Already during the Second World War, the dominance of aviation over the theater of operations was decisive. Modern large-scale combat operations are accompanied by the use of hundreds of aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles. To counter the air threat, air defense and missile defense systems are used, which differ in the principle of operation, effective radius and degree of mobility. In the 70s, portable portable anti-aircraft systems were widely used, designed to counter ground attack aircraft, at the present stage represented by attack helicopters, attack aircraft and UAVs.
The Igla MANPADS are in service with the Russian Army. This weapon has a high efficiency, confirmed by the experience of combat use (so far only by foreign armed forces), it is easy to use, reliable, relatively small in size and weight.
MANPADS in the USSR
The development of domestic anti-aircraft missile systems with the ability to launch a projectile directly from the shoulder began in the USSR in advance. In the secondhalf of the 60s, the Soviet Army had two types of portable air defense systems ("Strela" and "Strela-2"). This weapon had numerous advantages, including:
- the sudden appearance of air defense systems in areas where enemy aircraft had not previously felt a threat;
- the ability to hit objects at a considerable distance (more than 4 km) and at a height corresponding to the one at which attack aircraft (“Skyhawk”, “Phantom” or “Skyrider”) most often “work” on ground targets, - from 1500 to 3000 meters;
- quick engagement;
- simple application and training of personnel, including foreign ones;
- relatively compact;
- unpretentiousness in relation to the conditions of storage and transportation.
Despite the high combat qualities, there were also unpleasant moments for which military experts criticized the Strela MANPADS. The Needle was designed precisely to overcome the problems that arose.
To beat not after, but towards
The main disadvantage of the Arrows was their ability to hit targets after they passed over the covered object. Usually, an enemy aircraft could be shot down after it carried out a bombing or missile salvo. Of course, the defending troops could "revenge" if the anti-aircraft gunners themselves survived. "Arrows" could be hit in pursuit, and the army demanded a weapon that could hit attacking aircraft on a collision course, forestalling possible damage.
In some cases, using the surprise factor, you canit was necessary to succeed, despite this design flaw - "catching" the enemy and inflicting an insidious blow on overflying aircraft, remaining unnoticed. So in 1969, Egyptian troops massively used Strela-2 man-portable complexes against Israeli Phantoms, which were marching at extremely low altitudes, destroying six of them in a day. But the enemy also knows how to learn, so soon the effectiveness of the use of Soviet MANPADS decreased, although the benefits from them still remained undoubted. They had a psychological effect, forcing enemy pilots to constantly rush from low to high altitudes, not feeling safe anywhere. And yet, it was necessary to look for technical possibilities to strike towards, and not after.
Government assignment to S. P. Invincible
Another drawback that the Strelas had and which the creators of the Igla MANPADS tried to avoid was the insufficient explosive power of the warhead. Not all hits on the target guaranteed its destruction and even the infliction of significant damage. The survivability of attack aircraft increased, the nozzles into which rockets with a thermal guidance head rushed were made of materials capable of withstanding strong thermal and baric effects, and aircraft often had the opportunity to return to their airfield, and after repair they again posed a threat. The effect of "blurring" by the jet stream of the blast wave and the flow of damaging elements also had an effect. Something had to be done about this.
In 1971In 1999, the government of the USSR decided to create a new complex capable of dealing with the most modern and promising at that time means of air attack of a tactical level that a potential enemy could have. The Kolomna Machine-Building Bureau became the head enterprise of the project, other organizations (the Central Design Bureau of Apparatus Engineering, the Research Institute of Measuring Instruments and the Leningrad Association LOMO) carried out related work. The main leader of the new development quite naturally became Academician S. P. Invincible. The new weapon was called the Igla MANPADS. The characteristics (in terms of target speed, height and probability of destruction), according to the government order, were to significantly exceed those of Strela-3 (latest modification).
Tricks vs Tricks
The main channel for guidance of anti-aircraft missiles is traditionally considered to be the thermal trace left by the engine of the aircraft. This method of determining the direction of the projectile was relatively simple, but had serious drawbacks. Immediately after the first cases of effective use against aircraft, devices appeared designed to mislead thermal location systems, which were fired squibs that create a false target. Therefore, it was decided to equip the Igla MANPADS with a two-channel IR guidance head equipped with photodetectors. The development of a system capable of distinguishing a real aircraft from a thermal trace of a thermal “trap” dragged on for an extra seven years, but was crowned with success. She turned outtechnically difficult, it is enough just to mention that the main photodetector after the transfer of the projectile to the combat position is cooled to a very low temperature close to absolute zero (-200 ° C). As a result of these efforts, an automatic system equipped with logic circuits compares the readings of the two sensors. And if the signal level of the additional channel is lower than the main one, then the target is determined as a distraction, and the search is carried out until the rocket sees the true object.
There is another important technical issue, the solution of which significantly increased the combat effectiveness of the Igla MANPADS. The survivability characteristics of modern attack aircraft depend on the place where the projectile hits, and the nozzle is not the best option, so the guidance algorithm provides an additional option that involves changing the missile’s direction vector (turning) in the final section of the trajectory so that the impact hits the fuselage. To carry out this maneuver, additional maneuvering engines are provided in the design of the projectile.
Guidance system and fuses
Design Bureau engineers tried in every possible way to reduce the weight of the Igla portable complex. MANPADS is conceptually a compact weapon, it is intended for use by one fighter. The mass of the blasting substance contained in the missile's fighting compartment is the same as that of the Strela (1170 g), but its energy (explosive) power is much higher. In addition, it was quite a logical decision to use unused fuel asadditional destructive force, for which a special device called an explosive generator is used. At its core, this is a detonator that fires when the main charge is detonated and transforms the relatively slow burning of fuel into an instantaneous chemical oxidation reaction with the release of a huge amount of energy. There are two fuses: contact (activated by direct contact) and induction (capturing the magnetic field of the target at a distance). BZU type - high-explosive fragmentation.
General arrangement and equipment
MANPADS "Igla", like other portable complexes of the operational-tactical level of air defense, is a launch tube in which the missile is sealed, with an ergonomic handle. In order for the projectile to fly out could not injure the shooter, the launch process is divided into two stages. At the first, immediately after the activation of the ammunition, the rocket is pushed out of the barrel by means of a special charge of low power. After a few meters of flight, the laser beam from the launcher launches the main (marching) solid propellant engine. At the same time, the first stage of blocking is removed, which prevents accidental explosion of the warhead. Finally, the rocket comes into action after a few more seconds, flying up to 250 meters.
In addition to the launch tube itself, containing the 9P322 missile and being a single-use product, the Igla MANPADS kit is equipped with a trigger mechanism (9P519-1) with a 1L14 interrogator (it is expensive and complex, it can be used many times) and an electronic tablet 1L15-1 (to speed up the exchangeoperational information on the air situation).
For group application, a mobile checkpoint will also be required. To check and monitor the he alth of the system, a special KPS kit has been developed.
What Igla-1 inherited from Strela
In the second half of the seventies, both for the performers and for the customer, it became clear that the Kolomna Machine-Building Bureau did not meet the deadlines. The delay was due to a backlog in the development of the 9E140 product (homing head). It turned out to be quite complicated, its creation was accompanied by many problems. The rocket was almost ready. In order to speed up the entry of the model into service with the Soviet Army and facilitate the further assimilation of new technology, a decision was made on an intermediate option. MANPADS "Igla-1", adopted by the state commission in 1978, was equipped with a single-channel seeker from Strela. At the same time, the new complex was distinguished by an increased charge power and much better technical characteristics (the radius of application increased to 5.2 km, it became possible to hit oncoming targets). In 1982, tests of a two-channel homing head were finally completed, it was equipped with a new portable front-line air defense system, called the Igla-2 MANPADS.
"Needle" modifications "D", "H" and "C"
It is difficult to call a miniature complex, the length of the launch tube is 1 m 70 cm - the average human height. Particularly serious objections began to come from the paratroopers, who demanded greater compactness. It was created for themspecial reduced "Needle". MANPADS in the folded position has become shorter by 60 cm.
Modification "H" was distinguished by increased blasting power of the warhead. The same property is also characteristic of the third version of the complex, which received the index "C". But in addition to a reinforced high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the rocket has a double fuse (including a non-contact one) and another important quality, because of which the device is named so. "C" - means "folding", in the transport position - in half.
Features
TTX Igla MANPADS are impressive and fully meet the requirements of the fast-paced XXI century. The speed of the rocket on the way to the target is over 2100 km / h. At a distance of 5200 m, an aircraft or helicopter flying at speeds up to 1150 km / h at an altitude of up to 2500 m can be hit in pursuit with a probability of 63%.
When firing on the opposite course, the target speed can be higher, up to 1300 km/h. The portable complex can be transferred from a transport to a combat state in just 13 seconds.
All these dry numbers mean amazing capabilities that only one soldier armed with 9K38 Igla MANPADS has. It can deal with low-flying objects such as attack helicopters or cruise missiles, which, due to the flatness of the trajectory, pose a great danger to ground troops.
In addition, the control system is able to distinguish between hostile aircraft thanks to the built-in recognition system "friend or foe".
Especial words deserves and simplicityuse of MANPADS "Igla". The instructions for combat use do not contain a large number of items, the launch can be made from any position, including from the side of a moving vehicle. After the operator has found the target, he directs the launch tube at the object and presses the "Start" button. Then everything happens in a matter of seconds, it remains only to follow the flight of the rocket, if, of course, there is time for this.
User experience
The armies of more than four dozen countries are armed with the portable anti-aircraft system MANPADS "Igla". Its use by Iraqi forces in 1991 caused the coalition air force to lose several aircraft, which demonstrated the high effectiveness of this type of Russian weapon even in conditions of almost complete suppression of air defense systems and air dominance of the attacking side. Over the past two decades, many armed conflicts and wars have arisen in different regions of the world. In most of them, one side or another used the Igla MANPADS. Photos of militants and government soldiers with characteristic "pipes", as well as damaged and destroyed aircraft clearly illustrate the deadly power of this relatively small air defense.
In post-Soviet history, only the famous Kalashnikov can argue with the popularity of the Needle. It is known about the last major contract for the supply of a large batch of these systems for the armed forces of Malaysia. The design of the system is being improved, which has led to an increase to six kilometers in the radius of combat use of the Igla of the Super modification. These MANPADS, andalso new, still secret models, the Russian army will be completely re-equipped in the near future.
