Air-to-air missiles: main characteristics

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Missile systems of various types are designed to combat air targets. A huge variety of weapons are primarily classified by the place of launch and the location of the target. For example: “ground-to-air” - a ground-based missile (first word) to destroy objects in airspace (second word). This type of ammunition is most often referred to as anti-aircraft, that is, shooting at the zenith - up. The significant speed of the surface-to-air missile, more than four times the speed of sound, makes it possible to effectively deal not only with aircraft and ballistic missiles, but also with highly maneuverable cruise missiles.

Aircraft weapons

The armament of a modern combat aircraft is an integrated high-tech complex of several systems, which conditionally consists of a control system and directly suspended and built-in weapons. Rockets designed to be launched from mobile air platforms and destroy aircraft are classified as air-to-air missiles (A-B) in accordance with the domestic system. In the West for ammunition of this classthe abbreviation AAM from the English combination air-to-air missile is in use. Effective examples of these weapons first appeared in the mid-forties of the last century. The first domestic homing munitions were copied from an American air-to-air missile. Russia is currently recognized as the undisputed leader in this field of military equipment. Some systems have no analogues even among the developed foreign complexes.

Attack distance

According to the distance at which an object is destroyed in the air, air-to-air missiles are divided into several classes. Aviation ammunition is created for use at three types of combat distances:

Short-range missiles are used to destroy aircraft within line of sight. These ammunition are equipped with infrared homing devices. The accepted designation of NATO countries is SRAAM.
At distances up to 100 km, medium-range missiles (MRAAM) with a radar homing system are used.
Long range munitions up to 200 km (LRAAM) have a complex targeting system using different principles on the march and in the final attack area.

Classifying in this way according to the principle of range, the developers believe that at given distances, the missile will be able to hit the target with a guarantee. In the language of specialists, this is called the effective shooting distance.

Target Guidance Systems

In the head of the rocketmeasuring equipment is placed that allows you to autonomously, that is, without the participation of an operator, aim a projectile at a target and hit it. An automatic device against the background of the surrounding physical fields is able to determine the target, the parameters of its movement, the movement of the missile itself and generate commands for the control system if it is necessary to perform a maneuver. Air-to-air missile homing systems use various types of target radiation: optical, acoustic, infrared, and radio emissions. According to the location of the radiation source, guidance complexes are:

Passive - uses signals emitted by the target.
Semi-active heads require a signal reflected from the target emitted by the carrier aircraft.
Active ones themselves illuminate the target, for which they are supplied with standard signal transmitters.

Striking elements and detonators

In the air, especially at high altitudes, the high-explosive action of an explosive is ineffective. Air-to-air missiles are armed with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Due to the high speed of movement of both the target and the missile itself, strict requirements are applied to the warhead for the formation of a damaging sphere. The desired result can be achieved by applying a system of predetermined crushing into fragments or ready-made submunitions (balls, rods). In most products, a variant is used that forms a radial field from fragments of a cylindrical warhead, a fragmentation jacket. When dispersed, the striking elements form a cone withtruncated top with the direction of movement, a passing rocket.

The planned division into damaging fragments is achieved by point hardening with a laser or high-frequency currents, applying notches or a "mask" of inert material. Fragmentation submunitions are equipped with warheads of melee missiles. Medium-range missile systems use a warhead formed from rods. The striking elements are arranged obliquely around the explosive and are alternately welded to each other by the upper and lower ends. When opened, the rods form a closed ring of great destructive power. Promising developments are underway to control the formation and direction of the fragmentation field.

Undermining the warhead at the optimal distance is carried out by a radar fuse equipped with one or two antennas. Modern air-to-air missiles are equipped with laser systems that continuously track the distance to the target. All rockets have an inertial detonator in case of a direct hit.

Guarding the air spaces

For our country, with its vast distances and underdeveloped ground infrastructure in the eastern and northern directions, air-to-air missiles are a key link in ensuring defense capability. Russia, having made a technological breakthrough in recent years, has a whole range of highly effective munitions. Domestic missiles are designed not only to equip existing aircraft, but also promising manned and unmanned aircraft.complexes, the adoption of which is expected in the near future. Modern Russian aircraft are equipped with some types of missiles. They will be discussed later.

R-73 short-range guided missile

The product was put into service in 1983, in the NATO classification AA-11 "Archer". Designed to destroy actively maneuvering manned and unmanned targets at a maximum speed of up to 2,500 km/h day and night in all weather conditions in the front and rear hemispheres. For shooting at pursuing targets, the reverse start mode is used. The engine with a variable thrust vector and other know-how made it possible to surpass all existing world analogues in terms of maneuverability. Can be used against unguided balloons, helicopters and cruise missiles. The missile is included in the standard armament of the latest modifications of the MiG-29 and Su-27, as well as Su-34 tactical bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft. It is produced in two versions of RMD-1 and RMD-2 modifications. Can be used to counter cruise missiles. The rocket is exported. Ammunition has the following characteristics:

Weight - 110 kg.
Length - 2.9 m.
Mass of rod warhead 8 kg.
Launch range - 40 km (RMD 2).

Rvv-MD close combat missile

The newest ammunition has all-aspect infrared guidance. The use of an aerogasdynamic maneuvering system allowsdestroy targets from any direction. It is assumed that this model will arm all types of fighter aircraft and helicopters. RVV-MD and Kh-38 air-to-surface missile will form the basis of the fifth generation fighter's combat power.

Starting weight no more than 106 kg.
Rocket length - 2.92 m.
Weight of the warhead with a rod striking element - 8 kg.
Distance hitting targets up to 40 km.

R-27 air-to-air missiles

Guided munition was created to arm fourth-generation fighters. According to NATO classification AA-10 "Alamo". The specific ammunition is designed to destroy enemy aircraft in close maneuverable combat and at medium distances at a maximum target speed of up to 3,500 km/h. A new control concept and a solid fuel engine have been applied. On some modifications accelerators are used. The speed of the R-27 air-to-air missile is four and a half times the speed of sound. Characteristics depending on the modification are as follows:

The mass of various samples ranges from 250 to 350 kg.
Maximum length from 3.7 to 4.9 m.
The weight of the rod-type warhead is 39 kg.
The range of destruction of objects from 50 to 110 km.

R-77 medium-range air-to-air missile

Designed for the fifth generation fighter MiG - 1.42, which never went into production. Western designation AA-12 "Adder". Adopted in 1994. Equipped with a powerful engine and the most advancedradar and infrared guidance systems. Designed to destroy moving and static air targets of all types, including cruise missiles flying around the terrain, against the background of the earth and the sea surface in all altitude ranges. The range of the modification with solid fuel boosters reaches 160 km.

Weight - 700 kg.
Product length - 3.5 m.
The mass of the rod warhead with multi-cumulative elements is 22 kg.
Maximum target range - 100 km.

A surface-to-air modification was created on the basis of this ammunition. The ground-based missile features a large engine diameter.

Self-guided medium-range missile RVV-SD

The newest type of armament of domestic aircraft is designed to destroy targets of all types, including cruise missiles at altitudes up to 25 km in conditions of intense enemy radar countermeasures. An active guidance system was used using inertial radio correction. The detonation device uses a laser proximity sensor.

Starting weight up to 190 kg.
Length - 3.7 m.
Type of warhead - multi-cumulative rod, weight - 22.5 kg.
Launch distance up to 110 km.

RVV-AE medium-range missile

This version of the missile was designed to equip fourth ++ generation fighters and is designed to combat all existing types of aircraft,including cruise missiles. The ammunition can be used at any time of the day over land and sea in the coastal zone. The developers provide for installation on foreign types of aircraft. A non-contact laser fuse was used as a detonator. For maneuvering, electric lattice rudders are used - the technical device has no analogues in the world.

Maximum starting weight is 180 kg.
Maximum length - 3.6 m.
Stock multi-cumulative warhead, weight - 22.5 kg.
Firing distance up to 80 km.

R-33 long-range guided missile

Designed to arm fighter-interceptors of territorial air defense with underdeveloped ground infrastructure. In NATO reference books it is designated as AA-9 "Amos". In combination with the MiG-31-33, it was put into service in the early 80s and formed one of the elements of the Zaslon multi-channel interception system. The complex allows you to simultaneously use the entire ammunition of a link of 4 aircraft. At the same time, the radar equipment of aircraft and semi-active seeker missiles provide the ability to simultaneously hit four targets with four missiles. The R-33 is designed to destroy aircraft and low-flying cruise missiles in all weather conditions, against the background of the ground in all ranges of altitudes and speeds, and has the following technical data:

Weight - 490 kg.
Length - 4, 15 m.
The mass of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is 47 kg.
Launch range - 120 km, with addition altarget illumination - up to 300 km.

"Long arm" R-37

The long-range missile R-37 has been developed on the basis of the R-33 to arm the latest interception system based on the MiG-31BM. Some sources refer to RVV-BD and K-37. According to NATO classification AA-13 "Arrow". Tests of the latest samples were completed in 2012. When it was created, a new dual-mode solid-fuel engine and the latest control and guidance equipment were used. During the tests, it hit the target at a record distance of 307 km.

Starting weight of various modifications from 510 to 600 kg.
Rocket length - 4.2 m.
Warhead - high-explosive fragmentation, weight - 60 kg.
R-73 air-to-air missile range - 300 km, export version - 200 km.

Superiority will remain with us

The entry into service of the Russian army of high-tech products in recent years has significantly outstripped the Western powers. The developed air-to-air missiles will be equipped with even more powerful on-board computer systems and high-speed signal processors. The new generation of missiles will be able not only to track the target in conditions of strong radar and infrared countermeasures, but also to carry out covert tracking of the attacked air object.