One should always be careful about reports in the Russian press (and, I was told, about reports on military matters in Izvestia in particular), but this one may be worth noting - according to Izvestia, Russia appears to be working on elements of an aircraft-based anti-satellite system, which will be tested later this year.
Strictly speaking, the project that is discussed in the paper does not involve an actual anti-satellite component. It appears that at this point it involves only testing communication between the ground-based satellite tracking system, Krona, and an aircraft. However, the idea is that the aircraft could eventually be armed with an interceptor. But it doesn't look like an interceptor is under development today.
Development of the original aircraft-based ASAT system, known as Kontakt, was approved almost 30 years ago, in November 1984 (as a direct response to the U.S. system that was first tested in 1984). The ground-based component was supposed to include the radio-optical Krona (45Zh6) complex as well as a command complex. The interceptor was carried by a modified MiG-31D aircraft (MilitaryRussia.ru has good photos of the radar and the aircraft). A three-stage interceptor was designed to hit targets at altitudes of 120-600 km (and up to 1500 km after the second stage of the project was completed). The system was supposed to attack up to 24 satellites within a 36-hour period (documents also mention 20-40 satellites in 24 hours).
The work on the Kontakt system was suspended around 1989, apparently before it reached the stage of flight tests. However, elements of the Krona complex were deployed at a site near Zelenchukskaya - the 20Zh6 Krona radar and the 30Zh6 LOL "laser optical locator" (prototypes were also deployed at the Sary-Shagan test site). Both facilities are used for space surveillance and can be seen in a table from the SKKP control center that lists space surveillance assets. Here is the relveant part of the original table:
| Station |
Radar |
Range |
Altitudes |
Elevations |
Azimuths |
Inclinations |
| Zelenchukskaya |
Krona |
120-3200 |
120-3200 |
3-90 |
0-360 |
35-145 |
| |
LOL |
120-40000 |
120-40000 |
10-90 |
0-360 |
0-180 |
Krona (and Okno) was described by Allen Thomson some time ago. He also prepared an interesting compilation of sources on the Altay Optical Center.
The book
Comments
According to MiG test pilot Valery Menitsky, Kontakt was test launched several times, but to maintain operational secrecy, there were no interceptions. I.E. the missile would be launched from MiG-31D, home on target and keyed to self-destruct to prevent Americans from discovering the program.
He describes his test flights on MiG-31D in this audio interview (mp3). Quality isn't great, but you can hear most of it.
Thank you. It's very interesting. I'm not sure, though, that the tests got to the stage of homing on a satellite. It's possible, of course, but we need more evidence.
I recall reading that there is another Krona complex under construction at Nakhodka, and a new interceptor to replace the Kontakt is being developed at Fakel. Also Vzglyad says there were 3 Krona complexes built total, one at Сары-Шаган, one in Moscow Region, and another at Stavropolye. That would make the one being built at Nakhodka number 4.
Also one of the stations was supposedly upgraded in the 2009-10 timeframe.
1980 project now resurrected..thats very good..U.S and China ASAT systems are all ground based Aegis and chinese.. only Russia has the a jet fighter (Mig-31) based anti-satellite missile program.. just shows the extent of flexibility and innovative approach of Russian Industry as compared to U.S and China.. Well done..
I'm not sure what is good about it. Replicating a 30-year old technology is hardly a technological achievement. Not to mention that ASAT is not a particularly useful system from a military point of view.
gaurav
Actually, the United States tested a ASAT weapon system that used a F-15 fighter and a modified version of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM. In fact, Raytheon is also working with the Missile Defense Agency to develop the Network Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE), an anti-ballistic missile derived from the AIM-120. I have no idea the status of any of these efforts but suspect little will come of it.
Frank Shuler
USA
Sorry, Pavel, but I'd be very interesting in learning why do you think ASAT is "not a particularly useful system from a military point of view." From my PoV, killing enemy satellites is damn useful when fighting a major war. :)
Best regards.
It's hard to do real damage to a satellite constellation and it's very easy to make a vital constellation robust enough to further complicate an attack.
@gaurav: "only Russia has the a jet fighter (Mig-31) based anti-satellite missile program.. just shows the extent of flexibility and innovative approach of Russian Industry as compared to U.S and China.. Well done.."
Hate to burst your bubble but:
http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/ASAT/F15ASAT.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASM-135_ASAT