ENSURING INFORMATION SECURITY OF FLIGHT TRAJECTORIES OF OPERATIONAL-TACTICAL MISSILES BY REDUCING THEIR RADAR VISIBILITY

Topicality. Nowadays, the concept of ensuring the survivability of weapons in conditions of dense missile defense is focused on protecting the information features of the object. Analysis of combat operations over the past decade shows that concealing the flight paths of operational-tactical missiles from radar reconnaissance systems is a critical element of information security. The development of technical means of detection allows the enemy to receive unmasking signal signs necessary for identifying and destroying the target, which, in turn, necessitates the need to reduce radar visibility. The subject of study in the article is methods and technical means of controlling the scattering of electromagnetic waves, in particular passive methods of reducing the effective scattering area of operational-tactical missiles. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the possibilities of reducing the radar visibility of operational-tactical missiles through a systematic analysis of existing radio-absorbing materials and methods of modifying the environment around the object to increase stealth in the middle section of the trajectory. The following results were obtained. The work has conducted a comparative analysis of flat-layer, gradient and geometrically inhomogeneous coatings, and also assessed the prospects of using artificial plasma formations. It has been determined that for operational-tactical missiles, the priority requirements are the minimum mass, thermal stability (up to 1500 K) and a wide absorption band in the mm-cm ranges. Conclusion. The scientific contradiction between the growing capabilities of detection means and the limited characteristics of modern passive protection methods indicates the existing dependence of overcoming the missile defense system on the level of radar visibility. It has been proven that to ensure the information security of the trajectories of operational-tactical missiles, it is necessary to develop new combined coatings with improved mass-dimensional and temperature indicators.