T-55AM. New version of the modernization of obsolete tanks
The T-55 medium tank was one of the most massive vehicles of its class and was able to become the main type of armored vehicles in the armies of several dozen countries. Even half a century after the start of production Tanks T-55 remain in service with many armies and are unlikely to be completely decommissioned in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the T-55 tanks have long been outdated both morally and physically, which is why they need to be replaced. Not all countries operating the equipment of this model can afford modern armored vehicles with high characteristics due to their equally high cost. Therefore, they may be interested in various projects involving the repair and modernization of existing equipment. One of the options for updating T-55 tanks with a marked increase in performance is offered by the Omsk Design Bureau of Transport Engineering, which is part of the Uralvagonzavod Corporation.
The T-55AM project involves the overhaul of production tanks and the installation of a large number of new equipment. Due to this, it is claimed that the upgraded tank improves all the basic parameters: firepower, level of protection, mobility and command control.
It should be noted that the proposed modernization project for the T-55 vehicles proposed by Uralvagonzavod has almost nothing to do with the T-55AM tank developed in the early eighties. These two projects are similar to each other in their approach to modernization, namely the replacement of obsolete equipment components with new ones and some measures aimed at increasing the security and firepower of the tank. Nevertheless, the projects differ in the equipment used in the modernization.
To simplify the conversion of serial equipment, the T-55AM project involves the use of various additional equipment and systems, for the installation of which it is not necessary to make serious adjustments to the design of the machine. For example, for a significant increase in the level of protection, it is proposed to use additional booking modules installed on the tank’s native homogeneous armor. The forehead of the body is proposed to additionally protect several removable blocks of dynamic protection. From such blocks, the wedge-shaped protection of the forehead and the cheekbones of the tower should be assembled. The front part of the body receives additional protection with a total weight of about 800 kg, consisting of 152 elements of the 4 – 22 “Contact-5” system. The tower has support structures and 81 element 4С22 with a total weight of about 920 kg.
For additional protection of the case, it is proposed to use removable rubber side screens with mounted dynamic protection units. Each such screen weighs more than 460 kg and carries 48 elements of the “Contact-5” system. It is alleged that when firing using cumulative ammunition at an encounter angle of up to 20 °, the level of protection of the hull sides covered with new screens increases about two times compared to the base armor of the T-55 tank.
The use of additional protection modules and other new equipment increases the weight of the upgraded tank. According to official data, the combat weight of the updated tank reaches 40 tons. To maintain the mobility of the machine at an acceptable level, the project provided for an update of the power plant.
In the stern of the T-55AM tank, a 12-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine B-46-5MS is installed with a turbocharging power of 690 hp. In addition, a cyclone unit and an air purifier cassette unit must be installed in the engine compartment. The basic version of the T-55 tank was equipped with a 580-powerful B-55 engine, due to which the replacement of the power plant makes it possible to keep the specific power of the vehicle at the same level.
To improve maneuverability and smoothness, the upgraded T-55AM tank receives the undercarriage of an updated design. The new project provides for the use of aft drive wheel with new crowns and a reinforced mount. Also, the guide wheel disc and the bearing unit of the first track roller are reinforced. It is offered to equip basic skating rinks with updated hydraulic shock absorbers with increased energy intensity and torsions of a different steel grade. Thanks to these innovations, the dynamic course of the road wheels increases to 186 mm, which should have a positive effect on the smoothness of the course and, as a result, on the accuracy of shooting in motion. An additional factor affecting the permeability was a new caterpillar with a rubber-metal joint, which reduces the ground pressure to 0,76 kg / sq. cm.
The use of the updated power plant and chassis allows you to keep the characteristics of the T-55AM tank at the required level. The speed of the car on the highway reaches 50 km / h, the power reserve with additional tank-barrels is 610 km. The tank can overcome 32-degree rise, move with roll to 30 °, climb a wall 0,8 m high and cross a moat 2,7 m wide. Without preparation, the machine can move along a ford to depth of 1,4 m. increases to 5 m.
In accordance with the project T-55AM main weapons The upgraded tank is an X-NUMX-mm rifled gun, the D-100T10C, using unitary ammunition. In the course of modernization, the gun receives a three-section thermoprotective jacket covering the barrel pipe from the gun mask to the ejector. To balance the barrel with the casing on the fence of the breech of the gun it is proposed to install relatively compact counterweights of the required mass. The use of a casing leads to a marked increase in shooting accuracy. It is argued that the spread in the corners of the projectile departure angle decreases by 2-2 times, technical dispersion is reduced by 3-2 times. As a result, the ammunition consumption for hitting the target is reduced by 4%.
Another method to increase the firepower of a tank is to use new ammunition. In the ammunition D-10Т2С is proposed to include the high-explosive fragmentation shell OFNNXX. This ammunition is manufactured using a new technology, which increases the accuracy of the production of shells and eliminates the need to use other weight marks besides zero (“H”). All this should simplify the use of projectiles, reduce the time of preparation for the shot, as well as improve the accuracy of shooting. A projectile weighing 70 kg carries an 13,28 kg explosive. With an initial speed of 2,24 m / s, the projectile is able to fly to a distance of 960 km. When undermining the shell of the projectile is broken into 13 splinters that hit targets on an area larger than 3393 square. m
For effective destruction of armored vehicles and enemy fortifications at distances to 4 km, the T-55AM tank will be able to use the 3UBK10-1 shot with the 9М117М guided missile. The launch of a guided missile should be made through the barrel of the gun. To control the rocket is offered a special laser system. A missile is aimed at a target in a semi-automatic mode: the gunner must hold the laser beam on the target, and the rocket is independently held in the beam. The cumulative warhead of the 9М117М rocket can penetrate up to 550 mm of homogeneous armor.
As an anti-aircraft weapon, the T-55AM tank receives an installation with the Kord heavy machine gun. The machine gun mount is mounted above the left hatch of the turret and provides circular guidance horizontally. For aiming the machine gun it is proposed to use the collimator sight K10-T.
On the stern of the turret, 8B “Tucha” smoke grenade launchers are installed. Remote control grenade launchers located on the workplace of the tank commander. Grenades can be fired one by one or in one gulp.
The basis of the fire control system of a modernized tank is the Om sighting and observation complex. It includes several multi-channel sights with increased magnification and field of view. It is argued that the use of the “Om” complex can significantly reduce the time required to search for targets, increase the accuracy of shooting and reduce the consumption of ammunition by almost a third.
To monitor the environment, the T-55AM tank commander should use the TKN-1CM device installed in the commander's turret. This device is built on a two-channel scheme and allows you to monitor day and night. When using a night vision channel, observation of objects at a distance greater than 600 m is provided. An interference-free operation mode is provided for monitoring the situation when light interference occurs.
Two aiming instruments must be installed at the gunner’s workplace: the 1P3-7D periscopic sight and the 1PN-96МТ thermal imager. The first is equipped with a built-in laser range finder and a ballistic computer and provides detection of enemy tanks (in side view) at distances up to 10 km. The range finder 1P3-7D is capable of measuring distances at distances up to 8 km. The 1PN-96МТ sight is also periscopic, but it is equipped with a thermal imaging channel. In the passive mode of operation, this device allows you to notice a “tank” type target (side view) at a distance of 3 km. Both sights automatically calculate corrections and shift the aiming mark depending on the distance to the target and other conditions.
At the workplace of the T-55AM tank mechanic, it is proposed to install a TBC-3 periscope observation device. The device has day and night channels providing tank driving at any time of the day. The night channel of the TVK-3 device allows you to monitor the situation at a distance of up to 250 m and does not need an additional illuminator. An important feature of the device TVK-3 is the possibility of driving a tank day and night without changing the means of observation.
Communication of the T-55AM tank with other combat vehicles is provided by means of the P-173 radio station installed in the turret. At the request of the customer, the combat vehicle can receive communications equipment using the P-168 digital radio station. New radio stations provide high-quality analog and digital communications, as well as less difficult to operate and maintain.
It is known about the existence of at least one prototype tank, upgraded in accordance with the Omsk project T-55AM. This car was shown at some exhibitions, and also appears in the promotional materials of the corporation "Uralvagonzavod." However, information on orders for the repair and updating of equipment for the new project is not available. Probably, the proposed methods for the modernization of combatant armored vehicles have not yet interested potential customers.
Based on:
http://army-guide.com/
http://kbtm-omsk.ru/
http://computerland-spb.ru/images/pdf_uvz/T55-AM_spreads.pdf
The T-55AM project involves the overhaul of production tanks and the installation of a large number of new equipment. Due to this, it is claimed that the upgraded tank improves all the basic parameters: firepower, level of protection, mobility and command control.
It should be noted that the proposed modernization project for the T-55 vehicles proposed by Uralvagonzavod has almost nothing to do with the T-55AM tank developed in the early eighties. These two projects are similar to each other in their approach to modernization, namely the replacement of obsolete equipment components with new ones and some measures aimed at increasing the security and firepower of the tank. Nevertheless, the projects differ in the equipment used in the modernization.
To simplify the conversion of serial equipment, the T-55AM project involves the use of various additional equipment and systems, for the installation of which it is not necessary to make serious adjustments to the design of the machine. For example, for a significant increase in the level of protection, it is proposed to use additional booking modules installed on the tank’s native homogeneous armor. The forehead of the body is proposed to additionally protect several removable blocks of dynamic protection. From such blocks, the wedge-shaped protection of the forehead and the cheekbones of the tower should be assembled. The front part of the body receives additional protection with a total weight of about 800 kg, consisting of 152 elements of the 4 – 22 “Contact-5” system. The tower has support structures and 81 element 4С22 with a total weight of about 920 kg.
For additional protection of the case, it is proposed to use removable rubber side screens with mounted dynamic protection units. Each such screen weighs more than 460 kg and carries 48 elements of the “Contact-5” system. It is alleged that when firing using cumulative ammunition at an encounter angle of up to 20 °, the level of protection of the hull sides covered with new screens increases about two times compared to the base armor of the T-55 tank.
The use of additional protection modules and other new equipment increases the weight of the upgraded tank. According to official data, the combat weight of the updated tank reaches 40 tons. To maintain the mobility of the machine at an acceptable level, the project provided for an update of the power plant.
In the stern of the T-55AM tank, a 12-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine B-46-5MS is installed with a turbocharging power of 690 hp. In addition, a cyclone unit and an air purifier cassette unit must be installed in the engine compartment. The basic version of the T-55 tank was equipped with a 580-powerful B-55 engine, due to which the replacement of the power plant makes it possible to keep the specific power of the vehicle at the same level.
To improve maneuverability and smoothness, the upgraded T-55AM tank receives the undercarriage of an updated design. The new project provides for the use of aft drive wheel with new crowns and a reinforced mount. Also, the guide wheel disc and the bearing unit of the first track roller are reinforced. It is offered to equip basic skating rinks with updated hydraulic shock absorbers with increased energy intensity and torsions of a different steel grade. Thanks to these innovations, the dynamic course of the road wheels increases to 186 mm, which should have a positive effect on the smoothness of the course and, as a result, on the accuracy of shooting in motion. An additional factor affecting the permeability was a new caterpillar with a rubber-metal joint, which reduces the ground pressure to 0,76 kg / sq. cm.
The use of the updated power plant and chassis allows you to keep the characteristics of the T-55AM tank at the required level. The speed of the car on the highway reaches 50 km / h, the power reserve with additional tank-barrels is 610 km. The tank can overcome 32-degree rise, move with roll to 30 °, climb a wall 0,8 m high and cross a moat 2,7 m wide. Without preparation, the machine can move along a ford to depth of 1,4 m. increases to 5 m.
In accordance with the project T-55AM main weapons The upgraded tank is an X-NUMX-mm rifled gun, the D-100T10C, using unitary ammunition. In the course of modernization, the gun receives a three-section thermoprotective jacket covering the barrel pipe from the gun mask to the ejector. To balance the barrel with the casing on the fence of the breech of the gun it is proposed to install relatively compact counterweights of the required mass. The use of a casing leads to a marked increase in shooting accuracy. It is argued that the spread in the corners of the projectile departure angle decreases by 2-2 times, technical dispersion is reduced by 3-2 times. As a result, the ammunition consumption for hitting the target is reduced by 4%.
Another method to increase the firepower of a tank is to use new ammunition. In the ammunition D-10Т2С is proposed to include the high-explosive fragmentation shell OFNNXX. This ammunition is manufactured using a new technology, which increases the accuracy of the production of shells and eliminates the need to use other weight marks besides zero (“H”). All this should simplify the use of projectiles, reduce the time of preparation for the shot, as well as improve the accuracy of shooting. A projectile weighing 70 kg carries an 13,28 kg explosive. With an initial speed of 2,24 m / s, the projectile is able to fly to a distance of 960 km. When undermining the shell of the projectile is broken into 13 splinters that hit targets on an area larger than 3393 square. m
For effective destruction of armored vehicles and enemy fortifications at distances to 4 km, the T-55AM tank will be able to use the 3UBK10-1 shot with the 9М117М guided missile. The launch of a guided missile should be made through the barrel of the gun. To control the rocket is offered a special laser system. A missile is aimed at a target in a semi-automatic mode: the gunner must hold the laser beam on the target, and the rocket is independently held in the beam. The cumulative warhead of the 9М117М rocket can penetrate up to 550 mm of homogeneous armor.
As an anti-aircraft weapon, the T-55AM tank receives an installation with the Kord heavy machine gun. The machine gun mount is mounted above the left hatch of the turret and provides circular guidance horizontally. For aiming the machine gun it is proposed to use the collimator sight K10-T.
On the stern of the turret, 8B “Tucha” smoke grenade launchers are installed. Remote control grenade launchers located on the workplace of the tank commander. Grenades can be fired one by one or in one gulp.
The basis of the fire control system of a modernized tank is the Om sighting and observation complex. It includes several multi-channel sights with increased magnification and field of view. It is argued that the use of the “Om” complex can significantly reduce the time required to search for targets, increase the accuracy of shooting and reduce the consumption of ammunition by almost a third.
To monitor the environment, the T-55AM tank commander should use the TKN-1CM device installed in the commander's turret. This device is built on a two-channel scheme and allows you to monitor day and night. When using a night vision channel, observation of objects at a distance greater than 600 m is provided. An interference-free operation mode is provided for monitoring the situation when light interference occurs.
Two aiming instruments must be installed at the gunner’s workplace: the 1P3-7D periscopic sight and the 1PN-96МТ thermal imager. The first is equipped with a built-in laser range finder and a ballistic computer and provides detection of enemy tanks (in side view) at distances up to 10 km. The range finder 1P3-7D is capable of measuring distances at distances up to 8 km. The 1PN-96МТ sight is also periscopic, but it is equipped with a thermal imaging channel. In the passive mode of operation, this device allows you to notice a “tank” type target (side view) at a distance of 3 km. Both sights automatically calculate corrections and shift the aiming mark depending on the distance to the target and other conditions.
At the workplace of the T-55AM tank mechanic, it is proposed to install a TBC-3 periscope observation device. The device has day and night channels providing tank driving at any time of the day. The night channel of the TVK-3 device allows you to monitor the situation at a distance of up to 250 m and does not need an additional illuminator. An important feature of the device TVK-3 is the possibility of driving a tank day and night without changing the means of observation.
Communication of the T-55AM tank with other combat vehicles is provided by means of the P-173 radio station installed in the turret. At the request of the customer, the combat vehicle can receive communications equipment using the P-168 digital radio station. New radio stations provide high-quality analog and digital communications, as well as less difficult to operate and maintain.
It is known about the existence of at least one prototype tank, upgraded in accordance with the Omsk project T-55AM. This car was shown at some exhibitions, and also appears in the promotional materials of the corporation "Uralvagonzavod." However, information on orders for the repair and updating of equipment for the new project is not available. Probably, the proposed methods for the modernization of combatant armored vehicles have not yet interested potential customers.
Based on:
http://army-guide.com/
http://kbtm-omsk.ru/
http://computerland-spb.ru/images/pdf_uvz/T55-AM_spreads.pdf
Information