MANPADS "Verba" - this is the newest Russian portable anti-aircraft missile system, which was put into service in 2014. This weapon only began to arrive at the front, the first to be this MANPADS received anti-aircraft gunners 98th Guards Airborne Division (Ivanovo).
Anti-aircraft complex was presented to potential foreign customers at the exhibition Defexpo India in 2018. Rosoboronexport expects that not only the Indian military, but also the defense departments of Algeria, Egypt and a number of other countries will show interest in the Verba complex.
MANPADS "willow" is designed to destroy low-flying air objects (both on the opposite course and on the catch-up ones) in the conditions of the enemy’s opposition and the use of false thermal targets. This anti-aircraft missile system is particularly effective for the destruction of unobtrusive targets: unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
The new anti-aircraft complex used several new and original technical solutions, which allows it to more effectively hit enemy aircraft and carry out air defense. In developing the "Willow" was taken into account the rich experience in the development and use of domestic weapons of this class. Very often, “Verba” MANPADS is called the weapon of a new generation, which surpasses not only Soviet and Russian developments (“Igla-1”, “Igla”, “Igla-S”), but also the best foreign analogues: American Stinger-Block-I and Chinese QW-2.
History of creation
The first information about MANPADS "Verba" appeared in 2008. However, the messages were rather scant and hazy. It was argued that the "Willow" will be adopted in 2009, but these terms are constantly postponed. In 2011, military tests of the new complex began, but its adoption was delayed until 2014.
The development of the complex involved Kolomna "Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau" - one of the world leaders in the creation of such weapons.
Currently, the new MANPADS entered service with the Ivanovo Airborne Division. It is planned that in the coming years, Verba will be supplied to other units of the Russian army and will replace outdated anti-aircraft missile systems.
Description
MANPADS "willow" is designed to defeat low-flying air targets (airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles) on pursuit and head-on courses. MANPADS firing range is 6 km, and the height of the target - 4 km. The complex includes a rocket with an infrared homing head (GOS), which is guided simultaneously in three ranges, which significantly increases its characteristics and efficiency of use. This principle is implemented on most modern MANPADS (for example, the IGL has two channels), but only Verba uses three separate photodetectors, each of which operates in its own range. In this respect, one can really say that Verba is really a new generation of MANPADS.
In addition, the GOS of the rocket has protection from laser interferences, which are installed on modern combat aircraft and helicopters.
Another feature of the complex is the presence of an automated control system (ACS), which detects air objects, determines their flight parameters, and also distributes targets between anti-aircraft gunners in one unit.
A common problem with the use of MANPADS is the late detection of flying objects. Earlier, MANPADS calculations attempted to visually detect the target, but this is not always a simple task.
To further complicate the work of anti-aircraft gunners, pilots often fly at low or ultra-low altitudes. In this case, the enemy aircraft suddenly comes into view, moving at high speed, so it is difficult for the fighter to react in time and prepare for shooting.
In the automated control system of MANPADS "Verba" includes a small and noise-proof radar, which can detect an air target at distances up to 80 km. After that, the anti-aircraft gunner beeps about the presence of the enemy, the automated control system using the GLONASS system determines the location of the shooter and gives him the azimuth for firing.
The Verba anti-aircraft complex is part of the Barnaul-T tactical air defense complex, it is integrated into the general air defense system and can receive information about airborne targets from their higher level detection systems.
The composition of MANPADS "willow" includes the following components:
- 9P521 trigger mechanism;
- surveillance radar 1L122 with a target detection range of 40-80 km;
- guided missile 9M336;
- the definition of "friend or foe";
- mobile checkpoint 9В861;
- intelligence and control module; fire planning and control;
- mounting kit 9С933−1 (for the division);
- 9S935 anti-aircraft gunner automation kit;
- facilities for training and training personnel.
Rocket 9M336 has a new solid-fuel engine with higher performance compared with MANPADS, which are in service with the Russian army at the moment. The missile has an increased warhead, and it is also equipped with an adaptive contact-contact fuse. The complex also includes a Mowgli-2M night-vision sight, which allows firing at night and in conditions of limited visibility.
Another undoubted advantage of "Willow" is to simplify its maintenance. Now the homing head does not need to be regularly cooled with liquid nitrogen. This eliminates the need for additional equipment and refrigerant tanks, saving time and effort.
The commander of the anti-aircraft regiment of the 98th airborne division, which has already entered service with the Verba air-defense missile system, said that the new systems can significantly reduce the time it takes to deploy crews. Up to five minutes could have elapsed from the detection of the target to the opening of the fire, but now this period has decreased almost ten times.
Specifications
The following are the known characteristics of MANPADS "Verba":
- range of action, m - 500-6000;
- lesion height, m - 10-4500;
- weight of combat equipment, kg - 17.25;
- Max. target speed on a head-on course, m / s - 400;
- Max. target speed on the follow-up course, m / s - 320;
- spectral channels, pcs - 3.
