Space weapons: description, application, types and characteristics

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

For many people, war in space is a common action movie plot. But in fact, the first attempts to create space weapons were made by the USSR and the USA in the middle of the last century. These developments began back in the sixties and affected the types of weapons and combat systems for combat operations in space. The first prototypes of practical examples were presented in the seventies. At the moment, development has not stopped, moreover, China has also joined the race.

Artillery

QF Mark V is currently the largest-caliber artillery weapon used on ships. It uses primitive gunpowder charges, but in reality this space weapon is quite effective for a number of reasons. Even well-protected ships can be damaged by the lack of air resistance in outer space.

Due to simplicity, reliability and low costthese units can easily use serious ammunition. The equipment is designed for both attack and defense. In the twenties, shrapnel projectiles with remote detonators were widely used as anti-missile defense. But since the invention of nuclear weapons, the use of this type of weapon has become less common.

Casaba howitzers

The main modern military-space weapons are directional nuclear charges. Their main principle of operation is generation. When the nuclear nucleus explodes, the narrow front is accelerated to the relativistic velocity of the plasma. Hitting the target, such a plasma pulse is capable of causing significant damage to the object. But the charge must be directed, because a banal explosion will not bring any special damage to the object except for thermal and radioactive effects due to the fact that there is no required acceleration rate. This type of space weapon was created in America in 1989.

In fact, this is a mortar-type launcher that allows you to launch nuclear charges at a safe distance from the firing ship. In order for the charge to accurately hit the target, maneuvering and orientation engines are used. They are located on the warhead, controlled from the carrier ship and explode only when they are in close proximity to the target of the attack. Due to the low angle of divergence and speed of 20 thousand kilometers per second, they do not give the enemy a chance to dodge the attack. Upon hitting a target, these projectiles produce kinetic andthermal shock that significantly damages the attacked object.

Lasers

In most science fiction books and films, laser turrets are the main weapons in space. Their principle of operation is based on the redirection of mirrors that can control energy flows. In general, lasers are optical quantum generators, a type of space weapon that uses the energy of stimulated emission in order to obtain a narrowly directed energy flow. The main principle of destruction is the thermal effect on the target. They operate at the speed of light, making them potentially the most ideal weapons for space warfare.

With its help, you can simplify the targeting algorithm, because light travels up to 300 thousand kilometers per second. High-precision guidance makes the device indispensable for combating maneuvering targets.

Tests of space weapons have shown that in practice with lasers everything is not so simple. The problem is that the beam expands, and at long distances such strikes are not very effective. At the moment, the use of such weapons at long distances is meaningless, since the concentration of energy drops very much. In addition, there are difficulties in the safety of laser installations in outer space, since they require high energy costs and constant cooling. But it is very effective in the fight against buckshot, fighters, missiles and other small strikes. Many spacecraft are equipped with hull-mounted lasers, andenergy is supplied to them thanks to a system of mirrors.

Chemical lasers

This type of space weapon is capable of radiating energy from chemical reactions. When compared with standard electrical samples, they are more compact, but require large financial investments. In addition, unlike the previous ones, their charge is limited by the amount of reagents available. They are used on small shuttles and boats that are not equipped with power systems.

Rockets

In the seventies of the last century, rockets were the most important weapon for conducting space wars. They were guided projectiles launched by rocket engines. They are faster than artillery ammunition and equipped with radio command control. But they have significant drawbacks. These are weight, limited charges and vulnerability to other types of weapons.

Railguns (Gauss guns)

Speaking of space weapons, it is worth mentioning the so-called Gauss guns. This is a type of artillery piece that uses projectiles. Their speed provides an electromagnetic field that occurs in the gap between several conductors. They are much faster than conventional space artillery. Everything would be fine, but they consume a lot of energy and generate a lot of heat.

Their size and the need for super-large generators are unfavorable for use on ships, and they are also very vulnerable to enemy weapons. Also a disadvantage of this weapon, astests have shown, is the speed of the projectile, because it overcomes a distance of a thousand kilometers only in a few minutes. If the enemy has the ability to maneuver, he will be able to avoid a collision. Of course, you can use buckshot or shrapnel, but this will significantly reduce the level of damage.

Retrorockets

This is a special type of missile that is mounted on spaceships to hit a target on a planet. The projectile is fired against the orbital motion vector. Then he reduces the speed to the first space and falls into the well of gravity. They were very actively used in the 60-80s of the last century by British, American and Soviet scientists.

Torpedoes

Another type of American and Russian space weapons are torpedoes. These are unmanned ships equipped with nuclear drives. This is what distinguishes them from rockets equipped with chemical engines. They are capable of hitting a target at a long distance, up to several million kilometers. Since they are not intended for crew use, they do not need cushioning, and therefore they easily develop high acceleration. In general, their construction is solid, they are armored, which protects the torpedoes from shrapnel or small-caliber projectiles.

The torpedoes are filled with powerful directional nuclear charges, which are installed in separate mines and are ready when it flies up to the target.

The main problem with this weapon is that it needs sensor support. Therefore, there is a delay over long distances. The order is simply late, the radio beam does not reach the device at the right time. Therefore, in this case, most often the torpedo relies only on the power of its own radars, which are easy to divert from the target using electronic warfare. This influenced the unpopularity of this type of weapon, as, in fact, the cost of the unit, as well as its weight.

US space weapons

Since 2010, American space doctrine has been developing means, plans and scenarios to deter, protect and repel attacks, if any, on important systems of the United States and allied countries. They are going to control the near-Earth space with defensive and offensive installations. A drone called X-37B has been under development for several years.

It was launched into orbit, but according to the Pentagon, the device did not pass all the tests and checks. The United States is still hiding the fact of what tasks they assign to this unmanned equipment. But there is unconfirmed information that the main purpose of the unit is reconnaissance missions, the delivery of new and the dismantling of old satellite systems. The X-37B is the latest space weapon equipped with wings of 4.5 meters and a length of 8.8 meters. When returned to Earth, the device will have a mass of approximately five tons.

America's Missile Defense

In addition, the Americans use a national missile defense, consisting of a complex of radar stations, tracking satellite systems, launchersinstallations, as well as stations that intercept missiles. It is worth noting that the complex is capable of destroying missiles not only in the atmosphere and in space near the orbit, but also in space. According to analysts from Russia, these weapons are dangerous for the federation, especially the deployment of anti-missile defense systems in Eastern Europe confirms this. The complex includes:

• Ground-Based Midcourse Defense - capable of destroying ballistic missiles;
• Aiges is a ship system;
• THAAD - mobile anti-missile system;
• MIM-104 Patriot anti-aircraft missile system;
• SBIRS – constellation of satellites.

Other US developments

At the moment, scientists are developing the most powerful space weapons. American specialists are busy creating geostationary and near-Earth systems. In addition, the Space Fence program is being implemented, aimed at tracking the Earth. The United States has long been interested in the race to develop weapons for warfare outside the atmosphere, but did not begin to take any serious steps until after China launched a missile in 2013.

Russian space weapons

The defense strategy of the Russian Federation is also interested in protecting outer space. According to official statements, the state has anti-satellite weapons and equipment capable of using electronic jamming satellite systems. In 2015, three satellites were launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. According to America, there is a possibility that this equipmentaimed at destroying other systems in space.

This is indicated by two suspicious points. First, the authorities did not notify anyone about the launch. Secondly, they move too erratically, and you may get the impression that they are purposefully trying to collide with other objects. From a theoretical point of view, if these units are equipped with a laser or explosives, then they can explode as soon as they approach the military equipment of a rival state.

General information

To date, according to official figures, Russia has launched about 80 military satellite systems. There is also equipment aimed at identifying competing spy satellites. In the presence of modern equipment designed for surveillance. According to unofficial data, the A-60 aircraft is currently being developed, which will be equipped with a new generation of laser weapons. The state also plans to create two over-the-horizon detection radars that will track the country's border areas. Thanks to these units, Russia plans to timely notice and accompany any objects equipped with nuclear weapons at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers from the border. According to plans, the state will deploy several ZGO radars in the Far East, the B altic, and Siberia. Container type objects will be installed there. But in Sevastopol, on the Kola Peninsula and in B altiysk, it is planned to install Sunflower-type systems.

Conclusion

This is what modern American andRussian space weapon. Developments have been underway since the last century, and large financial resources are allocated for them. Probably, we do not know everything that is hidden in secret laboratories and hidden under the heading "secret". Well, we can only be content with the information that is made public and does not violate the security of our country. But even what we have now was unimaginable in the last century.

Modern scientists turn the ideas of science fiction books into reality and constantly improve existing systems, trying to keep up with the race to create space weapons and maintain planetary power. Previously, the two great powers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union, could not share power over space and armaments in near outer space and outer space. Now this war continues between Russia and America. Also, a new participant appeared on the field - China.

What is actually happening - protection and prevention or preparation for a full-scale third world war, is still unclear. Perhaps the information threat is not so terrible as what awaits us ahead. But one thing must be understood: testing of space weapons continues, and every strong opponent tries not to be inferior to his opponent in terms of weapons.