Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design

Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design is a leading Russian enterprise specializing in the development of advanced radar and weapon control systems for military aviation. Operating as a key design bureau within the state corporation Almaz-Antey, it is renowned for creating the fire-control radars for the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter families. The institute, named after its founder Viktor Tikhomirov, plays a critical role in the Russian Aerospace Forces and has been instrumental in numerous Soviet and Russian defense programs.

History

The institute's origins trace back to 1955 when Experimental Design Bureau No. 15 was established in Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast, under the leadership of chief designer Viktor Tikhomirov. Its early work focused on airborne interceptor radar systems, contributing significantly to the air defense network of the Soviet Air Defence Forces. A major breakthrough came with the development of the RP-23 radar for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 fighter, cementing its reputation. Following Tikhomirov's death, the bureau was renamed in his honor and later merged into the Phazotron-NIIR corporation during the 1990s before becoming a core entity of the consolidated Almaz-Antey concern in the 2000s.

Products and developments

The institute is most famous for the NIIP N011 Bars and the revolutionary N035 Irbis passive electronically scanned array radar, which equip the Sukhoi Su-30SM and Sukhoi Su-35 respectively. It also created the N019 radar series for the Mikoyan MiG-29 and its derivatives like the Mikoyan MiG-35. Current flagship projects include the N036 Byelka radar system with integrated L-band arrays for the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter. Other significant products encompass the Sokol surveillance system and advanced fire-control systems for various platforms within the Russian Armed Forces.

Structure and facilities

The institute operates from its main campus in the aviation science city of Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast, co-located with the Gromov Flight Research Institute and the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. It functions as a primary design and systems integration hub within the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation. Its structure includes specialized departments for radio-electronic warfare, signal processing, and antenna systems testing, supported by advanced laboratories and anechoic chambers. Key production and testing partnerships are maintained with plants like the Ulyanovsk Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau and the Rostec subsidiary KRET.

Key personnel and leadership

The founding figure and namesake is Viktor Tikhomirov, a laureate of the USSR State Prize. For decades, general designer Yuri Bely has led the institute's development, overseeing projects like the N035 Irbis and being honored as a Hero of the Russian Federation. Other notable figures include chief designer Vladimir Verba, an expert in airborne radar, and former director Aleksandr Yegorov. The institute's scientists and engineers have frequently been recipients of state awards such as the Order of Honour and the Russian Federation Government Prize for science and technology.

See also

* Almaz-Antey * Phazotron-NIIR * Sukhoi * Mikoyan * Russian Aerospace Forces * Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast

Category:Companies based in Moscow Oblast Category:Defense companies of Russia Category:Research institutes in Russia