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Expert: An anti-satellite missile developed in the Russian Federation is more effective than the existing ones in the world

TASS

OCT 26, 08:54

Chief Editor of Arsenal of Fatherland Magazine Viktor Murakhovsky described the rocket as part of the MiG-31BM fighter.

MOSCOW, October 26. / Tass /. Anti-satellite missile as part of the MiG-31BM fighter is being developed in Russia. It will be the most effective of the existing in the world, told TASS chief editor of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky.

Earlier in the media there was information that US intelligence identified tests in Russia anti-satellite missiles. According to the Americans, the rocket, seen on the MiG-31 fighter in the Moscow region in September, may be intended to destroy spacecraft in near-earth orbit.

"Now this development work is in full swing, and in the foreseeable future we can expect the equipment of the armed forces. Our system, which is based on the MiG-31 platform, is the most effective. It is much cheaper than ground-based anti-satellite missiles. It allows to solve tasks quickly in a threatened period, "said the expert.

The TASS interviewer wonders why the United States decided to announce the tests of the Russian anti-satellite missile just now. "Why now they decided to declare it, I don't understand. Apparently these are some internal political reasons. Information about these tests in the form of a photo of the MiG-31 fighter with a suspended mass-size anti-satellite missile model appeared quite a long time ago," Murakhovsky.

He noted that other countries are doing similar work. "The US is improving its Aegis system and its missiles, in the latest modifications they can already reach low orbits. Plus, their aerospace aircraft of the Boeing X-37 family can also remove satellites from orbit. And China is doing this, because that they actually destroyed the satellites by direct interception, "said Murakhovsky.

For example, on January 11, 2007, China conducted a successful test of its own anti-satellite weapons. The FY-1C Fengyun meteorological satellite, which is in orbit at an altitude of 865 km, was destroyed by a direct hit by an anti-satellite missile launched from a mobile launcher at the Sichan space center. Interception was carried out on a counter course.

Antisatellite system characteristics
Murakhovsky explained what the developed anti-satellite system is. "This is an anti-satellite rocket suspended on the MiG-31BM fighter that goes into the stratosphere with this rocket and from there has the ability to launch it to destroy satellites in low reference orbits," said Murakhovsky.

According to him, in such orbits there are satellites of remote sensing of the earth, i.e., optical-electronic reconnaissance, radio-electronic reconnaissance satellites and communication satellites. "It is clear that we are not talking about geostationary orbits. It is unlikely that a product of this size can reach such heights," the source stressed.

"It is also clear that it [the rocket] should act in conjunction with the target designation system, which is the space monitoring system of our Aerospace Forces. The fighter cannot accommodate its own radar of such power that will provide not only target designation, but also defeat control ", - explained Murakhovsky.

The predecessors of the "killer satellites"
In the USSR, several concepts were developed for the destruction of spacecraft in orbit. "Of course, it is not a secret that the development of such a system was begun in the Soviet Union, they simply did not end for various reasons," the source confirms.

The first option was to use an interceptor satellite. It was launched into orbit by a launch vehicle, performed an orbital rendezvous maneuver with a target, and hit it with a detonation of a warhead with shrapnel striking elements.

Work was also carried out on a flying combat laser complex based on an IL-76 aircraft, designated as A-60. The whole program was called "Falcon Echelon". Murakhovsky notes that this system could disable the satellite, but not destroy it.

"This is still a laser, I doubt that it is intended for the destruction of satellites. Rather, to dazzle, disabling the means of optical-electronic reconnaissance. Too high energy is required in order to destroy the satellite [laser beam]." - the expert noted.

As for the air launch anti-satellite missiles, such projects were developed both in the USSR and in the USA. The Americans created and tested an anti-satellite air-based system called ASM-135 ASAT. Anti-satellite missile was placed on the aircraft F-15.

The Soviet Union created a special modification of the MiG-31 fighter with the letter D ("Product 07"). An experimental version of the aircraft could carry anti-satellite rocket 79M6 "Contact." Probably, these developments and formed the basis of the current development.

© TASS