The expert spoke about the possible consequences of theft of equipment from the Il-80 Vzpu
At the Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield, an Il-80 Vzpu (air control point of the Russian armed forces) was robbed, which is also called the "doomsday plane". The airship arrived in this city for planned work on modernization and extension of the resource. The military observer of the Newspaper tells about the consequences that the incident can lead to.Ru " Mikhail Khodarenok.
On Friday, December 4, the head of the aviation security service of JSC "Taganrog aviation scientific and technical complex (TANTK) named after G. M. Beriev", where the "doomsday plane" Il-80 Vzpu arrived for scheduled work, contacted the police, saying that during an early morning inspection of the aircraft, traces of opening the cargo hatch were found.
Later, experts calculated the damage from the thieves ' visit. According to REN TV,
What exactly was stolen is not known, but there is reason to believe that communication equipment could have been stolen - radio transmitting and receiving devices, equipment for classifying speech information, encryption devices.
"The aircraft operation engineer said that the tank was replacing the lubricant on the rods of the landing gear shock struts. According to him, all onboard devices at the time of acceptance of the aircraft were in place. After the work was completed, the main entrance, cargo Bay hatch, and three emergency exits were sealed. The last time they were examined on November 26, all the seals were intact, " a source familiar with the situation told REN TV.
On the surface of the cargo hatch, in one of the compartments of the aircraft and on the lid of the switchgear thrown inside, police officers took fingerprints of the alleged criminals. In addition, footprints of thieves were found in the compartments.
So far, few details of the incident have been received, so we can only develop hypotheses and speculate on why this incident was possible.
Many questions arise about how the protection of such an important object - the air control point of the Russian Armed forces-was organized. And whether it was organized in principle, if the thieves so easily got inside the "doomsday plane".
At the same time, as "Open media" writes, in 2020, TANTK spent 24 million rubles on the protection of the Taganrog-Yuzhny airport.
There is some reason to assume that the theft of equipment from the Il-80 at the Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield could have involved employees of the enterprise - or there was a corresponding "tip-off" of specialists, or the plant employees directly participated in the crime), since without their help and advice this would hardly have been possible. It is difficult for an outsider to get on the plane, and it is almost impossible to know what exactly should be stolen, and what is most valuable on the plane.
Most likely, the so-called "Metalworkers"took part in the Taganrog theft. That is, the theft of blocks, panels and boards from the air control center was carried out for the purpose of their subsequent dismantling and smelting of precious metals, which are used in large quantities in the manufacture of such equipment. In other words, the scheme in this case looks something like this: "steal-disassemble - melt - sell-get money."
Unless as any spare parts, and even then it is unlikely-very specific components are used on Board the Vzpu.
As previously written "Newspaper.Ru"," doomsday "or" end of the world " aircraft, similar to the American concept of doomsday planes, are vehicles intended for the President, the Minister of defense and other members of the top military leadership in the event of a nuclear war (such goals are given to them, in fact, in the United States), if ground control structures are destroyed or damaged.
From the air control center in crisis situations, the President of Russia - the Supreme commander-gives the most important instructions for the leadership of the country and the Armed forces. And the criminals who committed theft at the Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield may hypothetically have the opportunity to find out how this happens technically. And it is good if these thieves are banal "Metalworkers", otherwise there may be leaks of important information about the features of transmitting instructions of special importance from the Vzpu.
In this regard, it is enough to say that the head of state can make a decision on a response (counter-response) massive nuclear missile strike from the air control point, give a signal to authorize the use of nuclear weapons, and transmit a code combination to unlock nuclear warheads.
Therefore, the incident at the Taganrog-Yuzhny airfield goes far beyond the banal theft.
Il-80 (Il-86vzpu) is an air command and control center (Vzpu) developed in the late 1980s at the Ilyushin design Bureau (today it is PJSC Ilyushin Aviation complex) based on the Il - 86 passenger aircraft.
In turn, the Il-86 is a Soviet four-engine aircraft for medium-length airlines. This is the first and most mass-produced Soviet passenger wide-body aircraft. It was mass-produced in 1980-1997 at the Voronezh aviation plant. A total of 106 aircraft were manufactured (102 Il-86s for Aeroflot and four Il-80 Vzpu for the USSR Ministry of defense). From the usual Il-86 externally Vzpu is distinguished by the absence of portholes, the presence of a refueling system in the air and an additional hardware compartment ("hump") in the nose of the fuselage.
The Il-80 vzpu is equipped with communications equipment, life support systems and power sources. The crew consists of system operators and combat control officers. Detailed information about this aircraft is a state secret.
In total, four Il-80 aircraft were manufactured (registration numbers of aircraft of the USSR-86146, USSR-86147, USSR-86148, USSR-86149). All of them are part of the 8th special aviation division (permanent deployment point-Chkalovsky airfield).
The author's opinion may not coincide with the editorial Board's position.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok-military columnist for " Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk higher engineering anti-aircraft missile school (1976) And the military air defense command Academy (1986).
Commander of the s-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior officer Of the General staff of the air defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the main operational Department of the General staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General staff of the Russian Armed forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military-industrial courier newspaper (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
