Foreign experience of using suborbital launch vehicles to solve problems in the field of security and defense

Abstract

Suborbital launch vehicles and military rockets belong to separate classes of aerial vehicles that address different tasks and require distinct design approaches. The construction of suborbital launch vehicles is not designed for sharp maneuvers and corresponding load flight modes, which are required for military rockets. At the same time, as shown by foreign experience, a close relationship can be established between suborbital launch vehicles and military rockets, involving the exchange of rocket technologies and the use of suborbital launch vehicles in auxiliary tasks not directly related to striking a potential enemy. This means that such rockets can stimulate the development of military-themed projects. One of the most promising directions for implementing this solution is the creation of solid-fuel rocket engines that can perform tasks both within military rockets and suborbital launch vehicles. This allows for reduced material costs in their development and, subsequently, eliminates the problematic issue of disposing of engines whose warranty period is coming to an end. Suborbital launch vehicles serve as a platform for testing solutions that can later be applied to various types of weaponry. In particular, such tasks include the development of indigenous flight control systems, hypersonic weapons, testing of advanced domestic air and missile defense systems, and more. Suborbital launch vehicles can also be adapted for military reconnaissance tasks, which, in conjunction with reconnaissance drones and military satellites, can become an effective tool for enhancing overall intelligence capabilities.