New T-80BVM tanks for a special operation: it looks like they had to save on sights
Whatever one may say, the protracted and, most importantly, active military conflict obviously affects the production of military equipment of the countries participating in it. Something is being modernized and finalized in order to improve performance, and something is being simplified for the sake of forced release and cheaper products.
The special military operation in Ukraine is far from an exception in this respect. We all saw how this winter UralVagonZavod began to ship new Tanks T-72B3 with enhanced protection, which was the result of an analysis of combat experience, however, not without controversial decisions. But an example of minimizing costs in favor of mass production was the updated T-80BVM, which received a different sighting system, which without a shadow of a doubt can be called a simplified hodgepodge.
The thermal imager is now different
There are strong suspicions that after reading the first paragraphs of this material, many will inflame with righteous anger and wonder how we have come to such a life. However, the fact that Sosna-U sights would not be enough for all tanks was clear for a long time. It is understandable simply because with such a large number of vehicles pulled out of storage to restore them and bring them into combat condition, material costs and the workload of component production will increase many times over.
Whether this should be criticized is not the subject of this article. We proceed simply from what is available.
Yes, we have fully mastered the production of sights of this model at home and on our element base. They are produced and installed on tanks - first of all on the T-90M, and secondly - on the T-72B3 and T-80BVM, but not all. Therefore, some of the "mobilization" machines get a simplified alternative.
Display of the 1PN96MT-02 thermal imaging sight in the T-80BVM tank. Screenshot from the Channel One report
What is being installed today instead of Sosny-U, we will consider. Moreover, there is no secret in this: a number of large media outlets, including such TV channels as Perviy and others, showed everything perfectly in their stories.
First of all, Sosna-U is associated by the general public interested in armored vehicles with a thermal imaging channel. In general, it is understandable, since it was this sight that gave good night “vision” to most of our tanks. But in the mobilization version of the T-80BVM, the “teplak” also did not disappear.
Thermal imaging sight 1PN96MT-02 at the exhibition
Its function is now performed by the 1PN96MT-02 sight, which, in fact, was also planned for installation on old T-72 and T-80 tanks, but ultimately became the prerogative of the modernized T-62M. By itself, this sight is, in principle, self-sufficient in the sense that it can be used as the main one, albeit a very simple one.
He, unlike Sosny-U, does not have a daytime channel - only thermal imaging, but with a laser rangefinder. It is based on an uncooled matrix, which most directly affects the target detection range, which is approximately two to three kilometers. And this is significantly less than its predecessor. Also, 1PN96MT-02 does not have the ability to target guided tank missiles, although this circumstance still found a solution, but not without "crutches", of course.
At the same time, there is some reason to believe that the new simplified thermal imager will be used as an addition to the main sight, which we will discuss below. That is, in fact, as a second channel for firing and observing the battlefield at night and in poor visibility conditions.
Sight 1G46 in T-80BVM
We started with a thermal imaging sight, although it is not the main one now - after all, it was necessary to remember Sosna-U in this regard. However, it is far from being just a thermal imager, but quite an automatic fire control system. So these are far from all the changes that the T-80BVM of the new iteration has undergone.
If you look at the T-80BVM of the "old" releases, you can see that these machines were equipped with a very unusual combination of sights. And indeed, if the T-72B3 had an advanced and fresh Sosna-U side by side with the Soviet 72A1 optical sight standard for the T-40B, then in the T-80BVM it was already side by side with a double PDT TV sight, while a regular and no less Soviet optical 1G42 was simply removed from the tank.
Two neighbors on the T-80BVM: "Sosna-U" on the right and double sight on the left
According to exactly the same scheme, the T-90M is now being equipped - also a Sosna, and also an understudy.
By the way, this backup sight did not give gigantic and overwhelming characteristics: it was possible to shoot through it, in which case, it was possible, but the detection range was worse than through optics - up to 2 kilometers during the day and up to a kilometer at night. That's why he is an understudy, but with his own separate power supply, which allows him to work, even if the tank's on-board network is completely de-energized.
Now, as they say, returned to the roots. The rejection of the automatic system in the face of Sosna forced us to look for an alternative that could at least partially replace it. Well, of course, we found it.
Instead of an understudy on the T-80BVM of new releases, the 1G46 sight is installed, which was and is available on the T-80U tanks and various modifications of the T-90. However, the measure is understandable to some extent: the tank needs the ability to fire Russian-made Invar guided missiles, and it also needs some kind of automatic equipment to prepare the shot. Previously, Sosna-U was responsible for this, and now 1G46.
New T-80BVM with thermal imaging sight 1PN96MT-02 and 1G46
The sight itself, of course, is exclusively optical with a laser rangefinder and a laser guidance channel for the missile. It is possible to fully fire with it only during the day and in more or less tolerable visibility conditions, although the craftsmen beat mercilessly even at dusk.
In addition to the 1G46 sight itself, the kit also includes a ballistic computer and a set of firing conditions sensors that monitor such parameters as own tank speed, target range and angular velocity, gun trunnion tilt angle, ambient air temperature, atmospheric pressure and wind speed, and also the temperature of propellant charges. Taking into account all these data, the necessary corrections for shooting are automatically issued.
Not to say that it’s a completely modern contraption, but what is available, then they put it.
On the left is the display and control panel of the thermal imaging sight, on the right is the 1G46 optical sight. Stickers in Russian are visible, which may cover the inscriptions in a foreign language
It will be interesting to note here that, apparently, 1G46 began to be used, including from the backlog for export T-90S tanks. This is indirectly evidenced by a photograph in which all the inscriptions (presumably in a foreign language) are pasted over with stickers with a translation into Russian. To some extent, the right decision - everything that is in stock should be used.
Conclusions
Feelings here are actually twofold.
On the one hand, the refusal to install Sosny-U on tanks is, in general, logical. Under the conditions of the production of tanks forced to the limit, it is difficult to expect otherwise. For example, according to some information, the same UralVagonZavod at peak capacity produces up to several repaired and modified cars per day - it’s already clear that everyone will not get an expensive and rather complex component.
On the other hand, Sosna-U is not just a sight. In fact, this is a multi-channel fire control system, and quite modern by our standards. There is a thermal imager, and a daytime optical channel, and missile control, and such necessary tools as a ballistic computer with a bunch of sensors, automatic target tracking, and so on. Of course, there are big problems with the ergonomics of the installation, but I don’t want to lose it in any case.
The 1G46 sight and the 1PN96MT-02 thermal imaging sight are, of course, an ersatz, and there is no other soft epithet to pick up here. It remains to be hoped that the balance between the produced tanks and the produced Sosna-U will still be restored.
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