The National Interest: Can the old Russian tanks again become new?
Another article on the existing Russian armored vehicles was published on June 17 by the American publication The National Interest under the heading Security. Permanent author of the publication Kyle Mizokami has prepared a material with the saying “Can Russian Old Tanks Become 'New' Again?” (“Can old Tanks Will Russia become new again? ”) As the title clearly indicates, the topic of publication was the projects for updating serial armored vehicles of combatant units and their prospects in the context of further development of the Russian ground forces.
K. Mizokami begins her article with a reminder that in recent years the Armata’s newest Russian T-14 tank has attracted the special attention of the entire world. This machine was developed from scratch. It is the first completely new tank in the world, created in the last few years, and in the context of Russian tank design, the first completely new tank, even for several decades. The new tanks will go to mass production and go to the troops.
However, the author believes that the limited financial capabilities of the Russian military department will lead to specific consequences. Even after the launch of the Armat serial production, the base of armored vehicles will still be old and long-familiar combat vehicles, first introduced in the eighties of the last century or even earlier.
According to K. Mizoki, at present, the Russian armed forces have 2700 main battle tanks in service. This vehicle is used as a part of 36 motorized rifle (mechanized infantry in NATO terminology) and tank brigades. In addition, the tanks are in service with four motorized rifle troops and the same number of tank divisions.
The latest plans for the development of the Russian ground forces envisage the formation of a so-called battalion tactical groups. Such a group is a reinforced all-arms formation capable of independent activity and solving combat missions. The battalion tactical groups include four tank and motorized rifle companies each. In addition, the composition of the tactical group provides for the creation of artillery, reconnaissance, engineering and various support units. As part of the maneuverable brigades or regiments of the Russian army, there are usually two battalion tactical groups.
The main "bricks" in the building of modern Russian armored troops are still machines of the T-72 family. K.Mizokami includes in this family as all T-72 tanks of various modifications, as well as his “cousin” T-80, as well as the “older brother” represented by T-90. The oldest representative of this line is the T-72, which appeared more than three decades ago. By the end of the Cold War, the T-80 entered service. The newest are the T-90 machines - the result of a deep modernization of the basic T-72.
The T-72 tank was first provided in 1973, and immediately became a concern for the North Atlantic alliance. The new armored vehicle had a low silhouette, thick armor and powerful weapons. T-72 looked like a significant step forward in comparison with the very mediocre T-62. The main weapons The newest Soviet tank was a 125-mm smoothbore 2A46M gun. A loader was taken out of the crew, instead of which special automatics appeared in the fighting compartment. With it, the gun could make up to eight rounds per minute. The refusal of the fourth tanker allowed to reduce the size of the tower. With the help of the engine power 780 hp the tank could accelerate to the highway to 37 miles per hour (60 km / h).
The newest Soviet tank had a high level of protection for its time. The hull and tower were equipped with a combined multi-layered booking. When shelling by armor piercing piercing shells with a detachable tray of NATO 120-mm guns, protection was ensured at the level of homogeneous armor 335-380 mm. When an adversary used 120-mm cumulative shells, durability was equivalent to 410-450 mm armor steel. A later modification of the T-72B1 received the “Contact-1” dynamic protection, with which the resistance to sabot projectiles increased by 50%, and the protection against cumulative ones almost doubled. Later, a similar “Contact-5” system was used, which provided adequate protection against TOW-type anti-tank missiles.
T-72 tanks were a support of the Soviet ground forces, and were also supplied to foreign armies. A total of export vehicles went to 12 countries, including Syria and Iraq. K. Mizokami notes that the Syrian T-72 tanks did not perform well with the Israeli armored vehicles during the invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Iraqi armored vehicles fought even worse during the Gulf War in 1991.
As the main problems of Syrian and Iraqi tanks, the American author indicates a low level of crew training and problems with troop control. At the same time, he argues that T-72 and without it lags behind modern Western and Israeli tanks, primarily in the areas of ammunition for the main gun, booking and surveillance equipment. For example, the Iraqi ground forces' tanks were not completed with the dynamic protection of “Contact-1” or “Contact-5” used on equipment from other countries. Such features of the machines were of critical importance.
In addition to the T-72, the Russian ground forces “inherited” the T-80 tanks from the Soviet army. This machine bears a significant resemblance to the T-72, and is also equipped with a similar 2-46М. At the same time, the T-80 tank had noticeable differences. For example, using a cannon as a launcher, such a machine could fire a Cobra, a guided missile 9М112, equipped with a cumulative armor-piercing warhead. Such a rocket could fly a distance 2,5 miles (4 km) and penetrate up to 700 mm of homogeneous armor. In addition, the T-80 tank was slightly larger and was equipped with a gas-turbine engine with an 1250 horsepower. K. Mizokami recalls that such an engine gave increased mobility at the cost of reduced reliability.
The economic problems that plagued Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union until the beginning of the last decade entailed long “hungry years” for the armed forces. The army had no money for the purchase of new tanks, but the existing T-72 and T-80 managed to keep in line, as well as from time to time to carry out the necessary repairs and upgrades.
Despite the demoralizing effect of the results of the Gulf War, Soviet and Russian engineers continued to develop technology. In particular, they developed a number of systems for the additional protection of armored vehicles, including those based on original ideas and solutions. Thus, the Shtora-1 optoelectronic suppression system could interfere with optical signals and interfere with the guidance of missiles with infrared heads, while the protection against laser-guided complexes was carried out with the help of smoke grenade launchers. In the Arena active defense complex, a Doppler radar and kinetic intercept devices were combined, which made it possible to destroy flying weapons at a minimum distance.
Also continued the development of weapons. For the 2А46М launcher, new cumulative and armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles, featuring enhanced combat characteristics, were created. The remaining T-80 tanks also received a new anti-tank guided missile 9М119 "Reflex", which in its characteristics was superior to the older "Cobra".
The current generation of tanks of the existing models is the armored T-72B3. This modernization project combines a number of ways to improve the technical and combat characteristics and involves the use of a variety of new types of devices. Thus, the T-72B3 tank is equipped with the newest dynamic protection "Contact-5", which significantly increases survivability in the case of cumulative ammunition. The 125-mm gun can use Reflex missiles, and the ammunition with 39 shots increases to 45. Thus, the project "БХNUMX" implies a significant update of the protection and weapon systems. Initially, the project offered to upgrade the power plant, but was abandoned for reasons of economy.
According to K. Mizokami, in the future, T-72B3 tanks will be able to go through a new upgrade. Within its framework, armored vehicles will be able to receive automatic loading and fire control systems similar to those used in the Armata T-14 project. It is also possible to install the latest Russian dynamic protection system "Relic" and a new power plant, differing in 50% more power.
In addition to the T-72 family of tanks, the 550 T-80 armored vehicles in the Russian ground forces remain. This technique, according to known data, is planned to be upgraded in accordance with the project T-80BV. The tank with the letters "BV" to some extent similar to the T-72B3. A similar approach to upgrading protection and weapons is proposed. In this case, such a project proposes the use of a less powerful, but more reliable gas turbine engine of a different model. According to Jane's, after modernization T-80BV tanks will be able to work effectively in the cold climate of the Far East, Siberia or the Arctic. K. Mizokami draws attention: it is possible, not by chance, that these regions are as far removed from the main NATO tank forces.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Russian defense industry presented only one new tank, the T-90. This car was introduced in the 1993 year and was a deep upgrade of the T-72, called a completely new model. T-90 is in many ways similar to the new T-72B3, and in addition, it contributed significantly to the future development of the B3 retrofit project.
The last currently modified T-90 called T-90MS has all the capabilities of the T-72B3 and is almost identical in its composition of the onboard equipment. At the same time, a tank of this version is distinguished by the presence of a diesel engine with an 1000 horsepower, a set of video cameras to increase crew awareness, as well as navigation equipment compatible with the GLONASS satellite system. One of the most important innovations of the T-90MS project is enhanced booking. According to the American specialist, frontal protection is equivalent to 690-mm steel armor when protected from sub-caliber projectiles or 1040 mm-armor in the event of shelling by cumulative ammunition. Additional layers of steel and composite materials, covered with dynamic protection, led to a twofold increase in the level of protection of the T-90MS in comparison with the very first version of T-72.
Kyle Mizokami completes his article “Can Become Old Tanks Become 'New' Again?” With the expected conclusions. He believes that the high cost of the Armata’s newest T-14 main battle tanks, as well as Western sanctions imposed in connection with the “invasion of Ukraine”, are likely to adversely affect Russia's capabilities in purchasing new armored vehicles. It is unlikely that the country will be able to quickly acquire a significant number of cars of the latest models.
The Russian armed forces are currently confronted with well-known problems associated with the obsolescence of equipment. A similar situation is observed in various fields, from fighter aircraft to tanks and other armored combat vehicles. Despite the emergence of new designs that can have a positive impact on defense, a large number of the material parts of the old types will remain in operation. Such a technique will be used up to preserve the need for it. With careful maintenance and timely implementation of new upgrades, existing tanks of relatively old models will be able to serve as part of the Russian army over the next few decades.
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It should be noted that the new article of The National Interest, devoted to the peculiarities of the development of the Russian fleet of armored vehicles, in general, reveals the well-known theses and does not contain any sensational or surprising information. The Russian Ministry of Defense for a long time announced its plans for the development of tanks. In parallel with the mass construction of new types of equipment, the start of which is expected in the near future, the modernization of existing machines for new projects will continue.
Recall, the project of modernization of the T-72B3 tanks was presented quite a long time ago, and has already become the subject of an order of the military department. Since the beginning of this decade, there has been a massive modernization of front-line tanks of the T-72 family with the replacement of a number of electronic and other equipment, as well as the installation of some new devices, additional protection systems, etc. According to various sources, to date, at least 3 tanks have been upgraded under the B800 project. Several other versions of the T-72B3 project have also been developed. They involve the use of new engines, improved weapons and enhanced protection.
Modernization of T-80BV tanks for a new project remains in the plans for the near future. In November last year, the Russian press reported on the imminent creation of a new version of the armored vehicle, featuring a more efficient gas turbine engine and improved fire control devices. According to reports, the first tanks will undergo such modernization this year.
It also needs to be said that the American author made some notable mistakes in his article “Can Russia's Old Tanks Become 'New' Again?”. They do not lead to any fatal consequences, but still significantly distort the picture. For example, K. Mizokami claims that the T-72 tank was originally equipped with an 125-mm gun 2-46M. However, it is well known that the first modifications of this machine were completed with the 2А26М gun. Soon, the T-72 was rearmed using newer 2A46-1 guns. Tank gun 2А46М, mentioned by the author, was created only in the late seventies.
Also, the information given in the article gives the impression that the T-72 tanks were able to use guided missiles only in the latest modifications, while the T-80 tanks always carried such weapons. In fact, the T-72 became the carrier of guided missiles after the creation of the 2А46М, specially modified for the use of such ammunition. T-72 with missiles entered service just a few years after the T-80 with similar capabilities.
However, the main ideas of the article are completely untrue. Due to objective reasons and a number of factors, Russia's financial capabilities do not allow to quickly and fully obtain the desired number of armored vehicles of new models. As a result, the combat effectiveness of armored troops for a considerable time will have to be maintained with the help of repair and modernization of the existing technology of relatively old models. One of such projects - the upgrade of T-72 tanks to the state of “Б3” - has already started. The second is scheduled to launch this year. Thus, the forecast of The National Interest on the preservation of existing equipment in the army over the next few decades looks very plausible.
Article "Can Russia's Old Tanks Become 'New' Again?":
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/can-russias-old-tanks-become-new-again-21195
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