Is the “saving upgrade” effective for the updated T-72B3? Combat units await Arena-M
As shown by a short monitoring of Russian news and military analytical portals, recently published information on equipping a prototype of the main combat tank T-72B3 arr. In 2016, the modernized active defense complex T09-06 Arena-M became the subject of countless positive comments left by both experts and observers aware of methods for increasing the security of modern armored vehicles.
And this is not at all surprising, because the T-72Б3 field tests captured on a well-known photograph with Arena-M modules on the tower’s side armored plates can testify to only one thing: Ural Transport Engineering Design Bureau JSC finally finalized the Perfection-A experimental design work ”, Providing the possibility of large-scale modernization of the T-72B3 combat units using the latest KAZ as part of the state defense order.
The Arena-M active defense complex is the most effective panacea only for opposing ATGMs of the 1 and 2 generations
Undoubtedly, against the background of the continued active use of the 1 and 2 generations of anti-tank missile systems in various theaters of military operations, which have wired and semi-automatic laser control systems, as well as tactical multi-purpose air-to-surface missiles with flat terminal sections of flight paths, The above-mentioned “seventy-second” modernization is truly a turning point in increasing the combat stability of the tank brigades of the Russian Ground Forces. Considering the fact that Arena-M radar guidance sensors, framing the upper armored plate of the tower, have an elevation scanning sector from -6 to + 20 degrees and the maximum speed of the accompanied elements of the WTO (ATGM, guided missiles and cumulative shells) of the order of 1200 m / s, it is easy to conclude that the T-72Б3 tanks equipped with KAZ data will be fully protected from all modifications of the anti-tank guided missiles of the TOW-2A / B / C / D / F, HOT, Milan-2T / 3 / ER " etc.
Meanwhile, the maximum elevation angle of the scanning beams of the Arena-M radar sensors at + 20 ° cannot guarantee the crew of the tank reliable protection against American FGM-148 Javelin ATGMs, Israeli Spike-ER II / NLOS, French MMP, and also the AGM-65G Maverick and JAGM multi-purpose tactical air-to-surface missiles. All of the aforementioned air attack tools boast single- / dual-band infrared homing heads, interference-protected multi-band seekers (active radar, infrared and semi-active laser sensors), as well as advanced inertial navigation systems that provide a wide range of flight modes, including diving at angles XNUM ° and more. Unfortunately, these approach angles are outside the elevation view of the Arena-M sensors.
Numerous types of SPBE self-aiming combat elements, which are “equipment” of the MGM-72B ATACMS Block IIA tactical ballistic missiles, continue to pose an equally high threat to T-3B164 tanks equipped with Arena-M active defense systems. ), 227-mm unguided and guided shells M26A2 and M31A1 GMLRS multiple launch rocket systems MLRS and HIMARS, as well as 155-mm unguided cluster shells included in the ammunition of self-propelled guns and towed howitzers of NATO countries. In this case, we are talking about such self-aiming combat elements as SADARAM, P31 BAT (“Brilliant Anti-Tank”) and “Bonus”, developed by specialists from Aerojet, Alliant Techsystems, Raytheon, Northrop and “ Bofors Defense. "
After the arrival of carrier shells (moving along a flat, quasi-ballistic or ballistic trajectory) into the area of the battlefield, the destruction of the shell-shells of cluster warheads and the further dispersal of submunitions in space on the descending branch of the trajectory, most of their types continue vertical descent with the permanent search for ground targets using infrared, active radar and acoustic sensors. At the same time, the descent angle relative to the target can be from 80 to 90 degrees, leaving not a single Arena-M chance.
Consequently, the survival of tank units will continue to depend solely on the effectiveness of military air defense systems. Firstly, the Tor-M1V, Tor-M2U short-range self-propelled air defense systems capable of withstanding multi-purpose tactical missiles and more small-sized maneuvering elements of high-precision weaponsSecondly, promising military Buk-M3 air defense missile systems "ground" for intercepting guided GMLRS rockets and ATACMS family of tactical ballistic missiles at a distance of 25-35 km long before they reach the "unpacking" boundary of the deadly cluster " equipment. " The situation could also be saved by the implementation of the Arena-M radar architecture modernization program, which provides for the integration of additional sensors for viewing the upper hemisphere.
Information