24.10.2019

Russian combat aircraft with characteristics. Military aviation. Military aviation of the Russian Air Force

MILITARY AVIATION
The history of military aviation can be counted from the first successful flight hot air balloon in France in 1783. The decision of the French government in 1794 to organize an aeronautical service was recognized as the military significance of this flight. It was the world's first aviation military unit. In 1909, the US Army Signal Corps for the first time in history adopted a military aircraft. Like its prototype, the Wright brothers' machine, this craft was powered by a piston engine (located behind the pilot, in front of the pusher propellers). Engine power was 25 kW. The aircraft was also equipped with skis for landing, and its cockpit could accommodate a crew of two. The plane took off from a monorail catapult. His maximum speed was equal to 68 km / h, and the flight duration did not exceed an hour. The cost of manufacturing the aircraft amounted to 25 thousand dollars. Military aviation progressed rapidly on the eve of the First World War. So, in the period 1908-1913, Germany spent 22 million dollars on research and development in the field of aviation, France - approx. 20 million dollars, Russia - 12 million dollars. Over the same period, the United States spent only 430 thousand dollars on military aviation.
World War I (1914-1918). Some of the military aircraft built during these years are quite famous today. The most famous, probably, should be recognized as the French fighter "Spud" with two machine guns and the German single-seat fighter "Fokker". It is known that in just one month of 1918 Fokker fighters destroyed 565 aircraft of the Entente countries. In the UK, a two-seat reconnaissance fighter-bomber "Bristol" was created; British aviation was also armed with a Camel single-seat front-line fighter. The French single-seat fighters Nieuport and Moran are quite well known.

THE MOST FAMOUS German fighter aircraft in World War I was the Fokker. It was equipped with a Mercedes engine with a power of 118 kW and two machine guns with synchronized firing through the propeller.


The period between the First and Second World Wars (1918-1938). During the First World War, special attention was paid to reconnaissance fighters. By the end of the war, several heavy bomber projects were being developed. The best bomber of the 1920s was the Condor, which was produced in several versions. The maximum speed of the "Condor" was 160 km / h, and the range did not exceed 480 km. Aircraft designers were more fortunate with the development of interceptor fighters. The PW-8 Hawk fighter, which appeared in the mid-1920s, could fly at a speed of 286 km / h at altitudes up to 6.7 km and had a range of 540 km. Due to the fact that the fighter-interceptor in those days could make a circular flight of bombers, the leading design bureaus abandoned the design of bombers. They transferred their hopes to low-altitude attack aircraft designed to directly support the ground forces. The first aircraft of this type was the A-3 Falcon, capable of delivering a bomb load of 270 kg over a distance of 1015 km at speeds up to 225 km/h. However, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, new, more powerful and lighter engines were created, and bomber speeds became commensurate with those of the best interceptors. In 1933, the US Army Aviation Administration awarded a contract to develop the B-17 four-engine bomber. In 1935, this aircraft covered a record distance of 3400 km without landing from average speed flight 373 km / h. In the same 1933, the development of an eight-gun fighter-bomber began in the UK. In 1938, Hurricanes, which formed the basis of the RAF, began to leave the production lines, and Spitfires began to be produced a year later. They were widely used in World War II.
World War II (1939-1945). Many other aircraft of the Second World War are well known, such as the British four-engine Lancaster bomber, the Japanese Zero aircraft, the Soviet Yaks and Ils, the German Ju-87 Junkers dive bomber, Messerschmitt fighters and "Focke-Wulf", as well as American B-17 ("Flying Fortress"), B-24 "Liberator", A-26 "Invader", B-29 "Super Fortress", F-4U "Corsair", P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. Some of these fighters could fly at altitudes over 12 km; of the bombers, only the B-29 could fly long enough at such a high altitude (thanks to the pressurization of the cockpit). Apart from the jet aircraft that appeared by the end of the war with the Germans (and a little later with the British), the P-51 fighter should be recognized as the fastest: in level flight, its speed reached 784 km / h.


R-47 "THUNDERBOLT" - the famous US fighter during the Second World War. This single-seat aircraft had a 1545 kW engine.


Immediately after the Second World War, the first US jet aircraft, the F-80 Shooting Star fighter, was put into production. The F-84 Thunderjets appeared in 1948, as did the B-36 and B-50 bombers. The B-50 was an improved version of the B-29 bomber; He has increased speed and range. The B-36 bomber, equipped with six piston engines, was the largest in the world and had an intercontinental range (16,000 km). Subsequently, two additional jet engines were installed under each wing of the B-36 to increase speed. The first B-47 Stratojet bombers entered service with the US Air Force in late 1951. This medium jet bomber (with six engines) had the same range as the B-29, but much better aerodynamic characteristics.
War in Korea (1950-1953). B-26 and B-29 bombers were used in combat operations during the Korean War. The F-80, F-84 and F-86 fighters had to compete with the enemy MiG-15 fighters, which had in many respects the best aerodynamic characteristics. The Korean War stimulated the development of military aviation. By 1955, the B-36 bombers were replaced by the huge "stratospheric fortresses" B-52 "Stratofortress", which had 8 jet engines each. In 1956-1957, the first fighters of the F-102, F-104 and F-105 series appeared. The KC-135 jet tanker was designed for in-flight refueling of B-47 and B-52 bombers during their intercontinental operations. The C-54 and other aircraft of the World War II period were replaced by aircraft specially designed for the transport of goods.
Vietnam War (1965-1972). Air duels in the Vietnam War were relatively few in number. Aircraft of various types were used to support the operations of the ground forces - from jet fighters to transport aircraft armed with guns. US Air Force B-52 bombers were used for carpet bombing in the implementation of scorched earth tactics. A huge number of helicopters were used for the transfer of landing units and fire support for ground forces from the air. Helicopters could operate in areas where there were no landing sites. See also HELICOPTER.

US Air Force Aircraft


Tasks. Military aviation is used to perform the following four main tasks: supporting strike forces during strategic operations; protection of troops, strategic facilities and communications from air attack; tactical support from the air of the active ground forces; long-distance transportation of troops and cargo.
Basic types. Bombers.
Improvement of bombers goes along the path of increasing speed, range, payload and flight altitude ceiling. A notable achievement of the late 1950s was the giant B-52H Stratofortress heavy bomber. Its takeoff weight was approx. 227 tons with a combat load of 11.3 tons, a range of 19,000 km, an altitude ceiling of 15,000 m and a speed of 1,050 km / h. It was designed to apply nuclear strikes, but nevertheless found widespread use in the Vietnam War. The 1980s saw a second life for the B-52 due to the advent of cruise missiles that can carry a thermonuclear warhead and can be accurately aimed at a distant target. In the early 1980s, Rockwell International began developing the B-1 bomber to replace the B-52. The first serial copy of the B-1B was built in 1984. 100 of these aircraft were produced, each costing $ 200 million.




SUPERSONIC BOMBER V-1. Variable sweep wings, crew of 10, maximum speed 2335 km/h.
Cargo and transport aircraft. The C-130 Hercules transport aircraft can carry up to 16.5 tons of cargo - field hospital equipment or equipment and materials for other special tasks, such as high-altitude aerial photography, meteorological surveys, search and rescue, in-flight refueling, delivery fuel to forward-based airfields. The C-141A "Starlifter", a high-speed swept-wing aircraft with four turbofan engines, was designed to carry cargo weighing up to 32 tons or 154 fully equipped paratroopers over a distance of 6500 km MILITARY AVIATION at a speed of 800 km / h. The US Air Force C-141B aircraft has a fuselage lengthened by more than 7 m and is equipped with an in-flight refueling system. The largest transport aircraft C-5 "Galaxy" can carry a payload weighing 113.5 tons or 270 paratroopers at a speed of 885 km/h. The range of the C-5 at maximum load is 4830 km.
Fighters. There are several types of fighters: interceptors used by the system air defense to destroy enemy bombers, front-line fighters that can enter into air battle with enemy fighters, as well as tactical fighter-bombers. The most advanced US Air Force interceptor is the F-106A Delta Dart fighter, whose flight speed is twice the speed of sound, M = 2. Its standard armament consists of two nuclear warheads, air-to-air missiles and many shells. The front-line all-weather F-15 Eagle fighter, with the help of a radar installed in the bow, can direct air-to-air Sparrow missiles at the target; for close combat, he has Sidewinder missiles with a thermal homing head. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bomber is also armed with Sidewinders and can win a fight against almost any opponent. To combat ground targets, the F-16 carries bomb cargo and air-to-ground missiles. Unlike the F-4 Phantom it replaced, the F-16 is a single-seat fighter.




SINGLE ALL-WEATHER F-104 "Starfighter" US Air Force front-line fighter.
One of the most advanced front-line fighters is the F-111, which can fly at supersonic speeds at sea level and reach M = 2.5 when flying at high altitudes. The maximum takeoff weight of this all-weather two-seat fighter-bomber is 45 tons. It is equipped with a radar missile control system, a locator that ensures the aircraft follows the terrain, and sophisticated navigation equipment. A distinctive feature of the F-111 is the variable geometry wing, the sweep angle of which can be varied in the range from 20 to 70 °. At low sweep angles, the F-111 has a long cruising range and excellent takeoff and landing characteristics. At large sweep angles, it has excellent aerodynamic characteristics at supersonic flight speeds.
Refueling aircraft. In-flight refueling makes it possible to increase the range of non-stop flights of fighters and bombers. It also excludes the need for intermediate operational air bases in the performance of strategic missions and is limited only by the range and speed of the tanker aircraft. The KC-135A Stratotanker jet tanker has a maximum flight speed of 960 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 10.6 km.



Targets and unmanned aerial vehicles. The flight of the aircraft can be controlled both from the ground and in the air; the pilot can be replaced by an electronic "black box" and specially designed autopilots. Thus, the unmanned version of the QF-102 interceptor fighter is used as a fast-moving target in missile tests and to gain shooting experience. For the same purpose, the QF-102 Firebee unmanned target with jet engines was specially designed, which develops a maximum speed of 925 km / h at an altitude of 15.2 km with an hourly flight duration at this altitude.
Reconnaissance aircraft. Almost all reconnaissance aircraft are modifications of high-speed front-line fighters; they are equipped with a telescopic camera, an infrared receiver, a tracking radar system and other necessary devices. The U-2 is one of the few aircraft specifically designed for reconnaissance missions. It could operate at very high altitudes (about 21 km), well above the ceiling of fighter-interceptors and most ground-to-air missiles of the time. The SR-71 Blackbird aircraft can fly at a speed corresponding to M = 3. Various artificial satellites are also used for reconnaissance purposes.
See MILITARY SPACE; STAR WARS.


US Air Force F-117 "Stealth" ATTACK AIRCRAFT.


Training aircraft. For primary pilot training, a twin-engine T-37 aircraft with a maximum speed of 640 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 12 km is used. To further improve flight skills, the supersonic T-38A "Talon" aircraft with a maximum Mach of 1.2 and an altitude ceiling of 16.7 km is used. The F-5 aircraft, which is a modification of the T-38A, is operated not only in the United States, but also in a number of other countries.
Aircraft to fight the rebels. These are small light aircraft designed for reconnaissance, ground attack and simple support operations. An aircraft of this type should be easy to operate and allow the use of small unprepared areas for takeoff and landing. For reconnaissance tasks, it is necessary that these aircraft have good flight characteristics at low flight speeds and be equipped with equipment for advanced detection of active targets; at the same time, in order to destroy passive ground targets, they must be armed with various guns, bombs and missiles. In addition, such aircraft must be suitable for the transport of passengers, including the wounded, and various equipment. To fight the rebels, the OV-10A "Bronco" aircraft was created - a light (4.5 t) aircraft equipped not only with the necessary weapons, but also with reconnaissance equipment.

U.S. Army Aircraft


Tasks. Ground forces use aircraft to military intelligence and tracking, as flying command posts, as well as for the transportation of military personnel and equipment. Reconnaissance aircraft have a light, fairly simple design and can operate from short, unprepared runways. For larger aircraft command communications in some cases need improved runways. All these aircraft must be of rigid construction and easy to operate. As a rule, it is necessary that the aircraft of the ground forces require a minimum of maintenance and be able to be used in heavily dusty air in battle conditions; it is also necessary that these aircraft have good aerodynamic characteristics at low flight altitudes.
Basic types. Transport helicopters. Rotary-wing aircraft are used to transport soldiers and supplies. The CH-47C Chinook helicopter, equipped with two turbines, has a maximum level flight speed of 290 km/h and can carry a payload weighing 5.4 tons over a distance of 185 km. The CH-54A "Skycrane" helicopter can lift a payload weighing more than 9 tons. See also HELICOPTER.
Attack helicopters. Helicopter "flying guns" created by order of army specialists were widely used during Vietnam War. One of the most advanced can be considered an attack aircraft helicopter AH-64 "Apache", which is effective tool destruction of tanks from the air. Its armament includes a rapid-fire 30mm cannon and Helfire missiles.
Communication aircraft. The army uses both helicopters and planes to maintain communications. A typical example is the U-21A Ut support aircraft, which has a maximum speed of 435 km/h and an altitude ceiling of 7.6 km.
Aircraft surveillance and reconnaissance. Aircraft intended for surveillance should be able to operate from small unprepared areas in the front line. Such devices are used mainly by infantry, artillery and tank units. An example is the OH-6A "Cayus" - a small (weighing approx. 900 kg) observation helicopter with a gas turbine engine, which is designed for two crew members, but can accommodate up to 6 people. The OV-1 Mohawk aircraft, designed for surveillance or reconnaissance, can reach speeds of up to 480 km / h. Various modifications of this aircraft are equipped with a set of reconnaissance equipment, in particular, cameras, side-looking radars and infrared target detection systems in conditions of poor visibility or enemy camouflage. In the future, high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with television cameras and transmitters will be used for reconnaissance. See also OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS; RADAR.
Auxiliary aviation aircraft. Auxiliary aviation vehicles (both helicopters and airplanes) are, as a rule, multi-seat means of transporting military personnel over short distances. They involve the use of fairly flat unprepared sites. The UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter has found the widest use in army operations, which can carry a unit of 11 people with full equipment or a 105-mm howitzer with a calculation of 6 people, as well as 30 boxes of ammunition in one flight. The Black Hawk is also suitable for the transport of casualties or general cargo.

US Navy AIRCRAFT


Tasks. With the exception of the coastal patrol service, naval aviation is always based on aircraft carriers and coastal airfields located in the combat zone. One of its most important tasks is the fight against submarines. At the same time, naval aviation must protect ships, coastal installations and troops from air raids and attacks from the sea. In addition, it must attack sea and land targets when conducting landing operations from the sea. The tasks of naval aviation also include the transportation of goods and people and the conduct of search and rescue operations. When designing aircraft operating from aircraft carriers, the limited space on the ship's deck must be taken into account. The wings of such devices are made "folding"; It also provides for the strengthening of the landing gear and fuselage (this is necessary to compensate for the force impact of the catapult and the brake landing hook of the deck arrester). Basic types.
Stormtroopers. The range of a ship's radar is limited by the horizon line. Therefore, an aircraft flying at low altitude above the sea surface remains practically invisible until the moment when it is close to the target. As a result, when designing an attack aircraft, the main attention should be directed to achieving good tactical performance when flying at low altitudes. An example of such an aircraft is the A-6E "Intruder", which has a speed close to the speed of sound at sea level. It disposes modern system fire control and means of attack. Since 1983, the operation of the F / A-18 Hornet aircraft began, which can be used as both an attack aircraft and a fighter. The F/A-18 replaced the A-9 Corsair subsonic aircraft.
Fighters. If a successful layout of a fighter aircraft is obtained, then various modifications are usually developed on its basis, designed to perform special tasks. These can be fighter-interceptors, reconnaissance aircraft, fighter-bombers and night attack aircraft. Good fighters are always fast. Such a ship-based fighter is the F / A-18 Hornet, which replaced the F-4 Phantom. Like its predecessors, the F / A-18 can also be used as an attack aircraft or reconnaissance aircraft. The fighter is armed with air-to-air missiles.
Patrol aircraft. As patrol aircraft, both seaplanes and conventional aircraft are used. Their main tasks are mining, photographic reconnaissance, as well as the search and detection of submarines. To perform these tasks, the patrol aircraft can be armed with mines, cannons, conventional and depth charges, torpedoes or rockets. The P-3C "Orion" with a crew of 10 has special equipment for detecting and destroying submarines. In search of targets, he can move away from his base for 1600 km, stay in this area for 10 hours, after which he returns to base.
Anti-submarine aircraft. The emergence of nuclear submarines armed with nuclear missiles gave impetus to the development of anti-submarine aviation. It includes seaplanes, aircraft operating from aircraft carriers and land bases, as well as helicopters. The standard ship-based ASW aircraft is the S-3A Viking. It is equipped powerful computer for processing information coming from an onboard radar, an infrared receiver and from sonar buoys dropped from an aircraft on a parachute. The sonobuoy is equipped with a radio transmitter and microphones that are submerged in water. These microphones pick up the noise from the submarine's engine, which is transmitted to the aircraft. Having determined the location of the submarine from these signals, the Viking drops depth charges on it. Helicopters are also involved in anti-submarine operations; they can use sonar buoys or lower sonar equipment on a cable and listen to underwater noises with it.


SH-3 "SEA KING" is an anti-submarine helicopter with a watertight hull that allows landing on the surface of the water (NASA modification is shown in the picture).


Special search aircraft. Aircraft with long range flight are also suitable for performing the task of early warning. They conduct round-the-clock surveillance of the airspace in the controlled area. In solving this problem, they are assisted by aircraft with a shorter flight range and ship-based helicopters. Such a helicopter is the E-2C Hawkeye with a crew of 5 people. Like its predecessor, the E-1B Tracer, this helicopter is equipped with equipment that allows it to detect enemy aircraft. Long-range aircraft operating from coastal bases are also useful in this respect. Such an assistant is the E-3A Sentry aircraft. This modification of the Boeing 707 aircraft with a radar antenna mounted above the fuselage is known as AWACS. Using on-board computers, the aircraft crew can determine the coordinates, speed and direction of movement of any ships and aircraft within a radius of several hundred kilometers. Information is immediately transmitted to aircraft carriers and other ships.



DEVELOPMENT TRENDS


Organization of engineering works. The speed of the first military aircraft did not exceed 68 km/h. Today there are aircraft that can fly at speeds of 3,200 km/h, and in flight tests, some of the experimental aircraft reached speeds of over 6,400 km/h. It is to be expected that airspeeds will increase. In connection with the complication of the design and equipment of aircraft, the organization of work of aircraft designers has radically changed. In the early days of aviation, an engineer could design an airplane alone. Now this is done by a group of firms, each of which specializes in its own field. Their work is coordinated by the general contractor, who received an order for the development of the aircraft as a result of the competition. see also AVIATION AND SPACE INDUSTRY.
Design. During the first half of the 20th century appearance aircraft has undergone significant changes. The biplane with struts and braces gave way to the monoplane; a streamlined landing gear appeared; the cockpit is made closed; the design has become more streamlined. However, further progress was hampered by the overly large relative weight of the piston engine and the use of a propeller that kept the aircraft out of the range of moderate subsonic speeds. With the advent of the jet engine, everything changed. The flight speed surpassed the speed of sound, but the main characteristic of the engine was thrust. The speed of sound is approx. 1220 km / h at sea level and approximately 1060 km / h at altitudes of 10-30 km. Speaking about the presence of a "sound barrier", some designers believed that the plane would never fly. faster speed sound due to structural vibrations, which will inevitably destroy the aircraft. Some of the first jet planes actually broke up as they approached the speed of sound. Fortunately, the results of flight tests and the rapid accumulation of design experience made it possible to eliminate the problems that arose, and the "barrier", which once seemed insurmountable, has lost its meaning today. With proper choice of aircraft layout, it is possible to reduce harmful aerodynamic forces and, in particular, drag in the transition range from subsonic to supersonic speeds. The fuselage of a fighter aircraft is usually designed according to the "area rule" (with a narrowing in the central part where the wing is attached to it). As a result, a smooth flow around the wing-to-fuselage interface is achieved and drag is reduced. On aircraft whose speeds are noticeably higher than the speed of sound, large swept wings and a high aspect ratio fuselage are used.
Hydraulic (booster) control. At supersonic flight speeds, the force acting on the aerodynamic control becomes so great that the pilot simply cannot change its position on his own. To help him, hydraulic control systems are being designed, in many respects similar to a hydraulic drive for driving a car. These systems can also be controlled by an automated flight control system.
Influence of aerodynamic heating. Modern aircraft develop in flight speeds several times higher than the speed of sound, and surface friction forces cause heating of their skin and structure. An aircraft designed to fly with M = 2.2 must no longer be made of duralumin, but of titanium or steel. In some cases, it is necessary to cool the fuel tanks to prevent overheating of the fuel; the chassis wheels should also be cooled to prevent the rubber from melting.
Armament. Enormous progress has been made in the field of armaments since World War I, when the fire synchronizer was invented, allowing firing through the plane of rotation of the propeller. Modern fighters are often armed with multi-barreled 20 mm automatic cannons that can fire up to 6000 rounds per minute. They are also armed with guided missiles such as Sidewinder, Phoenix or Sparrow. Bombers can be armed with defensive missiles, optical and radar sights, thermonuclear bombs and air-to-ground cruise missiles, which are launched many kilometers from the target.
Production. With the increasing complexity of the tasks facing military aviation, the labor intensity and cost of aircraft is rapidly increasing. According to available data, 200,000 man-hours of engineering labor were spent on the development of the B-17 bomber. For the B-52, it took already 4,085,000, and for the B-58 - 9,340,000 man-hours. In the production of fighters, similar trends are observed. The cost of one F-80 fighter is approx. 100 thousand dollars For the F-84 and F-100, this is already 300 and 750 thousand dollars, respectively. The cost of the F-15 fighter was once estimated at about $30 million.
Pilot work. Rapid advances in navigation, instrumentation, and computing have had a significant impact on pilot performance. Much of the routine flight work is now done by the autopilot, and navigation problems can be solved using airborne inertial systems, Doppler radar and ground stations. By monitoring the terrain with the help of an airborne radar and using an autopilot, it is possible to fly at low altitudes. The automated system in conjunction with the onboard autopilot ensures the reliability of the aircraft landing in very low clouds (up to 30 m) and poor visibility (less than 0.8 km).
see also AIRCRAFT ON-BOARD INSTRUMENTS ;
AIR NAVIGATION ;
AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. Automated optical, infrared or radar systems are also used to control weapons. These systems provide an accurate hit on a distant target. The ability to use automated systems allows one pilot or a crew of two to perform tasks that previously involved the participation of a much larger crew. The job of a pilot is mainly to monitor the readings of instruments and the functioning of automated systems, taking control only when they fail. At present, even television equipment can be placed on board the aircraft, which has a connection with the ground control center. Under these conditions, an even greater number of functions that were previously supposed to be performed by the aircraft crew are taken over by electronic equipment. Now the pilot must act only in the most critical situations, such as visual identification of the intruder and deciding on the necessary actions.
Overalls. The pilot's attire has also changed markedly since the days when a leather jacket, goggles, and a silk scarf were her must-haves. For a fighter pilot, anti-g suits have now become standard, insuring him from losing consciousness during sharp maneuvers. At altitudes above 12 km, pilots use a body-hugging high-altitude suit that protects against the destructive effects of explosive decompression in the event of cabin depressurization. The air tubes along the arms and legs are filled automatically or manually and maintain the required pressure.
Ejection seats. Ejection seats have become a common piece of equipment in military aviation. If the pilot is forced to leave the aircraft, he is fired from the cockpit, remaining tied to his seat. After making sure that the aircraft is sufficiently far away, the pilot can free himself from the seat and descend to the ground by parachute. In modern designs, the entire cockpit is usually separated from the aircraft. This protects against initial shock braking and the effects of aerodynamic loads. In addition, if the ejection occurs at high altitudes, a breathable atmosphere is maintained in the cockpit. Of great importance for the pilot of a supersonic aircraft are the cooling systems of the cockpit and the pilot's spacesuit to protect against the effects of aerodynamic heating at supersonic speeds.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT


Trends. The displacement of fighter-interceptors from air defense systems by missiles slowed down the development of military aviation (see AIR DEFENSE). The pace of its development will probably change depending on the political climate or the revision of military policy.
Aircraft X-15. The X-15 experimental aircraft is an aircraft with a liquid rocket engine. It is designed to study the possibility of flying in upper layers atmosphere at Mach numbers greater than 6 (i.e. at a flight speed of approx. 6400 km / h). Flight research carried out on it gave engineers valuable information about the characteristics of a controlled aircraft liquid rocket engine, the ability of the pilot to operate in zero gravity and the ability to control the aircraft using a jet stream, as well as the aerodynamic characteristics of the X-15 layout. The flight altitude of the aircraft reached 102 km. To accelerate the aircraft to M = 8 (8700 km / h), ramjet engines (ramjet engines) were installed on it. However, after an unsuccessful flight with a ramjet, the test program was terminated.
Aircraft projects with M = 3. The YF-12A (A-11) was the first military aircraft to fly at a cruising speed of M = 3. Two years after the flight tests of the YF-12A, work began on a new version (SR-71 "Blackbird" ). The maximum Mach number of 3.5 is achieved by this aircraft at an altitude of 21 km, the maximum flight altitude is more than 30 km, and the range significantly exceeds the flight range of the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft (6400 km). The use of light high-strength titanium alloys in the design of both the airframe and turbojet engines made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the structure. A new "supercritical" wing was also used. Such a wing is also suitable for flying at speeds slightly less than the speed of sound, which makes it possible to create an economical transport aircraft. Vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft. For a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the presence of a 15-meter obstacle at a distance of 15 m from the launch site is not significant. A short takeoff and landing aircraft must fly at an altitude of more than 15 m, 150 m from the launch site. Aircraft have been tested with wings that can rotate up to 90° from horizontal to vertical or any position in between, as well as steerable fixed-wing engines or helicopter blades that can retract or fold in cruising. horizontal flight. Aircraft with a thrust vector changed by changing the direction of the jet flow, as well as vehicles using combinations of these concepts, were also studied. See also AIRCRAFT CONVERTIBLE.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES


The international cooperation. The high cost of designing military aircraft has forced a number of European countries members of NATO, pool their resources. The first aircraft of the joint development was the 1150 Atlantic, a land-based anti-submarine aircraft with two turboprop engines. Its first flight took place in 1961; it was used by the French, Italian, German, Dutch, Pakistani and Belgian navies. result international cooperation are the Anglo-French "Jaguar" (a training aircraft also used for tactical support of ground forces), the Franco-German transport aircraft "Transal" and the multi-purpose front-line aircraft "Tornado", designed for Germany, Italy and Great Britain.


WESTERN EUROPEAN FIGHTER "TORNADO"


France. The French aviation company "Dassault" is one of the recognized leaders in the development and production of fighter aircraft. Its Mirage supersonic aircraft are sold to many countries and also produced under license in countries such as Israel, Switzerland, Australia, Lebanon, South Africa, Pakistan, Peru, Belgium. In addition, the company "Dassault" develops and produces supersonic strategic bombers.



Great Britain. In the UK, British Aerospace has created a good VTOL fighter known as the Harrier. This aircraft requires a minimum of ground support equipment other than the equipment needed for refueling and resupply.
Sweden. The Swedish Air Force is armed with SAAB aircraft - the Draken fighter-interceptor and the Viggen fighter-bomber. After World War II, Sweden develops and operates its own military aircraft so as not to violate its status as a neutral country.
Japan. For a long time, the Japan Self-Defense Forces used exclusively US aircraft manufactured by Japan on a license basis. IN Lately Japan began to develop its own aircraft. One of the most interesting Japanese projects is the Shin Meiwa PX-S, a short takeoff and landing aircraft with four turbofan engines. This is a flying boat designed for maritime reconnaissance. It can land on the surface of the water even in high seas. The Mitsubishi company produces the T-2 training aircraft.
USSR/Russia. The USSR was the only country whose air force was comparable to the US air force. Unlike the United States, where the award of an aircraft development contract is the result of a comparison of engineering designs that exist only on paper, the Soviet methodology was based on a comparison of flight-tested prototypes. This makes it impossible to predict which of the new models shown from time to time at various exhibitions aviation technology will go into series production. Experimental Design Bureau (or Moscow Machine-Building Plant) them. AI Mikoyan specializes in the development of MiG fighters (Mikoyan and Gurevich). The Air Force of the former allies of the USSR continues to have MiG-21 fighters, a large number of which are also in Russia itself. The MiG-23 front-line fighter is capable of carrying a large stock of bombs and missiles. The MiG-25 is used for interception of targets and reconnaissance at high altitudes.

Russia's military-industrial complex is one of the most modern in the world, so Russia's military aviation is also one of the most modern on the planet.

The Russian military-industrial complex is capable of producing almost any type of modern military aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters.

Russian military aviation consists of:

  • Bombers of Russia
  • Russian fighters
  • Stormtroopers of Russia
  • AWACS aircraft of Russia
  • Flying tankers (refuelers) of Russia
  • Military transport aircraft of Russia
  • Russian military transport helicopters
  • Russian attack helicopters

The main manufacturers of military aviation equipment in Russia are PJSC Sukhoi Company, JSC RAC MiG, the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M. L. Mil, OJSC Kamov and others.

You can see photos and descriptions of the products of some companies at the links:

Let's look at each class of military aircraft with descriptions and photographs.

Bombers of Russia

What is a bomber, Wikipedia will explain to us very accurately: A bomber is a military aircraft designed to destroy ground, underground, surface, underwater objects by means of bombing and / or missile weapons. .

Russian long-range bombers

Long-range bombers in Russia are developed and produced by the Tupolev Design Bureau.

Long-range bomber Tu-160

The Tu-160, unofficially called the White Swan, is the fastest and heaviest long-range bomber in the world. Tu-160 "White Swan" is capable of developing supersonic speed, not every fighter is able to keep up with him.

Long-range bomber Tu-95

Tu-95 is a veteran of Russian long-range aviation. Developed back in 1955, having gone through many upgrades, the Tu-95 is still Russia's main long-range bomber.


Long-range bomber Tu-22M

Tu-22M is another long-range bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It has variable sweep wings, like the Tu-160, but its dimensions are smaller.

Front-line bombers of Russia

Front-line bombers in Russia are developed and produced by PJSC Sukhoi Company.

Front-line bomber Su-34

The Su-34 is a 4++ generation combat aircraft, a fighter-bomber, although it would be more accurate to call it a front-line bomber.


Front-line bomber Su-24

Su-24 is a front-line bomber, the development of which began in the USSR in the early 60s of the last century. Currently, he is being replaced by the Su-34.


Russian fighters

Fighters in Russia are developed and manufactured by two companies: PJSC Sukhoi Company and JSC RAC MiG.

Su Fighters

PJSC "Company" Sukhoi "delivers to the troops such modern combat vehicles as the fifth generation fighter Su-50 (PAK FA), Su-35, front-line bomber Su-34, carrier-based fighter Su-33, Su-30, heavy fighter Su- 27, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-24M3 front-line bomber.

Fighter of the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50)

PAK FA (T-50 or Su-50) is a fifth-generation fighter developed by Sukhoi Company PJSC for the Russian Aerospace Forces since 2002. As of the end of 2016, tests are being completed and the aircraft is being prepared for transfer to regular units.

Photo by PAK FA (T-50).

Su-35 is a 4++ generation fighter.

Photo Su-35.

Su-33 carrier-based fighter

Su-33 is a 4++ generation carrier-based fighter. Several of these aircraft are in service with the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.


Fighter Su-27

Su-27 is the main combat fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Based on it, the Su-34, Su-35, Su-33 and several other fighters were developed.

Su-27 in flight

MiG fighters

JSC "RSK" MiG "" today supplies the troops with the MiG-31 fighter-interceptor and the MiG-29 fighter.

Fighter-interceptor MiG-31

The MiG-31 is a fighter-interceptor designed to perform tasks at any time of the day and in any weather. The MiG-31 is a very fast aircraft.


Fighter MiG-29

MiG-29 - is one of the main combat fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces. There is a deck version - MiG-29K.


Stormtroopers

The only attack aircraft in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces is the Su-25 attack aircraft.

Attack aircraft Su-25

Su-25 - armored subsonic attack aircraft. The machine made its first flight in 1975 since then, having undergone many upgrades, it has been reliably fulfilling its tasks.


Russian military helicopters

Helicopters for the army are produced by the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M.L. Mil and OJSC Kamov.

Kamov helicopters

JSC "Kamov" specializes in the production of coaxial helicopters.

Helicopter Ka-52

The Ka-52 "Alligator" is a two-seat helicopter capable of performing both attack and reconnaissance functions.


Deck helicopter Ka-31

The Ka-31 is a carrier-based helicopter equipped with a long-range radio detection and guidance system, which is in service with the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.


Deck helicopter Ka-27

Ka-27 is a multi-purpose carrier-based helicopter. The main modifications are anti-submarine and rescue.

Photo Ka-27PL Russian Navy

Mil helicopters

Mi helicopters are being developed by the Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant.

Mi-28 helicopter

The Mi-28 is a Soviet-designed attack helicopter used by the Russian army.


Mi-24 helicopter

Mi-24 is a world-famous attack helicopter, created in the 1970s in the USSR.


Mi-26 helicopter

The Mi-24 is a heavy transport helicopter, also developed back in Soviet times. On this moment is the largest helicopter in the world.


Designed to protect the centers, regions of the country (administrative, industrial and economic), groupings of troops and important objects from enemy attacks from air and space, to ensure actions ground forces and, delivering strikes against enemy air, land and sea groupings, its administrative-political and military-economic centers.

The main tasks of the Air Force in modern conditions are:

  • opening the beginning of an attack by an air enemy;
  • notification of the main headquarters of the Armed Forces, headquarters of military districts, fleets, civil defense agencies about the beginning of an enemy air attack;
  • gaining and maintaining air supremacy;
  • cover for troops and rear facilities from aerial reconnaissance, strikes from the air and space;
  • air support for the Ground Forces and the Navy;
  • destruction of objects of the military-economic potential of the enemy;
  • violation of the military and state administration of the enemy;
  • the destruction of nuclear missile, anti-aircraft and aviation groups of the enemy and his reserves, as well as air and sea landings;
  • defeat of enemy ship groupings in the sea, ocean, on naval bases, in ports and basing points;
  • dropping military equipment and landing troops;
  • transportation by air of troops and military equipment;
  • conducting strategic, operational and tactical air reconnaissance;
  • control over the use of airspace in the border zone.

In peacetime Air Force carry out tasks to protect the state border of Russia in the airspace, notify about the flights of foreign reconnaissance vehicles in the border zone.

The air force includes the air armies of the Supreme High Command strategic purpose and the Supreme High Command military transport aviation; Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District; armies of the Air Force and Air Defense: separate corps of the Air Force and Air Defense.

The Air Force includes the following types of troops (Fig. 1):

  • aviation (types of aviation - bomber, assault, fighter, air defense, reconnaissance, transport and special);
  • anti-aircraft missile troops;
  • radio engineering troops;
  • special troops;
  • units and institutions of the rear.

bomber aviation is armed with long-range (strategic) and front-line (tactical) bombers various types. It is designed to defeat groupings of troops, destroy important military, energy facilities and communication centers mainly in the strategic and operational depth of the enemy’s defense. The bomber can carry bombs of various calibers, both conventional and nuclear, as well as air-to-surface guided missiles.

Attack aircraft designed for aviation support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly at the forefront, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as orders to combat enemy aircraft in the air.

Rice. 1. Structure of the Air Force

One of the main requirements for an attack aircraft is the high accuracy of hitting ground targets. Armament: large-caliber guns, bombs, rockets.

Fighter aviation air defense is the main maneuvering force of the air defense system and is designed to cover the most important directions and objects from enemy air attacks. It is capable of destroying the enemy at maximum ranges from the defended objects.

Air defense aviation is armed with air defense fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, special and transport aircraft and helicopters.

reconnaissance aviation Designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather, can destroy enemy hidden objects.

Reconnaissance flights can also be carried out by bomber, fighter-bomber, attack and fighter aircraft. To do this, they are specially equipped with photographic equipment for day and night shooting at various scales, radio and radar stations with high resolution, heat direction finders, sound recording and television equipment, and magnetometers.

Reconnaissance aviation is subdivided into tactical, operational and strategic reconnaissance aviation.

Transport aviation designed to transport troops, military equipment, weapons, ammunition, fuel, food, airborne landings, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

Special aviation designed for long-range radar detection and guidance, refueling of aircraft in the air, electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, control and communications, meteorological and technical support, rescue of crews in distress, evacuation of the wounded and sick.

Anti-aircraft missile troops designed to protect the country's most important facilities and groupings of troops from enemy air strikes.

They constitute the main firepower of the air defense system and are armed with anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft missile systems for various purposes, which have great firepower and high accuracy in destroying enemy air attack weapons.

Radio engineering troops- the main source of information about an air enemy and are designed to conduct its radar reconnaissance, control over the flights of its aviation and compliance with the rules for the use of airspace by aircraft of all departments.

They issue information about the beginning of an air attack, combat information for anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense aviation, as well as information for controlling air defense formations, units and subunits.

Radio engineering troops are armed with radar stations and radar complexes, capable at any time of the year and day, regardless of meteorological conditions and interference, to detect not only air, but also surface targets.

Units and divisions of communications are intended for the deployment and operation of communication systems in order to ensure command and control of troops in all types of combat activities.

Units and subdivisions of electronic warfare designed to interfere with airborne radars, bomb sights, communications and radio navigation means of enemy air attack.

Units and divisions of communications and radio engineering support designed to provide control of aviation units and subunits, aircraft navigation, takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters.

Units and divisions of engineering troops, and units and divisions of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to perform the most complex tasks of engineering and chemical support, respectively.

The Air Force is armed with Tu-160 (Fig. 2), Tu-22MZ, Tu-95MS, Su-24, Su-34, MiG-29, MiG-27, MiG-31 aircraft of various modifications (Fig. 3), Su -25, Su-27, Su-39 (Fig. 4), MiG-25R, Su-24MP, A-50 (Fig. 5), An-12, An-22, An-26, An-124, Il -76, IL-78; helicopters Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-17, Mi-26, Ka-31, Ka-52 (Fig. 6), Ka-62; anti-aircraft missile systems S-200, S-300, S-300PM (Fig. 7), S-400 "Triumph", radar stations and complexes "Opponent-G", "Nebo-U", "Gamma-DE" , "Gamma-C1", "Casta-2".

Rice. 2. Strategic supersonic bomber Tu-160: wingspan - 35.6 / 55.7 m; length - 54.1 m; height - 13.1 m; maximum takeoff weight - 275 tons; maximum combat load - 45 tons; cruising speed- 960 km / h; range - 7300 km; ceiling - 18000 m; weapons - missiles, bombs (including nuclear); crew - 4 people

Rice. 3. Multirole fighter MiG-31F/FZ: wingspan - 13.46 m; length - 22.67 m; height - 6.15 m; maximum takeoff weight - 50,000 kg; cruising speed - 2450 km / h; range - 3000 km; combat radius of action - 650 km; ceiling - 20,000 m; armament - 23-mm six-barreled gun (260 rounds, rate of fire - 8000 rounds / min); combat load - 9000 kg (UR, bombs); crew - 2 people

Rice. 4. Attack aircraft Su-39: wingspan - 14.52 m; length - 15.33 m; height - 5.2 m; maximum speed near the ground - 2450 km / h; range - 1850 km; ceiling - 18,000 m; armament - 30 mm cannon; combat load - 4500 kg (ATGM with ATGM. RCC, NUR, U R. bombs - conventional, induced, cluster, nuclear)

Rice. 5. A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft: wingspan - 50.5 m; length - 46.59 m; height - 14.8 m; normal takeoff weight - 190,000 kg; maximum cruising speed - 800 km / h; range - 7500 km; ceiling - 12000 m; target detection range: air - 240 km, surface - 380 km; crew - 5 people + 10 people tactical calculation

Rice. 6. Combat attack helicopter Ka-52 "Alligator": rotor diameter - 14.50 m; length with rotating screws - 15.90 m; maximum weight - 10,400 kg; ceiling - 5500 m; range - 520 km; armament - 30-mm cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition; combat load - 2000 kg on 4 hardpoints (ATGM, unified containers with machine guns and cannon armament, NUR, UR); crew - 2 people

Rice. 7. Anti-aircraft missile system S-300-PM: hit targets - aircraft, winged and tactical missiles all types; affected area - range 5-150 km, height 0.025-28 km; the number of simultaneously hit targets - up to 6; the number of simultaneously aimed missiles at the target - 12; readiness for combat work from the march - 5 minutes

The latest best military aircraft of the Air Force of Russia and the world photos, pictures, videos about the value of a fighter aircraft as weapon capable of providing "air supremacy", was recognized by the military circles of all states by the spring of 1916. This required the creation of a special combat aircraft that surpasses all others in speed, maneuverability, altitude and the use of offensive small arms. In November 1915, Nieuport II Webe biplanes arrived at the front. This is the first aircraft built in France, which was intended for air combat.

The most modern domestic military aircraft in Russia and the world owe their appearance to the popularization and development of aviation in Russia, which was facilitated by the flights of Russian pilots M. Efimov, N. Popov, G. Alekhnovich, A. Shiukov, B. Rossiysky, S. Utochkin. The first began to appear domestic cars designers J. Gakkel, I. Sikorsky, D. Grigorovich, V. Slesarev, I. Steglau. In 1913, the heavy aircraft "Russian Knight" made its first flight. But one cannot fail to recall the first aircraft creator in the world - Captain 1st Rank Alexander Fedorovich Mozhaisky.

Soviet military aircraft of the USSR of the Great Patriotic War sought to hit the enemy troops, his communications and other objects in the rear with air strikes, which led to the creation of bomber aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load over considerable distances. The variety of combat missions for bombing enemy forces in the tactical and operational depth of the fronts led to the understanding of the fact that their performance should be commensurate with the tactical and technical capabilities of a particular aircraft. Therefore, the design teams had to resolve the issue of specialization of bomber aircraft, which led to the emergence of several classes of these machines.

Types and classification, latest models military aircraft of Russia and the world. It was obvious that it would take time to create a specialized fighter aircraft, so the first step in this direction was to try to equip existing aircraft with small arms offensive weapons. Mobile machine-gun mounts, which began to equip the aircraft, required excessive efforts from the pilots, since the control of the machine in a maneuverable battle and the simultaneous firing of an unstable weapon reduced the effectiveness of fire. The use of a two-seat aircraft as a fighter, where one of the crew members played the role of a gunner, also created certain problems, because an increase in the weight and drag of the machine led to a decrease in its flight qualities.

What are the planes. In our years, aviation has made a big qualitative leap, expressed in a significant increase in flight speed. This was facilitated by progress in the field of aerodynamics, the creation of new more powerful engines, structural materials, and electronic equipment. computerization of calculation methods, etc. Supersonic speeds have become the main modes of fighter flight. However, the race for speed also had its negative sides - the takeoff and landing characteristics and the maneuverability of aircraft deteriorated sharply. During these years, the level of aircraft construction reached such a level that it was possible to start creating aircraft with a variable sweep wing.

In order to further increase the flight speeds of jet fighters exceeding the speed of sound, Russian combat aircraft required an increase in their power-to-weight ratio, an increase in the specific characteristics of turbojet engines, and also an improvement in the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. For this purpose, engines with an axial compressor were developed, which had smaller frontal dimensions, higher efficiency and better weight characteristics. For a significant increase in thrust, and hence the flight speed, afterburners were introduced into the engine design. The improvement of the aerodynamic forms of aircraft consisted in the use of wings and empennage with large sweep angles (in the transition to thin delta wings), as well as supersonic air intakes.

After the adoption of SAP-2020 officials quite often they talk about the rearmament of the Air Force (or, more broadly, the supply of aviation systems to the RF Armed Forces). At the same time, the specific parameters of this re-equipment and the strength of the Air Force by 2020 are not directly given. In view of this, many media give their forecasts, but they are presented, as a rule, in tabular form - without arguments or a calculation system.

This article is just an attempt to predict combat strength Air Force of the Russian Federation by the specified date. All information is collected from open sources - from media materials. There are no claims for absolute accuracy, because the ways of the State ... ... defense order in Russia are inscrutable, and often a mystery even for those who form it.

Total strength of the Air Force

So, let's start with the main thing - with the total number of the Air Force by 2020. This number will be formed from new-built aircraft and their modernized "senior colleagues".

In his programmatic article, V.V. Putin pointed out that: “... In the coming decade, the troops will receive ... more than 600 modern aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters, over a thousand helicopters". At the same time, the current Minister of Defense S.K. Shoigu recently cited slightly different data: “... By the end of 2020, we will have to receive about 2,000 new aircraft systems from industrial enterprises, including 985 helicopters».

The numbers are of the same order, but there are differences in the details. What is it connected with? For helicopters, the delivered machines may no longer be taken into account. Some change in the parameters of SAP-2020 is also possible. But only they will require changes in funding. Theoretically, this is facilitated by the refusal to resume production of the An-124 and a slight reduction in the number of purchases of helicopters.

S. Shoigu mentioned, in fact, no less than 700-800 aircraft (we will subtract helicopters from the total number). Article by V.V. This does not contradict Putin (more than 600 aircraft), but “more than 600” does not really correlate with “almost 1000”. Yes, and money for the “extra” 100-200 aircraft (even taking into account the abandonment of the Ruslans) will need to be attracted additionally, especially if you buy fighters and front-line bombers (with an average price of Su-30SM of $ 40 million per unit, you get an astronomical figure - up to a quarter of a trillion rubles for 200 vehicles, despite the fact that PAK FA or Su-35S are more expensive).

Thus, the most likely increase in purchases is due to cheaper combat training Yak-130s (all the more so because it is very necessary), attack aircraft and UAVs (it seems that, according to media reports, work has intensified). Although the additional purchase of the Su-34 up to 140 units. can also take place. Now there are about 24 of them. + about 120 Su-24M. Will be - 124 pcs. But to replace front-line bombers in the 1 x 1 format, another fifteen Su-34s will be required.

Based on the given data, it seems appropriate to accept average figures of 700 airplanes and 1,000 helicopters. Total - 1700 boards.

Now let's move on to modernized technology. In general, by 2020, the share of new equipment in the Armed Forces should be 70%. But this percentage is not the same for different branches and types of troops. For the Strategic Missile Forces - up to 100% (sometimes they say 90%). For the Air Force, figures were given in the same 70%.

I also admit that the share of new equipment will “reach” 80%, but not due to an increase in its purchases, but due to a greater write-off of old machines. However, this article uses a 70/30 ratio. Therefore, the forecast is moderately optimistic. By simple calculations (X=1700x30/70), we get (approximately) 730 modernized boards. In other words, the number of the Russian Air Force by 2020 is planned in the region of 2430-2500 aircraft and helicopters.

WITH total seems to have figured it out. Let's get down to specifics. Let's start with helicopters. This is the most covered topic, and deliveries are already in full swing.

Helicopters

By attack helicopters it is planned to have 3 (!) models - (140 units), (96 units), as well as Mi-35M (48 units). A total of 284 units were planned. (not including some cars lost in aviation accidents).



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