NK-33 rocket engine digital photo book DL distribution has started at Booth.
※Not recommended for ordinary people, as it is for special demand.
A collection of digital photographs of the NK-33 rocket engine developed for the Soviet Union's N-1F rocket, which was designed for a manned lunar landing. Includes 393 close-up images of parts, etc., taken from all 360° angles in detail. For rocket enthusiasts and engineers.
The NK-33 is the first stage of the Russian Soyuz 2.1v rocket and the first stage of the U.S. Antares rocket, which Aerojet has been refurbishing since the 2010s. Antares rocket. There was also a proposal to purchase and use the NK-33 from Russia in the initial proposal for the GX rocket planned by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA).
Usage: Hobby browsing, consideration of engine technology, development reference, model making, etc.
ロケットエンジンシステムについて、これ程具体的に書かれた日本語書籍は今まで無かった様に思います。制御、バルブ、系統等も扱い、製造手法にも及んだフルパッケージ本となりました。第一宇宙速度を目指す、ロケットエンジンのシステム統合教科書。自作ロケットエンジン13t級の扉は開き、日本のDIYロケッティアに、ここ10年で最も衝撃を与える1冊。（扉を開くだけで、DIY出来るとは言っていない） This is the Russian/Soviet Union rocket engine Commentary book. Technical commentary on S5.2 rocket engine of Scud missile based on Soviet internal manuals etc. A total of about 180,000 characters, 198 p. Based on over 250 drawings and photographs, we introduce from development history to actual rocket engine system.
We also handled control, valves, systems, etc., and it became a full package book covering manufacturing methods. System integrated textbook of rocket engine aiming at first space velocity. We will open the door of 13t class rocket engine.
I took some photos of the RD-214 rocket engine on my trip and I'm uploading them. Total number of photos: 110. If you had a rocket engine, you would want to take pictures of it from many different angles, right?
The RD-214 engine is a rocket engine developed for ballistic missiles, which require rapid-fire, rapid-reaction propulsion with nitric acid and kerosene propellants that can be stored at room temperature.
It was installed on the R-12 ballistic missile provided to Cuba during the Cuban crisis. The designer was Valentin Grushko, and although the fuel was different, the configuration was very similar to that of the Soyuz rocket RD-107/108.
In fact, this RD-214 seems to be partly a replica (a dummy) of the RD-107/108. Certainly, there are some weld marks on the combustion chamber. As for the turbo pump, the actual pump is extremely heavy, so if you place a scuffed combustion chamber underneath and put a heavy object on top, the center of gravity will be unstable.
The author believes that the dummy part was made deliberately for display purposes, but there was no economic rationale for such a laborious process, and it was for training purposes such as inspection, maintenance, and firing.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
For breaking through Missile Defense system, Russia has developed new ICBM for 20 years, with hypersonic cruise Re-entry Vehicle assisted by scramjet engine.
Russia has devised measures to break through the US Missile Defense (MD) and SDI since the Soviet era. As a result of research and development for more than 20 years, the new ICBM which appeared after 2019 has a winged warhead with scramjet engine. This missile will be able to glide, cruise flight, mobility and We have never seen before. What shape is this hypersonic glider type missile? We analyzed this.
結果として、アバンガルドは、ロシアの極超音速飛行研究を行っている、CIAM（Central Institute of Aviation Motors in Moscow）中央航空力学研究所 が開発した、極超音速飛行及びスクラムジェットエンジン実験機：IGLA飛翔体シリーズのGLL-8 (GLL-VK)をベースにしている可能性が高いという結論に至った。IGLAとは、CIAMが計画している極超音速実験機の総称のことである。「Issgedovatelyaskii Giperzvukovoi Letatelyania Aparrat」と呼ばれ、英語では「Research hypersonic vehicle」の意味を指す。
米国は、NASAのスペースプレーン計画：X-30 National Aero-Space Plane（NSAP）が打ち切られた後、より安価な研究代替手段として、ロシアの技術に目を付けた。「GLL Holod」に続く、研究開発として「Holod」計画が立ち上がり、1994年～1998年まで、NASAはCIAMと共同研究を実施して、デュアルモードスクラムジェットエンジンの試験を行い、これにより技術とノウハウが西側に移転された。最終テストは、1998年に実施され、SA-5ミサイル先端に搭載したHolodの実飛行試験を行っている。（NASAによると、推力飛行は達成されなかった）
For breaking through Missile Defense system, Russia has developed new ICBM for 20 years, with hypersonic cruise Re-entry Vehicle assisted by scramjet engine.
Russia has devised measures to break through the US Missile Defense (MD) and SDI since the Soviet era. As a result of research and development for more than 20 years, the new ICBM which appeared after 2019 has a winged warhead with scramjet engine. This missile will be able to glide, cruise flight, mobility and We have never seen before. What shape is this hypersonic glider type missile? We analyzed this.
1．Russia to deploy hypersonic missiles, some believe it will be difficult to intercept
On December 26, 2018, newspapers published articles about the successful launch of Russia's new Avangard ICBM and missile deployment. The content of these articles was about Russia's progress in deploying Avangard and new ICBMs for 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that the new Avangard hypersonic missile, which had been rushed into development in response to the U.S. "nuclear strategy review," will be fielded in 2019. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and is said to be difficult to intercept by the U.S. missile defense system. If deployed, the deployment could lead to an intensification of the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Russia.
On the same day, the Russian military conducted a successful test launch against a target on the Kamchatka Peninsula, about 6,000 kilometers from the midwestern province of Orenburg. Mr. Putin, who witnessed the test firing at the Defense Ministry facility in Moscow, said, "It is impossible to capture the enemy's missile defense system, which is expected to be used by the enemy. It's a big victory," he said, stressing the ability to neutralize the U.S. missile defense system. He declared that the missile will be deployed to the Russian military next year and praised himself as "the best New Year's present for Russia.
According to the Russian government, Avangard flies at hypersonic speeds of Mach 20 while dodging enemy missile defense systems, which makes it extremely difficult to intercept, according to the Russian government. The development of Avangard was announced by Mr. Putin in March in response to the Nuclear Strategy Review announced by the United States in February, which included the development of new small nuclear weapons and nuclear cruise missiles. (Moscow - Ryosuke Ishibashi)
This is a great success, a great victory." (Russian President Vladimir Putin)
The final launch test of the Avangard hypersonic missile system was conducted on April 26. The missile was launched from the southern Russian province of Orenburg, and it has landed on a target in the Kamchatka region of the Far East.
President Vladimir Putin confirmed the launch in Moscow, congratulated the development team and announced that Avangard will be deployed next year. Avangard was announced by Putin in March of this year as being capable of "breaking through all kinds of missile defense networks.
Russia has been developing hypersonic missiles that are considered difficult to intercept, partly because of its history of strongly opposing the U.S. missile defense network it is deploying in Europe and elsewhere.
On March 20 this month, President Vladimir Putin expressed concern about the U.S. ground-based missile interceptor system, Aegis Ashore, which is set to be introduced in Japan, on the grounds that it could be diverted for offensive purposes. (27th, 02:08)
Russia: Watch Successful Public Test-Launch of Avangard Hypersonic Missile
President Vladimir Putin said, "A breakthrough is needed against the qualitative and quantitative growth of Russia's other military capabilities.
Avangard, as a gliding flyer, has great maneuverability in the cross-range direction as well as in the downrange direction, like ballistic missiles. It is maneuverable and can potentially improve the warfare system. In general, high dynamic pressure and heat loads in ICBM warhead re-entry cause mis-impacting errors.
For example, it has been found that, when designed as a lifting body, it can extend its cross-range capability by 35 km under normal re-entry conditions (within boosted temperature and dynamic pressure conditions). Under a shallow re-entry condition of -20°, a cross-range capability of 250 km can be achieved. This remains within normal acceleration limits.
Such a flying object is subjected to severe thermal condition loading. However, by using a new composite material, the severe thermal protection problem in long flights has been solved. This protects the wing under the formation of plasma on re-entry. Its surface temperature reaches 1600-2000 degrees Celsius, in which wing control is reliably implemented. Like a fireball, it will enter the target like a meteorite. In fact, it is said that the people in Siberia who live near the landing site mistook the test vehicle for a meteorite.
The official video shows a CG of the fuselage's exterior, but it does not show the actual aircraft. However, this video does not show the actual fuselage. "The fuselage's appearance is classified and we cannot show its true appearance, but everything went well," it was announced.
2．Discussion on the Avangard launch test on December 26, 2018
Here's what the author was able to read from this video.
A hot launch is being performed from the silo.
The first square lid opened appears to be one of the holes in the silo to allow the flames and gas to escape from the silo launch. The video footage also shows that there are about three or four holes or more holes drilled in the silo to allow the flame and gas to escape.
As It was introduced last time, the new ICBM launched is a Stela rocket (Kondor-E, SHS-2 fairing type), SS-19.
If this is the final test, it is thought that the SS-19 is used as the base for the missile, and only the warhead is modified (i.e., Avangard) to make it mobile and glide, despite being described as a "new ICBM.
3．Is Avangard's true identity an evolution of the Albatross ICBM mobile reentry vehicle?
In the previous article, we showed that the origin of Avangard is the mobile reentry vehicle of the Albatross ICBM development project. In the previous article, we showed that the real identity of Avangard is the origin of the Albatross ICBM project.
In the course of organizing and collecting the information, we found hints in the academic literature. By integrating this information with news articles, the contours of Russia's new ICBM and new reentry warhead emerged.
As a result, Avangard was able to identify a series of experimental hypersonic flight and scramjet engine test aircraft: the IGLA flying vehicle series, developed by the Central Institute of Aviation Motors in Moscow (CIAM), which conducts hypersonic flight research in Russia. IGLA is the generic term for CIAM's planned hypersonic experimental vehicle, most likely based on the GLL-8 (GLL-VK). It is called "Issgedovatelyaskii Giperzvukovoi Letatelyania Aparrat," which in English means "research hypersonic vehicle.
The vehicle was developed as an experimental vehicle for hypersonic flight and scramjet engines at cruising speeds from Mach 6 to 14. Its main purpose is described as an experimental vehicle for the development of future space planes.
However, its shape is very similar in appearance to the Albatross ICBM project's mobile re-entry warhead-based emergency rescue system. In addition, for other reasons discussed below, it was determined that it was derived from the Albatross ICBM. In other words, it is highly likely that it evolved from Albatross ICBMs, then IGLA flying machines, then Avangard, and if we focus on the IGLA flying machines, we will be able to follow the outline of Avangard.
Mock-up of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK)
Emergency rescue material system based on the Albatross ICBM project's mobile re-entry warhead
Compared to the IGLA GLL-8 above, the shapes are very similar
Details will be discussed below, but in summary, the author believes it is more likely to have evolved from Albatross ICBM to IGLA to Avangard for the following reasons
The Albatross ICBM was developed with the concept of making the warhead mobile to deal with ICBM interceptor systems with Cold War-era SDI lasers and mechanical destruction, and the utility of the technology is a concept that can be transferred to current BMD counterparts. The Avangard has been developed with the concept of breaking through BMDs with gliding and mobile reentry warheads. Both have very similar concepts and objectives. It is very likely that technical assets have been diverted.
The Albatross ICBM's mobile reentry warhead is very similar in appearance to the Hypersonic Flight and Scramjet Engine Test Vehicle: the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), and it is likely that Albatross ICBM technology has been appropriated.
The Albatross ICBM, the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), and Avangard all three share the same concept of being launched by the same ballistic missile, the SS-19 ICBM, which glides and cruises.
Avangard is believed to have powered flight and cruising capabilities, as described in a previous article. In fact, information about its development has been in the news. If it has an air-sucking hypersonic flight engine, it would be a scramjet engine, given its speed range.
CIAM, which developed the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), is the organization that successfully flight-tested the world's first experimental scramjet engine, the GLL Holod. If Avangard has the capability of powered flight in hypersonic flight as well as gliding, CIAM is likely to be included in the project as a research and development organization. In that case, the natural course of action would be to divert technology from the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) for development.
Of course, it is possible that an organization other than CIAM could have been involved in the development of Avangard, but in 1998, when Avangard development began, Russia was in the midst of a financial crisis, and it would be more rational from a financial and technical standpoint than incorporating a new organization with no experience or track record.
In 1998, when Avangard development began, the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) flight test program was underway, which was very similar to the Avangard flight concept.
The IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) program and Avangard's development plan are consistent with each other in terms of development timing.
The above is based on the maximum case scenario, and it is possible that Avangard will not be equipped with a scramjet engine and will glide and maneuver solely on the initial kinetic energy provided by the ICBM.
4．Has the IGLA flying object GLL-8 (GLL-VK) evolved into Avangard?
The following is an overview of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) as presented in academic conferences and papers held in Russia and abroad in the late 1990s (around 1997-1999). According to the gathered data, IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) was planned in the late 1990s to be installed on the SS-19 ICBM in the future for full-flight tests with actual flights.
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) 飛翔体概要図
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) on board the SS-19 ICBM
Albatross ICBM (SS-19) at the time of the project
The Albatross ICBM project and the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) project are very similar
This is the same configuration as the SS-19 used in the Albatross ICBM mobile warhead program. Furthermore, the plans shown were almost identical to those used during the Albatross ICBM, and the flying object contained inside the fairing was exactly the same as the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK).
In December 2018 and elsewhere, the Avangard was also launched in December 2018, a modified derivative of the SS-19 ICBM's fairing, and the three share a commonality.
In other words, the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) is a descendant of the Albatross ICBM, which was developed during the Cold War to evade U.S. SDI, and Avangard, which was developed in the 2000s as a glide and maneuvering warhead capable of evading them when the U.S. launched its BMD program, was most likely based on the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK).
The source article presented in the previous article,
In the early 2000s, Russia conducted multiple tests of winged, maneuverable flying machines.
The Russian announcement states that the development of the new RV began in 1998, but is the result of basic research and development that began in the 1980s.
These explanations are not contradictory when one considers that the descendant of the Albatross ICBM is the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) and Avangard is being developed from it.
The statement in the source article that "The changeable RV and ICBM integration test is believed to have been demonstrated in the seventh flight test of SS27 in 1999" is also not unlike the statement in the source article, when you consider that the flight and basic tests and other tests trailing from the Albatross ICBM were included or conducted outside the SS-19.
Comparison of the published flight description diagrams of the IGLA test aircraft (top) and the Avangard test aircraft (Topol-M-equipped form) (bottom). From this, it can be seen that the two aircraft are similar.
5．Some information came out of Russia in the late 1990s because of the financial crisis?
In the late 1990s, Russia was suffering an economic downturn following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In fact, it was around that time that the Russian financial crisis also occurred. (On August 17, 1998, the Kiriyenko government and the Russian Central Bank suspended foreign debt payments for 90 days, the ruble fell, etc.) This financial crisis would continue until the 2000s.
It is well known that due to the financial crisis of the time, Russia sold military and aerospace technologies of the Cold War era to foreign countries without a care in the world. At this time, the RD-180 rocket engine was adopted as the first stage engine for the U.S. Atlas V rocket, and it was during this period that we exchanged technology for export.
In 1995, the Kh-31 supersonic anti-ship missile was contracted to export its own front-line deployed missiles to the United States, a former enemy of the United States. The U.S. refurbished it as a target drone and operated it as the MA-31, as a target for the period 1996-2007. It's a strange thing to be able to buy actual missiles deployed in enemy countries from them and actually test and train to intercept them.
MA-31 target drone with a modified Kh-31 supersonic anti-ship missile
Under such circumstances, they must have wanted to attract investment and cooperation not only in business, but also in terms of research funding. As a result, they may have actively promoted their research to the outside world, and as a result, these materials may have emerged as academic materials.
In fact, the U.S. NASA and Russia's CIAM conducted joint research after the Cold War; CIAM successfully flight-tested the world's first scramjet engine test aircraft, the GLL Holod, in November 1991, setting a speed record of Mach 5.8, before developing the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK).
The United States turned to Russian technology as a cheaper research alternative after NASA's Spaceplane Program: the X-30 National Aero-Space Plane (NSAP) was terminated. Following the "GLL Holod", the "Holod" program was launched as a follow-up to the "GLL Holod", and from 1994 to 1998, NASA collaborated with CIAM to test a dual-mode scramjet engine, which transferred technology and know-how to the West. The final test was conducted in 1998 and involved live flight testing of the Holod mounted on the tip of the SA-5 missile. (According to NASA, no thrust flight was achieved.)
Holodの実機写真
SA-5 surface-to-air missile refurbished and tipped with Holod,
a joint CIAM/NASA scramjet engine test
6．IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) flying machines to infer Avangard's performance
Even though it is not a simple picture of "IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) = Avangard," I believe a lot can be learned by examining IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) and summarize the information below.
6-1．ICBM: SS-19 (UR-100N UTTKh)
The following is a summary of the performance of the SS-19, which is a launch vehicle ICBM.
◆ SS-19 (UR-100N UTTKh, Stiletto) ICBM
Diameter: 2.5 m
Total length: 27 m
Firing Weight: 105.6 tons
Payload: 6 MIRVs, 3,355 kg
Range: 10,000 km
Propulsion: 2-stage liquid rocket engine + PBV
Firing System:Silo-Firing Type
SS-19 during ground transportation
The SS-19 is capable of carrying six 550kT MIRVs, but under the START II Treaty, this was to be reduced to one shot.
In December 1995, the Commander of the Strategic Rocket Forces, Colonel Igor Sergeyev, announced that the service life of the SS-19 would be extended by 10-25 years; those manufactured and deployed in the 1980s would be deployed until 2005. Therefore, the SS-19 should be retired around 2015.
Since the previous article reported that the SS-25 and others were also used for test flights, the performance values of the SS-25 are also shown below. Solid-fuel rocket motor is used, and it can be launched immediately, but considering that IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) uses liquid hydrogen (see below), the actual launch outside of a well-equipped place will be a tough one. It is also smaller than the SS-19, with a diameter of 1.7 meters.
If the SS-25 had ever been launched with the SS-25, it would have been only for elemental testing, or it would have been launched with Avangard itself modified to store liquid fuel. (See below.)
◆ SS-25 (RT-2PM/Topol) ICBM performance values
Diameter: 1.7 m
Overall length: 21.5 to 20.5 m
Firing Weight: 45.1 tons
Payload : Single warhead, 1,000 kg
Range: 10,500-11,000 km
Propulsion System: 3-stage Solid Rocket Motor + PBV
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) hypersonic glide, hypersonic flight, and
Flight pattern plan for the scramjet engine cruise test
The IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) was planned to be launched by the SS-19 ICBM and to follow the flight pattern described above. Although this flight pattern was based on a test flight of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), the distance scale is more than 6,000 km, and the performance is comparable to that of an actual ICBM (defined as having an effective range of more than 5,500 km).
The flight pattern of Avangard is thought to be similar to that of Avangard, and this is an extremely useful reference. After launching out of the atmosphere, it reenters and glides into the atmosphere. It would act as a glider, and in the final stage, it would ignite its scramjet engine at hypersonic speed to perform powered flight and cruise.
Note that the vertical altitude is on a scale of 110 km, while the horizontal distance is on a scale of 6,000 km.
The SS-19 is launched by an ICBM and begins its descent at an altitude of about 110 km, just before the boundary of the atmosphere and space.
At about 500 km, the SS-19, which was connected to the IGLA, controlled its direction of travel downward.
The IGLA is separated from the SS-19 at an altitude of 79km at the time of separation. Altitude of 79 km and speed of 5916 m/s at the time of separation.
It functions as a glider, gliding from 79km to about 45km, up to about 2000km.
At about 2000 km, the glider starts to cause a glide, and about 3000 km before, it starts to glide toward the target.
Glide from about 2000 km to about 5900 km.
At about 5900 km, the aircraft decelerates to Mach 10, then ignites the scramjet engine and starts powered flight and cruise.
At about 6300 km, the aircraft was recovered by parachute. (In a real battle, the aircraft is considered to fall as is.
ICBMs are generally said to have an ICBM reentry speed of about 7 km/s, but the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) will be separated at a speed of 5916 m/s, which means it will be about 1 km/s slower. This is probably because the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), which is winged and also carries an engine and fuel, is heavier than a simple nuclear warhead.
The aircraft would then be gradually deprived of kinetic energy as it increased its distance to glide. Once the aircraft is slowed down to Mach 10 flight speed, the scramjet engine is ignited. When ignited, the dynamic pressure is 5000 kg/m2. After this, the aircraft will perform a powered flight/cruise, rather than just gliding, over a distance of several hundred kilometres at an altitude between 40 and 30 kilometres.
In the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) plan, gliding accounts for the majority of this, with only a few percent of the phases being powered by scramjet engines. However, the ability to maneuver with power is a tricky problem for the opponents to deal with, as it increases the freedom of reach.
The scramjet-engined assumption is a maximum case assumption, and it is possible that the vehicle may not have a scramjet engine and may glide and maneuver solely on the initial kinetic energy given by the ICBM. It is unclear whether Avangard is equipped with a scramjet engine in the final stage, but the flight pattern of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) may be a useful resource.
6-2．Airframe shape
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) 飛翔体概要図
The aircraft is a hypersonic glider with three scramjet engines.
The Japanese translation of the figure and the summary values are shown below.
HFTB : Hypersonic Flying Test Bed
Liquid hydrogen tank
HFTB rudder unit
Scramjet engine
Flap
Spherical bottle（Nitrogen）
Spherical bottle（Helium）
Parachute container
Telemetry system equipment
Pressurized feed system
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) Aircraft Summary
Length: 6284 mm
Wing length: 3000 mm
Wing area: 11.1 m2
Elevon area: 0.78 m2
Ladder area: 1.14 m2
Wing yawing angle: 75.55
Weight: 2200 kg
Flight Speed: ~Mach 15
Cruising altitude: ~70km
Burning time: 20 to 50 s
The fuselage weight is 2000 kg, and the original fuselage is fueled by liquid hydrogen and has a fuel-carrying weight of 200 kg. The flight speed is ~mach 15 and the cruise altitude is ~70km.
At first glance, this aircraft appears to have no room to spare, but the drawings show that the area beyond the tanks has plenty of room. Therefore, I guess that it would be possible to mount a MIRV (nuclear warhead) on the tip of this aircraft as shown below.
The IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) appears to be able to carry a conical MIRV.
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) plan also includes a smaller vertical tail. It is not clear if this was done for the purpose of fairing or for aerodynamics, but the plan is shown below
IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) Small Vertical Tail Wing Version
6-3．Airframe shape and fairing
Although SS-19 is used for the ICBM to launch Avangard as pointed out previously and last time, the fairing for the retraction uses SHS-2 type fairing of Stela rocket (Kondor-E) which is a space rocket.
The scale of IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) was adjusted to the fairing and the drawing was made.
SHS-2型フェアリングとIGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK)
SHS-2 Fairing (for satellites)
From this it can be seen that the total length of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) airframe fits into the SHS-2 type fairing. The payload hatching area in the fairing is where the satellite is stored, and there are very few satellites that are long and narrow. If it does not interfere with the separation mechanism, it is expected to be feasible even if it sticks out a little. In our previous article, we also introduced the SHS-1 fairing, a shortened version of which can carry a payload to the very tip of the fairing.
It seems to be able to fit inside the fairing, but the vertical tail fins need to be folded here. Other than that, however, the scale can be retracted with some minor scale modifications.
By the way, in a previous article in the Asagumo Shimbun, it was reported that the RV is a development of the AS19 "Koala" and was developed based on a hypersonic cruise missile named "Kh90". The basic design by the Razga Design Bureau was modified to fit for high-speed and high-altitude cruise flight. The statement reads.
The Kh-90 GELA is a ramjet-powered aircraft for supersonic cruise flights, and its use for hypersonic flight in the higher speed range, such as ICBM flying, is not practical. Including this fact, this article considers the Avangard to be a development of the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), but it is possible that some of the Kh-90 GELA design may have been incorporated into the Avangard.
Kh-90 GELA
Specifically, the Kh-90 GELA, as a cruise missile launched from an air-launched carrier, must be housed in the weapon bay, with both wings employing a folding mechanism; for the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) and the Avangard, as it is, it is carried as a payload in the fairing It is difficult to fold both wings because of the scale, so the folding mechanism which has been proven in supersonic flight may be adopted.
You can see the operation test of the folding mechanism of AS-19 Koala, the original developer of Kh-90 GELA, in the following Youtube movie. (01:53-)
Kh-90 Meteorit-A (AS-19 KOALA)
AS-19 KOALA's double-wing deployment test
6-4．Scramjet engine
Scramjet engine (liquid hydrogen fuel type), which is attributed to the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK)
◆ Liquid hydrogen fueled scramjet engine
A scramjet engine, attributed to the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), is shown above, with three units in parallel. The fuel is liquid hydrogen, which is pressurized with high-pressure helium and fed to the combustion chamber.
The injectors are of the strut type and inject hydrogen in parallel with the airflow. A regenerative cooling mechanism is incorporated, which appears to gasify the liquid hydrogen and inject it into the air.
Scramjet Engine (Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Type)
Engine dimensions: 2285 x 560 x 513 mm
Engine weight: 200 kg
Fuel consumption: 1 kg/s
Inlet area: 0.26 m2
Minimum internal area: 0.09 m2
Nozzle ratio: 1.45
According to CIAM's analysis, IGLA can be used in the altitude range of 70 to 20 km and the flight speed is expected to be between Mach 18 to Mach 5.
NASP is X-30 National Aero-Space Plane of NASA's Spaceplane Program. (As mentioned above, the project has been cancelled.)
Diagram of IGLA's operating area
However, the use of liquid hydrogen presents another problem. It evaporates easily, needs to be done just before launch, and requires pre-cooling of the supply. A special liquid hydrogen supply system is needed. The volume of the insulator tank is bulky and the density of the fill-up is limited, so a rapid-response firing system is required. In other words, military applications, which require a rapid-response launch system, would be extremely difficult to handle.
Even though solid-fueled rockets have evolved, Russia has traditionally used liquid fuel for large ICBMs. The use of liquid hydrogen as fuel for final-stage engines is not likely to cause much resistance, but it would be cumbersome, for example, because of the need to set up supply ports on the internal fuselage for liquid hydrogen through fairings. In the case of silos, this can be dealt with by installing supply facilities, but it is not practical to deal with this issue for mobile vehicle-mounted ICBMs.
In order to solve these problems, we have already been studying in 1997 whether the scramjet engine of IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) can be replaced with hydrocarbon fuels, i.e., fuels that can be stored at room temperature, have good filling density, and are easy to handle, without major modifications.
It is quite possible that Avangard will not have a scramjet engine and will use only the initial kinetic energy provided by the ICBM for gliding and maneuvering, but this is a maximum case scenario.
A scramjet engine would certainly allow cruising and maneuvering in the final stage, but it would be more advantageous to simply provide glide and maneuverability in terms of reliability and CEP in the final stage, rather than installing an extra engine. If the engine is shut down at the end of the landing phase, the inlet becomes a mere air resistance.
◆ Hydrocarbon Fueled Scramjet Engine
CIAM has been studying whether hydrocarbon fuels can be used as alternatives to liquid hydrogen. Specifically, they have studied JP-7, CH4: methane, C8H18: octane, C9H20: nonane, etc.
C9H20
What is important here is that we investigated whether we could switch to hydrocarbon fuel without changing the fuselage and engine configuration. As a result, the injectors for fuel injection were converted to hydrocarbon fuel, and replacing the fuel with C9H20 was expected to improve the operating performance of the aircraft.
Therefore, if Avangard had been based on the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK), it could have been converted to a hydrocarbon fuel that is easier to handle. The studies reviewed suggest that if the tanks were the same size as the hydrogen fuel, it would be possible to carry 220 kg of C9H20 instead of 17 kg of liquid hydrogen fuel for a cruise flight of 812 km at a fuel consumption rate of 1 kg/s with the scramjet engine operating.
Comparison of performance values for IGLA using hydrocarbon fuels
Injectors for IGLA modified for hydrocarbon fuels
Hydrocarbon fuels are easy to handle, but they are limited in their operational speed range, which is narrower than that of liquid hydrogen. The maximum practical speed range is limited to about Mach 10 as shown below.
Diagram of the relationship between Isp and maximum Mach number for various fuels
7．Russia deploys a powerful new ICBM. What is the U.S. response?
The Russians appear to have developed a more powerful Avangard based on the IGLA GLL-8 (GLL-VK) performance. Its performance, as shown in Chapter 6, is extremely powerful. Rather than a simple ballistic flight like existing ICBMs, it glides and is powered by a scramjet engine, a nasty, unearthly weapon that is difficult for the interceptor to deal with.
The Russians have issued a press release with the words "a hypersonic missile that can go under any missile defense system" and "a hypersonic missile that cannot be shot down".
Trajectory comparison between a gliding, powered reentry vehicle and a conventional ballistic missile
In every world, military technology development is a tussle, but to provide this type of defense, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is already trying to launch a corresponding study.
The MDA has publicly acknowledged that current interceptors are not capable of dealing with controllable hypersonic missiles. "The MDA has publicly acknowledged that the current means of intercepting hypersonic missiles are not capable of dealing with controllable hypersonic missiles, and it has acknowledged the need to develop methods that are optimized for hypersonic missiles in the future," James Acton, director of nuclear policy studies at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, told NationalIntrest.
George Lewis, a researcher at Cornell University, said U.S. interceptor missiles can only be intercepted at distances of about 100 kilometers or more in space. However, nearly all of the glide portion of the boost-glide weapon's trajectory takes place at altitudes below 100 km. Existing GBI or SM-3 missiles would be nearly impossible to intercept. Even if a THAAD-ER system could be developed that could intercept the missiles at an altitude of about 40 km, it would be difficult to intercept them due to their advanced trajectories. A weakness, he said, is that boost-glide weapons could be observed again from early warning satellites if they are heated by reentry.
The MDA calls for the implementation of research and development of an interceptor that allows for high G flight control at hypersonic speeds, arguing that a method of "controlling flight at hypersonic speeds with minimal kinetic energy loss while maximizing flight control" is needed, and requests $120.4 million for hypersonic weapons measures in the FY 2019 budget.
In terms of content, it assumes a speed range of Mach 5 or higher and an altitude of 50 kilometers or more, with interceptors less than 1 meter or more than 5 meters in size, according to the report.
Meanwhile, DARPA is seeking proposals for a "Glide Breaker" defense concept for hypersonic weapons. As DARPA explains, "The purpose of the Glide Breaker is to enhance the U.S. defense posture to be effective against the entire range of hypersonic and hypersonic threats.
The development of intercontinental ballistic missile technology and defense technology has entered a new phase in the development of intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
