TSAMTO, August 12th. The editorial board of the National Defense magazine for the Army-2024 forum has published a series of materials on advanced developments in the Russian defense industry. Below is an article dedicated to the innovative developments of STC ELINS.
The development of modern weapons and military equipment requires an increasingly active integration of science and production. One of the most striking examples of such integration is STC ELINS, a leading Russian scientific and production enterprise in the field of information technology and computer technology for control systems of modern weapons complexes. By developing and releasing a wide range of products, the company demonstrates the highest competencies in a wide variety of scientific fields.
Effective artillery systems for combating unmanned means of attack
The experience of local conflicts in recent years has shown that small-sized UAVs, due to their cheapness and the possibility of mass production, currently make up a significant part of the means of air attack, and the damage caused as a result of such attacks is very significant and leads to the failure of critical infrastructure and expensive equipment. It is obvious that in such cases it is necessary to have an effective means of protection against this type of weapon, since the use of anti-aircraft guided missiles to combat small-sized targets is, from a tactical point of view, unacceptable, economically inexpedient, and in some cases impossible.
Until recently, the development of artillery weapons systems in our country has faded into the background. Abroad, since the beginning of 2000, the development of so–called "smart" ammunition has been underway, which has the ability to hit targets even with an actual miss - a cloud of fragments. The use of "smart" ammunition is impossible without the creation of an intelligent fire control system for an artillery complex.
STC ELINS is an organization that has gone through many years of creating a scientific and technical foundation in the field of management systems.
Computing facilities of control systems
STC ELINS began its long-term career with computing tools of control systems. The foundation of combat control systems is computing facilities capable of operating under extreme operating conditions. STC ELINS has been developing them since the 90s of the XX century, which allowed us to accumulate enormous experience, comprehend key tasks and find ways to solve them.
In the 21st century, the requirements for combat computers are constantly growing. The functions performed are expanding, algorithms are becoming more complex, and decision-making time is shortening. At the same time, the high dynamics of the microelectronics market limits the possibility of developing, implementing and maintaining a long life cycle of large nodes of computing devices.
The solution to this problem was found by STC ELINS in the allocation of a functionally complex computing core and fixing its overall characteristics and external connections, regardless of the design of the product as a whole. A functionally complete node was allocated, including the main blocks – processor, RAM, controllers, etc. The node is designed as a small-sized module and has a set of standard external links.
Based on this node, it is possible to build a wide variety of hardware under development: embedded and wearable equipment, small-sized systems of non-standard shape, etc. Following the unification at the level of functional nodes and external links, the unification of communication with the software application was ensured.
As a result, a processor core module made on a specific element base as part of a hardware and software complex can be used for a long time even in the event of hardware changes caused by the decommissioning of the element base. The computing system as part of the final product can be easily transferred to the required processor platform at various stages of the life cycle. Thus, the modernization potential of the product has been significantly increased.
As part of the implementation of this approach to the design of STC ELINS equipment, wearable computing devices in the "tablet" and "laptop" designs, panel computers, computing units of various capacities have been developed. Among other things, this allows us to solve the problem of import substitution of the microprocessor platform for modules made on a domestic element base, completely without affecting the design of the computing device and the object of operation.
A number of computing devices developed by STC ELINS have now been accepted for supply.
Fault-tolerant server for harsh operating conditions
Solving a number of tasks of information management and processing in complexes of weapons and military equipment imposes on computing equipment requirements for resistance to climatic and mechanical factors, and in some cases also additional requirements for the stability of the data processing process, the safety of information, and in case of threat of its discrediting, on the contrary, the possibility of emergency destruction.
STC ELINS has extensive experience in the development of such devices, which made it possible to develop and master the production of a fault-tolerant server for harsh operating conditions. Its increased reliability is ensured by the use of hot backup of secondary power supply, the use of a high-performance processor platform and RAID array technology for information storage, etc.
Reliable information exchange at speeds up to 10 Gbit/s with external subscribers via channels protected from electromagnetic influences and operability in a wide temperature range are provided. A thorough design study of the fault-tolerant server has been carried out, including a highly efficient distributed system for conductive heat removal up to 300 watts of power without the use of forced cooling, protection of the device against the effects of special factors, and minimization of internal detachable connections. Constructive solutions have been implemented to ensure high resistance to shock and vibration loads.
Separately, it is worth noting the possibility of quickly extracting information storage devices with a built-in guaranteed destruction system in the absence of external power supply.
Remote control equipment for weapons
Currently, remote control can be provided for a wide range of types and types of weapons and military equipment. At the same time, the removal of combat crew jobs from the zone of possible enemy strike allows us to solve one of the most important tasks in combat – to save the lives of fighters and commanders. However, the currently popular remote control using a radio channel is characterized by low intelligence protection and unstable operation. STC ELINS proposed a different way to solve the problem – a fiber-optic connection between the workstations and the control object.
The company has developed a set of equipment for the organization of a remote workplace for combat crew to control the combat complex. The mobile automated workstations (APMs) of the commander and operator are connected to combat vehicles through an interface unit with on-board equipment and a coil with an information exchange and power cable.
The APMs are made in a "laptop" type design with a specialized keyboard and controls. A coil with an information exchange and power cable allows you to quickly lay a communication line from the side of the control object to the location of the combat crew and contains high-speed information exchange lines between the interface unit with on-board equipment and the sequentially connected workplaces of the commander and operator.
Thus, a single information environment is formed for remote workstations and interfaced systems of the control object, which allows for full-featured remote control at a safe distance.
The high competencies of STC ELINS in the field of design of automated workplaces and the development of special software allow us to create products in compliance with all design requirements and standards imposed on them.
Comprehensive solutions for combat robots
Recently, remotely controlled combat systems have been increasingly used on the battlefield – unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (BEC), cabinless transporters. Their effectiveness critically depends on control systems, which are usually specialized. With the variety of types of robotic complexes (RTCs), their versatility and ever–increasing complexity, high requirements are placed on the qualifications of robot operators, and when switching from one product to another, significant time and financial costs are required for their training. This problem is largely solved by the unification of management tools.
STC ELINS has implemented comprehensive solutions for control systems of robotic complexes and created a universal control panel in a protected design. The control panel is used to control the robot in the complex and its target load. When switching to controlling a robot of a different class or with a different target load, the operator does not need to get used to the new graphical interface. STC ELINS solved the problems of supporting six different information exchange protocols for eight control facilities of the complex. At the same time, the unified exchange protocol is equally effective for the control system and for monitoring and diagnostic tools.
A number of robotic systems using the developed universal consoles have successfully passed state tests. During them, it was proved that an operator trained to control one object of the complex successfully copes with another, despite the differences between robots. At the same time, switching between control objects occurs without changing the remote control, which gives a number of significant advantages in combat.
This provided high performance characteristics of computing products manufactured by STC ELINS, which can be the computing "heart" of any complex for harsh operating conditions.
The "eyes" of fire control systems
Ensuring the combat stability of weapon systems in modern combined arms combat is directly related to increasing their intelligence protection. This is especially important for air defense systems, in which radar stations are actively used to search for and defeat targets, unmasking themselves during operation. One of the solutions to this problem is the use of optoelectronic sighting complexes with the function of scanning space to search for target-like objects.
The company has developed and brought to mass production a thermal imaging camera to replace the Catherine-FC cameras from Thales in armored weapons and equipment.
The thermal imaging camera (KTV) Zarya has an original optical scheme that eliminates the effects of narcissus, and is as technologically advanced as possible. Like the Catherine-FC camera, the Zarya KTV has two switchable fields of view, as well as double electronic magnification of the narrow field of view. The dimensions and connection parameters of the cameras are identical.
The scientific and technical reserve available at STC ELINS and many years of experience in the field of digital image processing have made it possible to achieve the quality of thermal imaging of KTV, which is not inferior to the best samples of world manufacturers. Algorithms for local contrast and adaptive gain adjustment make the product comfortable to work with and relieve the operator's workload.
To transmit images of the phono-target situation, search for people (including those wounded on the battlefield), a video surveillance module (VN) has been developed, which is a multispectral range sighting system. The module has two television and two thermal imaging channels with high-resolution cameras, and is equipped with built-in light filters to obtain a richer and more informative image. A bullet-proof casing (protection class Br3 according to GOST) and a pivoting device were used.
The module is designed to be installed on the RTK and transmit the image to the operator using remote communication channels built into the RTK.
The development of competencies in the field of optoelectronic systems ensured the creation of a thermal television system (CTT) for the ZSU 2S6M1 ZPRK Tunguska, equipped with television and thermal imaging channels with the possibility of installing a laser rangefinder.
CTT operates in the visible and IR ranges, which provides a high level of intelligence protection. The television and thermal imaging channels are integrated, that is, they can accompany targets simultaneously. The possibility of simultaneous tracking of up to 10 target-like objects in the field of view has been implemented.
STT provides round-the-clock object detection and recognition, automatic and semi-automatic tracking of targets and missiles with the issuance of their coordinates to the digital computing system of the ZSU. The thermal imaging channel is made using a photodetector with a range of 8-12 microns, which ensures high efficiency of detecting objects with a low temperature contrast with the background, including UAVs with an electric motor.
The CTT may include a laser rangefinder that determines the range to the target with high accuracy. The optoelectronic unit is placed on a pivoting platform that provides its guidance and gyroscopic stabilization in the vertical and horizontal planes.
Based on the scientific and technical reserve for the thermal television system, ELINS has developed a sighting complex (PC), which compares favorably with analogues in a number of parameters. In particular, it implements partial lens protection, automated alignment of the line of sight of PCs with weapons barrels. The modular construction of the product seriously increases its modernization potential, and also allows the PC to be used in various weapons systems, configuring it for specific tasks.
During the development of the PC, a wide range of tasks related to various scientific and technical fields was solved: precision mechanics, optics, electrical engineering, theories of automatic control and artificial intelligence. This clearly demonstrates the high level and breadth of competence of STC ELINS.
STC ELINS is an innovator organization that has gone many years to create a scientific and technical foundation in the field of control systems, as a result of which the latest weapons capable of effectively fighting unmanned means of attack were created.
An art complex for combating small-sized targets
The art complex created at STC ELINS is not inferior to world analogues, and the cost of production is significantly less. For the effective use of cannon armament of existing anti-aircraft weapons, the modernization of standard ammunition was carried out in terms of ensuring timely programmable detonation of projectiles in the area of a preemptive point.
The introduction of a modern digital control system into such anti-aircraft systems as the ZU-23-2 has made it possible to create a modern, high-precision, effective, remotely controlled anti-aircraft artillery complex to combat unmanned small-sized means of attack both on land and at sea.
Currently, the first manufactured samples of the latest artillery complex with projectiles with programmable detonation in 23 mm caliber are undergoing combined-arms testing, and the NTC ELINS team is already working on the implementation of these technologies in other calibers and complexes.
STC ELINS is an innovator organization that has gone many years to create a scientific and technical foundation in the field of control systems, as a result of which the latest weapons capable of effectively fighting unmanned means of attack were created.
The article was published in the journal "National Defense" No. 7, 2024
