In Russia took another fourth consecutive successful launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ground-based MS-26 "Frontier". Although reports of this event does not clarify what wheelbase uses the new complex, we can confidently assert that this Ming chassis. Other options Russians today is not there.
It is the lack of appropriate design and technological potential of the Russian defense industry can not completely abandon the service of the Belarusian defense industry, while the ambitious attempts of this kind for some areas take place.
Recall that the first test launch of the RS-26, manufactured by September 28, 2011 from Plesetsk, proved unsuccessful. Rocket at the exit of the transport and launch container touched him, and fell eight kilometers from the starting point. All subsequent launches were held in May and October 2012, October 2013 and, finally, on March 18 of this year (last run made from Kapustin Yar in the Astrakhan region on range Sary Shagan in Kazakhstan), considered a success.
In the near future leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Russia shall issue a decision on the adoption of the RS-26 into service. According to statements by the Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) Colonel-General Sergei Karakaeva, the deployment of the new ICBM will be launched next year.
As can be seen from the publications in the media, missile RS-26, also known as the "Vanguard" and "abroad", created using design solutions used in creating mobile missile system (PGRK) RS-24 "yars" and "Topol-M ". And in the future the new complex should replace them.
Talking about the technical characteristics of the RS-26, experts attribute it to complexes with small-sized MDBs having two or three steps. They most likely, a new type of solid fuel, accelerating passage of the active portion of path. According to estimations of experts, the minimum launch range ICBM is about 2000 km, maximum - more than 6000 km.
"Frontier" virtually immune to missiles, since it has a speed unattainable for them in their boost phase and endowed with "an intelligent maneuver" to avoid at the same time from 35 interceptor missiles. Additional invulnerability makes this PGRK placement on a mobile launcher.
According to available information, the missile warheads of this complex have their own engines and after separation from the carrier can maneuver in unpredictable flight path at supersonic speed. A variation of this type of missile warheads are already equipped with tactical complex "Iskander-M".
The new missile to be smaller in size and lighter "Yarsa". It is assumed that the weight of the loaded mobile launcher of the new complex will be 80 tons compared to 120 tons of its predecessor.
According to Russian military analysts, decision PGRK "Frontier" for service and start its mass production will quickly eliminate the current gap between Russia and the US in the number of deployed delivery vehicles and warheads. As a result, Moscow will be able to derive quantitative measures of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery to the maximum level allowed by the terms of the START-3.
In addition, the new missile system should enhance the combat potential of the Strategic Missile Forces plan to overcome missile defense. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the government Russian military-industrial complex, called the RS-26 "killer missile defense," meaning that any existing or prospective missile defense system is unable to intercept the missile of this complex.
Serial production of ICBMs for PGRK "Frontier" to be deployed at the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. Equipment for launchers supposed to be doing at the Volgograd plant "Barricades". But with respect to the manufacturer wheeled chassis for them until recently, experts had doubts.
The fact is that the traditional supplier of machines for ground missile Soviet Union and then Russia is Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT). However, over the past one and a half or two years in the Russian press has passed a series of publications about the Russian Defense Ministry plans to abandon the use of Belarusian chassis as carriers of new PGRK.
They allegedly planned to be placed on the chassis of the family "platform" development of the Kama Automobile Plant. Later, it was reported, the car of the family entered service of all kinds and types of troops and MZKT will lose the majority of Russian military orders.
Some representatives of the expert community, this information was taken seriously. Others viewed it as an information box stuffing, which aims - to force Minsk to Moscow with the terms of a joint venture on the basis MZKT (by the way, Alexander Lukashenko, has recently made it clear that he intends to keep the plant owned by the Belarusian state).
Skeptics pointed out that in order to Russian army moved to another wheelbase will require huge investment of time and money on the production of not only the vehicles, but also all placed on the chassis MZKT superstructures and weapons. And the entire infrastructure that provides strategic PGRK functioning, adapted from Minsk wheeled chassis.
However, the main argument in favor of MZKT - a lack of Russian manufacturers design and technology and production capacity to develop and establish serial production vehicles in its class. That, in fact, confirmed by subsequent developments. KAMAZ-7850, which was supposed to create the program "Platform" in 2014, and has not appeared.
Meanwhile, the chassis MZKT-79291 (12x12) with a capacity of 650 hp for stand-alone launcher MS-26 Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MIT) - the developer of the Soviet and Russian PGRK - was on hand as TEHPROEKT in 2008. A July 3, 2013 the new chassis was first presented at the parade in honor of Independence Day in Minsk.
On this chariot missile system "Frontier" and must step up combat duty in 2016.