Tank battle near Novoadarovka, drones and problems of situational awareness of armored vehicle crews
A frame from a video taken from a quadcopter (@voin_dv)
One of the most interesting and memorable events that has taken place recently in the area of the Russian special military operation (SVO) was the battle near Novoadarovka, during which one Russian танк confronted two Ukrainian tanks and six armored vehicles.
Battle near Novoadarovka
Data on the nomenclature of armored vehicles vary. Presumably, the T-72B3 main battle tank (MBT) was operating from the Russian side, although some resources mention the T-80 MBT. Tank T-72B3 exists in modifications: 2011, 2014 and 2016.
The T-72B3 MBT model 2011 is equipped with Kontakt-5 dynamic protection (DZ), a V-84-1 diesel engine with a capacity of 840 hp, a Sosna-U2 multi-channel gunner's sight, which includes a sighting, thermal imaging and rangefinding channels, as well as a tank guided missile control channel. rocket (TUR), radio station R-168-25U-2 "Aqueduct", providing work on closed communication channels. The automatic gun loader for new ammunition has been improved and the chassis has been improved, receiving tracks with a parallel hinge.
On the MBT T-72B3 of the 2014 model (T-72B3M), intended for participation in tank biathlons, a panoramic thermal imaging device for the commander was additionally installed, the V-92S2F engine, with an increase to 1 hp. With. power, automatic gear change and a control system with a voice informant about critical operating modes.
The most modern serial version of the T-72B3 model of 2016 is equipped with a set of modular DZ "Relikt" with anti-cumulative lattice screens (according to some reports, the DZ "Kontakt-5" is still installed in the frontal part), the V-92S2F engine with an automatic transmission, a digital display, a rear-view television camera, a 2E58 weapon stabilizer and a TVN-5 driver's observation device. But the commander's panoramic thermal imaging device, unfortunately, is missing in this modification.
MBT T-72B3 model 2016
What version of the T-80 tank was, if it was still him, is unknown. The most modern model of this line is the T-80BVM MBT, which, like the T-72B3, is equipped with the Sosna-U2 sight and the Relic DZ. Taking into account the need to modernize a large number of tanks, in the conditions of the SVO, a less advanced thermal imaging sight 1PN96MT-02 and with an additional daytime optical sight 1G46 began to be installed on a number of vehicles. The commander's panoramic thermal imaging device on the T-80BVM is also missing.
MBT T-80BVM
Even less is known about enemy vehicles - the models and modifications of the tanks are unknown, with a high probability these were Soviet-style MBTs. The rest of the armored vehicles, presumably, were represented by American MRAP M1224 MaxxPro armored personnel carriers.
MRAP M1224 MaxxPro
There is still confusion about how many targets it was the Russian tank that destroyed, and how many were destroyed by support forces and blown up by mines, however, this in no way detracts from the heroism of the tank crew (nor does it detract from the merits of other, invisible participants in the battle, for example , sappers and artillerymen).
Even if not all targets were destroyed by the Russian MBT, it was his fire that made the enemy stop, panic and shy away in different directions, which led to the destruction of the enemy. Without a tank, the armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could have gone into the green, dispersed and started some meaningful actions, but everything ended quickly and fatally for them.
Watching the videos posted on the Internet, it is not at all clear how the crew of the Russian tank was able to conduct aimed fire - there were many bushes and trees between it and the enemy, after the first breaks the battlefield began to be covered with fairly thick smoke.
Smoke and "green" - we are watching the battlefield from a "third person", but how did the tank crew navigate in such conditions? (frames from the quadcopter)
These shots again make us think about the need and ways to increase the situational awareness of armored vehicle crews, primarily MBT crews.
Traditional solutions and distant prospects
The solution to the problem of increasing the situational awareness of the crews of armored vehicles involves the use of modern technical solutions, whatever one may say, but using the technologies of the last century, it will not be possible to achieve any breakthroughs. We need modern matrices for daytime video cameras and thermal imagers, high-quality optics, high-speed image processors and high-quality displays for displaying it. In addition, you need special software for intuitive management of all this stuff.
Given the fact that in the conditions of the NMD, when it is necessary to significantly increase the production, modernization and repair of armored vehicles of all classes, even Sosna-U2 sights, we now do not have enough, it is somewhat premature to talk about tomorrow's technologies, however, if anyone is interested , then this issue was previously considered in the materials "Improving situational awareness of the crews of armored combat vehicles" и "Ergonomics of workplaces and combat algorithms of advanced armored vehicles".
Large screens in the cockpit of the Israeli Carmel tank concept
Of course, some developments to increase situational awareness exist and are being developed within the framework of the Armata platform, however, apparently, they have not yet reached large-scale production, and it is not known when they will, but the SVO is already underway. The problem is not only in complexity, but also in the fact that a lot of armored vehicles are needed, yesterday and inexpensively.
Based on the foregoing, it is necessary to consider alternative ways to increase the situational awareness of armored vehicle crews.
top view
An extremely interesting solution was applied during the modernization of the medium tank T-62 to the modification of the T-62M model of 2021. In particular, an external multispectral gyro-stabilized optical-electronic system (MGOES) developed by the Central Research Institute "Cyclone" was installed on it.
It is located aft of the tower on a retractable mast and includes a laser rangefinder, a high-definition television channel and a thermal imager. When folded, the height of the mast is 1,3 meters, and when fully extended it is 5 meters (there are doubts about 5 meters, perhaps this refers to the maximum height of the MGOES optical block, taking into account the height of the tank hull).
T-62M with MGOES
Unfortunately, on none of the T-62M tanks sent to the NVO zone, MGOES, apparently, was installed, at least the author was unable to find information about this in open sources. It’s a pity, since the design of the MGOES type, although it will not replace the commander’s modern panoramic sight, will allow the tank to use tactics that are inaccessible to other ground combat vehicles that are not equipped with a similar system.
For example, a tank can use terrain features and objects present on the ground to covertly monitor the battlefield. The enemy in this case will be detected much earlier than the tank with the MGOES, of course, if he does not have "eyes in the air", that is, reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or other means of aerial reconnaissance. Without them, neither thermal imagers nor high-resolution television cameras will help, because they have not yet learned to see through soil, concrete or iron.
Having provided the possibility of coaxial guidance of the MGOES and the gunner's sight, the commander can determine in advance the direction to the target, turn the cannon in its direction, after which the tank with the MGOES for a short period of time will come out from behind the shelter or climb the slope, carry out additional aiming of the gun (compensates for a couple of degrees of deviation due to the tank's own movement) will fire a shot, after which it can again take cover and / or change position.
Third party
Another promising solution is to give the MBT its own aerial reconnaissance in the form of a small-sized quadrocopter / octacopter / hexacopter UAV. This possibility has long been considered in various countries, including Russia. The author previously raised this issue in the material "Unmanned systems for advanced armored vehicles".
of the latter, News on this topic, we can recall the project of the new German tank Panther KF51 ("Panther"), which the Rheinmetall concern was going to produce in Ukraine (where is it, after the shame with the "Leopards" in Ukraine, it's time for the Germans to get used to the fact that the tanks in the armies of European countries will be American).
The concept of the Panther KF51 MBT and the quadrocopter-type UAV placed on it
Russia has also previously considered placing wire-powered UAVs on armored vehicles, including the Whirlwind UAV for the BMP-3 and the Pterodactyl UAV for armored vehicles based on the Armata platform.
UAV "Whirlwind", powered and controlled by a flexible cable
The reality of the SVO has confirmed the highest efficiency of reconnaissance UAVs – without them, the war would look completely different. The threat posed by UAVs forces the warring parties to react, and one of the most effective ways to counter UAVs is the use of electronic warfare (EW). The small-sized reconnaissance UAV of the quadcopter type, mounted on a tank, can be powered and controlled via wires, which will provide it with complete immunity to interference and unlimited time in the air.
As a counterargument, it is usually said that the wires can break, especially in urban areas, however, firstly, the need to have a head on the shoulders of the UAV does not cancel - they can work mainly when the tank does not move, and secondly, if the wire breaks, a small the battery will ensure the landing of the UAV in the "nest" with control over the backup radio channel. The cable can generally have a magnetic fastening, with a sharp jerk, it will simply open the contact with the UAV and be drawn into the “nest”, where the UAV will then land, the cable will “magnetize”, and you can continue combat work.
What opportunities will the tank's own UAV give?
As in the case with the mast discussed above, this is the possibility of observing from behind a shelter, and compared to the mast, a UAV, even with power and cable control, can rise much higher - by several tens or even hundreds of meters. Even 30 meters is the height of a ten-story building, there is no dust, less smoke, the terrain or low buildings will not interfere with detecting the enemy.
In the city, the UAV can “look around the corner”, climb up, inspect the windows and the roof, and if tank-dangerous manpower is detected, the tank will work on it with a cannon - fold the entrance or call for support.
Who will operate the UAV?
On the one hand, this can be done by the tank commander, on the other hand, it can distract him from controlling the battle. If you use UAVs from stops, then this is not so critical, but there are still certain risks. The question arises, maybe it is possible to add a fourth crew member to Soviet-style tanks, for example, by sacrificing part of the ammunition load and slightly changing the layout, seating him next to the driver? Many advocate the return of the fourth crew member also because it is easier to maintain the tank, which, despite its "brutality", requires serious maintenance.
These are all issues that need to be worked out.
Perhaps now is the time to try new solutions that can further shift the balance of power on the battlefield in our favor. Despite the fact that so far the situation in the NMD zone is relatively stable, it is not known what challenges await our country and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the future.
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