05 February 2022, 19:55
"Circular Defense": Tu-160M Will Be Able to "Launch Missiles in Four Directions"
The modernized Russian strategic bomber-missile carrier Tu-160M will be equipped with "reverse launch" missiles that will be able to intercept targets "behind" it. Gazeta.Ru investigated how such missiles are launched and maneuvered.
"This is very important for a bomber, as it is a very large and relatively unmaneuverable target. The Tu-160 all-round defense system consists of optical-electronic and radar systems. Basically, all radars on both fighters and bombers are installed in the front hemisphere. In order to be able to work all-round, at 360 degrees, for the purposes of aircraft defense, radars or antennas are needed, located along the perimeter of the aircraft. In this case, the Tu-160M uses a rear-view radar. The side sectors also overlap due to the fact that the viewing sectors of the front and rear radars can intersect. This achieves all-round visibility, as well as independent aiming and missile launch both in the front and rear hemispheres," Popov said.
According to him, the radar’s work is differentiated based on the principle of determining where the maximum threat comes from – this is important so that the system “attacks faster and understands the distribution of the target object relative to the aircraft.”