Russia is unable to fully implement the SPRN program, a missile attack warning system that has needed serious modernization since the days of the USSR.
Defense News writes that Russia is facing problems and delays in the implementation of its space program to create and modernize a missile attack warning system (EWS). All the blame for Western sanctions, which did not allow the aggressor country to acquire modern technologies for modernization and the creation of new equipment necessary for this purpose.
What is missile attack warning system?
The early warning system is the successor to the Soviet Oko and Oko-1 systems, which worked from 1982 to 2019 but were morally and technically worn out, and their performance and reliability are a big question mark. Therefore, the development of a new early warning system in the Russian Federation began in 2000, but the Russian government signed a contract with the Energia company for the implementation of this grandiose project only in 2007. However, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation repeatedly changed the tactical and technical requirements of the system, causing delays in production, and a fully updated SRPN was never commissioned.
As planned, the modernized SRPN includes the deployment of ten Tundra satellites, which should monitor enemy ballistic missile launches in space. Russia launched its first Tundra satellite in November 2015 and planned to launch two satellites per year, but actually managed to send five of the ten military satellites currently needed into orbit. Program deadlines have been continually delayed, and the next launch point is now 2024.
No “import substitution” in microelectronics
Military experts have serious doubts that the Russians will be able to implement their plans by 2024. Due to the occupation of Crimea, the USA and its allies have imposed technological sanctions on the Russian Federation, and space technology is very dependent on foreign components, especially microelectronics. Sanctions were also tightened significantly after the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022. Russia cannot purchase these components from European and American suppliers due to Western sanctions, so it is forced to turn to China and Southeast Asian countries. In some cases, Russian manufacturers resorted to removing microelectronics from Chinese devices and installing them on Russian devices. Analysts have calculated that such “import substitution” for Russian satellites will take at least 5 years.
The second problem, according to military experts, is the quality of the Fregat upper stage of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket, which is used to launch Tundra satellites into orbit. In the last 9 years, this unit has experienced at least five technical failures.
For the full-fledged operation of the early warning system, satellites in fixed orbit are also needed, which causes problems, because Russia’s production of fixed satellites lags behind other developed countries. The reason for this is internal conflicts as well as sanctions. The Angara launch vehicle for fixed satellites was selected, and in 2020 the Russian Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with the Khrunichev Center for the production of four Angara-A5 rockets. But in the last two years, the contractor has not made a single missile, and the military has sued the company. As a result, the contracting company paid only a third of the financial claims of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and there was no launch vehicle and no.
What steps will RF take?
Despite all the ups and downs in the modernization of early warning systems, Russia will one day complete this project. Another question that experts ask is how relevant it will be during its implementation, given that the concept of hypersonic weapons is becoming more and more popular in the military.
And although Russia continues to insist that the SPRN space program is critical to it, even the Russian Ministry of Defense admits that the program will not be completed before 2025. But military analysts suggest adding at least five more years to that date, as they find such forecasts too optimistic for Russia.
Previously Focus He wrote that the United States is developing an “invisible” missile in response to China and Russia: which targets it will destroy.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.