The main battle tank "Armata": after the first show
It is worth noting that the first images tanks “Armata” from the first batch designed and built by Uralvagonzavod Corporation appeared in the public domain quite a long time ago, a few weeks before the parade. Published photos and videos were not of high quality, but still made a splash. The excitement among experts and the general public was not prevented even by the fact that the towers of the new tanks were covered with canvas covers. In the future, new photographs of promising tanks repeatedly appeared. The number of such shots was constantly increasing.
With the beginning of the parade rehearsals in Alabino near Moscow, the number of photos and videos on new combat vehicles increased significantly. At the end of April, the Ministry of Defense joined various private individuals publishing pictures and recordings. Finally, about a week before the parade on Red Square, the crews of the Armata tanks received orders to remove covers from the towers. This event was the impetus for a new wave of discussions, which touched upon the most exciting issues. As a result, a few days before the Victory Parade, everyone had the opportunity to consider a promising domestic tank in all details.
For understandable and obvious reasons, most of the information about the prospective OBT “Armata” is still classified. The public and professionals have to be content with the few stories of officials, as well as the mass of new photos and videos. Naturally, the “premiere show” of the tank and the preparation for it were the reason for the appearance of a huge number of opinions. Prospective combat vehicles as awarded great praise, and are extremely harshly criticized. Let us try once again to collect all the available information about the newest Russian tank, and also to draw some assumptions and conclusions based on them.
A few years ago, it was announced that some features will allow the new tank "Armata" to become a real revolution in the world tank building. The main innovations were to be a special crew armored capsule and an uninhabited fighting compartment. In order to increase the level of protection, it was proposed to place all crew members in a single volume inside the armored hull. Due to this, it was planned to reduce all possible risks and increase the likelihood of tank crew survival even in the event of a tank defeat.
The removal of all crew members outside the combat compartment led to the need to create a complex of automatic systems serving the gun. A few years ago it became known that the tank "Armata" will have a uninhabited automated combat compartment, separated from the crew. In addition to increasing the level of crew protection, such a combat compartment made it possible to gain some other advantages. In particular, it was possible to reduce the size of the tower and, as a result, the likelihood of enemy projectiles from attacking from the front angles.
It should be recognized that the projects of tanks with similar technical solutions were previously developed in our country and abroad. However, so far not a single main tank with a common crew capsule and an uninhabited fighting compartment has reached mass production and operation in the troops. Thus, the newest tank "Armata" in the coming years can become the world's first serial tank with an uninhabited turret and crew accommodation in the hull.
Display of new armored vehicles confirmed the correctness of the information that became known earlier. In addition, the opportunity to learn more about some features of the project. Naturally, for the time being all conclusions can be based only on photographs and video recordings, since other information still remains inaccessible to persons without appropriate access. However, in this case, we can draw some conclusions.
One of the main unique features of the tank "Armat" is its layout. In fact, for the first time in domestic practice, the main tank can be adopted for armament, the layout of which differs from the classic one history since the First World War. Fulfilling new requirements, Uralvagonzavod corporation experts resorted to original, bold solutions. As follows from the available materials, the layout of the Armata tanks is significantly different from the general architecture of domestic and foreign cars of this class.
In the frontal part of the body there is a powerful armored obstacle, consisting probably of combined armor and a dynamic protection system. Behind the frontal part is the crew capsule. All three tankers are located in the total volume, which, according to the available data, has additional protection against external threats. Judging by the location of the hull hatches, the driver is located in front and on the left side. To his right is provided the workplace of the commander. Behind the driver is the gunner. In view of the use of the uninhabited fighting compartment, it should be expected that the crew’s workplaces have all the necessary instruments and controls for working with the power plant, armament complex and other systems.
Immediately behind the crew’s armored capsule is the fighting compartment. As repeatedly stated earlier, all units of the fighting compartment are automatic and therefore can operate without direct interaction with the crew. All tool maintenance processes are performed automatically.
The hull feed traditionally for domestic tank building is given under the engine compartment. Earlier there were rumors about the possibility of building a tank with a front engine, but later it became clear that the engineers of Uralvagonzavod did not complicate the project with another bold decision.
To protect the new tank from attacks from all angles should a set of different means. So, on the front sheet of the hull and side screens are clearly visible blocks of dynamic protection. The sides of the hull are equipped with lattice screens that provide additional protection, but do not interfere with the cooling of the logistic equipment. There is also information about the use of the Afganit active protection complex, which blocks are installed on the tower.
The chassis of the new unified armor platform “Armata” is equipped with seven road wheels on board. Due to the rear location of the engine, the drive wheels of the tracked propulsion unit are located in the rear of the hull. Guides - in the front. On a relatively old photo of cars without side screens, one could see a set of supporting rollers, on which the upper branch of the caterpillar is lying.
Perhaps the most interesting element of a promising tank on the basis of the Armata platform is a new uninhabited tower. Domestic designers have already been able to design such combat units. Moreover, some such developments reached the stage of testing. A new combat compartment was developed for the new tank, which in itself is of great interest. Already the first demonstration of the tower without a canvas cover was the reason for new disputes and discussions.
The turret of the Armata, according to various estimates, has approximately the same dimensions as the towers of existing domestic tanks. Nevertheless, it has a lot of serious differences. First of all, it is an unusual form, formed by a large number of straight-line panels. In addition, in the left cheekbone of the tower there is a characteristic recess, in which, apparently, some equipment is located. Similar smaller notches are also present in other panels of the tower. It is also necessary to note the presence of the aft niche of the tower. The purpose of this unit is still unknown. It is possible that this niche is used to store part of the ammunition or to accommodate other units.
The basic one weapons The new tank, according to available data, is the 2A82 caliber gun 125 mm. This gun is installed in an uninhabited tower and is equipped with a set of necessary automation, which is responsible for various preparation processes for firing. Automated as the guidance of the gun, and the supply and discharging of ammunition. Due to this, the Armata tank should retain all the positive qualities inherent in the fighting compartments of existing tanks. A curious feature of the 2А82 cannon is the absence of an ejector. This device is used to purge the bore of the powder gases to reduce gas pollution fighting compartment. The absence of the crew in the tower made it possible not to complicate the design of the instrument, since automation, unlike people, retains its performance even in a gassed volume.
A remotely controlled combat module with a PKT machine gun is provided on the roof of the turret. This device is designed to defend a tank from enemy personnel at relatively short distances. Probably, the Armata tank also carries a machine gun paired with a gun, but the available photos do not allow to unambiguously determine its presence and location. There is a set of smoke grenade launchers.
Perspective OBT "Armata" carries the most modern fire control system (LMS). It includes a panoramic commander's sight mounted on the turret, and a set of other equipment. Domestic media mention the presence of a special radar station on the tank with a phased antenna array. It is argued that such equipment should be used to study the battlefield and search for targets with their further attack. For obvious reasons, the composition of the MSA of the prospective tank is still one of the main secrets of the project.
A curious dispute is connected with the construction of the tower of the Armata tank. Soon after the first appearance of armored vehicles without covers, technology lovers noticed that, at least, some of the plates that make up the outer surface of the tower are of a small thickness. This was supported by the particular shape of the tower, as well as some openings in which certain equipment is placed. This feature seriously distinguishes the tank "Armata" from other existing armored vehicles of this class.
Such unusual features of the tower tank "Armata" became a cause for controversy. In addition, some people who were not seen in special respect for the Russian industry and the army began to produce monotonous and unfunny jokes about the "cardboard tower" or even the "cardboard tank" with the concomitant mention of an extremely low level of protection. However, reality can upset such pranksters.
Domestic and foreign tank builders over the past few decades have managed to create a number of projects of promising tanks with an uninhabited fighting compartment. For example, Soviet designers created the 299 Object, 327 Object, 450 Object and others. US engineers have previously worked on the M1 Abrams Block III project, etc. All these developments clearly demonstrated the fundamental possibility of creating a fully automated combat compartment. In addition, they helped to find the optimal layout of such a fighting compartment. It turned out that the vast majority of components and assemblies can be placed inside the tank hull. Above the tower chase can be located only the supporting platform, the gun and some units of the automatic loader. In this case, all units outside the armored hull can be closed with a relatively small armor cover.
There is no reason to believe that other solutions were used in the Armata project. Moreover, the left side hatch of the tower (presumably intended for ejection of pallets of sleeves) rather transparently hints that the second building is located under the external panels of the tower. It is the inner hull of the turret of the Armata that is supposed to protect the cannon and its associated automation from enemy weapons. The outer “shell” is an additional cover on which various units are mounted, including a machine gun combat module, a panoramic commanding scope, and other equipment.
It’s too early to talk about the characteristics of the newest Russian tank. Various representatives of the defense industry have already mentioned that the Armata tank will surpass all existing domestic and foreign tanks in its characteristics. At the same time, however, while officials do without specifics. Even the exact dimensions and combat mass of the new tank are unknown. On the other characteristics, including fighting qualities, can not speak.
At the moment, specialists and the general public have to rely only on photographs and videos with a new domestic tank, built on the basis of the unified platform "Armata". It remains to hope that in the future, the Ministry of Defense and the corporation Uralvagonzavod will disclose some of the details of the new project, which are still under secrecy. In addition, I would like the developers and future operators at least from time to time to report on the testing process and the process of preparing for full-scale mass production of new equipment.
On the materials of the sites:
http://tass.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://vz.ru/
http://lenta.ru/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
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