4 ambitious space weapons of the Soviet Union during the Cold War

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were constantly preparing for military conflicts in space. Moscow developed many space weapons projects, but almost all of the programs were terminated before they could be put into actual operation, according toRBTH.

Space fighter

In the late 1950s, the United States launched the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar spacecraft program, prompting the Soviet Union to also develop military spacecraft to prepare for future wars. The result was the Spiral project.

The Soviet space fighter was designed to be launched from a heavy transport aircraft into orbit. Moscow decided to study several variants to serve specific purposes. At an altitude of 130 km, the reconnaissance version could track targets both in orbit and below the Earth's surface. The data would then be transmitted to the fighter variant.

The main weapon of this space fighter is a missile carrying a nuclear warhead. Their main target is the US submarine strike group. Each shell can hit a 200 meter radius circle around the target, the destructive power of the nuclear warhead ensures that the enemy warship has no chance of survival.

Another option in the Spiral project is a space interceptor. The close-in version can attack orbital targets with six guided missiles from a distance of 30 km, while the long-range interceptor variant can destroy enemy spacecraft at a range of 350 km.

In addition to transport aircraft, the Buran shuttle was also selected as a launch platform for the Spiral project fighters. However, this program was not implemented in practice and ended in the testing phase.

Today, Russia still keeps at least one MiG-105-11 aircraft from this project at a museum on the outskirts of Moscow.

Space Combat Station

The Soviet Union developed the Almaz space combat station project, followed by the Skif and Kaskad duo. When launched into orbit, they were ostensibly for peaceful purposes, but were capable of conducting military operations in space. Their missions included destroying enemy spacecraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and targets at sea, on land, and in the air.

The main difference between these space stations is the weapon configuration. Kaskad uses missiles to attack targets in low orbit, below 2,000 km above the ground. Skif, on the other hand, targets in medium orbit (above 2,000 km) and geostationary orbit (36,000 km) with laser weapons.

In addition, these space stations are expected to be protected by NR-23 automatic cannons, as well as a modern type of missile. However, all three projects are only at the testing stage.

Anti-satellite weapons

During the Cold War, destroying enemy satellites was one of the priorities in space warfare. To achieve this goal, Soviet engineers developed the Naryad space defense system and anti-satellite missiles for the MiG-31 interceptor fighter. The Naryad was never completed, while only a few MiG-31 fighters were capable of launching anti-satellite missiles in low orbit.

Another option favored by the Soviets was the use of combat satellites. These small weapons were launched into orbit, aimed at enemy satellites, and detonated with fragmentation warheads. The very low drag in space gave these warheads an effective range of up to one kilometer.

The anti-satellite weapons program was completed, put into combat service in 1979 and decommissioned in 1993.

Weapons for astronauts

The Soviet Union not only designed space fighters but also developed many personal weapons for cosmonauts. One of the most famous weapons was the TP-82 three-barreled pistol.

Astronauts are forbidden from using guns in space to avoid damaging the spacecraft, making the TP-82 effective for dealing with wild animals after landing and waiting for rescue.

Due to the limitations of conventional guns and ammunition, Soviet experts have researched laser guns for use in space battles. This weapon creates a laser beam powerful enough to disable the enemy's optical sensors, as well as cause blindness at a distance of 20m.

Like many other space weapons projects, this laser gun did not enter service. The only prototype is on display at the museum of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces Academy in Moscow Oblast.