Modern portable anti-aircraft missile systems: a brief overview. The latest Russian MANPADS has no analogues in the world

When planes flew slowly, were built of wood and linen, and were armed with conventional machine guns, the infantry could even defend against them with rifles. But by the time of the Second World War, aircraft began to fly higher, faster, and attack from a distance exceeding the effective range of infantry weapons.

The emergence and development of homing guided missiles helped change the situation. And in the 60s, portable anti-aircraft missile systems appeared that could effectively hit aircraft. "Igla" is one of the most famous modern representatives of such weapons.

History of creation

In the 60s, the Soviet Union adopted the Strela-2 MANPADS (essentially a direct copy of the American Red Eye complex). Arrow deliveries to friendly regimes and "developing countries" began immediately. Over the next decade, she showed quite high fighting qualities. But the Strela also had shortcomings, which, in principle, were characteristic of all early anti-aircraft missiles.

The infrared homing head did not have sufficient sensitivity, and could not capture a target following, for example, on a collision course. Protected from MANPADS and such simple methods as the deviation of the exhaust of helicopter engines up.

The task to develop a new "individual" anti-aircraft missile system with increased combat qualities was received in 1971, and ten years later it entered service.

The new MANPADS was named "Igla".

Design Description

Since the development of the Igla was delayed, in 1981 they adopted not the final, but the “transitional” version of the 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS. On this model, they decided to use the already existing homing head from the Strela 3 MANPADS. Such a scheme was supposed to facilitate both the deployment of Eagle production and the retraining of anti-aircraft gunners.

The 9M313 solid-propellant rocket was located in the launch tube, to which a launcher with a handle was attached from below. An interrogator of the “friend or foe” system was built into it, preventing the possible launch of a rocket on its own aircraft. The commander of the anti-aircraft gunners unit armed with Iglas used an electronic tablet, which displayed the positions of the rocketmen and the situation in the air, data about which were transmitted from air defense radars.

The rocket is made according to the "duck" aerodynamic configuration, the warhead is high-explosive fragmentation, directional, equipped with 390 g of okfol (octogen). A non-contact induction fuse provides a detonation of the charge when the Iglo rocket passes near the target. It is duplicated by a contact fuse - in case of a direct hit. To enhance the effect of the charge, the fuel remaining in the rocket is also undermined.

An automatic turn mechanism was built into the rocket, which includes an electronic circuit in the homing head and impulse steering motors - thanks to this, it is automatically directed to the lead point.

The main version of the MANPADS - "Igla" 9K38 - was adopted after only two years. The “final” one differed from the “simplified” version by the use of an improved homing head in the design of the 9M39 rocket. Now the GOS, due to its increased sensitivity, the Needle could distinguish the true target from heat traps.

For this, an auxiliary guidance channel was used, which reacts specifically to the spectral density of heat traps. If the signal from the auxiliary channel was higher than m of the main channel, the target was determined to be false. The aerodynamics of the rocket improved, due to the fact that the conical fairing mounted on a tripod was replaced with a needle-shaped fairing.

The electronic tablet of the commander of the 1L110 model differed from the previous model in that the commander could now transmit target designation data not by voice, but directly to the indicators of MANPADS launchers, by wire. At the same time, the Igla 9K38 launcher can also be connected to the launch tube of the “simplified” missile of the 9K310 complex.

The launch tubes themselves are not disposable, and after a launch they can be reloaded with another rocket.

The “weak point” was the impossibility of capturing a target located (in direction) close to the sun.

Other modifications

For the landing units, always interested in more compact weapons, a variant of the Igla D MANPADS was developed, the launch container of which is disassembled into two halves. To increase the efficiency of the use of "Eagle" due to salvo launches, the so-called "support-launcher" "Dzhigit" was created - a kind of machine on which two MANPADS launch containers are installed. At the same time, the rocket shooter sits in a rather comfortable chair.

So that the missiles of the complex could be used on ships as a short-range air defense system or on helicopters as an air-to-air missile, the designers created the Sagittarius module. A special model of MANPADS received the designation "Igla-V".

The latest modification of the Igla MANPADS - 9K338 - entered service in 2004. It is known that the total mass of the warhead increased from 1.1 to 2.5 kg, and the mass of the charge - up to 585 g of okfol. This should increase both the high-explosive impact and the number of fragments hitting the target. The mass of the rocket (and MANPADS as a whole) at the same time increased by only a kilogram. It was also reported that the range increased from 5 to 6 km.

The homing head has been modified in such a way that when the missile approaches the target, it shifts and hits not the jet engine nozzle (which, in the first place, is aimed at), but the aircraft fuselage or plumage. The fuse delay is also automatically set - so that when a rocket is launched at a large aircraft, the explosion does not occur at a distance when the shock wave and fragments cannot cause serious damage.

To increase the efficiency of use in the dark, the Igla-S complex is equipped with a 1PN97 night sight equipped with a 2nd generation image intensifier tube and giving a twofold increase.

It is still possible to use the launcher complete with Iglas of previous modifications, and the 9K338 launch tube can be used with launchers of previous generations.

Other countries have also mastered the assembly of complexes. In Poland, since the 90s, the Grom MANPADS has been produced, developed on the basis of the Needle with the assistance of Russian designers, and initially produced using Russian components. Later, the production of MANPADS was completely transferred to Poland. Under license, the Needles were produced in North Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.

Distribution and combat use

In addition to Russia and the former Soviet republics, Igla MANPADS of various modifications are used in all corners of the planet. They are used by Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru; Egypt, Libya and Morocco; Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Russian MANPADS even reached North America - it was put into service in Mexico. The geography of distribution is extensive.

Although the complex began to enter the troops in the 80s, when there was a war in Afghanistan, there was no use of MANPADS there, due to the lack of aviation among the Mujahideen. The complex was first tested in combat during the Gulf War.

In January 1991, Needles shot down a British Tornado fighter-bomber, in February at least two American A-10 attack aircraft and an F-16 fighter. At the same time, at least one A-10 received heavy damage to the tail section, but was able to return to base and land. With the help of MANPADS, four Harriers of the US Marine Corps were also shot down.

In 1992, during the next escalation of the dispute over control of the Siachen glacier, the Indian "Needle" shot down a helicopter on which the Pakistani commander was flying. After that, the offensive of Pakistan bogged down.

During the local border conflict between Ecuador and Peru in 1995, the Ecuadorians shot down a Peruvian Mi-24 helicopter from MANPADS, and the Ecuadorian A-37 attack aircraft was damaged by the Needle, but was able to land.

In the same 1995, the forces of the Republika Srpska, with the help of the complex, shot down the French Mirage over Bosnia.

Back in the 70s, it became obvious that portable anti-aircraft missile systems are a very suitable weapon for terrorists, and terrible in their hands. After all, a passenger or transport aircraft is completely defenseless against them, and the crew and passengers do not have any means of evacuation.

Igla did not escape such a fate. In the spring of 1994, her rocket shot down a Falcon 50 aircraft with the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi on board. This was the reason for the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, during which more people were killed per day than in a day in the Nazi death camps. In 2002, Chechen fighters used MANPADS to shoot down a man carrying military personnel. The helicopter fell into a minefield, killing more than a hundred people.

Currently, "Needles" are actively used in the Syrian conflict, and mainly by the opposition.

In 2012, they shot down a Su-24 of state troops, in 2013 - a MiG-23. Probably, the list of losses is longer, but it is not always possible to accurately determine the used MANPADS.

During the civil war in eastern Ukraine, the Igla MANPADS destroyed a Ukrainian Il-76 cargo plane in 2014. In the same year, Azerbaijani forces shot down an Armenian Mi-24 helicopter using a portable anti-aircraft missile system. One of the latest incidents with the use of the complex is the destruction of the Turkish Supercobra helicopter by the Kurdish militias.

Sometimes the civil war in El Salvador is attributed to the beginning of the combat use of the Needle, but other sources indicate that the Salvadoran A-37 and AC-47 attack aircraft were shot down with the help of the Strela-2M. Old MANPADS were also used in 1988 to destroy a cargo DC-6 supplying the Contras in Nicaragua.

Tactical and technical characteristics

Let's compare the main parameters of the main version of the Needle, its simplified version and the famous American one, also put into operation in the 1980s.

So, if you believe the numbers, then at the time of its appearance, the Stinger was more powerful and was a faster rocket. However, it is worth noting that the Americans did not provide for fire control using an electronic tablet. The Stinger's homing head was also equipped with a heat trap countermeasures system, but it was achieved mainly by complex data processing systems.

In terms of combat effectiveness, MANPADS can be considered equivalent means of destruction - although no one managed to turn the tide of a campaign or ignite a civil war with just one Stinger.

Interestingly, the ease of development and operation of both domestic and American portable anti-aircraft missile systems stemmed from the fact that they were initially considered as a means of conducting guerrilla warfare and special operations.

The opposite approach was demonstrated by the British Bluepipe MANPADS, which outperformed its competitors in noise immunity and was truly all-weather. This was "compensated" by a long and complex training program for missilemen, which served to develop the required level of qualification and maintain it at the required level.

The Igla portable anti-aircraft missile system has become an important achievement of the domestic industry and has earned its popularity (in fact, the Igloo was chosen by most countries that did not acquire the Stinger).

However, today it is no longer the most advanced development.

Since 2014, a new MANPADS "Verba" has been adopted for service. However, this system is a further development of the solutions incorporated in the Igla, so this is more likely a proof of the qualities of the solutions incorporated in the complex back in the 80s. And the Igloo-S itself is not planned to be decommissioned.

Video

Portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) is an anti-aircraft missile system designed to be transported and fired by one person. Due to their small size, MANPADS are easily camouflaged and mobile.

The first samples of MANPADS with guided missiles entered service in the late 1960s, having been massively used during the fighting of the Arab-Israeli "war of attrition" in 1969 - the first complexes tested in a combat situation were the Soviet MANPADS "Strela- 2". Since the 1970s, MANPADS have been actively used in wars and military conflicts around the world by various partisan and insurgent formations as a fairly cheap and effective means of combating aircraft.

background

The immediate predecessors of MANPADS were anti-aircraft grenade launchers, developed primarily as a means of covering troops and designed to destroy low-flying aircraft in takeoff / landing, dive or hover mode. The striking elements of such weapons were feathered or non-feathered unguided rocket projectiles, and the required probability of defeat was achieved by phased (with an interval of 0.1 to 0.8 seconds - German Luftfaust MANPADS of the 1944-1945 model) or a one-time salvo launch ( MANPADS "Kolos", 1966-1968).

Story

The development of MANPADS in the modern sense of the term began in the 1950s, simultaneously with experiments on grenade launchers and rocket launchers with unguided anti-aircraft missiles, as well as with work to improve, modernize and extend the life of anti-aircraft machine guns. For the first time, the idea of creating an individual air defense system with a recoilless type launcher (like the most serial American bazooka grenade launcher of the Second World War period), which allows firing guided missiles at air targets from the shoulder to equip infantrymen with it, arose in 1950 along with the beginning of the Korean War. wars with rocket engineers of the Californian company Conver, led by Karel Bossart. But then, a group of scientists had reasonable doubts about the prospects for the instrumental implementation of their plan on the existing production and technical base, with the existing technologies of rocket science and the current level of development of guidance systems for guided missile weapons. In 1955, taking into account the experience gained and the developments received, they returned to their idea, they initiated an internal corporate research work with a feasibility study on the fundamental possibility of creating and organizing serial production of a light portable anti-aircraft missile system, which provides the ability to destroy low-flying air targets with a probability higher than that specified for existing tactical anti-aircraft weapons (otherwise the idea would be impractical) and unpretentious enough in operation for use by infantrymen in a combat zone. The research they carried out with the feasibility study confirmed the fundamental feasibility of the plan (therefore, the winter of 1955-56 can be conditionally considered the date of birth of the modern MANPADS) and already in January 1956, a tactical and technical task was set for the engineering and technical staff of the company to develop and create a functional overall layout missiles called "Reday" (" Red eye" or " red-eyed»for the infrared head homing of a characteristic shape in the head of the rocket). The first mention of the Redai MANPADS in the open press dates back to mid-May 1957, when representatives of the management of the Conver missile division issued a press statement announcing that they had developed a new type of infantry weapon with a homing missile that was light enough for one person to operate. In May 1958, the military personnel of the USMC carried out launches of unguided mass-dimensional light-noise simulators of missiles to establish risk factors for a person during their launch and a negative impact on the tactical situation as a whole (unmasking factors, fire hazard due to the expansion of a jet stream, smoke and dust in a firing position, loss of target visibility, etc.) and a month later, at the end of June, test launches of missiles with infrared seeker began. The complex was presented to the attention of the press in mid-November 1958, and in August 1959 it was presented in the exhibition pavilion at the annual symposium of the US Army Association, where, in addition to important officials, foreign guests were invited.

Information about early models of portable anti-aircraft missile systems in chronological order (by date of commencement of work)

Name	Year	Chief designer	Head organization		Subdivision	Location	rocket type	Comments
redeye	1955Expression error: operator = not expected	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	did not enter service
Lancer	1957Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Heinz Fornoff	Sperry Gyroscope Co.	Missile Flight Control Dept.		Garden City, New York	homing
SLAM	1957Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Norman Francis Parker	North American Aviation, Inc.		Autonetics Div.	Downey, California	homing	did not go beyond experiments
not assigned	1957Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Ludwig Bölkow	Bolkow-Entwicklungen KG		Flugkorper-Abteilung	, Baden-Württemberg	unknown	did not go beyond experiments
Harpy	1958Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Rodney Evert Gage	Audio Sonics Corp.			Canoga Park, California	homing	did not go beyond experiments
Strela-2	1960Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	B. I. Shavyrin	Special Design Bureau GKOT			Kolomna, Moscow Region , RSFSR	homing
not assigned	1960Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Emil Stauff	Nord Aviation S.A.	Section des Engins Speciaux		Châtillon-sous-Bagneux, Ile-de-France	unknown	did not go beyond experiments
Thunderstick	1960Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Alfred Zeringer	American Rocket Co.			Taylor, Michigan	uncontrollable	did not go beyond experiments
Blowpipe	1962Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Hugh Graham Conway	Short Brothers & Harland Ltd		Guided Weapons Div.	Castlereagh, Down, Northern Ireland	controlled	adopted in 1972
Redeye Block I	1964Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	adopted in 1968
Dagger	1964Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Richard Sutton Ransome	Short Brothers & Harland Ltd		Guided Weapons Div.	Castlereagh, Down, Northern Ireland	homing	did not enter service
Ear	1966Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	A. G.Novozhilov				Kolomna, Moscow Region , RSFSR	uncontrollable	did not enter service
Redeye 2	1967Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	Karel Bossart	General Dynamics Corp.		Convair Div.	Pomona, California	homing	did not enter service
Strela-2M	1968Expression error: operator = not expectedExpression error: operator = not expected	S. P. Invincible	Design Bureau Engineering MOP			Kolomna, Moscow Region , RSFSR	homing	adopted in 1970

The placement of federal orders in the United States, including orders for R&D in the field of weapons and military equipment, is carried out on a competitive basis, the winner is determined in the competition, therefore, in 1957, before the start of the ground testing stage, the Redai MANPADS competed with similar complexes from rocket companies Sperry Gyroscope and North American Aviation, the sample of the first was called Lancer, the second was called Slam (a backronym for " shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile"). The main requirements that were imposed by the army command on the control samples of the three competing companies were as follows:

The combat weight of the complex should ensure its normal transportability on foot.
The overall dimensions of the complex should correspond to the volume of the internal space of the existing serial vehicles and armored vehicles (NAR Mk 4 was taken as a sample).
The guidance system of the complex should ensure reliable engagement of low-flying targets, both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles with a fixed wing (aircraft) and rotorcraft (helicopters).
A missile in a sealed launch tube must be a unitary munition supplied in a factory-equipped curb and ready for combat use.
No need for routine maintenance and minimum requirements for the inspection of launch tubes with missiles stored in caps in warehouses.
An extremely short training course for an anti-aircraft gunner.
Safety for the shooter at the time of launch.
Easy to operate.

SAM "Lancer" ( Lancer) was transported in disassembled form by a crew of two, further operation after deployment at a firing position and installation of a launch tube with a rocket on a guide could be carried out by the shooter alone, the rocket was launched from a machine installed on the ground or mounted on a machine. It corresponded to the definition of a limitedly portable air defense system, as a means of ensuring mobility, it required a vehicle unit like a standard light army vehicle with increased cross-country ability such as a half-ton jeep. According to the results of the assessment, it was recognized as not meeting the requirements of an individual weapon (because it could not be normally transported and serviced alone) and many times exceeding the requirements for the maximum permissible combat weight of a weapon (subsequently, in December 1958, "Sperry" will again converge in competition with "Conver" when it brings to the attention of the army command an improved version of the Lancer against the self-propelled modification Redai, which will be presented among other models of self-propelled air defense systems as part of the Moler project). MANPADS "Slam" ( SLAM) was carried and serviced by one soldier, the rocket was launched from the shoulder, and in its design it was largely identical to the Redai. When assembled, the complex with the rocket weighed about 23 kg (that is, 2.5 times more than the control sample of the main competitor). Further development was rejected by the military command in connection with the excess of the maximum permissible combat weight of the weapon. Comparative analysis and evaluation of functional layouts and accompanying technical documentation of the three above-mentioned complexes were carried out by an expert commission of officers of the US Army Missile Forces Administration chaired by Francis Duval until January 17, 1958, when Redai was declared the winner of the competition. After representatives of the top management of North American Aviation appealed this decision to higher authorities (because they considered the advantages of the latter not so obvious), specialists from the US Army Artillery and Technical Committee were instructed to conduct an in-depth comparative analysis of the technical qualities of Slam and "Redai", which was held until April 1958 and confirmed the conclusions of the commission regarding the superiority of the latter.

A little later, after the publication of data on the Redai MANPADS in the press, several more portable anti-aircraft weapons were proposed (Harpy and Thunderstick), which nevertheless did not reach military tests. The same period of time includes work on the creation of rocket launchers with unguided rockets with hypersonic flight speed, which were a by-product of the Sprint anti-missile development program (all of them copied it to one degree or another with their form), one of the results of which was the synthesis of high-calorie varieties of rocket fuel with a combustion intensity significantly exceeding those already available, which predetermined their use for these rocket launchers. Most of them were intended to fight against armored vehicles and ground targets, but some were universal and made it possible to simultaneously fight against high-speed air attack weapons. Almost all missiles of this type had a “carrying cone” type layout and were thin, oblong cone-like projectiles. None of the MANPADS (as well as ATGMs) with unguided missiles was eventually put into service. First half of the 1960s characterized by the simultaneous intensification of work on the creation of MANPADS in various NATO countries (mainly in the USA and Great Britain, some experiments were undertaken by German and French rocket scientists). The American-British one included a mutual exchange of technologies between military-industrial companies (the main counterparties in which were Northrop and General Dynamics on the American side; Shorts and Elliots on the British side), - this exchange owes its appearance projects for the creation of MANPADS with command guidance in the United States and complexes with an automatic guidance system with missiles equipped with homing heads in the UK, none of which eventually reached military trials, since the American military leadership demanded the utmost simplicity in all types of weapons of this type exploitation (according to the “fired and thrown” principle), and the British side, on the contrary, pressed on the training of qualified operators, as a result of which, the “British Stinger”, like the “American Blowpipe”, did not take place as serial weapons. This period includes the development of such MANPADS as Redai in the USA, Bluepipe and Dagger in the UK. In the meantime, the relay race in the creation of MANPADS was picked up by the Soviet Union and enterprises of the military-industrial complex USSR using the reverse engineering method, the Strela-2 complex was created, tested in a combat situation (ironically, on American planes and helicopters) and put into service even earlier than its American origin is "Reday".

By the end of the 1960s. MANPADS with anti-aircraft guided missiles of traditional aerodynamic schemes (normal and "duck") finally defeated alternative projects, which later arose only sporadically, during the next round of the international arms race, as a cheap alternative to expensive homing missiles. Nevertheless, the first samples of MANPADS with an infrared head homing (IR GOS) missiles sinned with low noise immunity and high meteorological dependence, were somehow effective only in conditions of clear visibility, in cloudless weather and in the absence of the enemy's means of infrared countermeasures (thermal traps), and MANPADS with radio command control of a rocket manually did not provide the necessary accuracy of guidance, which led to the creation of new MANPADS with IK GOS "Reday-2", and then "Stinger", as well as MANPADS with command guidance by a laser beam - "Blowpipe" and "Oltenit" in the USA, and Rayrider in Sweden (of which only the Stinger and Rayrider reached the stage of mass production).

As more and more countries of the world mastered the production of MANPADS, their military industry produced hundreds of thousands of missiles, which were put into service with their own troops and exported abroad. The popularity of MANPADS on the international arms market (including the black market) as a relatively cheap and effective air defense weapon, coupled with the support of the Soviet Union, China, the United States and Great Britain for various national liberation movements and rebel groups in the world, as well as as a result of the independently implemented policies of the leaders countries with a socialist orientation (primarily such as Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Fidel Castro in Cuba, under whose leadership intensive international military-technical cooperation was carried out from their countries), which had impressive arsenals of Soviet weapons at their disposal, led to the fact that various complexes (mainly of Soviet production or countries of the Soviet bloc) fell into the hands of terrorist organizations and began to pose a serious threat to civil aviation. The particular popularity of specifically Soviet MANPADS was due to 1) the scale of their production (many times higher than the production of similar foreign models); 2) cheapness (the average cost of the Strela-2 PRZK and one missile for it abroad in 1988 prices was about $ 7 thousand compared to $ 100 thousand for the Stinger) and availability, especially with the start of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany and the disintegration of the USSR, when weapons and military equipment massively poured from storage warehouses in an unknown direction; 3) Easy to operate, no need. MANPADS from NATO countries were often more difficult to operate, required the dispatch of instructors or training courses for operators, and getting them was much more problematic, so there were an order of magnitude fewer in the hands of various dubious organizations. With the end of the Cold War, under the auspices of the UN and other international organizations, various activities and programs are being carried out to disarm and dispose of MANPADS arsenals in order to prevent their illegal possession by malefactors.

List of MANPADS by country

Year	Name (code NATO)	Hover type	Length, m	Diameter, mm	Rocket mass, kg	Mass of MANPADS in combat, kg	Warhead type	Warhead mass (BB), kg	Target range, m	Height of hitting targets, m	Average rocket speed (max.), m/s	Max. target speed (in pursuit / towards), m / s	Spreading	Probability of hitting a target 1 SAM
Surface-to-air missiles
	9K32 "Strela-2" (SA-7 Grail)	TpV	1,42	72	9,15	14,5	OFC	1,15 (0,37)	800-3600	50-1500	430 ( =1,3)	220	60 countries	0,19-0,25

MANPADS "Verba" is the latest Russian man-portable air defense system, put into service in 2014. This weapon has just begun to enter combat units, the first to receive this MANPADS were anti-aircraft gunners of the 98th Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo).

The anti-aircraft system was presented to potential foreign customers at the Defexpo India exhibition in 2019. Rosoboronexport expects that not only the Indian military, but also the defense departments of Algeria, Egypt and a number of other countries will show interest in the Verba complex.

MANPADS "Verba" is designed to destroy low-flying air targets (both on a collision course and on a catch-up) in the face of enemy opposition and the use of false thermal targets. This anti-aircraft missile system is especially effective for destroying stealthy targets: unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.

The new anti-aircraft complex uses several new and original technical solutions, which allows it to more effectively hit enemy aircraft and carry out air defense. When developing "Verba", a rich experience in the development and use of domestic weapons of this class was taken into account. Very often, the Verba MANPADS are called a new generation weapon that surpasses not only Soviet and Russian developments (Igla-1, Igla, Igla-S), but also the best foreign analogues: the American Stinger-Block-I and Chinese QW-2.

History of creation

The first information about the Verba MANPADS appeared back in 2008. However, the messages were rather sparse and vague. It was alleged that the "Verba" would be put into service in 2009, but these dates were constantly pushed back. In 2011, military tests of the new complex began, but its adoption was delayed until 2014.

The development of the complex was carried out by the Kolomna "KB Mashinostroeniya" - one of the world leaders in the creation of such weapons.

Currently, the new MANPADS entered service with the Ivanovo Airborne Division. It is planned that in the coming years, "Verba" will be delivered to other units of the Russian army and will replace outdated anti-aircraft missile systems.

Description

MANPADS "Verba" is designed to destroy low-flying air targets (airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles) on overtaking and oncoming courses. The firing range of MANPADS is 6 km, and the target engagement height is 4 km. The complex includes a missile with an infrared homing head (GOS), which is guided in three ranges at once, which significantly increases its characteristics and efficiency of use. A similar principle is implemented on most modern MANPADS (for example, the Igla MANPADS GOS has two channels), however, only Verba uses three separate photodetectors, each of which operates in its own range. In this regard, we can really say that the Verba is really a new generation of MANPADS.

In addition, the missile seeker is protected from laser jamming systems, which are installed on modern combat aircraft and helicopters.

Another feature of the complex is the presence of an automated control system (ACS), which detects airborne objects, determines the parameters of their flight, and also distributes targets between anti-aircraft gunners in one unit.

A common problem when using MANPADS is the untimely detection of flying objects. Previously, MANPADS calculations tried to visually detect the target, but this is not always an easy task.

To further complicate the work of anti-aircraft gunners, pilots often fly at low or ultra-low altitudes. In this case, an enemy aircraft suddenly appears in the field of view, moves at high speed, so it is difficult for the fighter to react in time and prepare for firing.

The automated control system for MANPADS "Verba" includes a small and noise-immune radar station, which can detect an air target at distances up to 80 km. After that, the anti-aircraft gunners are given a sound signal about the presence of the enemy, the ACS using the GLONASS system determines the location of the shooter and gives him the azimuth for firing.

The Verba anti-aircraft complex is part of the Barnaul-T tactical air defense system, it is integrated into the overall air defense system and can receive information about air targets from higher-level detection systems.

The structure of MANPADS "Verba" includes the following components:

trigger mechanism 9P521;
surveillance radar station 1L122 with a target detection range of 40-80 km;
guided missile 9M336;
system of definition "friend or foe";
mobile checkpoint 9B861;
reconnaissance and control, planning and fire control module;
mounting kit 9S933-1 (for the division);
automation kit for anti-aircraft gunner 9S935;
means for education and training of personnel.

The 9M336 missile has a new solid-propellant engine with higher performance compared to the MANPADS currently in service with the Russian army. The missile has an enlarged warhead, and it is also equipped with an adaptive contact-proximity fuse. The complex also includes the Mowgli-2M night vision sight, which allows you to fire at night and in conditions of limited visibility.

Another undoubted advantage of "Verba" is the simplification of its maintenance. Now the homing head does not need to be regularly cooled with liquid nitrogen. This allows you to abandon additional equipment, refrigerant tanks, save time and effort.

The commander of the anti-aircraft regiment of the 98th airborne division, which has already entered service with the Verba MANPADS, said that the new systems can significantly reduce the deployment time of the crews. Previously, from the detection of a target to the opening of fire, it could take up to five minutes, but now this period has decreased by almost ten times.

The Air Defense Troops of the Ground Forces is a separate branch of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, which is designed to cover troops and various objects from the destructive action of enemy air attack weapons when conducting operations by combined arms formations and formations, regrouping and deploying on the spot.

The Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (Military Air Defense) and the Air Comic Forces (Air Defense of the country's territory, Objective Air Defense) have differences.

Air Defense Forces perform the following tasks:

Combat duty for air defense.
Reconnaissance of an air enemy and timely notification of covered troops.
Joint missile defense.
Destruction of means of air attack.

The structure of the air defense forces

The air defense structure is subdivided into:

Military air defense of the Armed Forces, which includes air defense units of the SV, Airborne Forces, coastal Navy.
Air defense of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation, blocking the territory with important military facilities (air defense-missile defense - anti-missile and air defense forces).

Since 1997, there has been its own air defense, formed in the Air Force. These troops include the air defense of the Ground Forces, whose task is to provide high-quality cover for military facilities and army formations in quarters from a missile attack and an air enemy, as well as during regroupings and during battles.

The air defense of the Ground Forces is armed with various means of countering the enemy, which are capable of hitting targets at different heights:

more than 12 km (in the stratosphere);
up to 12 km (large);
up to 4 km (medium);
up to 1 km (small);
up to 200 meters (very small).

According to the firing range, anti-aircraft weapons are divided into:

more than 100 km - long-range;
up to 100 km - medium range;
up to 30 km - short range;
up to 10 km - short range.

The constant improvement of the air defense forces consists in improving their mobility, expanding the capabilities of detecting and tracking the enemy, reducing the time to transfer to a combat state, overlapping sectors of destruction for 100% destruction of attacking vehicles.

In recent years, the likelihood of an attack using various types of armed drones has increased (the presence of bombs, missiles and mines on the suspension).

Since 2015, the Military Space Forces of the Russian Federation (VKS) have been formed, which include independent air defense and missile defense forces. The main task of the new military formation is to counter the enemy attack in the atmosphere and beyond in order to intercept the attacking multiple combat ballistic heads and maneuverable cruise missiles to ensure the protection of the most important points in the Moscow region.

A Brief History of the Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation

The beginning of the formation of military air defense units was the order of General Alekseev, the commander-in-chief of the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, dated December 13, 1915, which announced the formation of separate four-gun light batteries for firing at the air fleet. According to the order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation of February 9, 2007 - December 26 is the date of the creation of military air defense.

In 1941, the air defense system of the USSR was divided into air defense of the country's territory and the Army.

In 1958, a separate type of troops was created as part of the Ground Forces - the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces.

In 1997, the troops of the military air defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were formed, as a result of the merger of the air defense troops of the Ground Forces, formations, military units and air defense units of the Coastal Forces of the Navy, formations and military air defense units of the reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Let's list the chiefs of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Chief of the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Colonel-General Dukhov B.I. - 1991-2000;
initial Military Air Defense - Colonel General Danilkin V.B. – 2000-2005;
Head of the Military Air Defense - Colonel-General N. A. Frolov - 2008-2010;
Chief of the Military Air Defense Major General Krush M.K. - 2008-2010;
Chief of the Troops of the Land Forces of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - Major General (since 2013 Lieutenant General) Leonov A.P. - 2010 to the present.

The Russian Federation is the only country in the world that has a layered, full-scale, integrated aerospace defense system. The technical basis of the aerospace defense are systems and complexes of anti-missile and air defense, designed to solve a variety of tasks: from tactical to operational-strategic. The technical indicators of the aerospace defense complexes and systems provide reliable cover for the troops, important industrial facilities, public administration, transport and energy.

According to experts, anti-aircraft missile systems and complexes are the most complex military vehicles. In addition to radio and laser equipment, they are equipped with special means that carry out aerial reconnaissance, tracking and guidance.

"Antey-2500" S-300

According to experts, this is the only mobile air defense missile system in the world. It is capable of intercepting even a ballistic missile designed for medium and short range. In addition, even the Staelth stealth aircraft can become the target of Antey. The system destroys the object using 2 or 4 anti-aircraft guided missiles 9M83. 3RS is produced at the Almaz-Antey concern for the air defense units of Egypt, Venezuela and Russia. Until 2015, they were produced for export to Iran.

"Antey-2500" S-300

ZRS S-300V

ZRS S-300V is a military self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system. Equipped with two types of missiles: ZUR 9M82 and 9M83. The former are used to destroy ballistic Pershings, SRAM aircraft missiles and far-flying aircraft. The latter destroy air vehicles and R-17 Lance and Scud ballistic missiles.

Autonomous SAM "Tor"

This system got its name in honor of the Scandinavian god. They were designed to cover vehicles, infantry, buildings and important industrial facilities. According to experts, "Thor" is able to protect against precision weapons, guided bombs and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is considered autonomous, as it can independently control the airspace, identify and shoot down an air target.

SAM "Osa", MD-PS, "Tunguska" and "Pine-RA"

This air defense system went to the Russian Federation and other CIS countries as a legacy from the USSR. The main purpose of the "Wasp": helicopters, planes, cruise missiles and drones. In Soviet times, the air defense system was successfully used in the 1960s. The Wasp provided ground forces with protection if the aircraft was designed for medium and low altitude.

A distinctive feature of the MD-PS anti-aircraft missile system is the possibility of its covert operation. For this task, the air defense system was equipped with optical means, with the help of which the MD-PS, using infrared radiation, detects it and directs the missile defense system. The main advantage of the complex is that, thanks to the all-round view, it is able to simultaneously identify up to fifty targets. Then several of them are selected, which are the most dangerous. Then they are destroyed. When aiming the gun, the principle of "fire and forget" is applied. The missile is equipped with homing heads that can independently see the target.

Anti-aircraft cannon missile system "Tunguska" carries out air defense in the near radius. Since attack aircraft and helicopters mainly operate at low altitudes, the Tunguska successfully copes with them. Thus, reliable infantry cover is provided in battle. In addition, the purpose of this air defense system may be floating military and lightly armored ground vehicles. If there is no fog or snow, then the Tunguska can shoot both on the move and from a place. The air defense system is equipped with 9M311 missiles. For the complex, anti-aircraft guns 2A38 are additionally provided, which operate at an angle of 85 degrees.

"Sosna-RA" is a light mobile towed anti-aircraft gun missile system. It destroys air targets at an altitude of up to three thousand meters. Compared to the Tunguska, Sosna-RA is equipped with a 9M337 hypersonic missile, which can shoot down an enemy object at an altitude of 3.5 kilometers. The range varies from 1300 to 8000 meters. As a result of the fact that Sosna-RA has a relatively small weight, it can be transported on any platform. The Russian military most often transports the complex with Ural-4320 and KamAZ-4310 trucks.

ZRAK "Buk" and modifications

Since 1970, the Soviet army has had this complex. Currently, this anti-aircraft missile system is in service with Russia and is listed in the technical documentation as 9K37 Buk. The complex includes the following components:

command post 9s470;
fire mount 9А310;
charging unit 9А39;
target detection station 9S18.

Parts of the complex are installed on conventional tracked platforms, which are characterized by high cross-country ability. Buk fires 9M38 anti-aircraft missiles. According to military experts, with the help of such an air defense system, it is possible to hit an air target at an altitude of up to 18 km and a distance from the system up to 25 km. In this case, the probability of an accurate hit is 0.6. After modernization, they created a new air defense system - Buk-M1. If we compare it with its analogue, then this option has a higher probability of destruction and an enlarged zone. In addition, the Buk-M1 has a function that allows you to recognize a flying object. The new model is much more protected from anti-radar missiles. The main purpose of the air defense system is to shoot down helicopters, planes, enemy drones and cruise missiles.

In the 1980s a new version appeared - 9M317, firing modern missiles. The use of 9M317 required engineers to make improvements to the design of the complex. Rocket with smaller wings and increased range at an altitude of 25 km. The main advantage of 9M317 is that its fuse operates in 2 modes. Upon contact with the missile or at a certain distance from it, the target will be destroyed. The self-propelled launcher has new equipment, thanks to which it detects 10 targets at the same time and can eliminate the four of them that it considers the most dangerous.

In order to completely replace obsolete electronics with modern digital equipment, military engineers have developed the Buk-M3 air defense system. The rocket itself has also been replaced. Now the shooting is carried out by the modern 9M317M, which has high characteristics. Despite the fact that there is no specific information about this complex yet, experts suggest that such an air defense system can shoot down a flying object at an altitude of more than 7000 meters with a hit probability of 0.96.

The latest air defense systems of Russia

The Russian military can intercept an air target at a great distance (from 200 kilometers) using the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system. This air defense system entered service in 2007. The complex was created specifically to provide protection in the event of a likely attack, both from space and from the air. According to experts, the S-400 is capable of destroying a target at an altitude of no more than 30,000 meters.

In 2012, a new anti-aircraft missile gun system, the Pantsir S1 air defense missile system, entered service. With the help of guided missiles and automatic guns, for which radio command guidance, radar and infrared tracking are provided, the target is destroyed, wherever it is. ZRPK has twelve surface-to-air missiles and two anti-aircraft guns.

The latest Russian novelty is the Sosna air defense system, which operates in the near radius. According to experts, this complex is designed for fragmentation-rod and armor-piercing effects. Missiles can destroy enemy armored vehicles, ships and fortifications. The air defense system is effective in the complex in the fight against high-precision weapons, drones and cruise missiles. A laser is used for guidance: the missile flies towards the beam.

Distribution in Russia

At present, the air defense structure of the Russian Federation is represented by 34 regiments, anti-aircraft missile systems S-300, S-300PS, S-400 and others. Not so long ago, two brigades each from the CD and the Air Force were transformed into regiments and converted into air defense. So, this military branch includes regiments (38) and divisions (105).

According to experts, the distribution of air defense forces in Russia is uneven. Moscow has the most reliable protection. There are ten regiments around this city, deploying S-300s. There are four more divisions near Moscow, armed with S-400s.

St. Petersburg is also well covered - four regiments with S-300 and S-400. The bases of the Northern Fleet in Murmansk, Polyarny and Severomorsk are guarded by three regiments, the Pacific Fleet in the region of Vladivostok and Nakhodka is covered by two regiments. One regiment guards Avacha Bay in Kamchatka (SSBN base). The Baltic Fleet and the Kaliningrad Region are covered from the air by a mixed regiment armed with S-300 and S-400 systems. There is also air defense in the Crimea. In order to provide more reliable protection for the Black Sea Fleet, the command decided to strengthen the Sevastopol air defense grouping with additional S-300 systems. Russian air defense also has radar stations, which we will discuss in more detail later.

Radar P-15 and P-19

With the help of these air defense systems of the Russian Federation, low-flying targets are detected. They have been in service since 1955. These radars are equipped with artillery, radio engineering and anti-aircraft formations, points of administrative and operational air defense units. The station is transported using one car with a trailer. Radars make deployments within ten minutes. The station operates in coherent-pulse and amplitude modes.

By means of the P-19 radar, reconnaissance is carried out at medium and low altitudes. Then the received information is transmitted to the command post. This radar is a mobile two-coordinate radar station, for the transportation of which two vehicles are used. The first is used for the transportation of indicator, transceiver equipment, anti-jamming equipment, while the second is used for the antenna-rotary device and units that provide power to the system.

Radar P-18

With the help of this upgraded station, aircraft are detected. Their coordinates are determined, after which they are issued as a target. According to experts, at the moment the operational resource of such air defense systems of the Russian Federation has exhausted itself. In order to extend and improve the performance characteristics, an assembly complex with a resource of at least 20 years and wear of no more than 12 years is used for modernization. So, they are changing the outdated element base of the P-18 with a modern one, the tube transmitter is being replaced with a solid-state one. In addition, radars are equipped with systems with digital processes that process the signal and suppress active noise interference. As a result of numerous works, the equipment in this radar is not so voluminous. In addition, the system has become more reliable, with improved performance and accuracy, and more protected from interference.

It is a radar rangefinder, which is listed in the technical documentation as "Armor" 1RL128. This air defense system is aimed at performing the following tasks:

identification of an air target;
antennas are displayed to the target automatically and calculate the height to it;
determines the azimuth and slant range;
the built-in program "friend or foe" determines the state ownership of the object.

The complex is equipped with radio-technical formations and air defense formations, anti-aircraft artillery and missile units. The design of "Armor" is antenna-feeder. The location of the equipment, components and the ground-based radar interrogator is the 426U self-propelled tracked chassis. There is also space for two gas turbine units that provide power to the system.

"Sky-SV"

To detect an enemy target in the airspace, a two-coordinate radar operating in standby mode is used. The system is represented by a mobile coherent-pulse station. It is transported by 4 vehicles, namely 3 cars and 1 trailer. The first vehicle transports transceiver, indicator equipment and means that automatically remove and transmit information. The second car is designed to transport the antenna-rotary device, and the third one is for the diesel power plant. There is space on the trailer for the HP3 antenna rotator. An interface cable and 2 remote indicators with all-round visibility go to the radar system.