The "4202": a secret hypersonicIn mid-summer of this year, with a light hand American journalists the foreign press began to discuss promising Russian project hypersonic aircraft. Foreign journalists managed to find out that this development is designated as "4202" and U-71, and also set some alleged facts about the project. Nevertheless, the bulk of information about the Russian project secret, which is why the discussion of small facts gradually transferred to the statement of assumptions and estimates, as well as a real gamble. It should be noted, the project "4202" really exists and work on it being at least since the beginning of the decade. However, despite the great interest from the public, the basic information about this development still remain classified. However, some anecdotal evidence of promising projects have already been announced in a variety of public sources. They do not allow a complete picture, but provide an opportunity to get an overview of the latest project. The first known mention of the topic "4202" refers to the report on the activities of the corporation "NPO Machine Building" in 2009. The document mentioned certain works, which are commissioned by corporations performed Khrunichev. Khrunichev. This project was mentioned in the context of the trial: NGO Engineering en Organization owed over half a million rubles. The report stated that as of 1 January 2010, the Court issued a decision on partial satisfaction of the claim Khrunichev. Khrunichev, but details of the project for obvious reasons, were absent.
The newspaper "Tribuna MIC" (corporate edition of Machine-Building NPO) in the 13th issue for the year 2010 mentioned in passing a promising project. In the article "First class low zones" mentioned that the organization of production "complex obvodoobrazuyuschey housing compartment of the frame F1 4202 on" enterprise specialists had to use several innovative solutions for the production of parts of complex shape on CNC milling machines. In the end, all the tasks have been successfully resolved, resulting in the most complicated contour detail of the frame. The next time the project "4202" is mentioned in the article "Shop of non-metals. Today and tomorrow "in the 21 th edition of the newspaper in the same year. Under this item, workshop actively involved in the implementation of promising projects and is engaged in manufacturing non-metallic parts for the compartments F1, F2 and F3 of the new products, provided related businesses. Naturally, no details of the product are not mentioned. Later, there were information about another related organizations involved in the project. For example, in 2011-12 the Orenburg department "Arrow" is ready to participate in the project "4202", held some modernization of production facilities. According to reports, after the reconstruction of its workshops organization would take part in the mass production of promising products. We can assume that at the same time modernizing passed and production capacity the parent company of the project - NPO Machine Building. In the 47th edition of the newspaper "Tribuna MIC" for the year 2012 it was published New Year's greetings Director General and Chief Designer of NPO Machine Building Alexander Leonov. In his address to colleagues Manager noted that Russian President defined the tasks for the near future of a promising theme "4202". As before, the representative of the company dispensed with the unnecessary details that can not be published in the press. Confirmed data of the shape of the product "4202" or the U-71 as it is called in some sources, are not yet available. While we can only try to guess what it looks like hypersonic aircraft produced by Russian industry. Some suggestions in this regard can be made on the basis of data on hypersonic other programs, including overseas. The version of a relatively complex external contours of the device to some extent confirmed by the old section of the newspaper "Tribuna MIC." It is known that the composition of a new product is present, at least three separate compartments with different equipment. In addition, there is reason to believe that the design of the apparatus used both metallic and non-metallic aggregates. For obvious reasons, specific materials remain unknown. For information about using the product "4202" as a promising warheads for intercontinental ballistic missiles suggests that it has the possibility of a combat unit, and is equipped with a guidance system, and by some governments. All available data The project "4202" suggests that a promising product reached a hypersonic test no earlier than 2010-12. However, there are other suggestions. For example, in February 2004, the landfill was carried Baikonur launch an ICBM-type UR-100N UTTKh for educational purpose on the Kura testing range. Soon, the deputy chief of the General Staff of the first Yury Baluyevsky said that in the course of this exercise have been tested some of the spacecraft, which is able to fly at hypersonic speed and maneuver the course and altitude. Thus, it can be assumed that the launch in 2004 had any relevance to the present topic "4202". At the end of 2011, news agency "Interfax" referring to a senior source in the General Staff reported that in 2010, the Strategic Missile Forces conducted the first a successful test launch of missiles with advanced combat equipment. At the same time it was reported that December 27 is scheduled test launch UR-100N UTTKh carrying new combat equipment with the possibility of overcoming existing and future missile defense systems. Which warheads tested in 2010 and 2011, was not specified. According to unconfirmed reports, two more test launches ICBM UR-100N UTTKh with advanced combat equipment were held in 2013 and 2014. The Russian Ministry of Defense and defense industry can not comment on this information. Thus, the attention of foreign sources of missile launches with two products, "4202" on the board may not be accurate. The reason for the mass of discussions this summer became the information about tests of a hypersonic vehicle "4202" at the end of February. According to some foreign publications and specialized portals on February 26 held a regular test launch of the product "4202", which has once again become a carrier rocket UR-100N UTTKh. As before, the military did not deny or confirm the version of the tests hypersonic technology. If the available fragmentary information are true, now supports prototype products "4202" / U-71 ballistic missiles are the UR-100N UTTKh. However, these missiles can hardly be regarded as a promising carrier combat equipment used in combat duty. Products of this type have long been removed from production and phased out. Thus, the carrier of the new warheads could be one of the most promising IDB, currently under development. Analytical Center of Jane's Information Group believes that the most likely carrier of combat units such as "4202" is promising missile RS-28, "Sarmat". Also, it has been suggested on the composition of combat equipment such missiles. Known information about the two projects suggest that the missile "Sarmat" can carry up to three products, "4202". The existing information deficit now can confidently speak only about the existence of the "4202" and that the Russian specialists managed to achieve certain successes, making it at least to the stage of the construction of prototypes of advanced equipment. Other details are yet sketchy or not available at all the press, professionals and the general public. According to various estimates, the use of hypersonic aircraft as warheads for ICBMs will significantly increase the impact potential of the Strategic Missile Forces. Due to the ability to maneuver such delivery systems can effectively break through the existing and future missile defense system. Modern warheads flying to the target on a ballistic trajectory at high speed is quite complex for the purpose of the interception. Hypersonic apparatus capable of changing a flight trajectory, in turn, become more complex target. Moreover, it has the right to existence of the view that the interception of these goals at the moment is simply not possible. If the existing assumptions about the purpose of selling "4202" correspond to reality, in the foreseeable future Russian Strategic Rocket Forces will be able to get a unique weapon that can significantly increase their combat potential. This means that the IDB is already leading to a kind of race with missile defense, will have the additional advantage because of which they will be very difficult to catch up.
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