The layered territorial missile defense system A-235 (Nudol) [1] is a multi-channel missile defense system of the Moscow Industrial District [2] , which was developed since 1978 by the team led by A. G. Basistov and B. P. Vinogradov at Vympel Central Scientific Production Association . [3] . In the 1990s, development work on the project was temporarily discontinued. [4] Beginning in 2011, publications appeared on the press for further steps to implement the project at the production base of the State Security Committee of the Almaz-Antey concern. In a modified form, the project is already being implemented as a multifunctional missile and space defense system , the combat capabilities of which allow it to fight not only against ballistic aerospace targets, [5] but also against maneuverable manned and unmanned spacecraft [6] .
| Missile defense system A-235 (OCD "Nudol") | |
|---|---|
| Type of | • zonal missile defense system; • multifunctional anti-ballistic and anti-space defense system |
| A country |  USSR →  Russian Federation |
| Production history | |
| Constructor | A. G. Basistov B.P. Vinogradov |
| Manufacturer | TsNPO "Vympel" → Concern East Kazakhstan region "Almaz-Antey" |
Design intent
Initially, the A-235 missile defense system was planned in three echelons: the long-range echelon with missile defense A-925 missiles, the middle echelon - the 58P6 firing complex, the near echelon - PRS-1M missiles (the result of the modernization of PRS-1 missiles) [7] . In the modified A-235 anti-ballistic and anti-space defense system, it is planned to use two-stage anti-missiles with high-explosive fragmentation and nuclear warheads , providing it with the ability to shoot down hypersonic attack weapons , ballistic missiles and their warheads , as well as satellites in near space [8] .
Project History
Play media fileThe task to develop a modernized version of the A-135 missile defense system was set in Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 585-119 of June 7, 1978 "On the construction of the A-135 system." The design of the system was carried out by the Scientific Research Institute of Radio Instrumentation (NIIRP) VNMPEL Scientific Research Institute since 1986, the general designer was A. G. Basistov (until 1998), the chief designer was B. P. Vinogradov (after the death of A. G. Basistov in 1998 B.P. Vinogradov replaced him as general designer of NIIRP). In accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 661-202 of July 15, 1985, NIIRP, as a subdivision of Vympel Central Scientific Production Association, is the leading Russian enterprise in terms of the multi-echelon missile defense system as a whole, the ground-based missile defense system and the missile defense information system.
The first preliminary design of the A-235 missile defense system, in all likelihood, was defended in 1985-1986. The Soviet government concluded state contract No. 406/1591 dated 01/31/1991 with NIIRP to modernize the missile defense system, to expand the combat capabilities of the A-135 system in terms of increasing the long border of the affected area, increasing the maneuverability of the missile, and equipping missiles with new warhead (all together - OKR "Samolet-M"). The name of the missile-technical complex of the modernized missile defense system of Moscow is RTC-181M. In accordance with the state contract, the availability of the upgraded version was set for 2015.
According to Decree of the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin No. 163 dated 02.17.1995, NIIRP was identified as the lead enterprise for the modernization and improvement of the Moscow missile defense system - the RTC-181 system - and the creation of the RTC-181M system [3] . In 2011, the Almaz-Antey Concern for Air Defense developed working design documentation for the 14Ts033 firing complex, working design documentation of the first stage for the 14Ts031 radar complex and a functional software project. In 2012, the Almaz-Antey air defense concern conducted autonomous preliminary tests of the components of the 14TS033 complex. The experimental and combat training tests of the A-235 were planned in 2013. At that time, the experts did not note any fundamental differences between the A-235 and the A-135 missile defense system [9] .
According to foreign media reports, on November 18, 2015, the first successful launch of the Nudol missile complex and the third launch in the complex missile test program took place. Presumably, the site of deployment of the complex in the A-235 missile defense system will be the former A-135 Nudol missile defense system-based area near Moscow. According to the plan, the complex will have the ability to intercept the warheads of ballistic missiles, as well as spacecraft [7] . In May 2016, tests of the elements of the system were conducted as part of the exercises of the Russian Aerospace Forces [10] .
March 26, 2018 in Plesetsk conducted the sixth test of the A-235 missile and the first made with a standard mobile launcher [11] . On January 18, 2019, the American CNBC channel, citing sources in the intelligence community, reported on the successful test of the anti-satellite interception rocket in December 2018 [12] .
System Elements
To solve these problems, the following elements were supposed to be included in the system: [2] [3] [13]
The GRAU letter-number indices for individual elements of the complex are indicated in parentheses .
Management Tools
- Command and computing point .
- Automated control system .
Detection, target selection and guidance tools
- Radar complex of information support "Kiev" .
- Multifunctional radar station "Narva" .
Combat Tools
- Shooting systems " Kivach " .
- Fire complexes "Ilek" .
- Multichannel firing complex "Amur" .
- Optoelectronic complex based on aircraft " Onega " , designed for atmospheric selection of the warheads of enemy ballistic missiles.
- Missile launch positions with the launch of missiles from transport and launch containers .
- Missiles
- long-range interception - A-925 (51T6),
- medium interception - unidentified modification (58P6),
- short-range interception - PRS-1M (45T6), the result of the modernization of PRS-1 (53T6) missiles.
Helper Tools
- Vehicles for transportation and placement of the system’s facilities, ensuring the rapid deployment and minimization of the system on the ground.
- Material and technical base .
Test Chronology
| Chronology of test launches of missiles of the Nudol system in the mid-2010s. [7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Npp | date | An object | Starting position | Description |
| one | 08/12/2014 | "Nudol" | Plesetsk | First start |
| 2 | 04/22/2015 | "Nudol" | Plesetsk | Second start: failed emergency start |
| 3 | 11/18/2015 | "Nudol" | Plesetsk | Third launch: first successful test launch as part of an anti - satellite defense scenario |
| four | 05/25/2016 | "Nudol" | Plesetsk | Fourth launch: successful combat training missile launch |
| five | 12/16/2016 | "Nudol" | Fifth launch: successful combat training missile launch | |
| 6 | 03/26/2018 | "Nudol" | Plesetsk | Sixth launch: a successful combat training launch from a standard mobile launcher |
Overall Project Assessment
As a military expert, reserve colonel M. Khodarenok notes: “The A-235 will be a classic version of the missile defense system. A very informed source in the military-industrial complex told me personally about the system the following: "Work is being carried out, and very successfully." Also, according to the expert, due to the secrecy of the project, exact information on the A-235 system is currently not available, but hypothetically it can be assumed that the following three principles are taken into account in the tactical and technical task for the development of a new system: firstly, the system must be capable of for non-nuclear interception, since earlier missile defense projects were equipped with a nuclear warhead, which significantly narrowed the scope of their possible use, moreover, the use of a missile with a special charge actually meant the beginning of a nuclear they were excluded from use within the framework of limited armed conflict and other situations of this kind; secondly, the system must be mobile, without a rigid attachment to any object or center; thirdly, it should ensure interception at an altitude of at least 500-750 km, that is, in low Earth orbit [6] .
- Comparative characteristics
| Specifications | The name of the missile defense complex (system) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "BUT" | A-35 | A-35T | A-35M | S-225 | S-375 | A-135 | A-235 | |||
| Developer (manufacturer) | SKB-30 , ICB "Torch" | TsNPO "Vympel" , ICB "Torch" | SKB-30 | TsNPO "Vympel" , ICB "Torch" | Central Design Bureau "Almaz" | Central Design Bureau "Almaz" | TsNPO "Vympel" , ICD "Fakel" , EMKB Novator | TsNPO "Pennant" | ||
| Project Year (s) | 1961-1963 | 1972–1974 | 1973 | 1978 | 1985 | 1991 | 1995 | 2016 | ||
| Adoption | N / a | |||||||||
| Rocket type | B-1000 | A-350ZH | A-350M | A-350P | PRS-1 / B-825 | PRS-1 | 51T6 type A-350 | 53T6 | 51T6 Maud. | 14Ts033 |
| Number of steps | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | 2 |
| engine's type (starting / marching) | RDTT / LRE | RDTT / LRE | RDTT / LRE | RDTT / LRE | RDTT / RDTT | RDTT / RDTT | RDTT / LRE | Solid propellant rocket engine | RDTT / LRE | LRE / LRE |
| Type of warhead | o.-f. nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | nuclear | o.-f. nuclear |
| Launch mass , t | - | 33 | - | 33 | - | - | 33 | ten | - | 9.6 |
| Missile length , m | 12.4-14.5 | 19.8 | - | 19.8 | - | - | 19.8 | 10.0 | - | - |
| Case Diameter , m | 1,0 | 2,57 | - | 2,57 | - | - | 2,57 | 1,0 | - | - |
| Range , km | - | 350 | - | 350 | - | 500-1000 | 350 | 80 | 1000-1500 | 200-300 |
| Flight speed , m / s | 1000 | - | - | - | - | 2000 - 5000 | - | 3000 | - | - |
| Guidance system | radio command | |||||||||
| Source of information : Russian Shield: missile defense systems . - M.: Publishing House of MSTU. N.E. Bauman , 2009 .-- p. 270 - 504 p. - Circulation of 1 thousand copies. - ISBN 978-5-7038-3249-3 . Note : Projects A-35T, S-225 and S-375 were discontinued at various stages of development work. Project A-235 is at the stage of field testing. | ||||||||||
Notes
- ↑ US declassified Russian space weapons
- ↑ 1 2 Tikhonov S. G. Defense enterprises of the USSR and Russia: in 2 volumes. - M .: TOM, 2010 .-- T.1 - S.28-29 - 608 s. - Circulation of 1 thousand copies. - ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2 .
- ↑ 1 2 3 Kornev D. System A-235 / RTTs-181M / OKR Samolet-M // Militaryrussia.ru: Russian military equipment (after 1945) - Tomsk, December 20, 2011 / Checked: June 20, 2016
- ↑ Russian grave digger
- ↑ US records Russian test of anti-satellite weapons
- ↑ 1 2 Mardasov A. A-235 “Nudol”: the killer of American ICBMs and satellites // Free Press , May 30, 2016 / Verified: June 23, 2016
- ↑ 1 2 3 Kornev D. System A-235 / RTTs-181M, complex 14Ts33 Nudol . (article) // Militaryrussia.ru: Domestic military equipment (after 1945). - Tomsk, May 30, 2016. - Retrieved: June 20, 2016.
- ↑ Khazbiev A. The Secret of Peaceful Sleep . // Expert : weekly business magazine (special issue). - M .: Expert Media Holding, January 18-24, 2016. - No. 3 (971) - P.49 - ISSN 1812-1896.
- ↑ Stepanov A. Air alerts: Russian missile defense is not able to protect even Moscow . // Our Version : All-Russian weekly newspaper. - M .: Dialan, December 17-23, 2012. - No. 49 (374) - P. 8.
- ↑ Gertz, Bill . Russia Flight Tests Anti-Satellite Missile . / Washington Free Beacon : online newspaper. - Washington, DC, May 27, 2016. - Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ↑ U.S. records test of Russia’s anti-satellite weapons , April 4, 2018
- ↑ Amanda Macias, Michael Sheetz. Russia succeeds in mobile anti-satellite missile test: US intelligence report . www.cnbc.com (January 18, 2019). Date of treatment January 21, 2019.
- ↑ Malafeev V.P. Missile defense and cruise missiles - in one life. - M.: Special Book, 2009. - P.221 - 456 p. - Circulation of 1 thousand copies. - ISBN 978-5-9797-0101-1 .