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Thermal signature of an Iskander missile launcher. "Iskander-M" will receive new, terrible for the enemy, missiles

The 9K720 operational-tactical missile system (according to NATO classification - SS-26Stone) appeared on paper as a concept back in the early 80s of the last century. Its creation was timed to coincide with one of the stages of the Cold War, when the superpowers decided to limit the use of nuclear weapons for military purposes. To maintain the combat effectiveness of missiles, a significant increase in accuracy was required, which the inertial control system could not provide.

In addition, the following aspects were expected to be achieved:

the ability to maintain control over the projectile along the entire trajectory of movement to the target or most of it;
automate the bulk of calculation tasks, including data exchange;
use the rocket as a carrier for various warheads (a total of 10 are currently known).

The history of the creation of the Iskander missile system

Several design bureaus and institutes took part in the development of Iskander, but the leading enterprise was the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (Kolomna). By that time, the organization had a lot of missile systems, and previously the institution was developing most of the mortar systems that entered service, both from the Soviet period and for the needs of the Russian army.

The development of Iskander was undertaken by S.P. Invincible, a designer who had gained enormous experience in creating similar systems using the example of the Oka complex. According to experts, the predecessor of the vehicle in question was the first in history capable of passing through means of destroying an enemy threat from the air with a probability almost equal to 100%. Thanks to this property, it was meant to ensure a high percentage of hits on intended targets. However, the equipment was destroyed in accordance with an agreement between the main participants in the Cold War, concluded in 1987. But a small number of vehicles were in service with the Russian army until 2003.

The baton for the development of a unique machine was taken up by Valery Kashin, who to this day is the general designer and head of the design bureau.

The KBM received a difficult task: the missile must destroy stationary targets and those in motion. It was important to guarantee a high probability of overcoming defense systems and getting hit. A serious difference from its predecessor was the fact that the warhead should not carry a nuclear warhead. It was supposed to compensate for the weakening scale of destruction through minimal deviation from the target.

The ability to pass unnoticed anti-aircraft systems and missile defense is based on the following technical solutions:

The surface of the case was created as smooth as possible, which made it invisible;
Protection from radar equipment was achieved by applying a special coating;
A unique feature was the maneuvering of the missile in flight, which made it impossible to calculate the meeting point and, therefore, to shoot it down.

Achieving ideal smoothness of the rocket was not easy, since during operation it is necessary to perform logistics operations, dock equipment, etc. All this is realized through integrated fastening elements, but at the moment of the shot all irregularities are smoothed out. To do this, several clips of two half-rings are installed, which are connected by locks that detonate upon startup and activate automatic covers. Thus, the places of detachable connections are closed when the rocket leaves the guides. Tricky, isn't it?

This set of capabilities made the rocket unique: so far no foreign development can compare with it. Experts argue that any analogues are an order of magnitude inferior to the Russian system and are unable to solve such complex problems. During the development phase, all these aspects required numerous modifications, which made the car unique in comparison with the original sketches.

The product “Iskander M complex” has been developed since 1993, when the corresponding decree of the country’s president appeared. The technical specification issued by the design bureau required an integrated and innovative approach. The design used and tested all the advanced achievements of science within the country itself and abroad.

The tests that were carried out within three types deserve special attention: bench, flight and climatic. The testing ground for them was Kapustin Yar, where at one time many missile innovations of the USSR and the Russian Federation were tested. Some tests were conducted in other regions of the state.

The process was completed in 2011, when the vehicle was equipped with a missile with the 9M723 index, which performed well during testing. In addition, a new guidance system was integrated - correlation.

The system was adopted by the Russian Army in 2006. The complexes began to enter service in the Western Military District 4 years after being put into service. The first batch of cars consisted of 6 units. The state program envisages putting 120 complexes into operation by 2020. In 2019, 7 brigades will be formed in the Russian army, in which Iskander-M vehicles will be used. In the same year, two vehicles will be transferred to the formations of the Eastern and Southern districts.

The purpose of the Iskander complex

According to the assignment, the reconnaissance and strike complex was supposed to hit from 20 to 40 targets in an hour, which required a large amount of ammunition. That is why it was decided to place 2 missiles on one chassis at once.

The increased weight had to be compensated by the development of a new chassis. If for previous generations (Tochka, Oka) the base was designed by the Bryansk plant, the new four-axle chassis was developed by the Minsk plant. As a result, it was possible to place the entire complex of weapons and launch control on one base.

The main task of the complex is to defeat the targets of the following objects:

small targets performing storage and supply functions;
strikes against targets behind potential enemy lines;
enemy tactical means of destruction - MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems), long-range artillery, similar to the RK;
aviation during parking and maintenance;
strategically important objects, communication points;
key points of civil infrastructure.

The listed tasks are solved using various warheads that can be equipped with a missile. Most often it is a cassette with 54 damaging components, or a high-explosive fragmentation, penetrating one. At the same time, the vehicle has enormous potential, so more advanced parts are expected to appear in accordance with more complex combat missions.

The practice of modern wars shows that the weapon itself does not guarantee victory, regardless of characteristics, lethality and accuracy. If equipment is not included in a coordinated intelligence system or there is no possibility of prompt exchange of information, its effectiveness tends to zero.

Taking into account the trend, the work of the complex is carried out based on information from various sources: satellites, drones and reconnaissance aircraft. The data arrives at the preparation point, where it is converted into a calculation task that is transmitted to the division's command and staff vehicles. After this, the task is set directly for execution. The system is controlled via local networks based on Russian computers, which can be easily upgraded and replaced with more advanced ones in the future.

Composition of the Iskander missile system

Of course, without support, the installation is not able to complete the entire range of tasks, which is why the support/supply group includes many pieces of equipment.

In addition to the self-propelled missile launcher (MZKT-7930 chassis), there is:

command and staff vehicle, for which KAMAZ became the base;
transport-loading - on a chassis identical to the launcher itself;
mobile information preparation point at the KAMAZ base;
regulations and maintenance vehicle, crew life support vehicle, sets of equipment (training and arsenal), for which KAMAZ trucks became the basis.

Taken together, the equipment is capable of performing a wide range of combat missions almost autonomously, taking up positions.

Rocket

The 9M723K1 rocket used is single-stage and runs on a solid propellant engine. The trajectory of movement is quasi-ballistic, that is, it cannot be predicted. During flight, active maneuvering is carried out, and gas-dynamic and aerodynamic rudders are used to control movement to the target.

The projectile has unique characteristics. Manufactured using various advanced techniques to reduce radar signature, in particular, “stealth technologies” are used: the body has special coatings, the dispersion surface is minimal, protruding parts are minimized in size, and in the air the rocket becomes almost perfectly smooth.

The main trajectory of movement is at an altitude of 50 km, but at the peak the values can reach twice as high. At the initial and final stages of the flight, active maneuvering is carried out, when the probability of hitting the missile is greatest, and the equipment is subject to overloads of up to 20-30 units. Guidance until the final section (immediately after the salvo and at the main interval of the trajectory) is inertial, and at the final interval it is optical, that is, a combined method is used, due to which it is possible to achieve maximum accuracy with an error of 5-7 meters.

To operate the first type of guidance system, it is possible to use GPS/GLONASS. Since 2013, electronic warfare devices have been integrated into the design, which allows the projectile to be protected from air defense immediately before a target encounter.

The process is implemented by setting up two types of interference:

active;
passive - at the level of surveillance/firing radars, which includes the release of noise and false targets.

Self-propelled launcher

This is the main means of the group, which transports, stores and launches missiles. The product chassis received the MZKT-7930 index.

The vehicle was developed specifically to perform tasks in this complex, capable of carrying a load of 19 tons, while developing 70 km/h on the highway and up to 40 over rough terrain. The combat crew includes three people. The fuel range reaches thousands of kilometers.

Transport-charging machine

On a similar basis, another vehicle of the group was created, carrying two missiles on board.

To load the main installation, a crane is used, integrated into the design and crew of two people. The total weight of the vehicle is 40 tons.

Command and staff vehicle

An important decision was the use of a command post vehicle for automated control.

Created on the basis of KAMAZ. The equipment is unified for each link. To coordinate actions, a chain has been formed: launch battery – missile division – missile brigade. Interaction is supported in open and closed mode, the communication range on the march is 50 km, in a stationary position - 350, transmitting a command takes no more than 15 seconds, the task is calculated in 10 seconds.

A crew of 4 people can deploy/collapse the installation in half an hour, after which it operates continuously for two days.

Regulation and maintenance machine

The abbreviation of this unit of the complex is MRTO. It is necessary to assess the performance of systems and devices, as well as on-board equipment in the field.

On board there is everything necessary for emergency repairs. Deployment by two people takes up to 20 minutes; checking missile systems does not exceed a third of an hour.

Rocket complex life support machine

In the MJO, people servicing systems and equipment can eat and sleep while on duty.

For this purpose, two compartments are equipped, including 6 berths, a 300-liter water tank, and two lockers in each block.

Performance characteristics of the Iskander missile system

The Iskander complex fully complies with the main provisions of the agreement between the countries aimed at limiting the use and sale of missile technologies.

According to the classification, theses are as follows:

It is prohibited to sell missiles with a range of more than 300 km (the Iskander has 20 kilometers less);
The payload should be less than 0.5 tons (domestic development is capable of carrying 480 kg).

In addition, the carriers used run on solid fuel, which means that upgrading them to increase their range is difficult.

Shortest distance to target, km	50
The largest varies depending on the modification of the machine: under the index E/M/K, km	280/500/2000 (R-500 cruise missile)
Maximum permissible warhead weight, kg	480
Weight of the vehicle with equipped missiles, t	42,3
rocket engine	Solid propellant rocket motor;
Number of missiles:	on the loading machine - 2 on the launcher itself two more
Calculation, persons	3
Operating temperature range, degrees	-50 - +50
Operating life/including under conditions of intended use, years	10/3
Hit error, m	5-30
Projectile mass at launch, t	3,8
Height, mm	7200
Caliber, mm	920
Cruising speed, m/s	2100
Ceiling on a ballistic trajectory, km	More than 100
Required time to fire a shot, min	4-16
Period before launch of the second rocket, min	1

No similar weapon system can boast of such parameters, which makes the vehicle a unique means of warfare. Not only its functionality and multitasking are noted, but also the potential for deep modernization, which will extend the service life of the troops.

Combat characteristics of the complex

During development, the machine has great potential, thanks to the use of advanced technical solutions and achievements from the field of science. In fact, this is the latest generation of missile systems, with the potential for modernization in accordance with the realities of the future. The combat effectiveness of the vehicle makes it a leader among all existing Russian and foreign analogues. For example, some experts compare the complex with the United States fourth-generation destroyer Donald Cook.

To obtain up-to-date intelligence and information on targets, it is possible to interact with various means. It is used to process information about the location, number of the enemy and other data necessary for an accurate strike. To set a combat mission, command and staff vehicles equipped with Russian computers are used, in addition, orders can come from artillery control points.

Depending on the purpose, several modifications were created. Among them, there is an export option aimed at supplying weapons abroad:

"Iskander - M" - for the Russian army;
Modification K uses cruise missiles;
A complex with index E is an option for sale that fully complies with the MTCR.

Experts say that no other modern missile defense system can oppose the tandem of the M and K modifications. In the future, the vehicles will become the basis of the Russian Federation's land-based missile forces. By 2020, 120 units will be delivered to the army.

Combat use

There is no conclusive evidence regarding practical use, but there is some evidence that iskandar was involved in the 2008 conflict between Georgia and Ossetia. A statement about the use of the installation was made by Shota Utiashvili, who then held the post of head of the information and analytical department of the Georgian police. According to his statement, the Russian armed forces used vehicles at facilities in Poti, Gori, as well as along the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline.

Here is an informational opportunity for me to learn more about this weapon. And at the same time I’ll tell you :-)

More than 24 billion rubles have been allocated to 17 enterprises of the military-industrial complex to update production facilities for the serial production of Iskander-M missile systems; another 16 billion will be invested by the enterprises themselves

"Iskander-M" is an operational-tactical missile system developed at Kolomna OJSC "NPK "KBM". For the first time, "Iskander" was demonstrated in August 1999 at the MAKS aerospace salon. The complex is designed to destroy small-sized and area targets - missile systems, jet multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery, airplanes and helicopters at airfields, command posts and communications centers.

Iskander is a weapon capable of influencing the military-political situation in some regions of the world if the states located in them do not have an extended territory. The issues of deployment of Iskander complexes, as well as their export deliveries, are the subject of political consultations between the countries.

For serial production and delivery of Iskander-M, the production facilities of 17 specialized enterprises are currently being built and reconstructed. The total volume of capital investments from budgetary and own funds is 40 billion rubles. As of June 31, 14 cooperation enterprises have approved design assignments. Design assignments for three more enterprises are in the final stages of approval, and the start of reconstruction and technical re-equipment is scheduled for 2014.

On November 14, 2011, information appeared in Russian and foreign media about the next successful launch of the 9M723 guided operational-tactical missile of the 9K720 Iskander-M multi-purpose modular missile system. The launch took place on November 10 at the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region as part of a four-day tactical exercise of the 630th separate missile division, armed with Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems.

According to the official representative of the Ministry of Defense for Ground Forces, Lieutenant Colonel N. Donyushkin, “at the final stage of the exercise, a successful combat launch of a missile equipped with the latest equipment took place.” However, he did not specify what latest equipment the launched rocket was equipped with. Nevertheless, the Izvestia newspaper, citing a source in the General Staff, states that the operational-tactical missile was aimed at the target using a photographic image of the area. That is, during the flight of the rocket, a comparison was made between a real image of the terrain and a digital image pre-loaded into the rocket computer, and, as the same Izvestia source claims, “with such characteristics, the Iskander-M will be able to even reach the metro.”

Apparently, we are talking about one of the types of correlation seekers that correct the operation of the inertial control system of a rocket at the last stage of the flight trajectory, or more precisely, about the optical correlation seeker 9E436, created in the early 90s at the Moscow TsNIIAG and shown at Eurosatory-2004 . Some experts consider one of the disadvantages of this guidance system to be the impossibility of hitting a target that has not been photographed and loaded into the computer in advance, but it should be taken into account that there is another type of seeker - radar-correlation. According to military expert K. Sivkov, “thanks to this guidance system, the accuracy of the missile when hitting the target is no more than five meters. Considering that the mass of the 9M723 charge is 500 kg, this will make it possible to destroy almost any, even deeply buried objects on enemy territory. Now the accuracy of Iskander missiles is no more than ten meters.” He also added that “these missile systems need to be placed in the central part of the country, aimed at the west, which, if necessary, will make it possible to disable the missile defense system located in European countries in a few minutes.”

The operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) "Iskander" ("Iskander-E" - for export, "Iskander-M" - for the Russian army) was created under the conditions of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the refusal to use nuclear weapons in theaters of war by opposing sides. In this regard, the complex was created taking into account such fundamentally new requirements for newly developed missile systems, such as: refusal to use nuclear weapons and the use of warheads only in conventional equipment, ensuring high firing accuracy, control of the missile along the entire (most part) of its trajectory flight, the ability to install warheads on a missile, taking into account the type of targets to be hit, a high degree of automation in the processes of information exchange and control of combat work.

At the same time, the complex must be able to use data from global satellite navigation systems (Glonass, NAVSTAR), hit moving and stationary targets with a high degree of protection, have increased fire performance, and effectively overcome enemy air and missile defense systems.

The development of the Iskander complex in its original form began at the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (Kolomna, hereinafter referred to as KBM) on an initiative basis by order of the chief designer S.P. Invincible and under his leadership in 1987. KBM’s competitor for the development of a new generation OTR was the Tula Instrument Design Bureau under the leadership of A.G. Shipunov, which proposed its project. The resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers on financing the design work of the complex was issued in 1988. When creating the complex, the task was set to ensure interaction within the RUK "Equality" with the M-55 target designation aircraft (developed by RUK - NIIEMI). The original project may have planned to use the SPU 9P76 with one missile. The KShM of the RUK "Equality" was designed on the MAZ-543 chassis (the KShM is similar to the KShM "Polyana").

The mobile high-precision operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) is designed to destroy small-sized and area targets with conventional combat units in the depths of the operational formation of enemy troops.

The goals may be:

· various means of fire destruction (missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery);

· missile defense and air defense systems;

· airplanes and helicopters at airfields;

· command posts and communication centers;

· critical civil infrastructure facilities;

· other important small-sized and area targets on enemy territory.

High mobility and short preparation time for launching missiles ensure the secret preparation of the Iskander OTRK for combat use.

The main elements that make up the Iskander OTRK are: a missile, a self-propelled launcher, a transport-loading vehicle, a routine maintenance vehicle, a command and staff vehicle, an information preparation point, a set of arsenal equipment, and training facilities.

Rocket The Iskander complex is a solid-fuel, single-stage, with a warhead that cannot be separated in flight, guided and vigorously maneuvered throughout the entire difficult-to-predict flight path. It maneuvers especially actively during the starting and final stages of the flight, during which it approaches the target with a high (20-30 units) overload. This necessitates an anti-missile flight to intercept an Iskander OTRK missile with an overload 2-3 times greater, which is currently practically impossible.

Group launch of OTR type 9M723K5 or similar complex 9K720 "Iskander-M" and OTR 9M79 complexes 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" during the exercise "Center-2011", Kapustin Yar training ground, 09.22.2011.

Most of the flight path of the Iskander missile, made using stealth technology with a small reflective surface, passes at an altitude of 50 km, which also significantly reduces the likelihood of it being hit by the enemy. The “invisibility” effect is achieved due to the combination of design features of the rocket and the treatment of its surface with special coatings.

To launch the missile to the target, an inertial control system is used, which is subsequently captured by an autonomous correlation-extreme optical homing head (GOS). The operating principle of the missile homing system is based on the formation by optical equipment of the seeker of an image of the terrain in the target area, which the on-board computer compares with the standard entered into it when preparing the missile for launch. The optical homing head is characterized by increased sensitivity and resistance to existing electronic warfare systems, which makes it possible to launch missiles on moonless nights without additional natural illumination and hit a moving target with an error of plus or minus two meters. Currently, except for the Iskander OTRK, no other similar missile system in the world can solve this problem.

It is characteristic that the optical homing system used in the rocket does not require corrective signals from space radio navigation systems, which in crisis situations can be disabled by radio interference or simply turned off. The integrated use of an inertial control system with satellite navigation equipment and an optical seeker made it possible to create a missile that can hit a given target in almost any possible conditions.

The homing head installed on the Iskander OTRK missile can be installed on ballistic and cruise missiles of various classes and types.

To engage various types of targets, the missile can be equipped with ten types of warheads (cluster warhead with non-contact fragmentation warheads, cluster warhead with cumulative warheads, cluster warhead with self-aiming warheads, cluster warhead with volume-detonating action, high-explosive fragmentation warhead, high-explosive -incendiary warhead, penetrating to great depths of the warhead). The cassette warhead deploys at an altitude of 0.9-1.4 km, where combat elements of various effects are separated from it and continue their stabilized flight. They are equipped with radio sensors that ensure they are detonated at a height of 6-10 m above the target.

"Iskander - M" for the Russian Army, launcher for two missiles 9M723, 9M723-1, 9M723-1F or 9M723-1K (NATO classification SS-26 STONE), with a maximum flight range of up to 500 km (minimum range - 50 km) and a warhead mass of 480 kg (according to some sources, 500 kg). Single-stage solid-fuel rocket 9M723, controlled at all stages of flight with a quasi-ballistic trajectory. The warhead of a cluster-type missile has 54 fragmentation elements with non-contact detonation or also a cluster type with elements of a volumetric detonating effect. Curb flight weight - 3,800 kg, diameter - 920 mm, length - 7,200 mm.

"Iskander-K", a missile system for launching cruise missiles, for example R-500, the maximum flight range of which is up to 2,000 km.

Iskander-E, an export version of the missile system for the 9M723E missile (NATO classification SS-26 STONE B) with a maximum flight range of no more than 280 km and meeting the requirements of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

This is the modern weapon of Russia

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sources
http: //www.arms-expo.ru
http: //topwar.ru
http: //militaryrussia.ru

Iskander operational-tactical missile system(index - 9K720, according to NATO classification - SS-26 Stone "Stone") - is a family of operational-tactical missile systems: Iskander, Iskander-E, Iskander-K. The complex was developed at the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau. The Iskander missile system was adopted by the Russian army in 2006; to date, 20 Iskander systems have been produced (according to open data from the Ministry of Defense).

The complex is designed to engage conventionally equipped combat units against small-sized and area targets deep in the operational formation of enemy troops. It is assumed that it can be a means of delivering tactical nuclear weapons.

Most Likely Targets:

— fire weapons (missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery);

— missile defense and air defense systems;

— airplanes and helicopters at airfields;

— command posts and communication centers;

— the most important civil infrastructure facilities.

The main features of the Iskander OTRK are:

— high-precision effective destruction of various types of targets;

- the ability to covertly carry out combat duty, prepare for combat use and launch missile strikes;

— automatic calculation and input of flight missions for missiles when placing them on the launcher;

— high probability of completing a combat mission in the face of active enemy opposition;

— high operational reliability of the rocket and its reliability during preparation for launch and in flight;

— high tactical maneuverability due to the placement of combat vehicles on off-road all-wheel drive chassis;

— high strategic mobility, which is ensured by the ability to transport combat vehicles by all types of transport, including aviation;

— high degree of automation of the process of combat control of missile units;

— fast processing and timely delivery of intelligence information to the necessary management levels;

- long service life and ease of use.

Combat characteristics:

— circular probable deviation: 1...30 m;
— rocket launch weight 3,800 kg;
— length 7.2 m;
— diameter 920 mm;
— warhead weight 480 kg;
— rocket speed after the initial part of the trajectory is 2100 m/s;
— the minimum target engagement range is 50 km;
— maximum range of hitting a target:
500 km Iskander-K
280 km Iskander-E
— time before the launch of the first rocket is 4...16 minutes;
— interval between starts: 1 minute
— service life: 10 years, including 3 years in field conditions.

The main elements that make up the Iskander OTRK are:

- rocket,
- self-propelled launcher,
— transport-charging machine,
— routine maintenance machine,
— command and staff vehicle,
— information preparation point,
— a set of arsenal equipment,
— educational and training facilities.

Self-propelled launcher(SPU) - designed for storing, transporting, preparing and launching two missiles at a target (in the export version, 1 missile). The SPU can be implemented on the basis of a special wheeled chassis MZKT-7930 produced by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. Gross weight 42 tons, payload 19 tons, highway/dirt road speed 70/40 km/h, fuel range 1000 km. Calculation 3 people.

Transport-charging machine(TZM) - designed to transport two additional missiles. The TZM is implemented on the MZKT-7930 chassis and is equipped with a loading crane. Total combat weight 40 tons. Crew 2 people.

Command and staff vehicle(KShM) - designed to control the entire Iskander complex. Implemented on the KamAZ-43101 wheeled chassis. Calculation 4 people. KShM CHARACTERISTICS:
— maximum radio communication range when stationary/on the move: 350/50 km
— task calculation time for missiles: up to 10 s
— command transmission time: up to 15 s
— number of communication channels: up to 16
— deployment (collapse) time: up to 30 minutes
— continuous operation time: 48 hours

Regulation and maintenance machine(MRTO) - designed to check on-board equipment of rockets and instruments, to carry out routine repairs. Implemented on a KamAZ wheeled chassis. Weight is 13.5 tons, deployment time does not exceed 20 minutes, the time of the automated cycle of routine checks of the on-board equipment of the rocket is 18 minutes, crew 2 people.

Information preparation point(PPI) - designed to determine the coordinates of the target and prepare flight missions for missiles with their subsequent transfer to the SPU. The PPI is integrated with reconnaissance assets and can receive missions and assigned targets from all necessary sources, including from a satellite, aircraft or drone. Calculation 2 people.

Life support machine(MJO) - intended for accommodation, rest and eating of combat crews. Implemented on a KamAZ-43118 wheeled chassis. The machine includes: a rest compartment and a utility compartment. The rest compartment has 6 carriage-type berths with folding upper beds, 2 lockers, built-in lockers, and an opening window. The utility compartment has 2 lockers with seats, a folding lifting table, a water supply system with a 300-liter tank, a tank for heating water, a pump for pumping water, a drainage system, a sink, and a dryer for clothes and shoes.

ROCKET of the Iskander complex is a solid-fuel, single-stage, with a warhead that is not detachable in flight, guided and vigorously maneuvered throughout the entire difficult-to-predict flight path. It maneuvers especially actively during the starting and final stages of the flight, during which it approaches the target with a high (20-30 units) overload.
This necessitates an anti-missile flight to intercept an Iskander OTRK missile with an overload 2-3 times greater, which is currently practically impossible.

To launch a missile to a target it is used inertial control system, which is subsequently captured by an autonomous correlation-extreme optical homing head (GOS). The operating principle of the missile homing system is based on the formation by optical equipment of the seeker of an image of the terrain in the target area, which the on-board computer compares with the standard entered into it when preparing the missile for launch.

Optical homing head is characterized by increased sensitivity and resistance to existing electronic warfare systems, which allows missile launches on moonless nights without additional natural illumination and hit a moving target with an error of plus or minus two meters. Currently, except for the Iskander OTRK, no other similar missile system in the world can solve this problem.

Types of combat units
- cassette with fragmentation combat elements of non-contact detonation (detonated at a height of about 10 m above the ground)
— cassette with cumulative fragmentation combat elements
— cassette with self-aiming combat elements
— cassette volumetric-detonating action
— high-explosive fragmentation (HFBCH)
- high-explosive incendiary
— penetrating (PrBC)
The cluster warhead contains 54 combat elements.

The Iskander complex is integrated with various reconnaissance and control systems. It is capable of receiving information about a target designated for destruction from a satellite, reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle (of the Reis-D type) to the information preparation point (PPI). It calculates the flight mission for the rocket and prepares reference information for the rockets.

This information is transmitted via radio channels to the command and staff vehicles of the division commanders and batteries, and from there to the launchers. Commands to launch missiles can come from the command gun or from the control posts of senior artillery commanders.

Placing two missiles on each SPU and TZM significantly increases the firepower of missile divisions, and a one-minute interval between missile launches against different targets ensures high fire performance. In terms of its effectiveness, taking into account the total combat capabilities, operational-tactical The Iskander missile system is equivalent to a nuclear weapon.

/Alex Varlamik, based on materials from arms-expo.ru and wikipedia.org/

The SS-26 Iskander is an operational-tactical missile system designed to eliminate area and small-sized targets that may be located deep in the operational location of enemy troops. The Iskander operational-tactical missile system was destined to be created in an environment in which the 1987 Short- and Medium-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was in effect. In addition, there was a refusal to use nuclear weapons in war between opposing sides.

This is exactly why the Iskanders were created, taking into account the new requirements placed on them:

The use of a warhead only in the presence of standard equipment;
Refusal of nuclear strikes;
Guiding missiles along all their flight trajectories;
High firing accuracy;
The likelihood of changing combat units, taking into account the types of targets being eliminated;
High level of automation of all processes.

Number of Iskanders

Iskander, a tactical missile system, has been in service since 2010. At that time, six complexes were supplied to the military under the state defense order. The state arms program provided for the purchase of 120 Iskanders by 2020. Since 2015, the Russian army has formed brigades armed with the Iskander-M missile system.

Some information from the history of the Iskanders

Iskanders were developed simultaneously with the help of several design bureaus and institutes. However, the Kolomna Mashinostroeniya Design Bureau was destined to become the parent enterprise. It is known for many legendary weapons, such as Tochka-U, Igloy and Arena air defense systems, as well as many Soviet and Russian mortars.

The development of Iskander began with S.P. Invincible, the legendary general designer. He took the very successful RK Oka as a basis for that period. It is known that Oka was the first in history that was able to pass through missile defense with a coefficient of almost one, which ensured a high probability of hitting the target. However, according to the 1987 treaty between the USSR and the USA, they were destroyed. New developments were assigned to Valery Kashin, the current general designer and head of the Mashinostroeniya design bureau.

KBM was given a task: the new complex should destroy any targets, stationary or moving. And this is with the main requirement - the highest degree of missile defense penetration with target destruction, but without nuclear charges.

Passing the missile defense was based on:

Maximum reduction of the missile dispersion surface. Their contours have become extremely streamlined and smooth;
The external surfaces were treated with a radio-absorbing special coating;
The ability to quickly and actively maneuver, as a result of which the Iskander trajectory is unpredictable and missile interception is impossible.

No other operational-tactical and tactical missiles built on the planet have similar properties. During the development process, the designers performed absolutely unique work. This led to a revision of many of the concepts contained in the preliminary sketches of the project.

After the February 1993 Decree of the Russian President related to development work on the Iskander M complex, a tactical and technical specification was prepared. It indicated new approaches to the construction of complexes, as well as the optimization of all solutions.

For this reason, Iskander M had to become a completely new complex, and not a modernized old one. The complex has become the focus of numerous advanced domestic and world scientific achievements. Climatic, flight and bench tests had to drag on for many years. Mostly everything was carried out in Kapustin Yar, but some were also in other regions of the state.

Mid-autumn 2011 was marked by the completion of the first stage of tests carried out with the Iskander-M missile system, which resulted in the receipt of new combat equipment. The 9M723 missiles had excellent characteristics, as well as a new correlation guidance system.

Likely targets

Iskanders can strike at:

Missile systems, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery;
Missile defense and air defense systems;
Airplanes and helicopters at airfields;
Command posts and communication centers;
Particularly important objects in civil infrastructure.

Characteristic features of the Iskanders

The characteristic features of the Iskanders are:

Availability of high-precision effective destruction of a wide variety of targets;
Stealth in combat duty, in preparation for launch and in delivering strikes;
Automation of calculations and input of flight missions for missiles at launchers;
High potential for performing combat missions in an environment of active counteraction by the enemy;
High level of operational reliability of missiles, trouble-free launch and flight;
High level of tactical maneuverability;
High level of strategic mobility;
High level of automation of processes in the combat control of missile units;
Fast processing and timely delivery of intelligence data to the necessary levels of management;
Long service life and convenient operation.

Combat characteristics

The combat characteristics of the Iskanders are:

Circular deviation probability: 1-30 m;
The launch weight of the rockets is 3,800 kg;
Length - 7.2 m;
Diameter - 920 mm;
Weight of warheads - 480 kg;
The rocket speed after the initial part of the trajectory is 2100 m/s;
The minimum target engagement range is 50 km;
Maximum target engagement range:
- 500 km - Iskander-K;
- 280 km - Iskander-E.
Time to launch with the first rocket is 4-16 minutes;
Interval between starts: 1 min;
Service life: ten years, including three years in the field.

Elements that make up the Iskander

The main elements that make up the Iskander are:

Rockets;
Self-propelled launchers;
Transport-charging vehicles;
Routine maintenance vehicles;
Command and staff vehicles;
Data preparation points;
Arsenal equipment sets;
Educational and training aids.

Self-propelled launchers - designed for storage, transportation, preparatory work and launches at targets of two missiles (in the export version of one missile). Self-propelled launchers can be made on the basis of special wheeled chassis, which are produced at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant. The tractors have a total weight of 42 tons, a payload of 19 tons, a travel speed of 70 km/h on highways, 40 km/h on dirt roads, and a fuel range of up to 1000 km. The combat crew includes three military personnel.

Transport-loading vehicles are designed to transport an additional pair of missiles. Transport-loading vehicles are based on the MZKT-7930 chassis and are equipped with loading cranes. They have a total combat weight of 40 tons and a crew of two military personnel.

Command and staff vehicles - designed to control all processes in the Iskander complexes. They are based on the KamAZ-43101 wheeled chassis. The combat crew includes four military personnel.

Characteristic features that the CVS have:

The maximum radio communication range on the spot is 350 km, on the march 50 km;
Estimated task time for missiles is up to 10 s;
Command transmission time up to 15 s;
The number of radio communication channels is 16;
Unfolding (collapsing) time is up to half an hour;
Continuous operation time up to two days.

Routine and maintenance vehicles are designed to monitor instruments, missiles, on-board equipment and to carry out routine repair work. They are located on the KamAZ wheelbase. They have a mass of up to 14 tons, a deployment time of no more than 20 minutes, a time of automated cycles of routine checks of on-board missile equipment - 18 minutes, and a combat crew of two military personnel.

Data preparation points are designed to determine the coordinates of targets and prepare data for missiles in order to transmit them to the SPU. Data preparation points are integrated with intelligence assets and can receive tasks from any sources, including satellites, aircraft or drones. There are two military personnel in the combat crew.

Life support vehicles are designed for combat crews to rest and eat. They are located on the wheelbase of KamAZ-43118. The machines have: compartments for rest and compartments for household supplies.

Iskander missiles are solid-fuel, single-stage, with warheads that cannot be separated in flight, guided and maneuverable missiles along the entire length of difficult-to-predict flight trajectories. Missiles maneuver especially quickly during the starting and final stages of flight, in which they approach targets with high overloads.

This is due to the need to fly anti-missile missiles to intercept Iskander missiles with overloads two to three times greater, which today is considered almost impossible.

Most of the flight trajectories of the Iskander missiles were carried out using stealth technologies with small reflective surfaces. The “invisibility” effects are ensured by the combined design features of the missiles and the treatment of their surfaces using special coatings.

The launch of missiles to targets is carried out using an inertial control system. They are subsequently captured by autonomous correlation-extreme optical homing heads. The missile homing system operates on the principle that optical instruments form images in the target area, which the on-board computer compares with the data entered into it.

Optical homing heads are distinguished by an increased level of sensitivity and resistance to existing electronic warfare equipment. Thanks to this, you can launch missiles on a moonless night without additional natural illumination and eliminate moving targets within a radius of two meters. Today, such tasks, except for the Iskanders, cannot be solved by any other similar missile systems on the planet.

It is interesting that the optical homing systems used in missiles do not need to correct the signals that are created by space radio navigation systems. The complex use of inertial control systems with satellite navigation and optical seekers made it possible to create missiles that hit specified targets in almost any possible situation. The homing heads installed on Iskander missiles can also be installed on other missiles. These can be different ballistic and cruise missiles.

Types of Iskander combat units

The main types of Iskander combat units are:

Cassette weapons with fragmentation warheads for non-contact explosions. They can operate at a height of approximately ten meters above the ground;
Cassette weapons with cumulative fragmentation warheads;
Cassette weapons with self-aiming combat elements;
Cassette, having a volumetric detonating effect;
High-explosive fragmentation;
High explosive incendiary;
Penetrating.

Fifty-four combat elements are located in cluster warheads.

All Iskanders are integrated with a wide variety of reconnaissance and control systems. They are capable of receiving information about targets designated for destruction from satellites, reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles at data preparation points. They are used to calculate flight missions for missiles and carry out preparatory work on reference information for missiles.

Through radio channels, this information is broadcast and received by command and staff vehicles, commanders of divisions and batteries, and then by launchers. The missile launch command is carried out from command and staff vehicles. In addition, senior artillery commanders can also command using control posts.

The missiles placed (two) on each self-propelled launcher and transport-loading vehicle significantly increase the firepower in missile divisions. In addition, there are one-minute intervals between missile launches against a wide variety of targets, while ensuring high fire productivity. Considering its high efficiency, as well as the totality of its combat potential, the Iskander operational-tactical missile system is destined to become the equivalent of nuclear weapons and a reliable non-nuclear “shield of the Motherland.”

High-precision missile system of the ground forces "Iskander" Designed for covert preparation and delivery of effective missile strikes against particularly important small-sized and area targets.

It was created as a result of the joint work of a group of research institutes, design bureaus and factories under the leadership of the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (KBM), known as the company that created the Tochka and Oka missile systems.

Under the conditions of the 1987 INF Treaty and the cessation of the use of nuclear weapons in theaters of operations, a number of fundamentally new requirements are imposed on modern tactical systems:

the use of only non-nuclear weapons;
ensuring precision shooting accuracy;
control along the entire flight path;
a wide range of effective combat equipment;
the presence in the complex of a combat control automation system and an information support system, including the preparation of reference information for correction and final guidance systems;
possibility of integration with global satellite navigation systems (GSSN - GLONASS, NAVSTAR);
the ability to hit heavily protected targets;
increased fire performance;
the ability to effectively overcome the effects of air defense and missile defense systems;
the ability to hit moving targets.

To meet the above requirements, the missile system was created “ Iskander", which has absorbed the best scientific, technical and design achievements in the field of operational-tactical missile systems and, in terms of the totality of implemented technical solutions, high combat effectiveness, is a weapon of a completely new generation, superior in its tactical and technical characteristics to the existing Scud-B missile systems, “Tochka-U”, “Lance”, “ATASMS”, “Pluton”, etc.

Iskander is designed to destroy:

enemy fire weapons (air defense missile systems, missile defense batteries);
airplanes and helicopters at airfield parking lots;
air defense and missile defense facilities;
command posts and communication centers;
critical civil infrastructure facilities.

Thanks to the implementation of terminal control and guidance methods, control along the entire flight path, a wide range of powerful combat units and the integration of onboard control systems with various correction and homing systems, as well as the high probability of completing a combat mission in conditions of active enemy counteraction, typical targets are hit by launching just 1– 2 Iskander missiles, which is equivalent in effectiveness to the use of nuclear weapons.

For the first time in the world, a missile system with a firing range not exceeding 300 km is capable of solving all combat missions using non-nuclear warheads and has two missiles on the launcher, which significantly increases the fire performance of missile formations.

Main features of the Iskander rocket launcher:

highly accurate and effective destruction of various types of targets;
the possibility of covert training, combat duty and effective missile strikes;
automatic calculation and input of missile flight missions using launcher means;
high probability of completing a combat mission in the face of active enemy opposition;
high probability of trouble-free functioning of the rocket during preparation for launch, as well as in flight;
high tactical maneuverability due to the high maneuverability of combat vehicles mounted on all-wheel drive chassis,
strategic mobility due to the transportability of vehicles by all modes of transport, including transport aviation;
automation of combat control of missile units,
prompt processing and communication of intelligence information to the appropriate management levels;
long service life and ease of use.

The Iskander, in its tactical and technical characteristics, fully complies with the provisions of the Missile Technology Non-Proliferation Control Regime. This is a “weapon of deterrence” in local conflicts, and for countries with limited living space - a strategic weapon.

According to NATO classification, the complex received the designation SS-26.

The complex includes:

rocket;
self-propelled launcher;
transport-charging machine;
command and control vehicle;
mobile information preparation station;
mobile units of technical and household support, as well as sets of arsenal and training equipment.

The Iskander can be equipped with cluster (with 54 combat elements), penetrating, high-explosive fragmentation, and in the future other warheads.

The rocket itself is single-stage, has a solid-fuel engine with one nozzle, and is controlled along the entire flight path using aerodynamic and gas-dynamic rudders. The designers included in the Iskander the potential to overcome missile defense, comparable today only to the Topol-M. Calculated data show that the promising American Patriot air defense system PAC-3 Iskander will be too tough for itself.

The flight path of the Iskander is not ballistic, but controlled. The missile constantly changes its trajectory plane, which dictates the need for air defense system developers to invent new interception methods. She maneuvers especially actively during her acceleration and approach to the target - with an overload of 20 to 30 g. In order to intercept an Iskander, the anti-missile missile must move along a trajectory with an overload two to three times higher, and this is practically impossible. In addition, the rocket is made using the technology " stealth"and has a minimal reflective surface.

The missile is launched directly at the target using an inertial control system, and then captured by an autonomous optical homing head. A similar homing principle is implemented in the most modern American cruise missiles. Tomahawk" And CALCM, capable of identifying the terrain in the target area based on previously entered photographic data. The effectiveness of such guidance systems was confirmed during US military operations in Iraq and Yugoslavia.

Similar equipment for the Iskander was created by the Central Research Institute of Automation and Hydraulics, the leading domestic developer of guidance and control systems for tactical and operational-tactical missiles. Moreover, the homing head created at TsNIIAG can also be used on ballistic and cruise missiles of various classes and types. The head has already passed flight tests and showed accuracy no worse than that achieved by the Americans on their Tomahawks.

The operating principle of the Iskander homing system is that optical equipment forms an image of the terrain in the target area, which is compared by the on-board computer with a standard entered during the preparation of the missile for launch. All existing active electronic warfare systems are powerless against the optical head. It is so sensitive that it allows successful missile launches even on moonless nights, when there is no additional natural target illumination, hitting a moving target with an error of plus or minus two meters. No other tactical system in the world can solve such a problem, except for the Iskander.

In addition, optical systems do not require signals from space radio navigation systems, such as the American NAVSTAR, which in crisis situations can be turned off by its owners or disabled by radio interference. At the same time, the integration of inertial control with satellite navigation equipment and an optical seeker makes it possible to create a missile that can hit a given target in almost any imaginable conditions.

The practice of wars of recent decades shows that no matter how effective a weapon is, it cannot make a significant contribution to victory if it is not integrated with intelligence and control systems. "Iskander" was created taking into account this pattern. Information about the target is transmitted from a satellite, reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle to the information preparation point (IPP). It calculates the flight mission for the missile, which is then transmitted via radio channels to the command and staff vehicles (CSVs) of the division and battery commanders, and from there to the launchers. Commands to launch missiles can be generated either in the command post or from the control centers of senior artillery commanders. The PPI and KShM equipment is built on local networks of Russian computers, and the functionality of the control set depends only on the software and can be easily upgraded to control various fire weapons.

The most important feature of the launcher was the placement of more than one on it (as in “ Point" And " Oke"), but two missiles. One minute after the first one is launched, the second one can start. The fire crew does not leave the cabin. The launcher itself was developed by the Volgograd Central Design Bureau "Titan" and, in addition to missiles, carries a full set of equipment for preparation and launch.

The long firing range, which allows the complex to be used from deep within the location of friendly troops, and the short time spent at the starting position make the complex virtually invulnerable to conventional weapons.

Research conducted by specialists from leading Russian military research centers has shown that, according to the “effectiveness-cost” criterion, the Iskander missile system is 5–8 times superior to the best foreign analogues.

The structure of the complex, its control systems, automated combat control and information support make it possible to quickly respond to new requirements without significant modification of its combat assets and, as a result, guarantee it a long life cycle.

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