Last week, as part of a military special operation, Russian troops used the Bal missile system for the first time. It was created as an anti-ship, but its high-precision missiles were able to hit ground targets as well.
The Ministry of Defense showed the work of this complex. As explained in the military department, he was involved in striking high-precision missiles at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The calculation of the complex, while performing a combat mission, launched missiles at specified targets. The shooting was conducted at night from a position located on the Black Sea coast.
The coastal defense missile system "Bal" belongs to the newest type, it was adopted in 2008. It is included in the coastal defense forces. It is primarily intended for the protection of territorial waters, naval bases, coastal infrastructure facilities and for the anti-amphibious defense of the coast.
The launchers of the complex are equipped with an anti-ship missile X-35 with a range of 120 km and an improved X-35U with a range of 260 km. Last year, as reported in the press, the complex received a new missile that allows striking targets at a range of up to 500 km.
The main feature of the complex is that all its systems are located on the chassis of Belarusian cross-country vehicles MZKT-7930, which provides it with high mobility. If the complex needs to quickly change its location, it is able to accelerate along the highway to a speed of 60 km / h, off-road - 20 km / h. Deployment to a new location takes no more than 10 minutes. Each combat vehicle has 8 ready-to-launch missiles in special containers. You can shoot with single missiles or a volley. The interval of launching missiles in a salvo is 3 seconds.
The complex consists of two self-propelled command posts for control and communication, four self-propelled launchers. Transport and transshipment vehicles with a reserve of missiles are provided. They allow you to recharge and give the enemy a second volley.
The presence of night vision devices, navigation equipment, terrain orientation and topographic mapping allows the complex to quickly change starting positions after solving the task, as well as to relocate to a new combat area.
As calculations have shown and preliminary tests have confirmed, the X-35 cruise missiles can be effectively used not only for sea, but also for ground targets. What was shown last week. In addition, the X-35 can be launched from ground-based complexes, as well as from helicopters and combat aircraft.
Missiles can be used in both simple and complex meteorological conditions, day and night, in conditions of electronic and fire resistance from the enemy. The extremely low altitude of the flight path, small dimensions and a special targeting algorithm ensure maximum stealth. The use of an active homing head by a missile causes a low level of its visibility and interception capabilities.
The complex receives target designation from drones and helicopters of the radar patrol, as well as from various external sources of information. It is equipped with an automated target distribution system, thanks to which it is able to fire at several objects.
Sergey Ptichkin
