It is no secret that active fighting is ongoing in Ukraine. Perhaps that is why the government decided to create new weapons. Alder is a missile system, the development of which was launched this year. The Ukrainian government claims that the rocket has a unique technology. You can find more detailed information about the testing of the complex and its characteristics in our article.
Create a new weapon
At a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in January this year, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that there was a need to create Ukrainian weapons. He said that it was required to develop new ammunition and missiles. Petro Poroshenko said that these should not be just promises, but a concrete plan with a deadline for implementation and financing.
The President of Ukraine instructed state customers to ensure the development of the concept and the purchase of missile ammunition in the framework of the new Alder project and other weapons. He paid particular attention to unmanned aerial vehicles. Petro Poroshenko also said that the development and purchase of modernized aircraft and helicopters is planned for the current year. It was in 2016 that the Ukrainian government wants to create a medium-range anti-aircraft missile system .
Unique technology. general characteristics
It is known that today the Alder rocket is fully developed and ready for operation. The characteristics of the device remain a mystery. Only general information about the project is known.
The Government of Ukraine assures that the technology for creating a new missile system is unique. This is due to the fact that only domestic materials are necessary for its development. Alder is a fully Ukrainian-made missile system. All its components are created in the country. Volunteer Yuri Biryukov said that the new weapon is incredibly accurate and range. However, the full characteristics of the rocket are classified.
The missile system includes 12 shells. All of them shoot at the same target for 12 seconds. "Alder" has the highest accuracy of defeat. When fired at a 120-kilometer range, deviation from the target by 7 meters is possible. Caliber "Alder" is 300 millimeters. The trajectory is adjustable. According to the government’s plan, the Ukrainian Alder should replace the notorious Tochka-U.
"Alder" in the Donbass. Confirmation of OBSE
It’s not a secret to anyone that for several years active military operations have been conducted on the territory of Ukraine. It is known that this summer a rocket was launched from Avdeevka in Donetsk, the caliber of which exceeds 100 millimeters. This is indicated in the operational report of the OSCE. There is an opinion that the Ukrainian government is testing the Alder project in the Donbass.
The first official test of the missile system took place in March. The Government of Ukraine considers this project a priority. The main problem is that the adjustment of the rocket occurs according to GLONASS or GPS. The country does not have its own satellite navigation system. It is known that the Ukrainian Alder missile could be tested in the Donbass in order to verify the accuracy of the defeat.
It is known that the mass production of a missile system has not yet begun. However, a small number of models may well be located in the territory of Donbass in order to test them in combat conditions. The presence of such weapons in the ATO zone is not officially reported. Experts say that, according to the OSCE report, the Ukrainian army is either unofficially testing the missile system or not using its weapons, whose caliber is more than 100 millimeters. The agreements adopted under the Minsk Agreements prohibit the use of heavy weapons.
Does Ukraine give out old weapons as new?
This spring, the Alder rocket was tested. The government of Ukraine showed a video that confirms the success of the complex. However, its type was not declared. It was only said that it is a powerful weapon that can protect Ukraine from any aggressor.
Experts who watched the video claim that it demonstrated a controlled variant of the Smerch rocket, which is called Alder in Ukraine. The Smerch missile system was developed in 1987. At the same time, he began to enter service. The 300-mm Alche missile (formerly Tornado) was at that time the most long-range system of its kind. In the regional districts of the Soviet Army, which after 1991 became part of the Armed Forces, there were 90 units of these missile systems. According to unofficial information, more than 10 of them were destroyed by militias from the Donbass.
Experts say that over time, the fuel inside the rocket dries out and becomes incapacitated. That is why nowadays Ukraine must modernize Smerch. They need to not only equip the missile system with GPS, but also completely replace the fuel, thanks to which the Ukrainian Alder missile will be able to cover a distance of at least 80 kilometers. Experts say that perhaps this year the Ukrainian government did not demonstrate a new weapon, but a modernized full-time Smerch. A similar situation is already known. Relatively recently, the Ukrainian army announced that it had created an innovative anti-tank weapon , the Baby. They are equipped with BMP. Over time, it turned out that the age of this weapon is about half a century. In 1991, the Baby was brought to Ukraine from all countries of the Warsaw Pact for disposal. Part of the missiles was sold to various states. Another part was damaged by fires in the Ukrainian military units. The remaining missiles came in handy for modern APUs.
Many rumors have grown over the Alder rocket. The characteristics and combat capabilities of the complex were not named secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine. However, he said that the designers and scientists did an excellent job, and also ensured production without a single foreign detail. For many experts, a rocket created using the latest technology is in doubt.
The fate of the rocket
The new Alder missile system of Ukraine raises many questions and doubts. Experts say that Dnepropetrovsk Yuzhmash will not be able to resume the creation of strategic missiles with a range of several thousand kilometers. Most likely, these will be tactical complexes, missiles of which will not be able to fly more than 100 kilometers. There is an assumption that they will be used in the territory of Donbass.
Experts also believe that, despite the active advertising of new developments, the military-industrial complex of Ukraine has not produced anything serious and important. It is worth noting that the newly created Sapsan was not finalized. He did not enter service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Perhaps, “Alder” is in the same fate.
The first test of the Alder missile system
Tactical missile system "Alder" was first tested on April 26 this year. Testing took place in Odessa. The missile system, created on the basis of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system, was launched at a future training ground near the Tuzlovsky estuaries. The test duration was five hours. He was watched by the Secretary of National Security of Ukraine, Alexander Turchinov. The launcher was located on the MAZ-543 chassis. In the future, it is planned to mount the system on domestic KrAZ trucks. The completion of the project is scheduled for the end of this year - the beginning of the next.
Petro Poroshenko praised the characteristics of the new rocket
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced that the test of the new weapons was successful. He thanked everyone who worked on the creation of the rocket. He claims that all scientists and designers made a huge contribution to the defense of Ukraine. Marking and weapons manufacturer were not named. However, professionals argue that according to the video reports, we are talking about the Alder missile. Petro Poroshenko said that in tests the weapon showed high accuracy. Its range was 60 kilometers. President Poroshenko believes that Ukraine should become part of the missile defense system in European countries.
In August, another test passed. Mass production is scheduled for September next year.
Will the Alder reach the middle of the Dnieper? Project funds
"Alder" - a missile system, which created enough noise around itself. After the first tests, developers were asked a huge number of questions. They claim that a rocket can easily reach neighboring countries. It is worth paying attention to the photo report of the tests. All rockets in the photographs are shaded intentionally. The government stressed: this is necessary so that no one discloses the unique technology of creating a missile complex. However, some experts argue that in this way the National Security Council is trying to hide that the missiles were made during the Soviet era.
Will the missile system reach Moscow, Donetsk, Maryinka, or at least to the middle of the Dnieper? There is an opinion that at the moment the rocket is unable to reach even the middle of the Dnieper. Experts say that it may well be a long-range weapon, but for this to modernize it will require spending not only a huge amount of money, but also several years. There is information that the development of the Alder rocket was carried out with money confiscated from the accounts of former president Viktor Fedorovich Yanukovych. At present, Ukraine does not have sufficient funds for the further implementation of the project.
Andrey Frolov and rocket handling
Andrei Frolov is the chief editor of the Arms Export magazine. He is well versed in weapons and military intricacies. He believes that the correction of the flight of the Alder rocket is not carried out by GPS. In 2013, he had a conversation with a representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Then he told Andrei that the designers are trying to develop inertial systems. It's no secret that the GPS signal can be easily interrupted. He argues that, most likely, an inertial system is installed there.
Missile in the territory of the ATO? Expert opinion
Andrei Frolov also commented on the possibility of using a rocket in the territory of Donbass. In his opinion, it is not yet possible to say for sure whether new weapons will be used in the ATO zone. However, according to unofficial data, it has been used there in full for several months now.
Serial production of such weapons will affect the situation in the ATO zone. Due to this, the APU will have high-precision missiles with a sufficient radius of destruction. Ammunition can cover a significant part of the territories near Donetsk and Lugansk.
A brief history of the creation of the project
The Alder project was launched in the first months of active hostilities in the Donbass. This was due to the fact that there was a shortage of missiles for multiple launch rocket systems "Smerch". Its funding was launched in 2015.
Luch announced the completion of the first stages of design work on August 10, 2016. The first tests were carried out in April.
Second test
The second test of the Alder missile system was held on August 10 this year. That day, 14 missiles were launched. The test was held in Odessa. It is noted that all launches were successful. According to the designers' idea, the rocket can correct the given trajectory already in flight, if necessary.
On September 23, Petro Poroshenko on his page on the social network congratulated Luch Design Bureau on the successful launch. In the future, the government plans to develop several more missile systems.
To summarize
Alder is a missile system, the creation of which was reported by the Ukrainian government at the beginning of this year. It claims that this weapon has no analogues. However, some experts believe that these missiles were produced in the USSR. They are also convinced that the ammunition is not able to cover a long distance. Further implementation of the project is doubtful. Today, Ukraine does not have enough funds for its further development.