Increasing the capabilities of 120 mortars - KM-8 "Edge"

The KM-8 “Gran” guided domestic weapon set for smooth bore and rifled mortars of 120 mm caliber is intended for destruction / destruction of single and group targets or unarmored, armored objects and fortifications. The main developer is Tula Instrument Design Bureau.

The composition of KM-8 "Edge":
- mortar shot - 120 mm guided mine;
- variable propelling charge;
- automated fire control "Malachite", consisting of a remote control commander and a laser rangefinder-target designator with a thermal imaging type;
- means of communication.

Automated facilities provide the complex with the maximum possible mobility, use in rough terrain conditions - in narrow aisles, with high differences of natural shelters and reverse slopes. With their help, it is possible to fire at selected targets from several mortar guns, which will not cause problems to each other and work on only specified targets. It is possible to apply a complex at any time, day and night. Mortar SAUs can independently target a shot with the help of a laser-type 1-D22 rangefinder, without using automated Malachite tools.

Combat use of the KM-8 "Edge" - firing at any time of day with the defeat of the set goals with the first shot without carrying out sighting shots at fixed and moving targets. The defeat of the following targets located in the 300-m meter zone of the first shot is also carried out at a single firing angle without setting various firing settings in the shot. The KM-8 mobility is due to the specialized fire control automation system, which provides illumination of detected objects in any location, topographic reference with the orientation of the fire fighting system and automatic fire alarm, automation of the calculated actions and installation of the obtained data for firing. In assessing the effectiveness of the combat use of the complex, it was found that using a small number of 120 mm guided mortar rounds, it is possible to hit target targets with great efficiency, while conventional mortar and artillery weapons are already ineffective to fire at targets.

The basis of the KM-8 “Gran” complex is a high-explosive fragmentation mortar shot with a homing head of a 9E430 laser type.

Key Features:
- mortar shot length - 1.2 meter;
- weight 27 kilogram;
- The weight of the warhead - 11.2 kilogram;
- weight of explosive - 5.3 kilogram;
- firing range min / max - 1.5 / 9 kilometers;
- type of warhead - high-explosive fragmentation.

Information sources:
http://www.arms-expo.ru/049050053055124051049052053.html
http://www.kbptula.ru/rus/kuwr/gran.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_GAwxr24y4

Comments

[segamegament]

firing range min / max - 1.5 / 9 kilogram

a mistake, apparently kilometers.

[b904]

good ammunition !! it remains only to wait until this complex appears in the army.

[Insurgent]

Something on Krasnopol reminds mesta-s

[Prohor]

And it will never reach, unfortunately! Since KBP made the commercial itself, it means there is no sales. It’s a pity, the ammunition is excellent, the modernization possibilities are the sea!
In 1997, at our exercises (in the ZabVO), they wanted to shoot "Krasnopol". Yes, they did not - in the motorized rifle brigade, not a single (!!!) officer said bravo: "I can!"
No one!!!
It seems that only the guys from KBP with this technique and know how to handle ...

[Andrey77]

It's not about the officers. These are PIECE samples that cost hell knows how much. In combat conditions, they will still agree to shoot or not, and you're talking about exercises ...

[Insurgent]

If only simulators would be at least a theory would be)))

[Maxim86]

Maybe I'm wrong, but this ammunition is very similar to the Kitolov 2M. To say the least ...

[Andrey77]

Looks like you don’t need to talk anymore. :)

[Eugene]

My only question is: they so optimistically drew on the Challenger-2 circuit, are there enough power of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead to defeat him even in the roof of the tower?

[Krilion]

Quote: Eugene

My only question is: they so optimistically drew on the Challenger-2 circuit, are there enough power of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead to defeat him even in the roof of the tower?

I think it would be enough to get into the area of ​​the engine compartment .... would be enough and half the charge ....

[Tourist Breakfast]

I don’t understand - how can a mine with HE warheads be hit by armored vehicles?

[borisst64]

Even the explosion of a high-explosive projectile on the frontal armor leads to serious consequences, and even from the upper hemisphere 120 mm will cause problems.

[Tourist Breakfast]

Ammunition itself is not cheap. So it is necessary at least to "make problems" so that the subsequent repair of the BTT approaches the cost of a mine in terms of cost. Still, a cumulative warhead should be better suited for this purpose.

[Krilion]

Quote: Tourist's Breakfast

Ammunition in itself is not cheap.

the video shows a graph of ammunition consumption .. it turns out that due to accuracy, the cost of guided ammunition is two and a half times less than usual, to hit the same target .... I think that if you thought of hitting tanks, you probably have ammunition and with cumulative warhead ..

[Tourist Breakfast]

Let's just say, if "a company of Chinese numbering one hundred thousand people" crosses the border, it is probably still more expedient to use ordinary mines, which are already dofig in warehouses. Such an expensive ammunition as "Edge" is needed either to destroy some important targets, such as armored vehicles, bunkers, etc., or in low-intensity conflicts to reduce collateral damage and civilian casualties. In both cases, the HE of the warhead does not quite meet the objectives.

[Comrade Kurchatov]

Quote: Tourist's Breakfast

I didn’t understand how armored vehicles with a warhead from a warhead can be hit?

To the roof.

[Tourist Breakfast]

Even if it breaks, how serious is the armor-plating effect?

[Prohor]

I think it’s not at all difficult for the OF to convert the warhead into a cumulative one. As well as shrapnel, mine, but at least campaigning!

[Tourist Breakfast]

Then it's a completely different matter. Actually Western counterparts, such as "Merlin" or "Griffin" use exactly the cumulative warhead.

[Justme]

It seems to me - it is worth supplementing the traditional target designation with the ability to navigate in the acoustic picture of the battle - and direct the bad guys, including the acoustic picture. First hook the coordinates of the target in acoustics, then adjust the warhead flight. At the same time, it’s natural to separate the acoustic coordinates of the bad guys from their own.
This should increase the overall potential of the system.

Maybe you should think about how to do it ... You can discuss ..
The preliminary design of such a system does not have to be particularly expensive and especially lengthy ...
Testing the mathematics of processing acoustic images will be the most interesting moment ...
For 3-4 design iterations, you can already have something worthwhile ..

[igor67]

maybe something missed, but at what distance from the target is the operator with a laser target designator?

[Tourist Breakfast]

Foreign homing mines "Merlin", "Strix", "Griffin" operate on the principle of "fire and forget". In this regard, the Gran and Daredevil mines are the ammunition of the previous generation. Mandatory illumination of the target with a laser beam during the guidance of our mines, firstly, unmasks the location of the command and observation post, and secondly, allows the enemy to counter with the help of aerosol masking curtains and active protection systems, and thirdly, there are serious difficulties in highlighting targets due to the peculiarities of the terrain. In this situation, no bushes, trees or hills should interfere with the laser beam. Therefore, the declared target illumination ranges (5000-7000 m) are practically unrealizable, for example, in the theater of operations in Western Europe, where the range of illumination at best will be no more than 2000 m. In other words, our mines cannot hit foreign tanks at distant approaches (4000-7000 m), but the "Merlin", "Strix", "Griffin" mines are capable of this.

Read more: http://vpk-news.ru/articles/1038

[Andrey77]

2 km. Special forces suicide bomber.

[psiho117]

Quote: Eugene

My only question is: they so optimistically drew on the Challenger-2 circuit, are there enough power of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead to defeat him even in the roof of the tower?

I remember in a foreign military review, in an article on guided anti-tank mines, one of the 120mm mines was just high-explosive - with an air blast above the roof of the tank, the front thickened part was crushed into high-speed fragments and either holes in the roof \ trunk \ MTO, or demolished dynamic protection and all devices from the armor, leaving the tank blind and vulnerable.
As for me, a tungsten rain will do much more damage to the tank than a cumulative stream - which can weaken a dozen factors, and even if the armor breaks through - it's not a fact that it will fall into something critical, and the tank will be disabled. Let me remind you that our tanks in Chechnya received up to two dozen hits from a fly (including the roof) and managed to get out of battle under their own power.