The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Russia has frozen sales of its advanced S-300 surface to air missile system to Iran.
It’s unclear if this is change in policy, or simply a temporary measure to avoid issues at the upcoming meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama.
The Indian Army is refusing to induct the BrahMos missile into service without further tests.
My guess here is that the army is concerned that the 5000 lb supersonic missile won’t work reliably.
Considering the most recent failure, and the generally spotty record of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), I’d want some real testing to verify this too.
There is also an element of bureaucratic infighting too, as Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor was at that test, where he was told that it was a success, but he visited the target area, and saw that it was a miss, and then DRDO criticized him for telling the press that it was a failure.
Oops.
We have both the report from Iran, and a report from JSR that they have observed the satellite and 2nd stage in orbit.
So it appears that they actually did it this time.
If you look at the launch (video below), I notice something odd, no ice, which implies the use of less efficient room-temperature propellants, which makes the technology more applicable to military uses, as it can be stored fully fueled in as silo or on the back of a TEL.*
*Transporter/Erector/Launcher
Direct Attack Guided Rocket (DAGR) guidance kit for the 2.75-inch rocket
vid and pic
Note that this a Lockheed-Martin analogue to BAE’s Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System that I wrote about a few months back.
The rocket and guidance, semi-active laser homing for DAGR, appears to be pretty much the same as APKWS, though it appears that the launcher is designed to be compatible with Hellfire, as opposed to the existing 2.75″ rocket launchers.
Here is the video for the earth shattering kaboom.
Because of the most recent test failure of the Bulava SLBM, Russia will be increasing the number of test launches for the missile in 2009.
They had indented to do 3-4 test launches this year, but now they are committing to at least 5 launches.
They have been 5 for 10 on test launches, which is actually better than SLBM tests during the Soviet days, and this indicates a move back to more extensive testing, which I approve.
In reviewing US missile tests, it appears that there is a panic whenever their is a failure, because the test programs here are now based on the idea that everything will be caught in analysis, and that tests should progress without failures.
This does not work, and results in delays and cost escalation.
Unfortunately, the report offers few details, so it’s unclear to me whether this is a new missile, and the Russians do use multiple different missiles with this system, or simply the certification of an existing system.
The range of 400km seems to have been floating around for a while now.
We are now hearing rumblings that Russia may be putting a nuclear missile installation in Belarus, specifically, the mobile strategic missile the Topol, though it’s unclear from the report as to whether it is the RT-2PM Topol (SS-25 Sickle), or the more advanced RT-2UTTH (SS-27 Sickle B).
In either case, I’m not sure whether this intended to make the strategic missiles targeting the US less vulnerable to the interceptors, or to imply that these could be launched on a depressed trajectory against the European BMD sites, though I would lean toward the latter.
Belarus borders Poland, and so I would think that interception of missiles launched toward the US would be relatively straightforward, though the kinematics of the missiles in question and the intercept solutions are above my pay grade.
Also, we have reports that the Russian military is looking at commissioning 70 new nuclear missiles over the next 3 years, though reports of a failure in the most recent test of the Bulava SLBM (see also here) might throw a monkey wrench into what seems to be a very aggressive timetable.
Needless to say this represents a significant upgrade to Iran’s air defense capabilities:
One of the world’s most advanced air defense missiles, the S-300PMU1 Favorit (SA-20 Gargoyle), is designed to protect fixed sites against missile and air attacks. The system uses wheeled transporters for mobility. The Favorit system fires the 48H6E2 interceptor missile, updated with improved guidance algorithms, an improved warhead and enhanced ECCM capabilities. The system detects targets at ranges of up to 300 km and can handle up to 100 simultaneous tracks. Up to 36 interceptor missiles can engage targets simultaneously. Aircraft targets can be engaged between 3 and 200 km, and missiles can be intercepted at ranges of 5 – 40 km, and from 30 to 90,000 feet in altitude.
Against a stealthy target you could figure an engagement range in the 15 km range, based on the engagement distance being proportional to the 4th route of RCS, which means that they are not particularly effective for area defense, but for point defense of a specific target (nuclear facility) it could complicate the attack.
First a report of sale, now a report of delivery, in the space of a week and it looks like some are going to the Syrians too, though it appears to be a fixed installation geared toward protecting a Russian naval base at Tartous, and it is unclear as to whether the operators would be Russian or Syrian.
It looks like advances in Chinese guided missile technology were prominently on display at Airshow China. (paid subscription required)
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. (Casic) showed off new missles, including new versions of its C704 cruise missiles with IIR and TV guidance, both intended for air launch, and the smaller C705 (look at the wheels and display easels on both pictures for scale).
I think that it has a 9 or 10 inch body diamerter, as vs the 12-14 inch for the C704.
C705
Well, let’s start with the UAVs, and the Chinese are clearly looking at matching US capabilities with large UAVs:
The Tian Yi-3 looks like a Global Hawk
As does the Soar Dragon.
We also see new antiship missiles and a trainer, which looks a lot like the russian Yak-130 trainer.
Clearly separated at birth from the Yak.
That being said, the highlight of the show tends to be the aircraft that actually, of which the canard delta J-10 was the star of the show.
There is a very good collection of pictures here, which in addition to the J-10 has pics of the henyang J-8II fighter aircraft (above), a Xian JH-7A strike aircraft, and the Xian H-6U (Beagle derivative?) tanker. But here is some canard:
Thankfully, we also get some pictures of the J-10 in flight:
We also have a review of the demonstration flights at the airshow.
What is interesting is that the review of its performance by Vladimir Karnozov is very positive, “The pilot rarely used afterburner and the degrees of canard deflection were small. Still, the airplane flew very well. I reckon it will beat F-16C or MiG-29/SMT easily.”
The Germans have developed a gel-fuel rocket motor, and are getting ready to flight test (paid subscription required).
I’ve not worked with the technology, but I did work with someone who did work with liquid propellant artillery, and I imagine that the tech is rather similar.
Basically, it allows for a monopropellant rocket, much like solid fuel rockets, with the ability to easily throttle the motor by varying the flow of the propellant into the combustion chamber.
Additionally, since it’s the consistency of toothpaste, or at least it was in the LP gun, it means that if the tank is punctured, you do not get leakage.
The Bayern–Chemie demonstrator uses a single gas generator designed to support a range of missions. It is used to drive a piston that forces the gelled propellant and, in a bi-propellant mode, oxidizer, into the combustion chamber. The gel passes through a valve to regulate its flow, and then through injectors that effectively turn it into a liquid as it enters the combustion chamber to optimize the burn. The motor will use a pyrotechnic ignition system.
An entirely non-explosive configuration has also been conceived. It would replace the solid propellant gas generator with an air pressure reservoir and the ignition would be triggered through a gas burner.
It’s more complex and bulkier than solid fuel motors, but should have interesting applications where a complex thrust profile is required.
In 1996, I was brought in to work at what was then Loral Vought Systems to work on navalization issues for the VT1 missile, which was the missile for the Crotale NG system from Thompson CSF.
Now, they have adapted the missile for vertical launch, and made a successful launch.
It’s a fairly simple point defense system, roughly analagous to Seawolf, in that the launcher mounted fire control system guides the missile to the target, andt here is no seeker on the missile.
Since I’ve worked on the system, Thomson CSF become the French defense behemouth Thales.
Truth be told, I’m kind of surprised that they are still developing the missile. It feels like an awful long time ago.
It’s why I can claim to be a “rocket scientist”
Best
Headline
Ever.
The story is about how the Iraqi air force is hanging Hellfire missiles on Cessna Caravan utility aircraft.
In the larger counter-insurgency environment, this might actually be a superior product to something like an F-16, as it is lower and slower, and thus better able to see the target.
The US should be deploying something like a militarized turboprop trainer to theater.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which incorporates a laser seeker guidance system.
There is an interesting twist to the guidance package, the APKWS mounts a fixed laser seeker on each wing, as opposed to the traditional gimballed laser seeker in the nose.
It’s certainly mechanically simpler. My guess would be that the deltas between the 4 seekers are used to get a precise aim point with the processor.
It’s called the Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser Seeker (DASALS) a good example of using computing power to make a simpler and cheaper device.
Note for the metrically disinclined 70mm= 2.75-inch rocket.
BTW, here is some video pr0n of the system (4m 16s):
The South African aerospace company Denel is looking at developing a radar guided version of its A-Darter infra-red short range dogfight missile.
This mirrors the work that Denel and Rafael did on missiles, the R-Darter/Derby.
Eventually, Rafael produced an active radar guided variant of their Python missile called the Derby.
The A-Darter is reported to have a 20km range, and replacing the missile seeker with a more aerodynamic radome would improve range, though I would guess that even if the missile were not to grow significantly, having a version with a lower and longer thrust profile could increase range even further.
The Umkhonto shown above is a SAM based on the A-darter technology.
One of the goals of both the Darter and the Umkhonto programs is to have no foreign components subject to foreign government export restrictions.
Considering the historical emnity between the two nations, I’m surprised that Turkey bought 80 80 Kornet E (NATO designation: AT-14) laser-guided anti-tank missile systems.
From all I’ve read though, it’s a good system, and being Russian, probably pretty cheap, but I’m still stunned at the Turks buying from the Russians.
It looks like Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control* and the Missile Defense Agency are looking at testing an upgrade to the PAC-3 Patriot SAM in 2009. (paid subscription required)
It looks like the sensor for the hit-to-kill weapon will be much the same as its predecessor, but that range will be doubled and effective altitude increased by a larger diameter motor with a two pulse motor, giving generally improved kinematics.
To do this, they will put the missile in a PAC-2 cannister, the PAC-3 fits 4 missiles in the space of a PAC-2 now, and use folding fins for greater volumetric efficiency, and LM is hopingto be competitive in naval applications too.
*Full Disclosure, in 1999-2000 and 1996-1998, I worked as a mechanical engineer for what is now Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, and I have some claim to actually being a rocket scientist.†
†Yes, I have worked everywhere. Maybe I can’t hold down a job, but more likely this has been my role as “technical hit man”, where you are parachuted in to take care of a specific need.
The Bulava missile, which reportedly has an 8000 km range and 10 MIRVs, though some reports say that it can fire MaRVs.
I don’t think that this has anything to do with the Georgia kerfluffle, but you never know how that issue might have influenced the choice of the timing for the tests.
It appears to be a significant improvement on the original AIM-9X, with lock on after launch, and could drive the move to a new rocket motor, the rocket motor on the AIM-9X is the same as previous models, as it would allow launches to longer range.
From all I know about the missile, the kinematics (basically range and long range maneuverability) are not that good, having a single pulse motor (with thrust vectoring, you want lower thrust at the start in order to make the vectoring work better) and being smaller (5″ body diameter as vs 6″) than many of its competitors.
This is not surprising. The SS-N-27 Sizzler is a tough nut to crack to create a viable simulator, and in doing so, it means that ATK will have accumulated the expertise necessary to create a full up missile version.
I would not be at all surprised if they have the missile on the market in the next 5-7 years.
Background here.