In the footsteps of the exhibition Eurosatory 2016: trends in the development of armored vehicles. Part of 1
Prototype of a new wheeled armored vehicle Centauro II MGS 120 / 105
The global market for armored vehicles is more dynamic now than it was after the 2008 crisis of the year. Despite the economic difficulties, the growing tensions in the world and the growth of military conflicts are forcing many countries to increase their military capabilities and increase the fleet of armored vehicles. At the same time, emerging crises may have a completely different character compared with the military campaigns that the Western military has been conducting for more than 10 years since the beginning of the 2000's.
Fighting vehicle VBCI of the French army in Afghanistan. The Afghan experience has had a significant impact on the development of the defense systems and fire power of future combat vehicles.
Potential new combat scenarios influence the combat training, equipment, tactics, methods and methods of warfare, and an attempt to suggest what may be necessary for the next combat operation is a difficult task; in this regard, you can bring a fairly well-known phrase - "all wars were fought weaponsnecessary in a previous war. ” As for armored vehicles, this is often true even for recent operations. For example, the MRAP category machines designed for the Iraqi scenario were fully ready for deployment in Afghanistan, but as it turned out, they could not provide sufficient mobility in mountainous terrain, which led to the development of lighter MRAP machines with independent suspension. In this series of articles, we will not dwell in detail on which machines may be optimal for future tasks that are still unknown; we do not yet have a magic crystal. However, it is interesting to look at what trends in the design and procurement of armored vehicles currently prevail in the world, especially in European armies.
The controversy about what is better, the caterpillar or the wheel, still does not subside and may never end. However, it is clear that many European armies increase the parks of wheeled armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, some of them get rid of caterpillars, others retain mixed parks. You can already talk about some of the machines that were shown at the Eurosatory 2016; most of them were, of course, wheeled. France, Italy, Denmark, Spain and Turkey and some other countries are developing or adopting new platforms in the 8x8 or 6x6 configuration.
The SICS combat information system, which is one of the three pillars of the Scorpion program of the French army, will allow the crews to work together. According to plans Tanks Leclerc and VBCI armored personnel carriers will also be equipped with SICS
Wheel break
With the start of the Scorpion program at the end of 2014, France began a profound transformation of its army, which involves the purchase of more than just wheeled vehicles. In fact, the program has three main directions. The first, of course, is associated with the production of two completely new cars, the BTR Griffon 6x6 and the armed reconnaissance vehicle Jaguar 6x6, which will soon be joined by a third lighter vehicle; the other two are the SICS operational management system (Systeme d'Information du Combat Scorpion) and the SEMBA integrated modeling system. The GME Scorpion Consortium consists of three companies, Nexter, Renault Trucks Defense and Thales; A number of other small and medium enterprises are also participating in this program. The SICS system with its digital architecture will combine the combat units of the French ground forces, from the level of the regiment and below. The SICS system developed by Bull (recently acquired by Atos) is not a hierarchical software like the five operational management systems it replaces, but a system like a social network that makes it easy to create interest groups like Facebook or Whatsapp. SICS will not be limited to the new Griffon and Jaguar armored vehicles, it will be installed on the Leclerc tank as part of the Scorpion Tranche 1 program, as well as as part of the planned modernization of the VBCI Stage 2. However, let's dwell on two new cars, which will soon be commissioned by the French army.
One of the latest artistic performances of the Griffon armored personnel carrier, which is to replace VAB vehicles in the French army. The first and the third managed bridges can be noted, as well as the new DBMS. The first prototype will be made in 2017
The new Griffon machine is designed to replace the VAB armored vehicles (Traffic de l'Avant Blinde), some of which have been modernized to match the Afghan theater of operations, but which are becoming obsolete, at least in the versions used in the French army. The new armored vehicle with the wheel formula 6x6 will be produced in six variants, and in fact in nine, since the variant of the armored personnel carrier will have four sub-options. The remaining options are engineering, control, artillery surveillance, sanitary and RCB reconnaissance. The Griffon platform will have good modularity and will be equipped with specialized transformation kits for a specific task. However, not all modernization kits will be purchased at first, they will be purchased later and, ultimately, this will allow for the modernization of the machine without the need for its deep refinement. The first serial contract for 318 machines is expected next year. The 1 Stage of the Scorpion program, which runs until the 2023 year, will include the production of 780 Griffon machines, and the total number of 2 machines (and this 2035 year) by the end of the Stage will be 1720 machines. But the Griffon 54 machines, armed with an 81-mm mortar and known as the MEPAC (Mortier Embarque Pour l'Appui au Contact) variant, will be financed under a separate contract. Griffon will have a significantly larger mass compared to VAB, but the developers considered it acceptable to leave the 6x6 wheel configuration. The machine will be equipped with a Renault MDE8 diesel engine with 400 horsepower. at 2200 rpm, coupled with an automatic transmission, which allows, taking into account the combat weight of the 24,5 ton, the specific power of the 16,3 hp / ton. All Griffon variants will be equipped with the same independent hydromechanical suspension with twin hydraulic shock absorbers developed by Quiri (it also produces the suspension for VBCI machines). The experience gained with the VBCI machine was studied and taken into account, although the requirements for off-road travel for the Griffon were not as stringent as the requirements for the 8xXNNXX configuration machine. In order to minimize the turning radius, the third bridge is made manageable. No details are given on the levels of protection, but if you think logically, they should not be less than the levels of protection of the last version of VBCI. Little is known about the weapons, except that a T1 remotely controlled weapon station (RWM) will be installed, developed by Renault Trucks Defense and Safran Electronics & Defense (new name of Sagem); the latter supplies a sensor kit that includes a typical high-definition television camera, an uncooled thermal imager, a laser rangefinder and a gyrocompass. The cradle can accept an 7,62-mm or 12,7-mm machine gun or an 40-mm automatic grenade launcher. Vetronic (onboard electronics) Griffon is supplied by Thales and is based on VSYS-net, the basis of which is the standard DDS (Data Distribution Service) bus. Safran and Thales company syndicated Optrolead, will put one of the systems - circular situational awareness system Antares, based on photosensitive matrix megapixel resolution 5,5 performed based on CMOS technology with elevation angles from -15 ° to + 75 °, which ensures detection vehicle at a distance of 650 meters. Antares can be used in various modes, including as a receiver of a warning system for laser irradiation with an accuracy of azimuth ± 1,5 °.
Prototype of the new Griffon at Eurosatory 2016
The prototype of the Antares system was introduced in the summer of 2016. At the same time, the acoustic sensor Pilar V manufactured by Acoem Metravib was presented. It is interesting to note that SICS allows you to use data obtained from more than one machine in a process called “joint triangulation”, which can significantly improve accuracy. Navigation is provided by a light and compact inertial navigation system Safran Epsilon 10, based on vibratory gyroscopes (gyrotrons), which guarantees an accuracy of about one percent of the distance traveled. At the moment, communications are the responsibility of Thales PR4G, including the new programmable radio station Contact, which the company speaks of as having a system that has characteristics that are a hundred times superior to those of current systems. Work with radio stations, as well as to maintain communication between the crew members of the Griffon car and the landing force will be enabled by the digital intercom system ELIPS developed by Elno. The new control unit was presented at the Eurosatory 2016 exhibition, it allows you to maintain communication between the crew and the infantrymen, even when they are out of the car, as well as to control up to three radio stations simultaneously.
While the Griffon remains the base armored personnel carrier, which will replace the 70-s similar car of the middle class, the Jaguar will replace three cars that are significantly larger in mass: AMX-10RC, ERC-90 Sagaie and VAB HOT. Consequently, the Jaguar specifications must exceed the specifications of the Griffon machine, as a result, its cost will be significant, and the quantity will be much smaller: 1 will buy 110 machines from Jaguar as part of the Phase, 2 will also buy 138 machines from 248, which will total 1720 pieces, this is far less than the number of Griffon (XNUMX) machines.
The mass of the car will be a little more and will be 24,3 tons against 22 tons; however, the engine Jaguar 500 horsepower. will provide much greater power density. The fact that off-road patency has a higher priority is illustrated by the choice of suspension: for the Jaguar, Quiri has developed an active hydropneumatic suspension, which is not only better for rough terrain, but also easier. This allows you to change the ground clearance, inclination of the machine, as well as the stiffness of the suspension. But of course you have to pay for everything, the suspension for Jaguar is about 2,5 times more expensive than the suspension for Griffon. Little data is available on Jaguar protection: the protection kit for the high-explosive IEDs will be available right from the start along with anti-bullet and RPG protection, while the protection kit for fragmentation IEDs is expected later.
Nexter Double Tower T40
The firepower is provided by the 40-mm CTA cannon installed in the double version of the Nexter T40 turret. A gun with telescopic ammunition juts less into the turret compared to conventional guns; the maximum angle of vertical guidance is 45 ° (although theoretically an angle of 75 ° can be achieved). In addition, when shooting in motion, the gun can shoot from the closed breech, which means reducing the delay between the team to open fire and the shot itself from 350 to 25 milliseconds, and this in turn contributes to increased accuracy. Currently, it is planned to use armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber, high-explosive fragmentation (point detonation) projectiles and air explosive ordnance; their qualification process is either completed or is already ending. The ammunition processing system can hold three types of 64 rounds of ammunition, switching from one type of ammunition to another takes less than 6 seconds. Another 120 shots are transported inside the car, since the French army demanded that the Jaguar machine be able to perform combat missions for up to three days. CTAI is currently developing two new types of ammunition: one practical with a reduced range and one for the A3B anti-aircraft defense (Anti-Aerial Air Burst - anti-aircraft, air detonation), mainly designed for Thales' RAPIDFire anti-aircraft complex. To fight tanks at large distances (up to 4 km), the Jaguar relies on a pair of MMP missiles; the twin-tube launcher is mounted on the starboard side of the turret, two more rockets are placed in the back of the turret on the left side. Designed and manufactured by MBDA, the MMP missile system is fully integrated with the machine and, in addition to the electronic interface unit, it also includes on-board displays and guidance systems. The commander's periscope and the gunner's sight are based on the Paseo optocoupler system developed by Safran. It includes the 3-5 micron thermal imaging camera, color camera and laser range finder, and according to available data, it can detect a vehicle at a distance of 12 km, recognize it at 7,7 km and identify it at 4,2 km. The Paseo system will also be installed on the Griffon VOA (artillery observation vehicle) artillery observer version, also equipped with an inertial aiming unit for aiming and a laser illumination device. In the VOA version, the Paseo system will be installed on a telescopic mast, which will also have Thales Observatory Ground Observer GO12 radar installed.
Soldiers disembark from the VAB Mk III armored personnel carrier (below); Renault Trucks Defense offers it to existing VAB machine operators, as well as those who need an armored personnel carrier with an optimal cost-effectiveness ratio
In order to provide accurate navigation data in areas where there is no GPS signal, the Jaguar machine is equipped with an inertial Safran Sigma 20 system based on hemispherical resonant gyroscopes, which provide much more accurate data compared to the Griffon’s navigation system. Due to the fact that the car with the turret has a more complex geometric shape, Jaguar will be equipped with two systems: the Antares situational awareness complex from Thales and the laser irradiation warning receivers. An anti-aircraft gun armed with an 7,62-mm MAG machine gun, which will be installed near the hatch of the shooter and will have a maximum vertical angle of 60 °, will be responsible for the short-range air defense. Silent surveillance is currently a mandatory mode for a reconnaissance vehicle: six rechargeable batteries ensure that the Jaguar can work for two hours with the engine shut off, which is reduced to almost zero acoustic and thermal signs of visibility.
Embedded modeling is another pillar of the Scorpion program. Within its framework, the kit is being developed under the designation SEMBA (Simulation EMBArquee), which is mainly intended for the Jaguar machine. It includes three additional computers, a joystick and a video driver for the driver, as well as virtual reality systems for the commander and the shooter, in this case the traditional periscopes replace the augmented reality glasses. The SEMBA system, which is installed in less than an hour and removed in less than 15 minutes, provides static control modeling of various machines. The control of learning is carried out from ordinary desktop computers of the training center, in the field with a hardened tablet. The development of dynamic modeling will be included in the Scorpion 2 Stage.
Jaguar will replace the three AMX-10RC, ERC-90 Sagaie and VAB HOT cars. The twin-turret is armed with a 40-mm cannon from CTAI, an anti-aircraft engine will be installed on the roof of the turret. Top of the Jaguar model at Eurosatory 2016
Introduced in 2013 by Nexter, the Titus armored vehicle is still looking for a launch customer. The car is based on the Tatra chassis and forms its own category
The development phase of the Scorpion program, launched in 2014, involves the manufacture of two mobile test benches, the first of which is scheduled for the middle of 2016. The first of the six Griffon prototypes will be ready in the 2017 year, while the first of the three Jaguar prototypes will be made in the 2018 year. The Scorpion program also includes the development of a light armored car 4x4, which will be discussed in the section on light vehicles.
France unhurriedly removes part of its obsolete armored personnel carriers VAB (Trafficule de lAvant Blinde), while the rest of the modernized armored personnel carriers are waiting for themselves to replace the new Griffon machine. Despite this, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) has developed a new version of the Mk III. This option is only available in the 6x6 configuration, its combat weight has increased to 20 tons; Two configurations are available with different engines, Renault Dxi7 340 horsepower. or Renault MDE8 horsepower 400 The car is equipped with an independent suspension; only the first axle is controlled; an optional second axle can receive steering wheels. The hull has limited levels of protection, since it was originally designed for the installation of additional kits that can provide ballistic protection up to the 4 level and mine protection to the 3B level. In an armored personnel carrier configuration, two crew members plus 13 infantrymen can be accommodated in a VAB MkIII protected enclosure with 3 m10 volume. Embarkation and disembarkation are carried out through two manually opening doors, but an electrically operated aft ramp is optionally available. The machine is equipped with a Battlenet Inside RTD development architecture and an 300 Ampere generator. At Eurosatory 2016, RTD presented the latest configuration with a turret armed with an 90-mm cannon, which makes it an effective platform for direct fire support with a long combat mission time thanks to a large number of portable 90-mm shots. The compact fire support option complements the existing options, allowing RTD to offer VAB MkIII based solutions for a full-fledged battle group.
The first customer of the new version was to be Lebanon; With the financing of Saudi Arabia, 100 machines were manufactured for this country. Political differences have forced the Saudi government to cancel military aid to Beryut, and now the fate of the contract signed in February 2016 of the year is not clear.
In addition to the fact that the new machine is offered mainly to countries that are already using previous versions of VAB, it is also used as a technology demonstrator for electric drives. The demonstration model under the designation Electer was equipped with a hybrid power unit of a parallel circuit. To power 340 hp A conventional diesel engine electric motor is able to almost instantly add 170 kW (almost 230 hp). If necessary, Electer can silently drive over 10 km at a speed of 60 km / h using one electric power unit. Accumulated electricity can also be used for covert surveillance, with 3 kW being provided for on-board equipment for more than 5 hours. The genset weighs about 600 kg, but given the reduction in the number of batteries and other advantages, the weight gain is actually not that big. VAB MkIII Electer was assigned to the 13 Armaments Directorate in January 2015.
Electer demo model equipped with a hybrid power unit
As is known, the process of merging the French company Nexter with the German KMW is going on at the moment, after which its headquarters will remain in France. With the delivery of the VBCI machine to the French army and the display of the VBCI 2 at DSEI 2015, the company has made a lot of efforts to promote these options in the 8xXNNXX configuration abroad; and the UK is considered a priority. As for the new Titus 8x6, its commercial success in the export market, according to experts, is not far off.
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