Major Shaitan Singh
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In the late 70's - early 80-ies of XX century, all the world "democratic" community dreaming of a Hollywood euphoria of "Star Wars." At the same time, for the "Iron Curtain" under the canopy of secrecy Soviet "evil empire" sly-polegonku Hollywood translate dreams into reality. Soviet cosmonauts flown in space, armed with laser pistoletami- "blasters", designed battle stations and space fighters, and to Mother Earth crawled Soviet "laser tanks."
One of the organizations involved in the development of combat laser systems, an NGO "Astrophysics". Director General of "Astrophysics" was Igor Ptitsyn and General Designer - Nikolay Ustinov, the son of the all-powerful Politburo member and, concurrently, the Minister of Defense - Dmitri Ustinov. With such a powerful patron, "Astrophysics" virtually has no problems with resources: financial, material, personnel. This is bound to affect - in 1982, almost four years after the reorganization of the CDB in NGOs and destination ND Ustinov's chief designer (he led in the direction of CDB on Laser Ranging) was put into service the first self-propelled laser complex (SLC) 1Q11 "Stiletto" .
Laser complex task was to provide counter optoelectronic system monitoring and control battlefield weapons in harsh climatic and operational conditions imposed on the armor. Co-executor threads in the chassis design office acted "Uraltransmash" from Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) - a leading developer of almost all (with rare exceptions) Soviet self-propelled artillery.
Under the leadership of General Designer "Uraltransmash" Yuri Vasilievich Tomashov (factory director was then Gennady Andreyevich Studenok) laser system was installed on the well-proven chassis GMZ - 118 products , which traces its "pedigree" of chassis products 123 (SAM "Circle" ) and products 105 (ACS SU-100P ). To "Uraltransmash" was made two more differing machines. The differences were due to the fact that in order to gain experience and experiments, laser systems were not identical. Martial characteristics of the complex were outstanding at the time, and they now meet the requirements of conducting the defense tactical operations. For the creation of complex developers were awarded the Lenin and State Prizes.
As mentioned above, the complex "Stiletto" was adopted, but for some reason not commercially produced. Two prototypes have remained in one piece. However, their appearance even in a terrible, all-out Soviet secrecy has not gone unnoticed by US intelligence. In a series of drawings of the latest models of equipment of the Soviet Army, submitted to Congress for "knocking out" of additional funds to the Ministry of Defense and was very recognizable "Stiletto" .
Formally, this complex is in service to this day. However, the fate of experimental machines for a long time nothing was known. Upon completion of the test, they were actually not needed. Whirlwind collapse of the USSR scattered them on the post-Soviet space and brought to the state of the metal. So, one of the machines in the late 1990s - early 2000s was identified amateur historian BBT on recycling in the sump 61st BTRZ near St. Petersburg. Second, a decade later, the same judges stories BBT found on tank repair factory in Kharkov (see. Шасси комплекса 1К11 "Стилет" (носитель лазерной пушки) - acselcombat - Photo.Qip.ru / id: vas ). In both cases, the laser system machines have long been dismantled. The "St. Petersburg" machine remained body only, "Kharkov" "cart" is in the best condition. Currently the efforts of enthusiasts in agreement with the plant's management attempts to save it for subsequent "museumification." Unfortunately, "St. Petersburg" machine, apparently, so far disposed of: "What we have, do not store, and losing her cry ...".
Best share fell to another, without a doubt unique device co-production "Astrophysics" and "Uraltransmash." As the development of ideas "Stiletto" was designed and built the new SLK 1K17 "compression" . It was a complex of new generation with automatic search and guidance on radiation glare object multichannel laser (solid state laser on aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 ) in which a small portion of the aluminum atoms is substituted by trivalent chromium ions, or simply - a ruby crystal. To create an inverse population uses optical pumping, ie, lighting crystal ruby powerful flash of light. Rubin shaped cylindrical rod ends are carefully polished, silver-plated, and serve as a mirror for the laser. To illuminate the ruby rod used pulsed xenon flash lamp discharge through which the battery charge high voltage capacitors. Flash lamp is shaped like a spiral tube, winding around the ruby rod. Under the influence of a powerful light pulse in a ruby rod creates the inverse population and due to the presence of mirrors excited lasing duration is slightly less than the length of the flash lamp pumped up. Especially for the "compression" artificial crystal was grown weight of about 30 kg - "laser gun" in this sense flies "a lot of money." New installation and require large amounts of energy. For its power to use powerful generators operated by autonomous auxiliary power unit (APU).
As a base for potyazhelevshy complex was used chassis latest at the time of self-propelled guns 2S19 "MSTA-S" ( article 316 ). To accommodate the large number of power and electro-optical equipment cutting "Msta" was significantly increased in length.In its aft located APU. Front barrel instead been placed an optical unit 15 comprising lenses. Accurate system of lenses and mirrors in field conditions fitted with protective armor covers. This block has a vertical guidance possibility. In the middle of the cabin housed operator positions. For self-defense on the roof was installed anti-aircraft machine gun mount with a 12.7-mm machine gun NSVT .
The machine frame was assembled to "Uraltransmash" in December 1990. In 1991, the complex, which received military index 1K17 was submitted for testing and the next, 1992 was adopted. As before, the establishment of a complex "compression" was highly appreciated by the Government of the country: a group of employees "Astrophysics" and co-authors was awarded the State Prize. In the field of lasers we then ahead of the whole world, at least for 10 years.
However, this "star" Nikolai Dmitrievich Ustinov sunset. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Communist Party overthrew the former authorities. In the context of the collapsed economy underwent a major revision, many defense programs. And this fate is not passed and the "compression" - prohibitive cost of the complex, despite the advanced, breakthrough technologies, and a good result has forced the leadership of the Ministry of Defence to doubt its effectiveness. Super secret "laser gun" remained unclaimed. The only instance of a long time hiding behind high fences until all of a sudden in 2010 turned out to be not truly somehow miraculously in the exposition "Military Technical Museum" , which is located in the village of Ivanovo. We must pay tribute and thank the people who managed to get this valuable artifact from under the neck perfect secrecy and make this unique machine in the public domain - a clear example of Soviet science and engineering, the witness of our forgotten victories.
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