Post by Globexanter on Feb 22, 2016 14:29:50 GMT -5
The objective of the Perseus 2 is to expand on the original capacities of the Perseus 1 (stealthy supersonic cruise missile). The original missile being capable of submarine and surface launch, complemented later on by an adaptation to certain fighter aircraft (mainly the Rafale and the Su-34). This however left out a capacity for regular land based deployment outside of the currently available naval solutions.
The Perseus 2 project, code-named Luciole, began in 2019 after the service introduction of both the first Perseus cruise missiles and the Mitokan Skat UCAV around the same time. It was shortly after the successful implantation of both of these projects into active service that a contract was provided in order to provide two new variations of the Perseus.
I. Perseus 2 Block StS.
The first variation was designed to present a ground launch procedure for the cruise missile, composed of a slightly modified Perseus 1 missile, a modified transporter-erector-launcher vehicle (alongside a transporter and loaded vehicle and the usual detail of mobile mission launching units).
The main launcher (the TEL) is based upon the MZKT-7930, a vehicle already proven in the launch field via it's use in the 9K720 Iskander systems already in use in the GNF. Few modifications were actually performed on the vehicle itself, the only noticeable difference in the design being that of modifying the engine as to accommodate the slightly lighter payload (each Iskander-E weighing in at 3800kg while the Perseus 1 cruise missiles only came in at 800kg). These modifications, alongside a newer diesel engine to replace the original one designed for production in 2000, have given the vehicle slightly more efficient specifications.
Configuration: 8x8
Cabseating: 1 + 2 men
Dimensions and weight
Weight (empty): 20.5t
Maximum load: 24t
Length: 12.7m
Width: 3m
Height: 3.29m
Mobility
Engine: YaMZ-849 diesel
Engine power: 508 hp
Maximum road speed: 73 km/h
Range: 1 200 km
Maneuverability
Gradient: 45%
Side slope: 30%
Vertical step: 0.6 m
Trench: 2 m
Fording: 1.4m
The truck's rear loading area is outfitted with, under the same specification for the Iskander launcher, the capacity to hold two Perseus 2 missiles in a launch configuration. The two cruises missiles are held in separate launch rails, covered underneath the truck's rear section (in order to avoid the deterioration of the missiles under adverse weather conditions). Each cruise missile is capable of being lifted to the necessary 90° angle separately and of being fired separately. After firing, four minutes are required before the missile may be replaced by a new example, in order to provide enough time for the loading vehicle to prepare the following Perseus for launch and for the systems to cool down to a sufficiently low temperature to allow handling.
The design for the Block StS Perseus involves a modification of the cruise missile in order to facilitate a vertical ground launch in two different ways. The first of these involves the addition of a thrust vectoring booster, adding two meters to the length of the missile alongside an additional weight load of 300kg brought on by the extra fuel load alongside the thruster. The booster, being designed to fit perfectly underneath the cruise missile's main body, had been avoid to avoid any change in the flight pattern. This additional power was not provided to enhance the missile's performances, it's only objective being that of propelling the missile out of the launch position, bringing it to a specified altitude and speed, and then disconnecting itself from the main body of the Perseus, allowing the supersonic ramjet motor to propel the ordnance under it's own power.
This configuration therefore permits the Perseus to be launched from a ground setting, to be brought up to a designated speed and altitude by the computers present in the thrust vectoring booster and then to be allowed to continue on it's own power after the booster's ejection. The booster also permits, when used in a low altitude approach configuration (under 10 meters, for testing purposes) in which the booster was ejected as soon as it's fuel supply ran out, the extension of the cruise missile's maximum range by an average of 20 km. During these procedures, the original speed of Mach 3 was not increased or overtaken as to avoid any structural damage to the cruise missile. In this configuration, the takeoff weight of the Perseus 2 is that of 1.1 tons, dropping down to 0.8 ton as the booster is ejected, finishing off with a terminal range of 320 km, and a length of 7 meters.
The price of the original Perseus missile being around 2.1 million USD per unit, the price for the Perseus 2 is expected to be around 2.6 million USD per unit.
II. Perseus 2 AOP (Armed Overhead Presence).
The second variation in the Perseus 2 project involves the use of the Mitokan Skat strike unmanned combat air vehicle. The Skat was chosen in this project due to the large internal bomb bay (containing four hardpoints with a maximum payload of two tons) which was to be regularly used to carry two missiles from the Kh-31 family, often the Kh-31PM variant. The Perseus cruise missiles, being 0.25 meters shorter than the 31PM, were therefore more than capable of fitting into the UCAV's internal bomb bay. The increase of weight (the Perseus weighing in 200kg heavier than the Kh-31PM) still remaining under the maximum payload of the Skat as two Perseus cruise missiles would weigh in at 1,600kg (compared to the 1,200kg with two Kh-31PMs). These configurations meant that the Skat would be capable of flying with two Perseus cruise missiles.
The use of the Perseus in the Skat required the modification of the hardpoints, and certain electronic components. The use of the Perseus in the internal bay meant that, in the Skats designated as launch platforms, the hardpoints had to be modified and re-arranged as to properly hold and release the cruise missile (the same system using on the Rafale was applied to the UCAV, since the principle remained the same). The electronic modifications were mainly based around the required of providing the UCAV with long-range detection capacities. These changes were mainly translated in the addition of ARTS scanner (Anti-Radiation Targeting System) for use in SEAD operations, the adding of the PDL-NG TALIOS targetting pod (a replacement of the Damoclès system) and a stronger visual geographical GPS memory system (permitting the aircraft to more precisely determine the location of an enemy or friendly unit and to store the information for the entire flight).
The electronic modifications to the aircraft were added in the objective of giving the Skat more independence vis-à-vis to the usually required surveillance aircraft that would operate alongside the aerial launchers, therefore minimizing the number of aircraft in flight at any one time (and therefore reducing the risk of losses).
When in use, the Perseus armed Skat is expected to be able to operate under two different main modes of operation. The first involves the use of the Skat as a standard UCAV, operating independently or in a squadron of other aircraft in attack formations (although the stealthier aspect of the Skat makes it more likely that the solo configuration would be preferred). Under this mode, the Skat would be piloted by two trained airmen, one flying the drone and the other controlling the radars and weapons of the Skat. The second mode is mainly configured under a SEAD objectives. Under these mission specifications, the Skat is designed to either advance on it's own into enemy territory in order to engage units with the Perseus cruise missiles in anti-radiation operations, or to circle at a distance at a lower altitude in an area where enemy radars are known to be located. This last configuration intends to work on a precise strategy: the Skat UCAV is intended to circle above an area (at a high altitude) which has just been passed by a squadron of allied aircraft (essentially bombers) where enemy SAM units had been located, but had turned their radars off as to avoid a counter-attack by the high altitude aircraft. The objective of the Skat would then to be, using it's longer range and low radar signals provided by it's shape, to circle at a distance from the area. Then, as it is standard procedure for SAM units to periodically turn on their radars on and then off as quickly as possible as to quickly check the surrounding airspace, to wait until an enemy radar would reveal itself for a short duration of time. The on-board computers would then assign a position to the radar's location, transmitting the information to the Perseus cruise missile and enabling a launch procedure if the target is deemed to be accessible to the weapon. Once two firings had been performed, the drone could then either return to it's airbase or remain in the area as a reconnaissance aircraft. Automatic configurations would allow for the latter SEAD specification to be done purely under the control of the drone's computers (while working on an IFF system as to avoid engaging friendly units), the main advantage of the automatic operation being a far faster reaction time than if human intervention was required.
Under this SEAD configuration, the use of the two effectors would have to be controlled via the missile itself, establishing the best altitude at which to separate the two 50kg sub-munitions in order to hit as much as the enemy unit as possible (which would entail the use of cluster munitions).
The Perseus 2 project, code-named Luciole, began in 2019 after the service introduction of both the first Perseus cruise missiles and the Mitokan Skat UCAV around the same time. It was shortly after the successful implantation of both of these projects into active service that a contract was provided in order to provide two new variations of the Perseus.
I. Perseus 2 Block StS.
The first variation was designed to present a ground launch procedure for the cruise missile, composed of a slightly modified Perseus 1 missile, a modified transporter-erector-launcher vehicle (alongside a transporter and loaded vehicle and the usual detail of mobile mission launching units).
The main launcher (the TEL) is based upon the MZKT-7930, a vehicle already proven in the launch field via it's use in the 9K720 Iskander systems already in use in the GNF. Few modifications were actually performed on the vehicle itself, the only noticeable difference in the design being that of modifying the engine as to accommodate the slightly lighter payload (each Iskander-E weighing in at 3800kg while the Perseus 1 cruise missiles only came in at 800kg). These modifications, alongside a newer diesel engine to replace the original one designed for production in 2000, have given the vehicle slightly more efficient specifications.
MZKT-7930-TEL2
General information
Entered service: 2000Configuration: 8x8
Cabseating: 1 + 2 men
Dimensions and weight
Weight (empty): 20.5t
Maximum load: 24t
Length: 12.7m
Width: 3m
Height: 3.29m
Mobility
Engine: YaMZ-849 diesel
Engine power: 508 hp
Maximum road speed: 73 km/h
Range: 1 200 km
Maneuverability
Gradient: 45%
Side slope: 30%
Vertical step: 0.6 m
Trench: 2 m
Fording: 1.4m
The truck's rear loading area is outfitted with, under the same specification for the Iskander launcher, the capacity to hold two Perseus 2 missiles in a launch configuration. The two cruises missiles are held in separate launch rails, covered underneath the truck's rear section (in order to avoid the deterioration of the missiles under adverse weather conditions). Each cruise missile is capable of being lifted to the necessary 90° angle separately and of being fired separately. After firing, four minutes are required before the missile may be replaced by a new example, in order to provide enough time for the loading vehicle to prepare the following Perseus for launch and for the systems to cool down to a sufficiently low temperature to allow handling.
The design for the Block StS Perseus involves a modification of the cruise missile in order to facilitate a vertical ground launch in two different ways. The first of these involves the addition of a thrust vectoring booster, adding two meters to the length of the missile alongside an additional weight load of 300kg brought on by the extra fuel load alongside the thruster. The booster, being designed to fit perfectly underneath the cruise missile's main body, had been avoid to avoid any change in the flight pattern. This additional power was not provided to enhance the missile's performances, it's only objective being that of propelling the missile out of the launch position, bringing it to a specified altitude and speed, and then disconnecting itself from the main body of the Perseus, allowing the supersonic ramjet motor to propel the ordnance under it's own power.
This configuration therefore permits the Perseus to be launched from a ground setting, to be brought up to a designated speed and altitude by the computers present in the thrust vectoring booster and then to be allowed to continue on it's own power after the booster's ejection. The booster also permits, when used in a low altitude approach configuration (under 10 meters, for testing purposes) in which the booster was ejected as soon as it's fuel supply ran out, the extension of the cruise missile's maximum range by an average of 20 km. During these procedures, the original speed of Mach 3 was not increased or overtaken as to avoid any structural damage to the cruise missile. In this configuration, the takeoff weight of the Perseus 2 is that of 1.1 tons, dropping down to 0.8 ton as the booster is ejected, finishing off with a terminal range of 320 km, and a length of 7 meters.
The price of the original Perseus missile being around 2.1 million USD per unit, the price for the Perseus 2 is expected to be around 2.6 million USD per unit.
II. Perseus 2 AOP (Armed Overhead Presence).
The second variation in the Perseus 2 project involves the use of the Mitokan Skat strike unmanned combat air vehicle. The Skat was chosen in this project due to the large internal bomb bay (containing four hardpoints with a maximum payload of two tons) which was to be regularly used to carry two missiles from the Kh-31 family, often the Kh-31PM variant. The Perseus cruise missiles, being 0.25 meters shorter than the 31PM, were therefore more than capable of fitting into the UCAV's internal bomb bay. The increase of weight (the Perseus weighing in 200kg heavier than the Kh-31PM) still remaining under the maximum payload of the Skat as two Perseus cruise missiles would weigh in at 1,600kg (compared to the 1,200kg with two Kh-31PMs). These configurations meant that the Skat would be capable of flying with two Perseus cruise missiles.
The use of the Perseus in the Skat required the modification of the hardpoints, and certain electronic components. The use of the Perseus in the internal bay meant that, in the Skats designated as launch platforms, the hardpoints had to be modified and re-arranged as to properly hold and release the cruise missile (the same system using on the Rafale was applied to the UCAV, since the principle remained the same). The electronic modifications were mainly based around the required of providing the UCAV with long-range detection capacities. These changes were mainly translated in the addition of ARTS scanner (Anti-Radiation Targeting System) for use in SEAD operations, the adding of the PDL-NG TALIOS targetting pod (a replacement of the Damoclès system) and a stronger visual geographical GPS memory system (permitting the aircraft to more precisely determine the location of an enemy or friendly unit and to store the information for the entire flight).
The electronic modifications to the aircraft were added in the objective of giving the Skat more independence vis-à-vis to the usually required surveillance aircraft that would operate alongside the aerial launchers, therefore minimizing the number of aircraft in flight at any one time (and therefore reducing the risk of losses).
When in use, the Perseus armed Skat is expected to be able to operate under two different main modes of operation. The first involves the use of the Skat as a standard UCAV, operating independently or in a squadron of other aircraft in attack formations (although the stealthier aspect of the Skat makes it more likely that the solo configuration would be preferred). Under this mode, the Skat would be piloted by two trained airmen, one flying the drone and the other controlling the radars and weapons of the Skat. The second mode is mainly configured under a SEAD objectives. Under these mission specifications, the Skat is designed to either advance on it's own into enemy territory in order to engage units with the Perseus cruise missiles in anti-radiation operations, or to circle at a distance at a lower altitude in an area where enemy radars are known to be located. This last configuration intends to work on a precise strategy: the Skat UCAV is intended to circle above an area (at a high altitude) which has just been passed by a squadron of allied aircraft (essentially bombers) where enemy SAM units had been located, but had turned their radars off as to avoid a counter-attack by the high altitude aircraft. The objective of the Skat would then to be, using it's longer range and low radar signals provided by it's shape, to circle at a distance from the area. Then, as it is standard procedure for SAM units to periodically turn on their radars on and then off as quickly as possible as to quickly check the surrounding airspace, to wait until an enemy radar would reveal itself for a short duration of time. The on-board computers would then assign a position to the radar's location, transmitting the information to the Perseus cruise missile and enabling a launch procedure if the target is deemed to be accessible to the weapon. Once two firings had been performed, the drone could then either return to it's airbase or remain in the area as a reconnaissance aircraft. Automatic configurations would allow for the latter SEAD specification to be done purely under the control of the drone's computers (while working on an IFF system as to avoid engaging friendly units), the main advantage of the automatic operation being a far faster reaction time than if human intervention was required.
Under this SEAD configuration, the use of the two effectors would have to be controlled via the missile itself, establishing the best altitude at which to separate the two 50kg sub-munitions in order to hit as much as the enemy unit as possible (which would entail the use of cluster munitions).
