What Technologies Are Important to Russia? What Can Russia Offer in Return?
The 039D conventional submarine, equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, has a promising future. Image.
Behind the scenes of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, one of the most closely watched topics was deepening military technical cooperation —— Russia, relevant countries and North Korea will conduct bidirectional exchange of key technologies in the "sensitive" areas of the defense industry complex (ВПК), and promote local production.
This cooperation will gradually fill all gaps in the defense potential of the main member states of the SCO and the potential observer state (North Korea). Moreover, from the results of the summit and the subsequent military parade, it is not difficult to see that an "informal counter-alliance" composed of Russia, relevant countries, North Korea, and Iran has quietly formed, capable of countering NATO and the AUKUS group.
To counter this group in potential military conflicts in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Russia, relevant countries, North Korea, and Iran need to have complete production capabilities for various advanced weapons, which cannot be separated from a continuous and stable supply of electronic components —— to significantly increase the mass production of drones (БПЛА), provide power systems for armored equipment and air forces, and ensure maintenance of all equipment.
Then, what key military technologies "aces" do Russia, relevant countries, North Korea, and Iran have in different fields of their defense industry complexes?
I. Key Military Technologies of Relevant Countries and Their Value to Russia
As is well known, as early as 1993, the relevant country's Ministry of Defense signed a series of contracts to purchase air defense systems with Russia: including 4 battalions of S-300PMU air defense missile systems (range 75-90 km), 8 battalions of S-300PMU-1 (range 150 km), and 15 battalions of S-300PMU-2 (range 200 km). These systems laid the foundation for the relevant country to build a multi-channel, multi-layered air defense and anti-missile (ПВО-ПРО) "umbrella" in strategic locations, until the domestically produced 6-channel long-range air defense missile system HQ-9A was put on combat duty. Even now, the number of HQ-9A/B and HQ-22 air defense systems in the relevant country has exceeded 100-150 sets, and the above 4 battalions of S-300 and S-400 systems can still provide 186 additional target channels for the air defense and anti-missile network of important locations, strengthening the defensive capabilities in key directions.
The similar cooperative trajectory also appears in the field of tactical aviation: the relevant country first purchased 32 Su-27UBK, 73 Su-30MKK, and 24 Su-30MK2 fighters, and then signed a contract to purchase 24 Su-35S fighters. Subsequently, based on the technology of the Su-27SK, the J-11B/BS/BG fighter gradually equipped with independently developed advanced electronic components, allowing the relevant country's aviation industry to possess the ability for independent development.
When the "4++" generation multi-purpose fighters J-16D and J-10C, as well as the fifth-generation fighter J-20A equipped with the 1475-type active phased array radar (АФАР) based on gallium nitride (GaN) millimeter-wave transistors, were introduced, the leading position of the relevant country's aviation industry compared to Russia was unquestionable. Now, the Su-35S produced by Russian production lines still use the "Snow Leopard-E" radar based on passive phased array (ФАР) —— although its detection range (80-90 km) for targets with a radar cross-section (RCS) of 0.01 square meters is no less than the 1475-type radar of the relevant country, its anti-jamming capability is behind the relevant country's similar products. Currently, the only aircraft in the Russian Aerospace Forces (ВКС) equipped with an active phased array radar is the Su-57, which carries the N036 "Pheasant" radar, with an annual production of only 3-5 units, matching the production capacity of the Su-57 fighter jets.
It can be seen that the first "weakness" of the Russian defense industry complex can be compensated by the technological expertise of the relevant country in the fields of semiconductors and microelectronics —— that is, the technology of active phased array airborne radar based on gallium nitride. In addition, experts from the relevant country are fully capable of helping Russia "revive" advanced projects that have stalled due to lack of funds, such as the "Beetle-AME" (Жук-АМЭ) active phased array radar manufactured using low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology, and the RVV-AE-PD air-to-air missile equipped with an integrated rocket ramjet engine. Moreover, the relevant country has already made certain achievements in the development of the PL-21D long-range air-to-air missile (equipped with a ramjet engine).
Another important direction of military technical cooperation is to assist Russia in developing a new multi-purpose tactical missile for the "Kornet" (Корнет) anti-tank missile system (ПТРК) and quickly integrate it into existing weapon systems. This new missile needs to be equipped with an anti-jamming infrared imaging (Imaging Infrared, IIR) guidance head, which can generate an infrared image of the target and accurately identify its weakest point; at the same time, the missile should support the "Kornet" system to launch attacks from hidden firing positions —— this capability has been popularized in third-generation anti-tank missile systems, such as the Israeli "Spike-LR/ER" and the French fifth-generation "MMP Akeron" anti-tank missile systems. Obviously, each "Kornet" system also needs an additional terminal to display the video image returned by the new missile's infrared guidance head.
The defense industries of the relevant country, North Korea, and Iran can provide the technological basis for the development of such missiles and help Russia achieve localized production. In fact, the "Northern" military formation has already used the third-generation long-range anti-tank missile system "Bulsae-4" (玄武 - 4) from North Korea in the Kursk front line and experienced the tactical advantages of launching attacks from hidden positions —— this technological principle is similar to the guidance systems of the Russian domestic "Lancet" (Ланцет, "Product - 52") and "Lancet-3" ( "Product - 51") loitering munitions / suicide drones.
One of the core development directions of the Russian defense industry complex is to develop and produce high-energy microwave weapon systems (ЭМИ-генераторы/СВЧ-пушки, i.e., electromagnetic pulse generators/microwave guns) to counter enemy suicide drones and cruise missiles. Now, the enemy is continuously attacking Russia's oil refineries, air force bases, long-range early warning radars (ДРЛО), and air traffic control facilities with a large number of low-cost suicide drones (such as "Lancet", "UJ-26", "A-22 Fox", "Molok", "T150"), making this issue particularly urgent.
Russia once demonstrated a prototype of the "Ranets-E" (Ранец-Е) electromagnetic pulse generator at the LIMA-2001 defense exhibition, but the project was eventually shelved. Afterward, American start-up companies and relevant country research institutions took the lead in this field. Among them, the American company Epirus developed the "Leonidas" electromagnetic weapon system, which is unique —— this system is based on high-energy multi-beam active phased array technology, and in a live-fire test in 2021, it could disable 66 enemy drones in a single salvo.
If combined with precise target guidance provided by the AN/MPQ-64F1 radar or multi-spectral electro-optical systems, the "Leonidas" system can interfere with the infrared guidance heads, active radar guidance heads, and inertial navigation systems of tactical cruise missiles at distances of more than 10 kilometers, and its single operational cost is only one-thousandth of an ER-AMRAAM air defense missile.
The relevant country also has similar research achievements in this field, among which the most famous is the HPM mobile microwave weapon system that has completed development and entered active testing stages —— this system has been integrated into the architecture of the "Golden Shield" advanced anti-drone / anti-missile system.
Combining air defense missile artillery systems, high-energy microwave generators (HPM, which can produce dozens of beams narrower than 1 degree) based on X/Ka band active phased arrays, and the LY-1 laser weapon system can more efficiently resist composite attacks by enemy suicide drones and low-observability cruise missiles. Obviously, the automatic artillery in the air defense missile artillery systems (ЗРПК) needs to be equipped with programmable fragmentation warheads or remote proximity fuze ammunition.
If Russia signs contracts for the procurement of 30-50 battalions of the "Golden Shield" system, or achieves localized production of the system based on the technology of the relevant country, it will be able to effectively respond to the continuous attacks by Ukrainian suicide drones —— especially when the system is used in conjunction with the "Pantsir-SMD-E" (Панцирь-СМД-Е) air defense missile artillery system developed by the Tula Instrumentation Design Bureau in Russia, the defensive effect will be more significant.
II. Key Technologies That Russia Can Provide to Its Allies
The most valuable contribution of the Russian defense industry complex to its allies is undoubtedly the latest achievements in the development of modern low-noise multi-purpose nuclear submarines and strategic ballistic missile nuclear submarines.
Currently, the core of the relevant country's sea-based nuclear force (the sea-based component of the triad nuclear force) is the 094 "Jin" class strategic ballistic missile nuclear submarine (ПЛАРБ) —— this submarine uses a traditional hydrodynamic layout, with missile launch tubes protruding from the hull (similar to the Russian 667БДРМ type nuclear submarine, which is relatively outdated), and does not have a pump jet propulsion system; while the Russian 955А "Borei-A" class strategic ballistic missile nuclear submarine (РПКСН) represents a completely different level of technology.
The "Borei-A" class is equipped with a pump jet propulsion system (axial pump), uses an advanced integral layout (missile launch tubes are highly integrated with the hull, with minimal protrusions), and has a low-profile conning tower (with a fillet design at the root of the front part), and uses advanced sound-absorbing coatings and multi-layer vibration platforms on the main turbine gear device and other mechanical components, reducing its acoustic signal to a minimum —— when traveling underwater at a speed of about 10 knots, the acoustic signal is only 80 decibels, while the corresponding indicator for the American "Ohio" class strategic nuclear submarine is 95-102 decibels.
The acoustic stealth of the Russian 885М "Yasen-M" class multi-purpose nuclear submarine is even better. According to sources, its acoustic signal is slightly higher than that of the American "Seawolf" class, "Virginia" class, and the French "Suffrene" class advanced multi-purpose nuclear submarines, approximately 60-65 decibels.
Providing such technology to the relevant country can help its navy partially offset the advantage of the United States' dozens of "Virginia" class and "Los Angeles" class (688i Los Angeles) multi-purpose nuclear submarines in the event of a large-scale conflict escalation (such as a conflict over control of an island area), achieving a certain level of balance in power. At present, the U.S. Navy's undersea forces (especially the most advanced "Virginia" Block III and Block IV class nuclear submarines) are capable of destroying the relevant country's large amphibious assault forces in the relevant area, and even pose a threat to the relevant country's most advanced 052B class multi-purpose destroyers.
Ironically, in the field of conventional power low-noise submarines (equipped with air-independent propulsion systems / AIP), the relevant country has significantly surpassed Russia and some European countries. The relevant country's navy has already commissioned 21 039A/B/C/D "Yuan" class AIP submarines —— this submarine is equipped with a diesel-electric-stirling engine AIP system and lithium-ion batteries, with an underwater endurance (without surfacing to start the diesel generator for charging) of up to 20-23 days, and a range of 600 kilometers; and its acoustic signal is extremely low, providing a unique operational advantage when moving silently at 3-5 knots in coastal waters.
Therefore, the Russian "Rubin" Ocean Mechanical Central Design Bureau (ЦКБ «Рубин») may now need this AIP system technology to equip the 677 "Lada" class conventional submarines. The bureau's previous AIP system development project based on fuel cell and diesel fuel reforming technology has clearly stagnated; and the current diesel-electric power system is no longer sufficient to meet the requirements of modern warfare for submarine autonomy and stealth.
III. Military Technology Needs of Iran and North Korea
The common urgent needs of Iran and North Korea in the field of military technology are to obtain a large number of advanced multi-channel medium- to long-range air defense missile systems, including "Buk-M3" (Бук-М3), S-300V4, and S-350A "Vityaz" (Витязь). However, due to the need of the Russian "Almaz-Antey" Air Defense Concern (Концерн ВКО «Алмаз-Антей») to prioritize the supply of equipment for special military operations, it may be difficult to meet the needs of the air defense forces of Iran and North Korea —— therefore, technology transfer and localized production may become the only feasible solution. The equipment and software required by the relevant factories of Iran and North Korea can be provided by the relevant country.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7553126654244176438/
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