Impartially about the tanks "Oplot-M" and T90MS
Tankman Day is a Russian and Soviet professional holiday for servicemen and tank builders, celebrated annually on the second Sunday of September. Established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1 July 1946, to mark the great merits of armored and mechanized troops in defeating the enemy during the Great Patriotic War, as well as for the merits of tank builders in equipping the Armed Forces with armored vehicles.
On the same day in 2012, the KP “KHKBM named after A. A. Morozov” (KKBM) will celebrate its 85th anniversary. The design group formed on the basis of the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Plant in 1927 tanks gradually transformed into a separate powerful design and production enterprise for the creation of armored vehicles, taking in the former USSR, and now in Ukraine, a key role in armored vehicles. In a number of HCBM developments, such machines as the best tank of the Second World War T-34 and the progenitor of all post-Soviet main battle tanks (MBT) T-64 occupy a special place. The last car became the progenitor of three branches of Soviet MBTs, which have the same guns, similar sighting systems, of the same mass class, but differing in running gear and engine types, as well as automatic weapons (mechanisms) of loading (AZ, MZ). The development of these lines and the latest developments today are the Ukrainian Oplot-M tank (object 478DU10) and the Russian T-90MS. Oplot-M was adopted by the Ukrainian army on May 28, 2009. A series of 49 cars is being prepared for release, but by order of the Royal Army (SV) of Thailand. The T-90MS was first shown on September 9, 2011 at the Prospector in Nizhny Tagil as part of the VIII international arms exhibition REA-2011.
Let us try to impartially compare two such similar tanks and at the same time completely different representatives of the Kharkov and Nizhny Tagil schools of armored vehicle construction.
To attack
The first thing that catches the eye is the presence on the vehicles of the commander's panoramic sighting and observation complexes, which expand the capabilities of the tank commander to monitor the situation and firing in the "Double" mode.
Panorama commander. The Oplot-M tank has a multi-channel panoramic sighting and observation complex PKN-6 with independent optical and thermal imaging channels and a laser rangefinder. The installation of PKN-6 increased the ability to observe the terrain, especially at night and in conditions of reduced visibility. The detection range of a “tank” target through the visual channel of the panorama reaches 5500 meters, and through the thermal channel in a wide field of view - 4000. The tank commander has the ability to detect and recognize ground and air targets, to issue targets to the gunner. The complex allows the commander himself to conduct firing from a cannon and coaxial machine gun in the mode of duplicated control weapons. Installing PCN-6 brought about changes in the appearance of the car.
T-90MS uses a multichannel panoramic sighting and observation complex with independent daytime television and thermal imaging channels and a laser rangefinder of the PAN Falcon Eye PC.
Gunner's sight. The Oplot-M tank is equipped with a 1-X46-M gunner's day sight — an optical sight with a two-plane independent stabilization of the field of view, with a laser range finder and a missile laser control channel, and the PTT-2 thermal imaging system designed for observation, detection, recognition and identifying targets and ensuring accurate firing of a cannon and machine gun paired with it in all operating conditions.
The T-90MS uses the combined gunner sight of the PNM Sosna-U with a two-plane independent stabilization of the visual field, equipped with a laser range finder. There are channels of laser control rocket and thermal imaging with a video viewing device that serves to duplicate the optical system in conditions of limited visibility and in the dark.
Anti-aircraft installation. On the tank "Oplot-M" transferred to the bracket in the rear of the tower, is controlled remotely and monitors the rotation of the head of the panorama on the horizon and mirrors vertically. There is a dead zone at the angle of decline in the area of the panorama. The firing sector is 360 degrees horizontally and from -3 to + 60 vertically. Caliber - 12,7 millimeter.
The T-90MS uses a universal remote-controlled machine gun installation caliber 7,62 millimeter. The destruction range of manpower is up to 1500 meters. Located behind the head of the panorama with the 316 firing sector of degrees on the horizon and from -10 to + 45 vertically.
Protection and engines
Reservations. This is the next characteristic element. On the Oplot-M tank, the new Knife-2 built-in dynamic protection system is used, which is able to withstand an ATGM with a tandem warhead, cumulative and armor-piercing shells. Its containers are installed on the front of the hull and on the tower, as well as along the sides of the hull, providing additional protection from the sides. The Knife-2 complex has a modular design, so it can be easily replaced or upgraded as the corresponding dynamic protection technologies are improved.
On the T-90MS, new additional protection "Relic" (EDS 4С23) is installed on the hull and a modular tower protection with side reservation modules. On the hull aft - lattice screens for all-round protection against hand-held TCP.
Engines. The Oplot-M tank is equipped with a more advanced 6ТD-2Е engine with 1200 horsepower, which works reliably without any reduction in power at temperatures up to + 55 degrees Celsius. The letter "E" means "ecological". Previously, the environmental friendliness of combat vehicles did not particularly reflect, but now the situation has changed - such an option as exhaust emissions is taken into account in international tenders.
The T-90MS employs a B-93 power unit with horsepower 1130 with an improved cooling system, also allowing it to operate at temperatures up to + 55 degrees.
To improve mobility and controllability, the Oplot-M tank has been equipped with a comprehensive tank motion control system (GCMS). It is designed to improve the relevant indicators in various road conditions and reduce the fatigability of the driver with the steering wheel.
On the T-90MS, control based on the steering wheel and an automatic gear shift system are used with the ability to change to manual.
Auxiliary installation. Increased energy load required the use of more powerful units. On the tank "Oplot-M" installed auxiliary power unit with a capacity of ten kW. Located on the right fender in an airtight armored compartment and connected to the electrical and fuel systems of the main engine.
On the tank T-90MS - unit seven kW. Installed on the left fender in an airtight armored compartment.
In the tower
The guns on the tanks are identical - 125 caliber of millimeters of increased accuracy with a metering system for bending the barrel. Automatic loaders (mechanisms) are also identical to the base models on the 28 and 22 shots. The “Ainet” system was installed to remotely detonate ammunition.
The tanks are equipped with air conditioning systems, which increases the comfort of the crew and allows them to be used in hot countries for a longer time.
It is in the towers of the greatest difference. The tank "Oplot-M" - all-welded, created under the project "Improvement-88" with a new system of dynamic protection and developed aft cap. The minus of the structure is an increased moment of imbalance, therefore, a more powerful drive of the tower is needed.
The T-90MS has a turret designed according to the Breakthrough project, a trailer compartment for ammunition removed from the combat compartment. The aft part is more developed in length and width, the hatches of increased dimensions, With this arrangement, the moment of unbalance of the tower decreased, but its mass increased compared to early samples of the T-90 tank.
Results
Thus, the tanks are almost identical. Over the past 50 years, this layout has reached the apogee of development. Unfortunately, the architecture and technological solutions do not allow to realize the concept of maximum crew protection in case of a tank defeat, since the ammunition is located in the fighting compartment with the crew. In this case, with the defeat it becomes unimportant how many there are in the machine and whether there are shells carried into the outer box. The biggest problem is the almost complete lack of protection from anti-tank guided missiles of the third generation of the FGM-148 Javelin type and other ammunition of a similar class. Attempting to organize a round-trip booking from hand-held PTS when using the old layout results in an increase in the mass of the combat vehicle to the maximum allowable values for the chassis and an increase in the specific pressure on the ground, which affects the patency.
These models, having appeared late for 20 years, do not meet the modern conditions of battle and the requirements for survivability. And the more they are not adapted to participate in local conflicts, and their use in urban battles will lead to sad consequences.
Nevertheless, the groundwork obtained as a result of the work done on these tanks, combined with the efforts of two design teams, can help create a truly new generation of machines - a tank of the 21st century.
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Information