This year, an underwater drone and the latest rocket will reach the finish line
In 2021, at least two promising domestic weapons systems will reach the finish line — the beginning of testing. According to sources of "Izvestia" in the Ministry of Defense, the heavy missile "Sarmat" and the unmanned underwater complex "Poseidon"will be tested. They are included in the list of developments that have no analogues, as they were announced in March 2018 by the Russian president in a message to the Federal Assembly. The adoption of new systems will ensure the security of Russia from any potential threats. At what stage of readiness they are now, the military expert Dmitry Kornev understood.
At different stages
Now we can say that the work on the creation of the aircraft hypersonic missile system "Dagger" began long before 2018. The idea to combine the capabilities of the MiG-31 carrier aircraft and the Iskander ballistic missile system probably arose in the 1990s-2000s, and in the mid-2010s it began to become a reality.
MiG-31 fighter with 9-S-7760 "Dagger" missile»
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The 9-S-7760 ("Dagger") missile provides high-precision destruction of stationary or even sedentary targets with a nuclear or conventional warhead. It is controlled throughout the entire flight path and, accordingly, can make maneuvers and adjust the direction according to the homing system. The Dagger complex can become a unique anti-aircraft weapon. Since December 1, 2017, he was put on experimental combat duty at one of the airfields of the Southern Military District. Since 2018, operational tests of the complex have been started, and now preparations are underway for the deployment of its carriers on the Murmansk Peninsula, and then, possibly, in the Far East.
One of the sensational novelties presented in March 2018 was the nuclear cruise missile "Burevestnik". Because of its technological uniqueness, it now remains probably the most secret — there is no information about the work on it in open sources. In Western publications, it was reported that several test launches of prototypes of the product were carried out. Probably, the creation of the actual weapons system is still far away.
Tests of the nuclear-powered cruise missile "Burevestnik»
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle was also publicly unveiled for the first time on March 1, 2018. Now we can say that the construction of a pilot carrier "Belgorod" is being completed for this multi-purpose system, which will be put to the test in 2021. Also, probably, in 2021, the lead submarine carrier of the Poseidon-Khabarovsk complex will be launched for subsequent completion. And after it, most likely, the construction of a series of several similar carrier boats will begin to provide them to the Northern and Pacific fleets.
At hypersonic speed
In the fall of 2020, the Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles successfully began a program of state tests with launches from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate of Project 22350. The tests will be completed this year with launches from the Project 885 Yasen submarine. After that, from 2023, they will enter service with ships and submarines of the Russian Navy. First of all, the "Zircons" will be equipped with ocean frigates of the project 22350, upgraded heavy nuclear missile cruisers of the project 11442M, as well as submarines of the project 885M "Ash-M". To repel the attack of the "Zircon" modern means of air defense will be extremely difficult, so the missile system will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Navy.
The Avangard intercontinental missile system with the 15Y71 hypersonic combat unit was adopted by the Strategic Missile Forces in 2019. In December of the same year, the deployment of the first regiment with six launchers in the Orenburg Missile Division is underway. By 2027, it is planned to deploy two regiments with 12 UR-100NUTTH missiles of this complex. Each such product carries one controlled hypersonic warhead.
The first launch of the hypersonic missile "Zircon" from the frigate " Admiral Gorshkov»
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
But the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can carry several guided warheads (from three to five), similar to those of the Avangard. Work on the "Sarmat" in 2021 should reach the stage of flight tests. This ICBM is being created to replace the RS-20V Voevoda heavy-class intercontinental missile, which is based in two divisions of the Strategic Missile Forces. It is expected that starting from 2022-2023, the " Sarmatians "will begin to replace the" Voivodes " in the mines in the missile division in Uzhur. Each such product can carry hypersonic warheads or at least 10 conventional warheads with a complex of anti-missile defense systems.
Another unusual system, first shown in March 2018, is the laser complex "Peresvet". Then many experts wondered what it was intended for. Now it is already known that its main task is to ensure the deployment of mobile strategic missile systems in a threatened period of time by exposing and disrupting the operation of space and aviation intelligence of a potential enemy. The complex has already been created, and in addition, its deployment at several Strategic Missile Forces bases has been completed as a pilot operation. If the effectiveness of the "Peresvet" will be confirmed, it is likely to deploy it wherever it is necessary to "close" from the means of space exploration and surveillance.
Dmitry Kornev