MANPADS "Igla": characteristics, photo, application

Already during the Second World War, the supremacy of aviation over the theater of military operations was crucial. Modern large-scale combat operations are accompanied by the use of hundreds of aircraft, including unmanned vehicles. To counter the air threat, air defense and missile defense systems are used, differing in the principle of operation, effective radius and degree of mobility. In the 1970s, wearable portable anti-aircraft systems were widely used to counteract the assault front-line aviation, currently represented by attack helicopters, ground attack planes and UAVs.

On the arsenal of the Russian Army is the Igla MANPADS. This weapon has a high efficiency, confirmed by the experience of combat use (so far only by the foreign armed forces), it is characterized by ease of use, reliability, relatively small size and weight.

MANPADS in the USSR

The development of domestic anti-aircraft missile systems with the possibility of launching a projectile directly from the shoulder began in the USSR in advance. In the second half of the 1960s, the Soviet Army had two types of portable SAMs (Strela and Strela-2). This weapon had numerous advantages, among which were:

- the sudden appearance of air defense weapons in areas where enemy aviation had not previously felt the threat;

- the ability to hit targets at a significant distance (more than 4 km) and the altitude corresponding to the one on which ground attack planes most often "work" (Skyhawk, Phantom or Skyraider) from 1500 to 3000 meters;

- rapid bringing into combat position;

- simple application and training of personnel, including foreign ones;

- relative compactness;

- unpretentiousness in relation to storage and transportation conditions.

Despite the high combat qualities, there were also unpleasant moments for which military specialists criticized the MANPADS "Strela". "Needle" was designed just to overcome the problems.

To beat not after, but towards

The main drawback of the "Arrow" consisted in their ability to hit targets after they had gone over the covered object. Usually an enemy aircraft could be shot down after carrying out a bombing or a missile salvo. Of course, the defending forces could "revenge" if the anti-aircraft gunners themselves survived. "Arrows" could be beat after, and the army demanded a weapon that could hit attacking aircraft in oncoming courses, anticipating possible damage.

In some cases, using the surprise factor, it was possible to achieve success, despite this constructive flaw - "catching" the enemy and inflicting a treacherous blow on the flying aircraft, remaining unnoticed. So in 1969, Egyptian troops massively applied the portable complexes "Strela-2" to Israeli "Phantoms", walking at extremely low altitudes, destroying six of them per day. But the enemy also knows how to learn, so the effectiveness of the use of Soviet MANPADS soon decreased, although the benefits from them still remained unquestionable. They exerted psychological influence, forcing the enemy pilots to constantly rush from small heights to large, nowhere feeling secure. And yet it was necessary to look for technical opportunities to beat towards, rather than after.

Government task to SP Undefeated

Another drawback that the "Arrows" possessed and which the designers of the Igla missile system tried to avoid was the insufficient explosive power of the warhead. Far from all hitting the target guaranteed its destruction and even causing significant damage. The survivability of the storm troopers increased, the nozzles into which the projectiles with the thermal head of aiming rushed, were made of materials capable of withstanding strong thermal and pressure effects, and aircraft often had the opportunity to return to their airfield, and after repair again posed a threat. The effect of "blurring" of the jet of the blast wave and the flow of the damaging elements was also affected. With this it was necessary to do something.

In 1971, the government of the USSR decided to create a new complex capable of combating the most modern and promising at the time tactical air attack capabilities that a likely enemy could have. Kolomenskoye Machine Building Bureau became the main project enterprise, related work was performed by other organizations (Central Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering, Research Institute of Measuring Instruments and Leningrad Association LOMO). The main leader of the new development was quite naturally Academician S. P. Invincible. The new weapon was called MANPADS "Igla". Characteristics (by target speed, altitude and probability of defeat) were, according to the government order, significantly exceed the performance of "Arrow-3" (the latest modification).

Tricks versus stealth

The main channel for the guidance of anti-aircraft missiles is traditionally considered the thermal footprint left by the engine of the aircraft. This method of determining the direction of the projectile was relatively simple, but had serious shortcomings. Immediately after the first cases of effective use against aircraft, devices designed to mislead thermal locating systems appeared, which were firing pyropatrons creating a false target. Therefore, it was decided to equip the Igla with a two-channel infrared-guided head equipped with photodetectors. The development of a system capable of distinguishing a real aircraft from a thermal trail of a thermal "trap" was dragged on for an extra seven years, but was crowned with success. It turned out to be not technically technically complicated, it is enough to mention only that the main photodetector is cooled to a very low temperature, close to absolute zero (-200 ° C) after the projectile is put into combat position. As a result of these efforts, an automatic system equipped with logic circuits compares the readings of two sensors. And if the signal level of the secondary channel is lower than the main one, the target is defined as distracting, and the search is performed until the rocket sees the true object.

There is another important technical issue, the solution of which has significantly increased the combat effectiveness of the Igla missile. The survivability characteristics of modern attack aircraft depend on the place where the projectile hits, and the nozzle is not the best option, so the guidance algorithm provides an additional option that provides for changing the direction vector of the missile (dovorot) in the final section of the trajectory so that the impact falls on the fuselage. To implement this maneuver in the design of the projectile, additional shunting engines are provided.

Guidance system and fuses

Engineers KB in every way tried to reduce the weight of the portable complex "Eagle". MANPADS is conceptually a compact weapon, it is intended for use by one fighter. The mass of the blasting substance contained in the combat compartment of the rocket is the same as that of the Strela (1170 g), but its power (explosive) power is much higher. In addition, the logical solution was to use unused fuel as an additional deterrent force, for which a special device called an explosive generator serves. At its core, it is a detonator, triggered by the disruption of the main charge and transferring a relatively slow combustion of fuel into an instant chemical oxidation reaction with the release of a huge amount of energy. The detonators are two: contact (activated at direct contact) and induction (catching the magnetic field of the target at a distance). Type BZU - high-explosive fragmentation.

General device and equipment

MANPADS "Igla", like other portable complexes of the operational-tactical air defense unit, is a launching tube in which a rocket is capped, with an ergonomic handle. To ensure that the departing missile could not injure the shooter, the launch process is divided into two stages. At the first, immediately after the activation of the ammunition, the rocket is pushed out of the trunk by means of a special charge of low power. After a few meters of flight, the laser beam from the launcher launches the main (march) solid fuel engine. At the same time, the first blocking stage is removed, preventing accidental explosion of the head part. Finally, the missile comes into combat condition a few seconds later, flying up to 250 meters.

In addition to the launch tube itself, which contains the 9P322 missile and is a single-use device, the Igla missile system is equipped with a trigger (9P519-1) with an interrogator 1L14 (it is expensive and complex, it can be used many times) and an electronic tablet 1L15-1 (for Speed up the exchange of operational information on the air situation).

In case of group application, a mobile checkpoint is also required. A special KPS kit was developed for checking and monitoring the system's serviceability.

What "Needle-1" inherited from "Arrow"

In the second half of the seventies, both for performers and for the customer it became clear that the Kolomna machine-building bureau did not fit within the established deadlines. The delay was due to the delay in the development of the 9E140 (homing heads). It turned out to be quite complicated, its creation was accompanied by many problems. The rocket was almost ready. In order to accelerate the receipt of a sample for the armament of the Soviet Army and facilitate further mastery of new technology, a decision was made on an intermediate version. MANPADS "Igla-1", adopted by the State Commission in 1978, was equipped with a single-channel GOS from the "Strela". At the same time, the new complex was characterized by increased charge power and much better technical characteristics (the radius of application increased to 5.2 km, it became possible to defeat counter targets). In 1982, the testing of a two-channel homing head was finally completed, it was equipped with a new portable system of front-line air defense, which was called the Igla-2 missile system.

"Needle" modifications "D", "H" and "C"

Miniature complex is difficult to name, the length of the launch tube is 1 m 70 cm - the average human growth. Especially serious objections began to come from the paratroopers, who demanded greater compactness. For them, a special reduced "Needle" was created. MANPADS in the collapsed position became shorter by 60 cm.

The modification "H" was distinguished by the increased blasting power of the head part. The same property is characteristic for the third version of the complex, which received the index "C". But in addition to the enhanced high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the missile has a double fuse (including a non-contactor) and another important quality, because of which the device is named. "C" means "collapsible", in transport position - in half.

Characteristics

TTX MANPADS "Igla" are impressive and fully meet the requirements of the rapid XXI century. The speed of the missile on its way to the target is over 2100 km / h. At a distance of 5200 m, an airplane or helicopter flying at speeds up to 1,150 km / h at an altitude of up to 2,500 m can be struck after with a probability of 63%.

When firing on a collision course, the target speed may be higher, up to 1300 km / h. Translate from transport to combat state portable complex can be in just 13 seconds.

All these dry figures mean tremendous opportunities that only one soldier, armed with MANPADS 9K38 Igla, has. It can deal with low-flying objects, such as attack helicopters or cruise missiles, which, because of the trajectory's safety, pose a great danger to ground forces.

In addition, the control system is able to distinguish between hostile aircraft due to the built-in "own-alien" recognition system.

The simplicity of the Igla MANPADS application deserves special mention. The instruction for combat use does not contain a large number of items, the launch can be made from any position, including from the side of the moving machine. After the operator has detected the target, he, by sending the launch pipe to the object, presses the "Start" button. Then everything happens in a matter of seconds, it remains only to monitor the flight of the rocket, if for this, of course, there is time.

Experience of application

The arsenal of the armies of more than four dozen countries consists of an anti-aircraft portable system of MANPADS "Igla". Its use by Iraqi forces in 1991 caused the loss of the Air Force coalition of several aircraft, which demonstrated the high efficiency of this type of Russian weapons, even in conditions of almost complete suppression of air defense weapons and air domination by the attacking side. Over the past two or more decades, in many regions of the world, many armed conflicts and wars have arisen. In most of them, either side used MANPADS "Igla". Photos of militants and government soldiers with characteristic "pipes", as well as damaged and destroyed aircraft clearly illustrate the lethal power of this relatively small air defense equipment.

In the post-Soviet history with the popularity of the "Needle" can argue, perhaps, that the illustrious "Kalashnikov". It is known about the last major contract for the supply of a large batch of these complexes for the armed forces of Malaysia. The system design is being improved, resulting in an increase to six kilometers of the combat radius of the "Needle" modification "Super". These MANPADS, as well as new, as yet secret, models will fully rearm the Russian army in the near future.