Anti-tank missiles. Ptur - what is it

The scientists and engineers of the company, under the leadership of the chief designer Harald Wolf (and then Count Helmut von Zborowski), on their own initiative, carried out a number of fundamental studies and research works with a tactical and technical justification of the practical military necessity and a feasibility study of the economic feasibility of serial production of guided missiles. wires of feathered anti-tank missiles, according to the conclusions of which ATGMs will help to significantly increase:

• The probability of hitting enemy tanks and heavy armored vehicles at distances that are not accessible to existing weapons;
• Effective firing range, accordingly, which will make tank combat possible at a great distance;
• The survivability of German troops and military equipment located at a safe distance from the maximum reach of effective enemy fire.

In 1941, as part of factory tests, they carried out a series of developmental work, which showed that the listed goals can be achieved by successfully solving the problem of guaranteed destruction of enemy heavy armored vehicles at a much greater distance with the already existing level of development of technologies for the production of rocket fuel and rocket engines ( By the way, during the war, BMW chemists synthesized in laboratories and tested more than three thousand different types of rocket fuel with varying degrees of success) using control-by-wire technology. The introduction of BMW developments into practice and putting them into service was prevented by events of a military-political nature.

Since, by the time the state tests of the developed missiles were supposed to begin, the campaign had begun on the Eastern Front, the success of the German troops was so overwhelming, and the pace of the offensive was so rapid that any ideas for the development of weapons and military equipment that were incomprehensible to them were completely uninteresting to representatives of the army command (this applied not only missiles, but also electronic computers, and many other achievements of German scientists), and military officials from the Office of Armaments of the Ground Forces and the Imperial Ministry of Armaments, who were responsible for introducing promising developments into the troops, did not even consider it necessary to consider such an untimely submitted application - in a party -the state apparatus and officials from among the members of the NSDAP were one of the first obstacles to the implementation of military innovations. In addition, for a number of tank aces of the German Panzerwaffe, a personal combat score went to tens and hundreds of wrecked enemy tanks (the absolute record holder is Kurt Knispel with a score exceeding one and a half hundred tanks).

Thus, the logic of imperial arms officials is not difficult to understand: they saw no reason to question the combat effectiveness of German tank guns, as well as other anti-tank weapons already available and available in large numbers - there was no pressing practical need for this. Played an important role personality factor, expressed in the personal contradictions of the then Reich Minister of Armaments and Ammunition Fritz Todt and Director General BMW Franz Josef Popp (German), since the latter, unlike Ferdinand Porsche, Willy Messerschmitt and Ernst Heinkel, was not one of the Fuhrer's favorites, and therefore did not have the same independence in decision-making and influence in departmental corridors: the Ministry of Armaments in every possible way prevented the leadership of BMW from implementing its own missile development program weapons and equipment, and directly indicated that they should not engage in abstract research - the role of the lead organization in the development program of German infantry tactical missiles was assigned to the metallurgical company Ruhrstahl (German) with much more modest developments in this field and a much smaller staff of scientists for their successful development.

The question of the further creation of guided anti-tank missiles was postponed for several years. Work in this direction intensified only with the transition of German troops to defense on all fronts, but if in the early 1940s this could be done relatively quickly and without undue red tape, then in 1943-1944 the imperial officials were simply not up to it before they were more pressing issues of providing the army with armor-piercing anti-tank shells, grenades, faustpatrons and other ammunition manufactured by the German industry in millions of pieces, taking into account the average production of tanks by the Soviet and American industries (70 and 46 tanks per day, respectively), to spend time on expensive and untested no one assembled single copies of guided weapons, in addition, in this regard, the Fuhrer’s personal order was in effect, which prohibited the expenditure of public funds on any abstract research if they did not guarantee a tangible result within a six-month period from the moment the development began.

One way or another, after the post of Reich Minister of Arms was taken by Albert Speer, work in this direction resumed, but only in the laboratories of Ruhrstahl and two other metallurgical companies (Rheinmetall-Borsig), while BMW was assigned only the task of designing and manufacturing missile engines. In fact, orders for the mass production of ATGMs were placed only in 1944, at the factories of these companies.

First production samples

1. The Wehrmacht had pre-production or serial samples of ATGMs ready for combat use by the end of the summer of 1943;
2. It was not about single experimental launches by factory testers, but about field military tests by servicemen of certain types of weapons;
3. Military trials took place at the forefront, in conditions of intense highly maneuverable combat operations, and not in conditions of positional warfare;
4. The launchers of the first German ATGMs were compact enough to be placed in trenches and camouflaged with improvised means;
5. The operation of the warhead upon contact with the surface of the target under fire led to almost no alternative to the destruction of the armored target with fragmentation (the number of ricochets and cases of non-operation of warheads, misses and emergency situations, as well as generally any accounting and statistics of cases of the use of ATGMs by the Germans in an open Soviet no military press was given, only a general description by eyewitnesses of the observed phenomena and their impressions of what they saw).

First large-scale combat use

For the first time after the Second World War, French-made SS.10 ATGMs (Nord Aviation) were used in combat in Egypt in 1956. ATGM 9K11 "Baby" (produced by the USSR) were supplied to the armed forces of the UAR before the Third Arab-Israeli War in 1967. At the same time, the need for manual guidance of missiles right up to hitting the target led to an increase in losses among operators - Israeli tankers and infantry actively fired from machine guns and cannons at the place of the alleged launch of ATGMs, in the event of an injury or death of the operator, the rocket lost control and began to lay coils along As a result, in two or three seconds, the spiral, in terms of an amplitude increasing with each revolution, would stick to the ground or go into the sky. This problem was partly offset by the possibility of moving the position of the operator with the guidance station to a distance of up to one hundred meters or more from the launching positions of the missiles, thanks to compact portable coils with a cable that could be unwound to the required length if necessary, which significantly complicated the task of neutralizing missile operators for the opposing side.

Anti-tank missiles for receiver systems

In the United States in the 1950s, work was underway to create anti-tank guided missiles for firing from infantry recoilless barrel systems (since the development of unguided munitions had already reached its limit in terms of effective firing range by that time). The leadership of these projects was taken over by the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama was responsible for all other projects of anti-tank missiles launched from guides, from a launch tube or a tank gun), practical implementation went in two main directions - 1) " Gap "(eng. GAP, backr. from guided antitank projectile) - guidance on the marching and terminal sections of the flight path of the projectile, 2) "TCP" (eng. TCP, terminally corrected projectile) - guidance only on the terminal section of the projectile flight path. A number of weapons models created within the framework of these programs and implementing the principles of wire guidance (“Sidekick”), radio command guidance (“Shilleila”) and semi-active homing with radar target illumination (“Polkat”), successfully passed the tests and were manufactured in pilot batches, but it did not reach large-scale production.

In addition, first in the United States and then in the USSR, guided weapon systems for tanks and barreled combat vehicles (KUV or KUVT) were developed, which are a feathered anti-tank guided projectile (in the dimensions of a conventional tank projectile) launched from a tank gun and coupled with appropriate control system. The control equipment for such an ATGM is integrated into the tank's sighting system. American complexes (English) Combat Vehicle Weapon System) from the very beginning of their development, that is, from the end of the 1950s, they used a radio command guidance system, Soviet complexes from the moment the development began until the mid-1970s. implemented a wire guidance system. Both American and Soviet KUVT allowed the use of a tank gun for its main purpose, that is, for firing ordinary armor-piercing or high-explosive fragmentation shells, which significantly and qualitatively increased the tank’s fire capabilities in comparison with combat vehicles equipped with ATGMs launched from external rails.

In the USSR, and then Russia, the main developers of anti-tank missile systems are the Tula Instrument Design Bureau and the Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau.

Development prospects

Prospects for the development of ATGMs are associated with the transition to fire-and-forget systems (with homing heads), increasing the noise immunity of the control channel, defeating armored vehicles in the least protected parts (thin upper armor), installing tandem warheads (to overcome dynamic protection), using a chassis with a launcher mast installation.

Classification

ATGM can be classified:

By type of guidance system

• operator-guided (with command guidance system)
• homing

• controlled by wire
• controlled by laser beam
• controlled by radio

• manual: the operator "pilots" the missile until it hits the target;
• semi-automatic: the operator in the sight accompanies the target, the equipment automatically tracks the flight of the missile (usually along the tail tracer) and generates the necessary control commands for it;
• automatic: the missile is self-guided to a given target.

• portable

• worn by the operator alone
• carried by calculation

• disassembled
• assembled, ready for combat use

• towed
• self-propelled

• integrated
• removable combat modules
• transported in a body or on a platform

• aviation

• helicopter
• aircraft
• unmanned aircraft;

The following generations of ATGM development are distinguished:

• First generation(tracking both the target and the missile itself) - fully manual control (MCLOS - manual command to line of sight): the operator (most often with a joystick) controlled the missile's flight along the wires until it hit the target. At the same time, in order to avoid contact of sagging wires with interference, it is required to be in direct line of sight of the target and above possible interference (for example, grass or tree crowns) during the entire long time of the missile’s flight (up to 30 seconds), which reduces the operator’s protection from return fire. The first generation ATGMs (SS-10, Malyutka, Nord SS.10) required highly qualified operators, control was carried out by wire, however, due to the relative compactness and high efficiency of ATGMs, they led to the revival and new flourishing of highly specialized "tank destroyers" - helicopters, light armored vehicles and SUVs.
• Second generation(target tracking) - the so-called SACLOS (Eng. Semi-automatic command to line of sight ; semi-automatic control) required the operator only to keep the aiming mark on the target, while the flight of the rocket was controlled by automation, sending control commands to the rocket via wires, a radio channel or a laser beam. However, as before, during the flight, the operator had to remain motionless, and the wire control forced to plan the missile's flight path away from possible interference. Such missiles were launched, as a rule, from a dominant height, when the target was below the level of the operator. Representatives: "Competition" and Hellfire I; generation 2+ - "Cornet".
• third generation(homing) - implements the "fire and forget" principle: after the shot, the operator is not constrained in movements. Guidance is carried out either by illumination with a laser beam from the side, or the ATGM is supplied with IR, ARGSN or PRGSN of the millimeter range. These missiles do not require operator escort in flight, but they are less resistant to interference than the first generations (MCLOS and SACLOS). Representatives: Javelin (USA), Spike (Israel), LAHAT (Israel), PARS 3LR(Germany), Nag (India), Hongjian-12 (China).
• fourth generation(self-launch) - promising fully autonomous robotic combat systems, in which the human operator is absent as a link. Software and hardware systems allow them to independently detect, recognize, identify and make a decision to fire at a target. At the moment, they are under development and testing with varying degrees of success in different countries.

Variants and media

ATGMs and launchers are usually made in several versions:

• portable complex with a rocket launched

• from a container
• with guide
• from the barrel of a recoilless launcher
• from the launch tube

• from a tripod machine
• off the shoulder

• installation on the chassis of the car, armored personnel carrier / infantry fighting vehicle;
• installation on helicopters and airplanes.

In this case, the same missile is used, the type and weight of the launcher and guidance means vary.

In modern conditions, unmanned aircraft are also considered as ATGM carriers, for example, the MQ-1 Predator is capable of carrying and using the AGM-114 Hellfire ATGM.

Means and methods of protection

When moving a missile (using laser beam guidance), it may be necessary that, at least at the final stage of the trajectory, the beam be directed directly at the target. Irradiation of the target may allow the enemy to use defenses. For example, the Type 99 tank is equipped with a blinding laser weapon. It determines the direction of the radiation, and sends a powerful light pulse in its direction, capable of blinding the guidance system and / or the pilot. The tank took part in large-scale exercises of the ground forces.

Comments

1. Often there is an expression anti-tank guided missile(ATGM), which, however, is not identical to an anti-tank guided missile, since it is only one of its varieties, namely, a barrel-launched ATGM.
2. Which in turn was acquired by BMW in June 1939 from Siemens.
3. Harald Wolf headed the missile development division at initial stage after joining the structure of BMW, he was soon replaced by Count Helmut von Zborowski, who led the missile development unit at BMW until the very end of the war, and after the war he moved to France and participated in the French missile program, collaborated with the engine company SNECMA and the rocket division of Nord Aviation.
4. K. E. Tsiolkovsky himself divided his theoretical developments into “space rockets” for launching a payload into outer space and “terrestrial rockets” as an ultra-high-speed modern rail rolling stock vehicle. At the same time, neither one nor the other, he did not intend to use as a means of destruction.
5. Occasionally, the word "rocket" could be used in the specialized military press in relation to foreign developments in this area, as a rule, as a translation term, as well as in a historical context. The TSB of the first edition (1941) contains the following definition of a missile: "Rockets are currently used in military affairs as a means of signaling."
6. See, in particular, the memoirs of V.I. against our tanks, anti-tank torpedoes, which were launched from the trenches and controlled by wires. From the impact of a torpedo, the tank was torn into huge pieces of metal, which flew up to 10-20 meters. It was hard for us to look at the death of tanks until our artillery dealt a strong fire attack on the tanks and trenches of the enemy. The Red Army soldiers failed to get new models of weapons, in the described case they were destroyed by massive fire Soviet artillery. The passage quoted is reproduced in several editions of this book.
7. It will be interesting to note that by 1965, Nord Aviation had become the world leader in the production and sale of ATGMs on the international arms market and practically a monopolist in their production among the countries of the capitalist world - 80% of the arsenals of ATGMs in the capitalist countries and their satellites were French missiles SS.10, SS .11, SS.12 and ENTAC, which by that time had produced a total of about 250 thousand units, and in addition to which at the exhibition of weapons and military equipment during the 26th Paris International Air Show in June 10-21, 1965 joint Franco-German HOT and Milan were presented.

Notes

1. Military encyclopedic Dictionary. / Ed. S. F. Akhromeeva , IVIMO USSR . - 2nd ed. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1986. - S. 598 - 863 p.
2. Artillery // Encyclopedia "Round the World".
3. Lehmann, Jörn. Einhundert Jahre Heidekrautbahn: eine Liebenwalder Sicht. - Berlin: ERS-Verlag, 2001. - S. 57 - 95 s. - (Liebenwalder Heimathefte; 4) - ISBN 3-928577-40-9.
4. Zborowski, H. von ; Brunoy, S. ; Brunoy, O. BMW Developments. // . - P. 297-324.
5. Backofen, Joseph E. Shaped Charges Versus Armor-Part II . // armor: The Magazine of Mobile Warfare. - Fort Knox, KY: U.S. Army Armor Center, September-October 1980. - Vol. 89 - no. 5 - P. 20.
6. Gatland, Kenneth William. Development of the Guided Missile . - L.: Iliffe & Sons, 1954. - P. 24, 270-271 - 292 p.

In articles about anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs), the expressions "first generation", third generation", "shot-forget", "I see-shoot" are often found. I will briefly try to explain what, in fact, we are talking about ...

As the name suggests, anti-tank systems are primarily designed to engage armored targets. Although they are used for other objects. Up to an individual infantryman, if there is a lot of money. ATGMs are capable of quite effectively fighting low-flying air targets, such as helicopters.

Photo from Rosinform.ru

Anti-tank missile systems are classified as high-precision weapons. That is, to weapons, I quote, "with a probability of hitting a target higher than 0.5". Slightly better than when tossing a coin heads-tails)))

ATGMs were developed back in Nazi Germany. Mass production and delivery of anti-tank missile systems to the troops in NATO and the USSR was launched already in the late 1950s. And these were...

ATGM first generation

Anti-tank guided missiles of the first generation complexes are controlled by "three points":
(1) the operator's eye or sight when shooting at a distance of more than a kilometer.
(2) rocket
(3) target

That is, the operator had to combine these three points manually, controlling the rocket, as a rule, by wire. Until the very moment of hitting the target. Manage using various kinds of joysticks, control handles, joysticks and other things. For example, here is such a "joystick" on the control device 9S415 of the Soviet ATGM "Malyutka-2"

Needless to say, this required a long training of operators, their iron nerves and good coordination even in a state of fatigue and in the heat of battle. Requirements for candidates for operators were among the highest.
Also, the complexes of the first generation had disadvantages in the form of low flight speed of missiles, the presence of a large "dead zone" in the initial section of the trajectory - 300-500 m (17-25% of the entire firing range). Attempts to solve all these problems have led to the emergence of ...

ATGM second generation

Anti-tank guided missiles of the second generation complexes are controlled by "two points":
(1) Viewfinder
(2) Purpose
The task of the operator is to keep the mark of the sight on the target, everything else is "on the conscience" automatic system control located on the launcher.

The control equipment, with the help of the coordinator, determines the position of the missile relative to the line of sight to the target and keeps it on it, transmitting commands to the missile via wires or radio channels. The position is determined by the emission of an infrared lamp-headlight / xenon lamp / tracer placed in the stern of the rocket and directed back to the launcher.

A special case is such second-generation complexes as the Scandinavian "Bill" or the American "Tou-2" with the BGM-71F missile, which hit the target from above on the span:

The control equipment on the installation "leads" the rocket not along the line of sight, but several meters above it. When a missile flies over a tank, the target sensor (for example, on the "Bill" - a magnetic + laser altimeter) gives a command to sequentially detonate two charges placed at an angle to the axis of the missile

Also, second-generation complexes include anti-tank systems using missiles with a semi-active laser homing head (GOS)

The operator is also forced to keep the mark on the target until it is hit. The device illuminates the target with coded laser radiation, the rocket flies to the reflected signal, like a moth to the light (or like a fly to the smell, as you like).

Among the shortcomings of this method, the crew of the armored vehicle is practically notified that they are being fired at, and the equipment of the optical-electronic protection systems can have time to cover the car with an aerosol (smoke) screen at the command of laser irradiation warning sensors.
In addition, such missiles are relatively expensive, since the control equipment is located on the missile, and not on the launcher.

Similar problems exist in complexes with laser-beam control. Although they are considered the most noise-immune of the second generation anti-tank systems

Their main difference is that the missile movement is controlled by a laser emitter, the beam of which is oriented towards the target in the tail of the attacking missile. Accordingly, the laser radiation receiver is located in the stern of the rocket and directed to the launcher, which significantly increases the noise immunity.

In order not to notify their victims in advance, some ATGM systems can raise the missile above the line of sight, and lower it in front of the target itself, taking into account the range to the target obtained from the rangefinder. What is shown in the second picture. But do not be confused, in this case the rocket does not hit from above, but into the forehead / side / stern.

I will confine myself to the concept invented by the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (KBM) for dummies "laser path", on which the rocket actually holds itself. In this case, the operator is still forced to accompany the target until it is hit. However, scientists have tried to make their lives easier by creating

ATGM generation II+

They are not much different from their older brothers. In them, it is possible to track targets not manually, but automatically, by means of ASC, target tracking equipment. At the same time, the operator can only mark the target, and search for a new one, and defeat it, as is done on the Russian "Kornet-D"

In terms of their capabilities, such complexes are very close to third-generation complexes. They coined the term I see-shoot"However, with everything else, the generation II + complexes did not get rid of their main shortcomings. First of all, the dangers for the complex and the operator / crew, since the control device must still be in direct line of sight of the target until it is hit. Well, in secondly, associated with the same low fire performance - the ability to hit a maximum of targets in a minimum time.

To solve these problems are

ATGM third generation

Anti-tank guided missiles of the third generation systems do not require the participation of the operator or the launch equipment located on the launch equipment in flight and therefore belong to " shot and forgot"

The task of the operator when using such anti-tank systems is to detect the target. ensure its capture by the missile control equipment and launch. After that, without waiting for the defeat of the target, either leave the position, or prepare to hit a new one. A missile guided by an infrared or radar seeker will fly by itself.

Anti-tank missile systems of the third generation are constantly being improved, especially in terms of the capabilities of on-board equipment to capture targets, and the moment when they will appear is not far off.

ATGM fourth generation

Anti-tank guided missiles of the fourth generation systems will not require the participation of the operator at all.

All you have to do is launch a missile into the target area. There artificial intelligence will detect the target, identify it, independently make a decision to defeat and carry it out.

In the long term, the equipment of the "swarm" of missiles will rank the detected targets in order of importance and hit them starting from the "first on the list." At the same time, preventing the direction of two or more ATGMs to one target, as well as redirecting them to more important ones if they were not fired upon due to a failure or destruction of the previous missile.

For various reasons, we do not have third-generation complexes ready for delivery to the troops or for sale abroad. Because of what we lose money and markets. For example, Indian. Israel is now the world leader in this area.

At the same time, complexes of the second and second plus generations remain in demand, especially in local wars. First of all, due to the relative cheapness of missiles and reliability.

An experienced multi-purpose air-to-ground guided missile JAGM is designed to destroy armored targets, patrol ships, artillery systems, rocket launchers, positions of radar stations, control and communication centers, fortifications, infrastructure facilities of enemy settlements and administrative centers. The development of a single unified air-launched missile in the interests of the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps under the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program has been underway since 2007. Two groups of companies are involved in the development of JAGM on competitive terms, led by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon as the lead developers. JAGM is a continuation of the AGM-169 Joint Common Missile (JCM) program completed in 2007. Initially, the US Army planned to pay for the development of the missile by both companies, but due to budgetary constraints, since 2011 it has chosen only one developer - Lockheed Martin. ...

In the new 2017, the French armed forces intend to implement several new programs related to the rearmament of combat units. One of these projects affects the field of anti-tank missile systems. Currently, the French army is armed with several systems of this class, including obsolete models. This year, the ground forces will have to receive the first copies of the MMP ATGM, proposed as a replacement for older systems.
The MMP project (Missile Moyenne Portée - "Medium-Range Missile") has been developed by MBDA Missile Systems since 2009 on an initiative basis. Initially, the purpose of the work was to determine the general features of the appearance of a promising anti-tank complex, but later the tasks of the project were updated. In 2010, the French military department held a competition, as a result of which it purchased American-made Javelin anti-tank systems, considering domestic systems of a similar purpose obsolete. ...

During the Second World War in several countries of the world were created and brought to practical application the first anti-tank grenade launchers. Different weapons of this class used some common ideas, but differed in certain features. One of the most original versions of the anti-tank grenade launcher was the PIAT product, created by British gunsmiths. Having noticeable differences from foreign models, such a grenade launcher showed acceptable efficiency and was of interest to the troops.
The reasons for the appearance of a new model anti-tank grenade launcher were simple. At the initial stage of the Second World War, the British infantry had only two means of fighting enemy tanks: the Boys anti-tank rifle and the No. 68 rifle grenade. Such weapons were actively used for a long time, but their effectiveness was constantly falling. ...

A few years ago, Spain did not have the technical base necessary to create anti-tank missile systems that meet modern requirements. However, the adoption and operation of the Aspide air-to-surface missile by Selenia (Italy) and the Roland missiles of the Euromissile association (Germany, France) with its manufacture under license by Santa Barbara (Spain) contributed to the creation of a scientific and technological base that made it possible to start a national development of ATGMs. Scheme of the Toledo starter engine nozzle; laser beam receiver; low thrust starter; tail plumage; gyroscope; power battery; fuse; cumulative charge; lining of a cumulative excavation; thrust vector control device; - fuel booster propulsion engine; propulsion engine fuel; a two-layer ogival warhead that activates the fuse. ...

ATGM "Malyutka-2" The anti-tank missile system (ATGM) "Malyutka-2" is a modernized version of the 9K11 "Malyutka" complex and differs from the latter in the use of an improved missile with various types of warheads. Developed at the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. The complex is designed to defeat modern tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as engineering structures such as bunkers and bunkers in the absence and presence of natural or organized infrared interference. Its predecessor, the "Malyutka" complex, one of the first domestic ATGMs, was manufactured for approximately 30 years and is in service in more than 40 countries around the world. Various versions of the complex were and are being produced in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, China, Iran, Taiwan and other countries. Among such copies, one can note the Susong-Po ATGM (DPRK), Kun Wu (Taiwan) and HJ-73 (China). ATGM "Raad" - the Iranian version of the 9M14 "Malyutka" ATGM has been in production since 1961. ...

ATGM AGM-114L Hellfire-Longbow Anti-tank missile system (ATGM) AGM-114L Hellfire-Longbow with an active radar homing head is designed to destroy enemy tank formations and other small targets at any time of the day, in poor visibility and in difficult meteorological conditions. The complex was developed by Rockwell International and Lockheed Martin based on the AGM-114K Hellfire-2 missile as part of the AAWWS (Airbone Adverse Weather Weapon System) program for attack helicopters AH-64D Apache and RAH-66 Comanche. The efficiency of the Apache helicopter, equipped with the Longbow complex, has increased significantly due to the possibility of using missiles in bad weather, the possibility of a salvo launch against the accumulation of armored vehicles, and also due to a significant reduction in the time the helicopter is under enemy fire when aiming missiles. The first firing tests of the AGM-114L Hellfire-Longbow ATGM were carried out in June 1994. ...

ATGM NOT The heavy Franco-German anti-tank missile system (ATGM) "NOT" (Haut subsonique Optiquement teleguide tire d "un Tube) is used to arm combat helicopters and be placed on self-propelled chassis. Developed by the Euromissile consortium (MBDA France and LFK) on the basis ATGM HOT and was put into service in 1974. The "HOT" complex is designed to arm mobile vehicles (cars, infantry fighting vehicles, helicopters) and for stationary underground installations (strong points, fortified areas). replacement of elements of the system in case of their failure, automatic loading, high rate of fire, large ammunition capacity of missiles.ATGM "NOT" is capable of hitting highly mobile targets mounted on vehicles of different classes of armored and unarmored, on platforms, platforms and helicopters, ensures the conduct of combat operations as in offensive and defensive combat, fire at a distance of up to 4000m. ...

ATGM HJ-9 One of the latest developments of the Chinese company "NORINCO" (China North Industries Corporation), is the ATGM HJ-9 ("Hong Jian" -9, according to NATO classification - "Red Arrow-9"), designed to combat the main tanks, armored targets and destruction of engineering structures various types. The all-weather, all-day HJ-9 belongs to the third generation of anti-tank guided missiles adopted by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China. The development of the HJ-9 ATGM began in the 1980s, for the first time the complex was shown at a military parade among new types of weapons and military equipment in 1999. Compared to its prototype (HJ-8), the new complex has an increased flight range, increased efficiency and flexibility. combat use, a new modern noise-immune control system, increased armor penetration. ...

ATGM HJ-73 The Chinese anti-tank missile system HJ-73 (Hong Jian - "Red Arrow") belongs to the first generation of anti-tank guided missiles adopted by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China (PLA). Unsuccessful attempts to develop their own anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) began in China in the 50s of the last century and dragged on for two decades. The situation changed in 1971. after several samples of the Soviet ATGM 9K11 "Malyutka" fell into the hands of Chinese engineers. The result of copying this system was the first anti-tank missile system HJ-73, which was put into service in 1979. The HJ-73 is operated by the PLA as a portable complex, and is also used to equip infantry fighting vehicles, light vehicle chassis and other carriers. Over the long years of service, the HJ-73 ATGM has been repeatedly upgraded in order to increase armor penetration and combat effectiveness. ...

Hellfire ATGM AGM-114 "Hellfire" with a laser missile guidance system, was developed taking into account the possibility of its use by various types of aircraft and, mainly, for arming combat helicopters. The development of the first version of the AGM-114A missile was completed by Rockwell International in 1982, and since 1984 the complex has been in service with the US Army and Marine Corps. Based on test results and operational experience, it is characterized as a highly effective anti-tank weapon with a high flexibility of use, which can also be successfully used to destroy other targets and solve various tactical tasks on the battlefield. After the use of the Hellfire ATGM during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, work began on its further modernization. The program received the designation HOMS (Hellfire Optimized Missile System), the upgraded version of the missile was given the designation AGM-114K "Hellfire-2". ...

EFOGM missile system The EFOGM (Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile) missile system is designed primarily to fight tanks, as well as to destroy air targets (helicopters) flying at extremely low and low altitudes using terrain masking properties and other features terrain. The maximum range of fire against air and ground targets, according to the tactical and technical requirements, must be at least 10 km. According to reports in the foreign press, two options for the design of the complex are provided: based on the M988 "Hammer" multi-purpose all-terrain vehicle for light divisions (8 missiles on launchers) and based on a caterpillar self-propelled chassis of a jet system salvo fire MLRS (24 missiles on launchers) for "heavy" divisions. It is planned to supply the US Ground Forces with 118 and 285 complexes in the first and second versions, respectively, as well as 16,550 missiles. Their cost will be 2.9 billion dollars. ...

At the end of May 1988 The American company Hughes Aircraft has signed an agreement with the Spanish consortium Esprodesa on the development of medium-range ATGMs at its own expense, which will be a serious competitor to the European wearable medium-range AGTW-3MR complex of the EMDG association. In October 1988 Hughes Aircraft and the Esprodesa consortium, which includes three Spanish firms Ceselsa, Instalaza and Union Explosivos, were to create a new Spanish-American association, whose name is still unknown, with headquarters in Madrid. The total capital of the joint equity venture will be $260 million, of which 60% ($160 million) will be owned by the Esprodesa consortium and 40% by Hughes Aircraft. The Aries ATGM development project is estimated at $134 million. Hughes Aircraft provides overall program management, develops a missile guidance and control system, and provides technical assistance to its partners. ...

Serial production and deliveries of self-propelled anti-tank missile systems of the 9K123 Khrizantema family continue. This technique is capable of carrying several types of guided missiles designed to hit a wide range of targets. In addition, the complex has a number of characteristic features that can significantly increase its combat potential. To date, the troops have already received a certain number of Chrysanthemum-S anti-tank systems, and the industry continues to build new combat vehicles.
The development of the Chrysanthemum project began in the mid-eighties. The main task this project, which was created by specialists from the Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (Kolomna) under the leadership of S.P. Invincible, was the design of a self-propelled missile system capable of destroying various purposes, primarily enemy armored vehicles. Soon, the main features of the appearance of the new technology were determined and the composition of the complex was formed. ...

ATGMs are anti-tank missile systems, which today represent one of the most dynamically developing segments of the global arms market. This is due to the high efficiency of these complexes. Modern anti-tank systems are much cheaper than tanks, while being able to effectively deal with this main strike weapon of the ground forces. The global ATGM market is also being spurred on by the general trend towards maximizing the structural protection of all types of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in modern armies.

Currently, the armies of many countries are actively moving from ATGMs belonging to the 2nd generation (semi-automatic targeting) to third-generation systems, which are built on the basis of the “fire and forget” principle. In the latter case, the operator of this complex can only aim and launch a rocket, then change position. As a result, the market for modern anti-tank systems was actually divided between American and Israeli defense companies. According to the Western classification, the Russian leader in sales of the Kornet anti-tank systems belongs to the 2+ generation anti-tank systems.

It is customary to refer to the third generation of anti-tank systems, which in practice implement the “fire and forget” principle. To implement this principle, GOS are used - homing heads, which are placed on board anti-tank guided missiles - ATGMs. When the ATGM is launched, the operator of the complex finds the target, makes sure that the GOS has captured the target and launches. After that, the flight of the rocket takes place completely offline without communication with the launcher, the rocket flies according to the commands received from the seeker. The advantage of such complexes is called: reducing the vulnerability of the calculation and the complex (since they are less under enemy fire), especially when used from combat helicopters; increase in noise immunity (only 1 channel "GOS-target" is used).

The first production ATGM of the 3rd generation American FGM-148 Javelin

Taking into account the dynamic nature of modern battles, it would be advisable to keep in the ammunition of helicopters and self-propelled anti-tank systems missiles belonging to both the 2nd and 3rd generation. At the same time, in the ideal case, the third-generation PUTR should be unified to the maximum with the modification of the second-generation missile. Regarding Russia, it can be noted that as a result of perestroika and subsequent market reforms, the period of the collapse of the military-industrial complex, lack of funding and subsequent stabilization in Russia, a full-fledged third-generation ATGM was never put into service.

At the same time, the Tula Design Bureau has its own view on this problem. At present, most Western experts consider the implementation of the “fire-and-forget” principle to be the main feature by which ATGM can be attributed to the 3rd generation, therefore the Russian Kornet ATGM conventionally refers to the “2+” generation complexes. At the same time, the specialists of the Tula Design Bureau, despite the fact that they quite successfully completed work on guided missiles, decided to abandon them in the Kornet complex and believe that it compares favorably with foreign analogues on the market.

ATGM "Kornet"

The "Kornet" complex implements the "see-shoot" principle and a laser-beam control system, which allows the ATGM to achieve a large maximum firing range in comparison with Western ATGMs built on the "fire-and-forget" principle. There are other advantages, for example, the resolution of a thermal imaging sight mounted on a mobile weapon carrier will be significantly higher than that of the seeker, for this reason the problem of capturing the target of the seeker at the start is still very serious. In addition, firing at targets that do not have a significant contrast in the far IR wavelength range (such targets include pillboxes, bunkers, machine-gun points and other structures) with missiles with a seeker is simply impossible, especially if the enemy sets up passive optical interference. There are also certain problems associated with scaling the image of the target in the GOS during the approach of the missile, and the cost of such ATGMs is 5-7 times higher than the cost of missiles of a similar purpose for the Kornet.

It was the criterion "efficiency-cost" that became the basis for the commercial success of the Kornet ATGM in the world. It is several times cheaper than the 3rd generation complexes, which, figuratively speaking, fire at the target with expensive thermal imagers. The second most important criterion is a good launch range - up to 5.5 km. Along with this, the Kornet ATGM, like a number of other domestic anti-tank systems, is subject to constant criticism due to the insufficient ability to overcome dynamic protection on modern foreign MBTs.

Despite this, "Kornet-E" is the most successful Russian ATGM, which is exported. Parts of this complex have already been purchased by 16 countries of the world, including Algeria, Greece, India, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and South Korea. The latest deep modernization of the anti-tank systems called "Kornet-EM" has a firing range of up to 10 km, which is beyond the reach of foreign analogues. At the same time, this complex is able to fire both at ground and air targets (such as helicopters and UAVs).

ATGM "Shturm-S"

Another Russian development of the 2nd generation "Metis-M" with a firing range of 1.5 km, as well as "Metis-M1" (2 km) with a semi-automatic wire guidance system, also has good export performance.

At one time in Russia, a bet was made on the development of a combined system of anti-tank weapons, in which both the “see-shoot” and “fire-forget” principles would be implemented - with the main emphasis on the relatively low cost of anti-tank systems. It was assumed that the anti-tank defense will be represented by 3 complexes of different staffing. In the defense zone from the front line up to 15 km. deep into the enemy defenses, it was planned to use light portable anti-tank systems with a firing range of up to 2.5 km, portable and self-propelled anti-tank systems with a firing range of up to 5.5 km and self-propelled anti-tank systems "Germes" long range placed on the BMP-3 chassis and capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 15 km.

The control system of the promising multi-purpose ATGM "Hermes" is combined. In the initial phase of the flight, the ATGM is controlled by an inertial system. In the final phase of the flight, semi-active laser homing of the missile at the target is used by the laser radiation reflected from the target, as well as radar or infrared homing. This complex was developed in 3 main versions: land, aviation and sea. Currently, officially, work is being carried out only on the aviation version of the complex - Hermes-A. In the future, the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system, developed by the same Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (Tula), can also be equipped with this complex. At one time, the third-generation Avtonomiya ATGM with an infrared homing system was also created in Tula, but it was never brought to the level of mass production.

ATGM "Chrysanthemum-S"

It is worth noting the fact that the Western trend regarding armored self-propelled anti-tank systems is their removal from service and low demand. At the same time, there is no serial infantry (portable, portable or self-propelled) ATGM with an infrared homing system at the target - IIR and memory contours of the target, which would implement the "fire and forget" principle in service with the Russian army. And there are serious doubts about the desire and ability of the RF Ministry of Defense to acquire such expensive systems.

At present, the production of products exclusively for export is no longer the main one for the domestic defense industry, as it was quite recently. At the same time, almost all foreign armies are being rearmed with 3rd generation systems, and all tenders often come down to rivalry between the Israeli Spike ATGM and the American Javelin ATGM. Despite this, a large number of foreign customers remain in the world who cannot purchase these complexes, for example, for political reasons, Russia can be calm for such sales markets.

Sources of information:
http://vpk-news.ru/articles/13974
http://btvt.narod.ru/4/kornet.htm
http://www.xliby.ru/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_vooruzhenie_2000_10/p5.php

Aviation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) are designed to destroy armored targets. For the most part, they are analogues of the corresponding missiles that are part of ground-based anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs), but adapted for use from aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Specialized aviation anti-tank missiles have also been developed, which are used only with military aircraft.

Currently, aviation of leading foreign countries is armed with ATGMs of three generations. The first generation includes missiles that use a wired semi-automatic guidance system (SN). These are ATGM "Tou-2A and -2B" (USA), "Hot-2 and -3" (France, Germany). The second generation is represented by missiles using semi-active laser SN, such as the AGM-114A, F and K Hellfire (USA). Third-generation missiles, which include AGM-114L Hellfire (USA) and Brimstone (UK) ATGMs, are equipped with autonomous SN - active radar seeker operating in the microwave (MW) wavelength range. ATGMs are currently being developed. fourth generation- JAGM ((Joint Air-to-Ground Missile, USA).

The capabilities of ATGMs are determined by the following performance characteristics: maximum flight speed, type of guidance system, maximum missile launch range, type of warhead, and armor penetration. The most active work in the field of creation and development of anti-tank guided missiles is carried out in the USA, Israel, Great Britain, Germany and France.

One of the directions for the development of ATGMs is to increase the effectiveness of hitting armored targets equipped with layered armor, and ensuring the simultaneous launch of several missiles at different targets. Demonstration programs are being carried out to equip these weapons with dual-mode homing heads operating in the IR and MMW wavelength ranges. The development of such missiles with autonomous SN continues, which, after launch, hit the target without the participation of the operator. At the concept level, the creation of a hypersonic missile defense system to combat tanks is being studied.

Anti-tank guided missile AGM-114 "Hellfire". This ATGM is designed to destroy armored vehicles. It has a modular design, which makes it easy to upgrade.

The AGM-114F Hellfire, developed by Rockwell, entered service in 1991. It is equipped with a tandem warhead, which allows you to hit tanks with dynamic protection. $348.9 million was spent on R&D. The cost of the rocket is 42 thousand dollars.

This ATGM is made according to the normal aerodynamic scheme. In the head part there is a semi-active laser seeker, a contact fuse and four destabilizers, in the middle part there is a tandem warhead, an analog autopilot, a pneumatic accumulator of the rudder drive system, in the tail part there is an engine, a cruciform wing, which is attached to the RDTT body, and rudder drives located in wing planes. The pre-charge of the tandem warhead has a diameter of 70 mm. In the event of a target being lost in the clouds, the autopilot remembers its coordinates and directs the missile to the intended target area, which allows the HOS to re-capture it. The AGM-114K Hellfire-2 ATGM is equipped with a laser seeker using a new coded laser pulse, which made it possible to solve the problem of receiving false echoes and thereby increase the missile's noise immunity.

A semi-active seeker requires a laser beam to illuminate the target, which can be carried out by a laser designator from a carrier helicopter, another helicopter or UAV, as well as an advanced gunner from the ground. When the target is illuminated not from a carrier helicopter, but from another means, it is possible to launch an ATGM without visual visibility of the target. In this case, its capture is carried out by the GOS after the missile is launched. The helicopter may be in cover. To ensure the launch of several missiles in a short period of time and aiming them at different targets, coding is used by changing the frequency of repetition of laser pulses.

Anti-tank guided missile "Tou". It is designed to destroy armored vehicles. In November 1983, Hughes specialists began developing the Tou-2A ATGM with a tandem warhead so that it could destroy tanks with reactive armor. The missile was put into service in 1989. By the end of 1989, approximately 12,000 units had been assembled. In 1987, work began on the creation of the Tou-2V ATGM. It is designed to destroy armored vehicles when flying over the target - the upper part of the tank hull is the least protected. The missile was put into service in 1992.

This ATGM has a folding cross-shaped wing in the middle part of the hull and rudders in the tail section. The wing and rudders are located at an angle of 45° relative to each other. Semi-automatic control, commands to the rocket are transmitted by wire. To guide the missile, an IR tracer and a xenon lamp are installed in its tail section.

ATGM "Tou" is in service with 37 states, including all NATO countries. The rocket carriers are AN-1S and W, A-129, "Lynx" helicopters. R&D expenses under the program for its creation amounted to $284.5 million. The cost of one ATGM "Tou-2A" is about 14 thousand dollars, "Tou-2V" - up to 25 thousand.

The ATGM uses a two-stage solid propellant rocket engine from the Hercules company. The mass of the first stage is 0.545 kg. The second stage, located in the middle part, has two nozzles installed at an angle of 30° to its construction axis.

The side combat warhead of the Tou-2V ATGM hits the target when flying over it (into the upper hemisphere). When a warhead is detonated, two shock cores are formed, one of which is designed to detonate reactive armor hung on a tank turret. For detonation, a remote fuse with two sensors is used: an optical one, which determines the target by its configuration, and a magnetic one, which confirms the presence of a large amount of metal and prevents the possibility of false triggering of the warhead.

The pilot keeps the crosshairs on the target, while the missile automatically flies at a certain height above the line of sight. It is stored, transported and installed on helicopters in a pressurized launch canister.

Anti-tank missile system "Spike-ER" (Israel). This ATGM (formerly designated as NTD) was put into service in 2003. It was created on the basis of the Gill / Spike complexes by the specialists of the Rafael company. The complex is a launcher with four missiles, equipped with a guidance and control system.

ATGM "Spike-ER" (ER - Extended Range) is a fourth-generation high-precision missile, the use of which is implemented according to the "fire and forget" principle. The probability of hitting armored vehicles and fortified structures of the enemy of this SD is 0.9. A high-explosive penetrating version of its warhead is capable of penetrating bunker walls and then exploding indoors, causing maximum damage to the target and minimal damage to surrounding structures.

Before launch and during the flight of the ATGM, the pilot receives a video image transmitted from the homing head. By controlling the rocket, he selects the target after the launch.

UR is capable of flying both in autonomous mode and receiving signals about data changes from the pilot. This guidance method also allows you to take the missile away from the target in case of unforeseen situations.

As a result of tests carried out by specialists from the Rafael company, the Spike-ER ATGM has established itself as a reliable and high-precision guided missile. Thus, in 2008, a contract worth $64 million was signed between the management of General Dynamics Santa Barbara Systems (GDSBS) and the command of the Spanish Army for the supply of Spike-ER anti-tank missile systems, consisting of 44 launchers and 200 Spike- ER" for Tiger helicopters. According to the terms of the contract, the work will be completed by 2012.

Anti-tank guided missile PARS 3 LR. This ATGM has been in service with the FRG aviation since 2008. This missile was developed to further replace the Hot and Tou ATGMs. In 1988, after the signing of an agreement between France, Germany and Great Britain, the full-scale development of the PARS 3 LR ATGM began. The contract value was $972.7 million.

The PARS 3 LR ATGM is built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme. The principle of operation is that the operator selects and marks the target on the indicator, and the missile is aimed at this target automatically according to the stored image. The ATGM can also be programmed to strike a target from above with an encounter angle close to 90°.
The PARS 3 LR ATGM guidance system includes an anti-interference thermal imaging seeker operating in the 8-12 micron wavelength range.

The launch of the missile defense system is carried out according to the "fire and forget" principle, which allows the helicopter to change its position immediately after the missile launch and leave the enemy air defense coverage area. The GOS PC produces a target acquisition immediately before the missile launch. After detecting, identifying and identifying the target, the SD independently carries out targeting. The homing head uses IR technology, due to which there is a clear identification of targets and target designation over the entire range of ranges. The warhead is tandem. This ensures the destruction of tanks equipped with dynamic protection, helicopters, dugouts, field-type fortifications and command posts.

Anti-tank guided missile PARS 3 LR structurally consists of four compartments. In the first, under a glass fairing, there is a thermal imaging homing head, and behind it is a tandem cumulative warhead and a cocking mechanism. The second compartment contains electronic equipment (three-stage gyroscope and on-board computer). Next are the fuel and engine compartments, respectively. The PARS 3LR ATGM is protected from enemy electronic countermeasures, which makes it possible to reduce the load on the pilot when performing a combat mission.

Appearance ATGM "Brimstone"

The layout of the ATGM "Brimstone": 1 - GOS; 2 - pre-charge; 3 - main charge; 4 - power drive; 5 - solid propellant; 6 - control module

Anti-tank guided missile "Brimstone". This ATGM was adopted by the British Army Aviation in 2002.

The rocket is built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme, the head part is closed with a hemispherical fairing. The body has an elongated cylindrical shape. A crosswise trapezoidal plumage is attached to the front of the ATGM, trapezoidal stabilizers are attached to the engine compartment, turning into rotary control aerodynamic planes-rudders. "Brimstone" has a modular design.

This ATGM is equipped with an active radar MMV seeker, developed by specialists from GEC-Marconi (Great Britain). It has a Cossegrain antenna with one movable mirror. The homing head detects, recognizes and classifies a target using a built-in algorithm. During guidance in the final section, the GOS determines the optimal aiming point. The remaining components of the ATGM (digital autopilot, warhead, solid propellant rocket engine) were borrowed unchanged from the American Hellfire ATGM.

The rocket is equipped with a cumulative tandem warhead and solid propellant rocket engine. The engine operation time is about 2.5 s. The guidance module consists of a digital autopilot and an INS, which is used for guidance in the middle flight segment. The rocket is equipped with an electric power drive.

The Brimstone ATGM has two guidance modes. In the direct (direct) mode, the pilot enters data about the target he has detected into the on-board computer of the missile, and after launch it flies to the target and hits it without further participation of the pilot. In indirect mode, the process of attacking the target is planned in advance. Before the flight, the target search area, its type, as well as the starting point of its search are determined. These data are entered into the rocket's on-board computer just before launch. After launch, the ATGM performs flight at a fixed altitude, the value of which is given. Since in this case the target is captured after launch, in order to avoid the defeat of friendly troops, the missile seeker does not work. Upon reaching a given area, the GOS is turned on and a search for a target is carried out. If it is not detected and the ATGM has gone beyond the specified area, then it will self-destruct.

This missile is resistant to blackout zones or battlefield decoys such as smoke, dust, flares. It contains algorithms for recognizing the main targets. If it is necessary to defeat other objects, new target recognition algorithms can be developed and the ATGM can be easily reprogrammed.

Anti-tank guided missile JAGM. Currently, R&D to create a fourth-generation JAGM (Joint Air-to-Ground Missile) ATGM is at the development and demonstration stage. It is to enter service with the US Air Force in 2016.
This missile is being created as part of a joint program with the participation of specialists from the Army, Navy and US Marine Corps. It is a continuation of the program to create a universal rocket for all types of national aircraft JCM (Joint Common Missile), R&D for which was discontinued in 2007. Lockheed Martin and Boeing/Raytheon are taking part in the competitive development.

According to the results of the competition scheduled for 2011, the full-scale development of the JAGM ATGM will begin. The missile will be equipped with a three-mode seeker, which will provide the possibility of radar, infrared or semi-active laser targeting. This will allow SD to detect, recognize and hit stationary and mobile targets at long range and under any weather conditions on the battlefield. Multifunctional warhead will ensure the defeat of various types of targets. In this case, the pilot from the cockpit will be able to choose the type of detonation of the warhead.

In August 2010, Lockheed Martin specialists conducted tests to launch the JAGM ATGM. During them, she hit the target, while the guidance accuracy (KVO) was 5 cm. The rocket was launched from a distance of 16 km, while the GOS used a semi-active laser mode.

If this program is successfully completed, the JAGM ATGM will replace the AGM-65 Maverick guided missiles in service, as well as the AGM-114 Hellfire and BGM-71 Toe ATGMs.

The US Army Command plans to purchase at least 54,000 ATGMs of this type. The total cost of the program for the development and purchase of the JAGM missile is $122 million.

Thus, anti-tank guided missiles will remain the most effective and affordable means of combating armored combat vehicles in the next two decades. An analysis of the state of their development shows that during the forecast period in the leading foreign countries, ATGMs of the first and second generations will be removed from service, and only third-generation missiles will remain.

After 2011, missiles equipped with dual-mode seekers will appear in service, which will make it possible to recognize targets (our own and others') with a guaranteed probability and hit them at the most vulnerable point. The firing range of ATGMs will increase to 12 km or more. Warheads will be improved when operating against armored targets equipped with multilayer or dynamic armor. In this case, armor penetration will reach 1300-1500 mm. ATGMs will be equipped with multifunctional warheads, which will allow hitting targets of various types.

foreign military review. - 2011. - No. 4. - pp. 64-70