History

     The history of State Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga" named after A.Y. Bereznyak began in 1951. Under the resolution of Council of Ministers of September 1, 1951 Plant No. 1, situated in the settlement of Ivankovo (now the city of Dubna), was to develop and introduce into production cruise missiles (the so-called B research area).
     In a month, under the decree  No. 1010 of October 12, 1951, passed by Mikhail Khrunitchev, minister of aviation industry, the plant housed the subsidiary of the Mikoyan Design Bureau-155. The decree recommended “to entrust the subsidiary with the task to test, serially produce and further upgrade the KS unmanned aircraft-missile”. Moreover, it had to create the first domestic guided missiles, i.e. aircraft-missiles, “air-to-surface”, “ship-to-ship” and “surface-to-surface” missiles.  À talented designer Alexander Y. Bereznyak was appointed head of the subsidiary, called DB-155-1.
     The design bureau accomplished the task of updating and putting into serial production the KS jet aircraft-missiles, developed at the design-bureau-155. Alexander Bereznyak provided the conditions for close cooperation of designers with the serial production and testing departments of the plant. The result of their joint work was seen in 1953 with the completion of state tests and adoption of the Kometa system (the KS mounted on the Tu-4K and Tu-16 carriers).
    The subsidiary of the design bureau continued upgrading the KS aircraft-missile. Its modifications (the KSS and KS-7) brought the world fame to Alexander Bereznyak and his colleagues. 
     In 1955 under the government resolution the subsidiary of design bureau-155 started an individual project, i.e. the development of a completely new type of a shipborne cruise missile. In less than a year the design bureau drew up all the technical papers on the P-15 item.
     In March 1957 Alexander Bereznyak was appointed chief designer of the subsidiary. In seven month, on October 16, the first launch of the P-15 was made from the 183E boat near the Black sea coast. In 1960 the model entered the service with the army. The collective of the design bureau was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1961. The missile made a landmark in the history of missile production on October 21, 1967, when it sank the Israeli destroyer Eilat during the Arab-Israeli armed conflict. It was the first time when homing cruise missiles with liquid-propellant jets were used in real combat.
     Alongside with the P-15 tests, the P-15TG modification was tested since August 29 up to October 28, 1959. This modification was equipped with the Kondor passive heat homing head, the first round-the-clock heat homing head in the USSR.
     The P-15 missile was further updated. The P-15U modification with folding wings appeared in 1961 and was put into service in 1965. The Termit missile systems, carrying the P-15M modification, entered the service with the army in 1972. The same missile modification was mounted on the Rubezh coastal defense system.
     Within the period of 1961-1962 the subsidiary completed the development of two more “air-to-surface” missiles. The successful work on the KSR-2 and KSR-11 missiles was honored by the Lenin Prize in 1963. In the late 1960s the KSR-5 and KSR-5P appeared, and the efforts of designers were recognized in 1970 and 1977 respectively.
     The X-22 missile was one of the best designs of the enterprise in the 1960s. It was the first model of the missile family, aimed at destroying marine, ground radar-contracting, radio emitting and area targets. The missile is still in service with the naval and long-range air force. The X-22M and X-22MA modifications were recognized by the State Prizes of 1971 and 1975.
     In 1963 the specialists of the design bureau began to develop the X-28 anti-radar missile for front line aviation. The work was honored by the State Prize in 1970, and the missile was put into series production in 1971.
     Since its first days the subsidiary of the design bureau conducted research in the area of long-range “air-to-surface” missiles – K-10, K10S, K-10SD and K-10SDV as well as X-20 and X-20M (since 1956). The K-10S and X-20M models were honored by the Lenin Prizes, the K-10SD missile got the State Prize in 1970.
     Moreover, the manned simulators of MiG-9L (FK), Ê, SDK-7, SM-20, SMK and other crafts were constructed on the premises of the design dureau-155 and plant # 256 to conduct the tests of various missile systems.
     Alexander Bereznyak paid great attention to test services. In the 1960s the main test and design complex and the stand of semi-actual modeling were constructed; the laboratory of hydraulic tests was equipped. The antenna pavilion and laboratories of static, dynamic and heat resistant tests were put into operation.
     In 1966 the subsidiary of the design burea-155 was reformed into an independent organization, called Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga", headed by Alexander Bereznyak.
    In 1968 the development of the X-58 supersonic anti-radar and anti-ship missile began, that was followed by the X-28 missile, requiring more complicated service. At present the X-58 and its modification are still installed aboard the aircrafts of front line aviation.
     In the 1960s one more project of the design bureau was the X-45 supersonic anti-ship missile. It was mounted on the T-4, T-4M and T-4MC aircrafts and destroyed aircraft carriers. At first it was developed at the Sukhoi design bureau under the name of X-33, ant later the project was commissioned to the "Raduga" specialists, where the missile got its present-day name X-45.
     In 1970 the design bureau got involved into developing the analogues of the pilot manned orbital aircraft (EPOS) within the framework of the Spiral project. It was intended to build up the Orbital system, comprising a single-seated space shuttle and an accelerator aircraft, launching the shuttle to the orbit. Since 1966 this aircraft was designed in the Mikoyan Design Bureau, and in 1970 the project was redirected to Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga". Dubna engineering plant "Raduga" constructed the analogues of the EPOS aircraft. In spite of generally successful tests all the work on the Spiral project was stopped. Nevertheless, vast experience was accumulated and later used to develop a unique space system, called Energiya-Buran.
     In 1971, long before launching the similar projects in the USA, the design bureau proposed a program of small-sized subsonic strategic missiles, making a terrain following flights at low altitudes. At that time the program did not find government support. Only in 1976, after the creation of similar missiles in the USA, it was decided to do research in the area. By 1982 the "Raduga" designers  managed to develop an original missile, called X-55, with a folding wing and empennage. It was put into service on December 31, 1983. Later the Õ-55-ÎÊ, Õ-55SÌ, Õ-65, Õ-555 modifications appeared.
     By order of the Ministry of aviation industry of June 19, 1972 Dubna Production and Design Association (DPKO "Raduga") was set up under the name of R-6498 on the basis of Dubna Engineering Plant, Dubna Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga", its subsidiary on the premises of Smolensk Aircraft plant and the subsidiary of the Mikoyan Engineering Plant Zenit (Moscow). N. Fedorov was appointed director of the association; A. Bereznyak was given a post of chief designer and the first deputy director.
     In 1973 the work on Ovod and Moskit missile systems began. The X-59 (Ovod) was made on the basis of the X-58 missile to destroy targets under the coverage of air defense systems. State tests were carried out until 1979, and the X-59 was finally recommended for service. The serial production of the missile was mastered at Smolensk Aircraft Plant. In 1984 the designers of the missile were honored with the State prize of the USSR. There were several modifications of the X-59 missile, i.e. X-59M (updated version) and X-59MK (anti-ship version). The distinctive feature of X-59MK is its high kill probability for destroyers/cruisers and boats (0.9-0.96 and 0.7-0.93 respectively). Boats are destroyed by one hit, cruisers and destroyers - by 1.8 and 1.3 hits respectively. Missile diversion is about 2-3 m.
     The 3M-80 supersonic anti-ship missile (the Moskit), operating at low altitudes, was a substitute for the P-15. Up till now it has no match among similar foreign-made missiles. Its speed at low altitudes is more than twice as high as the sonic speed. So it is almost impossible either to avoid it or effectively destroy it.  It even can break a target ship without a warhead only at the expense of its kinetic energy. The unique homing system is reliable even at critically low altitudes, when the speed is almost 1 km/s. The 3M-80E modification for ship carriers was adopted in 1984, the modification for air carriers – in 1993.
     In 1974 Igor S. Seleznev was appointed chief designer of the enterprise. At that time the development of several modifications of the X-15 missile and the Rastrub standardized missile system began. The most advanced technologies and up-to-date equipment were exploited for the development of the X-15 supersonic anti-ship missile. It was the first time when the solid-propellant jet engine was installed on this type of domestic missiles. X-15 was put into service in 1980, and up till now it is mounted on the Su-33, Su-34, Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS, Tu-160 carriers. The missile is mainly used to destroy surface crafts (from boat to cruisers). There is the X-15P anti-radar missile and the X-15S undated modification. 
     The distinctive feature of the Rastrub missile system is its target commonality – it may destroy both ships and submarines.  The system is equipped with the 85RU cruise missiles with the UMGT-1 self-guiding anti-ship torpedoes as the warheads. In order to shorten the missile length its warhead is installed under the hull. In 1984 the Rastrub and its modifications were put into service with the anti-submarine crafts.
     In September 1978 Dubna Production and Design Association was renamed into Dubna Production Association "Raduga". Since May 12, 1982 the design bureau became an independent organization – Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga".
     The government recognized the invaluable contribution of Dubna specialists to strengthening the defense potential of the country. In 1983 the enterprise was decorated with the Order of the October Revolution.
     In the mid-80s many state unitary defense enterprises set up the production of civil products within the framework of the conversion program. The management of the design bureau initiated the development and production of wind-power installations. In 1990 working in cooperation with the Scientific and Production Association Juzhnoie and applying the defense technologies, the enterprise set up the production of wind-power installations with the capacity of 200, 250 and 1000 kilowatt. The product range includes three main groups: network installations (250-1000 kilowatt), network local installations (30-80 kilowatt) and autonomous installations (1-16 kilowatt). The Raduga-1 installations are used at Kalmyk Wind-Power Station, owned by Unified Energy System of Russia JSC. In order to eliminate the drawbacks of both wind-power installations and heat engines the designers of the enterprise in cooperation with the Central Institute of Aviation Motors worked out the scheme of a combined wind–gas turbine plant.
     In spite of considerable progress in the area of civil products, the conversion programs is just an auxiliary line of the "Raduga" activities, aimed at preserving scientific and technical potential and high-qualified specialists of the enterprise. It is also necessary for stable financing in market conditions. Today the design bureau is still one of the world leaders, specializing in the field of missile engineering.
     One of the main lines of activities is the development of a hypersonic engine. Back in 1973-78 and 1980-1985 several pilot hypersonic engines were designed.
     At the beginning of the 1990s the "Raduga" designers developed a cruise missile of a new class, i.e. the Kh-90 hypersonic missile. The missile with the operational range of 3.000 km was meant to replace the Kh-55 missile. It carries two warheads with individual guidance systems, capable of engaging two targets, located at the distance of 100 km from each other. In 1992 the work on the missile was stopped, though the hypersonic experimental flying vehicle (GELA) was made to test the pilot products, based on the Kh-90 missile. Moreover, the designers of the enterprise made the Raduga D2 flying laboratory on the basis of the Kh-22 missile.
     In 1993 Vladimir N. Trusov was appointed director general of Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga".  Under his leadership the active work on the Burlak-Diana project began. The developed complex is used to orbit “small” satellites for defense purposes, communication, satellite navigation, control and exploration activity. The result of cooperation with a number of aircraft industry institutions was the complex, comprising the Tu-160 aircraft and the Burlak carrier. In 1995 the "Raduga" designers finished the draft and exhibited Tu-160 with the Burlak wooden mock-up at Paris Air Salon. The complex was of keenest interest of the specialists and general public. At present the Burlak-Diana program is implemented at the international level (by the Russian Burlak Association, German OXB-System GmbH and DARA Aerospace Agency). Within the framework of the project it is planned to design a new modification of the carrier (the Burlak-M) with hypersonic ramjet.
     In 2001 State Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga" celebrated its 50th anniversary. Over its 50-year history the enterprise has developed over 40 types of missile armaments for various purposes. Six products were honored by the Lenin Prize, 12 products – by the State Prize.  In August "Raduga" was awarded the national prize “Zolotaya Idea” (Golden Idea) by the RF Committee For Military and Technical Cooperation. In October the RF President V. Putin expressed gratitude to the collective of the enterprise for the contribution to the development of special-purpose equipment.
     In accordance with the state program of defense complex reorganization and decree of the RF President # 591 of May 9, 2004 State Engineering Design Bureau "Raduga" became a joint stock company and merged with Tactical Missiles Corporation.
     Today the enterprise is one of the leaders of world missile production. It has the scientific and technical potential to design new types of precision weaponry, ensuring the whole range of tests of pilot and batch products. Moreover, the specialists of the design bureau are engaged in updating the earlier-made products and increasing their combat efficiency, technical and maintenance characteristics.
     Within the framework of the conversion program the specialists of the enterprise perform design activities in wind-power and light industry, farming and medicine.