In each state, special anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) are provided for protection against air invasion . On July 18, 1958, in accordance with the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Engineering began the development of the Cube air defense system. The anti-aircraft missile system was designed to protect the ground forces and tank divisions from air attacks by destroying enemy targets at medium and low altitude.
What is an air defense system of the USSR?
"Cube" - anti - aircraft missile system, the composition of which consisted of military means:
- 3M9 anti-aircraft guided missile.
- Self-propelled installation, performing reconnaissance and guidance (1C91).
- Self-propelled launcher 2P25.
Who was involved in the creation of air defense systems in the USSR?
All combat weapons included in the Cube anti-aircraft missile system were constructed separately. Each site was assigned its own chief designer, the head responsible for the result. The 1C91 self-propelled gun was created under the guidance of A. A. Rastov. The semi-active radar head 2P25, performing homing missiles, until 1960 was developed by chief designer Yu. N. Vekhov. His successor in this work in 1960 was I. G. Hakobyan. The chief of OKB-15 V.V. Tikhomirov became responsible for the entire Kub anti-aircraft missile system and its designer.
Design and missile launcher tasks
A self-propelled launcher was located on the GM-578 chassis, on special carriages that contained guides for missiles. 2P25 contained electric power drives, navigation equipment. In addition, the self-propelled unit was equipped with a counting and resolving device, an autonomous gas turbine power unit, and means for performing topographic referencing, telecode communication, and pre-launch control of the unit. Two connectors were used to dock the missile with the launcher. They were located in a rocket. The procedure for its prelaunch guidance was carried out using carriage drives, which worked out the received data from 1C91. The radio telecode communication line provided 2P25 with the necessary information. The combat crew of the installation was three people. Weight 2P25 reached 19.5 tons.
Rocket device
The Cube anti-aircraft missile system was equipped with a 3M9 missile made according to the “rotary wing” scheme. It differed from its analogue 3M8 by the presence of additional rudders. Due to their use, the designers managed to reduce the dimensions of the rotary wing. In addition, the steering machines did not need high power. The hydraulic drive has been replaced by a lighter pneumatic drive.
Target capture from the start and its tracking along the Doppler frequency was performed by the 14 homing semi-active radar head located in front of the rocket containing the combined propulsion system. The weight of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead was 57 kg. An auto-diode two-channel radio fuse gave a command to undermine it. The size of the rocket was 5.8 meters, the diameter was 33 cm. The assembled rocket was transported in special containers, which were created by folding the stabilizer consoles.
What is the structure of a rocket afterburner?
The charge of the gas generator after its combustion came through the air intakes into the afterburner, in which the final combustion of the fuel was carried out. The charge of solid fuel itself was a 172-kilogram piece with a diameter of 29 cm and a length of 1.7 meters. For its manufacture, ballistic fuel was used. The air intakes were designed for supersonic working conditions. During the launch of the rocket, all the openings of the air intakes were tightly closed with fiberglass plugs. The launch of the rocket was carried out at the launch site, before the main engine was switched on.
The start lasted up to 5 seconds. The internal part of the rocket nozzle, which was held by the fiberglass grill, was fired after 5-6 seconds, and the operation phase began on the marching section.
Composition and tasks 1C91
Self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance system consists of:
- Radar station radar, with the help of which the detection and tracking of air targets.
- Illumination 1C31. Using this tool, target recognition, navigation, topographic location, radio telecode communication with the entire Cube system are carried out. The anti-aircraft missile system (photo below) was equipped with two rotating radar antennas: 1C11 and 1C31.
They carried out a circular review at a speed of 15 revolutions per minute. Antennas had spaced carrier frequencies. The transceiver channels were equipped with emitters, the point of location of which was a single focal plane. It was possible to detect, identify and escort an air target at a distance of 300 to 70,000 and a height of 30 to 7000 meters.
The 1C91 self-propelled gun was located on the GM-568 chassis. The weight of the product was 20.3 tons. The combat crew for the management consisted of four people.
SAM test
In 1959, the Cube anti-aircraft missile system passed its first test. As a result of the work, the following disadvantages were identified:
- The air intakes had an unsuccessful design.
- The afterburner was of poor quality heat-resistant coating. This drawback was due to the fact that titanium was used to make the chambers. After testing, this metal was replaced with steel.
In 1961, the chief designers involved in the development of the Cuba were replaced. Nevertheless, this did not affect the acceleration of work to improve the anti-aircraft missile system. From 1961 to 1963, 83 missiles were launched. Of these, only three launches were successful. In 1964, the first missile containing a warhead was launched. Il-28 was shot down, flying at an average height. Further launches were successful. As a result, in 1967, the Central Committee of the CPSU decided to adopt the Cube anti-aircraft missile system for the armed forces of the ground forces. The project to create a model for export has begun.
Export modification 2K12 "Cube"
The anti-aircraft missile system, the characteristics of which differed from its basic counterpart, was assembled in 1971. Differences affected systems that perform recognition of air targets.
The Kub anti-aircraft missile system (“Kvadrat” - the name of installations intended for export deliveries) was provided with an altered level of protection against interference, which made it possible to distinguish targets by nationality. The export model was suitable for use in tropical latitudes.
Anti-aircraft missile system "Cube-M1"
After the modernization work was carried out in 1973, an improved version appeared on the armament of the USSR Army - the Kub-M1 SAM. Completed design improvements expanded the boundaries of the striking zone, improved the protection of the homing head from various interference, the starting period did not exceed 5 seconds. Radar antennas were provided with protection against anti-radar missiles.
Where was the air defense system used?
From 1967 to 1982, the Cube anti-aircraft missile launcher was widely exported to various countries where active hostilities took place. Not without the help of this air defense system in the Arab-Israeli war, the Israeli air force was defeated. In 1999, in order to prevent the bombing of NATO forces, it actively used this complex of Yugoslavia. The disadvantage of SAM was the imperfection of its television channels, not adapted for night work. At this time of day, attacks from the NATO side were predominantly delivered.
In this case, the work of "Cuba" was ineffective. Reflecting the night air strikes, the troops of Yugoslavia lost three air defense systems.
Today, the Cube air defense system is used by Slovakia. SAM contains a self-propelled launcher and three missiles. In the entire series of the complex, this modification is considered the most advanced and is known as the “Cube-M2”.