Russian eyes in the stratosphere: what is known about the rare M-55 "Geophysics" aircraft (photo)
To perform such tasks, the aircraft is equipped with containers for special equipment-radio intelligence of Ukr-RT and radio electronic intelligence of Ukr-RL. In this regard, the focus has found out what potential in the field of military use may have Aviasubbly, the history of which originates in 1967.
Analysts have suggested that the enemy can use the M-55 "geophysics" as a kind of flying laboratory, since the equipment that will be tested can be integrated with other specimens of tactical aviation of the Russian Federation. To do this, the Russian machine has important properties - it is the height of a flight with a practical ceiling of 21 550 m, and a range of flight, which reaches 1 315 km.
In 1967, the Soviet leadership set a task for the Zhukov Experimental Machine -Building Plant (EMZ) and its head Vladimir Myasyshchev - to develop means to fight effectively combat all kinds of high -rise automatic drifting balloons. The fact is that at the beginning of the Cold War, such devices brought a lot of troubles - the balloons flew into the territory of the Union and have been espionic with impunity.
Their small size and low flight speed complicated the interception by the air defense by which the union at that time. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, Myasischev suggested creating a special flight aircraft at a high height-up to 25 km, which could carry special electronic-optic means to detect the enemy balloons and appropriate weapons for the destruction of balloons.
However, the work on the project did not go quickly, and the production of the first car began only in 1974, and the first copy with the M-17 index appeared in four years-1978. The car received a civilian number of the USSR-17100 and a coloring "Aeroflot". The first flight of the sample took place on December 24, 1978 and ended tragically. During the event, the machine caught the wing of the snow in the conditions of poor visibility and crashed, while the test pilot Chernobrovkin was killed.
Meanwhile, the time passed by 1980, the relevance of the M-17 was practically lost. For this reason, it was decided to create a high-rise reconnaissance complex on the basis of M-17. It was to consist of a ground management, the launch complex of the Earth-Earth class and a reconnaissance aircraft. Thus, the M-17RM prototype was created, which made its first flight on August 16, 1988. Soon the car was called M-55 "Geophysics".
The aerodynamic layout of the aircraft is made according to a double -block scheme. The apparatus has a central fuselage with wing consoles, which are interconnected by a U-shaped tail plumage. In the center of the gondola is a pilot cab, aiming and navigation equipment, as well as a power plant with side air intakes. The installation of cannon weapons is provided. The whole tail part of the fuselage is a motor compartment, where there are two double-circuit high economic engines D-30V12.
In the mid-90's, the M-55 aircraft made several flights. In particular, the 2 tonnes of the cargo on board were able to rise to a height of 21360 m. At that height, it lasted for 22 min 14 seconds. In 1996, a research equipment was established on board M-55, created under the Airborne Polar Experiment (ARE) International Program. It was placed in a compartment under the cabin of 5. 5 m. -content compounds in the atmosphere.
The first scientific expedition with the participation of M-55 "Geophysics" took place in December 1996, and a month later the aircraft participated in the program of study of the atmosphere of the Arctic Ape-Polecat. Since the aircraft actually operates in the stratosphere, the pilots were in sealed high -rise suits, to which the oxygen supply system was connected.
The aircraft spent about 45 hours in the air, which studied the polar stratosphere clouds, Ozone hole and gravitational waves in Scandinavia and Arctic part of the Russian Federation. In early November, it became known that Russian engineers began to work on the creation for the military new reconnaissance and shoe complex (hands), which is based on a plane capable of performing tasks at high altitudes.
The platform was selected M-55, which will be equipped with radar, radio or optical-electronic intelligence systems. As a result, the Russian army can obtain a virtually reconnaissance complex that will be able to cite missile systems as Smerch, Tornado-C with high-precision ammunition, and Iskander tactical complexes. In addition, targets will receive targets of front aircraft, including helicopter units, which are armed with Lmur missiles, as well as caliber carriers.