  Existing small, medium and large arrays for the study of cosmic rays of
ultra-high energies are aimed for obtaining information about our galaxy and
extragalactic space, namely to search and study astronomical objects that
produce the flux of relativistic particles. The drift and interaction of such
particles with magnetic fields and shock waves taking place in interstellar
space causes the same interest. The shape of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays
in the energy range $10^{15}-10^{18}$ eV, where the "knee" and the "second
knee" are observed, can be formed as a superposition of the partial spectra of
various chemical elements. Verification of galactic models, using recent
experimental spectral data, makes it possible to study the nature of the
galactic and extragalactic components of cosmic rays. The paper presents the
result of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays in the range $10^{16}-10^{18}$ eV
of measurements obtained with the Small Cherenkov array -- a part of the
Yakutsk array.
