In the first days of November, photographs of the Russian Kielector KIL-158 (project 141), sailing from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, were published. It was not the first time the ship had passed this route, but now its interest in it was associated with cargo carried on deck. Part of the payload of the sectoral vessel was a boat one of the latest models. Initially, a version appeared according to which the transported boat belongs to the 03610 Raptor project. However, other messages soon appeared. According to later reports of the national press, KIL-158 transported landing craft project 02510 or BK-16. The Raptor and BK-16 boats are very similar in appearance, which is why the observed confusion with the types is quite understandable.
Boat BK-16 in motion. Photo GK "Euroyachting" / Euroyachting.ru
The speed assault boat of the type BK-16 is one of the latest domestic developments of its class. Such equipment is intended for solving transport, amphibious or combat missions on rivers or in the coastal maritime zone. Characteristic features of such boats are the ability to move at high speed, the presence of a large landing bay with a large number of seats, as well as the ability to approach directly to the coast with the subsequent landing of fighters. The project provides for the use of various small arms and grenade launchers, whose composition is determined in accordance with the wishes of the customer.
The 02510 speedboat project was developed at the beginning of this decade by Rybinsk Shipyard, one of the structural divisions of the Euroyachting group of companies. To date, Euroyachting and Rybinsk Shipyard have become part of the Kalashnikov Concern. In developing the project, domestic and foreign experience in creating technology of this class was taken into account, which, among other things, led to the formation of a characteristic image that makes the BK-16 similar to some other light vessels of the Russian and foreign industries. Nevertheless, all work was carried out by Russian designers independently and without the help of foreign colleagues.
In 2014, Rybinsk Shipyard built the lead boat of a new project. In the fall of the same year, the first BK-16 was sent to the Black Sea for testing. Already then it was claimed that after completion of all necessary checks the boat would be transferred to one of the special units of the Black Sea fleet. In mid-2015, the lead boat of project 02510 was introduced into the fleet. At the same time, the manufacturer began testing a second boat, the construction of which was completed by then.
The boat is on the deck of the KIL-158 vessel. Photo Vg-news.ru
In the summer and autumn of 2015, new type of boats were first shown to representatives of the country's military and political leadership, as well as to the general public. The first platforms for demonstration of the equipment of the type BK-16 were the International Naval Salon in St. Petersburg and the military-technical forum Army-2015. In both cases, full-fledged full-featured boats were demonstrated, suitable for use by the armed forces.
The boat BK-16 is intended for solving a wide range of tasks related to the transportation of personnel or cargoes, the landing of fighters on the unprepared coast, the use of small arms, etc. Such requirements have led to the formation of the appropriate appearance of technology, and more specifically, to the use of existing ideas and solutions, worked out in some foreign projects and confirmed their potential. This approach led to the successful completion of the development of the boat with the required characteristics, but its direct result was the characteristic appearance that makes the BK-16 boats look like some other samples of a similar purpose.
An important feature of the project 02510, directly related to the requirements for driving performance, is widely used in the construction of aluminum-magnesium alloy. This allows to provide the required strength with a relatively small mass. So, with a length of 16,45 m, a width of 4 m and a height of 4,33 m, the empty displacement is 13 t. The total is 19,5 t. The normal draft is determined in 0,87 m.
The scheme of the boat. Figure concern "Kalashnikov" / Kalashnikov.com
The hull form of the BK-16 was designed to improve driving performance. The layout of the internal volumes is determined taking into account modern developments in the field of high-speed amphibious assault boats. The nose of the hull is given under the tunnel for landing troops on the shore. Behind it is a deckhouse with crew jobs. The largest compartment is the central troop compartment in which the target equipment should be installed. In the stern of the hull placed units of the power plant. An important feature of the boat project 02510 is the absence of large add-ons. In the bow there is a cabin with glazing, while the roof of the amphibious compartment serves as a deck.
The design of the boat provides for the use of armor plates that protect the crew and the assault force from rifle weapons different types. The composition of the glazing uses multi-layered packages of large thickness, also protecting people.
In the aft compartment of the hull is placed the power plant, built on the basis of two diesel engines with an 780 horsepower. As a propulsion boat uses a set of water cannons placed in the stern. The power plant and propeller allow the boat to reach the maximum speed of the 42 node. Economic speed is defined at the level of 30 nodes. Cruising range for fuel - 400 nautical miles.
Top view and diagram of the internal device. Figure concern "Kalashnikov" / Kalashnikov.com
The boat is controlled from the bow cabin, inside of which the workplaces of two crew members are placed. The control stations are equipped with a set of all necessary equipment, allowing to exercise control over boat systems, navigation, etc. The crew is protected from external influences by the cabin having glazing. The front part of the cabin is made tilted forward, the sides are installed with a blockage inside. Access to the cabin is carried out both through the landing compartment or the nasal passage, and through its own hatches in the roof.
In the basic landing configuration, the boat of the 02510 project is equipped with a large landing compartment located in the central part of the hull. In the existing compartment along the sides are installed 18 seats for the landing. Access to the compartment is provided by a hatch in its stern. A passage is also provided to allow entry into the wheelhouse, and from there into the forward tunnel. When disembarking on an unprepared coastline, paratroopers should use a tunnel equipped with a lowered ramp and a double top cover. This method of landing simplifies the landing, and also allows the soldiers as quickly as possible to begin to perform their tasks.
Several additional boat equipment projects were also developed. In the central compartment of the corps, the command center equipment with 9 workplaces, medical modules and stretchers for the wounded, as well as fire or diving equipment can be placed. Thus, depending on the wishes of the customer, the manufacturer can supply the equipment in the appropriate configuration, designed to solve certain problems.
Battle module on the roof of the cabin. Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
According to reports, to improve the comfort of the crew and the landing in the project 02510 provides some ideas of a domestic nature. Two rectangular portholes are provided on the sides of the landing compartment. If necessary, people on board can use berths and latrine, which greatly improves the usability and also allows you to increase battery life. In its current form, the speedboat has autonomy on the 1 day.
The BK-16 project allows equipping high-speed boats with weapons of various types with the required characteristics. For example, during last year's exhibitions the following weaponry of the boat was demonstrated. On the roof of the cabin crew mounted remotely controlled combat module. The design of this product allows you to install and use machine guns rifle and large caliber, as well as 30-mm and 40-mm automatic grenade launchers. The module includes a block of optical-electronic equipment that allows you to monitor and find targets at any time of the day.
As part of the onboard fencing of the deck, two swiveling installations for machine guns are provided. Demonstrated boats carried on these devices machine guns PKM rifle caliber. Additional rifle-caliber machine guns are proposed to be mounted in the stern of the sides on a similar installation. The combat module and a set of machine guns allow the crew of the boat to fire in any direction, without dead zones. In addition, the shelling sector of some weapons partially overlap, further enhancing the firing capabilities of the boat. If necessary, personal assault weapons can be used with grenade launchers and machine guns, however, loopholes for its use in the hull are not installed.
Nasal tunnel for disembarkation, view from the inside (left) and outside (right). Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
On the deck of the boat, behind the cabin of the crew, a mast is mounted to accommodate some electronic equipment. On it, as well as on some other parts of the body, are placed one or another antenna device. In addition, it provides for the use of small-sized radar for navigation and detection of surface targets.
In case of accidents or other similar situations, the boat carries a set of rescue equipment. Mounts for inflatable rafts placed in cylindrical containers are provided on the sides. The boat also has several sets of mountings for life buoys. Along the perimeter of the deck is a fence, which increases the safety of the crew.
To date, the shipbuilding enterprise Rybinsk Shipyard has managed to build and transfer to the customer only two boats BK-16. According to published data, both products are made in the configuration of a high-speed landing craft. They have 19 places for paratroopers with weapons or special equipment, and also carry remote-controlled combat modules and a set of different types of machine guns. In this form, the technique can be used as a vehicle for special units.
BK-16 on the water. Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
In early July of this year, the press service of the Kalashnikov Concern, whose structural unit became the Rybinsk Shipyard recently, announced that the company had begun mass deliveries of new assault and assault boats of the types BK-10 and BK-16. Both boats are summarized in the so-called. a single battle group, the use of which allows you to perform various tasks. The development of a unified battle group was carried out on its own initiative with the participation of security forces. This made it possible to take into account in the project all the wishes and requirements of the potential customer, thereby increasing the efficiency of the future use of technology.
According to the reports of the beginning of this month, not so long ago one of the boats Ave 02510 / BK-16 aboard the KIL-158 head-boat was delivered to the shores of Syria. The plans of the Russian armed forces regarding the use of this boat have not yet been officially announced. It is known that several boats of the 03610 Raptor project are already present and in use in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. As in the case of the BC-16, the details of the use of "Raptors" were not disclosed.
Due to the lack of official information on the use of technology transferred to Syria, it remains only to make forecasts. In the publications of domestic and foreign media, suggestions are made about the possible use of boats BK-16 and Raptor as a vehicle for special forces. Using such equipment, special forces soldiers can quickly arrive in the specified area, disembark and start performing assigned tasks. Over the past months, unconfirmed information about the participation of Russian special forces in various operations has been repeatedly published. The current situation in Syria can contribute to the conduct of such new operations, in which the available speed boats will be the means of delivering fighters to the shore.
In move. Photo of Kalashnikov Concern / Kalashnikov.com
It should be noted that the boats of 02510 and 03610 projects can be used not only for the transfer of special forces. This technique can solve many other problems. So, boats of these types are able to patrol waters in the coastal zone. Similar to their "functions" can be used to protect objects used by Russian armed forces. In addition, a naval group of the Russian Navy arrived at the shores of Syria, which may also need the help of patrol boats. Terrorists do not have modern marine equipment, but the fleet must be ready to respond to any threats.
The exact purposes of the transfer of the boat BK-16 to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, for obvious reasons, are not specified by officials. The expressed forecasts may be of some interest, but there is no reason to believe that they are completely untrue. Nevertheless, it is possible to speak confidently about some features of the use of the latest technology. The transfer of boats with the aim of solving certain tasks will allow the specialists of the Navy to improve their skills in managing equipment. Mastering boats in peacetime gives noticeable results, but working in real armed conflict will allow crews to test their skills and then improve them.
Since last fall, the Russian armed forces have been conducting an operation to combat terrorist organizations operating in Syria and representing a certain danger to our country. The bulk of the combat work went to the Aerospace Forces, but the navy represented by ships and submarines of several operational-strategic alliances was repeatedly involved in striking targets of illegal armed formations. More recently, it was decided to bring to combat one of the newest high-speed landing craft, which was soon delivered to the combat area. Details of the use of such technology, apparently, will be known only in the future. However, now the crews are testing their skills and mastering work in difficult conditions at a great distance from their permanent bases.
On the materials of the sites:
https://kalashnikov.com/
http://euroyachting.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://rg.ru/
http://vg-news.ru/
http://svpressa.ru/
http://nevskii-bastion.ru/