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1945 the United States challenged the whole world by creating nuclear weapons.
In summer 1953, the Soviet Union became aware of US tests of a long-range
ballistic missile intended as a primary means to deliver nuclear payloads
to strategic targets. Despite the supposed allied relations between the
two states, it was quite evident at what these missiles would be aimed
in the near future. The air defense systems in service with the Soviet
Armed Forces, as well as those under development, could not fight such
an enemy. A warhead attacking a target is small and approaches at a speed
close to that of a projectile. The potential interceptor would have to
feature high maneuverability, a speed not less than that of the warhead
and could be effective in atmospheric and extra-atmospheric zones.At first the idea of "missile-to-missile" firing seemed unreasonable. However, a group of young scientists, including Ph.D. (Technology) Grigory Vasilyevich Kusinko, General Designer of the AMD system, resolved this problem. Several years passed to conduct research work and prove that it was possible to intercept warheads. The decision of the Council of Ministers, dated August 17, 1956, authorized work on antimissile defense, indicated the date and determined who was to create an experimental AMD system and build an AMD proving ground. By that time the location for a future proving ground had been found and the design was in progress. The proving ground was to be built in an arid stony Betpak-Dala desert, West of Balkhash Lake. The starting point for the first military builders was the small railway station Sary-Shagan. It took years of hard effort to obtain the first practical results. On March 4, 1961 the R-12 ballistic missile fitted with a mockup in the form of a 500-kg steel plate, simulating the standard warhead, was launched from the State proving ground of the Defense Ministry. The target was detected by proving ground radars at a range of 1,500 km and destroyed by a V-1000 antimissile missile, outfitted with a high-explosive-payload. At the same time America was busy creating its own AMD system, Nike-Zeus, designed for the use of nuclear missiles. For the first time this system intercepted a ballistic missile on July 19, 1962. The AMD missile missed the target, although theoretically the latter would have been destroyed if the missile nuclear payload had been exploded. In the USA a ballistic missile warhead was first intercepted and destroyed by a conventional antimissile missile (the requirements for guidance accuracy are more stringent) on June 10, 1984, i.e. 23 years after the Soviet Union. The quantitative and qualitative development of U.S. nuclear forces necessitated the creation of a multichannel AMD system, provided with more advanced active facilities. To design and create such a system, a group of design organizations headed by their general designers was involved: central-computer system - general designer academician Lebedev; early antimissile missiles - general designer Grushin P.D.; launchers - general designer Ivanov I.I.; antimissile guidance radar - general designer Rabinovich S.P.; data transmission system - general designer Lipsman F.P. |
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The SKB-30 design bureau, headed by general designer Kisunko
G.V. coordinated the activity of these organizations, solved general problems,
developed the antimissile missile control system, precise guidance radar,
command transmission station and other components. In 1972, the AMD system passed state tests and was adopted for service. The military might of the USSR had grown then to ensure a balance of strategic offensive forces of the two states. Besides, the growth of the number of ballistic missiles and consequently AMD facilities proved unpromissing. As a result, the US administration was necessitated to sign a Soviet-American AMD Restriction Treaty on May 26, 1972 in Moscow. |
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signed later, each party enjoyed the right to deploy an AMD system only
in one region, restricted to a radius of 150 km. Each party in this case
is permitted to have no more than 100 AMD missiles on launching sites.
Our system is unique, the only operating AMD system in the world. It is part of the nation’s space missile defense incorporated in the Air Defense Forces. The system comprises a control and computing post, multifunctional acquisition and guidance radar (MAGR), launching complexes with antimissile missiles. During peace-time the MAGR stands alert and interfaces with the early-warning radar to continuously monitor space in missile-threat directions. The whole system is like a "transacted pyramid" oriented with respect to the four parts of the world. It is designed to detect warheads and discriminate them from decoys, build their trajectories, carry our target allocation, compute predicted target hitting points and launch time, and guide antimissile missiles. An extremely rapid response is required to detect and destroy ballistic missiles owing to their high flying speed (depending on the range of fire, the ICBM speed on the final leg constitutes 6-7 km/s). Therefore, all information is computed on a real-time basis, i.e. simultaneously (to a second) with current events. This task is accomplished by a powerful computing system, comprising scores of computers. Reliable functioning and the interaction of the system components are ensured by a complex of electronic equipment, highly efficient coolers, ventilators and conditioners, power supplies and other service systems. Major components of the AMD are no doubt missiles designated, according to American sources, Galosh and Gazelle. Both antimissile missiles are silo-launched: the former is designed to intercept targets in the atmosphere and the latter, to destroy targets in the upper atmosphere. The silos are protected reliably from a direct hit and possible acts of terrorism. A diversity of devices monitor continuously all data on the missile status and its environment (humidity, temperature and other parameters) and transmit them to the command post. When the AMD system was developed, a number of complex and unique scientific, technological and production problems concerned with the creation of military equipment were solved. It required advanced known-how and technologies in system engineering, radar and computing equipment, rocket design and construction, perfection of the methodology of complex trials and tests at the system location or on a proving ground, involving the firing of antimissiles at real ballistic targets - prototypes of foreign ballistic missiles. Numerous proving-ground tests and long-term trouble-free operation make the system reliable in the accomplishment of assigned missions. However, it should be borne in mind that the availability of the AMD system lowers the nuclear threat, thereby contributing to strategic stability in the world and national security. It should be noted that ballistic missiles and mass destruction weapons are spreading more and more to "third world" countries. We are not guaranteed against provocative missile launches. The cancellation of flying missions on the USA strategic IBMs is more of a political measure then a military one. Consequently, efforts are being taken to update the AMD system and extend its combat capabilities. There is a certain back-log to use the AMD facilities for conversion purposes. It will be discussed in subsequent publications concerned with the MSD forces. |
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