And while I am at it, since I talked about the Don-2N, I might just as well make a post about the ABM facilities around Moscow.
Reportedly the A-35 Aldan system, A-135 Amur system and A-135 Amur-P system.
A-35/A-35M Aldan system (A-350Zh/5V61 ABM1-ABM1B Galosh)
The Aldan firing complex prototype was a separate firing complex of the Moscow ABM system deployed for testing and development of components at the Sary-Shagan firing range. Construction work on the creation of the Aldan firing complex of the A-35 ABM system in Sary-Shagan began in 1962.
The test site of the A-35 Aldan system included:
- Dunay-3 radar with a command and control center.
- Yenisei firing complex with 4 A-350Zh missile launchers.
- RKTs-35 Yenisei target channel radar with a parabolic antenna.
- two RKI-35 missile channel radars.
- "Kabel" data transmission system, later changed with 5Ts53.
-Deployment of the missile defense system:
The system was meant to protect the administrative-industrial district of Moscow.
Construction work on the A-35 missile defense system facilities began in 1962 and was completed in 1967. It was planned to deploy 18 Yenisei firing complexes 8 launchers each, meant to be fired in two waves of 4, for a total of 144 launchers.
The first stage of the A-35 system, consisted of the Danube-3M radar, the command and control center with the data transmission system in Kubinka and three position areas with Yenisei firing complexes with A-350Zh missiles (48 launchers in total). It was completed on March 25, 1971; accepted into service on June 10, 1971; and was put on combat duty on September 1, 1971.
In order to ensure safety and minimize missile accidents, it was decided not to deploy combat missiles at the launch sites, but to place electronic weighing mock-ups.
The missiles were stored at the technical base and were to be deployed only at time of crisis and according to a specific schedule. The mock-ups were used to conduct training and maintain the combat readiness.
The complete set of the A-35 system, with A-350Zh missiles and Yenisei firing systems, with the exclusion of the Dunay-3U located in Chekhov, was accepted for trial operation on July 25, 1973. The final commissioning and trial operation of the entire Moscow ABM system (including the radar in Chekhov) occurred in 1974.
-Composition of the A-35 system:
- Dunay-3M radar (Kubinka-10);
- Dunay-3U radar (Chekhov-7);
- main command and computing center;
- technical base for preparing ATP-35 missiles ;
- Kabel data transmission system, later replaced by 5Ts53;
The system was reportedly able to intercept and destroy 8 pairs of ballistic targets attacking Moscow from one or several directions.
Control system of the complex and missile guidance:
The A-350 missile was guided to the target automatically by commands from the ABM system computing center; allowing for the guidance to a preemptive meeting point with the target, along with the possibility of re-targeting in flight upon selection of false targets.
-Radar detection system of the missile defense system:
The primary target designation system of the missile defense system were the Dunai-3 and Dunai-3M radars, they were deployed as part of the Moscow A-35 missile defense system.
- 5N15 Dnestr long-range warning radar. After the radar was modernized and joint tests of the 5N15M TsSO-PM radar were conducted in 1964–1965, the Dnestr-M was accepted into service. Simultaneously with the tests of the TsSO-P and TsSO-PM radars, tests of the TsSO-S early warning station were conducted.
It was established that the TsSO-S radar had a high accuracy in determining the coordinates of ballistic missiles and satellites, was convenient in operation and could solve a wide range of tasks in missile and air defense systems.
- medium-range 62Zh6 Dunai-3 and Dunai-3U. The Dunai-3 radar was deemed to be the best radar for the A-35 missile defense system. Four Dunai-3 were supposed to be placed around Moscow, creating a 360 degrees field of view.
The number of simultaneously tracked ballistic targets is up to 1500-3000.
-Launching equipment:
- PSU/PPU (lifting and launching device)
- TPK 5P81 transport and launch container fitted on a MAZ-537 chassis with semitrailer.
TPK 5P81 container and MAZ-537.
TPK 5P81 container fitted on the PSU/PPU.
The Yenisei / Tobol firing complex - 2 x 4 PUs with a single control system with 2 RKI-35 radars and 1 RKTs-35 radar.
Missile launch angle - 60 or 78 degrees.
Azimuth guidance angle - a sector of 360 degrees.
Yenisei launch complex, with A-350Zh launcher and RKI-3 radar.
The separation of the 1st stage occurres when the 2nd stage engine reached 70% of the nominal thrust, but not earlier than the first stage fuel was used up. A heat-resistant shield was used to protect the 1st stage from the operating 2nd stage engine.
The rocket course was controlled during the solid propellant rocket booster operation by the advanced aerodynamic control surfaces of the 1st stage of the rocket and the rotating nozzles of the solid propellant rocket motor.
-Performance characteristics of the A-350Zh missile :
Length - 19.8 m
Length of the 1st stage - 7.9 m
Length of the 2nd stage - 15 m
Body diameter (maximum) - 2.57 m
Weight from 29.750 kg total (early A-350Zh production) to 33.000 kg total
Weight of the 1st stage - 15.000 kg
Weight of the 2nd stage - 15.000 kg
Payload weight - 900 kg
Warhead weight - 700 kg
Target altitude - 50 to 400 km
Target speed - up to 5 km/s
Combat capabilities of the A-35 system (1962) - up to 12 ballistic targets arranged in pairs attacking Moscow from any direction.
Preparation time of the A-350Zh missile (refueling, warhead loading) - 3 days
-Warhead types:
- high-explosive fragmentation;
- thermonuclear warhead, 500 kt yield.
The main damaging factors of the warhead are neutron and X-ray radiation, which damage the target warhead shell and the nuclear filling. The explosion occurs on command from the command and computer center.
A-135 Amur-P system (A-925/51T6/5V51 missile - ABM4 Gorgon / SH-11)
Silo-type launcher as part of the 51Zh6 firing complex, position 5Zh51P, launch from 5P76P silo with 81R6 TPK container.
Transport vehicle TM112 on MAZ-547 chassis.
TM112 with 81R6 TPK container.
TM112 without 81R6 TPK container.
51T6 being loaded inside a 81R6 TPK container.
51T6 in 81R6 TPK container being loaded inside a 5P76P silo.
View of 51T6 missile complex, inside a 81R6 TPK, inside a 5P76P silo.
A-925 rocket.
Artist rendition of a Gorgon being fired.
-Two-stage missile:
The first stage consists of a tail section and engine.
The second stage (A-925) consists of a tail section, a fuel section, instrument section and warhead.
The combination of the two gives the 51T6.
-Control and guidance system:
During the R&D phase a number of options were considered:
>phased array radar with a wideband probing signal "Don-2N"
>the "Neman" radar
>the "Istra-2" radar
Don-2N was eventually selected.
-Control and guidance system:
The A-925 missile has a much greater autonomy in the guiding process thanks to larger number of guiding equipment on board the missile. The interceptor missile is equipped with a command-inertial control system with a 5E28A / Argon-17A on-board digital computer, which was used for the first time on missiles of this class.
The on-board equipment and digital computer are radiation-resistant, allowing the functioning of the A-135 during interruptions in ground-to-board communication.
For the very first time, the A-925 missile was equipped with a power system using silver-zinc batteries with a system of electro-hydraulic volumetric control drives with a modular design, thus removing the need for refueling.
Flight direction control in the atmospheric section was performed using aerodynamic rudders.
In the exo-atmospheric section of the flight, course control was performed by four rotary engines of the control unit.
The missile control system assumed the ability to redirect the missile during flight.
-Missile performance characteristics:
Length - 22 m
Length of 1 stage - 8 m
Length of 2 stage - 7 m
Diameter - 2.57 m
Weight - 45,000 kg
Range - 320-350 km
Maximum range - 600-900 km
Payload - nuclear with a capacity of up to 10-20 kT or from 1 Mt to 2-3 Mt or 1.4 Mt.
During the development, the warhead capacity was reduced by 2.
Since 1998-1999, nuclear charges have been stored separately at bases outside the Moscow region; the time for installing them on missiles ranges from 12 hours to 2-3 days.
A-135 Amur-P system (A-925/51T6/5V51 missile - ABM4 Gorgon / SH-11)
Atmospheric high-speed short-range, medium-range ABM missile of the A-135 system, developed by the Novator Design Bureau, fired from a silo-type launcher as part of the 5Zh60 firing complex, position 5Zh21, launch from 5P77P silo with 5P36M TPK container.
The 5T92 transport and loading vehicle on the MAZ-543M chassis installs the TPK into the launch silo.
The 5T93 transport vehicle on the MAZ-543M chassis is used to transport the TPK with missiles and install the TPK on the loading vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a missile heating system for winter.
The "drum-type silo" reloading system allows multiple use of the silo.
The missile was developed by OKB-8 / OKB Novator starting in 1967.
In 1972 after the conclusion of the ABM Treaty the preliminary design of the A-135 ABM system was redesigned by the Scientific and Technical Center of the Vympel Scientific and Production Association, with the design of the A-135 ABM system with PRS1/53T6 being approved in 1973.
The first launch of the PRS-1 / 53T6 (SH-08) was conducted in July 1979 at site 35 using the Amur-P complex of the A-135 system.
On June 18, 1982, two 5Zh60P Amur-P anti-missiles fired from the Sary-Shagan test site intercepted a RSD-10/SS-20 ballistic missile launched from the Kapustin Yar test site, and a R-29 SLBM launched from a Northern Fleet SSBN.
Serial production of 53T6 missiles started in 1990 and was carried out at Plant No. 8 of the Kalinin Plant, Yekaterinburg (part of NPO Almaz-Antey). The missiles were subsequently placed on the launch sites of the A-135 missile defense system. The A-135 missile defense system was accepted into service with the Russian Armed Forces. on February 17, 1995.
In the early 1990s, experimental work was carried out on the Amur-P complex to expand the capabilities of the A-135 system in terms of increasing the kill zone with a new type of warhead, and maneuverability.
On December 20, 2011, the first test of the 53T6 missile with a newly produced engine was conducted. The missile is then referred to as 53T6M.
5T93 transport with 5P36M TPK container.
5T92 transport and loading vehicle with 5P39M TPK container.
5T92 transport and loading vehicle with 5P39M TPK container, loading into a 5P77P silo.
5P77P silo loaded with a 5P39M TPK.
5P77P silo with empty 5P39M TPK after launch.
Cross section and structure of the 53T6.
-Radar control system of the complex:
Detection and guidance radar with phased array "Don-2N".
Command and computing post 5K80P with computer "Elbrus".
-Missile performance characteristics:
Length - 12m
Diameter - 1,8m to 7cm
Weight - 9693 kg
Payload - nuclear AA-84 warhead with a yield of 10 kt.
Range:
- 80-100 km
- 20.8 km (53T6 range launches)
Strike altitude:
- 5000-30000 m
- 14000 m (53T6 range launches)
Speed:
- 10-14 M
Rate of climb - 30000 m altitude in 5-6 s
Acceleration time to maximum speed - 3-4 s
Silo exit time from launch - 0.2-0.4 s
Maximum overloads:
- 210G longitudinal
- 90G transverse
Missile deflection angle after launch - up to 70 degrees
-Engines:
5S73 launch and cruise solid propellant rocket motor on a mixed high-energy fuel with a high specific impulse.
The 53T6 rocket engine was developed by OKB-16 - Kazan Engine Design Bureau (later Kazan RKB Soyuz).
*ok, ima rest for a bit now*
