Vympel K-30
krainian company shows
dogfight missile control system
Miroslav Gyürösi
At the Aviasvit-XXI International Air Show held in Kiev on 14-18
September, the Ukrainian State Kiev Design Bureau Luch showed
the configuration of a new air-to-air dogfight missile, writes
Miroslav Gyürösi. Known as ‘Izdeliye 611’ (Product 611), this is
almost certainly the K-30 missile being developed by the Russian
Vympel Federal State Unitary Enterprise State Engineering
Design Bureau. If adopted, it would be designated R-30.
The general configuration shown by Luch shows a weapon with
vestigial long-chord wings, and trapezoidal tail surfaces, both arranged
in a cruciform layout. The weapon is approximately 3.0m long and
170mm in diameter. Wingspan is about 270mm, and the span of tailcontrol
surfaces is about 470mm. Launch weight is about 105-110kg.
Luch displayed the PR-611 servo-electric drive unit which is probably
intended for the new missile. It has four actuators controlling four
aerodynamic control surfaces, and two actuators probably intended to
move a two-axis gimbal system for a single moveable nozzle.
The first information to be released on the K-30 dogfight missile design
was a leaflet published in the early 1990s by the Vympel design
bureau. This proposed that the new missile would have a thrustvectoring
nozzle made from erosion- and temperature-resistant carbon
composite, and mounted in a gimbal system moved in two axes by
control-system actuators operating via articulated joints. This
arrangement would be more efficient than the control vanes used in
the R-73, said Vympel. The PR-611 control section incorporates an
array of four moving tabs. Although visually similar to the four thrustcontrol
vanes used on the R-73, these may be part of an actuation
system designed to move a single moving nozzle in order to vector the
thrust.
l Number of actuators – 6
l Maximum tension on control surfaces – 30Nm
l Control surfaces oscillation (cycles) area (zone) – 35 Hz
l Control surfaces angular range – ±30º
l Control surfaces angular velocity – 450º/sec
l Diameter (calibre) – 170mm
l Length – 300mm
l Weight, complete with aerodynamic control surfaces – 10kg
l Control – aerodynamic + thrust vectoring
Comparison of thrust-vector control systems
Main technical parameters control vanes gimballed nozzle
Maximum side control power in each
channel, (as a percentage of the rocket
motor power output)
13-14% 13-14%
Maximum angle of control device
movement
17º 8.5º
Maximum hinge moment 4kgm 3kgm
Device weight (without actuators) 4kg 3.5kg
Dimensions (without actuators) length 150mm 210mm
diameter 165mm 165mm
Rocket motor output loss when thrust
is not vectored
5% 3%
The only hardware on display was this PR-611 servoelectric
drive unit.
(Source: Miroslav Gyürösi)
This artist’s impression shows the general
configuration of the new missile
(Source: Miroslav Gyürösi)
This poor-quality illustration shows the vectored nozzle
proposed by Vympel
(Source: Vympel via Miroslav Gyürösi)
The K-30 ‘Izdeliye 611’ is about 3m long and is
thought to weigh around 105-110kg
(Source: Miroslav Gyürösi)
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