The Tomahawk cruise missile is the modern hatchet of war. Missile systems "Caliber" and "Tomahawk" The speed of the tomahawk cruise missile

Missile complex "Tomahawk" sea-based includes surface-launched or underwater-launched cruise missiles, launchers, missile fire control system and support equipment.
By the beginning of the 1970s, the Soviet Navy had become the most modern technically and technologically and one of the most powerful navies in the world. New ships of the Soviet Navy: cruisers of the 58th project, destroyers of the 61st project, nuclear submarines of the 675th project, armed with long-range missile systems P-35 (launch range - 350 km), P-15 (85 km) and P -5D (500 km) respectively. The stunning "exterior" of the ships and their powerful missile armament amazed the imagination and aroused the justified envy of NATO naval commanders. Most of the surface ships of their fleets were laid down during the Second World War. NATO surface ships, their diesel and nuclear submarines were armed with artillery systems and torpedo weapons. By that time, such equipment for the naval forces looked like an absolute anachronism. The only exceptions were 41 SSBNs of the US Navy, which had an exclusively formal attachment to the fleet, and single copies modern ships- the nuclear cruiser URO "Long Beach" and the nuclear aircraft carrier "Enterprise".
In 1971, the leadership of the American navy initiated a program to create a strategic cruise missile for nuclear submarines. At the initial stage, two variants of cruise missiles (CR) were considered.
First option. This is a large 55-inch CR for the launchers of the Polaris UGM-27 missiles, which are being withdrawn from service. This option provided for the adoption of a heavy submarine-launched missile with a long range of flight - up to 3000 miles and the placement of missiles on board ten SSBNs of the George Washington and Eten Allen types in Polaris missile launchers. Thus, SSBNs became carriers of strategic SSGN cruise missiles.
Second option. Small KR caliber 21 inches with a range of up to 1500 miles under the 533-mm torpedo tubes of submarines.
In June 1972, the KR variant was chosen for torpedo tubes. At the same time, the program was named SLCM (Sea Launched Cruise Missile) - a sea-based cruise missile. In January, the two most promising projects were selected for participation in competitive tests. The first is from General Dynamics: the UBGM-109A missile, the second from LTV: the UBGM-110A missile. In February 1976, tests of missile models from submarines began from a submerged position. The BGM-109A missile was declared the winner of the competition at the initial stage of testing.
In March of the same year, the naval authorities decide that the SLCM should become the main operational-tactical and strategic weapon of surface ships. In March 1980, the first flight test of the BGM-109A missile took place, the launch was made from the US Navy destroyer Merrill (DD-976). In June of the same year, successful flight tests of the boat version of the rocket took place. This event became a landmark in the history of missile weapons at sea: the world's first launch of a strategic cruise missile was made from a US Navy submarine Guitarro SSN-665. For three years, intensive flight tests of BGM-109A missiles were carried out, more than 100 missile tests were carried out. As a result, in March 1983, a US Navy public relations representative announced: "The missile has reached operational readiness and is recommended for adoption."
Cruise missile "Tomahawk" BGM-109 was created in two main versions: strategic ( modifications A,C,D) - for firing at ground targets and tactical ( modifications B,E) - to destroy surface ships. Their structural design and flight performance are identical. All variants, due to the modular principle of construction, differ from each other only in the head part.
Compound
The cruise missile is made according to the aircraft scheme (monoplane), has a cylindrical body with an ogive nose fairing, a wing that folds and sinks into the body in the central part and a cruciform stabilizer in the tail. The case is made of durable aluminum alloys, graphite-epoxy plastic and radio-transparent materials. To reduce radar visibility, a special coating is applied to the hull, wing and stabilizer.

The warhead of the strategic nuclear missile launcher "Tomahawk" BGM-109A is the W-80 warhead (weight 123kg, length about 1m, diameter 0.27m and power 200kt). Undermining is carried out by a contact fuse. The radius of the destruction zone is 3 km. High firing accuracy and significant power nuclear warhead strategic missile launchers "Tomahawk" BGM-109A allow you to hit heavily protected small targets with high efficiency. According to American experts, the probability of destroying a protected object that can withstand an overpressure of 70 kg / cm2, one Tomahawk missile is 0.85, and Poseidon-SZ SLBM - 0.10.
The BGM-109C strategic non-nuclear missile launcher is equipped with a monoblock (semi-armor-piercing) warhead, and the BGM-109D is equipped with a cluster bomb, which includes up to 166 BLU-97B small-caliber bombs of combined action (each weighing 1.5 kg) in 24 bundles.
The control and guidance system of the Tomahawk BGM-109 A / C / D is a combination of the following subsystems (see diagram):
inertial,
correlation along the terrain contour TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching),
electron-optical correlation DSMAC (Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator).
The inertial control subsystem operates in the initial and middle sections of the rocket flight (weight 11 kg). It includes an onboard computer, an inertial platform and a barometric altimeter. The inertial platform consists of three gyroscopes for measuring the angular deviations of the rocket in the coordinate system and three accelerometers that determine the acceleration of these deviations. The subsystem provides determination of the position of the CD with an accuracy of 0.8 km per 1 hour of flight.
The control and guidance system of strategic missiles with conventional warheads BGM-109C and D includes an electro-optical correlation subsystem DSMAC, which can significantly improve the accuracy of fire (KVO - up to 10m). It uses digital pictures of previously captured areas of the terrain along the route of the RC flight.

To store and launch Tomahawk missiles on submarines, standard torpedo tubes (TA) or special installations vertical launch (UVP) Mk45 (see diagram), and on surface ships, container-type installations Mk143 (see diagram, photo1, photo2) or UVP Mk41. To store the boat version of the rocket, a steel capsule (weight 454 kg) is used, filled with nitrogen under low pressure. This allows you to keep the rocket ready for use for 30 months. The rocket capsule is loaded into the TA or UVP like a regular torpedo.

The principle of operation of TERCOM and DSMAC navigation systems on the Tomahawk cruise ship
Here is how the chief designer of the rocket, Robert Aldridge, the chief engineer of General Dynamics, described his product in the Nation magazine in the article "The Pentagon on the Warpath" dated March 27, 1982: "The strategic version of the rocket is designed to fly at a speed of 0, Mach 7 is the maximum distance possible at an altitude of about 20,000 ft. This is considered a low speed for a missile, but it provides the greatest fuel economy and therefore increases the range. sensor called TERCOM.TERCOM can follow a pre-programmed route with such accuracy, one might say, deadly, that the missile is able to destroy targets, even super-protected and practically inaccessible to more powerful missiles, for example, ICBMs When a missile reaches enemy territory, the guidance system brings it to such a low altitude that it allows it to avoid radar detection, and even if the radar detects the target, the Tomahawk on the screen will look like a seagull (ed. Dave77777 "Seagull" Gas-13). Within 50 miles of the target, the missile descends to a height of only 50 feet while accelerating to Mach 1.2 for the final throw."
The functioning of the missile system is as follows. Upon receiving an order to use missile weapons, the commander announces an alarm and puts the ship on high technical readiness. The pre-launch preparation of the missile system begins, which takes about 20 minutes. On a submarine, when firing from a TA, sea water is fed into the tube of the apparatus and through the holes enters the capsule with the CD. At this moment, a device begins to operate in the rocket, which creates an excess pressure inside its body, approximately equal to the external one, which protects the CR body from deformation. The boat goes to the launch depth (30-60m) and reduces the speed to a few knots. The data necessary for firing are entered into the control and guidance system of the CD. Then the cover of the TA opens, the hydraulic ejection system of the CR is activated, and the rocket is pushed out of the capsule. The latter is ejected from the TA tube some time after the rocket exits. The rocket is connected to the container with a 12m long halyard, when it breaks (after 5 seconds of passing the underwater section of the trajectory), the protection stage is removed and the starting solid propellant rocket engine is switched on. As the water column passes, the pressure inside the CR body decreases to normal (atmospheric), and it emerges from under the water to the surface at an angle of 50°.
When firing from the UVP Mk45, the shaft cover opens, the rocket ejection system is turned on, and the excess pressure created by the gas generator pushes the rocket out of the shaft. When released, it destroys the membrane of the capsule that held back the pressure. sea water, vertically goes to the surface and, after turning, goes to the programmed flight path. After 4-6s after the release of the CR from under the water or with the end of the launch solid propellant rocket launcher, the tail thermal fairing is dropped by pyrotechnic charges and the rocket stabilizer is opened. During this time, the KR reaches a height of 300-400m. Then, on the descending branch of the starting section, about 4 km long, the wing consoles open, the air intake extends, the starting solid propellant rocket is fired at the expense of the pyrobolts, the sustainer engine is turned on, and the cruise missile switches to the specified flight path (60 seconds after the start). The flight altitude of the rocket is reduced to 15-60m, and the speed is up to 885km/h. The control of the missile during its flight over the sea is carried out by the inertial control subsystem, which ensures the launch of the CR to the first correction area (as a rule, it is several kilometers away from the coast). The size of this area depends on the accuracy of determining the location of the launch platform and the error of the inertial control subsystem of the CR, accumulated during the flight of the rocket over the water surface.

Along with equipping ships missile weapons"Tomahawk" The United States is conducting a large-scale program for the development and improvement of sea-based cruise missiles, which provides for:
Increasing the firing range to 3-4 thousand km due to the development of more efficient engines and fuels, reducing the weight and size characteristics. In particular, the replacement of the F-107 turbofan engine with its modification, according to American experts, gives an increase in thrust by 19 percent. and a 3% reduction in fuel consumption. Thanks to the replacement of the existing turbofan engine with a propfan engine in combination with a special gas generator, the flight range will increase by 50% with unchanged weight and size characteristics of the rocket.
improving the accuracy of targeting up to several meters by equipping the CR with the receiving equipment of the NAVSTAR satellite navigation system and a laser locator. It includes an active forward looking infrared sensor and a CO2 laser. The laser locator makes it possible to carry out the selection of fixed targets, navigation support and speed correction.
increase in launch depths of CR with PLA when using a more powerful starting solid propellant rocket motor;
reducing the impact of air defense and missile defense systems in the combat use of cruise missiles. Reduce the impact of air defense systems and increase combat stability The CD is supposed to be due to a decrease in its radar visibility, an increase in the number of flight programs, the possibility of their quick replacement or adjustment during the flight of the rocket. For this purpose, it is planned to use more efficient computers and satellite communications.
Airborne tomahawks
Trying to reduce the cost of the production of CD, General Dynamics upgraded the AGM-109 missile for use from air carriers. The rocket engine has been upgraded. The expensive LN-35 inertial navigation system was replaced by a strapdown integrated navigation system equipped with a set of laser gyroscopes. Air-based made unnecessary the launch booster needed to eject a rocket from under water or a missile silo. Navigation systems were moved to the tail section of the rocket, making room for a modular warhead.
AGM-109H AGM-109H medium-range air-launched cruise missile. This KR with a range of up to 550 km is designed to disable the runways of airfields. The missile is equipped with a cluster warhead containing 28 BLU-106/V small-caliber concrete-piercing ammunition. Such ammunition weighing about 19 kg has a cylindrical body 110.5 cm long and 10 cm in diameter with a cruciform folding tail, which houses the warhead, solid fuel booster and brake parachute. Ammunition is fired in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rocket, sequentially on command from the onboard guidance system. The rate of shooting should be set in accordance with the height and speed of the KR flight in order to cause maximum damage to the concrete runway or shelters for aircraft.
After shooting, the ammunition is slowed down by a parachute and oriented at an angle of about 60 ° relative to earth's surface. The parachute is then dropped and the munition is accelerated towards the target with the help of a solid propellant booster. The warhead containing 3 kg of explosive has an armor-piercing tip. Due to the high kinetic energy, it breaks through the concrete coating of the target, the ammunition penetrates inside it, after which the explosive charge is detonated. The foreign press notes that the BLU-106 / B is very effective when operating both on the runway and on reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft. The B-52G and F-16 were supposed to be the carrier of the AGM-109H missile, although the missile mount is also suitable for other types of US Air Force aircraft.
AGM-109L air-launched medium-range cruise missile. Designed to destroy land and sea targets. The navigation of the missile is distinguished by the presence of an infrared homing head, which is similar to that installed on the AGM 65D Maverick missile. The AGM-109L is equipped with a WDU-18/B high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 222 kg. The carrier of the AGM-109L was to be the A-6E carrier-based attack aircraft.
AGM-109G ground-launched cruise missile. The rocket was structurally made of separate functional modules, including a combined control system, a nuclear warhead, fuel compartments, retractable wings, marching turbofan engine F107-WR-400, tail unit and solid rocket booster. The rocket was placed in a sealed capsule with a breakable protective diaphragm. The capsule was installed on a transport-launcher (TPU) mounted on an automobile semi-trailer and representing an armored container for four missiles. The M818 tractor of the MAN concern was used as a towing vehicle.

Combat use
large-scale military operation "Desert Storm" in 1991 against Iraq. From surface ships and submarines of the US Navy deployed in positions in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as in the Persian Gulf, 288 Tomahawk missile launches were performed, of which 261 were TLAM-C missiles, 27 were TLAM-D missiles. 85 percent of them reached their goals. In the last decade, the Tomahawk missile has become the main means of bombing and assault strikes in all major operations conducted by the US Armed Forces: "Desert Fox" (Iraq, December 1998), "Allied Force" (Serbia, April-May 1999), " Unbending Freedom" (Afghanistan, October 2001), "Freedom to Iraq" (Iraq, March-April 2003). More than 2,000 sea- and air-launched Tomahawk missiles have been expended during these operations.
RGM / UGM-109E Tac Tom Block 4 (tactical "Tomahawk") - this modification of the rocket - in 1998 was offered to the fleet by Raytheon as a cheap replacement for the previous generation of missiles. main goal The Tac Tom program had a rocket that would cost significantly less to manufacture (about half) than the modern TLAM-C / D Block 3. The rocket body, including aerodynamic surfaces, is almost entirely made of carbon fiber materials. Reduced the number of stabilizer feathers from four to three. The rocket is powered by a cheaper Williams F415-WR-400/402 turbofan engine. The disadvantage of the new rocket is the impossibility of firing a rocket through a torpedo tube, only from special vertical launchers Mk 45 PL. The guidance system has new capabilities for identifying targets and retargeting in flight. The missile can be re-programmed in flight via UHF satellite for up to 15 pre-defined additional targets. There is a technical possibility for the missile to barrage in the area of the intended target for 3.5 hours at a distance of 400 km from the launch point until it receives a command to hit the target, or use the missile as a UAV for additional reconnaissance of an already hit target. The total order of the Navy for a new missile in the period from 2003 to 2008 amounted to 1353 units. The Tactical Tomahawk Block 4 SLCM began to enter service with the US Navy in 2004. A total of 2,200 SLCMs of this type are planned to be purchased.

CHARACTERISTICS

Firing range, km
BGM-109A when launched from a surface ship	2500
BGM-109C/D when launched from a surface ship	1250
BGM-109C/D when launched from a submarine	900
Maximum flight speed, km/h	1200
Average flight speed, km/h	885
Rocket length, m	6.25
Rocket body diameter, m	0.53
Wingspan, m	2.62
Starting weight, kg
BGM-109A	1450
BGM-109С/D	1500
Warhead
BGM-109A	nuclear
BGM-109С	semi-armor-piercing - 120kg
BGM-109D	cassette - 120kg
F-107 sustainer engine
Fuel	RJ-4
Fuel mass, kg	550
Dry engine weight, kg	64
Thrust, kg	272
Length, mm	940
Diameter, mm	305

Sources

They will rain fire from heaven. Like a gust of "divine wind", sweeping away enemy battalions from the face of the Earth. Winged suicide robots. They are braver than the most daring kamikaze and ruthless than the most fierce SS Sonderkommandos.

Not a single muscle trembles in the face of death. Machines are not afraid to kill and die. They are already dead to begin with. And, if necessary, they will vanish without hesitation in a blinding flash when they collide with the target.

In the meantime ... the rocket rushes through the darkness of the night to the place of its death.
An hour ago, she left the cozy cell on board the submarine and, breaking through the layer cold water, jumped to the surface. The booster flames roared, lifting the Tomahawk to a height of 1,000 feet. There, on the descending branch of the launch site, the engine air intake extended, short wings and tail plumage opened: the combat robot rushed after the head of its victim. Now nothing will save the unfortunate ones, whose photographs are embedded in the memory of the flying killer...

Myth #1. The Tomahawk is everything.

Nikita Sergeevich, are you still here?!

Missile euphoria does not leave the minds and hearts: the impressive capabilities of the Ax gave rise to the belief that the use of cruise missiles alone can bring victory in any war.

Why risk an expensive plane and the priceless life of a pilot? These endless training and advanced training of flight personnel. Airfields, fuel, ground staff…
Why such difficulties and unjustified risk, if you can drive a squadron of submarines and bombard the enemy with thousands of flying suicide robots? The flight range of the "Ax" in the "conventional" version - 1200 ... 1600 km - allows you to complete the task without entering the enemy army's zone of destruction. Simple, effective and safe.

12 launchers in the bow of the Los Angeles-class submarine

The mass of the missile warhead is 340 kg. There are a dozen different types of warheads for various types of targets: cluster, armor-piercing, semi-armor-piercing, “ordinary” high-explosive warheads ... Several attack algorithms: from level flight, from a dive, with detonation during a horizontal flight over the target. All this allows you to perform almost any task on enemy territory.

Eliminate the selected target, destroy any object of military or civilian infrastructure. Break the runway of the airfield, set fire to the hangar with military equipment, knock down a radio tower, blow up a power plant, break through several meters of earth and concrete - and destroy a protected command post.

Continuous work is underway to expand the tactical flexibility of using cruise missiles: the latest modification of the RGM / BGM-109E Tactical Tomahawk was equipped with satellite communications and GPS navigation units. New rocket able to barrage in the air, waiting for the right moment to attack. In addition, she received the ability to reprogram in flight and, depending on the situation, attack one of 15 pre-designated targets.

Attack from level flight

The only thing the Tomahawk still can't do is attack moving objects.*

* the possibility of effective destruction of moving targets, incl. ships, was implemented in the Tomahawk modification Block IV Multi-Mode Mission (TMMM), recognized as excessively expensive and never adopted by the US Navy

In addition, there was a modification of the BGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missle (TASM) - an anti-ship version of the Tomahawk with an active radar seeker from the Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Due to the lack of a worthy opponent, TASM was decommissioned about 10 years ago.

Intercept a convoy from (for example, S-300 air defense vehicles on the march) or delay an advancing tank battalion? Modern cruise missiles are powerless on such missions. We'll have to call the aircraft.
Front-line bombers, attack aircraft, attack helicopters, UAVs, in the end - these "birds" still have no equal over the battlefield. High tactical flexibility (up to the complete cancellation of the mission and return to base) and a wide range of ammunition make aviation indispensable in the fight against ground targets.

Nevertheless, the trend is clear: the experience of local wars over the past 20 years has demonstrated a 10-fold increase in the role of sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs). Every year, Tomahawks acquire new skills and "get permission" to perform more and more complex tasks.

The destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) bombards Libya as part of Operation Dawn of the Odyssey (2011)

As practice has shown, SLCMs quite successfully “trample” the victim in stone Age, destroy the air defense system and disorganize the enemy army. Left in the very first hours of the war without radars, air defense systems, airfields, power plants, fuel storage facilities, cell and radio communication towers, command posts and other strategically important objects, the enemy is unable to offer serious resistance. Now you can take it "warm".

In such conditions, super-expensive and complex stealth aircraft and other "raptors" become unnecessary. Bomb bridges and retreating tank columns from an unattainable height? Simple and cheap F-16s can easily cope with such a task.

Myth #2. "Tomahawk" is able to hit the window.

The accuracy of the Tomahawk is the subject of heated debate. During Operation Desert Storm, fragments of American missiles were found even on the territory of Iran - some of the Axes deviated from the course by several hundred kilometers! The result of a programmer's mistake or an accidental failure in the rocket's on-board computer...

But what are the real capabilities of Tomahawks? What is the calculated value of their circular probable deviation (CEP)?

Traditional guidance methods for Tomahawks include:

ANN for flights over terrain with weak radar contrast (for example, over the sea - the water is the same everywhere). Gyroscopes and accelerometers work until the missile arrives in the first correction area over the enemy coast, then guidance is carried out by more high-tech methods.

Reliefometric system Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) - scans the underlying relief and compares the data obtained with radar images stored in the rocket's memory.

The very principle of operation of TERCOM serves as an occasion for many jokes: “While the Yankees are preparing a flight mission, our construction battalion will re-dig up the entire relief!” But seriously speaking, TERCOM is one of the most reliable and effective ways targeting SLCMs. Tomahawk navigates the terrain autonomously: it does not need constant guidance from the satellite or from a remote operator. This increases reliability and eliminates the risk of being deceived by enemy signals.

On the other hand, this imposes a number of restrictions - for example, TERCOM is ineffective when flying over deserts or snow-covered tundra. The terrain should include a maximum of contrasting objects (hills, roads and clearings, railway embankments, settlements). The route is laid in such a way as to avoid open water spaces (lakes, mouths of large rivers, etc.) on the way of the rocket - otherwise, this can lead to critical failures in the rocket's navigation system.

All this creates such a problem for the Yankees as the "predictability" of their missile strikes and, as a result, an increase in losses among the missiles fired. The enemy (if, of course, he has at least a drop of ingenuity) will quickly figure out the main directions of the threat - and put up air defense systems there.

The third way of guidance. The DSMAC optoelectronic system in the final section of the trajectory of the rocket behaves like the legendary Terminator from the action movie by James Cameron: it continuously scans the area with its electronic “eye”, comparing the appearance of the “victim” with a digital photograph embedded in its memory. The future has already arrived!

Finally, the latest modification of the "Ax" received the ability to point according to GPS data. This greatly simplifies the process of preparing for the launch, because. there is no need for complex maps for TERCOM operation (routes and radar images of the terrain are prepared in advance, on the shore - in the flight mission preparation centers at the Norfolk Naval Base and Camp Smith).

In the case of operating in the GPS navigation mode, the ship's crew can independently "drive" the coordinates into the missile's memory, without any specific description of the target - then the missile will do everything by itself, simply exploding near the specified place. Reduced accuracy, but increased efficiency. Now SLCMs can be used as a means of fire support and work on emergency calls to Marines.

In polygon conditions, in the presence of high-quality images of the "target", the value of the circular probable deviation of the "Tomahawk" is indicated within 5 ... 15 meters. And this is with a launch range of 1000 or more kilometers! Impressive.

Myth #3. The Tomahawk is easy to shoot down.

Well, do it! Does not work?...

The security of the "Ax" is ensured by its secrecy. The extremely low flight altitude - only a few tens of meters - makes it invisible to ground-based radars. The radio horizon in this case does not exceed 20-30 km, and if we take into account natural obstacles (hills, buildings, trees), the detection of a low-flying missile, which cleverly hides in the folds of the relief, seems to be a very doubtful event.

boat for special operations based on the USS Ohio. Total at 22 missile silos the ship fits 154 "Tomahawks" + 2 mines are used as lock chambers for combat swimmers

To detect, take on escort and hit such a "difficult target" from the ground - this requires a lot of luck and, preferably, knowledge of the most likely routes for approaching "Tomahawks". Accident, nothing more. There is no need to talk about any effective counteraction to flocks of SLCMs.

No less difficult is the interception of the "Ax" with the help of air means- the small size and EPR of the rocket make the "hunt for Tomahawks" an extremely difficult undertaking.

Dimensions SLCM "Tomahawk": length - 5.6 m, wingspan - 2.6 m.
For comparison - the dimensions of the Su-27 fighter: length - 22 meters, wingspan - 14.7 meters.

The "ax" has a smooth, streamlined shape, without any radio-contrast details and suspension elements. The Yankees hint at the use of radio-absorbing coatings and radio-transparent materials in its design. Even without taking into account the elements of stealth technology, the effective dispersion area of the Tomahawk missile does not exceed 1 sq. meters - too small to detect it from a distance. Finally, the search for a flying missile is carried out against the background of the earth, which introduces additional difficulties into the operation of fighter radars.

Official data on the MiG-31 interceptor confirm the following: from a height of 6000 meters, target capture with an EPR of 1 square. meter flying at a height of 60 meters is produced at a distance of 20 km.
Considering that only one SSGN on the Ohio platform is capable of launching up to 154 SLCMs, the required number of fighters to repel an attack will exceed the capabilities of the air forces of any of the countries against which the Yankees are going to fight.

The wreckage of the downed Tomahawk at the Belgrade Aviation Museum

In practice, the situation looked like this: during the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia, the US and British navies fired about 700 Tomahawks at targets on the territory of the FRY. Official Serbian sources give figures of 40 ... 45 SLCMs shot down, NATO representatives do not agree and give even lower numbers. In general, the situation is sad: the Serbian military barely managed to shoot down 5% of the missiles fired at them.
It is noteworthy that one of the "Axes" was shot down by a Serbian MiG-21 - the pilot made visual contact with him, approached and shot the robot from the onboard gun.

Myth number 4. "Tomahawks" are suitable only for war with the Papuans.

The cost of the Tomahawk missile, depending on its modification and type of warhead, can reach $2 million. To release 500 of these "things" means to ruin the US budget by 1 billion green banknotes.
Flight range 1200 ... 1600 km. Warhead 340 kg. Combined guidance system - relief metric TERCOM, DSMAC, satellite communication and navigation systems. Starting weight within one and a half tons. Carriers - destroyers and nuclear submarines.

No, gentlemen. Such a destructive and expensive weapon was not created to exterminate the unfortunate inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. Tomahawk should be used wisely; just throwing two million rockets across the desert is an unheard of extravagance even for wealthy Yankees.

Launch of the Tomahawk SLCM from the nuclear-powered cruiser USS Mississippi (CGN-40), Operation Desert Storm, 1991. The missile is launched from an armored launcher Mk.143 Armored Launch Box

You don't need to have seven spans in your forehead to determine the purpose of cruise missiles - a deafening blow to the military and civilian infrastructure of an enemy that has some military potential: Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yugoslavia ... Against those who are able to snap back and put up resistance.

In these cases, the Yankees take out their "insurance policy" from their sleeves - a flock of flying killers that will "clear" the corridors in the country's air defense system, disorganize the enemy army and allow NATO aircraft to seize air supremacy. The cruise missile "Tomahawk" is not subject to any treaties and conventions on the limitation of weapons - which means that you can not be shy and launch "Axes" left and right without any remorse.

As for the usual Basmachi with Berdanks, the Yankees smear them with 105 mm howitzers installed in the openings on the sides of the AS-130 gunships. Tomahawk missiles and other high-tech are useless there.

Myth number 5. "Tomahawks" are a danger to Russia

Russia, along with India and China, is one of the few countries that can ignore the US Navy and its saber-rattling. The Tomahawk is a purely tactical weapon for local wars. With Russia, such a chip will not work - the Russian General Staff will not understand American jokes, and the matter may end in a terrible thermonuclear massacre.

Even in theory, in the presence of a ratified agreement with the United States on the mutual renunciation of the use of nuclear weapons, naval cruise missiles are ineffective against purely continental Russia- all industrial centers, arsenals and strategically important facilities are located a thousand kilometers from the coast, at the limit of the flight range of the Tomahawks.

As for the possible equipping of the Axes with thermonuclear warheads, this threat would make sense only in the absence of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the event of a war with the use of Trident-2, a belated strike by cruise missiles (the flying time of the Tomahawks will be calculated in many hours) will no longer matter.

The economical Yankees were well aware of the futility of the Ax as a carrier of nuclear weapons, so they sent all their nuclear SLCMs for scrapping 20 years ago.

The number of nuclear charges in service with the US Armed Forces. Thick line - strategic warheads for ICBMs. Thin line - "tactical" nuclear weapon, incl. "Tomahawks" with SBC

Launch of "Tomahawk" from the bow launcher of destroyer USS Farragut (DDG-99)

Rockets "Caliber" and "Tomahawk" are capable of hitting surface and ground targets at a great distance, breaking through the enemy's air defenses. The Tomahawk and Caliber systems belong to the same class of missile weapons, which makes it possible to directly compare them.

In October 2015, ships of the Russian navy For the first time, the Caliber cruise missiles were used in a real combat operation. This attack on the facilities of illegal armed groups in Syria caused a real sensation, and also showed that Russia now has missile systems with the highest performance. A few days ago, the United States reminded of its missile potential by attacking the Syrian Shayrat air base using Tomahawk cruise missiles. It is quite natural that specialists and amateurs of military affairs are again trying to compare Russian and american weapons and draw certain conclusions.

Latest Facts combat use cruise missiles of Russian and American production clearly show that the weapons of the two countries have certain common features. Both missiles are capable of hitting surface and ground targets at a great distance and delivering combat units of relatively high power to the specified object. There is also reason to believe that both missile systems have a certain potential for a breakthrough air defense enemy. In general, the Tomahawk and Caliber systems belong to the same class of missile weapons, which makes it possible to directly compare them.

It should be noted that the difference in the age of the considered samples can affect the comparison results in a certain way. The missiles of the Tomahawk family were adopted by the United States in the early eighties, while the operation of the Russian Kalibr missiles began only a few years ago. However, it should not be forgotten that over the past decades, American weapons have been repeatedly upgraded with new capabilities and improved basic characteristics. In addition, the Tomahawk and Caliber products are currently the main weapons of their class in the armed forces of the two countries. Therefore, comparing two missiles is unlikely to face the problem of their belonging to different generations.

Both missiles under consideration have a mass common features. So, they are intended for use by surface ships and submarines. The purpose of such weapons is to deliver combat units to enemy targets located at tactical strategic depth. These capabilities can be used both to destroy certain important objects, and to suppress existing air defenses before attack aircraft enter the battle.

Tomahawk missiles

As part of the Tomahawk family, the American military industry created several missiles for various purposes with different characteristics. To date, several types of missiles remain in the arsenals of the US Navy. For attacking ground targets, products of modifications BGM-109C / UGM-109C and BGM-109D / UGM-109D are offered, both basic versions and upgraded ones. Such missiles can be used by both surface ships and submarines.

The Tomahawk product is a 6.25 m long cruise missile with a folding wing span of 2.6 m. The starting weight, depending on the modification, reaches 1.5 tons. The missile is equipped with a sustainer turbojet engine. A solid-propellant starting engine is also used, which is necessary for passing the starting section of the trajectory. Depending on the modification, the missile is equipped with an inertial, satellite or radar homing system. The missile carries a high-explosive or cluster warhead weighing 120 kg. Previously, “sea” missiles with a special warhead were in service, but, according to reports, such equipment was abandoned several years ago.

Ship modification "Tomahawk" can be used with several types of launchers. The missile is stored and launched using the Mk 143 installation with four transport and launch containers or using the Mk 41 universal vertical launcher, each cell of which accepts one missile. Submarines can use such weapons using standard 533 mm torpedo tubes or separate vertical launchers such as Mk 45.

Techniques for firing missiles of different modifications by different carriers are slightly different, but general principles are similar. After programming the guidance systems, the missile is ejected from the launcher, then the starting engine performs the initial acceleration of the product and brings it to the required trajectory. Then the rocket drops all unnecessary elements and turns on the main engine.

According to reports, the latest naval modifications of the Tomahawk missile have a range of up to 1700 km. Missiles of some previous versions could deliver a warhead at a distance of up to 2500 km. The flight speed reaches 890-900 km/h. An important feature of the latest weapon modifications is the ability to barrage in a given area and aim at another target after launch. Such functions to a certain extent increase the combat potential and flexibility of the use of missiles.

Tomahawk cruise missiles have been in service since the eighties, and over the past decades have become essential element American arsenals. According to available data, more than 4,000 such missiles have been manufactured and delivered to the armed forces so far. About half of the products were used during exercises or real combat operations. From this point of view, the rockets of the family hold an absolute record in their class, which is unlikely to ever be broken.

For the first time, Tomahawks were used outside the range in 1991, during the Gulf War. In total, the US Navy used 288 of these missiles (276 were fired by ships and 12 by submarines). Most of the products flew to their targets, but some of the missiles were lost for technical reasons or shot down by enemy air defenses. In two operations in 1993, the US Navy again attacked Iraqi targets, using nearly seven dozen missiles. In 1995, the first launch of the Tomahawk took place against targets in Yugoslavia.

Subsequently, cruise missiles were used by ships, submarines and aircraft to destroy targets in Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, etc. Last on this moment the rocket attack was carried out on 6 April. Two American ships sent 59 missiles to the Syrian air base. As it soon became known, only 23 missiles reached their targets. The rest, according to various sources, either fell into the sea before reaching the coast of Syria, or were shot down by anti-aircraft systems.

Recent official reports indicate that the Pentagon intends to continue the development and modernization of the Tomahawk family of cruise missiles. These weapons, being updated and getting new features, will remain in service for a long time. There are no specific plans to replace such missiles with newer models yet.

Missiles "Caliber"

Work on the creation of a promising missile system, which resulted in the appearance of the Caliber family, started back in the mid-seventies. Over the next few years, the requirements for the complex changed, and in addition, some economic and political factors affected the course of development. The final appearance of the new complex was formed only in the early nineties, and soon the models of the new missiles were shown to the general public.

The following years passed without much success, since the Russian industry simply did not have the opportunity to fully develop existing projects. The situation changed only in the 2000s, when the design of new systems was completed and it became possible to start testing. By the end of the decade, the development of a number of missiles for various purposes and complexes designed for their use was completed. Subsequently, complexes and missiles of new types were included in the armament of new ships and submarines. For surface ships, the Caliber-NK complex with the 3S14 launcher is intended, for submarines - Caliber-PL, which uses standard torpedo tubes.

To attack ground targets in the complexes of the Caliber family, 3M-14 cruise missiles are used. Such a rocket has a length of 6.2 m and a folding wing. With the wing folded, the maximum diameter of the product is 533 mm, which allows it to be used with standard torpedo tubes. The rocket is equipped with a sustainer turbojet engine and a solid-propellant launcher. According to reports, a homing system is used, which includes inertial and satellite navigation equipment. The target is hit using a high-explosive warhead weighing up to 400 kg.

Until a certain time flight characteristics missiles "Caliber" remained unknown. Promotional materials for this project indicated maximum range at the level of 300 km, however, such numbers were directly related to existing export restrictions. The actual firing range remained a mystery. In the fall of 2015, Russian ships from the Caspian Flotilla launched a large number of missiles at targets in Syria. To achieve these goals, the missiles had to cover about 1500 km. Soon there were assumptions about a higher flight range, up to 2-2.5 thousand km. For obvious reasons, officials refrain from commenting on this topic.

Video recordings made by Russian drones in the course of monitoring the results of the use of missile weapons showed the high accuracy of the Kalibr complex. In most cases, the missile detonates the warhead either upon impact with the intended target, or with minimal deviation from it. In combination with a large warhead mass, this makes it possible to increase the efficiency of target destruction.

Almost all the latest surface ships and submarines of the Russian fleet have become carriers of the Caliber missiles. Thus, Project 22350 frigates are equipped with two launchers with eight missile cells on each. Project 11356 frigates, the Dagestan patrol boat (project 11661), project 20385 corvettes and project 21631 small missile ships each carry one installation. According to some information, in the near future, upgraded nuclear cruisers of project 1144 will receive such weapons. The Caliber-PL complex is used on diesel-electric submarines of project 636.3 Varshavyanka and 885 Ash. It was reported about the possibility of upgrading submarines of other projects with the replacement of existing weapons with new "Caliber".

The Caliber-NK missile system was first used on October 7, 2015. Four ships of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy used 26 missiles and destroyed 11 terrorist targets in Syria. In December of the same year, a similar combat mission decided the submarine B-237 "Rostov-on-Don", from the water area mediterranean sea hitting a ground target. Subsequently, ships and submarines of the Russian fleet repeatedly used strike missile weapons to destroy various enemy targets. To date, at least 40-50 cruise missiles have been used, hitting several dozen targets. In foreign funds mass media there have been repeated reports of missiles falling along the route, but exact information on this subject, including the number of failed products, is not available.

The problem of comparing "Caliber" and "Tomahawk"

Evaluating the effectiveness and comparing two samples of modern missile weapons is a rather difficult task. The real indicators of the combat operation of missile systems are affected by many different factors, which makes it difficult to assess them. Nevertheless, the available information still allows us to draw a general picture and draw some conclusions.

In the case of the Tomahawk family of missiles, the assessment is facilitated by the fact that over the past decades, the US Navy has managed to take part in several combat operations and use up a huge amount of weapons. Wherein fighting were fought in different regions and against enemies with different technical capabilities. For example, on September 23, 2014, 47 cruise missiles were sent to targets near Syrian Raqqa and other cities captured by terrorists. Not having modern systems air defense, the terrorists were unable to intercept the missiles and lost a significant number of their facilities. The rocket attack carried out on October 13, 2016 ended in a similar way. Five missiles aimed at the radar of the Yemeni Houthis successfully reached their targets.

As you know, cruise missiles belong to the category of aerodynamic targets and therefore are included in the range of tasks anti-aircraft systems, which were available to some opponents of the United States. According to various sources, during the Gulf War, out of 288 launched missiles, the Iraqi military managed to intercept and destroy up to three dozen. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the United States used more than eight hundred Tomahawk missiles, some of which also failed to reach their targets due to unsuppressed air defenses. Earlier, during the fighting in Yugoslavia, out of more than 200 missiles, up to 30-40 were shot down.

The reasons for such results of the use of guided missile weapons are simple and understandable. The available flight data and flight profile, despite the low altitude and the associated difficulties for air defense, cannot be guaranteed to protect the Tomahawk missile from anti-aircraft systems enemy. As the Iraqi and Yugoslav experience shows, even obsolete anti-aircraft systems are quite capable of intercepting strike weapons and making it difficult to strike at key targets.

However, in the event of a developed air defense, the United States has appropriate methods. In the case of the use of Tomahawks, reconnoitered air defense objects become the first targets of missiles. To increase the chances of destroying the intended targets, massive strikes are used, the complete reflection of which is simply impossible due to disabilities anti-aircraft complexes. Such a tactic leads to a large consumption of ammunition, but allows you to quickly disable the enemy's defenses, opening the way for strike aircraft.

The newer Caliber missiles cannot yet boast such a long combat career and unique quantitative indicators of use. At the moment, such weapons have participated in only one operation, during which only a few dozen products have been used up. The specifics of the current conflict in Syria leads to certain consequences, which to some extent make it difficult to determine the real capabilities of the complex.

Terrorist groups operating on Syrian territory do not have a serious air defense, which is why the Russian "Caliber" simply has nothing to break through. As a result, cruise missiles can pass almost unhindered to the target and destroy it. The only serious problem in this situation is possible technical problems. Earlier it was reported that already in the first salvo on October 7, 2015, several missiles failed to reach their targets, but detailed information about the fall of the weapon was not published. Apparently, if such incidents took place, then only a few times. Moreover, according to reports Russian ministry defense, even the loss of several missiles could not prevent the fulfillment of the assigned tasks and the destruction of the intended targets.

Comparing modern Russian and American cruise missiles, one should take into account the important consequences of their existence and use. Until recently, only the United States and the United Kingdom could send warships to the shores of the enemy and deliver a massive strike with Tomahawk missiles. Big number missiles and sufficiently high performance gave a high probability of successfully hitting all intended targets. Now similar weapons also appeared in Russia. Missiles with a range of up to 1500 km and a significant number of their carriers, capable of reaching almost anywhere in the world's oceans, is a serious signal for a potential adversary.

Thus, the main conclusion from the current situation is not related to the technical characteristics, the number of missiles, or the likelihood of a missile defense breakthrough. Thanks to the appearance and adoption of missiles of the Caliber family, a new power capable of influencing the situation in certain regions. There is every reason to believe that in terms of the number of deployed missiles and their carriers, the Russian complex will never be able to catch up with the American Tomahawk, but even in such a situation, cruise missiles will be a serious tool that can influence the military-political situation.

In October 2015, ships of the Russian navy used Kalibr cruise missiles in a real combat operation for the first time. This attack on the facilities of illegal armed groups in Syria caused a real sensation, and also showed that Russia now has missile systems with the highest performance. A few days ago, the United States reminded of its missile potential by attacking the Syrian Shayrat air base using Tomahawk cruise missiles. It is quite natural that experts and amateurs of military affairs are again trying to compare Russian and American, as well as draw certain conclusions.

The latest facts of the combat use of Russian and American-made cruise missiles clearly show that the weapons of the two countries have certain common features. Both missiles are capable of hitting surface and ground targets at a great distance and delivering combat units of relatively high power to the specified object. There is also reason to believe that both missile systems have a certain potential in breaking through the enemy's air defense. In general, the Tomahawk and Caliber systems belong to the same class of missile weapons, which makes it possible to directly compare them.

Tomahawk rocket launch. US Navy Photos

Both considered missiles have a lot in common. So, they are intended for use by surface ships and submarines. The purpose of such weapons is to deliver combat units to enemy targets located at tactical strategic depth. These capabilities can be used both to destroy certain important objects, and to suppress existing air defenses before attack aircraft enter the battle.

Tomahawk missiles

Rocket "Tomahawk" last modification in flight. US Navy Photos

Techniques for firing missiles of different modifications by different carriers are slightly different, but the general principles are similar. After programming the guidance systems, the missile is ejected from the launcher, then the starting engine performs the initial acceleration of the product and brings it to the required trajectory. Then the rocket drops all unnecessary elements and turns on the main engine.

Tomahawk cruise missiles have been in service since the 1980s, and over the past decades have become an essential element of the American arsenal. According to available data, more than 4,000 such missiles have been manufactured and delivered to the armed forces so far. About half of the products were used during exercises or real combat operations. From this point of view, the rockets of the family hold an absolute record in their class, which is unlikely to ever be broken.

Subsequently, cruise missiles were used by ships, submarines and aircraft to destroy targets in Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Afghanistan, etc. The last rocket attack to date was carried out on 6 April. Two American ships sent 59 missiles to the Syrian air base. As it soon became known, only 23 missiles reached their targets. The rest, according to various sources, either fell into the sea before reaching the coast of Syria, or were shot down by anti-aircraft systems.

Exhibition model of the 3M-14 rocket. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

Missiles "Caliber"

The Grad Sviyazhsk ship uses the Caliber-NK missile system. Photo Defendingrussia.ru

Until a certain time, the flight characteristics of the Caliber missiles remained unknown. The promotional materials for this project indicated a maximum range of 300 km, but such numbers were directly related to existing export restrictions. The actual firing range remained a mystery. In the fall of 2015, Russian ships from the Caspian Flotilla launched a large number of missiles at targets in Syria. To achieve these goals, the missiles had to cover about 1500 km. Soon there were assumptions about a higher flight range, up to 2-2.5 thousand km. For obvious reasons, officials refrain from commenting on this topic.

The Caliber-NK missile system was first used on October 7, 2015. Four ships of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy used 26 missiles and destroyed 11 terrorist targets in Syria. In December of the same year, the B-237 Rostov-on-Don submarine solved a similar combat mission, hitting a ground target from the Mediterranean Sea. Subsequently, ships and submarines of the Russian fleet repeatedly used strike missile weapons to destroy various enemy targets. To date, at least 40-50 cruise missiles have been used, hitting several dozen targets. There have been numerous reports in the foreign media about missiles falling while following the route, but there is no exact information on this, including the number of failed products.

Comparison problem

Ships of the Caspian Flotilla launch cruise missiles, November 2015. Photo by the RF Ministry of Defense

In the case of the Tomahawk family of missiles, the assessment is facilitated by the fact that over the past decades, the US Navy has managed to take part in several combat operations and use up a huge amount of weapons. At the same time, military operations were conducted in different regions and against enemies with different technical capabilities. For example, on September 23, 2014, 47 cruise missiles were sent to targets near Syrian Raqqa and other cities captured by terrorists. Lacking modern air defense systems, the terrorists were unable to intercept the missiles and lost a significant number of their facilities. The rocket attack carried out on October 13, 2016 ended in a similar way. Five missiles aimed at the Yemeni Houthi radar successfully reached their targets.

As you know, cruise missiles belong to the category of aerodynamic targets and therefore are included in the range of tasks of anti-aircraft systems that some US adversaries had. According to various sources, during the Gulf War, out of 288 launched missiles, the Iraqi military managed to intercept and destroy up to three dozen. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the United States used more than eight hundred Tomahawk missiles, some of which also failed to reach their targets due to unsuppressed air defenses. Earlier, during the fighting in Yugoslavia, out of more than 200 missiles, up to 30-40 were shot down.

The reasons for such results of the use of guided missile weapons are simple and understandable. The available flight data and flight profile, despite the low altitude and the associated difficulties for air defense, cannot be guaranteed to protect the Tomahawk missile from enemy anti-aircraft systems. As the Iraqi and Yugoslav experience shows, even obsolete anti-aircraft systems are quite capable of intercepting strike weapons and making it difficult to strike at key targets.

However, in the event of a developed air defense, the United States has appropriate methods. In the case of the use of Tomahawks, reconnoitered air defense objects become the first targets of missiles. To increase the chances of destroying the intended targets, massive strikes are used, the complete reflection of which is simply impossible due to the limited capabilities of anti-aircraft systems. Such a tactic leads to a large consumption of ammunition, but allows you to quickly disable the enemy's defenses, opening the way for strike aircraft.

Launch of Caliber missiles from the Rostov-on-Don submarine, December 2015. Photo by the RF Ministry of Defense

Terrorist groups operating on Syrian territory do not have a serious air defense, which is why the Russian "Caliber" simply has nothing to break through. As a result, cruise missiles can pass almost unhindered to the target and destroy it. The only serious problem in this situation is possible technical problems. Earlier it was reported that already in the first salvo on October 7, 2015, several missiles failed to reach their targets, but detailed information about the fall of the weapon was not published. Apparently, if such incidents took place, then only a few times. Moreover, as follows from the reports of the Russian Ministry of Defense, even the loss of several missiles could not prevent the fulfillment of the tasks set and the destruction of the intended targets.

Comparing modern Russian and American cruise missiles, one should take into account the important consequences of their existence and use. Until recently, only the United States and Great Britain could send warships to the shores of the enemy and launch a massive strike with Tomahawk missiles. A large number of missiles and sufficiently high performance gave a high probability of successfully hitting all intended targets. Now Russia has a similar weapon. Missiles with a range of up to 1500 km and a significant number of their carriers, capable of reaching almost anywhere in the world's oceans, is a serious signal for a potential adversary.

Thus, the main conclusion from the current situation is not related to the technical characteristics, the number of missiles, or the likelihood of a missile defense breakthrough. Thanks to the appearance and adoption of the Kalibr family of missiles, a new force appeared in the World Ocean, capable of influencing the situation in certain regions. There is every reason to believe that in terms of the number of deployed missiles and their carriers, the Russian complex will never be able to catch up with the American Tomahawk, but even in such a situation, cruise missiles will be a serious tool that can influence the military-political situation.

According to the websites:
http://ria.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://interfax.ru/
http://bbc.com/
http://defense-update.com/
http://navy.mil/
http://globalsecurity.org/
https://defendingrussia.ru/
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/

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