Short-range air defense system "Pine": performance characteristics, photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

With the development of air-military technology, it became necessary to arm the ground forces and protect personnel from a sudden enemy attack from the air. To this end, short-range anti-aircraft missile systems began to be adopted by the Russian army. Their main purpose is to protect units from attack by enemy aircraft in all types of combat, as well as on the march.

Now the main defense of the Russian land army is the Strela-10M3 complex. But soon it is planned to introduce the new Sosna short-range air defense system into military units. On tests in 2016, he showed a significant superiority over other types of equipment.

Development history

The idea to create a lightweight anti-aircraft missile system, which is Sosna, appeared back in 1990. Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Shipunov A. G. proposed to design a lightweight version of equipment based on the Strela-10 air defense system by introducing a laser guidance systemmissiles and optoelectronic control system.

The development of a new air defense system model began in 2005 and continues to this day. The sample was first presented to the public in 2013 at a conference on the development of air defense technology in the city of Smolensk. Then the first tests were carried out. It is expected that after the final tests in 2017, the Sosna air defense system will be approved and put into service.

Goals and objectives of the complex

At the initial stages of the development of the complex, the goal was to increase the combat potential of the Strela-10 air defense system and increase its endurance. In accordance with this, the basic design principles were formulated:

• introduction to the basis of the Sosna-10R anti-aircraft guided missile system;
• creation of a new missile control system, teleorienting in the laser beam;
• introduction of a multi-channel optical-electronic weapons control system with automatic control, protected from electronic interference and capable of operating around the clock, in almost any weather;
• creation of automatic and semi-automatic firing modes.

Among other things, Sosna missiles were supposed to become more effective due to precise targeting, the use of several types of fuses (non-contact and contact laser with a circular diagram), as well as by reducing the flight time to the target by increasing initial speed.

SAM design

The basis for the combat vehicle islightly armored multi-purpose chassis LT-MB of the Soviet floating armored personnel carrier. Moreover, the main elements of the anti-aircraft missile system can be mounted both on a caterpillar mover and on a pneumatic wheel structure. In addition, the Sosna air defense system can be installed on floating vessels and presented as a fixed installation on land.

The main requirement for the platform is a load capacity of at least 4,000 kg. Common transporters BTR-82, BMP-3 and BMD-4 can be used as a basis. At the same time, the composition of the combat module will include:

• opto-electronic control system (OESU);
• guiding system and power mechanisms;
• digital computing machine;
• packages with six Sosna-R missiles in the amount of two pieces.

SAMs are in special transport and launch containers, they do not need to be tested for performance throughout the entire service life. If desired, the complex can be designed in several versions.

Tactical and technical characteristics

The combination of the high performance of the missile and the effective operation of the optical-electronic control system with laser guidance made it possible to increase the radius of destruction of Sosna air defense systems. The performance characteristics of the new model are at a higher level compared to the prototype ("Strela 10MZ").

The complex can be used as part of a battery (including batteries of mixed composition). At the same time, target designation will be responsibleeither a battery control point or a command vehicle. In addition, the air defense system can independently aim at targets using a sector search and working in a passive mode, which at the same time makes it difficult to detect.

Sosna-R anti-aircraft guided missile

Zur "Sosna-R" is a new development of Russian military engineers. Its mass is only 7 kg, which made it possible to exclude the charging machine from the Sosna air defense system.

The rocket consists of three elements:

• armor-piercing warhead to defeat the enemy in direct contact with him;
• fragmentation rod part, which is used for non-contact destruction of air equipment;
• laser contact-proximity fuse equipped with a combined control system.

The Sosna short-range air defense missile system is a two-stage missile with one detachable rocket engine. With the exit from the transport and launch container, the direction of flight of an anti-aircraft guided missile is controlled by a radio command system. She also brings the rocket to the line of sight. After that, the separation of the starting engine occurs, the inclusion of protection against radio interference. Further pursuit of the target is carried out using a laser guidance system.

Optico-electronic control system

A feature of the new anti-aircraft missile system is an optoelectronic control system. Thanks to her SAM:

• highly accurate;
• instantly and unmistakablydetermines the coordinates of the target;
• protected from radar interference;
• capable of covertly firing at the enemy.

From the moment of detection to the destruction of enemy aircraft, the Sosna air defense system can operate in fully automatic mode.

The performance of OESU is almost incomparable.

The opto-electronic module is installed on a gyro-stabilized platform and is capable of operating in semi-automatic mode, when the complex is controlled by the machine operator, but many computing processes take place in the digital unit. Semi-automatic targeting mode is preferable to use in a difficult combat situation.

Protection Technology

Even in the early stages of the development of the complex, it was decided to abandon the use of radar target detection systems. This decision subsequently increased the degree of protection of the combat vehicle from enemy anti-radar systems - it became practically invulnerable to them.

Anti-aircraft guided missiles, like Sosna itself, a short-range air defense system, are protected from interference by several methods at once, which are embedded in their design. The laser radiation receiver is located in the tail section of the missile, which makes it impossible to block and distort the control signal.

Protection against interference from the ground part of the complex is created due to the narrow field of view of television and thermal imaging channels. If necessary, the air defense system is equipped with means of visual and thermal camouflage.

Assessment of air defense systems inRussia

During field and state tests, the command of the armed forces of the Russian Federation highlighted a number of advantages of the new Sosna air defense system (photo attached) compared to previous representatives of short-range missile systems:

1. The effectiveness of the destruction of both high-speed and low-flying aircraft, including helicopters and UAVs.
2. Controlled level of automation for detecting and destroying targets in combat.
3. Ability to work around the clock and in all weather conditions.
4. An almost imperceptible process of deploying the complex on alert.
5. No height restrictions, the ability to destroy ground vehicles.
6. Ability to fire from a standstill, on the move and during short stops.

The command noted the low cost of both the combat vehicle and anti-aircraft guided missiles. It was suggested that after successful tests in 2017, the complex will be adopted by the Russian army.

Don't be confused! ZRPK "Sosna-RA" and ZRK "Sosna"

Under the index "Pine" in the Russian army adopted various types of weapons and military equipment. Most often, the Sosna-RA mobile towed anti-aircraft missile and gun system and the air defense system presented in the article are confused.

Sosna-RA, like the missile system, can either act as an independent combat unit or be mounted on various vehicles.

Unlike its "older brother" ZRPKdesigned to cover ground forces only from low-flying aircraft. Like the Sosna air defense system, the Sosna-R short-range missiles are used to destroy air targets. Perhaps this is the only common feature of the two presented units of military equipment.