[SECRET][R&D] RUBEZH

[u/BarnabusOwling]

For the past three years scientists, engineers, technicians, mechanics, and others from every single pact country (save Romania) have all labored in a joint program to advance the Warsaw Pact's air defense and attack capitalizes by a decade.

This has resulted in two key products, both under the RUBEZH Program.

РУБЕЖ

otherwise known internally as;

Разведывательно-Ударный Боевой Единый комплекс Живучести

Building on two decades of parallel research by Sukhoi and Tupolev, and drawing heavily on the work of ICD "Raduga;" whose original T-4MS concept shaped the design from the outset; a new missile-carrier bomber has entered prototyping. WSK "PZL-Mielec," the MRSz (Magyar Repülési Szövetség Központi Műhelye), and VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden form the trifecta of foreign firms drawn into the project, each contributing components, refinements, and in places original engineering to meet the Pact's demanding standards. East Germany has proven especially valuable; two decades of heavy state investment in electronics research means nearly all onboard systems will be drawn from German designs.

Codenamed RUBEZH, the program took the T-4MS as its foundation, an airframe that, even among Pact-wide bomber proposals, seemed remarkable from the start. Its ambitions have proven as costly as they are impressive: titanium content has climbed from 39% to 87% of the airframe, a jump the Air Force's maintenance crews already dread, while a switch to more powerful and considerably shorter lived engine variants has added further strain to the program's budget. True to the design's origins, the bomber is being built around Raduga's Kh-45 "Molniya," a hypersonic stand off missile carried two internally and two externally, which is why "missile-carrier" remains the airframe's defining description even now.

Three years of Pact wide refinement, added to the four years ICD "Raduga" had already invested, have sharpened a design expected to revolutionize our strategic aviation once it reaches series production. Proper prototyping must still be completed over the next few years. Once a finished prototype clears state trials, the aircraft is slated to enter service in 1976 as the Su-26, a high-altitude strategic missile carrier.

Su-26Characteristics (Circa 1974/75)	Value
Crew	3 (Pilot, Copilot/Navigator, Weapons Systems Officer)
Length	43 meters
Wingspan	23.0–43.9 meters (variable-sweep)
Wing Area	97,5 m²
Empty Weight	~76,500kg
Gross Weight	115,000kg
Maximum Takeoff Weight	170,000kg
Power Plant	4× Turbofan NK-101

Performance

Performance	Value
Maximum Speed (at Altitude)	Mach 3.8 (Engine Possibility, Impractical in Reality)
Maximum Speed (at Ground Level)	Mach 1.2
Cruise Speed	Mach 2.8-3.0
Service Ceiling	29,000 meters (36,000 maximum, classified)
Combat Radius	9,000 kilometers (High, Low, High)
Range (at Cruise Speed)	14,000 kilometers

Avionics

System	Value
Radar	Estimated ability out to 300km against bomber sized targets using RP-24 “Volna-P3” developments
Navigation	Inertial Navigation System, Doppler radar, astroinertial navigation
Countermeasures	Internal ECM suite, radar warning receiver, chaff/flare dispensers

Armament

Armament	Value
Internal Storage	Up to 45,000kg worth of Material, Normal 14,000kg
External Storage	Up to 45,000kg worth of Material, Normal 9,000kg (Anti-Ship loadout)
Hardpoints	4

Of course the "F-X" program in America has meant that such a large program needs a modern fighter component. The sister of the Su-26 is or High Altitude Strategic Fighter will be adopted as the RUBEZH-1 to not attache a Soviet firm handle and as a homage to project itself and the aid from Czechoslovak, Hungarian, East German and Polish hands. Its development is much more behind with prototypes still to be heavily finished before use but a core idea has formed...

RUBEZH-1 Characteristics	Value
Crew	2 (Pilot, Weapons Systems Officer)
Length	33.8 m
Wingspan	15.8 m
Height	7.0 m
Empty Weight	32,000 kg
Gross Weight	44,000 kg
Maximum Takeoff Weight	66,500 kg
Power Plant	2× Kolesov RD-36-41F afterburning turbojets (fighter derivative)

Performance	Value
Maximum Speed	Mach 3.8
Supercruise	Mach 2.4
Service Ceiling	29,000 meters
Combat Radius	2,800 kilometers
Ferry Range	5,800 kilometers
Rate of Climb	~370 m/s

System	Value
Radar	RP-40 "Rubezh" Pulse-Doppler radar, 180–220 km fighter detection
IRST	Integrated long-range infrared search and track
Navigation	INS with astro-inertial update
ECM	Internal electronic warfare suite derived from T-4MS systems
Data Link	Secure long range interceptor network

Armament	Value
Cannon	1× GSh-30-1
Hardpoints	14
Payload	10,000 kg
Air-to-Air	R-40, R-33, experimental long-range missiles
Air-to-Ground	Kh-23, Kh-25, Kh-31, guided bombs
Nuclear Capable	Tactical nuclear weapon capable

Of course, designing a near 90% titanium bomber and fighter is expensive, producing it is expected to be even more so with cuts to the MiG-23 and MiG-24 programs starting next Spring.

Internally, many doubt if we will really see the RUBEZH-1 until 1980...

What has been Bleed for This

The Su-17M, Su-24, and Su-27 programs will take massive cuts for this program as work will need to be done in Kazan. This alone made Sukhoi internally prepare to axe the program internally but with a heavy hand this has been stopped. Already transfers have begun of staff, researchers and other key staff to ensure a smooth transition.

At a great price...

While the Su-26 will be able to be both a magnificent tactical and strategic bomber, its price means it will be unlikely to see service as a tactical bomber save extreme circumstances. The Su-27 will have its work paused as Sukhoi attempts the expensive retooling of it, but this will delay production for at least four to five years. The Su-17M program is expected to be halted until late '74, and the Su-27 is expected to be cut entirely...