RF-500

The Union Research and Development Bureau No. 52, which before that was mainly engaged in the creation of anti-ship missiles for the needs of the Navy , diversifies its production profile. Taking into account the progress in creating unmanned interceptors abroad, the US-Canadian project of the Bomark missile (range 300-400 km) and the French project Charentsi missile (range 500 km), in OKB-52 and a number of other experimental design institutes of the military-industrial complex of the USSR are developing a completely new anti-aircraft guided long-range missile (SAMD). Projects of anti-aircraft missiles ZURDD-400 , ZURDD-600 , ZURDD-B were consistently developed. Soon, in accordance with the decisions of the Soviet government , the development of the R-500 cruise missile begins ^[3] . Due to the fact that the long-range interception system with anti-aircraft guided missiles was created on a competitive basis, the main competitor of OKB-52 V. N. Chelomey was OKB-155 A. I. Mikoyan ^[4] . And while Chelomey, besides the problem of developing a new field of activity for him, faced the problem of creating a suitable rocket engine , then his competitors, experienced aircraft designers , had a different problem: Before moving on to the subject of anti-aircraft missiles, A. I. Mikoyan’s design bureaus and S. A. Lavochkina were engaged in the design of manned aircraft , now they had to create an unmanned interceptor and the need to create a suitable missile control system came to the fore th ^[5] .

Work on the project began at a meeting in OKB-52 on August 3, 1959, which was attended by: Chairman of the State Committee for Aviation Engineering (GKAT) P.V. Dementyev , his deputy A.A. Kobzarev , Chairman of the State Committee on Radio Electronics (GKRE) V. D. Kalmykov , from KB-1 , a member of the GKRE, - A. A. Kolosov , OKB-52 was represented at the meeting by V. N. Chelomey . During the meeting, very serious technical studies were presented that spoke not only about the principles of creating an anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM), but also about its main parameters and qualities, in particular, the missile should have had sufficient maneuverability in rarefied atmospheric layers, and The results of which in the minutes of the meeting recorded the decision of the audience to accept the following parameters for study:

• The average flight speed is 3500 km / h ,
• Attack speed - 2000 km / h ,
• Flight altitude - 35–40 km ,
• Starting weight - 7-8 tons ,
• The weight of the control equipment (without power sources and antenna fairings) - up to 300 kg ,
• Allowable overload is 4.5–5 g at an altitude of 35 km .

On September 24, 1959, with the help of the GKAT, OKB-52 employees were provided with data on similar developments at OKB-155 by A.I. Mikoyan , where a long-range interception complex with a two-stage winged anti-aircraft guided missile, which had similar characteristics, was also developed. Along with the projects of the design bureaus of Chelomey and Mikoyan, in the OKB-301 S. A. Lavochkina developed a missile launcher of the traditional Dal layout, with a shorter range of 300 km with a similar height of the affected area of 30–35 km , weighing 8.5 tons . Thus, in the USSR there was considerable competition in the field of creating air defense systems . On September 22, V. N. Chelomey considered the preliminary project and gave the task to prepare for GKAT the basic data on the complex. September 23 - prepare basic data on the rocket. On September 24, he reviewed the basic data on the anti-aircraft missile, made amendments and gave the task: 1) To prepare visual materials in the form of posters for submission to the SCAT by September 25; 2) To prepare the proposals of the SCAT for inclusion in the Decree of the Council of Ministers on anti-aircraft missiles, measures to ensure these works, attract related organizations; 3) Prepare a draft patent application “Rocket using the planning principle” by September 26–27. On September 29, he signed a proposal to P.V. Dementiev on the creation of solid fuel missiles, and OKB-52 employees were given the task of preparing an album for showing to the Chairman of the GKAT. September 30 - to prepare a selection of familiarization materials for viewing, an indication: Redo the starting installation and cover page of the selection. The RF-500 launchers were designed in two variants of basing: ground and underground , the title page should be called “Long-range anti-aircraft missile on solid fuel. Avantproject. " On October 1, bureau employees were instructed to prepare an album and proposals for the Chairman of the SCAT for consideration on October 2 at 9:00. According to the testimony of V. A. Polyachenko, at that time - an employee of the pre-sketch design group under the chief designer of OKB-52 and a direct participant in this project, such daily tasks and continuous monitoring of their implementation contributed to the fact that in the shortest possible time OKB-52, the main activity which was the design and creation of low-flying cruise missiles , takes a step towards high-altitude and high-speed missiles. On December 22, 1959, a meeting on the long-range interceptor was held at the GERC, to which V. N. Polyachenko sent V. N. Chelomey from OKB-52. It took place at the Chief Engineer of the 13th Directorate of the State Committee for Emergencies, N. V. Krotov , in Moscow , in a building on Nogin Square . Among those present were: Head of the 1st Directorate of the 4th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Major General G. S. Legasov with officers accompanying him, employees of SKB-41 (at that time being a subdivision of KB-1 GKRE) - chief designer of Bureau A. A. Kolosov , chief designer of the laboratory of ground systems Y. I. Pavlov , head of the theoretical department I. G. Rapoport , from OKB-155 - head of the aerodynamics team A. A. Chumachenko . The main tactical and technical characteristics of the DP-1 long-range interception system were discussed:

• Range of combat use - 500-600 km ,
• Target speed - up to 4000 km / h ,
• The altitude of the target’s flight is from 5–10 km to 35–36 km ,

The deadline for joint trials was the 2nd quarter of 1964. A. A. Kolosov and N. V. Krotov proposed the name of the system - S-500, and rockets - RM-500 and RF-500 (“Mikoyan rocket” and “rocket” Chelomea ", respectively). On December 23, the progress and results of the meeting were reported to V. N. Chelomey. On January 9, 1960, V. N. Chelomey informed his subordinates that he endorsed the draft Decree of the Council of Ministers on missiles for the S-500 complex and made certain changes there, the bureau was tasked with: 1) Preparing a change in the range of the missile when maneuvering for withdrawal trajectories; 2) Prepare a reasoned criticism of the design of the anti-aircraft missile OKB-155 A.I. Mikoyan. The line of criticism was as follows: a kerosene rocket had a number of unconditional advantages, it was suitable for hitting aerodynamic targets of that time and could be made more compressed in time than solid-fuel rockets, but it has no development prospects, and it does not have the requirements of the Decree of the USSR Council of Ministers are provided. Kerosene in combination with a powder rocket engine is also not promising and does not solve problems at medium speeds, at available overloads ; 3) Prove the promise of the RF-500 also for missile defense (ABM). V. A. Polyachenko with the deputy of Ch. designer S. N. Khrushchev received Chelomei’s instructions to contact the head of SKB-30 KB-1 G.V. Kisunko and go to him with the goal of drawing up a declaration on the prospects of the RF-500 missile for missile defense, - Kisunko was the lead in developing the missile defense system , and the missile defense for this system was developed by P.D. Grushin . In the draft resolution, which V. N. Chelomei spoke of, two anti-aircraft missiles were recorded: RM - a liquid fuel (or RJ) rocket, that is, a Mikoyan-RM-500 rocket, and an RF (or RT), that is - a rocket on solid fuel - Chelomea rocket - RF-500. The competition at this stage was between OKB-52 and OKB-155. Further, the issue was complicated by the fact that the Chairman of the State Committee for Defense Technology (GKOT) K. N. Rudnev did not endorse the draft resolution, since it stated that NII-125 was to make a powder charge with a longer burning time. OKB-52 needed a marching powder engine with a working time of 165 seconds , and he agreed on a working time of only 100 seconds . The specific impulse - 220–240 sec , and the weight return of the engine of 13–15%, —which were counted on by OKB-52 — were deleted from the draft resolution, and these, according to V. A. Polyachenko, were very important characteristics. At the same time, Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee for Defense Industry L.I. Brezhnev , who oversaw the defense industry, gave two to three weeks to coordinate the project at the interdepartmental level. A week from the allotted time, by then, has already passed. The chief designers were instructed to work out a final solution. The first-stage engine was made for the OKB-52 rocket and the OKB-155 rocket the same. But the situation with the solid propellant marching engine and opposition from competing structures led to the closure of the RF-500 long-range anti-aircraft missile project ^{[3] [4]} .