully acclaimed naval air defense missile and gun system Palma, having a high-precision opto-electronic control system. This system incorporates a complete set of necessary information channels, placed on a gyro-stabilized platform.

Means of target tracking and targeting facilities are placed directly on the gun mount on the "one axis".

The structure of Palma includes antiaircraft guided missiles Sosna-R with laser beam guidance and having effective range of air and surface target hitting of up to 10 km, as well as two six-barreled 30mm antiaircraft machine guns, with a record total rate of fire. Trials of Palma system in full-scale conditions on the ship of Project "Gepard 3.9" have confirmed very high accuracy of targeting and have allowed to defeat the shown targets by the first missile or by first string of burst. A similar role on the US naval ships performs antiaircraft artillery system Phalanx, in the basic version of which, however, anti-aircraft guided missiles are not included.

business card Vladimir Slobodchikov Born: 09.09.1958 Education: Bauman Moscow State Technical University Doctor of Technical Sciences Member of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Works in Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau since 1982. Currently takes position of Deputy General Director.

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Main performance characteristics SAM SOSNA-R Engagement zone, in range / in altitude, km Velocity maximum / average, m/s Missile caliber before/after booster drop, mm Missile weight, starting / in TL container, kg Missile length in flight / in TL container, mm Weight of missile munition, kg Tactical employment temperature limits, ° С

Thanks to the integration of missile and artillery weapons, high firepower and high precision guidance system, Palma ensures protection of ships against almost all aerial threats, including such "hard" targets as anti-ship missiles flying at a height of 3–5 meters above the crest of the wave.

Another little aspect, but not least important: the missile is stored in a special plastic container and is not afraid of salted water and its impact on the electronic circuitry and mechanisms.

According to Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Hussein, 28

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up to 10 / up to 5 875 / 565 132 / 72 30.5 / 42 2317 / 2400 7.2 from -50 to +50

he already has a broad view of all of these specifications. Moreover, he noted that Palma, with its capabilities, in his opinion, is required by not only army of Malaysia but also by other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Palma is able to reflect any air strike from potential enemy. System can also be used for other purposes,

such as the shelling of the coastal or naval targets.

In recent years, the Southeast Asian countries actively advocate for the transfer of technologies of military and dual purposes with a view of their wide use in industry, but do not always find understanding from suppliers. Possible cooperation between Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau with Asia-Pacific countries, and in particular with the countries of Southeast Asia region, is of high mutual benefit potential. Business representatives of the company are ready to discuss any issues related to the acquisition of products with foreign partners. As the director for foreign economic activity of Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau, Sergey Ignatov states, the company is ready not only to deliver a quality product, but also to provide technical support for its products, including supply of spare parts and accessories, repair activities, not only military, but also a total circle of after-sales technical support. "We are confident that customers will be satisfied with experience of using our products" – says Sergey Ignatov.

Speaking about the possibility of signing new contracts, Ignatov comments that depending on the parameters set by the client, modification of Palma is possible.

It is known that naval air defense missile and gun system at close-in defensive line Palma is available as a part of on-board ship armament, and separately, for installation on ships of the customer in accordance with its specifications, as well as for the protection of critical facilities.

In the near future Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau plans to sign new contracts for the supply naval air defense missile and gun system at close-in defensive line Palma.

Address: 8, Vvedenskogo Street, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117342 Phone: +7 495 333 55 35, Fax: + 7 495 333 55 13 E-mail: ves@kbtochmash.ru; mail@kbtochmash.ru www.kbtochmash.com

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“Malachite” JSC: hard workers, fighters and “movie stars” St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau "Malachite" named after Academician N. N. Isanin is one of the leading design bureaus in Russia, developing submarines. Bureau, founded in 1948, was reorganized in 1974 by uniting SKB-143 and CPB "Volna" (CKB-16). Since then, the tasks of the enterprise are design, construction and maintenance of test of diesel and nuclear submarines, deep-technical facilities and manned submersibles. Unique underwater technology developed by "Malachite", for both military and civilian purposes, is popular all over the world. Among the projects the company there are ships - honest workers of the national economy and ships - defenders of the homeland, and even ... a movie star.

"Piranjia" project submarines

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eing first to arm domestic submarines with missile systems by installing nuclear power plant and use of titanium alloy as the material of the body, designers of SPMBM "Malachite" radically changed the face of the submarine forces of the country. Since the 60s of the twentieth century Russian Navy submarine forces are ocean-based, nuclear-powered and multi-purposal.

Experience gained has allowed "Malachite" submarines development team to create a unique school of designing multi-purposal submarines and deep-water technical means.

Other achievements of the "Malachite" are not able to be published on pages of public media: many of the design bureau projects are subordinated to the interests of the state and the defense and security of Russia.

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For Russia's navy the company has developed, among other things, unique submarines of small size, but huge possibilities.

For example, a little number of submarines happen to become a hero … of a comedy movie. Moreover, a beloved and popular one.

"Peculiarities of National Fishing" were starring small submarine 'Piranha' designed by "Malachite".

"Piranha" submarine is more than an example of a specific design.

Perhaps just saying that it's small will not be enough. It is very small.

Perhaps it is has not yet been built a smaller one. Small size by the standards of a modern fleet size becomes an additional positive factor for specific operations, for which the "Piranha" was, in fact, created.

By displacement, it is ten times smaller than conventional diesel submarines: length – only 28 meters, displacement – 218 tons, crew –

three people. Cruising capacity – up to 10 days.

"Piranha" submarine crew consists of three officers: commander, navigator and two assistants (on electromechanical parts and electronic equipment). Apart from these, the boat can take on board up to six frogmen. Frogmen engagement can be made ​​within the depths of down to 60 meters and on-water. Being outside the boat, divers can use supplied electricity power, as well as to replenish the gas mixture in the respiratory devices. The "Piranha" is equipped with a special lock chamber. Secretive output of frogmen is made ​​in setting an underwater boat anchored by sluicing. Frogmen gather weapons and special equipment from the outer container, and proceed to carry out the assigned task. Returning to the boat is also carried out by the method of locking.

Such a small number of crew is due to the fact that the boat itself is very highly automated. As the "Malachite" authors of the "Piranha" project say, submarine can be operated by only one person as well as fighter aircraft. That is, the boat is designed so that, if necessary, it would only need one pilot.

One of the key advantages of "Piranha" is its quietness. It’s enough for the submarine to go underwater, and it becomes almost invisible: as they say, under the water it cannot be heard or seen. Submarine produces nearly no magnetic field at all, so finding it is a very difficult thing to do.

Experts believe "Piranha" to be very promising and demanded submarine for accomplishing tasks of special operations. For example,

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Special forces submarine Sectional model of "Piranjia"

Exhibition model of "Piranjia" landing and reception of combat divers, carrying out intelligence operations, secret delivering to desired location of low-volume goods.

"Piranha" is fully operational in shallow water, in waters of naval bases of the islands – in general, in those areas where it is narrow, shallow and there are a lot of objects that impede navigation. Among its armory there are torpedoes, cruise missiles and mines. And here submarine fully confirms its name – a small, but very "toothy"! In conditions, where a large boat will be immediately detected, "Piranha" and "Piranha T" can freely and secretly maneuver quietly and accurately perform their large and important tasks.

History of the creation of this unique project of a submarine is rather difficult. Even in the second half of the 1970s, the Navy of the USSR issued the Leningrad

Special Marine Machinery Bureau "Malachite" specifications for the design of the first Soviet small submarine. According to the terms of reference, the boat had to be designed for use in the maritime theater with extensive shallow offshore areas, in a depth range from 10 to 200 meters.

The submarine was supposed to be carrying out military tasks against the enemy and the able to conduct reconnaissance. To ensure these objectives a boat should be equipped with appropriate electronic equipment, mine and torpedo weapons, as well as diving equipment for specific tasks at depths down to 60 meters. And with all this demands, displacement of the boat boat should not exceed … 80 tons!

Centuries of experience in naval shipbuilding shows that more the functions can perform one or another combat unit, the harder it is to "fit" necessary snap into a com-

Brief history of "Malachite" 1948 – establishment of a special bureau for submarine design; 1952 – working on the creation of the first Soviet nuclear submarine; 1954 – working on the first submarine armed with ballistic missiles; 1958 – working on the creation of the first submarines with titanium in the construction of load-bearing structures. Launching of the first Soviet nuclear submarine with a nuclear power plant – "Leninsky Komsomol" Project 627; 1961 – working on multi-purpose nuclear submarines; 1965 – working on a research submarine for various purposes; 1970 – working on a manned submersibles means of assimilation of the ocean; 1977 – working on a small diesel-electric submarines of 3d generation; 1989 – working on a hardware development of the Arctic shelf.

2014 – lifting the naval flag on the "Severodvinsk" – multipurpose nuclear submarine of 4th generation – Project 885 "Iasen"

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"Triton" small submarine a forefather of the project

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pact volume of its structure. Simply put, from the time of Ushakov and Nelson to our days there is a working rule: more the ship can do in combat, so itself is bigger too! And this situation demanded multifunctionality and small sizes at the same time.

Even though the job was that difficult, "Malachite" has done it with success. The ship turned out to be just twice bigger as originally intended …In the course of the number 865 project, referred to as conditional future boat it has been carried out a significant amount of experimental work, modeling and field tests, experiments on individual structures, devices and processes.

Submarine production start took place at Leningrad Admiralty merger in July 1984. The length of the submarine – 28.2 meters, width – 4.7 meters, 3.9 meters average sediment, and on-water displacement – 218 tons.

Body of the submarine was made of a titanium alloy and is intended for the immersion depth of 200 meters. Full underwater speed was 6.7 knots, on-water – 6 knots.

Cruising underwater range with 4 knots speed reached 260 miles, on-water – 1,000 miles.

Control room contained operating console, instrument racks and display facilities, and controls of major systems and other devices.

Battery pit was housed under the deck. Closer to the keel from the attendant console were located an access hatch, periscope and a mine drawer complex radar. Central post was limited with a spherical bow bulkhead, which had a hatch in the

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

airlock. Porthole to observe work of divers, and gateway for transferring goods from the CR to the camera were located on the bow bulkhead.

Locking systems for divers were also located there.

From electromechanical compartment the central post is separated by flat aft bulkhead with a gas-tight door. Electromechanical compartment on amortized platform, disconnected from the pressure hull, contained diesel generator with power of 160 kW, propulsion DC motor with 60 kW power, pumps, fans, compressors and other equipment. Thanks to the twostage damping system in combination with noise absorbing coatings on the hull constructions, submarine has a minimum sound field.

Electromechanical compartment in the campaign is only visited to check the status of. Screw, placed in the rotary ring nozzle, also served as the vertical rudder.

Launching of the first "Piranha" on water took place in August 1986.

In 1988–1990's Leningrad Admiralty Association (Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Admiralty Shipyards") transferred two midget submarines "MC‑520" and "MS‑521" Project 865 "Piranha" to the Navy. After completion of construction and testing (170 outlets in the sea done), both of the submarines became part of the Baltic Fleet. Two replaceable and technical crews were formed for each boat.

Originally submarines were located in Liepaja in the brigade of submarines and, given their purpose, – basically, sabotage and intel-

ligence – were "living" secretly in a special hangar. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, bases in Latvia became unavailable, and submarines were transferred to Kronstadt.

Usually, the main problem of small displacement submarine is low on-water navigability. Law of a submariner: caught in a storm – dive, or else problems are on the way! "Piranha" is practically free from this drawback: they germinate well on the wave, without extreme accelerations of hull "hold" pitching, and in rough weather its range of motion remains smooth, which is crucial for the comfort of the crew.

Immersion depth of "Piranha" is down to 200 m, while the practical sailing without refueling time – 10 days. However, at the time of service, when the project became an operational "pennant" of fleet, came the "perestroyka" period with all its political and economic difficulties.

As a result, in the first years of life, when put to study in detail of what the submarine is really capable of and time of identifying prospects for the development and modernization of the series, "Piranha" was not given due attention. The project became almost abandoned …

Recently, however, with efforts of "Malachite", unique small-sized submarine "Piranha" has returned to an active service. We can say the project is undergoing a renaissance.

Creation of "Piranha T" is a clear proof of that.

"Piranha-T" is not very different by sizes, but with significantly improved performance characteristics. This submarine is a little bigger – up to 500 m, but the cruising range rose for up to 2 thousand miles. Electric motor power was increased to 250 kW power, and as a result, doubling its full speed up to 12 knots. Autonomy time rose to 20 days. The boat is designed for operations in coastal waters and in areas with shallow depths, such as the Caspian Sea. The main objectives of "Piranha-T" are: coastal protection, exploration of underwater environment, fighting against terrorist threats, setting minefields and landing groups for special purposes.

"Piranha-T" is armed with four torpe-

weaponry do tubes. As a part of the ammunition there can be installed two missiles or torpedoes of 533 mm caliber, eight torpedoes of 400 mm caliber and four mines. These weapons can effectively operate in areas where great importance is attached for stealth submarines not only in acoustic features, but also by electromagnetic fields. The crew – three to five people.

"Piranha-T 'can be positioned as a relatively cheap submarine. Its potential buyers may be considered countries with hydrocarbon deposits on the continental shelf, in need of protection and defense.

Today "Malachite" offers its potential customers a whole family of submarines with standardized equipment and electronic weapons complexes. "Piranha" is the smallest among them, but larger submarines are available as well – with a displacement of about 1 thousand tons. "Malachite" JSC provides a complete set of submarines with specifications options by customer demands.

But there are projects of civil purposes as well. For example, underwater gas transport with capacity of 150,000 m3.

The vessel is designed for yearround export of liquefied natural gas from offshore production platforms. In case, the platform is located somewhere in the Arctic and the receiving terminal is, for example, in European port or on the coast of East Asia. "Malachite" gas transport get to destination point in any weather conditions – without icebreaker, because it will pass through the ice zone under the water, using the shortest path possible.

Civil submarine can carry methane in liquid form – at temperatures down to minus 163 °C and with normal atmospheric pressure.

Transportation of ethylene is available as well – at minus 104 °C. Operating subsea LNG transport would not require any changes to the existing system of transportation by sea. Devices to receive the goods from on-water and underwater LNG transport types are the same. The dynamics of the motion in the port becomes the same as that of an or-

"Piranjia" project submarine dinary tanker as soon as the submarine comes up. "Malachite" transport will have 6 cargo receiving devices, which means that time of its loading and unloading will be calculated by the same 10 hours, same, that time of the on-water ship of the same tonnage.

But the power plant at the new LNG transport is nuclear. Actually to carry a nuclear engine – it's a big responsibility to the world around. To avoid accidents with serious consequences, unpredictable power compartment is securely protected by LNG transport own construction designs. When grounded, or in case of collision with a nearby boat dock or bulk, ecology of the region would not suffer. Safety of the crew is ensured as well: accommodation will be separated from the reactor compartment with cofferdam and between the cofferdam and the reactor there is also a layer of biological protection. The design of biological protection meets all local and international technical standards.

KB "Malachite" developed unique equipment for the extraction of natural resources from the seabed.

For example, since 2006, a floating base complex (FBK) "Taz" Project 20950 has been in operation providing drilling – part of a floating drilling complex (FDC) "Ob‑1". This is a set of drilling exploratory gas wells down to 2500 meters in semi-ice period means, at the limit of shallow water with depths down to 10 m.

System can, for example, work in the Kara Sea or the Ob Taz Bay In addition to FBK, the FDC includes one not self-propelled ob-

ject: submersible floating drilling rig (SFDG) "Obskaya". It is a not selfpropelled vessel with ice strengthening of the body, with add-ons, storage facilities, equipment and systems to ensure the functioning of the rig itself and it’s crew accommodation.

"Obskaya"is equipped with: Residential unit for 50 people;

 Ship Crane, MASK DC

 40/36 t‑26/30m;  Hardware complex of processing of drilling waste;

 Warehouse for materials for drilling one well to a depth of 2500m;

 Dynamic positioning system for anchor lines;

 PBC rescue equipment, including place for handling crew with crane;

 All types of communications systems, including satellite, to perform traffic control functions;

 Bench and turning shop and welding station FBK and FDC both have independent power systems, which when executing drilling operations may be combined by a communication bridge. Its design has no analogue in the world, for the first time one mobile device is used for marine transmitting simultaneously in different directions of several liquid and gas materials, power and control signals. This invention received a patent № 2274580. Since 2007, communication bridge operates on a running drill in the Arctic and confirms the claimed superior performance.

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Gerald R. Ford – king of supercarriers

On november 9, 2013 in Newport News (Virginia) at the "Newport News Shipbuilding» (Newport-News Shipbuilding) shipyard, there was a solemn ceremony of launching the first American nuclear aircraft carrier of the new generation CVN-21 ("the carrier of the XXI century") "Gerald Ford» (CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford).

The traditional bottle of champagne on board the ship broke Susan Ford Base (Susan Ford Bales), daughter of the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, whose name was given the aircraft carrier. eginning of the construction of "Gerald Ford" aircraft carrier was officially announced on 16 January 2007, although cutting of steel for this ship was started on 11 August 2005. Laying ceremony of the aircraft carrier (or, as the Americans say, "christened") was held on 13 November 2009. It was planned that CVN‑78 will replace US Navy world's first nuclear "Enterprise» (CVN‑65 Enterprise) aircraft carrier, bred in the reserve in December 2012. (This ship was in active service for 51 years).

It is planned that the CVN‑78 "Gerald Ford" will be presented on the acceptance tests in 2016, and in 2017 it will be adopted by American fleet. Besides CVN‑78 it is planned to build two more

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ships of the same type – CVN‑79 "John Kennedy" and CVN‑80 "Enterprise."

Their foundation is scheduled for 2014 and 2018, launching respectively for 2018 and 2022. And commissioning – for 2020 and 2025. New aircraft carriers should be replaced by the ships of the "Nimitz» (Nimitz-class) earlier construction type. In the long term, it is scheduled to lay eight more aircraft carriers such as "Gerald Ford."

Feature of CVN‑78 is, in particular, is the installation of four General Atomics EMALS electromagnetic catapults, made ​​on the of linear motors basis (all aircraft carriers of the "Nimitz" were equipped with traditional steam catapults). As a result, for one day "Gerald Ford" aircraft carrier should provide 25% greater number of entry of the aircraft

than the "Nimitz" aircraft carrier type.

Electromagnetic catapult is designed to provide a better "control" of the process of aircraft take-off, smaller burden on both the aircraft and their crews, the ability to take-off at a wide range of speeds of the ship and its rate (relative to the direction of the wind), and special (low power) modes of launching UAV. As a result of the transition to new catapult should be achieved reduced number of personnel for aircraft takeoff (up to 25%). It is estimated that during the 50 years of operation of "Gerald R. Ford", due only to the transition from steam to catapult catapults type EMALS, it is expected to achieve total savings of four billion dollars.

In January 2014, the annual Director, Operational Test, and Evaluation

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(DOT&E) report said that critical ship systems including the EMALS, Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG)), a new dual-band (DBU – Dual Band Radar radar AN/SPY‑3, as well as new armament aircraft lifts to ensure its supply to the flight deck.

AAG systems are developed and supplied by "General Atomics" company. Synthetic rope tension in them is regulated by an electric motor that will provide a smoother running at aircraft landing, as well as the absence of extreme loads on the cable, brake hook and aircraft glider.

Ship is implemented with an improved system of storage and feeding of ammunition and other supplies with double height storage. Loads rise from the cellars to the main points of processing and assembly located below the flight deck, where are applied directly to the deck by special high-speed lifts.

USS CVN‑78 "Gerald Ford" has a total displacement of 101,600 tons (according to other sources – 122,000 tonnes), which is practically equal to the corresponding parameter of the "Nimitz" aircraft carrier. Total length of the ship – 337 m, the width on the flight deck – 78 m, the width of the hull – 41 m,

depth – 12 m. Configuration of the carrier provides it a reduction in its radar signature. Superstructure island is shifted to the aft part of the ship.

The crew of "Gerald Ford" – 2500– 2700 people. In addition, the carrier takes on board 2480 of the aviation group crew, and about 70 staff.

Compared with the previous generation of aircraft carriers CVN‑78 has changed internal layout and configuration of the flight deck. Rapid reconfiguration of the internal volume when installing new equipment is ensured. To reduce the weight of the number of sections of the hangar it has been reduced from three to two, and the number of lifts – from four to three. The flight deck is equipped with an 18 refueling and arms supplying points for based aircraft units.

"Gerald Ford" has two new watercooled nuclear reactors, such as A1B, capable of working without having to replace the core for over 50 years. It should be noted that the A1B is the first nuclear reactor, which does not require refueling for all the service of an aircraft carrier. Capacity of the new reactor compared to reactors A4W, installed on the aircraft carriers of the previous generation, is increased by 25%, and the complexity of maintenance reduced by 50%. The energy system of the ship is capable of producing up to 250% more power than previous generation power plants of aircraft carriers. The aircraft carrier is equipped with four main leading four propellers units. Full speed of "Gerald R. Ford" – 30 knots.

Aviation group, headquartered aboard CVN‑78, should include more than 75 aircrafts (maximum capacity – more than 90 aircraft). Among them – the carrier-based Lockheed Martin F‑35C «Lightning» II and Boeing F/F‑18E/F «Horn» II fighters, electronic

warfare Boeing EA‑18G «Growler» and AWACS E‑2D «Advanced Hawkeye» aircraft, multipurpose Sikorsky MH‑60R/S helicopters. Tiltrotor V‑22 "Osprey" can be based on the ship too. In the future, the carrier must obtain reconnaissancestrike shipborne UAV developed in the framework of the UCAS-D program.

While alleging that the carrier "Gerald Ford" would be capable of providing 160 aircraft flights every day for more than 30 days with a short-term increase in the frequency of flights up to 270 per day, some experts questioned this, arguing that the CVN- 78 real "performance» will be slightly different from the respective "Nimitz" values (120/240 flights per day).

Defensive weapons of "Gerald R. Ford" includes small/medium-range Raytheon RIM‑162 ESSM SAM with two vertical fixed PU 32 missiles each.

Close-contact systems include anti-aircraft Raytheon/Ramsus RIM‑116 RAM missiles and two 20‑mm six-barreled anti-aircraft "Volcano"/"Phalanx" gun machines. It has been reported that in the future aircraft carrier can be equipped with laser weapons of self-defense.

The ship is equipped with Raytheon AN/SPY‑3 radar, as well as "surround review» VSR S‑band by "Lockheed" radar.

Six fixed blade type antenna phased arrays are placed in the island superstructure.

The cost of an "Gerald Ford" aircraft carrier (excluding the cost of the aviation group) is estimated at 12 billion 829.3 million (as of 2014). Of these 3.3 billions account for research and development works. And the cost of the first three aircraft carriers of the "Gerald Ford" type should be 38 billion 41.9 million dollars (an average of 12.68 billion per ship).

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Small Submarines:

weapons of the weak? ometimes small and extremely small (midget) submarines are referred to as “a weapon of the weak”. Although this “title” was invented and glued to the combat underwater means long ago, it has never been proved right.

In fact, the most successful operations of these means were conducted by such maritime powers as Great Britain, Italy and Russia, and less successfully, Germany and Japan. None of the five could not be attributed to the class of the weak! Although the modern history did not see much progress in the domain of compact submarines, there are some signs that the market’s interest to them has been growing recently.

The history shows that combat submarines can be employed ef-

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fectively only when they are a part of the bigger, well structured and trained force with many multipliers and blessed with good intelligence.

At the same time, most recent high technologies and the large experience amassed by the world-leading shipbuilding companies can lead to development of smaller, yet capable and affordable submarines with lowered maintenance and operating costs.

Both large and small nations can benefit from having them in their navies.

Specialists separate compact submarines into small submarines (SS) and extremely small (midget) submarines. These are totally different.

In fact, they are in the classes of their own. They are different not only in terms of design solutions. In fact, they solve different combat tasks.

And these tasks have been specific for each of those submarines.

Midget submarines have some rather narrow zone of application.

They are for sabotage; stealth transportation vehicles for combat swimmers equipped with respective weapons. Besides, such submarines can be used for fighting enemy’s sabotage groups. They are meant to operate exclusively in restricted sea environment such as fiords, bays and naval bases, including those located in the mouth of a river.

Small submarines (SS) are autonomous ships featuring relatively high endurance and capable of a wide variety of applications in war and peace times. They normally come with integrated weapon systems and can operate submerged for rather long peri-

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ods of time. Generally speaking, small submarines can be useful in guarding the coastline of any nation, regardless of its geographical size and potential of national armed forces. These underwater combatants feature low signatures and high invulnerability, and thus can prove effective means of protection for naval bases in service with many nations. This statement is true in relation to a nation that is lucky to have a potent navy and a large merchant fleet. The statement is also true for a nation not so lucky, possessing only a small navy. In the latter case small submarines can indeed be rather effective “weapons of the weak”.

The submarine is a means of effective deterrence. Any nation that has submarines for coastal water defense can enjoy benefits from this kind of possession. The very existence of such ships makes the nation’s adversaries treat it with a greater respect. Small submarines have a number of advantages over conventional submarines.

Their low displacement makes them stealthy. Compactness enables submerged operations in swallow, littoral waters. Small submarines have tiny crew compliments. All this contributes to low operating costs. And yet small submarines can carry a wide variety of weapons systems and have rather long endurance at sea. Possible tasks include anti-shipping operations, mining, intelligence gathering and armed reconnaissance. Small submarines can be employed on transportation of special forces. In that application they should be more effective than conventional diesel-electric submarines as well as nuclear-powered ones, thanks to lower signatures.

An interested nation can create a worthwhile grouping of small sub-

marines in a relatively short time and at a reasonable expense. Small submarines seem appropriate for many big and small nations in the Asiapacific, Arabian world, the Black Africa, Mediterranean, the area of Baltic and Black seas, South America and so on.

The rather large geography of SS operations presumes that they may potentially have numerous potential customers. This gives a base to assert that SS can generate a high solvent demand in the global market.

In theory, any firm with certain experience in development and production of compact submerged vehicles can try this market. But it might find it quite a tricky business. On one hand, there is an ever-present need for weight reduction and making the onboard systems more compact so as to keep the ship’s physical fields – and stealthiness – low. On the other hand, the submarine must comply with all requirements to operations in the open sea. She should carry potent information management and combat systems so as to detect and tract various sea targets at sufficient ranges. She should also have a sufficient weapons load, large enough to defeat coastal and sea-going targets.

All this requires an innovative, nonstandard approach and respective design solutions.

Weaponry Small submarines designed to operate in the littoral waters should have a universal set of weapons. When on a coastal defense mission, they can meet intruders of all sorts. Hence, the commander of a small submarine should be given some choice when selecting a suitable weapon.

Traditional weapons in the form of

torpedoes and mines – these have been with the diesel-electric submarine since her birth – keep themselves popular even today. Rocket torpedoes – such as the Shkval, its clones and evolutionary products – can prove useful in certain environment.

The recent addition is the missilery.

Russia has developed a number of underwater-launched missile types.

Some of them are cleared for export.

Brahmos Aerospace, a joint IndoRussian joint venture, has developed and fire-tested a special version of the baseline PJ‑10 supersonic missile with underwater launch capability. This particular weapon is offered as the primary one for the exportable Amur 950 and Amur 1650 submarine designs from Rubin.

The in-service Club-S enables the submarine in the submerged position to fire several cruise missiles types, including anti-ship (3M‑54E) and land-strike (3M‑14E). With that system having become available, the overall combat efficiency of Russianmade conventional submarines has substantially increased.

This fact prompted India to made decision for modernization of earlier-accepted Project 877EKM submarines centering on adding the Club-S to their weapons arsenal. The respective rearmament program is being carried out at the Zvezdochka ship repair center during major overhaul. The next-generation design has even greater strike capability. Fully automated torpedo&missile complex loaded with 18 weapons, gives the Amur 1650 a respectful land-strike capability never previously seen on diesel-electric submarines of the given size. In that area the Amur 1650 has an edge over the compe7(79).2014

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Project 865 Piranha

tition through her ability to commit devastating salvo strikes on land and seagoing targets. At the same time, the same Club-S and Brahmos can be fitted to small submarines and thus provide the navy planners with more affordable yet also very capable assets in terms of kinetic action against the adversary.

Arming conventional submarines with powerful strike missiles makes them an effective means of deterrence, even for a small nation facing a conflict with more powerful adversary. Both the Club-S and BrahMos systems for submarine applications have land-strike missiles able to destroy such valuable targets as command centers, key objects of the air defense system such as radars and SAM sites, power generation stations, communication towers, fuel reservoirs. Most of those are within firing range of the small submarine’s missilery: according to some analysis, up to 80% of the world’s economic potential is located on the sea shore or close to it.

Features The accumulator battery remains the best solution for midget submarines in the view of their limited capabilities to operate autonomously. The need to operate stealthy is also a factor. The best solution for a multirole small submarine seems to be the classic diesel-electric propulsion system coupled with the accumulator battery. Air-independent propulsion is also a possibility. Following a weighted approach is important in this field.

Longer non-stop operations invariably lead to larger displacement of the submarine, entailing higher ac-

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quisition costs and operating costs (taking account of ground infrastructure). Even though Russia and some nations in the West have developed combat reactors, including those for spacecraft applications (just to mention the Legenda satellite system deployed by for the Soviet Union), the nuclear power plant does not seem a justified solution for a small submarine. First of all, it would be more difficult to keep the vessel reasonably small, as in the case with the classic diesel-electric propulsion. Sticker prices would go up, together with operating costs. Many nations would find it too difficult to maintain a nuclear-powered submarines, and also not suitable from the political point of view. There are also issues related to nuclear pollution and radiation.

Both Rubin and Malachite have amassed rich experience of making titanium-hulled submarines. Today, titanium alloys remain ideal material for firm outer hulls of small submarines. It ensures lower structural weight and lower displacement.

Titanium hulls withstand corrosion and hence with the hull is “forever young”. Compared to steel-hulled, submarines made of titanium are cheaper to maintain.

Among disadvantages there are relatively high price for the metal and rather complicated manufacturing technologies for metal cutting and welding. Russia has mastered and perfected titanium technologies, which makes it possible to keep manufacturing costs down.

Admittedly, steel remains the most widely used construction material for all sorts of submarines, including compact ones. It is likely to keep its positions in future.

Polymeric materials can be used on midget submarines. The same is about small submarines – in this regard we can speak about certain structures, but not the firm hull.

Small submarines are said to be most effective in restricted water zones. But what does “restricted” mean for them? The navy can set mission duration at 10, 20 and 30 days, with respective distances, taking account of rather small crew number (three to nine people) for a modern highly automatic SS design with dis-

placement less than 600 tons. The key question is: what are the combat tasks set before the submarine commander? Is he instructed to go far from the base and operate at a maximum distance? Or is he ordered to stay long in the vicinity of the home base? It seems that in most instances we will find the second option more often, because that sort of mission ensures the most effective employment for small submarines.

Should the navy look for longer distances and endurance of intended missions, this would necessitate measures to provide appropriate level of comfort for the crew members.

It would also entail an increase in fuel capacity and munitions load, leading to higher displacement, higher manufacturing and operating costs.

The navies wanting to acquire modern compact submarines are faced with the necessity to work out a clear, well-based vision of strategy and tactics of naval operations. This will pay off well in development and manufacturing of suitable designs, as well as during their operational service. The manufacturers may need to know how much the customer is prepared to spend on submarine operations, including training, maintenance and operations. Otherwise it would be difficult to create a submarine best tailored to customer’s specific requirements.

Both Russian design houses specializing in the submersible naval combatants are convinced that small submarines can find a place in the arsenals of many nations around the globe as a reasonably powerful, costeffective solution to their defense needs in the modern economic and military environment.

Rubin There are two design houses in Russia that work on submersible combatants. Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering "Rubin" specializes in nuclear powered submarines able to launch intercontinental strategic missiles and also specializes in the diesel electric submarines (with displacement above a thousand tons). The Malachite design house (Joint Stock Company SaintPetersburg Marine Design Bureau

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"Malachite") specializes in fast attack submarines, and also specializes in deep water stations. Another specialization of ours is to design the smaller diesel electric submarines with displacement of up to 700 tons. Both Rubin and Malachite have amassed the vast experience in the field of small and midget submarines. This gives them some advantage over less experienced manufacturers.

Rubin has a long history of the mutually beneficial relationship with India. It started with the acquisition of Project 641I submarines in the sixties; one of them, INS Vagli served for 36 years before being decommissioned in 2011. Yet the best testimony of our fruitful cooperation is the fact that the core of the Indian navy’s submersible component is made up by Russian-built Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarines (NATO: Kilo-class) delivered in 1986–2000.

Today, Russia is offering India its newest conventional submarine design, the Amur 1650 (exportable version of the Project 677 Lada), which is a generation ahead of the Project 877EKM. The novelty coefficient for her is 0.7. About two hundred R&D projects have been completed in frame of the respective effort. About 130 new examples of weapons and systems have found place on board of this submarine.

It is interesting to notice, that the

Amur 1650 is notably smaller than the previous generation Project 877 (figures as given for the recently overhauled “Kaluga”), with standard displacement of 1765 tons against 2300 (2350 for Project 636.3 – most recent mutation of the Kilo class) and full displacement of 2700 tons against 3040 (3950). Higher automation enabled reduction in the number of crews from 52 to 35, whereas endurance (45 days), speed (20 knots) and weapons load (18 missiles and torpedoes) almost remained unchanged.

This provides illustration for the general trend for reduction in displacement of newer submarines. In addition to the Amur 1650, there are two more interesting designs available.

One is the smaller Amur 950 diesel electric submarine with full displacement of 950 tons. The other is a joint Russian-Italian design S‑1000.

Italy and Russia have made decision to resume their joint project on the S1000 non-nuclear submarine after four years of suspension.

After much consideration, Russia has agreed to give up an earlier position that the S1000 be armed with relatively expensive Russian weapons and onboard systems. Taking more foreign components aboard shall reduce the sticker price and thus make the new design more affordable. Besides, Russia’s arms vendor Rosoboronexport signals its read-

iness to join the team and organize a sales campaign for the S1000. The new submarine is expected to attract customers in Africa, the Arab world and Asia-Pacific.

Although the S1000 is shrouded by secrecy regime, an insider told Russian journalists that the recent session of the Russo-Italian commission on cooperation in the militaryindustrial sphere centered on the matter of re-launching the project, aiming primarily at third countries as potential customers. In order to reduce the sticker price, Moscow has agreed to reduce the Russian share in the submarine’s systems from 50% previously down to 20%.

The first victim falling to this decision is the expensive Russian weaponry. The tube-launched missiles of the Russian Club complex is no longer intended to equip the S1000.

This system employs three types of missiles: the 91R antisubmarine, the 3M‑54 anti-ship and the 3M14 landstrike, with the later developed to defeat coastal targets of high value.

Removing the Club will invariably entail a serious revision of the submarine’s combat system and associated onboard systems. Although the removal of the Club significantly reduces the submarine’s lethality, this is seen as a necessary measure to bring the costs down. From now on the S1000’s main weapon is the

Admiral Victor Chirkov, commander of the Russian navy; Dmitry Rogorin, vice-premier (deputy prime minister), responsible for military-industrial complex; Igor Vilnit, general director of the Central Design Bureau of Maritime Equipment "Rubin".

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Malachite general director Vladimir Dorofeev briefs dignities on the Piranha project

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Black Shark torpedo developed jointly by Italy and France.

Apparently, the removal of Club has been done on the insistence of the foreign partner. It is quite clear that this move goes in the opposite direction to that of the Russian practice. In his speech on 30 July 2012, Russian president Vladimir Putin stressed the need to equip newlyconstructed ships with modern long range rocketry. “It is exactly weaponry that always determined power and worthiness of combat ships in wartime”, he stated.

Historically, the joint project was initiated at the initiative of Fincantieri, the largest shipbuilding firm in Italy, and Russia’s Rubin design house. The partners signed an agreement on the S1000 development in 2004. The work was done

by Rubin, which developed the submarine to meet the requirements of the Italian navy. Draft design was ready in 2008, but at this point the program ran into financial troubles.

It is understood that more recently the partners agreed on a new plan.

That one calls for making the submarine less expensive. Among other things, this commands construction of the hulls in Italy (including the lead vessel, which had been meant to be constructed in St. Petersburg).

It is understood that neither Italian nor Russian navies are interested in the S1000, so its marketing is now entirely focused on third countries. The

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

S1000 requires another two years before a lead vessel is completed.

The S1000 has a relatively small displacement of 1,100 tons when submerged, and maximum speed in excess of 14 knots. It is intended primarily for operations in the tropical, shallow waters, among islands. The submarine has a relatively small hull with length of 56.2 meters and diameter of 5.5 meters, housing sixteen crews. If need, six men from special forces can be taken on board. The S1000’s main features are low cost, ease of maintenance and sufficient combat efficiency for the given displacement.

Involvement of Rosoboronexport may boost sales, as this organization has a good reputation and connections in a number of countries that could potentially be looking for inexpensive submarines for coastal operations. It is believed that lack of submarine marketing experience with Fincantieri had led to no sales so far.

It isunderstoodthatRosoboronexport has already started offering the S1000 to customers. According to Russian newspapers, the company has approached South African Republic. Egypt is named as another probable buyer. Potentially, the S1000 may be of interest to United Arab Emirates and Iraq, where both the Italians and the Russian have good connections. Further down in the line are some small countries in Africa and Asia-Pacific which lack experience of submarine operations but want to add

an underwater capability to their navies.

For those nations that seek more capable submarines and ready to pay the higher price, Russia is offering the Amur 950. This submarine – a completely Russian product with no foreign involvement – is similar to the S1000, but has the added bonus of the Club. The Amur 950 has a displacement of 1,065 tons (submerged), overall length of 56.8 meters and hull diameter of 5.65 meters. It capable of a bit higher depth – 300 meters against 200–250 – and can move faster, making 20 knots under water. The crew is larger, 19 persons. The Amur 950 is armed with four 533‑mm torpedo tubes and ten vertically-positioned missile launch containers. A total of 16 weapons can be carried inside the hull. In marketing terms, the Amur 950 is positioned above the S1000. According to Rubin general director Igor Vilnit, the Amur 950 represents a low-cost alternative to larger conventional submarines which may prove more suitable for small nations, especially in the AsiaPacific.

Malachite Whereas Rubin is well known in India for its diesel electric submarines, Malachite (Joint-stock company SaintPetersburg Marine Design bureau "Malachite") became famous thanks to Charka projects. Under governmentto-government agreement, a Russian navy nuclear powered, cruise-missile armed submarine K‑43 of the Project 670 was leased to the Indian navy and operated out of Visag naval station for three years, 1988–1991. In Indian service, the submarine with tactical number S‑71 covered 72 thousand nautical miles and performed five fire exercises with anti-ship missiles and 42 with torpedoes. The Russian commander captain first rank Alexander Terenov wrote a very interesting book about it entitled Under Three Flags. Today, he works at Malachite in the capacity of advisor to the general manager.

In 2012 the Indian navy accepted its second nuclear powered submersible ship in its history. It also carries the name of Chakra, and for the reason of clarity is sometimes referred to as the Chakra II. The asset is on ten year lease for which the Indian

navy side is paying US dollar 900 million.

In the Russian navy the ship is known as the Nerpa, a series hull of the Project 971 but modified to meet the customer specific requirements.

With a length in excess of 110 meters, she can accelerate to 30 knots under water (compared to 26 knots for Chakra I) thanks to 190 MWt twin reactor. Nearly twice larger her predecessor, the Charka II is armed with the Club-S missile system.

The company’s general director Vladimir Dorofeev comments: “The Malachite has mastered the whole cycle of the ship-borne nuclear reactor issues, the use of nuclear propulsion on ships. Starting with issuing specification to the designers and manufacturers of the nuclear reactors, and ending with utilization of the submarine though the whole of her lifecycle including withdrawal from active service. The competence we have in design, development and operational lifecycle of a nuclear-powered submarine is a complete one. To illustrate the point, I can say that our design house developed the first Russian nuclear powered submarine [back] in 1955.”

In addition to nuclear powered, Malachite also develops diesel electric submarines of low displacement – more compact than such vessels from Rubin. During Cold War, Malachite engineers come with the design of very specific submarines tailored for deployment of special forces. Two such vessels were built in Saint Petersburg in 1984–1990 timeframe. The Project 865 Piranha-class ships had standard displacement of 218 tons and full displacement of 319 tons. They were specially designed to support highly secret missions conducted by special forces and operated in the Baltic Sea, famous for its shallowness. The hulls were made of titanium so as to reduce the electromagnetic fields and thus ensure stealthy operations. Termination of the Cold War and worsening economic situation forced the Russian navy to withdraw both submarines from service prematurely. They were scrapped in 1999. Below is that mister Dorofeev told journalists about those ships.

“The Malachite design house developed the Piranha class. In the late

1980s, two ships were made in Russia, two diesel electric submarines with full displacement of just over 300 tons.

Ideologically, this design was that of a compact submarine with the compliment of only three crew members.

But still, with such a small displacement and crew numbers, these submarines could be used successfully for deployment of frogmen, special forces. These submarines were intended for use in the waters of inner, shallow seas, to deploy frogmen or special forces [into the territory of likely enemies], – and not only them, but also various containers and pods with special weapons or equipment, such as that for propelling the frogmen or for mining. After departing from the submerged submarine, that group of special forces would be deployed to the enemy shore, do their mission and get back on board the [submerged] submarine using the floodable airlock (Lock-out/Lock-in chamber). This way, the special forces would get

back safely. Besides, this type of submarine could also use torpedoes in self defense, – she carried two torpedoes. Deployment of frogmen and containers was being done when the submarine was [in] submerged [position], but still – without motion. It is like a sail-equipped ship staying still on the anchor, but under water [surface]. Release of frogmen and containerized weapons/equipment was done in that position manually, using special means of assistance to these operations – so that not much noise was generated. There were only two Piranha class submarines completed.

One of their interesting features was that their hulls were made of titanium.

Unfortunately, near to the turn of the century the Russian navy made decision to withdraw those submarines from active service. As of today, the Russian navy does not operate such submarines.”

Malachite used the Project 865 as the base for development of some-

INS Chakra II

Cutaway model of Malachite perspective small submarine

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China displays

Vladimir Nikitin, Zvezdochka what larger submarines with displacegeneral director ment of up to 750 tons for a wide variety of applications. They were cleared for export, but is yet to find a launch customer. India expressed an interest. Negotiations on the matter took place earlier this century, with the last round of talks taking place two years ago. Under one possible scenario, ships would be constructed jointly

by Indian and Russian dockyards.

It is interesting to note that a scaled model of Project 865 submarine was on display at IMDS’2013. It attracted attention of Russian vice premier Dmitry Rogozin and the Russian navy commander Admiral Victor Chirkov. They were given a brief on the project and its possible development in future by Malachite general director Vladimir Dorofeev.

Indian context India has the coastline of 7,516 km, the total area of the national exclusive economic zone occupies 2,305,143 square km (including 663,629 sq. km of the Andaman group of islands). In the view of the Indian navy operating beyond national waters, the operational zone geography is even greater. This is a big area to secure and defend. Modern compact submarines can provide a worthy compliment to the Indian navy’s underwater fleet represented by a dozen of “standard” diesel-electric submarines and a single nuclear powered Chakra II. Vladimir Karnozov 42

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Perhaps the biggest surprise China made last year in the domain of exportable defense products was the demonstration of the S20 exportable U‑boat. Show participants from the world’s largest country certainly added a new dimension to AeroIndia’2013, IDEX’2013 and LIMA’2013 by participating in those exhibitions with stands.

Wares on display included a scaled model of the S20 diesel-electric submarine, the first-ever submersible vessel from China specially developed for export. With this, PRC has (figuratively speaking) filed application to join the very narrow club of nations exporting conventional submarines, one comprising Germany, France and Russia. China goes after two other recent applicants, RoK and Spain. These have no export deliveries as of yet, but big plans relating to Type 209/1200 (built in partnership with Germany's Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems) and S‑80 designs respectively.

LIMA’2013 held 26–30 March was the first air and maritime show on the holiday island of Langkawi, Malaysia, to have a Chinese exhibitor with a stand.

During conferences and press briefings at LIMA’2013, Malaysian defense minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi touched on China several times. Answering a question whether Malaysian government and the military are concerned with growing Chinese naval might, and expanding presence, he answered: “They have been here ever since! We have lived with them by our side for centuries. We do not have issues with China”.

This explains the fact that China Shipbuilding & Offshore Co. Ltd. (CSOC, www.csoc.cn) actually received an invitation from the Malaysian side to take part in LIMA’2013. In other words, the Chinese industry is now a welcomed partner for Malaysia, so that collaboration programs between the two countries shall be considered a future possibility. CSOC is a subsidiary (export arm) of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), one of the two largest shipbuilding conglomerates in PRC with nearly a hundred enterprises with 300,000 workforce.

A CSOC spokesman told media members that “LIMA is very impressive and interesting” and that his company “enjoys the opportunity to exchange information”. CSOC will certainly take part in the next show on Langkawi in 2015, he added. A number of countries in the region already operate ships built by CSOC. The spokesman said that the company is offering to its traditional overseas customers and potential clients landing platform docks (LPDs), frigates, fast craft and submarines, adding that exportable versions are similar to the baseline designs already in service with the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN). The builder declared its readiness to modify them according to a [foreign] customer’s requirements.

Information available on the S20 remains scarce: the Chinese manning their stands briefed only invited guests. Graphics available on the stand indicated that the S20 can attack surface targets with “anti-ship missile”, lay “mines”, launch “torpedoes” (with no indication of intended targets) and release “frogman”.

Nothing indicated the ability to launch the long-range CH-SS-NX‑13 ASCM or any other sort of land-strike missiles (which might be of interest to some potential customers, knowing that PLAN’s diesel-electric boats are land-strike capable). The scaled model itself was relatively schematic, with no cutaways. It indicated presence of six torpedo tubes in the nose section and seven-blade propeller in the tail with highly curved blades.

In appearance, the S20 bears resemblance to the Yuan class or Type 041. The latter is believed to have an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, most likely employing Stirling type of engines (which, again, might be of interest to potential customers).

By US estimates, the Yuan class possesses a lower relative detectability than the previous Type 039. By noise characteristics, the Yuan is placed in between the Project 636 and the Type 039, according to Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI).

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exportable submarine Making an exportable version of and Indonesia. Naturally, this fact mo- Germany, Russia and France hope for the series produced Yuan does make tivates other countries in the region a big portion of orders. But they are sense, as this promises potential cus- to consider submersible assets for the to meet growing competition from tomer reduced costs, parts common- navies of their own. "These facts give within the region, notably from the ality and interoperability with PLAN a clear indication of ongoing arms Korean and Chinese manufacturers. assets. Currently, China is known to race in the region. We see a num- Viewed from this perspective, the have in series production only one ber of new nations coming to pos- presence of those at IDEX and LIMA diesel-electric boat, with 11 Type sess underwater capabilities and ma- with their wares on display makes 041 vessels completed in 2009– ny more considering such a move", – no surprise.

The delicateness of the situation is says Andrei Baranov who leads the 2012 timeframe.

The potential of the local industry exportable diesel electric submarine that, while offering the S20 for exhas allowed PLAN to keep a steady- operations at Russia’s Rubin subma- port, China continues to import state force of conventional subma- rine designer. There are quite a few Russian submarines. In addition to rines at roughly 50 units through- of disputed islands in the Asia-Pacific 12 Kilo class boats, the last batch of out this century. Construction rate waters. Submarines are seen as the which was accepted in 2006, PRC has has been about 2.2 per year in 1995– right argument in defending a small- recently ordered from Russia four 2012 timeframe, with PLAN intake er nation’s claims to these islands in submarines of the Amur 1650 derising to 2.8 with Russian-built Kilo the case when these are disputed by sign similar to the S20. This fact class included. Ever-growing poten- a larger nation with far bigger naval might give a third country seeking tial of the local industry leaves little forces. "Submarines are the sort of to procure submarines a base to bedoubt about PRC’s ability to deliv- weapons that can be successfully em- lieve that the Russian design is someer obligations before foreign custom- ployed in the region", Baranov insists. what more advanced. This, howevers if there will be some making deci- "There are indications that many na- er, will hardly produce a worthwhile tions of the region are going to buy affect on the S20 target market. Its sion in favor of Chinese submarines.

Today, China is one of established submarines… and buy them in worth- core is likely to be made of traditionsubmarines operators, along with while quantities", he continues. For al clients for Chinese military equipother Asian nations – India, Pakistan, example, Bangladesh indicated its in- ment, the countries that receive help Iran, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and tent to follow the trend as well as from China or in other way dependant on PRC and motivated/inclined both Koreas. All of them continue Thailand. Philippines may also join in.

Therefore, Southeast Asia is be- to buy “made in China” products. At building up their submarines fleets.

Countries that recently added subma- coming a very perspective market for the end of the past year, Myanmar rines to their assets or having placed shipbuilding companies. Traditional expressed desire to acquire Chinese orders include Malaysia, Vietnam suppliers of such equipment in submarines.

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Hypersonic breakthrough August 25 American experimental hypersonic missile, which is theoretically capable of hitting any target on the planet within an hour, self-destructed after four seconds after launch from a military test site in Alaska. Off the coast of California from the aircraft B‑52 at an altitude of 15,250 meters was launched hypersonic missile X‑51A Waverider. It was assumed that the X‑51A Waverider, using accelerato, r would rise up to 21300 feet and develop speed of 5.8 thousand kilometers per hour. Further was assumed that the propulsive hypersonic missile engine will provide speed of six Mach numbers for five minutes. However, representatives of the Air Force of United States announced that due to a technical failure hypersonic ramjet engine didn’t turn on even after16 seconds after the removal of the accelerator X‑51A Waverider. apid technological advances of the twentieth century brought to life a lot of amazing ideas.

One of those – overcoming of the sound velocity by aircraft units.

And, although supersonic aircraft units have been flying in the airspace for 68 years, they still cause an increased interest worldwide.

Further aircraft development in direction of increasing their speed has led R & D in the hypersonic field.

One of the most important technical characteristics of flight at supersonic speeds is a quantity called Mach number (M).

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Mach number and hypersound What is it?

More than 140 years ago, German scientist Ernst Mach was doing research in the theory of supersonic flows. At that time, he discovered and explored some of the phenomena of supersonic aerodynamics, that was later named in his honor. Among them – Mach number well-known in the aerodynamics.

v

object M= v—, sound

where M is the Mach number, v is the velocity of the source relative to the medium, and vsound is the speed of sound in the medium.

Soviet students were familiar with name of Ernst Mach as a philosopher, "awarded" with 800 unflattering expressions by V. I. Lenin in his book "Materialism and Empiric", a book that was supposed to be remembered by each soviet youngster!

But back to the Mach – physician!

So – the history of the study, which began in 1884.

It was necessary to fulfill the order of the military department. The prob-

lem was that the gunshot wounds received by German soldiers on the battlefield during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, were heavier than before. So much so that the Germans began to suspect that the French used explosive bullets. Although this type of weapon was already recognized as barbaric and forbidden investigating the cause of the destructive power of the French guns was taken by Professor Ernst Mach and two of his colleagues. Built a unit, able to take a picture of a flying bullet, they were able to capture her trail.

Compressed and heated air during the flight of the bullet had different transparency. Due to this dark stripes radiating from the bullet head and swirling motion of air in the space where the bullet had already flown were clearly visible on the pictures.

It turned out that the French bullets flew at a speed exceeding the speed of sound. And any object flying at such a rate is accompanied by a shock wave. Shockwave is a front compressed air diverges in all directions in the form of a cone. That shock wave increased the destructive power of the French bullets: did

retrospectives unusual conical shape inlets, and just burst a body.

Professor Ernst Mach, after deciding the task did not calm down, stubbornly continuing research of a new phenomenon discovered. In particular, he found that the divergence angle of the shock wave and its other parameters were determined by the ratio of the speed of a flying object compared to the speed of sound. To call this ratio as Mach value was proposed in 1929 by a Swiss engineer Jakob Akkeret.

And now, after almost a hundred and fifty years, there is Mach number indicator in the cockpit of almost all modern high-speed aircraft us (unassumingly referred as mahometr).

This value is critical – as flight at speeds exceeding the speed of sound in air (flight with Mach number M = 1,2–5), in contrast to subsonic flows under other laws. Since the object reaches the speed of sound it changes qualitatively aerodynamic flow pattern, because of which greatly increases aerodynamic drag, increasing the kinetic heating of body, aerodynamic focus shifts, which leads to a loss of stability and controllability of the aircraft.

In aviation Mach number is used to describe characteristics of aircraft – for example, the speed of M = 4 means that the speed of the aircraft is 4 times higher the speed of sound. Converting such a speed to line values is difficult, since the speed of sound in air depends on its density (with height increased, air density decreases, and thus the speed of sound is reduced) and temperature for approximate calculations it can be assumed that for flights in the air at an altitude of 10 000 m M = 1 corresponds to 1100–1200 km/h.

Classification of aircraft units by speed Under normal conditions, atmospheric speed of sound is approximately 340 m/sec. Higher speeds are expressed in Mach number and correspond to supersonic velocities, having hypersonic speed being part of this range. NASA defines "fast" hyper-sound speed in the range of 10–25 M, where the upper limit corresponds to the first cosmic veloci-

ty. Speeds above are considered as not hypersonic, but "return speed" of spacecraft to Earth.

The classification of the aircraft units on the "subsonic", "Supersonic" and "hypersonic" has a fairly strong physical basis and reflects the essence of the phenomena in the interaction of aicraft with air environment.

The criterion for this classification is the range of Mach numbers: М = 0.15–0.7 – subsonic; М = 0.7–1.3 – trans-sonic; М = 1.3–5 – supersonic; М = 5–25 – hypersonic; Flying at these speeds have fundamental differences.

Being kids we all loved watching for an airplane high in the clear blue sky, having snow-white trail stretches. And we know – this plane is flying at a speed greater than the speed of sound, he broke the sound barrier! In fact, the manifestation of this effect depends not only on the speed of the aircraft, but also on temperature and humidity. In normal humidity cloud is formed only at speeds close to the speed of sound. At the same time, conditions of very high humidity, this effect can be observed at the lower – transonic speeds.

Effect of the appearance of the cloud (named after the physicists Prandtl-Gloerta) is that flying at high speed aircraft creates a region of high pressure air in front of him and a low pressure area behind. After the flight the plane area of low ​​ pressure begins to fill the surrounding air. By virtue of a sufficiently high inertia of air masses at first the whole area is filled with low-pressure air from the surrounding areas, adjacent to an area of ​​low pressure.

This process is locally adiabatic process where the volume occupied by the air increases and the temperature decreases. If the humidity is high enough, the temperature can drop to a value that is lower than the

dew point. Then the air contained in the water vapor condenses into tiny droplets that form a small cloud.

Flight at hypersonic speed is part of the supersonic flight regime and is carried out in a supersonic gas flow.

Determination of the lower limit of hypersonic speed is usually associated with the onset of ionization and dissociation of molecules in the boundary layer near the aircraft moving in the atmosphere, which begins to occur at about 5 M. Also, this speed is characterized by the fact that the ramjet engine ("ramjet") with subsonic combustion of fuel becomes useless due to the extremely high friction that occurs when braking air flowing into the engines of this type.

In the hypersonic speed range for the continuation of the flight can only be uses the rocket engines or a hypersonic ramjet (scramjet) with supersonic combustion of fuel.

From sonic – to hypersound The struggle for supersonic speeds began during World War II with the development of jet aircraft.

In 1943, the American company Bell started the development of the X‑1 aircraft, designed to overcome the speed of sound. X‑1 was attached to the B‑29 bomber and was separated from it at high altitude.

14 October 1947 Chuck Yeager on the X‑1 overcame the sound barrier.

So began the era of study of supersonic and hypersonic speeds.

Achieving hypersonic speeds and wider coverage dramatically reduces the time available for the enemy response, and allows you to keep your troops at a safe distance (outside the weapons range).

In future, military conflicts between almost equal in the technical capabilities of both sides to achieve superiority application using hypersonic weapons is inevitable.

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retrospectives In the second half of the twentieth century, two world superpowers USA and the USSR began to work on their projects supersonic, and then hypersonic aircraft – only high speed could bring the aircraft to a great height.

Have been designed not only space hypersonic bombers, but also similar fighters which would have to contend not only with the bombers, but also with warheads of ballistic missiles.

However, the creation of hypersonic aircraft, especially manned, was so challenging, that the American aircraft rocket plane North American X‑15 (first flight June 8, 1959) for several decades remained the only such device, with released planned height and speed.In early 60‑s of the last century in the United States was launched the X‑20 program for the design of reusable aerospace aircraft capable of performing percussion and reconnaissance missions.

In the USSR, to answer to this program there was a project "Spiral", according to which – the orbital aircraft had to be been flown into space using hypersonic aircraft and rocket booster.

The biggest problem was not the creation of the orbital vehicle, but a speed booster for him. As such booster there was created tailless aircraft ("50–50" project) Length of 38 meters and with a wingspan of 16.5 meters the project had a delta wing with the influx.

To facilitate the landing for first time were applied applied lowers the bow.

There were plans to use new-type engines.

Turbojet engine designed for use liquid hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen was

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chosen as the fuel not accidentaly – it does not only burn with sufficient release of energy, but also able to cool the turbine blades. As a result, conventional turbojet scheme could give out a lot of power without the risk of structural failure. But in the 60's to create a heat exchanger efficiency of the thermodynamic performance and aerodynamics bearable failed. Until now there is no such structure in the world.

As an interim measure in the engine problem, OKB‑300 was given the task to develop appropriate kerosene turbojet power plant. Works on alternative propulsion systems with varying success went up to the close of the program "Spiral".

"50–50" with kerosene engines was estimated to have a cruising speed of about M = 4, and range of 6–7 thousand kilometers. Hydrogen engines have increased these values to M = 5 and 12,000 km respectively. Aircraft boosters "Spiral" was the first hypersonic aircraft with jet engines, tested in TSAGI. Construction of the booster aircraft was originally scheduled to begin in 1971, followed by the start of flight testing in the 72– 73 th. However, the project "Spiral" was closed. Together with it were "killed" two versions of jet engines.

At the same time, developments in the orbital planes of the complex came in handy when creating a of "Energy-Buran" system.

In the early 60‑s the USSR and the United States started developing aircraft capable of flying with three times higher the speed of sound.

United States and the Soviet Union

have created two unique aircrafts: Strategic reconnaissance USA – SR 71 A BLACK BIRD (Black Bird), in 1976 reached a speed of 3539 km/h.

(The first aircraft created with the application of technology to reduce radar visibility – STEALTH technology) USSR – Mig‑25, which in 1967 reached a speed 2920 km/h.

December 31, 1968 the first flight of a supersonic passenger aircraft. In 1973, its pre-production sample was shown at the air show in Le Bourget.

TU‑144 could fly with passengers at a speed of 2500 km/h, at a distance of over 3000 km.

70‑s. New projects In the seventies engineers were again seriously involved in hypersonic flight concept projects. The main objective was to study the liquid hydrogen and liquefied natural gas as a fuel and the creation of a jet engine – scramjet (hypersonic ramjet engines).

Russian engineers as a reusable carrier prototype engines elected available anti-aircraft missiles.

Together with Khimki KB "Fakel" CIAM created hypersonic flying laboratory (GLL) "Cold".

Its basis was the anti-aircraft missile system S‑5V28 200V. First, the missile had a suitable flight parameters.

Second, it was planned in the near future to be removed from service that would benefit at the cost of the entire program.

Warhead was removed from the original missile, and in its place was installed a unit with the test

retrospectives equipment. It is composed of the control system, fuel tank, fuel system and E‑57 engine.

Design speed at which this scramjet could work, was in the range of 3.5M to 6.5m. Working height of the engine – 15–35 km.

Until 1999, there have been only seven starts, but it was managed to bring the work of scramjet E‑57 to 77 seconds – in fact, the maximum flight time of missiles 5V28. Maximum speed achieved by flying laboratory, was 1855 m/s (~ 6.5 m). Post-flight work on the equipment showed that the combustion chamber retains its efficiency of the engine after draining the fuel tank. These indicators has been achieved through ongoing development of systems based on the results of each of the previous flights.

As a result of these seven test launches, it has been gathered all the necessary information to continue practical work on hydrogen scramjet, and mathematical model of the ramjet engine at hypersonic speeds was adjusted.

At present the program "Holohd" is closed, but the results are not lost and are being used in new projects.

The next big project was in hypersonic flying laboratory "Igla" (Research hypersonic aircraft). The first mention of this project appeared in 1997, and the layout was for the first time presented to the public at the MAKS‑99.

Task to "Igla" was determined within range of speeds between M = 6–14 and at altitudes of 25 to 50 kilometers. In addition, the new flying laboratory should have a much longer duration of solo flight than the "holod" – 7–12 minutes. Carrying out output to the desired height and disperse "igla" to the speed of the motor was supposed to be proceed by "rockot" rocket, created on the basis of intercontinental UR‑100N missile.

Layout of flying laboratory is regularly demonstrated at various air shows. Information about how advanced the project in creating a real object is, has been classified.

In the United States, works in the field of hypersonic also began in the late 70‑ies of XX century, when the company "Martin Marietta" has been developing proactive strategic aircraft

missiles ASALM (Advanced Strategic Air Launched Missile) with a ramjet engine. It was in those years, the American experts have realized the real technological problems of hypersonic flight for offensive weapons systems, as well as for aircraft units.

Hypersound engine Ramjet engine is not able to develop enough thrust to accelerate the aircraft to hypersonic speeds.

Therefore, the development of new hypersonic ramjet, with an efficiency of speeds 10–15 times higher velocity of sound was the most im-

portant task of scientists and engineers.

In 2004, flying at an altitude of 12 km B‑52 launched unmanned X‑43A, which achieved speed of 9.8 M – 11263 km/h. At this speed, the journey from Moscow to New York would take 41 minutes.

Hypersonic engine is a modification of ramjet engine, which differs from the usual supersonic combustion. At high speeds to maintain the efficiency of the engine braking is necessary to avoid the incoming air and to produce combustion in a supersonic air flow.

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retrospectives The upper limit of the speed of hypersonic ramjet (scramjet) without the use of additional oxidizer is estimated at M = 12–24. Research in the framework of the project “X‑30" of the firm Rockwell in the 80s of XXth century set the upper value of the velocity for the scramjet corresponding to M = 17, in connection with the provision of conditions for combustion in the engine. For comparison, the fastest manned aircraft with a supersonic ramjet engine (SPVRD) “SR‑71" (English “Blackbird") Lockheed reaches a speed above M = 3.4 due to the inhibition of air flow engine to subsonic velocity.

Besides, since scramjet doesn’t use oxidant transported with the unit, but atmospheric air, it has a much higher rate of efficiency of the engine – specific impulse higher than any of the existing rocket engines.

Before the aircraft with scramjet would achieve the desired velocity, its engine successively passes several modes of operation: 1. To achieve acceleration to to speeds ~ Mach 3, it can be uses one of several possibilities – for example, the additional gas turbine engines or rocket boosters (both internal and external).

2. At a speed of Mach 3–4 goes from low-speed traction mode to a mode where the engine forms continuous shocks, creating at the inlet to the combustion chamber, one or more sections of the air flow at subsonic speeds to achieve complete combustion of the fuel mixture.

While the aircraft with scramjet under its own power is able to accelerate from Mach 3 to 8, in the range of 5 to 7 Mach engine switches to a different mode. This transitional period when the engine is running as a traditional ramjet and supersonic-like at the same time. Rising temperatures and pressures in the combustion chamber slows. As a result, pre-compression zone becomes sufficiently shorter. Shocks are shifted from the air intake closer to the entrance of the combustion chamber.

When speed reaches Mach 5, supersonic combustion mode provides higher traction, so the specifics of the engine requires that the mode scramjet be used as long as the unit does 48

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not reach the speed of Mach 5–6. On the threshold of about Mach 6 inhibition airflow to subsonic speeds sometimes leads to an almost complete standstill, causing sudden increases of pressure and heat.

Somewhere between 5 and 6 Mach the appearance of these symptoms can be a sign to go to the pure scramjet mode. At speeds above Mach 8 laws of physics require supersonic combustion mode, as the engine will not be able to withstand the pressures and temperatures that would occur when braking airflow to subsonic speeds.

When scramjet is working at speeds from 5 to 15 Mach is raises several technical problems. This includes: mixing fuel and air, fighting against thermal overload, in particular with the overheating of the front edges of the air intake. To fly at hypersonic speeds require special design and materials.

When the speed of the injected fuel is equalized with the speed of flying into the combustion air flow, and this occurs at a speed of about Mach 12, the mixing of fuel and air becomes very difficult.

At higher Mach numbers, the huge temperature in the combustion chamber causes the decomposition of molecules and their ionization. These processes, superimposed on the already complicated pattern of airflow, where the supersonic mixing interaction of the combustion chamber with the channel inlet and the laws of combustion, make it nearly impossible to calculate the gas flow and fuel supply mode of the heat balance of the combustor.

During the hypersonic flight, heating of aircraft engine depends not only on the work of the combustion chamber – the contribution is made​​ by other systems: pumps, hydraulics, electronics. Thermal management systems in hypersonic aircraft are mainly concentrated on the engine, since he experiences the maximum thermal load. Engine generally creates a lot of problems – the zone of reactive flux has huge thermal, mechanical and acoustic loads, and among everything it is filled with a mixture of exclusively active corrosion of the hot combustion gases and oxygen.

If the engine would not be cooled, the temperature of the combustion chamber will be over 2760 degrees Celsius, and it is higher than the melting point of most metals. Fortunately, the problem of high temperatures can be solved by active cooling, proper selection of materials and development of special high-temperature structures.

In tests of hypersonic ramjet engine there is another potential problem, in ground test facilities it is impossible to recreate the conditions in which these engines work with the required accuracy. The high cost of the flight test and the impossibility of ground tests are holding back the development of hypersonic aircraft.

Ground tests mainly focus on partial simulation of the flight conditions and are produced in cryogenic plants, gas-dynamic plants based on rocket engines, shock tunnels and plasma generators, but they only approximately simulate a real flight.

Only recently in computational fluid dynamics it has been accumulated enough experimental data for a realistic computer simulation to solve the problems of the aircraft with scramjet, for example:  to simulate the boundary layer of air and fuel mixing with the air flow

 two-phase flow stream;  separation of the stream;  aerothermodynamics of real gas.

Nevertheless, this field is a still poorly understood area. In addition, modeling the combustion is kinetically limited with such fast reacting fuels such as hydrogen, requiring significant computational resources.

Usually, developers use limited model with numerical solutions of the search "stiff systems" of differential equations that require a small integration step

retrospectives

and therefore requires a lot of computer time, although this problem can be solved using supercomputers.

Hypersound in XXI century.

Despite the enormous difficulties in conducting flight tests of hypersonic aircraft, American military believes that the achievement of ultra-high speed flight is the main priority in the conduct of hostilities.

In the United States it has been formed a holistic plan that will ensure the creation of hypersonic strike weapons (missiles) and aircraft. A distinctive feature of this plan is the distribution of long-term tasks beyond his years, and over the decades.

Work on missiles will be mostly completed by 2020, and on the intelligence hypersonic aircraft capable of overcoming the enemy air defense system – by 2030.

"At the moment there is no immediate need in hypersonic speeds, but if necessary, we can accelerate researches" – says Christopher Clay (Christopher Clay), Deputy Technology Deputy Minister of the Air Force for Science (Deputy Chief of the Science and Technology Division – AQRT). The ultimate goal of research, he said, is to give the combat capabilities of the USAF hypersonic component. Thus, hypersonic cruise missiles (CR) will be created before the aircraft: the implementation of the demonstration program of high-speed strike weapons (in terms of missiles) HSSW (High-Speed ​​Strike Weapon) conducted in 2013, and is scheduled by the end of 2020 with the conduct of hostilities tests.

Value should not exceed the cost of subsonic R&D for more than two times, that is, the cost of performing combat missions should be reasonable and optimal. That is to apply hypersonic weapons only when appropriate.

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Requirements for aircraft in reconnaissance or fighter (highspeed ISR/strike) version – they should keep fighting efficiency (survival) for a day without space support – communication and navigation satellites – and be able to penetrate into the area covered up with air defense systems.

The device will be powered by a turbocharged engine of combined type TBCC (Turbine-Based Combined Cycle), to ensure cruising at a speed of more than M = 5 and take off from a conventional runway.

There have been already carried out three tests of hypersonic unmanned American aircraft:  First flight of X‑51A scramjet with a hydrocarbon took place in May 2010, lasted 143 seconds instead of the planned 300 – missile had a top speed of five Mach numbers. Leak in the seal between the motor and the nozzle led to premature termination of the flight, but the scramjet provided the required acceleration.

The second flight was in June  of 2011, ended when the air intake began working at the time of launch of the scramjet, leading to problems with the accelerator rocket, which didn’t start at the allotted time, and then did not separate.

 The third flight in August 2012 ended before the start of the engine due to a malfunction in a controlled stabilizer system, which led to its downfall and destruction.

Of the three test flights carried out, one was recognized as partially successful, two – as unsuccessful.

In preparation for the final fourth flight for all identified deficiencies there have been made necessary

structural improvements of demonstrator unit.

It is very important that the American experts in the field of aerospace technology strongly disagree with the opinion that the failure of the flight must be followed by folding existing programs. Especially when it comes to the hypersonic technology.

The more complex the program is, the more it is related to the possibility of failure in the course of its implementation, experts say. These failures are an integral part of the formation of experience and knowledge, and without them no progress in the development of technology is possible.

Preferably only that, in order to reduce the cost and risk of failure, problems to be occurred in the early stages of the project.

As for the modern development of hypersonic aircraft in Russia, something about it in August last year, Dmitry Rogozin, said that no secret that both Russia and the Americans conducted similar tests, but the secret is all the rest. The only thing that Rogozin said, is the fact that Russia is on the similar level with the USA. In addition to Russia and the United States in pursuit of hypersonic joined another country was implented. Media reported that on 9 January this year, China successfully tested a hypersonic flight characteristics of the device, which is potentially capable of delivering a warhead, bypassing air defense systems. Its velocity reached ten Mach numbers, so that it can seamlessly pass through the missile defense system the United States.

Experts report that China is working on two programs of hypersonic aircraft units, including those that will be able to start without the launcher.

Irina Kachan