Rostec develops modernized anti-submarine bomb

The Zagon-2E guided anti-submarine aerial bomb was presented by the concern Techmash, which is part of the State Corporation Rostec weapons cluster, at the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg from June 28 to July 2. The bomb was developed by experts of the State Engineering Research Institute in Balashikha. The weapon has the unique ability to hover above the water surface for up to four minutes. At present, there is no similar model in the world.

The Zagon-2E aerial bomb is used against submarines when they are surfaced, at periscope depth, or up to 600 meters below the surface. The weapon which weighs 120 kg and is 1.5 meters long descends on a parachute from an anti-submarine aircraft carrier – Il-38 and Tu-142M jets, and Ka-27 helicopters – and, while hovering above the water surface for up to four minutes, uses its active hydroacoustic guidance system to locate targets within 450 meters. The bomb is three times more effective than the previous generation models – Zagon-1 – and its production cost is three times lower.

The weapon is silent, has no engine, and carries about 35 kg of explosives. This amount is enough to breach the hull of any submarine. The bomb also has a self-destruct mechanism that activates if the target is not detected within a specified period of time.

Rostec State Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of 11 holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and 3 holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as 80 directly managed organizations. Rostec's portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov Concern, Russian Helicopters, VSMPO AVISMA, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to more than 70 countries. In 2016, the consolidated revenue of Rostec amounted to 1 trillion 266 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 88 and 268 billion rubles respectively. In 2016, the average salary in the Corporation was 44,000 rubles. According to Rostec strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec's key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and the digitalization of the Russian economy.

Scientific-production concern Techmash is a holding company operating in the ammunition and special chemicals industry. Founded in 2011,the concern produces cannon-launched and tank precision munitions, various rounds, multiple launch rocket systems, aircraft launch rockets, small caliber ammunition, aviation bomb weapons, and other products. The military goods of the holding are in operational service in 100 countries worldwide.