ZSU "Otomatic"

August 20 2010 29 844 1

The original ZSU "Automatic" was created in the early 90s in Italy. It is armed with a 76-mm automatic cannon. The choice of such a large caliber is due to the task of hitting helicopters before they launch anti-tank missiles. missiles. The chassis is based on the 155-mm Palmiria self-propelled howitzer. The combat weight of the Otomatic is 46 tons. The ammunition is 100 shells. Obviously, increasing the caliber of anti-aircraft guns also has negative consequences: the rate of fire of the gun decreases, the ammunition is reduced due to the increased weight of the shell, and errors occur more often when shooting at long distances.

These circumstances prompted the developers to search for the possibility of adjusting the projectile flight path in the target area. The way out was found in equipping it with a pulse correction engine, representing six small charges placed in the shell of the projectile. By launching the corresponding engine, it is possible to change the projectile flight path within 10 ° in any direction relative to the velocity vector by commands from the ground control system. The command receiver is located at the bottom of the projectile, and its antenna in the form of a four-element cruciform grid is placed on the stabilizer feathers.

Experts believe that such a projectile, equipped with non-contact and contact fuses, will allow you to successfully deal with helicopters at distances 8 — 10 km. The cost of it in 5 - 10 times higher than usual, however, according to foreign experts, with 50-percent probability of hitting the target, this is quite a profitable alternative to the air defense system.

Work is also underway to create a projectile induced by a laser beam. It has a sensor for determining the angular deviation from the line of sight, which is used to control the operation of the gas switches of the steering mechanism and change the flight path. It is believed that targeting a projectile at a laser beam in combination with a proximity fuse will provide the probability of hitting targets equal to 0,5 - 0,7.