PISHCHAL TARGET MISSILE: CHEAP, EFFECTIVE, AND SIMPLE TO USE

he final stage of combat training of air defense missile units ends with practice firing at real targets. It is rather complicated to fire at targets simulating the up-to-date types of high precision weapons featuring a wide range of velocities and flight altitudes, a capability of maneuvering with high overloads, a poorly visible configuration, and low vulnerability.
 

Target missile on launcher

 
To meet the needs of the Air Defense Forces, the Avitek Engineering Enterprise at Vyatsk has developed the Pishchal target. It is based on the 5V27 solid-propellant surface-to-air missile (SAM) of the S-125 system and simulates modern high-precision weapons.
The RM-5V27 target missile consists of two stages: a jettisonable launching booster and a sustainer stage. During modification of the SAM, the radio fuze and warhead are removed and replaced with an onboard programmed command device used to select the desired trajectory of flight and a flare for visual observation of the target flight.

The solid-propellant target missile is ready for launch at all times unlike its liquid-propellant counterparts, which require time and assets to fill or drain fuel and oxidizer.

During the initial phase of flight, the target is controlled in the normal mode of operation of the SNR-125M1 missile guidance radar in response to radio commands, with a changeover to autonomous control from the programmed command device on board the RM-5V27 target missile. The trajectory of target flight is selected before launch and can be maneuverless or with nose-up/nose-down pitching maneuvers. The maneuver speed is ensured by operation of the booster and sustainer at normal flying conditions of the target missile, as well as by a potential delay in sustainer start.

In flight, the RM-5V27 can be detected in the radar frequency band (ERA is 0.3 m2). 

The target can be watched by the engine flame (for 20 s) or by the flare flame (for up to 110 s) after engine shutdown. The target missile can be launched in the ballistic mode to altitudes of 40 to 50 km over ranges of 85 to 90 km. In this case, the maximum time of flight will be equal to 200 s.

Safe handling of the RM-5V27 target is increased compared to the SAM because the warhead is removed but the safety and arming mechanism with three safety barriers, used to prevent its actuation on the ground, remains.
 

Type flight trajectories

The flight safety is ensured by the self-destruction system which operates:
– at a preset time of flight;
– in response to a command or disappearance of radio control commands from the SNR-125M1 guidance radar.
    
The self-destruction occurs by explosion of the safety and arming mechanism resulting in destruction of the third section and splitting of the RM-5V27 into pieces.

The RM-5V27 needs no checks during two years of service.

A variety of trajectories are realized by selecting the requisite elevation angle of the launcher and by switching over the programmed command device before launch.

It is remarkable that 5V27 SAMs with expired service lives are used as targets instead of being disposed of. The fleet of 5V27 SAMs with expired service lives totals several tens of thousands of units.

The S-125 air defense missile system used to launch the RM-5V27 target is widely spread and is operational in Russia and in dozens of 
foreign countries.

To launch the RM-5V27, use is made of the standard ground equipment of the S-125 AD missile system without modifications, i.e., after targets are launched, the AD missile system remains ready for combat and can be used for its original purpose.

The combat crew of the AD missile system is well qualified to launch target missiles and does not require special training.

The characteristics of the RM-5V27 allow its use for training the combat crews of various AD missile systems, such as Pantsyr or the S-300.
The investment to transform a 5V27 SAM into a target is negligible and, hence, the costs of modification will be low and economically sound for the customer...