Sentry with anti-aircraft guns. Lightweight, compact and powerful BM-3
Remember Robot-hour from the famous film by James Cameron "Aliens"? In one of the episodes of this very overpowering and sentimental science fiction action movie, two sentinel robots (they had the index UA 571-C) repelled the attack of aliens who tried to get through the tunnel to the defended residential module. An automatic, remotely controlled machine gun on a tripod in 1986 looked futuristic - it looked like an element of the distant future, in which they would fly to other planets and cut there with all sorts of alien monsters.
Shot from the movie "Aliens." Ahead are two watch-robots set to guard the tunnel.
So, we have it now. This is a combat module BM-3, which first appeared at the exhibition in 2016 year, and now adopted for use. Well, progress in armaments is faster. We already have a remotely controlled combat module, and we are still flying into space on the "kerosene" and so far we can not even reach the neighboring planets of our solar system, not to mention the planets of other stars.
Like the recently appeared robot "Marker", I liked the new combat module at a glance. Lightweight, compact, powerful. In published TTH more attention was paid to fire capabilities; I am also more interested in the weight of the product. Apparently, the mass of the entire module is small and in its curb form it is unlikely to exceed 60 kg. This opens up very wide possibilities for the use of such modules. The dimensions of the module also did not publish, but according to the photo its dimensions can be estimated at about 0,8 meters in length and height and 0,9 meters in width. Finally, the Kord 12,7-mm machine gun.
BM-3
In my opinion, the development is successful. To criticize it is nothing special. Small modifications that do not affect the design as a whole, it is possible to significantly expand the scope of application of such a remote-controlled large-caliber machine gun.
The developers of the Chelyabinsk NPO "Electromashina" paid the most attention to the placement of a new combat module on various equipment. The module was put into service in the composition of the armored car "Typhoon-U". However, for such a successful development, this is too narrowly specialized use, which can prevent widespread and widespread use. Why limit only to armored vehicles? Let's think more broadly.
Battle Robots Module
BM-3 can be installed on the already considered combat robot "Marker". Apparently, the BM-3 is lighter and more compact than an existing module. Less weight allows you to make the module rising to fire from shelters. The central location of the machine gun (in the original "Marker" module, the machine gun is placed on the right) in the BM-3 will give greater firing accuracy.
An interesting question: is it worth arming combat robots with grenade launchers? In many projects this has been implemented, and one can say that this is a kind of robot-building consensus. In principle, it has been experimentally proven that a grenade launcher or even an ATGM can be installed in the combat module of a robot and this will be a workable design. However, you can make and arguments "against." Their essence is that for a combat robot of the format "machine gun with a motor," that is, acting together with infantry and a motorized rifle company built into the structure, the grenade launchers in the combat module are, firstly, unnecessary, and, secondly, dangerous for their own infantry. They are superfluous because they are obviously not enough against heavy armored vehicles, and the robot will handle a lightly heavy machine gun with a lightly armored vehicle (a typical enemy is Humvee armored vehicles or its analogs). Grenade launcher - weapon melee combat, up to 300 meters, while Kord makes it possible to hit targets at a distance of 1000-1500 meters, if the visibility and capabilities of the combat module devices allow, which allows to hit from afar - this is more advantageous. Dangerous because the jet does not go anywhere. The accompanying infantry has no connection with the robot, the designers have not provided any warning signal, and this signal can simply be overlooked in battle. The shot from the grenade launcher for the infantry will be sudden and can hit someone with a jet stream. In the heat of battle, the robot operator can easily fire a grenade launcher without making sure that no one is behind them. What looks great in field conditions is not always suitable for battle.
Because I believe that the "Marker" you can install BM-3 with one machine gun, provided that the designers will finalize it in terms of increasing ammunition. 250 cartridges for the robot - it is not enough. Better 1000 or 2000 cartridges. Of the improvements for installation on the robot need more armored space.
Portable combat module
BM-3, in my opinion, it is quite possible to use as a portable large-caliber machine gun, if you add to it a wheeled machine, for example, a similar machine to the machine gun SG-43.
The main tactical advantage of the BM-3 delivered to the wheeled machine is that the calculation of the machine gun can fire completely hiding in the shelter. Having established a machine gun on a position, it is possible to manage it from a dugout or from a deep trench or a crack. This significantly reduces the likelihood of his defeat return fire of the enemy. In any case, the enemy machine gunners and snipers will not be able to get the sheltered calculation. They will need at least mortars. In addition, they still need to find out exactly where the calculation of the combat machine-gun module hid, and it will not be easy.
In general, BM-3 can be used to create a field defense, placing them in timber or reinforced concrete firing points. It does not have to be exactly the defense on the front. This may be a position at a commanding altitude, a firing position or a roadblock on a highway. In well-fortified positions, for example, in defended buildings or in roadblocks, the capabilities of a portable combat module further increase. In my opinion, it would be advisable to provide the ability to manage a group of modules from a single console. Then one operator controlling the 3-4 modules can monitor (let's not forget that the BM-3 devices can be used for this purpose) and fire in a fairly large defense sector.
This application will also require some refinement. First, the machine. Secondly, a battery must be installed on the machine to power the combat module systems. Thirdly, you will need a cable length of the order of 30-50 meters. Fourthly, the barrel temperature sensor is also needed so that the operator knows when the barrel has overheated, and can make a pause in the firing.
In general, I would suggest that designers do not dwell solely on a large-caliber machine gun. For a number of tasks, for example, for a watch-making robot, the 12-7-mm machine gun is clearly redundant, and you can get by with a smaller caliber. This may be an 7,62-mm PCT.
Anti-aircraft module
In my opinion, on the basis of the BM-3, it is quite possible to make an anti-aircraft modification capable of firing at both ground and air targets. The need for this is emphasized by the fact that in recent years many small, low-flying targets, such as reconnaissance and strike targets, have begun to appear on the battlefield. Drones. So far, there are no adequate anti-aircraft weapons to defeat them.
The modified module, in which the machine gun has a large angle of elevation (of the order of 80 degrees), has been added to the software, the functions of tracking the air target and calculating the lead time, as well as automatic firing at it, may well be a good response to drones.
If you make such a module that can confidently hit the queue at a low-flying air target, then it can be used to hit quite a few air targets. For example, you can shoot down a cruise missile going to a target at a low altitude. An anti-aircraft module with a large-caliber machine gun will be very dangerous for helicopters, including drums. With their help, you can deal with small-scale attack aircraft (such as EMB-314 Super Tucano).
In any case, any motorized rifle platoon, which will have BM-3 with anti-aircraft functions, will no longer be a target for helicopters and will be able to give them a rebuff. The Marker, equipped with such a combat module, turns into a very good mobile anti-aircraft gun to combat low-flying targets.
In general, the BM-3 is a very good design, with the potential for further improvements and modifications.
Shot from the movie "Aliens." Ahead are two watch-robots set to guard the tunnel.
So, we have it now. This is a combat module BM-3, which first appeared at the exhibition in 2016 year, and now adopted for use. Well, progress in armaments is faster. We already have a remotely controlled combat module, and we are still flying into space on the "kerosene" and so far we can not even reach the neighboring planets of our solar system, not to mention the planets of other stars.
Like the recently appeared robot "Marker", I liked the new combat module at a glance. Lightweight, compact, powerful. In published TTH more attention was paid to fire capabilities; I am also more interested in the weight of the product. Apparently, the mass of the entire module is small and in its curb form it is unlikely to exceed 60 kg. This opens up very wide possibilities for the use of such modules. The dimensions of the module also did not publish, but according to the photo its dimensions can be estimated at about 0,8 meters in length and height and 0,9 meters in width. Finally, the Kord 12,7-mm machine gun.
BM-3
In my opinion, the development is successful. To criticize it is nothing special. Small modifications that do not affect the design as a whole, it is possible to significantly expand the scope of application of such a remote-controlled large-caliber machine gun.
The developers of the Chelyabinsk NPO "Electromashina" paid the most attention to the placement of a new combat module on various equipment. The module was put into service in the composition of the armored car "Typhoon-U". However, for such a successful development, this is too narrowly specialized use, which can prevent widespread and widespread use. Why limit only to armored vehicles? Let's think more broadly.
Battle Robots Module
BM-3 can be installed on the already considered combat robot "Marker". Apparently, the BM-3 is lighter and more compact than an existing module. Less weight allows you to make the module rising to fire from shelters. The central location of the machine gun (in the original "Marker" module, the machine gun is placed on the right) in the BM-3 will give greater firing accuracy.
An interesting question: is it worth arming combat robots with grenade launchers? In many projects this has been implemented, and one can say that this is a kind of robot-building consensus. In principle, it has been experimentally proven that a grenade launcher or even an ATGM can be installed in the combat module of a robot and this will be a workable design. However, you can make and arguments "against." Their essence is that for a combat robot of the format "machine gun with a motor," that is, acting together with infantry and a motorized rifle company built into the structure, the grenade launchers in the combat module are, firstly, unnecessary, and, secondly, dangerous for their own infantry. They are superfluous because they are obviously not enough against heavy armored vehicles, and the robot will handle a lightly heavy machine gun with a lightly armored vehicle (a typical enemy is Humvee armored vehicles or its analogs). Grenade launcher - weapon melee combat, up to 300 meters, while Kord makes it possible to hit targets at a distance of 1000-1500 meters, if the visibility and capabilities of the combat module devices allow, which allows to hit from afar - this is more advantageous. Dangerous because the jet does not go anywhere. The accompanying infantry has no connection with the robot, the designers have not provided any warning signal, and this signal can simply be overlooked in battle. The shot from the grenade launcher for the infantry will be sudden and can hit someone with a jet stream. In the heat of battle, the robot operator can easily fire a grenade launcher without making sure that no one is behind them. What looks great in field conditions is not always suitable for battle.
Because I believe that the "Marker" you can install BM-3 with one machine gun, provided that the designers will finalize it in terms of increasing ammunition. 250 cartridges for the robot - it is not enough. Better 1000 or 2000 cartridges. Of the improvements for installation on the robot need more armored space.
Portable combat module
BM-3, in my opinion, it is quite possible to use as a portable large-caliber machine gun, if you add to it a wheeled machine, for example, a similar machine to the machine gun SG-43.
The main tactical advantage of the BM-3 delivered to the wheeled machine is that the calculation of the machine gun can fire completely hiding in the shelter. Having established a machine gun on a position, it is possible to manage it from a dugout or from a deep trench or a crack. This significantly reduces the likelihood of his defeat return fire of the enemy. In any case, the enemy machine gunners and snipers will not be able to get the sheltered calculation. They will need at least mortars. In addition, they still need to find out exactly where the calculation of the combat machine-gun module hid, and it will not be easy.
In general, BM-3 can be used to create a field defense, placing them in timber or reinforced concrete firing points. It does not have to be exactly the defense on the front. This may be a position at a commanding altitude, a firing position or a roadblock on a highway. In well-fortified positions, for example, in defended buildings or in roadblocks, the capabilities of a portable combat module further increase. In my opinion, it would be advisable to provide the ability to manage a group of modules from a single console. Then one operator controlling the 3-4 modules can monitor (let's not forget that the BM-3 devices can be used for this purpose) and fire in a fairly large defense sector.
This application will also require some refinement. First, the machine. Secondly, a battery must be installed on the machine to power the combat module systems. Thirdly, you will need a cable length of the order of 30-50 meters. Fourthly, the barrel temperature sensor is also needed so that the operator knows when the barrel has overheated, and can make a pause in the firing.
In general, I would suggest that designers do not dwell solely on a large-caliber machine gun. For a number of tasks, for example, for a watch-making robot, the 12-7-mm machine gun is clearly redundant, and you can get by with a smaller caliber. This may be an 7,62-mm PCT.
Anti-aircraft module
In my opinion, on the basis of the BM-3, it is quite possible to make an anti-aircraft modification capable of firing at both ground and air targets. The need for this is emphasized by the fact that in recent years many small, low-flying targets, such as reconnaissance and strike targets, have begun to appear on the battlefield. Drones. So far, there are no adequate anti-aircraft weapons to defeat them.
The modified module, in which the machine gun has a large angle of elevation (of the order of 80 degrees), has been added to the software, the functions of tracking the air target and calculating the lead time, as well as automatic firing at it, may well be a good response to drones.
If you make such a module that can confidently hit the queue at a low-flying air target, then it can be used to hit quite a few air targets. For example, you can shoot down a cruise missile going to a target at a low altitude. An anti-aircraft module with a large-caliber machine gun will be very dangerous for helicopters, including drums. With their help, you can deal with small-scale attack aircraft (such as EMB-314 Super Tucano).
In any case, any motorized rifle platoon, which will have BM-3 with anti-aircraft functions, will no longer be a target for helicopters and will be able to give them a rebuff. The Marker, equipped with such a combat module, turns into a very good mobile anti-aircraft gun to combat low-flying targets.
In general, the BM-3 is a very good design, with the potential for further improvements and modifications.
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