With the development of airborne military equipment, the need arose for arming the ground forces and protecting personnel from a surprise attack by an enemy from the air. For this purpose, short- range anti-aircraft missile systems began to be adopted in the Russian army. Their main purpose is to protect units from enemy aviation attacks in all types of combat, as well as on the march.
Now the main defense of the Russian army is the Strela-10M3 complex. But soon it is planned to introduce a new Sosna short-range air defense system into the military units. In tests in 2016, he showed significant superiority over other types of equipment.
Development history
The idea to create a lightweight anti-aircraft missile system, which is Pine, appeared in 1990. A. G. Shipunov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, proposed constructing a lightweight version of the equipment based on the Strela-10 air defense system by introducing a laser missile guidance system and an optoelectronic control system.
The development of a new model of air defense systems began in 2005 and continues to this day. The sample was first presented to the public in 2013 at a conference on the development of air defense technology in the city of Smolensk. Then the first tests were carried out. It is expected that after the final tests in 2017, the Sosna air defense system will be approved and adopted.
Goals and objectives of the complex
At the initial stages of the development of the complex, the aim was to increase the combat potential of the Strela-10 air defense system and increase its endurance. In accordance with this, the basic principles of design were formulated:
- introduction to the basis of the complex anti-aircraft guided missile "Pine-10R";
- creation of a new missile control system, teleorienting in the laser beam;
- the introduction of a multi-channel optoelectronic weapon control system with automatic control, protected from electronic interference and capable of working around the clock, in almost any weather;
- creation of automatic and semi-automatic fire guidance modes.
Among other things, Sosna air defense missiles should have become more effective due to precise aiming at the target, the use of several types of fuses (non-contact and contact laser with a pie chart), and also by reducing flight time to the target by increasing the initial speed.
Air defense system
The lightly armored multi-purpose chassis LT-MB of a Soviet floating armored personnel carrier acts as the basis for a combat vehicle. Moreover, the main elements of the anti-aircraft missile system can be mounted both on a caterpillar mover and on an air- wheel structure. In addition, the Sosna air defense missile system can be installed on floating ships and can be presented as a fixed installation on land.
The main requirement for the platform is a carrying capacity of at least 4 thousand kg. Common transporters BTR-82, BMP-3 and BMD-4 can be used as a basis. At the same time, the composition of the combat module will include:
- optoelectronic control system (OESU);
- guidance system and power mechanisms;
- digital computing installation;
- packages with six Sosna-R missiles in the amount of two pieces.
SAMs are in special transport and launch containers, do not need to be checked for operability throughout the entire service life. If desired, the complex can be designed in several versions.
The performance characteristics
The combination of high missile characteristics and the effective operation of an optical-electronic control system with laser guidance allowed to increase the radius of destruction of the Sosna air defense system. TTX of the new model in comparison with the prototype ("Arrow 10MZ") are at a higher level.
The complex can be used as part of a battery (including mixed battery). In this case, either a battery control point or a command vehicle will be responsible for target designation. In addition, the air defense system can independently target the target using sector search and working in passive mode, which at the same time makes it difficult to detect.
Sosna-R anti-aircraft guided missile
SAM "Sosna-R" is a new development of Russian military engineers. Its mass is only 7 kg, which made it possible to exclude a charging machine from the Sosna air defense system.
A rocket consists of three elements:
- warhead armor-piercing action to defeat the enemy in direct contact with him;
- warhead fragmentation-rod unit, which is used for non-contact destruction of aircraft;
- laser contact-fuse equipped with a combined control system.
The Sosna short-range missile missile is a two-stage missile with one detachable rocket engine. With the exit from the transport and launch container, the direction of flight of the anti-aircraft guided missile is controlled by the radio command system. She brings the rocket to the line of sight. After this, the starting engine is separated, the protection from radio interference is turned on. Further target pursuit is carried out using a laser guidance system.
Optoelectronic control system
A feature of the new anti-aircraft missile system is an optical-electronic control system. Thanks to her SAM:
- has high accuracy;
- instantly and accurately determines the coordinates of the target;
- protected from radar interference;
- capable of covertly firing at the enemy.
From the moment of detection to the defeat of enemy aircraft, it can operate in the fully automatic air defense system Sosna.
The characteristics of the OESU are practically impossible to compare.
The optoelectronic module is installed on a gyro-stabilized platform, it is also able to work in a semi-automatic mode, when the machine operator controls the complex, but many computing processes occur in a digital unit. Semi-automatic guidance mode is preferable to use in difficult combat situations.
Protection technology
Even in the early stages of the development of the complex, it was decided to abandon the use of radar target detection systems. This decision subsequently increased the degree of protection of the combat vehicle from the enemy anti-radar systems - it became practically invulnerable to them.
Anti-aircraft guided missiles, like Sosna itself, a short-range air defense system, are protected from interference by several methods that are implemented in their design. The laser receiver is located in the rear part of the SAM, which makes it impossible to block and distort the control signal.
The immunity to interference from the ground part of the complex is created due to the narrow field of view of television and thermal imaging channels. If necessary, SAM is equipped with visual and thermal masking.
Assessment of air defense systems in Russia
During field and state tests, the command of the armed forces of the Russian Federation identified a number of advantages of the new Sosna air defense system (photo is attached) compared to previous representatives of short-range missile systems:
- The effectiveness of the defeat of both high-speed and low-flying aircraft, including helicopters and UAVs.
- Controlled level of automation of detection and destruction of targets in battle.
- The ability to work around the clock and in any weather conditions.
- Almost imperceptible process of deployment of the complex in combat readiness.
- The absence of restrictions on height, the ability to destroy ground equipment.
- Ability to fire from a place, in motion and during short stops.
The command noted the low cost of both a combat vehicle and anti-aircraft guided missiles. It was suggested that after successful tests in 2017, the complex will be adopted by the Russian army.
Do not confuse! SAM "Sosna-RA" and SAM "Pine"
Under the index "Pine" in the Russian army adopted various types of weapons and military equipment. The most frequently confused mobile towed anti-aircraft missile and cannon system "Sosna-RA" and presented in the article SAM.
Sosna-RA, like a missile system, can both act as an independent combat unit and can be mounted on various vehicles.
Unlike its "older brother" ZRPK is designed to cover ground forces only from low-flying aircraft. Like the Sosna air defense missile system, the Sosna-R short-range missiles are used to destroy air targets. Perhaps this is the only common feature of the two units of military equipment.