11 barrels on a trailer: a promising anti-aircraft artillery system from NORINCO
Fixed assets of the new ZAK in position
The Chinese corporation NORINCO has developed and tested a promising anti-aircraft artillery system with the highest fire performance. Special combat capabilities are obtained through the use of a ready-made combat module "Type 1130", previously developed for the defense of ships.
Exhibition video
Recently, the next international aerospace show Airshow China has opened in the Chinese city of Zhuhai. As always, the Chinese industry is showing its new developments in the field of aviation and in related areas. So, the NORINCO corporation shows several already known samples, and also presents a completely new towed ZAK.
The name of the complex, the goals and course of the project, and other details are not specified. However, a short video showing the deployment of an experienced ZAK at the range and the subsequent shooting was released into the public domain. At the same time, in just 6-7 seconds, you can see the main features of the new Chinese model.
The video begins with a demonstration of the complex in position. A three-axle truck with a kung caught in the frame - probably a command post. Next to it is a semi-trailer with a platform for the combat module. The tractor that delivered the ZAK to the position was standing nearby. Then they showed some of the processes of combat work. A rotating antenna of one of the radars provided target designation, after which the combat module carried out guidance and opened fire.
To heighten the effect, shooting from a multi-barreled machine gun was filmed at dusk. When fire was opened, a powerful flash the size of a platform appeared at the muzzle, and a whole stream of spent cartridges fell from under the gun. All this was accompanied by the characteristic buzzing sound of shots.
Visible features
For obvious reasons, of all the means of the new ZAK, the most interesting is the towed artillery system. Its appearance reveals many features and characteristics of the structure and the complex as a whole - in contrast to the control center.
11-barreled gun and radar for various purposes
The weapon is built on a multi-axle semi-trailer. For positioning and leveling, the trailer is equipped with two (or more) pairs of jacks. The main platform of the trailer is given for the placement of the basic container body. Another large cover is located at the rear of the semi-trailer. In two buildings, apparently, there are power supply systems, control systems, drives, etc. The cooling system outlets are clearly visible in the front of the lower case.
The main element of the ZAK is a combat module, in which the Type 1130 or H / PJ-11 shipborne artillery mount is easily recognizable. This is a large turret with a swinging artillery unit, on which an 11-barrel 30 mm cannon is mounted. The side casings house ammunition magazines. On the roof of the module there are two antennas of radar stations for detection / tracking and fire control. The first is constantly rotating, the second is swinging in a vertical plane. An optoelectronic station, as on the base ship modification, is absent.
According to known data, the gun "1130" shows a technical rate of fire up to 11 thousand rds / min. The side drums can hold a total of 1280 shells. The effective firing range is within 1,5-3 km, depending on various factors. Shelling is provided in a wide sector in azimuth, with the exception of the dead zone covered by the rear casing.
Probably, the control of the artillery installation is carried out remotely from the command post. The calculation should take data on the air situation from various sources, incl. from the standard detection radar on the combat module, and then distribute targets and open fire on them. Apparently, the calculation of data for shooting, aiming control, fire adjustment, etc. are carried out in automatic mode.
The ship type 1130 is used as a short-range air defense system. She is responsible for the defeat of air attack weapons that managed to break through other echelons of defense. A high rate of fire increases the likelihood of timely destruction of small and high-speed targets, incl. with a protected warhead. The land-based version of the ship installation is capable of solving the same tasks, but with some correction for a different basing option.
Ideas and accessories
It should be recalled that the new ZAK from NORINCO is not the first of its kind. So, at the beginning of the last decade, the corporation developed and brought to the market the LD-2000 air defense system. This project was based on similar ideas, but they were implemented differently and using different components.
Test shooting. In a few moments, the cannon threw spent cartridges on the trailer.
The LD-2000 artillery complex was made in the form of a self-propelled combat vehicle with a full complement of necessary components on a single four-axle chassis. As a combat module, it used a Type 730 naval tower with a seven-barreled gun. The rate of fire of such a system reaches 4-4,2 thousand rds / min.
According to various sources, in 2010-11. The LD-2000 complex entered service with the PLA and supplemented other air defense systems. It is entrusted with the task of intercepting air targets in the immediate vicinity of the covered object. At the same time, the mobile design simplified the transfer and deployment of the ZAK to change the air defense configuration.
The new ZAK from NORINCO is noticeably different from the LD-2000. First of all, the combat module went to be replaced. The reasons for this change are obvious and understandable. The Type 1130 carries a more powerful cannon, which gives it serious advantages. The rate of fire in comparison with its predecessor has been increased almost threefold, which sharply increases the likelihood of a quick and reliable hitting of any air target in the firing zone.
In the new project, the self-propelled design was abandoned with the placement of all funds on one chassis. Perhaps the new combat module turned out to be too large and heavy for such an architecture. In addition, the experience of operating the LD-2000 could show that such a ZAC does not need high mobility. Its tactical role does not provide for rapid position changes or firing on the move, and it also provides ample time to deploy all assets on different chassis.
ZAK LD-2000 at one of the exhibitions
It is very likely that the new NORINCO project involves the use of gun mounts as part of batteries. In this case, several automated combat modules on a trailer can operate under the control of one command post. The battery command post must interact with other components of the layered object air defense, receiving from them data on the air situation, incl. about flying targets.
Secret prospects
At the moment, the new ZAK from NORINCO is at the stage of at least factory testing. At the same time, there are reasons for the most optimistic assessments. So, as part of the complex, a serial combat module is used, which does not need to be fine-tuned, and therefore the main task of the project now can be the development of the platform and auxiliary means.
Thus, testing and fine-tuning the complex as a whole is relatively simple and therefore should not take much time. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that these processes are already coming to an end. The Chinese industry loves to show its new developments at the later stages of testing and literally on the eve of adoption.
Apparently, a promising ZAK based on an 11-barrel gun is now receiving all the necessary attention, thanks to which it will be successfully brought into service. It is not known how soon the complex will go into production and enter the troops. However, he has already managed to attract attention and show that NORINCO and the Chinese industry as a whole are capable of developing and building the most interesting samples with the highest characteristics.
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