Rocket "Yars": specifications and photos. Intercontinental ballistic missile

And let's study the RS-24 "Yars" - the Russian intercontinental solid propellant ballistic missile of mine and mobile deployment, equipped with a divided leading part?

It was developed by the Moscow Thermotechnical Institute under the direction of Yu. S. Solomonov (academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences). In general, the Yars rocket is an updated version of the Topol-M rocket. The tactical and technical description of this design is not disclosed. In the future, it is planned that it should replace the RS-20 and the RS-18 ICBMs and, together with Topol-M, make up the base of the Strategic Missile Forces shock brigade.

History

Do you know that the Yars ballistic missile has a very interesting history? We will study it right now.

In May 29, 2007, on the Plesetsk site, the first test launch of this weapon was completed. The targets at the Kura training range were successfully hit.

And on December 25, the second testing of the RS-24 took place at the same training ground.

The third test launch of the rocket with the same route as the previous ones was made in November 26, 2008.

About the deadlines for official tests of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental missile completely different information was reported: if the newspapers wrote about their completion in 2010, then the lead designer of the installation claimed that the tests were completed in the last months of 2009. Perhaps this is due to the unequal timing of the actual final of the government test program and the timing of the elimination of comments identified during the testing process.

Deployment

The Yars missile was delivered to the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (strategic missile forces) by the Russian defense industry in 2009. This was the first military battalion of missile mobile systems equipped with warhead separation units. The fact of the organization of the first calculation of the RS-24 was officially confirmed in July 2010 by V. A. Popovkin, Deputy Minister of Defense.

The second battalion with a missile launcher in December 2010 began to carry out experimental combat service in the Ivanovo region (Teykovskaya missile division). So, the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was in service with the first regiment, which went on guard in 2011, March 4, as part of two RS-24 battalions on guard since 2010.

It is interesting that the first missile army armed with the Yars PGRK was fully equipped in the Teykov missile unit in the summer of 2011 (three divisions, nine APUs). In December 7, 2011, the second army, which consisted of one missile battalion and a mobile regimental command post (PKP), began to perform experimental combat service in the same battalion.

The second brigade of the same regiment began service in December 2011. As a result, by 2012, the total number of installed RS-24 reached 15 APU with missiles. By September 2012, this unit was armed with Yars mobiles. The total number of APU RS-24 “Yars” was now equal to 18 (six divisions and two regiments).

At the end of 2012, the Yars rocket appeared in both Kozelsky and Novosibirsk missile formations (Kaluga Region, a mine version of the complex). In 2013, the missile regiments of the Tagil part were completely re-equipped. Irkutsk Missile Division also received new weapons.

The Yars intercontinental rocket was launched at night from the Plesetsk launch site in 2013 from December 24 to 25. Testing went fine. The warheads of the projectile hit targets in Kamchatka.

By the way, in the amount of 33 pieces, the Yars missile, with four warheads each, was in service with the Strategic Missile Forces by the beginning of 2014.

Further, in 2014, on April 14, at 10:40 Moscow time, from the maneuverable launching device deployed at the Plesetsk cosmodrome, the Yars rocket, equipped with a warhead, was launched. This campaign was carried out with the aim of testing weapons manufactured in Votkinsk (serial control testing). Then official sources said that the objectives of the event were fully completed.

And on December 26, at 11:02 Moscow time, a ground-based mobile missile was launched from Plesetsk. The projectile was able to hit targets on the Kamchatka site "Kura".

Characteristics "Yars"

And yet, what is the Yars (rocket)? Her characteristics are very interesting. This shell is a solid fuel three-stage ICBM light discharge. It was created at the turn of the century in the cooperation of Russian enterprises.

The Yars RS-24 missile is not like its direct ancestor - the Topol-M rocket RS-12M1 / RS-12M2, which is an in-depth version of the Topol RS-12M rocket: it has a more advanced control system and a warhead.

The Yars ballistic missile is equipped with a crushing leading part (warhead) and personal aiming blocks (homing). And "Topol-M" is equipped with a monoblock warhead (tested maneuvering and passive warheads). Perhaps, by 2020, the RS-12M - RS-24 tandem will turn into the only lightweight ICBM in stationary and mobile basing options. This option is justified for economic reasons.

The last decades of the last century

In the last century, in the 80-90s, the Strategic Missile Forces were armed with five types of light-class ICBMs and their versions. These include solid fuel and liquid rockets.

It should be noted that the current costs of standardized installations are much lower than the same indicator for a set of light-class models of ICBMs. But in some ways, the effectiveness of the latter is superior to Yars.

For example, the liquid ICBM RS-18B, in comparison with the RS-24, carries a more impressive RFG IN. Its combat equipment is still being improved. A separate topic is the survivability of ICBMs, while the soil method is at least inferior to the railway.

Considering the above facts, as well as the need to maintain parity for the installed warheads and their carriers (according to strategic offensive arms agreements), since 2009, work has been ongoing on the development of a domestic heavy liquid ICBM instead of the RS-20B (Voevoda). In general, the question of returnable reserves and the selection of RS-22V ICBMs remains open for Russia.

It is interesting that the political link is attached to the performance indicators of ICBMs - the “race” of strategic weapons, which is initiated by measures of defense against a nuclear attack - missile defense. In the United States, in 2002, they terminated the 1972 ABM reduction agreement. This country is creating a new promising missile defense system, including its segments in Europe. The system has been implemented since 1991. The creation of America’s national missile defense system is legislatively formalized; in 1999, the first testing of its elements was carried out.

Yars

We continue to find out further what Yars is (a rocket). Her characteristics deserve close attention. The adoption of this projectile in the context of the buildup of missile defense by America became possible, since the START-1 agreement expired in 2009, which permitted the development of ICBMs only with a single-unit leading part.

And what is the second asymmetric response of Russia to the US missile defense initiatives? The Yars rocket had a very effective flight speed. In addition, it was struck by its excellent stability when passing through the orders of the promising US missile defense system. And it was not affected by the damaging factors of nuclear explosions (PFYAV).

Many experts say that the Yars-M rocket has remarkable characteristics. So, the active area of ​​the trajectory of this weapon is reduced. Instant set speed provides a more efficient composite charge of the rocket solid propellant propulsion engines (solid propellant rocket propulsion). The shell at the start can perform a software maneuver. It is necessary for penetration through the cloud of a nuclear explosion of an attacking rocket.

Interestingly, the Yars, unlike the previous RS-12M, uses a guidance system that does not respond to powerful electromagnetic pulses. In general, the latest anti-missile defense systems (PCB) missile defense significantly reduce the likelihood of capturing the leading department.

It should be noted that the targets-deception of the PCB cannot be distinguished from military units in the area of ​​electromagnetic phoning. With the help of them, parameters can be faked for almost every breeding attribute on the extra-atmospheric, transitional and impressive region of the atmospheric segment of the descending branch of the trajectory of the leading part.

For the first time, fake targets with super-resolution and capable of ignoring radar are used here. PCB tools that distort the parameters of the head zone are created from a radio-absorbing envelope, dynamic radio noise generators, aerosols, which are sources of infrared radiation, and so on.

Feature Description

Well, perhaps many readers have become convinced that the Yars-M rocket has excellent characteristics? Let's continue a deeper study of this wonderful design! It is known that the layout of this weapon, in comparison with the RS-12M, has not changed. Its marching solid propellant rocket engines are equipped with a one-piece cocoon-type case made of composite materials.

The speed of the Yars rocket is pretty impressive. Unlike its ancestor “Topol”, the tandem of the first stage is not equipped with lattice aerodynamic stabilizers and rudders. The flight is controlled in the active area by a rotary, slightly recessed nozzle, designed on the basis of an elastic hinge that deflects the engine thrust vector (at all stages).

Russian Yars rockets are equipped with nozzle blocks, which are made of carbon-carbon raw materials. The nozzle inserts of this weapon are based on a reinforced three-dimensional oriented carbon-carbon matrix.

The rocket is equipped with an inertial control system. The complex of command high-speed instruments of the hydrostabilized platform (GSP) has advanced precision parameters. The latest computational boron digital complex (BTsVK) has increased performance and resistance to PFYAV.

By the way, with the RS-24 Yars intercontinental missile, aiming is ensured by the implementation of autonomous detection of the azimuth of the control link located on the GPS. This function is performed by the ground command instrument complex, which is located on launch containers designed for transportation (TPK).

The Yars-M rocket has an overestimated, in comparison with prototypes, coefficient of useful use of fissile material. Historically, the leading compartment is the first in the Russian practice of creating weapons that is installed on an ICBM without testing components and parts during nuclear explosions.

By analogy with the RS-12M, the use of the RS-24, RS-12M1 (2) missiles for both mobile and stationary basing methods occurs using TPK. The start in these two cases is mortar: in the process, powder pressure generators (PAD) are operated.

It should be noted that, due to the different operating conditions of the stationary and mobile missiles, as well as the emergence of various protection rules from PFYaV, global unification of missiles and TPKs was not achieved. It took the creation of structurally dissimilar means necessary to push the charge out of the TPK and the container. For example, for the mine version of the rocket at launch, a pallet was used that protected the first stage solid propellant solid propellant against increased pressure of the PAA gases. But for the mobile version, the pallet was not needed, since the pressure was much lower. Due to the features of the mine and weight restrictions, various structural materials of the TPK were used for the missile-based variant.

The table below shows the most important parameters.

The Yars rocket boasts an initial warranty period of storage, which was fifteen years.

Test

Have you figured out what Yars is - a rocket? It was tested in 2014 on December 26 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 11:00 Moscow time. The successful launch was commented by Colonel Igor Egorov, authorized representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense Press Service for the Missile Forces.

He said that the Yars-24 missile was able to fulfill all the tasks: “The active training units hit the targets on the Kamchatka site“ Kura ”with a given accuracy.”

Egorov noted that the testing should confirm the technical strength of the charges created in 2013-2014, as well as the operational and combat parameters of the complex itself.

ICBMs

What is an ICBM? This is a ground-to-ground ballistic intercontinental missile that can cover 5500 km. Charges of this kind, as a rule, are equipped with military nuclear units. They are used to destroy enemy strategically important objects located on distant continents.

Popularization

The world's first ballistic missile R-7 was successfully tested in the Soviet Union on August 21, 1957. It was adopted in 1960. American ICBM SM-65 Atlas successfully passed tests in 1958. She appeared in the army in 1959 (a year earlier than the P-70). Today, the ICBM is armed with the armies of Russia, Great Britain, the USA, China and France.

Israel, in the issue of having this type of charge, follows the same policy as in the issue of possession of nuclear weapons - it does not deny or confirm its presence on its territory. In fact, this state benefits twice from the situation: it does not join the international agreement on controlling the distribution of missile technologies, but keeps neighboring countries tense in relation to their own real capabilities.

DPRK, India and Pakistan are developing their own ICBMs.

South Africa, wanting to confront the Soviet bloc and Western countries, in 1980 created the RSA-3 ICBM (with the support of Israel), but after the collapse of the apartheid regime, it did not accept it.

World War II events

Interestingly, Nazi Germany was the first to begin work on the creation of ICBMs. Werner von Braun directed the launch of the America project in the summer of 1942, thanks to which the A9 / A10 rocket was to be created. Specialists have developed a two-stage charge of liquid fuel weighing one hundred tons, capable of flying up to 5000 km.

It is known that, according to the current classification, A9 / A10 formally refers to charges of medium distances. But it was developed as an intercontinental munition that could hit the east coast of the United States. Technically, the A9 / A10, however, was not a ballistic missile, as it was equipped with an upper winged stage, de facto appearing as a winged supersonic weapon.

Guidance of this charge at the beginning and mid-flight took place using beacons. They were aimed at the target in advance and activated by the pilot at the right time, in the final. A person performing such an important mission, shortly before the goal, left a small cabin by parachute and sat on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean after he made a space suborbital flight.

Some sources report that the tests as part of the creation of the A9 / A10 were carried out on January 8 and 24, 1945, but it was not necessary to use it in battle.

Other sources say that the work on the program has never progressed further than sketches (which is more believable). By the way, the Germans underestimated the intricacy of planning a flight at supersonic speed, which is probably why the A9 / A10 system could never work.

After the defeat of Germany, America and the USSR from its territory brought to themselves a colossal amount of documentation, experts and the material base for missile research.

Engines

And now let's pay a little attention to the engines. The first versions of ICBMs were operated by liquid-propellant rocket engines: before launching, they had to be refueled with rocket fuel for a very long period of time. Preparation of the installation for the flight took several hours, but maintenance was carried out in a matter of minutes. To use the cryogenic components (P-7), the devices of the launch complex were very cumbersome.

All these nuances significantly limited the strategic value of this weapon. Today's ICBMs use engines that run either on solid fuel or on liquid high-boiling raw materials with ampouled refueling.

The plant loads these weapons in transport and launch containers and delivers them to the customer. Thus, the missiles in storage are ready for launch throughout the entire service life. Liquid charges to the launch complex are delivered in an empty state. They pump fuel after installing the TPK with a charge in the PU. Further, the weapon can remain in combat readiness for many years. Flight preparation takes no more than a few minutes and is done remotely, via cables and radio channels, from a remote command post. Regular testing of launchers and rocket systems is also conducted.

Interestingly, current ICBMs, as a rule, do not have the means to force an enemy missile defense. They can consist only of maneuvering combat units, means of setting radar interference, false targets, and so on.