THE GENIUS OF ROCKET SYSTEMS

Vladimir Dernovoi
 

Currently, the Russian Grad, Uragan and Smerch MLRSs are as well known all over the world as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, T-34 main battle tank and Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters. However, in 1957, Ganichev made tremendous efforts to rejuvenate the very idea and substantiate the viability of multiple-launch rocket systems, as many of his opponents did not believe in the combat capabilities of the MLRS.

Alexander Ganichev was born on August 25, 1918, to a peasant family in a village of Sudakovo, Tula Region. In 1938, he graduated from the Tula Industrial Institute and was employed by the Tula Cartridge Plant. During World War II, Ganichev worked at Novosibirsk and Zelenodolsk-based enterprises. Beginning in 1945 until his death he worked at the Research Institute NII-147 (later the Splav State-owned Research and Production Association).

Great intellect, managerial abilities and purposefulness enabled Alexander Ganichev to rise from a position as a rank-and-file engineer all the way through the post of First Deputy Director General within a comparatively short period.

From the very beginning of Splav’s operations, Ganichev launched the development of a new generation of artillery cartridges and their series production technology. In 1957, he initiated the development of new-generation MLRS and related rockets.

Currently, the Russian Grad, Uragan and Smerch MLRSs are as well known all over the world as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, T-34 main battle tank and Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters. However, in 1957, Ganichev made tremendous efforts to rejuvenate the very idea and substantiate the viability of multiple-launch rocket systems, as many of his opponents did not believe in the combat capabilities of the MLRS.

Following the in-depth analysis of MLRS development trends, Ganichev proposed new approaches and original technological solutions to the design of rockets and new production technologies of rocket motors and warheads. For example, he suggested that an artillery cartridge production technology (deep stretching) be used for the manufacture of rocket casings. At his suggestion, rockets were equipped with extending tail fins and tandem motors.

As a result, in 1963 the first modern multiple-launch rocket system was commissioned into service: the 122mm Grad MLRS with 40 launch rails and a maximum range of 20 km. This design served as a powerful impetus to MLRS development worldwide.

In the Soviet Union, Grad became the basic MLRS as an inter-service weapon system which is still unmatched in the world. Grad versions were also developed for the Navy and airborne forces.

In 1965, an important governmental order was fulfilled within three months: the Grad-P Partizan light portable single-barrel rocket system was delivered with a firing range of 11 km, an achievement which most vividly reflected the design unification approach. The basic 122mm system was also further developed: in 1967, the Army received the Grad-V MLRS with 12 launch rails and a firing range of over 20 km and in 1976—the regiment-level Grad-1 MLRS with 36 launch rails and a range of 15 km.

A brilliant technologist, Ganichev applied to his systems an integrated design and technological approach which made it possible to reduce labor consumption by Grad manufacture dozens of times over 15 years. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ganichev formulated a design concept for a higher fire power MLRS called Prima. The designer set himself a supposedly impossible task of developing a system which would surpass Grad several times in terms of firepower, while relying technologically on existing production facilities.

Ganichev implemented in Prima several principally new design solutions which primarily concerned the rocket design. The control signal from electronic fuze separated the warhead from rocket motor in a specified trajectory point and deployed a parachute system which helped the warhead destroy a target. In December 1982, Prima successfully passed production plant tests.

Ganichev’s creative ideas were always directed to the future. As far back as in 1964, when Grad was still being introduced into series production, Ganichev prepared an engineering report on MLRS further development. In his report, Ganichev proposed that the 200mm Uragan MLRS should be developed, equipped with 16 launch rails. For the first time, cluster warheads were proposed for MLRS to provide for a larger kill area in a single salvo. The system had a 35 km firing range and used new types of rockets tipped with fragmentation cluster warheads, HE warheads, antitank mines, etc.

In the late 1960s, Ganichev contemplated a 300mm MLRS with a firing range of 70 km. He supervised work on range correction and rocket attitude stabilization which increased the system’s combat efficiency several times. This MLRS was called Smerch. However, Ganichev could not finish work on this system, as he died on January 2, 1983. This project was completed by his disciple, Gennady Denezhkin, Chief Designer, Hero of Socialist Labor. Currently, Smerch has no counterparts in the world and serves as the basic system for future MLRSs.

Ganichev had a great intuition for research and foresaw that MLRS would develop into a smart weapon system. In 1980, Ganichev demonstrated the first self-aiming warhead, while at a research and technological council session he discussed the project of the first homing warhead for MLRS. Beginning in the 1960s, Ganichev successfully developed MLRS technologies for civilian applications: the Oblako and Nebo systems were designed to fight against hail.

Ganichev was founder of a new scientific school and brought up a whole generation of proficient researchers. Many people from Splav and component supplier plants became competent and creative designers, researchers and engineers thanks to Ganichev’s guidance. He supervised the development of 10 MLRSs and over 40 types of MLRS rockets and received almost 400 patents.

Splav is celebrating Ganichev’s 80th anniversary with a worthy achievement: following a thorough modernization, Grad’s firing range has been increased from 20 km to 40 km.

For the outstanding contribution in the development of armaments, Alexander N. Ganichev was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor and was two-time recipient of the State Prize.

The jubilees of the Designer and his renowned weapon system were formally marked in Tula and St. Petersburg. In commemorating the brilliant Russian designer, memorial boards were unveiled, his MLRSs were put on memorial displays and scholarships for Tula University students were granted.