Perhaps, it is precisely by the state of the navy that one can always give an adequate assessment of the country's defense capability and economy. And here it is not only the extremely high cost of maintaining ships and submarines. The modern fleet is a high-tech industry, where the newest defensive and offensive weapons are “driven in” first of all.
If during the Second World War the ball was ruled by heavy battleships with powerful protection and relatively simple aircraft carriers for propeller-driven aircraft, now the situation has changed dramatically. The navy of almost all “maritime” countries is actively adopting relatively small and nimble destroyers, the role of submarines is growing, and aircraft carriers are considered solely from the point of view of an offensive element to intimidate countries that do not have normal air defense.
In addition, the current naval battles are no longer the same: opponents most often do not see each other even on the horizon, and victory is ensured by powerful missile weapons, one volley of which may well send a huge enemy ship to the bottom. Our country has an excellent tool - the Mosquito system. This missile, which was created back in the USSR, is a reliable way to ensure guarantees of a peaceful settlement.
Development start
Work on the development of these weapons began in 1973. Dozens of research institutes and design bureaus from all over the USSR participated in the creation. "Mosquito" - a missile, originally developed to replace obsolete types of similar weapons and designed for installation on destroyers and missile boats. In addition, combat ekranoplanes were equipped with it.
Before being adopted by the rocket, it was necessary to go through an impressive series of verification tests, which were begun only in 1978. This happened in the conditions of the Sandy Beam training ground, where the first tests of the models of the future product were carried out and the characteristics of its marching engines were checked. State tests continued until the end of 1982.
They were recognized as successfully completed only after the firing of the Desperate destroyer, which was in the Barents Sea. Targets were fired from a range of 27 kilometers, and it was required to hit two targets at once. The missile and crew of the ship coped with this task perfectly.
In general, only during these tests the rocket launched immediately 15 times, moreover, success was achieved in eight cases, partial success in five. Only two launches ended in complete failure. But far from immediately the Moskit hit the arsenal of the domestic fleet! The rocket for another five years, from 1983 to 1985, underwent various constructive improvements and modernization, until its potential was finally recognized as sufficient.
So, the initial flight range was increased almost six (!) Times, reaching an indicator of 125 kilometers, and its full compatibility with the Wing wing was achieved, which made it possible to ensure reliable protection of almost the entire coast of the USSR provided that this missile was used.
Release, modifications
Its "Progress" complex, located in the Primorsky Territory, has produced and is releasing. The rocket has been repeatedly demonstrated both at the domestic Zhukovsky (MAKS) and at all world arms exhibitions (in Abu Dhabi, for example).
Only in the early 80s, the complex was officially adopted by the destroyers belonging to the "Modern" class, project 956, and in 1984 they began to install advanced missiles with the KT-190 launcher on them. Soon, the aviation "Mosquito" was created. The missile was adopted in the period from 1992 to 1994.
What is it for?
The complex and the missile were created to destroy various categories of enemy surface ships, landing transports, as well as convoy ships and single targets. This also includes hovercraft and water wings, which until then were practically invulnerable to missile weapons due to their high marching speed.
Vessels with a displacement of up to 20, 000 tons are effectively destroyed. Possible target speed is up to 100 knots. A missile can hit an enemy even in conditions of intense fire and radar counteraction of the latter. Complicated weather and climate factors are not an obstacle. The Moskit anti-ship missile itself can be effectively used at an ambient temperature of –25 to +50 degrees Celsius.
Working conditions
Sea waves when using Mosquito can reach six points at once (if the target is small - up to five), and wind speed (its direction does not matter) - up to 20 meters per second. Soviet designers managed to create a rocket that can hit a target even in a nuclear explosion.
What is characterized by an aircraft-based anti-ship missile "Mosquito"? The main characteristics are no different from the naval version. This complex can be equipped with Su-33 (Su-27K) and others, which allow ship-based.
The composition of the complex
Many people assume that the Moskit complex itself has only one installation for launching a rocket, but this is not so. It includes several of their varieties at once: standard anti-ship, supersonic, low-altitude, to hit the target in conditions of intensively working air defense systems, as well as a shell with a "smart" guidance ZM-80. The 3C-80 system, the CT-152M guidance system, are responsible for launch control. If we are talking about coastal defense with a fixed-based complex, then the management of a single complex KNO 3F80 takes over.
Technical features
The rocket belongs to the light class, its layout is created according to the classical aerodynamic scheme. The shape of the bow is lively, the location of the plumage and wings is X-shaped. The wings and plumage are made folding for ease of transportation and fastening in the launch container. Air intakes stand out clearly on the body, and a radiolucent coke is mounted on the front fairing.
Its other characteristics are even more impressive:
- The length of the rocket is from 9.4 to 9.7 meters (depending on version and base).
- Maximum acceleration - up to 2.8 max.
- The minimum firing range is 10 kilometers.
- Starting weight - from 4 to 4.5 tons.
- The weight of the warhead is from 300 to 320 kg.
- Shelf life in the launch container is up to 1.5 years.
- Currently, modernized missiles can hit a target when launched from coastal complexes at a distance of up to 240 kilometers.
In the manufacture of chemically pure titanium, high-grade steel alloys and fiberglass are widely used.
The power plant is combined. There is a starting powder engine that knocks a rocket out of the launch container, as well as a marching air-propelled power plant 3D83. The powder accelerator is located directly in the nozzle of the main engine. It completely burns out in the first three to four seconds, after which its residues are pushed out by a stream of air.
Guidance system
The guidance system is also made according to a combined scheme. Navigation is of inertial type, as well as an active-passive radar guidance head. The highlight is the marching control system, due to which a high probability of hitting the target is ensured even with its active fire counteraction. It should be noted that this indicator ranges from 0.94 to 0.98.
The flight occurs when accelerating in excess of two flights, and the rocket goes along a very complex path. Immediately after the launch, the projectile performs a classic "slide", then there is the sharpest decrease - to a height of 20 meters. When nine kilometers remain to the target, an even sharper decrease occurs, to a height of seven meters, after which the rocket goes literally over the crests of the waves, maneuvering with a snake. During the flight, more complex maneuvers can be performed, and overloads often exceed 10G.
Target defeat
Due to such characteristics, the Mosquito rocket (and Malachite, its predecessor) is a mortal danger for almost any ship of a potential enemy. In combination with other anti-ship means of coastal defense, they reduce to zero the likelihood of a "bloodless" enemy landing.
The defeat of the enemy ship is ensured by the limiting kinetic energy and a powerful explosion inside the ship's hull. One missile will easily let the cruiser sink to the bottom, and 15-17 pieces may well destroy the entire naval group of the enemy. The Mosquito cruise missile is especially good in that it is almost impossible to evade it. Its detection occurs only 3-4 seconds before the fire contact with the target, and therefore the old Soviet development is still respected and afraid of sailors in all military fleets of the world.
Accommodation and current condition
The Moskit missile launcher was massively installed on project 956 destroyers (two quad complexes), project 11556 Admiral Lobov anti-submarine ships, and practically on all project 1241.9 missile boats. It was installed on a pilot project of a small missile ship of project 1239 (hovercraft), on ships of project 1240, as well as on the aforementioned winged aircraft "Lun", for which the rocket had to be seriously modernized.
It is especially valuable that the Moskit rocket, whose characteristics have already been given above, can be used in coastal defense units, as well as in coastal aviation, being mounted on Su-27K (Su-33) aircraft. In this case, one shell is taken on board, which is suspended from the outside of the fuselage between the nacelles.
Range Improvements
Already in 1981, a resolution was issued, according to which it was necessary to significantly improve the marching engine to increase the range of missile use. So the Moskit-M rocket appeared, ten preliminary launches of which were carried out from 1987 to 1989. Soviet engineers managed to increase the range immediately to 153 kilometers, and the modified version was designated 3M-80E.
Currently, the Mosquito rocket, the photo of which is in the article, can be installed on almost all types of Russian destroyers and other warships, including missile boats, and is also exported. It is allowed to mount it (at the request of the customer) on suitable foreign warships for this.
