Planes ghosts: breakthrough in a stratosphere

What means of the USA, Russia and China will conduct investigation?

In China recently made weeds the hyper sound plane which on speed surpassed all modern supersonic planes, including the American strategic supersonic scout of Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (on a photo). About it on September 21 reported the Chinese mass media.

– It was the first test flight of the plane with hyper sound speed (not less than 5 numbers of the Move), and it passed with full success, – the Chinese military expert Lu Syaodun told. – In the USA for a long time are engaged in development of the hyper sound plane of the new generation, capable to reach speeds in 5 Moves, however these plans of Americans while remain on paper. This time China, it is possible to tell, surpassed all expectations of observers.

According to the expert, for implementation of this project it was necessary to possess technology of the hyper sound direct-flow propulsion jet engine which still was not in one country of the world, and also to develop the strong, easy and fire-resistant new materials, capable to sustain high temperatures to which the aircraft (LA) is warmed up when flying on a hyper sound. Lu Syaodun noted that hyper sound planes are capable to overcome successfully the air defenses modern systems therefore air reconnaissance can be one of perspective spheres of their application.

Let’s note that at the end of August of the 2015th it became known that the American company Lockheed Martin develops the "invisible" scout plane on replacement well-known U-2. As the head of this program Scott Winstead reported, the main difference of the new car consists in use of the stealth technology which will make it the opponent invisible to a radar.

He also declared that the project assumes use of all of the best that is at present U-2 and BLA Global Hawk. On plans of the designers, the new plane can rise by height more than 23 km to conduct from there supervision and air photography.

The American strategic prospecting U-2 Dragon Lady plane (this "nickname" is synonymous to Russian «the iron lady», but it is literally translated as «дракониха») – one of symbols «cold war». According to official figures, in total U-2 planes got into the Soviet air space 24 times. And, as the experts tell, known raid on May 1, 1960 when the plane was brought down by an anti-aircraft missile over vicinities of Sverdlovsk, and pilot Francis Powers safely fell on a parachute and was taken prisoner, was actually not the last – and after that U-2 planes continued to get into air space of our country, however, not on too deep water.

Let’s notice that with a view of continuous and steady information support of VS operating on various battlefields, Americans at the moment apply not only means of space investigation, but also various type prospecting devices: U-2S Dragon Lady planes, bespilotnik of RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, and also strategic prospecting planes on the basis of transport and refueling RC-135 planes.

What place at modern development of technologies scout planes in Armed forces, including occupy the Russian? Whether really Chinese tested the hyper sound plane? What actions should be undertaken Russia?

The member of advisory council of Board of the Military-industrial commission of the Russian Federation, the editor-in-chief of the magazine «Fatherland Arsenal» Victor Murakhovsky does not trust messages of the Chinese mass media on tests of the fastest plane in the world.

– Speed of 5 Moves MBR military units, but they thus now develop the uncontrollable. But as to operated devices while all experimental samples which are available for us and in the USA are demonstrators of technologies. Anybody has no final product, and I think that will pass many years while it will appear. Here and the question and in engines – the ordinary turbojet plane till such speed will not disperse, both in materials, and in a control system. Therefore the message of the Chinese party on tests of such high-speed plane – a throw.

– The American press reported that in the USA the "invisible" scout plane on replacement well-known U-2 is developed. However in recent years at discussion of the budget of the Pentagon speech about repeatedly came completely to refuse from U-2 and to replace them with "bespilotnik".

– I think, in the new plane of sense is not present, and official requests for development from the U.S. Air Force after all will not arrive.

It is clear that such devices as U-2, Lockheed A-12 and its subsequent development – Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, were developed for conducting air reconnaissance over the territory of the opponent. But now this sort of tasks successfully carry out optiko-electronic means of space investigation. It is known that permission of modern equipment, and in a multispectral range, makes literally 10-15 centimeters.

Why at such development of technologies to create the new high-rise scout plane, – it is unclear. If it is possible to apply and a strategic bespilotnik of RQ-4 Global Hawk who can be in air till 36 o’clock (in 2012 the American military began development of «the universal adapter of useful loading» (UPA) which should allow to establish optiko-electronic systems EORS-2b and the equipment of radio-electronic investigation of ASIP U-2S planes on Global Hawk, however in 2013 refused the project, having found it "inexpedient").

– At one time in Russia said that in the Air Force of Russia the acute shortage of scout planes is felt and that prospecting complexes of existing Su-24MP, Il-20РТ and MiG-25Р strongly became outdated. There was even information in 2012 that the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation expects to carry out scout plane modernization MiG-25 which release was stopped in 1976. But after all these planes conduct not strategic investigation …

– And operational and tactical. Yes, at us remained in insignificant quantity of Su-24MP and prospecting Su-22M3 option – Su-22M3P. But, as showed armed conflict in South Ossetia of 2008, in modern conditions such scout planes are very vulnerable – the Georgian anti-aircraft weapons brought down one Su-24MP. Therefore for such tasks after all it is better to use BLA – they both are operative, and are cheap.

By the way, from strategic scouts of SR-71 Blackbird who were officially attributed to the U.S. Air Force, but carried out flights in interests of the Pentagon and CIA, Americans refused in 1998 not only because they were extremely expensive and their resource came to an end. But also because there were more perfect means of investigation.

Now in armies of the developed states we see sharp decrease in number of piloted devices scouts. Planes of radio engineering investigation, and as an element REB, instead of for conducting usual specific investigation are generally used only. These tasks, I will repeat, bespilotnik and space means now carry out.

The USA, for example, – while the unique country in the world which possesses all range of bespilotnik, beginning from strategic and finishing nano-BLA which are started from a palm and fly to examine the next room.

– After over the territory of Ukraine the Malaysian "Boeing" making prospecting flight over Baltic the plane of the U.S. Air Force of RC135 Rivet Joint was brought down compelled to break the Swedish air space, disappearing from the Russian fighter. As reported mass media, Russia then traced it by means of a land radar and sent it on interception the fighter aircraft. Then the American plane flew in a zone on which crossing it had no permission.

– RC-135 is the plane intended for strategic radio-electronic investigation, radio interception, activity tracking, first of all the land purposes. He allows to transfer operative prospecting data to directly military command of the USA (now these planes are a part of the 45th and 97th prospecting eskadriliya of the 55th wing at the Incorporated strategic command of Armed forces of the USA). On them the most powerful radar of the lateral review which allows to open in high resolution objects of the opponent, including moving targets is established.

However space investigation in real time – the extremely expensive pleasure. In fact, over the alleged area of operations it is necessary to "hang up" the stationary satellite because others work with a certain step-type behavior.

– That is the USA for investigation of objects in the Russian territory have the whole range of means: beginning from BLA MQ-1 Predator which they placed in Europe, and finishing RC-135 and space satellite group, and Russia can lean only on a space segment?

– Yes, plus should not be forgotten about radio engineering investigation by means of the ships which on come into territorial waters (how it is done by oceanographic vessels, read in the material "Amber" frightened the Pentagon).

– And as to the Air Force strategic bombers of Russia which intensity of flights near North America grew recently? They are equipped with equipment of radar-tracking investigation …

– But in comparison with the REB and DRLO specialized planes of their possibility are extremely limited. On "strategists" really there is such equipment, but it puts hindrances directly at threat when means of investigation define the fact of operation of radars, prompting systems, – the expert concludes.

Let’s note that for Americans it is important to trace moving of military equipment in the territory of Russia because as a part of our VS there are mobile missile systems of strategic purpose of c MBR of the Topol-M and Yars type, and in the future on fighting watch there are fighting railway missile systems. For the Russian military of an urgent need to conduct investigation directly territories of the USA is not present, considering a powerful arsenal of strategic nuclear missiles. Our tasks – to trace moving of the American underwater forces, avianosny striking forces, that is – other objects.

The head of analytical service "Aviaport" Oleg Panteleev as doubts that in China the efficient sample of the hyper sound plane, instead of the flying laboratory, capable to work in such mode only was created 1,5 seconds.

– To speak about existence in China in the near future high-grade fighting system which can carry out of a task for the speed in 5 Moves prematurely. At least, still any of the countries of the world did not manage to create such system.

Though Americans and Russians already provided operability of a key element – the engine – for several seconds, but it is obviously not enough of it for high-grade fighting system. Especially, at present development of satellite technologies and rather hardly noticeable BLA having very low cost, expediency of creation of very expensive scout planes looks ambiguously.

But as to the USA, the Lockheed Martin project on replacement U-2 looks much realistichny. After all Americans can apply absolutely with impunity in this or that region piloted equipment because in the territory of the country which investigation is conducted, often there are no serious anti-aircraft weapons. Especially, I think, it is a question that the plane can fly in option option, that is with the pilot and without the pilot on certain tasks.

The expert in the field of pilotless systems Denis Fedutinov believes that in the next years in the USA the mixed structure of the Air Force including both piloted, and pilotless aircraft will be formed.

– The tendency on gradual increase in a share of the last will take place thus. The reasons for that a little – beginning from the main advantage of BLA before piloted LA on safety of pilots, and finishing economy questions. After all the mixed group currently sees as more optimum and from the financial point of view.

Most likely, such tendency will concern as well high-rise scout planes. Here, I think, most likely, will occur gradual (at emergence of adequate means of useful loading) replacement of U-2 planes by BLA Global Hawk. Besides, there is an opinion that in addition also can have development of BLA TR X which is planned to creation by the Lockheed Martin company. However, it is impossible to exclude as well that plans on development of high-rise systems of aviation investigation will include optional piloted systems.

As to Russia, I consider that very actual the problem of creation of the modern high-rise scout plane here too is. Including in pilotless option. It is thought that, probably, this task already is solved within NIR "Review-1" which is carried out by TsAGI of Zhukovsky together with EMZ of Myasishchev (details about a high-rise, stratospheric bespilotnik are coded, but it is known that he will receive the extended wing with high weight return, duration of flight – not less than 24 hours; the volume of financing of the project under the contract in the 2014th made 57 million rubles).