A new pyrotechnic vehicle is being developed for the Ministry of Emergency Situations
Loading bombs from the Great Patriotic War to be sent to the landfill. Crimea, June 2021. Photo by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation
The engineering units of the army and the structures of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have various means for working with explosive objects and their disposal. A new technology of this kind is expected to appear in the near future. It is reported about the development of a specialized pyrotechnic vehicle that will be able to transport failed explosive devices and ensure the work of sappers.
Special tool
The creation of a new project was announced on August 23 by the All-Russian Research Institute for Civil Defense and Emergencies of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (VNII GOChS). In another publication, the institute revealed plans to develop new technology for responding groups and units.
According to Vladimir Moshkov, deputy head of the VNII GOChS, sapper units require two new types of equipment. The first is a special armored vehicle with crane equipment and a winch, capable of pulling out and evacuating damaged robotic systems. Such a sample should be able to work off-road.
Bombing at the test site. Photo EMERCOM of the Russian Federation
In addition, a special vehicle is needed to transport unexploded explosive devices. It is curious that the development of such a project has already begun. Specialists of the VNII GOChS are now working on the formation of technical requirements for the future "pyrotechnic car" and determine its general appearance. The current work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The appearance of the future pyrotechnic car has not yet been disclosed and only its tasks and functions are reported. It is also stated that he will be able to carry aviation bombs and land mines. Perhaps new information about this project will be disclosed in the near future, as work continues.
The deadlines for the completion of all work on the project, the start of production and the supply of finished equipment to the relevant divisions have not yet been named. Apparently, the operation of the pyrotechnic vehicle will begin only in the middle of the decade. Apparently, it is intended for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, but the possibility of supplying ground forces to the engineering troops cannot be ruled out.
Sappers of the "Leader" detachment work with small ammunition, July 2023. Photo by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation
Modern replacement
Work with explosive objects is carried out according to a well-established methodology that allows solving all problems with minimal risks. When such an object is found, the sapper examines it visually or with the help of technical means. Then it is neutralized in one way or another. In some cases, a dangerous object has to be blown up on the spot. In other situations, it is possible to take it to the landfill and destroy it there without risks to people and infrastructure.
The evacuation of a dangerous object is usually carried out by a pyrotechnic vehicle, which is regularly available to the unit. Equipment of this kind is built on serial platforms and receives special equipment. A container for the transport of a dangerous item is placed in the body or cargo compartment. A special high-strength container can be used to contain the shock wave of a possible explosion. Also, a pyrotechnic vehicle can carry various devices and instruments for the search and disposal of ammunition.
The future development of VNII GOChS belongs to this class of equipment and should solve the same problems. In this case, it is likely that a new base and other equipment will be used, due to which it will be possible to obtain improved technical and operational characteristics. However, it has not yet been specified how exactly the future car will differ from the existing ones.
Demining with the help of RTK "Uran-6". Photo VNII GOChS
Optimal look
The published information allows you to imagine what new vehicles for engineering and sapper units could be like. Apparently, they will not be fundamentally different from their modern counterparts, but we can expect important and noticeable innovations.
The deputy head of the VNII GOChS mentioned that a new type of pyrotechnic vehicle would have to transport unexploded bombs. The dimensions of such products, which our rescuers have to work with, indicate the need to use trucks with the appropriate body dimensions. Chassis of the KamAZ or Ural brands, carrying a large cargo area, are suitable for such a role.
An explosion-proof container must be placed in the body of the machine for the safe transportation of objects. However, there are no containers for large and heavy ammunition, and a different kind of means is required for such cargo. In addition, dealing with bombs or other similar threats requires crane equipment to ensure safe loading and unloading.
It is likely that the new pyrotechnic vehicle will be similar to the current Ministry of Emergency Situations trucks with an open cargo area. At the same time, its equipment complex will be developed specifically for the intended tasks.
Explosion-proof container ETTs-3MK, designed to detonate 1,5 kg of TNT. Photo by NPP "Ecotest Ltd"
It is curious that a new type of pyrotechnic vehicle may to some extent resemble the recently mentioned promising evacuator of robotic complexes. Both machines must be able to handle fairly heavy loads, etc. However, the RTK reportedly requires an armored carrier. It is quite possible that such a machine will be built on the basis of the protected Tornado truck from the Ural enterprise.
For real tasks
It is not difficult to understand why VNII GOChS started developing new tools for working with explosive objects. The Ministry of Emergency Situations regularly has to work with explosive objects. In addition, the current Special Operation is adding work to army sappers and explosives experts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. At the same time, in the foreseeable future, due to a number of objective factors, sappers will have to work even more intensively. Accordingly, a variety of tools, systems and techniques will be required.
Particular attention should be paid to the zone of the Special Operation. For objective reasons, a considerable amount of various unexploded ordnance remains in the liberated territories. These are unworked enemy mines and shells, specially installed explosive devices, as well as potentially dangerous ammunition in warehouses. All these threats require attention and immediate neutralization. Our specialists are working hard to get rid of such threats and to secure the civilian population and infrastructure.
Presumably, the warhead of a NATO-style cruise missile weighing 450 kg. Photo Telegram / BMPD
Often our engineers have to work with large and / or heavy ammunition. First of all, these are Soviet-style shells and bombs that remained with the Ukrainian formations. In addition, foreign samples with warheads of a significant mass fell into their possession. Not always people can work with such objects, and in addition, there may be no possibility of undermining on the spot. As a result, the involvement of RTK and special transport is required.
New models of equipment from VNII GOChS will be able to take on such work and supplement the vehicles already available in the troops or in the subdivisions of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In both cases, they will help solve common problems and ensure the security of the army and the population. In addition, an increase in the number of vehicles involved will increase the pace of clearing territories.
To date, our sappers have cleared a significant part of the liberated territories and continue to work. Due to various factors and circumstances, the process of searching for and neutralizing dangerous items will continue for a long time. Specialists and their materiel will continue to do their job. At the same time, any new model of machinery or equipment that can simplify the solution of tasks will be useful and necessary.
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