Ugroza (Russian: Угроза, meaning "menace") is a precision-guided weapons system developed by the Russian Federation.[citation needed] It is an upgrade for standard Russian "dumb" rockets, including the S-5, S-8, and S-13 rockets.[1][2] The system upgrades the "dumb" rockets with laser guidance, very significantly increasing their accuracy. It requires a laser target designator, from either an airborne or land based source, to "paint" a target. Circular error probable (CEP) is about 0.8 to 1.8 m,[1] while maximum ranges of rockets varies from the rockets used 1.5–8 km.[1] Ugroza allows rockets to be ripple-fired up to 7 at a time.
The notable novelty is that the system does not use aerodynamic flight control (e.g. tail fins), but impulse steering with mini-thrusters.[1] It has been dubbed as the Russian concept of impulse corrections (RCIC).[1]
The concept has been demonstrated by Ametech (Russian: Аметех - Автоматизация и механизация технологий[3]) on 1999 MAKS airshow,[1] but it is not known if the system has been manufactured since, and in what numbers. The name Ugroza (sometimes transliterated Ugrosa), have been first used for the company's semi-active laser-guided projectile (SAL-GP) for the 122 mm BM-21 Grad series of multiple rocket launchers (it did not enter production and have been shelved[2] as of 2010).
Sources are not clear whether optical (TV) guidance can be used in place of laser guidance.
The designation of rockets upgraded with Ugroza are given the suffix "Kor"[1] (from Russian корректируемые, meaning "correctable"):
- S-5Kor
- S-8Kor
- S-13Kor
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Vladimir Ilyin (18 September 1999). "Cheaply and effectively". Nezavisimaya Gazeta (in Russian).
- ^ a b "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS".
- ^ Комплекс авиационного управляемого оружия Угроза (С-5кор, С-8кор, С-13кор) [Complex of aircraft-guided weapons Ugroza (C-5Kor, S-8Kor, S-13Kor)]. Retrieved 4 July 2018.