Loitering munition (LM) or suicide drones (suicide / kamikaze drones) are weapons systems that hover around to find a target and attack when the target is located. . LM has the advantages of tactical and tactical features, simplicity in production and operation, increasing survivability in combat as well as the ability to destroy targets. It also allows for more selective targeting and actual strike missions can be canceled, revolutionizing the way war is waged in volatile regions of the world. Lancet is equipped with an electric motor with a propeller in the tail and optoelectronic unit in the nose; Source: topwar.ru The LM can be as simple as a drone (UAV) and can even be built from commercial drones, with weapons attached, sent on a suicide mission. in the air for a long period of time before an attack, which simplifies reconnaissance and assault. It allows to promptly attack hidden targets in a short time without having to use expensive weapons (such as rockets, self-propelled guns using smart bullets …). Low cost creates another characteristic advantage that simplifies the organization of large-scale raids aimed at overwhelming enemy air defenses. LMs are made more complex in terms of flight and control capabilities, warhead size and design, body sensors … Some LMs may return and be recalled by the operator if they are not. used in the attack and has enough fuel left. LM first appeared in the 1980s, was used as the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) against surface-to-air missiles (SAM), and was used by the military in several countries. Entering service in the 1990s. Starting in the 2000s, the LM has been developed and has a construction suitable for wearing in a backpack for additional missions, from long range attacks and fire support. power to short-range, tactical battlefield systems. Lancet – a formidable Russian mobile suicide weapon In fact, the British were the first to come to terms with the LM weapon, but today Russia, Israel and the US are leading the way. Not long ago, the Zala Aero company of Kalashnikov Group (Russia) presented the first suicide weapon “Lancet” (“Ланцет”) – an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of reconnaissance and attack. Assigned public target, capable of completely changing combat operations in the near future. The company’s new product Zala Aero was demonstrated for the first time at the Army-Technical Forum-2019. Each combination includes a control panel providing the ability to receive and process data, as well as transmit commands to the suicide weapon. The Lancet is fabricated in a longitudinal scheme with two X-shaped wing combinations used to reduce the size of the bearing plane while maintaining the required lift; at the same time, it is possible to increase the stiffness of the structure and increase the flight speed. As a rule, Israel’s most famous LM systems built according to the classic airplane scheme have one fundamental drawback: LMs maneuver well along one axis and not maneuver along the other – which reduces the effect of an attack on a moving target. The X-shaped wing map adheres to aerodynamic surfaces, which are characteristic of missiles, overcoming this weakness. Lancet is designed with the optoelectronic unit in the nose and the electric motor connected to the propeller propeller at the tail; Widely used plastic and synthetic materials. Unlike foreign models, Lancet uses two X-shaped wings combinations; Source: topwar.ru The optical device unit has a channel that transmits the signal to the operator console, does not lose video communication with the operator until it is in direct contact with the target. This UAV is also equipped with its own navigation system capable of identifying coordinates from a variety of sources and objects. Flight and targeting can be performed under the control of the operator and independently, or a combination of the two. Experts will track it from the ground through the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system or its own command-control system. The “Lancet-1” and “Lancet-3” models agreed on the body frame and internal system components, catapulted, capable of reaching speeds of 80-130 km / h. According to the manufacturer, they do not need additional operating facilities on the ground but can locate, communicate, attack targets within a radius of 40 km. When the UAV flies to an altitude of 5 km, it can turn off the main engine but continue to hover, mimicking the behavior of the birds, doing the mission for an additional 3 km at lower altitudes. After that, the UAV restarted the engine and flew again to a height of 5 km. With those unique features, the UAV’s field of view is increased to 1,000 km, far exceeding its counterparts. Lancet-1 has a takeoff weight of 5 kg, is equipped with a 1 kg fragmentation warhead, Lancet-3 weighs 12 kg, carries a 3 kg warhead, and both uses a contact detonator. In terms of power, the warheads of these two LMs are equivalent to medium-sized artillery shells. If the previous generation of Lancet – “Kub” (“Куб”) attacks the target according to specific coordinates, like most foreign UAVs, Lancet does not need any satellite positioning and the accuracy of astonishing hit. What makes this special is that in the event of a loss of contact with the control center, Lancet will switch to automatic target and attack mode. So, even with interference by the enemy, Lancet can still complete the mission. LM can be launched into the air both from the ground and from aircraft carriers at sea, and ships. Lancet chief architect Alexander Zakharov calls these UAVs “aerators” (“воздушноe минированиe”) as the world’s first system designed to defend against UAVs, capable of “drafting” in the air. medium for tens of hours and capable of shooting down UAVs moving at speeds below 300 km / h. Lancet’s design gives it many features and advantages over foreign models; Source: topwar.ru According to the Chief Architect, this “gas” system is being tested, to test the accuracy and combatability of Lancet in real combat conditions against static and dynamic targets; at the moment, it has already killed 100% of its target. According to Zvezda TV, from 2020 until now, both the Russian and Syrian troops have used Lancet to conduct dozens of high-precision attacks on terrorist groups in northeastern Syria. The main feature the designers are working on to improve on is stealth, including “acoustical stealth”, and here thanks to the use of electric motors, the Lancet is unmatched. In addition, the electric motor is more reliable, lighter, more compact, and cheaper. It is believed that laser air defense systems that can burn materials will be highly effective in the fight against drones. Zala Aero has developed new methods of protecting Lancet against such threats – integrating anti-laser protection, but without disclosing details. In the past few years, in the field of reconnaissance and attack, UAVs have made great progress, and a major and important modernization of drones of the Russian armed forces is expected. waiting to take place in the near future. Promising LM models will allow Air Force – Space forces and other structures to acquire fundamentally new capabilities and increase their potential, which will be able to close the gap with major powers. other. However, it takes time, effort and money./.

As reported by TASS, the Russian Defense Industry Complex has begun development of the new generation Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. The project is currently in the process of outlining the plan and the actual development process is expected to be implemented by the end of 2023. This project has an important role in the field of Russian intercontinental missiles.

Russia’s intercontinental ballistic missiles have the world’s leading power. Source: people.com.cn.

Russia possesses a variety of ground-launched strategic missiles

The Russian military currently deploys about 310 strategic land-based missiles, capable of carrying 1,189 nuclear warheads. This is much less than the 400 U.S. missiles, but the number of nuclear warheads carried is 1.5 times that of U.S. missiles.

Overall, the Russian Army possesses a variety of surface-to-surface strategic missiles, which are currently in the upgraded stage, in the future the number of samples will be reduced further toward comprehensive modernization.

The active land strategic forces of the Russian Army consist mainly of the following three divisions:

Liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile: The representative of this line is the Satan intercontinental ballistic missile. It was a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile that entered service in the late 1980s, with a total of 46, deployed at Dombarovsky and Uzhur missile bases.

The missile has a range of 11,000 km, a flight weight of about 211 tons, an attack accuracy of about 400 m, can carry 10 guided nuclear warheads, which is Russia’s most powerful strategic missile.

However, due to its long service life, it has now begun to retire. The successor missile is the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which has a range of 18,000 km, a flight weight of about 208 tons.

In addition to carrying a guided nuclear warhead, it can also carry the Avangard supersonic missile as the first payload, which further improves the attack performance of the missile. In the future, the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will completely replace the Satan intercontinental ballistic missile.

Intercontinental missiles use solid engines. Currently the main equipment of the Russian military is the Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile, which has been deployed since 2012, with a total of 78. On that basis, Russia continued to launch Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, mainly improving the warhead design, increasing the number of guided nuclear warheads and penetrating equipment.

Both have a range of about 10,000 to 12,000 km, a flight weight of 47 to 49 tons. They can be deployed in both fixed and mobile launch wells. Currently, 155 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles have been commissioned and have been deployed in combination with topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Supersonic missile. Russia attaches great importance to the development of supersonic weapons. In March 2018, President Putin unveiled the Avangard supersonic missile. The missile was successfully tested on December 26 of that year and has been deployed since 2019. The missile, which has an atmospheric Mach 20 flight speed and a range of more than 10,000 km, is currently deployed at the Dombarovsky missile base, in the future it will be equipped with at least two missile regiments.

Modern Russian intercontinental ballistic missile. Source: people.com.cn.

Outstanding development characteristics

Russia’s surface-to-surface strategic missiles have strong reserves and large-scale equipment, playing an important deterrent role in early warning counterattacks and over-the-top strikes. The general development characteristics of the missile are as follows:

In terms of missile performance, the focus is on improving penetrating capabilities and survivability. With accelerating the deployment of U.S. missile defense systems globally, Russia attaches great importance to improving the penetrating capabilities of strategic surface-to-surface missiles.

The Avangard supersonic missile deployed at the end of 2019 has a maximum flight speed of Mach 20. The Russian military claims that it can penetrate any missile defense system in the world. In the future, intercontinental missiles such as sarmat will be equipped with such supersonic warheads to improve intercontinental performance.

In terms of technological development, follow the development roadmap of both solid and liquid bodies. Russia’s liquid missile technology has developed complete, its technical performance and reliability stand at the top of the world. The Satan intercontinental ballistic missile has been using the technology for more than 30 years and is an “ace” weapon to deter the West. In the future, the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will serve as a replacement model.

In addition, Russia insists it will develop the name Solid intercontinental fire with strong mandability and ease of operation, and has achieved technological breakthroughs. The solid intercontinental ballistic missile, represented by Yars, can carry four guided warheads and penetrating equipment, the number of missiles deployed has reached more than 150, which has closed the gap with the US to a certain extent.

In terms of implementation, Russia follows the path of development combining fixed and mobile. Beginning in the 1990s, Russia has focused on the development and deployment of mobile strategic missiles, and has repeatedly launched intercontinental ballistic missiles such as Topol-M and Yars.

According to the latest figures, Russia has 180 mobile strategic missiles, accounting for 45% of the total missiles, which is the highest rate in recent years; fixed-launch strategic missiles have about 130, accounting for 55%. In the future, this ratio will be maintained in order to maintain the mutual complementary capabilities of the two implementation methods.

A look at kedr’s next-generation strategic missile

According to Russian media, the new generation of Kedr strategic missiles is in the process of drafting the plan. Analysts say Kedr uses solid fuel and is believed to be able to become a “ballistic missile at full speed”, capable of replacing the Yars missile system by 2030.

This project is part of the process of modernizing the strategic weapons of the Russian Strategic Missile Force. Similar to the previous generation, the new systems will be deployed in two models of mobile launchers and ground bunkers.

Russia is currently equipped with five types of surface-to-surface strategic missiles, which has put enormous pressure on logistics maintenance and combat command. Therefore, Russia wishes to accelerate kedr development so that there are many models ready to replace. Notably, the Kedr missile will most likely use the Pioneer supersonic missile, as its warhead to enhance its deterrence capabilities.

In addition, Russia intends to apply artificial intelligence technology to nuclear command, control and communication systems through the Kedr strategic missile project to accelerate decision-making procedures, improve the overall reliability and safety of the system, in order to achieve greater efficiency when intercepted by missile defense systems.