Artillery control systems of the Tablet family

Cases with "Tablet-A" components

The effectiveness of the combat use of artillery systems of all classes depends not only on their own tactical and technical characteristics and the training of crews. Of great importance are the complexes and fire control systems used, which are responsible for processing incoming information and calculating data for firing. One of the latest domestic developments in this area are the control complexes of the Tablet family, which have already been brought to service in the army.

Portable version

One of the developers of control systems for Russian artillery is the All-Russian Research Institute "Signal" (Kovrov), which is part of the NPO High-Precision Complexes under Rostec. At the beginning of the last decade, the institute, on its own initiative and in agreement with the Ministry of Defense, began developing the so-called. small-sized wearable complex for automating the control of artillery and mortar units (KSAU-MN).

For several years, VNII "Signal" completed the design work, and in the second half of the decade brought the new KSAU-MN to the test. In 2019, the product successfully passed state tests and received a recommendation for acceptance for the supply of artillery units. By this time, the complex was called "Tablet-A".

In August 2020, it became known that VNII Signal received the first state contract for the production of new complexes. At that time, the organization was preparing a production line and in the near future planned to transfer the first batch of products to the customer. The needs of the troops in "Tablets-A", the ordered number of such devices, the cost of the contract, etc. were not reported.

Mannequin with wearable KSAU-MN

To date, the artillery units of our army have received a number of Tablet-A complexes, mastered them and tested them in training grounds. According to domestic media, the new KSAU-MN are actively used during the Special Operation to Protect Donbass. With their help, artillery is included in full-fledged reconnaissance and strike systems with high speed and accuracy of fire.

The main buyer of "Plates-A" is the Russian army, but foreign orders are also expected. Back in 2020, VNII "Signal" completed the development of the export image of the complex. It provides for some specific differences and the possibility of integration with foreign means of intelligence, communications, etc.

Self-propelled version

The basic version of KSAU-MN "Tablet-A" is made in the form of several devices in shipping cases and is wearable. It is easy to use and has the necessary characteristics and capabilities. At the same time, portable execution imposes some restrictions, which we decided to get rid of in the new project.

In 2021, VNII Signal presented the Tablet-M-IR artillery control automation system. Its main difference lies in the use of a self-propelled base in the form of an armored car. The shown prototypes were built on the basis of the Athlete machine, but other platforms can also be used.

Tablet computer interface

The necessary radio-electronic equipment, food supplies, etc. are placed in the interior of the armored car. In addition, two automated workplaces of operators were organized at once. From the point of view of the composition of devices, technical and operational characteristics, Tablet-M-IR differs significantly from the basic complex with the letter “A”, but its functions, tasks and capabilities generally remain the same.

Currently, the mobile version of KSAU-MN is being tested, the results of which will decide its future. The positive experience of the previous project and the specifics of the work of modern artillery suggest that the Tablet-M-IR will be of interest to the Russian army and will also enter the troops in the foreseeable future.

Devices and their capabilities

The portable complex "Tablet-A" is a set of several tools of various kinds with different functions. All of them have minimal dimensions and weight, making it easy to integrate them into the equipment of the gun or battery commander. Protected cases with built-in chargers and batteries are intended for storage and transportation of these devices.

The main element of KSAU-MN is the commander's tablet computer. This device is in a durable sealed case, built on a modern domestic element base, with special software. The computer interfaces with wireless communications, intelligence systems, etc., which ensures the reception and delivery of data.

Workplaces of the self-propelled complex "Tablet-M-IR"

The commander's tablet determines the location of the artillery unit, receives and processes information about targets from various sources, and also calculates data for firing. It is reported that in the memory of "Tablet-A" there are data on all artillery systems and ammunition in service with the Russian army. This allows him to control the fire of any units, regardless of their equipment. In addition, it is possible to supplement the database when new samples appear. weapons or ammunition.

Information about the terrain and targets is given using different maps, both military and taken in open civilian services. This approach makes it possible to obtain more complete and up-to-date information about the combat area and enemy positions.

A special small-sized terminal is intended for gun commanders. This is a small wrist device with a screen for displaying information and a radio communication system. With its help, the crew commander receives ready-made data for firing, calculated by the subunit commander's tablet.

The mobile complex "Tablet-M-IR" differs from the wearable one in the composition of devices and in some capabilities. So, his calculation includes two people, which allows you to distribute work and solve more problems. In addition, new means of communication with a longer range and other advantages have been introduced in the mobile KSAU-MN.

In the recent past, the development organization has talked about the possibility of introducing additional features. So, Tablet-M-IR could not only work with data in digital form, but also receive a video signal and other information from reconnaissance UAVs. This would speed up the process of preparing for firing and simplify the adjustment of fire. In addition, a drone with a laser designator that interacts with the "Tablet" can be used to guide corrected projectiles.

There is a fundamental possibility of further modernization of both versions of the Tablet. They can be upgraded by replacing communication or computing devices with analogues with higher performance. In addition, the timely updating of the database of weapons and ammunition used for calculations is of great importance.

In the process of refurbishment

Thus, a new convenient and successful means of fire control appeared at the disposal of our gunners. The Tablet-A wearable complex is mass-produced and supplied to units and subunits of the ground forces, where they are used with various types of artillery systems. In addition, a mobile version of such a complex with improved characteristics and an extended list of functions has been created and is being tested.

Obviously, the production and implementation of such control systems is of great importance for the development of ground artillery. The industry has mastered their production and gradually covers the needs of the troops, providing them with the necessary capabilities. In addition, in parallel with the production, the development of the original product is carried out, as a result of which the complex receives new functions. All this allows us to be optimistic about the prospects of our field artillery.

Comments

[Architect]

In fact, the military-industrial complex probably has a lot of new products that the Moscow Region simply ignored.

[Ka-52]

In fact, the military-industrial complex probably has a lot of new products that the Moscow Region simply ignored.

your comment doesn't make sense. First, structurally, the MOD is part of the military-industrial complex. Secondly, "novelties" in most cases owe their appearance to the MO, since it is it that determines the costs of R&D. Do you still think that complex weapons are the product of some kind of selfless loners who, in their grandmother’s communal retirement apartment, had their own nuclear battlecruiser with death rays?))

[insafufa]

The tablet is a further development of another control system when information went from the control center to the division level and there to the batteries, and from there the battalion commander handed out water manually. The development of the early 2000s has been in service since 2002.

[Civil]

Murz wrote about all this "fun". Without an analogue of "Starlink" it will be worse further.

[stankow]

This system does not require a global communications system to operate. Distances in artillery units up to 10 km

[Oleg Ogorod]

What kind of nonsense about the Moscow Region, which is the structure of the military-industrial complex? The military-industrial complex is a military-industrial complex, that is, industrial enterprises that produce weapons and military equipment.
Yes, they are partially financed by the Ministry of Defense, but there are orders for weapons for the National Guard, there are export contracts, there are civilian orders.
In the same Kovrov, next to this VNII Signal, the Kovrov Electromechanical Plant is located. There are many orders for the defense industry, but CNC machines are also made. Now, by the way, VNII Signal is the managing organization of this plant.
So they can find money for the development of new products for the army themselves. At the expense of own funds or at the expense of a higher organization, the same Rostec.

[Horon]

If with a portable tablet you can still understand how to more accurately determine the coordinates of the gun by aligning the gun and the tablet, then with the car version it is not very clear whether small-sized navigation devices are needed that the crew will have, or the positioning of the guns will have to be done manually with the corresponding loss of time.

[stankow]

Such a tablet and navigator - owls. different devices.

[VicktorVR]

It seems to be a laudatory / advertising article, but somehow sadly.
1. This is all just yesterday, both in terms of functionality, and in terms of technology, and in terms of need. Those. should have been in the army 10 years ago.
2. All the functions that are indicated for tablet A can now be performed by a combination of any civilian tablet and smartphones, but there is no protection, but the price and weight of the system are an order of magnitude lower, convenience, I’m sure, on the contrary, is an order of magnitude higher.
I won’t be surprised if in fact these miracle devices are hidden away, if something doesn’t work out, then you won’t pay
3. Apparently, the actual equipment is even single.

[Sergei_tactics]

I have always been amazed at the ability of people like you to heap a pile of manure on any development or equipment of our armed forces. First you whine that it is not there, then you whine that it has appeared. What kind of breed is that human?

[nickname7]

on any development or equipment of our armed forces.

The 2000 complex is a step back and not development, a whole machine with equipment but without image transmission from a drone is worse than a Chinese tablet.
Now every gunner should have such a tablet where targets and arrivals would be visible.

[Zaurbek]

This is all true, but take an interest in the same place about the safety and reliability requirements for cell phones and tablets from the store and for the army. The time when army electronics was ahead of civilian ones has passed. Now everything new immediately appears on the civilian market. Chips in civilian life are storming the standards at 5Nm, Chips in Boeing 737 aircraft (even very fresh ones) are about 128Nm and they are made and they fly. The same situation in industrial electronics

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Zaurbek

Chips in civilian life are storming the standards at 5Nm, Chips in Boeing 737 aircraft (even very fresh ones) are about 128Nm and they are made and they fly. The same situation in industrial electronics

Duc ... the very case when advanced technologies come into conflict with reliability and fault tolerance.
For carriers of heat and light in "chip times" in equipment, in general, ferrite rings were used as an element base.

[low war]

'Chipation' of the brain together with the exam. done! Looked through the branch, hair stand on end! 1. Mechanical reliability! Of the order of 6-7 (starting from one of the very first) of my android phones (soap dishes!), two with a broken digitizer (screen), the third one has a cord falling out of the socket when charging (children's rubber bands do not really help in a shaking car), at the fourth, the button sinks-falls out, I bought a replacement for soldering with Ali), the very first (very expensive), after the Android upgrade, began to warm up like a stove (they were in a hurry, they didn’t do normal R&D)! Versions of phones like "industry" cost almost an order of magnitude more expensive, as well as all kinds of fishing and tourist gadgets, such as Lawrence, Garmin, etc. and there the old microcircuits Samopal does not roll on his knees! (Just don’t tell about 3-D printers when the order is even small-scale). Where mud, snow, water. 2. Are you adequate? Fuck 5Nm?! in a tablet. 3. Well, dense ones who confuse civilian equipment with military equipment. And I highly recommend to other 'wise guys' to just try to drill three small holes on two surfaces, so that they then coincide with an accuracy of at least 0.05 mm, without CNC. ...

[stankow]

The price and weight of civilian devices are an order of magnitude lower, and security and stability are two orders of magnitude lower. Below. They don't belong on the front lines. It's just dangerous for calculations. A smartphone, even in a passenger car, is dangerous, unsuitable for interacting with the driver. And even banned.

[Tank destroyerSU-100]

If it weren’t for the footage in which our gunners are fiddling with the ancient fire control devices PUO-9M and with devices for calculating corrections PRK-75, then one could still believe in the author’s optimism.
The problem is that the fire control complex may be good, but it entered the troops at a teaspoon per hour.
Since 2/3 of the problem here is not in the Ministry of Defense, the GRAU is in favor with both hands. But the expenditure items of the state defense order still pass through such departments as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Ministry of Finance. And the "defective managers" who have settled there are making their "mite". They have never served in the army, but they know much better than the military what and how much to have in the troops. And if the Ministry of Defense, for example, requested 60 sets of artillery battalion fire control systems, then the "defective managers" crossed out the zero, they say, six sets above the roof will be enough for you. And to all the arguments of the Ministry of Defense, the question followed through gritted teeth, they say, are you going to fight with "civilized" countries?
I have personally experienced something like this.
But, of course, one cannot discount the army's thoughtlessness. Infantry generals, for example, do not understand point-blank what the topographic and geodetic binding of firing positions, the preparation of data for firing, is.
The notorious generals Makarov yelled at the artilleryman, saying that you are telling me fairy tales here, what are you going to become attached to, raised the barrel and shoot.
This is where the two factors overlap.

[Zaurbek]

The industry has mastered their production and is gradually covering the needs of the troops, providing them with the necessary capabilities.


404e on YouTube a year ago they dismantled a similar tablet and got to the bottom (not immediately) of an industrial tablet for topographic and geodetic work from Lake.

[couch]

mind is incomprehensible! And where have you been with these tablets before? even the wild tribe "Dimbubu" in the wilds of Africa has them. We must harshly ask the leaders for lagging behind!

[Alf]

Quote from sofa

It is necessary to strictly ask the leaders for the backlog!

The threads, oh how high, will stretch ...

[Mikhail Ivanov]

The article has a paragraph that puts everything in its place. The system is necessary, who would argue, but its introduction into the troops dragged on for years. And now it is not fully used. But so many perspectives are described. The same Ukrainian, without any problems, has more modern communication and coordination capabilities on the battlefield. And for some reason, I don’t remember that in Ukraine they fantasized about some kind of miracle developments in this area. They were just given what we had to do. Why don't we have??? Because they steal...
We also developed a network-centric combat system. Billions of rubles were allocated. The project was supervised by Borisov. Where is Borisov now? In space, following another innovator... And on the fact of embezzlement of money, a criminal case was initiated, the general of the Ministry of Defense was arrested, and an investigation is underway. Everything is bad with us in these matters. It is the same with UAVs. As a result, Iran supplies ...

[Alexey RA]

Quote: Mikhail-Ivanov

The same Ukrainian, without any problems, has more modern communication and coordination capabilities on the battlefield. And I don’t remember that in Ukraine they fantasized about some kind of miracle developments in this area. They were just given what we had to do. Why don't we have??? Because they steal...

Heh heh heh ... they gave it in Ukraine. How.

The development and integration of the Kropiva system began as a volunteer project in 2014, when a group of patriots from the SOS Army began supplying tablets to the army. And already in 2018, its developers from the Logika design bureau donated thousands of tablets with the Kropiva system to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Doesn't it remind you of anything? That's right - we are now exactly repeating the Ukrainian way of equipping the army with modern means of artillery fire control. Look, Murza has a whole saga about artbooks and software updates for them.

By the way, with closed communications, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had exactly the same situation: while high-ranking officials held on to regular radio stations, volunteers mastered digital communications. And somehow managed to make it the official standard.
And on the other side of the front, at the same time, the high authorities demanded that the assembled and debugged digital communication system be dismantled, because according to the state it should not be. Here are R-123 and R-173 for you - and live with them as you wish.

[nickname7]

while high ranks held on to regular radio stations

Because the army is strictly centralized, but at the top sit the clumsy who did not serve in the army. From the bottom, they cannot show initiative, but at the top of the incompetence, one can only hope for volunteers.

[Repellent]

Quote: nickname7

From below they cannot show initiative, but at the top

Russian is not native to you, or what?

* bottom
* top

Put a spell checker already, but the eye hurts

[Eug]

And how is the position of the firing guns determined? Once (in the region of 15-16) they wrote that in a similar system used in Ukrainian artillery, there are position sensors on the guns.

[strannik1985]

Thus, at the disposal of our gunners

They do not mention the GLONASS receiver and the inertial navigation unit (TALIN in the American MFCS), determines the orientation of the mortar without observation control points, etc., allows you to quickly and accurately shoot at any time of the day.
https://m.vk.com/@stabsdivan-minomety-armii-ssha-chast-4-sistemy-upravleniya-ognem
Or Ukrainian UBLFDS
https://lopatov-45.livejournal.com/8481.html
As the author of the article aptly noted - ASUNO for the poor.

[Alexey Graff]

It's good that they develop such tablets and programs on their own initiative, but it's bad that the devices are not in the troops in the required quantities, deliveries are not even planned.

[ASM]

Here you need to look at efficiency, but we don’t have such information yet. If a cheap option with a low charge sends enemy vehicles for repairs for several months, then this may be more effective than the simultaneous destruction of the same vehicle with expensive ammunition. After all, the object needs to be evacuated, sent to a repair plant, disassembled, defective, spare parts received, assembled, checked and sent back. This is money and time, and the object will no longer be new, but sorted out. So who knows what's best really?

[Alf]

Only one, but indecent question, whose element base? Or, like a couple of years ago, they bought walkie-talkies in China, added a couple of their details and reported on a domestic novelty?

[Osipov9391]

Import of course, from the European Union and Southeast Asia. I don't have my own
What is being done is ridiculous and not serious - the level of the late 90s can be done by the best silicon factories.
There, even normal paging communication will not work on such microcircuits, not even GLONASS.

[Alf]

Quote: Osipov9391

Import of course, from the European Union and Southeast Asia.

With Europe is unlikely, rather with Ali.

[Klausp]

I'm sorry, but this shit doesn't even work XNUMX percent of what they advertise. Pairing it with anything is an impossible quest. There is no connection, no target designation. The brigade-division-gun linkage is outdated, now it is necessary to work according to the target designation - gun scheme. But there is no fast and secure connection. And the DSS (decision-making system) is not adequate. But the main thing is communication, protected and once again protected, without which this tablet is a piece of shit.

[the same doctor]

Better than nothing. However, the form factor and the method of application dictated by it do not correspond to the capabilities of today's technology. The toy is sharpened for the control of staff officers and the old manual fire control technologies, and not for war. Those. simulates the actions of an artillery officer instead of using the capabilities of electronics.
You need an electronic stray in the sight (or other optics) of a soldier on the front line and a direct connection with the gun. The soldier pointed at the target, pressed the button, the stray counted, sent the data, the gun fired.

[Oleg Ogorod]

Welded seams of structures are our everything.
.
But maybe it’s more convenient for a fighter to look not at a tablet, but at an analogue of virtual reality glasses? The sun will not interfere. But mastering their production will be even more difficult.
By the way, to imitate the recent census, a lot of tablets for census takers were purchased, which seemed to be with elements of mechanical protection. A lot of money was spent on their purchase. But the census was carried out without them, in the offices of district administrations, and the tablets were told to hand over to any department. Where they went is probably another mystery. And were they in the quantity purchased at all.
But they didn’t buy tablets for the army. They weren't going to fight. Only magnificent parades and historical reconstructions should be carried out.
And most importantly, no one was to blame, it turned out that the army was not ready for an effective modern war. Neither the Minister of Defense, nor the head of the General Staff, nor military science with their research institutes, nor the Ministry of Industry and Trade, nor Rostec.
Generals and officials are accustomed to thinking in historical reconstructions of past battles. Yes, ceremonial exercises at the training grounds, where behind the glass in a comfortable chair from the command tower you look through binoculars, and the announcer in a cheerful voice tells the supreme commander about what is happening at the training ground.
This is sad.

[Sergey Venediktov]

As expected - a complete unnecessary slop piece. Easily replaced by a smartphone for 5 thousand rubles. The main task of the art is to be able to inform the ARM about itself, i.e. report where the trunk is directed - 2 angles (elevation and azimuth) and location (topographic location - latitude + longitude) any smartphone will make further calculations. To this we need to add a source of target designation (we take Irony as an example) and a means of closed DIGITAL communication (Gambling or Aqueducts) - EVERYTHING. At the exit almost Himars. There are many similar solutions within the framework of the ESU TK, and the LPR is all done by 1 programmer who sells for 1000 re artbook - androyd application for smartphones, which yavl. functional analogue of KSAU-MN. Rogozin has his own project - a terminal for art, which is also a yavl. a complete functional analogue of KSAU-MN, only it also has sensors (elevation and azimuth) as on modern amateur telescopes (they themselves find stars because they know where they are directed and where they are) I.e. The Rogozin tablet knows where the trunk is pointing and can attach itself to the top. The task remains to connect it to the network to receive target designations. Look at Rogozin's cart for details. There is a video there.

[the same doctor]

The tablet has too many intermediate steps and unnecessary data conversion. First, we determine the coordinates on the ground, then we link them to GLONASS, then we recalculate them back, then we get the desired azimuth and elevation angle. Let's enter the same data five times in different forms and at different stages... Why?
.
It needs to be easier. The infantryman on the battlefield indicated the target on the screen of the laser rangefinder and the tablet, without any intermediate links, recalculates the azimuth and angle for the gun. It is expedient to display the place of the probable fall of the projectile on the map for the battery commander to control and prevent "friendly fire".

[acetophenone]

How many? How much is there NOW? The rest is not interesting. From the word "absolutely".

“We promise them, we promise, we promise, we promise, but it’s not enough for them!” Zhvanetsky M.

[Valery_V]

something they say there is nothing in the troops, the gods of war work with a notebook and a calculator