Intercontinental ballistic missiles. What is the ballistic trajectory of a rocket, bullet

§ 1.2 Fundamentals of Ritz Ballistic Theory There was a great need for an intermediate link that was invented to explain the reason for the equality of action and reaction. I stated in the introduction that radiant energy, generated and emitted at the speed of light,

In which there is no thrust or control force and moment, it is called a ballistic trajectory. If the mechanism that powers the object remains operational throughout the entire period of movement, it belongs to the category of aviation or dynamic. The trajectory of an aircraft during flight with the engines turned off at high altitude can also be called ballistic.

An object that moves along given coordinates is affected only by the mechanism that drives the body, the forces of resistance and gravity. A set of such factors excludes the possibility of rectilinear movement. This rule works even in space.

The body describes a trajectory that is similar to an ellipse, hyperbola, parabola or circle. The last two options are achieved at the second and first cosmic velocities. Calculations for parabolic or circular motion are performed to determine the trajectory of a ballistic missile.

Taking into account all the parameters during launch and flight (weight, speed, temperature, etc.), the following trajectory features are distinguished:

• In order to launch the rocket as far as possible, you need to choose the right angle. The best is sharp, about 45º.
• The object has the same initial and final speed.
• The body lands at the same angle as it launches.
• The time it takes for an object to move from the start to the middle, as well as from the middle to the finishing point, is the same.

Trajectory properties and practical implications

Movement of the body after the influence on it ceases driving force studies external ballistics. This science provides calculations, tables, scales, sights and develops optimal options for shooting. The ballistic trajectory of a bullet is the curved line described by the center of gravity of an object in flight.

Since the body is affected by gravity and resistance, the path that the bullet (projectile) describes forms the shape of a curved line. Under the influence of these forces, the speed and height of the object gradually decreases. There are several trajectories: flat, mounted and conjugate.

The first is achieved by using an elevation angle that is less than the angle of greatest range. If the flight range remains the same for different trajectories, such a trajectory can be called conjugate. In the case where the elevation angle is greater than the angle of greatest range, the path becomes called a suspended path.

The trajectory of the ballistic movement of an object (bullet, projectile) consists of points and sections:

• Departure(for example, the muzzle of a barrel) - this point is the beginning of the path, and, accordingly, the reference.
• Weapons horizon- this section passes through the departure point. The trajectory crosses it twice: during release and during fall.
• Elevation area- this is a line that is a continuation of the horizon and forms a vertical plane. This area is called the firing plane.
• Trajectory vertices- this is the point that is located in the middle between the starting and ending points (shot and fall), has the highest angle along the entire path.
• Tips- the target or sighting location and the beginning of the object’s movement form the aiming line. An aiming angle is formed between the horizon of the weapon and the final target.

Rockets: features of launch and movement

There are guided and unguided ballistic missiles. The formation of the trajectory is also influenced by external and external factors (resistance forces, friction, weight, temperature, required flight range, etc.).

The general path of a launched body can be described by the following stages:

• Launch. In this case, the rocket enters the first stage and begins its movement. From this moment, the measurement of the height of the ballistic missile’s flight path begins.
• After about a minute, the second engine starts.
• 60 seconds after the second stage, the third engine starts.
• Then the body enters the atmosphere.
• Lastly, the warheads explode.

Launching a rocket and forming a movement curve

The rocket's travel curve consists of three parts: the launch period, free flight and re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Live projectiles are launched from a fixed point on portable installations, as well as Vehicle(ships, submarines). The flight initiation lasts from tenths of a thousandths of a second to several minutes. Free fall constitutes the largest portion of a ballistic missile's flight path.

The advantages of running such a device are:

• Long free flight time. Thanks to this property, fuel consumption is significantly reduced in comparison with other rockets. To fly prototypes (cruise missiles), more economical engines (for example, jets) are used.
• At the speed at which the intercontinental weapon moves (approximately 5 thousand m/s), interception is very difficult.
• The ballistic missile is capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 10 thousand km.

In theory, the path of movement of a projectile is a phenomenon from the general theory of physics, the branch of the dynamics of solid bodies in motion. With respect to these objects, the movement of the center of mass and the movement around it are considered. The first relates to the characteristics of the object in flight, the second to stability and control.

Since the body has programmed trajectories for flight, the calculation of the ballistic trajectory of the missile is determined by physical and dynamic calculations.

Modern developments in ballistics

Because the combat missiles of any type are dangerous to life, the main task of defense is to improve launch points damaging systems. The latter must ensure the complete neutralization of intercontinental and ballistic weapons at any point in the movement. A multi-tier system is proposed for consideration:

• This invention consists of separate tiers, each of which has its own purpose: the first two will be equipped with laser-type weapons (homing missiles, electromagnetic guns).
• The next two sections are equipped with the same weapons, but designed to destroy the head parts of enemy weapons.

Developments in defense missile technology do not stand still. Scientists are modernizing a quasi-ballistic missile. The latter is presented as an object that has a low path in the atmosphere, but at the same time sharply changes direction and range.

The ballistic trajectory of such a missile does not affect its speed: even at an extremely low altitude, the object moves faster than a normal one. For example, the Russian-developed Iskander flies at supersonic speeds - from 2100 to 2600 m/s with a mass of 4 kg 615 g; missile cruises move a warhead weighing up to 800 kg. During flight, it maneuvers and evades missile defenses.

Intercontinental weapons: control theory and components

Multistage ballistic missiles are called intercontinental missiles. This name appeared for a reason: due to the long flight range, it becomes possible to transfer cargo to the other end of the Earth. The main combat substance (charge) is mainly an atomic or thermonuclear substance. The latter is located in the front of the projectile.

Next, a control system, engines and fuel tanks are installed in the design. Dimensions and weight depend on the required flight range: the greater the distance, the higher the launch weight and dimensions of the structure.

The ballistic flight trajectory of an ICBM is distinguished from the trajectory of other missiles by altitude. The multi-stage rocket goes through the launch process, then moves upward at a right angle for several seconds. The control system ensures that the gun is directed towards the target. The first stage of the rocket drive separates independently after complete burnout, and at the same moment the next one is launched. Upon reaching a given speed and flight altitude, the rocket begins to rapidly move down towards the target. The flight speed to the destination reaches 25 thousand km/h.

World developments of special-purpose missiles

About 20 years ago, during the modernization of one of the medium-range missile systems, a project for anti-ship ballistic missiles was adopted. This design is placed on an autonomous launch platform. The weight of the projectile is 15 tons, and the launch range is almost 1.5 km.

The trajectory of a ballistic missile for destroying ships is not amenable to quick calculations, so it is impossible to predict enemy actions and eliminate this weapon.

This development has the following advantages:

• Launch range. This value is 2-3 times greater than that of the prototypes.
• Flight speed and altitude make military weapon invulnerable to missile defense.

World experts are confident that weapons of mass destruction can still be detected and neutralized. For such purposes, special out-of-orbit reconnaissance stations, aviation, submarines, ships, etc. are used. The most important “countermeasure” is space reconnaissance, which is presented in the form of radar stations.

The ballistic trajectory is determined by the reconnaissance system. The received data is transmitted to its destination. The main problem is the rapid obsolescence of information - in a short period of time, the data loses its relevance and can diverge from the actual location of the weapon at a distance of up to 50 km.

Characteristics of combat systems of the domestic defense industry

Most powerful weapon Currently, an intercontinental ballistic missile is considered to be stationary. The domestic missile system "R-36M2" is one of the best. It houses the heavy-duty 15A18M combat weapon, which is capable of carrying up to 36 individual precision-guided nuclear projectiles.

The ballistic flight path of such a weapon is almost impossible to predict; accordingly, neutralizing a missile also poses difficulties. The combat power of the projectile is 20 Mt. If this ammunition explodes at a low altitude, the communication, control, and missile defense systems will fail.

Modifications given rocket launcher can also be used for peaceful purposes.

Among solid fuel missiles, the RT-23 UTTH is considered especially powerful. Such a device is based autonomously (mobile). In the stationary prototype station (“15Zh60”), the starting thrust is 0.3 higher compared to the mobile version.

Missile launches carried out directly from stations are difficult to neutralize, because the number of projectiles can reach 92 units.

Missile systems and installations of the foreign defense industry

Height of the missile's ballistic trajectory American complex Minuteman 3 is not particularly different from the flight characteristics of domestic inventions.

The complex, which was developed in the USA, is the only “defender” North America among weapons of this type up to today. Despite the age of the invention, the gun’s stability indicators are quite good even today, because the complex’s missiles could withstand missile defense and also hit a target with a high level of protection. The active part of the flight is short and lasts 160 seconds.

Another American invention is the Peakkeeper. It could also ensure an accurate hit on the target thanks to the most favorable trajectory of ballistic movement. Experts say that combat capabilities the given complex is almost 8 times higher than that of the Minuteman. The Peacekeeper's combat duty was 30 seconds.

Projectile flight and movement in the atmosphere

From the dynamics section we know the influence of air density on the speed of movement of any body in various layers of the atmosphere. The function of the last parameter takes into account the dependence of density directly on flight altitude and is expressed as a function of:

N (y) = 20000-y/20000+y;

where y is the height of the projectile (m).

The parameters and trajectory of an intercontinental ballistic missile can be calculated using special programs on a computer. The latter will provide statements, as well as data on flight altitude, speed and acceleration, and the duration of each stage.

The experimental part confirms the calculated characteristics and proves that the speed is influenced by the shape of the projectile (the better the streamlining, the higher the speed).

Guided weapons of mass destruction of the last century

All weapons of this type can be divided into two groups: ground and airborne. Ground-based devices are those that are launched from stationary stations (for example, mines). Aviation, accordingly, is launched from a carrier ship (aircraft).

The ground-based group includes ballistic, cruise and anti-aircraft missiles. Aviation - projectile aircraft, ADB and guided air combat missiles.

The main characteristic of calculating the ballistic trajectory is the altitude (several thousand kilometers above the atmospheric layer). At a given level above the ground, projectiles reach high speeds and create enormous difficulties for their detection and neutralization of missile defense.

Well-known ballistic missiles that are designed for average range flights are: “Titan”, “Thor”, “Jupiter”, “Atlas”, etc.

The ballistic trajectory of a missile, which is launched from a point and hits specified coordinates, has the shape of an ellipse. The size and length of the arc depends on the initial parameters: speed, launch angle, mass. If the projectile speed is equal to the first cosmic speed (8 km/s), a military weapon, which is launched parallel to the horizon, will turn into a satellite of the planet with a circular orbit.

Despite constant improvements in the field of defense, the flight path of a military projectile remains virtually unchanged. At the moment, technology is not able to violate the laws of physics that all bodies obey. A small exception are homing missiles - they can change direction depending on the movement of the target.

The inventors of anti-missile systems are also modernizing and developing a weapon to destroy weapons. mass destruction new generation.

The ICBM is a very impressive human creation. Huge size, thermonuclear power, column of flame, roar of engines and the menacing roar of launch. However, all this exists only on the ground and in the first minutes of launch. After they expire, the rocket ceases to exist. Further into the flight and to carry out the combat mission, only what remains of the rocket after acceleration is used - its payload.

With long launch ranges, the payload of an intercontinental ballistic missile extends into space for many hundreds of kilometers. It rises into the layer of low-orbit satellites, 1000-1200 km above the Earth, and is located among them for a short time, only slightly lagging behind their general run. And then it begins to slide down along an elliptical trajectory...

A ballistic missile consists of two main parts - the accelerating part and the other for the sake of which the acceleration is started. The accelerating part is a pair or three of large multi-ton stages, filled to capacity with fuel and with engines at the bottom. They give the necessary speed and direction to the movement of the other main part of the rocket - the head. The booster stages, replacing each other in the launch relay, accelerate this warhead in the direction of the area of ​​its future fall.

The head of a rocket is a complex load consisting of many elements. It contains a warhead (one or more), a platform on which these warheads are placed along with all other equipment (such as means of deceiving enemy radars and missile defenses), and a fairing. There is also fuel and compressed gases in the head part. All head part will not fly to the target. It, like the ballistic missile itself earlier, will split into many elements and simply cease to exist as a single whole. The fairing will separate from it not far from the launch area, during the operation of the second stage, and somewhere along the way it will fall. The platform will collapse upon entering the air of the impact area. Only one type of element will reach the target through the atmosphere. Warheads.

Up close, the warhead looks like an elongated cone, a meter or one and a half long, with a base as thick as a human torso. The nose of the cone is pointed or slightly blunt. This cone is special aircraft, whose task is to deliver weapons to the target. We'll come back to warheads later and take a closer look at them.

The head of the “Peacekeeper”, The photographs show the breeding stages of the American heavy ICBM LGM0118A Peacekeeper, also known as MX. The missile was equipped with ten 300 kt multiple warheads. The missile was withdrawn from service in 2005.

Pull or push?

In a missile, all warheads are located in the so-called breeding stage, or “bus”. Why bus? Because, having first been freed from the fairing, and then from the last booster stage, the propagation stage carries the warheads, like passengers, along given stops, along their trajectories, along which the deadly cones will disperse to their targets.

The “bus” is also called the combat stage, because its work determines the accuracy of pointing the warhead to the target point, and therefore combat effectiveness. The breeding stage and its work is one of the most big secrets in a rocket. But we will still take a slight, schematic look at this mysterious step and its difficult dance in space.

The breeding step has different forms. Most often, it looks like a round stump or a wide loaf of bread, on which warheads are mounted on top, points forward, each on its own spring pusher. The warheads are pre-positioned at precise separation angles (at the missile base, manually, using theodolites) and point in different directions, like a bunch of carrots, like the needles of a hedgehog. The platform, bristling with warheads, occupies a given position in flight, gyro-stabilized in space. And at the right moments, warheads are pushed out of it one by one. They are ejected immediately after completion of acceleration and separation from the last accelerating stage. Until (you never know?) they shot down this entire undiluted hive with anti-missile weapons or something on board the breeding stage failed.

But this happened before, at the dawn of multiple warheads. Now breeding presents a completely different picture. If earlier the warheads “stuck” forward, now the stage itself is in front along the course, and the warheads hang from below, with their tops back, inverted, like the bats. The “bus” itself in some rockets also lies upside down, in a special recess in the upper stage of the rocket. Now, after separation, the breeding stage does not push, but drags the warheads along with it. Moreover, it drags, resting against its four “paws” placed crosswise, deployed in front. At the ends of these metal legs are rearward-facing thrust nozzles for the expansion stage. After separation from the accelerating stage, the “bus” very accurately, precisely sets its movement in the beginning of space with the help of its own powerful guidance system. He himself occupies the exact path of the next warhead - its individual path.

Then the special inertia-free locks that held the next detachable warhead are opened. And not even separated, but simply now no longer connected with the stage, the warhead remains motionless hanging here, in complete weightlessness. The moments of her own flight began and flowed by. Like one individual berry next to a bunch of grapes with other warhead grapes not yet plucked from the stage by the breeding process.

Fiery Ten, K-551 “Vladimir Monomakh” is a Russian strategic nuclear submarine (Project 955 “Borey”), armed with 16 solid-fuel Bulava ICBMs with ten multiple warheads.

Delicate movements

Now the task of the stage is to crawl away from the warhead as delicately as possible, without disturbing its precisely set (targeted) movement with gas jets of its nozzles. If a supersonic jet of a nozzle hits a separated warhead, it will inevitably add its own additive to the parameters of its movement. Over the subsequent flight time (which is half an hour to fifty minutes, depending on the launch range), the warhead will drift from this exhaust “slap” of the jet half a kilometer to a kilometer sideways from the target, or even further. It will drift without obstacles: there is space, they slapped it - it floated, not being held back by anything. But is a kilometer sideways accurate today?

To avoid such effects, it is precisely the four upper “legs” with engines that are spaced apart to the sides that are needed. The stage is, as it were, pulled forward on them so that the exhaust jets go to the sides and cannot catch the warhead separated by the belly of the stage. All thrust is divided between four nozzles, which reduces the power of each individual jet. There are other features too. For example, if on the donut-shaped propulsion stage (with a void in the middle - this hole is worn on the rocket's upper stage like a wedding ring on a finger) of the Trident II D5 missile, the control system determines that the separated warhead still falls under the exhaust of one of the nozzles, then the control system turns off this nozzle. Silences the warhead.

The stage, gently, like a mother from the cradle of a sleeping child, fearing to disturb his peace, tiptoes away into space on the three remaining nozzles in low thrust mode, and the warhead remains on the aiming trajectory. Then the “donut” stage with the cross of the thrust nozzles is rotated around the axis so that the warhead comes out from under the zone of the torch of the switched off nozzle. Now the stage moves away from the remaining warhead on all four nozzles, but for now also at low throttle. When a sufficient distance is reached, the main thrust is turned on, and the stage vigorously moves into the area of ​​the target trajectory of the next warhead. There it slows down in a calculated manner and again very precisely sets the parameters of its movement, after which it separates the next warhead from itself. And so on - until it lands each warhead on its trajectory. This process is fast, much faster than you read about it. In one and a half to two minutes, the combat stage deploys a dozen warheads.

The abysses of mathematics

Intercontinental ballistic missile R-36M Voevoda Voevoda,

What has been said above is quite enough to understand how a warhead’s own path begins. But if you open the door a little wider and look a little deeper, you will notice that today the rotation in space of the breeding stage carrying the warhead is an area of ​​​​application of quaternion calculus, where the on-board attitude control system processes the measured parameters of its movement with a continuous construction of the on-board orientation quaternion. Quaternion is such a complex number (over the field complex numbers lies a flat body of quaternions, as mathematicians would say in their precise language of definitions). But not with the usual two parts, real and imaginary, but with one real and three imaginary. In total, the quaternion has four parts, which, in fact, is what it says Latin root quatro.

The dilution stage does its job quite low, immediately after the boost stages are turned off. That is, at an altitude of 100−150 km. And there is also the influence of gravitational anomalies on the Earth’s surface, heterogeneities in the even gravitational field surrounding the Earth. Where are they from? From the uneven terrain, mountain systems, occurrence of rocks of different densities, oceanic depressions. Gravitational anomalies either attract the stage to themselves with additional attraction, or, conversely, slightly release it from the Earth.

In such irregularities, the complex ripples of the local gravitational field, the breeding stage must place the warheads with precision accuracy. To do this, it was necessary to create a more detailed map of the Earth's gravitational field. It is better to “explain” the features of a real field in systems of differential equations that describe precise ballistic motion. These are large, capacious (to include details) systems of several thousand differential equations, with several tens of thousands of constant numbers. And the gravitational field itself at low altitudes, in the immediate near-Earth region, is considered as a joint attraction of several hundred point masses of different “weights” located near the center of the Earth in a certain order. This achieves a more accurate simulation of the Earth's real gravitational field along the rocket's flight path. And more precise work flight control systems with it. And also... but that's enough! - Let's not look further and close the door; What has been said is enough for us.

Flight without warheads

The photo shows the launch of a Trident II intercontinental missile (USA) from a submarine. Currently, Trident is the only family of ICBMs whose missiles are installed on American submarines. The maximum throwing weight is 2800 kg.

The breeding stage, accelerated by the missile towards the same geographical area where the warheads should fall, continues its flight along with them. After all, she can’t fall behind, and why should she? After disengaging the warheads, the stage urgently attends to other matters. She moves away from the warheads, knowing in advance that she will fly a little differently from the warheads, and not wanting to disturb them. The breeding stage also devotes all its further actions to warheads. This maternal desire to protect the flight of her “children” in every possible way continues for the rest of her short life.

Short, but intense.

The ICBM payload spends most of its flight in space object mode, rising to an altitude three times the height of the ISS. The trajectory of enormous length must be calculated with extreme accuracy.

After the separated warheads, it is the turn of other wards. The most amusing things begin to fly away from the steps. Like a magician, she releases into space a lot of inflating balloons, some metal things that resemble open scissors, and objects of all sorts of other shapes. Durable air balloons sparkle brightly in the cosmic sun with the mercury shine of a metallized surface. They are quite large, some shaped like warheads flying nearby. Their aluminum-coated surface reflects a radar signal from a distance in much the same way as the warhead body. Enemy ground radars will perceive these inflatable warheads as well as real ones. Of course, in the very first moments of entering the atmosphere, these balls will fall behind and immediately burst. But before that, they will distract and load the computing power of ground-based radars - both long-range detection and guidance of anti-missile systems. In ballistic missile interceptor parlance, this is called “complicating the current ballistic environment.” And the entire heavenly army, inexorably moving towards the area of ​​impact, including real and false warheads, balloons, dipole and corner reflectors, this whole motley flock is called “multiple ballistic targets in a complicated ballistic environment.”

The metal scissors open up and become electric dipole reflectors - there are many of them, and they well reflect the radio signal of the long-range missile detection radar beam probing them. Instead of the ten desired fat ducks, the radar sees a huge blurry flock of small sparrows, in which it is difficult to make out anything. Devices of all shapes and sizes reflect different lengths waves

In addition to all this tinsel, the stage can theoretically itself emit radio signals that interfere with the targeting of enemy anti-missile missiles. Or distract them with yourself. In the end, you never know what she can do - after all, a whole stage is flying, large and complex, why not load it with a good solo program?

Last segment

America's underwater sword, the Ohio-class submarines are the only class of missile-carrying submarines in service with the United States. Carries on board 24 ballistic missiles with MIRVed Trident-II (D5). The number of warheads (depending on power) is 8 or 16.

However, from an aerodynamic point of view, the stage is not a warhead. If that one is a small and heavy narrow carrot, then the stage is an empty, vast bucket, with echoing empty fuel tanks, a large, streamlined body and a lack of orientation in the flow that is beginning to flow. With its wide body and decent windage, the stage responds much earlier to the first blows of the oncoming flow. The warheads also unfold along the flow, piercing the atmosphere with the least aerodynamic resistance. The step leans into the air with its vast sides and bottoms as necessary. It cannot fight the braking force of the flow. Its ballistic coefficient - an “alloy” of massiveness and compactness - is much worse than a warhead. Immediately and strongly it begins to slow down and lag behind the warheads. But the forces of the flow increase inexorably, and at the same time the temperature heats up the thin, unprotected metal, depriving it of its strength. The remaining fuel boils merrily in the hot tanks. Finally, the hull structure loses stability under the aerodynamic load that compresses it. Overload helps to destroy the bulkheads inside. Crack! Hurry! The crumpled body is immediately engulfed by hypersonic shock waves, tearing the stage into pieces and scattering them. After flying a little in the condensing air, the pieces again break into smaller fragments. Remaining fuel reacts instantly. Flying fragments of structural elements made of magnesium alloys are ignited by hot air and instantly burn with a blinding flash, similar to a camera flash - it’s not for nothing that magnesium was set on fire in the first photo flashes!

Time does not stand still.

Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing have completed the first and key phase associated with the development of a defense Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), which is part of the mega-project - the Pentagon's global missile defense system, based on interceptor missiles, each of which is capable of carry SEVERAL kinetic interception warheads (Multiple Kill Vehicle, MKV) to destroy ICBMs with multiple warheads, as well as “false” warheads

“The milestone achieved is an important part of the concept development phase,” Raytheon said, adding that it is “consistent with MDA plans and is the basis for further concept approval planned for December.”

It is noted that Raytheon in this project uses the experience of creating EKV, which is involved in the American global missile defense system, which has been operating since 2005 - Ground system Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GBMD), which is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles and their warheads in outer space outside the Earth's atmosphere. Currently, 30 interceptor missiles are deployed in Alaska and California to protect the continental United States, and another 15 missiles are planned to be deployed by 2017.

The transatmospheric kinetic interceptor, which will become the basis for the currently being created MKV, is the main destructive element of the GBMD complex. A 64-kilogram projectile is launched by an anti-missile missile into outer space, where it intercepts and contact destroys an enemy warhead thanks to an electro-optical guidance system, protected from extraneous light by a special casing and automatic filters. The interceptor receives target designation from ground-based radars, establishes sensory contact with the warhead and aims at it, maneuvering in outer space using rocket engines. The warhead is hit by a frontal ram on a collision course with a combined speed of 17 km/s: the interceptor flies at a speed of 10 km/s, the ICBM warhead at a speed of 5-7 km/s. Kinetic impact energy of about 1 ton per TNT equivalent, is enough to completely destroy a warhead of any conceivable design, and in such a way that the warhead is completely destroyed.

In 2009, the United States suspended the development of a program to combat multiple warheads due to the extreme complexity of producing the breeding unit mechanism. However, this year the program was revived. According to Newsader analysis, this is due to increased aggression from Russia and corresponding threats to use nuclear weapon, which were repeatedly expressed by senior officials of the Russian Federation, including President Vladimir Putin himself, who, in a commentary on the situation with the annexation of Crimea, openly admitted that he was allegedly ready to use nuclear weapons in a possible conflict with NATO (the latest events related to the destruction of the Turkish Air Force Russian bomber, cast doubt on Putin’s sincerity and suggest a “nuclear bluff” on his part). Meanwhile, as we know, Russia is the only state in the world that allegedly possesses ballistic missiles with multiple nuclear warheads, including “false” (distracting) ones.

Raytheon said that their brainchild will be capable of destroying several objects at once using an advanced sensor and other latest technologies. According to the company, during the time that passed between the implementation of the Standard Missile-3 and EKV projects, the developers managed to achieve a record performance in intercepting training targets in space - more than 30, which exceeds the performance of competitors.

Russia is also not standing still.

According to open sources, this year the first launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 “Sarmat” will take place, which should replace the previous generation of RS-20A missiles, known according to NATO classification as “Satan”, but in our country as “Voevoda” .

The RS-20A ballistic missile (ICBM) development program was implemented as part of the “guaranteed retaliatory strike” strategy. President Ronald Reagan's policy of exacerbating the confrontation between the USSR and the USA forced him to take adequate response measures to cool the ardor of the “hawks” from the presidential administration and the Pentagon. American strategists believed that they were quite capable of providing such a level of protection for their country’s territory from an attack by Soviet ICBMs that they could simply not give a damn about the international agreements reached and continue to improve their own nuclear potential and missile defense (BMD) systems. “Voevoda” was just another “asymmetric response” to Washington’s actions.

The most unpleasant surprise for the Americans was the rocket's fissile warhead, which contained 10 elements, each of which carried an atomic charge with a capacity of up to 750 kilotons of TNT. For example, bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a yield of “only” 18-20 kilotons. Such warheads were capable of penetrating the then-American missile defense systems; in addition, the infrastructure supporting missile launching was also improved.

The development of a new ICBM is intended to solve several problems at once: firstly, to replace the Voevoda, whose capabilities to overcome modern American missile defense (BMD) have decreased; secondly, to solve the problem of dependence of domestic industry on Ukrainian enterprises, since the complex was developed in Dnepropetrovsk; finally, give an adequate response to the continuation of the missile defense deployment program in Europe and the Aegis system.

According to The Expectations National Interest, the Sarmat missile will weigh at least 100 tons, and the mass of its warhead can reach 10 tons. This means, the publication continues, that the rocket will be able to carry up to 15 multiple thermonuclear warheads.
“The Sarmat’s range will be at least 9,500 kilometers. When it is put into service, it will be the most big rocket in world history,” the article notes.

According to reports in the press, the head enterprise for the production of the rocket will be NPO Energomash, and the engines will be supplied by Perm-based Proton-PM.

The main difference between Sarmat and Voevoda is the ability to launch warheads into a circular orbit, which sharply reduces range restrictions; with this launch method, you can attack enemy territory not along the shortest trajectory, but along any one and from any direction - not only through North Pole, but also through Yuzhny.

In addition, the designers promise that the idea of ​​​​maneuvering warheads will be implemented, which will make it possible to counter all types of existing anti-missile missiles and promising systems using laser weapon. Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, which form the basis of the American missile defense system, cannot yet effectively combat actively maneuvering targets flying at speeds close to hypersonic.
Maneuvering warheads promise to become such an effective weapon against which there are currently no countermeasures of equal reliability that the possibility of creating an international agreement banning or significantly limiting this type of weapon cannot be ruled out.

Thus, together with sea-based and mobile missiles railway complexes“Sarmat” will become an additional and quite effective deterrent factor.

If this happens, efforts to deploy missile defense systems in Europe may be in vain, since the missile's launch trajectory is such that it is unclear where exactly the warheads will be aimed.

It is also reported that the missile silos will be equipped with additional protection against close explosions of nuclear weapons, which will significantly increase the reliability of the entire system.

First prototypes new rocket have already been built. The start of launch tests is scheduled for this year. If the tests are successful, serial production of Sarmat missiles will begin, and they will enter service in 2018.

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The comparative assessment was carried out according to the following parameters:

firepower (number of warheads (WB), total power of WB, maximum range shooting, accuracy - KVO)
constructive perfection (launch mass of the rocket, overall characteristics, relative density of the rocket - the ratio of the launch mass of the rocket to the volume of the transport and launch container (TPC))
operation (based on a ground-moving missile system (MGRS) or placement in a silo launcher (silo launcher), time of the interregulatory period, possibility of extending the warranty period)

The total points for all parameters gave overall assessment compared ICBM. It was taken into account that each MDB taken from the statistical sample, compared with other MDBs, was assessed based on technical requirements of its time.

The variety of ground-based ICBMs is so great that the sample includes only ICBMs that are currently in service and have a range of more than 5,500 km - and only China, Russia and the United States have such (Great Britain and France have abandoned ground-based ICBMs , placing them only on submarines).

Intercontinental ballistic missiles

Based on the number of points scored, the first four places were taken by:

1. Russian ICBM R-36M2 “Voevoda” (15A18M, START code - RS-20V, according to NATO classification - SS-18 Satan (Russian: “Satan”))

Adopted into service, 1988
Fuel - liquid
Number of accelerating stages - 2

Length, m - 34.3
Maximum diameter, m - 3.0
Launch weight, t - 211.4
Start - mortar (for silos)
Throwing weight, kg - 8,800
Flight range, km -11,000 - 16,000
Number of BB, power, ct -10Х550-800
KVO, m - 400 – 500

The most powerful ground-based ICBM is the 15A18M missile of the R-36M2 "Voevoda" complex (designation of the Strategic Missile Forces RS-20V, NATO designation SS-18mod4 "Satan". The R-36M2 complex has no equal in its technological level and combat capabilities.

The 15A18M is capable of carrying platforms with several dozen (from 20 to 36) individually targeted nuclear MIRVs, as well as maneuvering warheads. It is equipped with a missile defense system, which allows one to break through a layered missile defense system using weapons based on new physical principles. R-36M2 are on duty in highly protected mines launchers, having resistance to shock waves at a level of about 50 MPa (500 kg/sq. cm).

The design of the R-36M2 includes the ability to launch directly during a period of massive enemy nuclear impact on a positional area and blocking a positional area with high-altitude nuclear explosions. The missile has the highest resistance to damaging factors I'M IN.

The rocket is covered with a dark heat-protective coating, facilitating the passage of clouds nuclear explosion. It is equipped with a system of sensors measuring neutron and gamma radiation, recording dangerous level and while the missile passes through the cloud of a nuclear explosion, turning off the control system, which remains stabilized until the missile leaves the danger zone, after which the control system turns on and corrects the trajectory.

A strike from 8-10 15A18M missiles (fully equipped) ensured the destruction of 80% of the industrial potential of the United States and most of the population.

2. US ICBM LGM-118A “Peacekeeper” - MX

Adopted into service, 1986
Fuel - solid
Number of accelerating stages - 3
Length, m - 21.61
Maximum diameter, m - 2.34
Launch weight, t - 88.443
Start - mortar (for silos)
Throwing weight, kg - 3,800
Flight range, km - 9,600
Number of BB, power, ct - 10X300
KVO, m - 90 - 120

The most powerful and advanced American ICBM - the three-stage solid-propellant MX missile - was equipped with ten with a yield of 300 kt each. It had increased resistance to the effects of nuclear weapons and had the ability to overcome the existing missile defense system, limited by an international treaty.

The MX had the greatest capabilities among ICBMs in terms of accuracy and ability to hit a heavily protected target. At the same time, the MXs themselves were based only in the improved silo launchers of the Minuteman ICBMs, which were inferior in security to the Russian silo launchers. According to American experts, the MX was 6-8 times superior in combat capabilities to the Minuteman-3.

A total of 50 MX missiles were deployed, which were on alert in a state of 30-second readiness for launch. Removed from service in 2005, the missiles and all equipment of the position area are being preserved. Options for using MX to launch high-precision non-nuclear strikes are being considered.

3. Russian ICBM PC-24 "Yars" - Russian solid-fuel mobile-based intercontinental ballistic missile with a multiple warhead

Adopted for service, 2009
Fuel - solid
Number of accelerating stages - 3
Length, m - 22.0
Maximum diameter, m - 1.58
Launch weight, t - 47.1
Start - mortar
Throwing weight, kg - 1,200
Flight range, km - 11,000
Number of BB, power, ct - 4X300
KVO, m – 150

Structurally, the RS-24 is similar to the Topol-M and has three stages. Differs from RS-12M2 "Topol-M":
new platform for breeding blocks with warheads
re-equipment of some part of the missile control system
increased payload

The missile enters service in a factory transport and launch container (TPC), in which it spends its entire service. The body of the missile product is coated with special compounds to reduce the effects of a nuclear explosion. Probably, an additional composition was applied using stealth technology.

Guidance and control system (GCS) – an autonomous inertial control system with on-board digital computer(on-board computer), astro correction is probably used. The proposed developer of the control system is the Moscow Research and Production Center for Instrument Engineering and Automation.

The use of the active trajectory section has been reduced. To improve the speed characteristics at the end of the third stage, it is possible to use a turn with the direction of zero increment of distance until the last stage's fuel reserve is fully exhausted.

The instrumentation compartment is completely sealed. The rocket is capable of overcoming the cloud of a nuclear explosion at launch and performing a program maneuver. For testing, the rocket will most likely be equipped with a telemetry system - the T-737 Triad receiver and indicator.

To counter missile defense systems, the missile is equipped with a countermeasures system. From November 2005 to December 2010, tests of anti-missile defense systems were carried out using Topol and K65M-R missiles.

4. Russian ICBM UR-100N UTTH (GRAU index - 15A35, START code - RS-18B, according to NATO classification - SS-19 Stiletto (English “Stiletto”))

Adopted into service, 1979
Fuel - liquid
Number of accelerating stages - 2
Length, m - 24.3
Maximum diameter, m - 2.5
Launch weight, t - 105.6
Start - gas-dynamic
Throwing weight, kg - 4,350
Flight range, km - 10,000
Number of BB, power, ct - 6Х550
KVO, m - 380

ICBM 15A35 is a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, made according to the “tandem” design with a sequential separation of stages. The rocket is distinguished by a very dense layout and virtually no “dry” compartments. According to official data, as of July 2009, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces had 70 deployed 15A35 ICBMs.

The last division was previously in the process of liquidation, but by decision of the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev in November 2008, the liquidation process was terminated. The division will continue to be on duty with the 15A35 ICBM until it is re-equipped with “new missile systems” (apparently either Topol-M or RS-24).

Apparently, in the near future, the number of 15A35 missiles on combat duty will be further reduced until it stabilizes at a level of about 20-30 units, taking into account purchased missiles. The UR-100N UTTH missile system is extremely reliable - 165 test and combat training launches were carried out, of which only three were unsuccessful.

The American magazine of the Air Force Rocketry Association called the UR-100N UTTH missile "one of the most outstanding technical developments" Cold War"The first complex, still equipped with UR-100N missiles, was put on combat duty in 1975 with a warranty period of 10 years. During its creation, all the best design solutions worked out on previous generations of "hundreds" were implemented.

The high reliability indicators of the missile and the complex as a whole, then achieved during the operation of the improved complex with the UR-100N UTTH ICBM, allowed the military-political leadership of the country to set before the RF Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, the command of the Strategic Missile Forces and the lead developer represented by NPO Mashinostroeniya the task of gradually extending the service life of the complex with 10 to 15, then to 20, 25 and finally to 30 and beyond.