military penicillin. Russian "Penicillin": the pill is guaranteed for enemy artillery. What is "Penicillin" and what is it for

There is no escape from artillery fire! Or is there anyway? Recently, state tests of the latest artillery reconnaissance complex 1B75 "Penicillin" were completed in the Russian Federation. What is it and what is it for?

How to find a gun

Fighting enemy artillery is a long-standing and honorable occupation. Even before the First World War, they invented a miracle unit called the Le Boulanger sound rangefinder. We take a glass tube with a mixture of water and alcohol, in addition to the liquid inside - a light float-pointer. Seeing the flash of a shot, put it vertically. The float descends at a known speed, and when the sound of a shot arrives, it is displaced by a certain number of divisions. After that, you can calculate the distance. The accuracy of this gadget - you can imagine.

The staff captain of the Russian army Nikolai Benois in 1909 came up with a more cunning sound receiver. A thick paper membrane is hung on a tripod, "facing" to the enemy. A sound wave approaches, after which the contacts of the membrane break and stop the time counter. We set up three or four sound posts over several hundred meters - we get the approximate distance and direction to the source of the sound, that is, the enemy battery. And we shoot back.

In World War I, sound intelligence was used with might and main.

If the instruments are properly adjusted and corrections are taken into account, neither the night, nor the fog, nor the relief will save the enemy.

And you can also adjust your shots!

Experiments with radar to fight against enemy artillery began in World War II. First in the navy, and then on land. And off we go ... Vietnam, Afghanistan, then everywhere.

An enemy projectile flies - we immediately calculate the trajectory back: to a cannon, mortar or rocket launcher. And we also send warm greetings in return.

Artillery reconnaissance complex "Zoo" ()

In our army, for this, there are installations of artillery reconnaissance "Zoo" and "Aistenok" (both of which were used in Syria). In the USA - AN / TPQ-53 of the famous Lockheed Martin company. Sweden and Norway have ARTHUR (Artillery Hunting Radar). In addition to shells, some samples are also able to detect drones.

Why then do we need "Penicillin"? Do not rush to conclusions!

"Do you see the gopher? And I don't see. And he is"

First, radars are not omnipotent. Their effectiveness against different targets varies greatly. In the real conditions of the war in Afghanistan, the Soviet ARK-1 stations turned out to be too complicated, and they often refused.

Secondly, radars can be interfered with. Or just detect their radiation and cover the positions of reconnaissance stations. Finally, you can simply not shoot when the enemy radar is working.

But "Penicillin" is a completely different matter! We put several sensitive sound sensors on the ground. The developers claim that they will be able to detect even the bang of the door. A shot of a gun or a burst of a projectile - even more so. At a distance of up to 25 kilometers.

Modern computers allow you to give out the coordinates of enemy guns in five seconds, as soon as they open fire.

The direction finding error does not exceed one and a half minutes of arc.

Mortars, for example, are detected at a distance of up to 10 kilometers, self-propelled guns - up to 18, rocket launchers - up to 40. The reconnaissance strip is 20-25 kilometers, and Penicillin can simultaneously conduct three dozen targets.

In theory, "Penicillin" is easily integrated into artillery fire control systems. The radio communication range is up to 40 kilometers.

The work of Penicillin itself cannot be detected by radar. And no one knows if there is this "gopher" nearby - or not.

And Penicillin also has an optoelectronic module. These are six thermal imaging and six television cameras in a single housing and on a retractable telescopic rod. The viewing angle of the camera is at least 70 degrees.

Instead of sending scouts to the front line, now you can put the car in cover and raise the module. After full deployment, the complex does not even require the intervention of operators - it works automatically.

Inside the Penicillin cabin

The novelty was immediately noticed abroad. The National Interest magazine broke out on "Penicillin" in a separate article. And if the Su-57 fighters are usually scolded there - they say, they are not so scary and will cost a lot (so the reader does not need to be afraid), - then this time the tone of the article was quite respectful.

For the first time about "Penicillin" was told in March 2017, when a prototype was tested at the Donguz test site in the Orenburg region - based on KAMAZ-6350. At the Army-2018 forum, an already modified version was shown, on the Typhoon-K chassis.

Recently completed state tests. What will be next? Let's see. But the fact that new artillery requires new methods of dealing with it - this is a fact.

Vladimir Smirnov, Marianna Chursina

State tests of the new automated artillery reconnaissance complex 1B75 "Penicillin" have been completed. This system allows for five seconds to determine the coordinates of the firing position of enemy artillery within a radius of up to 25 km. In addition, "Penicillin" is adjusting the firing of fire weapons against friendly forces. The delivery of the first sound-thermal complexes to the troops is expected in 2020. Experts call key feature new systems, the ability to quickly respond to enemy artillery fire and destroy it even before it changes its location.

• YouTube

In Russia, state tests of the latest automated artillery reconnaissance complex 1B75 "Penicillin" have been completed. Moreover, the first two samples of this equipment are planned to be delivered to the troops as early as 2020. This was reported to RIA Novosti by the press service of the Ruselectronics holding.

It is noted that the Penicillin sound-thermal complex is designed to detect firing positions of enemy artillery pieces, mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, as well as launching positions of enemy anti-aircraft and tactical missiles. At the same time, the system simultaneously adjusts the firing of friendly artillery.

The complex includes several sound receivers installed on the surface of the earth and an optoelectronic module. "Penicillin" receives and processes thermal imaging and acoustic signals from shots and shell explosions, providing data on the location of the explosion of the ammunition, the accuracy of the hit, and reports the location of enemy artillery.

A key feature of the new complex is that it determines the coordinates of a single target within a radius of up to 25 km in just five seconds.

"Penicillin" can maintain fire as one battery, and in turn each battery of the division. Also, the installation provides interaction with subscribers of the automated control system of the tactical and operational level. The range of radio communication with external subscribers is up to 40 km,” Ruselectronics said.

The actual optical-electronic module "Penicillin-OEM", which is a complex of thermal direction finding equipment (TPA) on a telescopic rod, includes six thermal imaging and six television cameras. All of them are placed in a single housing on a rotating and oscillating base.

“The radiation that comes from objects located in the reconnaissance sector, optoelectronic units of the product ... is converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the equipment for receiving and displaying the ROV in real time,” the documents for the development of the module say.

For the first time about the existence of an automated complex for sound-thermal reconnaissance AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" general public became known in March 2017. By this time, tests of a prototype have started at the Donguz test site in the Orenburg region.

It was reported that the complex is designed to replace the traditional principle of fire adjustment with the help of scouts who work on the front lines at the risk of their lives.

“Unlike them, Penicillin can operate at a safe distance from the enemy without the participation of an operator in a fully automated mode, which minimizes the influence of the human factor,” Ruselectronics said.

In addition, existing artillery reconnaissance systems are vulnerable to electronic warfare enemy and anti-radar weapons. In turn, AZTK 1B75 performs tasks without unmasking itself by external radiation.

"Artillery remains one of the important factors on the battlefield"

Earlier, the American analytical publication National Interest published an article entitled “Perhaps Russia has a new means to destroy (American. — RT) heavy artillery. It was about the new artillery reconnaissance complex presented at the Army-2018 exhibition.

It is noted that Western radar systems - the American Hughes AN / TSQ-51 and the Scandinavian ARTHUR - due to their characteristics, experience difficulties in detecting small projectiles and are subject to anti-radar measures. Undetectable Russian system traditional methods, writes NI.

Currently, the main artillery weapons in service with the US Army are the 155-mm self-propelled artillery mount M109, M119 (105 mm) and M777 (155 mm) towed howitzers, as well as several types of mortars and MLRS (HIMARS and MLRS). The firing range of most of them with conventional shells does not exceed 25 km.

According to corresponding member Russian Academy rocket and artillery sciences Konstantin Sivkov, the main advantage of the Penicillin complex is that it has a thermal optoelectronic channel, which allows you to quickly respond to enemy artillery fire and deliver a counter-battery strike even before it has time to change location.

“According to open data, the range of the complex is 25 km, that is, within the tactical defense zone. Accordingly, light field artillery, mortars - these are the objects that will mainly work, ”the expert said.

In turn, the military observer Komsomolskaya Pravda» Retired Colonel Viktor Baranets noted that foreign experts rightly drew attention to the fact that Russian complex will seriously affect the effectiveness of artillery combat.

“Why did they call the Penicillin complex the killer of American artillery. All the armies of the world have artillery guns of various calibers and ranges, and artillery remains one of the important factors on the battlefield, - said the interlocutor of RT. - It is very important to have the exact coordinates of the location of a particular gun, because the gun fires several shots and immediately changes position. And if the technology does not allow you to instantly detect his position, then the enemy will simply shift this position, and the shells will fly, in fact, to an empty place.

The expert noted that the AZTK 1B75 makes it possible in a matter of seconds to determine the firing point with maximum accuracy and cover it with return fire: “This is one of the elements of the new warfare, where the speed of response to enemy fire is reduced to a minimum.”

• British 155 mm howitzer M777 and american self-propelled guns M109 (155mm)
• Reuters

According to Baranets, foreign experts pay attention to the fact that high performance characteristics complex were achieved through the use of the latest technologies, which so far only the Russian defense industry has.

“We need to talk about something else: that in this complex there is not a single bolt or board that we would buy abroad. In this complex, everything is Russian, from the most elementary device to complex electronic systems. With such a complex, the Russian army gets very serious anti-artillery "ears and eyes", which is extremely important in modern combat operations, where time becomes a very serious factor, ”the expert added.

“The speed of reaction to enemy fire is also becoming an additional weapon for our army,” he stressed.

“I would like to congratulate our designers, scientists, technologists, engineers who invented and brought this complex to the end. We will wait for his massive entry into the troops Russian army", - summed up Baranets.

The international military forum "Army-2018" continues. A significant part of its exposition is occupied by artillery and missile systems. Visitors can see the latest self-propelled gun"Coalition-SV", operational-tactical complex "Iskander", "Malka" gun of 203 mm caliber and many other interesting developments. But artillery is not only what shoots, its effective work is impossible without high-quality target designation and reconnaissance equipment.

It is for this reason that at the stand of the main rocket and artillery directorate of the RF Ministry of Defense you can see a model of a new reconnaissance complex, which is known to the general public under the name "Penicillin". Experts believe that its appearance can lead to the same revolution in artillery that its "namesake" in medicine once made. Thanks to the sensitive sensors of the complex, the military will be able to determine the location of enemy batteries with great accuracy, while remaining invisible to the enemy. "Penicillin" will be able to detect even launchers anti-aircraft and tactical missiles.

Planned for next year intelligence complex will begin to enter the troops.

What is "Penicillin" and what is it for

Today, enemy artillery positions are detected using radar systems. A typical example of such equipment is the Zoopark-1 anti-battery radar, adopted by the Russian army in 2008. Its principle of operation is quite simple: the radar detects the trajectories of projectiles or missiles, and then the computer calculates where they were launched from. The problem is that the use of radar instantly reveals the location of the station itself, making it vulnerable to enemy fire. Moreover, it can be suppressed with various systems EW.

True, there are advantages: the "Zoo" is able not only to calculate enemy batteries, but also to effectively adjust the fire of its own artillery.

The Penicillin complex works quite differently. Its main part is a remote optoelectronic module of thermal direction-finding equipment, designed to detect radiation in the infrared and visible spectrum from the terrain and various objects. It is located on a special bar, which unfolds during combat use.

In addition, this complex incorporates special sound receivers that literally “listen” to the ground, like acoustics on submarines. The information received from the sensors is sent to the receiving equipment and displays the situation in real time.

"Penicillin" is able to pinpoint the positions of mortars at distances of 10 km, the location of self-propelled guns and towed artillery - up to 18 km, rocket launchers- up to 40 km.

Up to 30 targets can be detected at the same time. The reconnaissance strip is 20-25 km wide. During the tests, the complex showed a very high accuracy, reaching one and a half minutes of arc. More precise data on its characteristics are still kept secret.

The samples of the complex shown earlier were installed on the chassis of a KamAZ-6350 truck. At the Army-2018 forum, another version was demonstrated - using an armored car

For effective work artillery needs various means intelligence. With their help, it is necessary to control the results of firing, as well as determine the location of enemy batteries. Now, to solve such problems, specialized radar stations, capable of tracking flight and hitting projectiles or missiles. In the near future, reconnaissance artillerymen will have to start operating a new reconnaissance complex using other detection methods. Perspective automated complex 1B75 "Penicillin" is able to perform all its tasks by processing sound and visual information.

Now the main contribution to the work of artillery reconnaissance is made by specialized radar stations. They are able to track the flight of their own and enemy projectiles, determining the points of their launch and fall. Identification of the point of impact of one's projectile allows one to adjust the aiming of the guns for a successful hit of the target, and information about the location of the launch of the enemy is intended to organize a retaliatory strike. Reconnaissance radars cope with their tasks, but are not without drawbacks. First of all, they are subject to negative influence electronic warfare or strikes using anti-radar.

AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" in position

In the distant past, special acoustic systems were used to locate firing positions and places where shells fell. As it turned out, the use of sound vibrations and visual information is quite capable of being used in modern conditions. However, now we are talking about other principles of receiving and processing data using a modern component base.

A few years ago, development work with the cipher "Penicillin" began in our country, the purpose of which was to create a fundamentally new automated sound-thermal complex (AZTK) for artillery reconnaissance of the army level. According to the terms of reference, information about flying and falling projectiles was to be collected using seismic sensors and infrared cameras. The use of radar equipment was excluded.

The development of the Penicillin project was carried out at the Vector Research Institute (St. Petersburg), which is part of the Vega radio engineering concern (a division of Rostec). Other enterprises in the industry could be involved in the work. In the near future, mass production of products should start; it was planned to entrust it to the enterprises of the Russian Electronics holding (also part of the Rostec state corporation).

For the first time, the existence of the new AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" was told to the general public in March 2017. By this time, the enterprises participating in the project had managed to complete the development of technical documentation, and also built a prototype of the complex. Testing of equipment was also started at one of the test sites. Russian ministry defense. These circumstances allowed the military department not only to tell the public about the promising development, but also to show it in action. However, the main part of the data on the new intelligence complex was not subject to disclosure.

Model of the complex at the exhibition "Army-2018"

In May last year, representatives of Roselectronics clarified information on the Penicillin project, and also announced some new information. In addition, the latest and plans for the near future were published. It was reported that at that time the 1B75 product was completing state tests. In the near future, it was supposed to carry out the required procedures, after which it was possible to start mass production. The start of assembly of serial complexes is scheduled for early 2019.

Subsequently, materials on the Penicillin AZTK project, including a mock-up, were shown at the Army exhibition. It is curious that the models shown this year were noticeably different in appearance from prototypes, who were tested and became the "protagonists" of the news last spring. Nevertheless, the general architecture of the complex, its functions and capabilities remained the same.

The 1B75 "Penicillin" automated sound-thermal artillery reconnaissance complex is a mobile system on self-propelled chassis, capable of monitoring the situation in a given area and identifying the work of enemy guns or controlling the accuracy of their own artillery. Due to the use of fundamentally new methods of operation, the complex solves its problems without unmasking itself with any radiation. All the main devices of the complex, with the exception of communications, operate exclusively in the receive mode.

A promising AZTK is being built on the basis of an automobile chassis with relevant characteristics. Thus, the prototypes tested last year were based on the KamAZ-63501 vehicle. This year, the exhibition showed a mock-up of a reconnaissance complex based on a different chassis. The available data suggest that the Penicillin equipment can be mounted on base vehicles of different models. Only the carrying capacity and dimensions of the cargo area matter.

Optoelectronic module "Penicillin-OEM" in working position

The prototypes were built on the KamAZ-63501 chassis. It is an all-wheel drive four-axle vehicle designed for mounting various target equipment or other payloads. The machine is equipped with a 360 hp diesel engine. and is capable of carrying cargo on the frame total weight up to 16 tons Max Speed on the highway exceeds 90 km/h, regardless of the type of payload.

In the case of Penicillin, a new unit is mounted on the chassis, behind the cabover cab, which includes a support for the mast device and boxes for storing special devices. Behind it, a unified van body is installed, accommodating workstations, special equipment, etc. The chassis is also equipped with four hydraulic jacks. A couple of these devices are located next to the special equipment, the other two are at the rear of the machine.

One of the means of reconnaissance is the Penicillin-OEM optical-electronic module. It is a stabilized platform with several cameras of several types, mounted on a lifting mast. IN current form the 1B75 complex is equipped with a lifting mast. When the complex is put into working position, the mast rises vertically, bringing the cameras to the required height. IN stowed position the mast is laid back on the roof of the van. The platform with cameras is equipped with vertical and horizontal aiming drives, providing all-round visibility in azimuth and changing the elevation angle.

"Penicillin-OEM" includes six television cameras at once and the same number of thermal imagers. They are placed in two box-shaped cases, movably fixed on a common swivel base. Both housings have motorized front covers to protect the optics from damage during shipping. Television and thermal imaging cameras have an angle of view of 70° in azimuth and 10° in elevation. The signal from all 12 devices simultaneously arrives at computers and is processed together. At the same time, a high quality of "stitching" of individual fields of view is ensured. The possibility of continuous operation of the cameras for 18 hours is provided, after which a break of 1 hour is required.

Installation of acoustic sensors

With the help of the Penicillin-OEM module, the artillery reconnaissance complex must monitor a given sector and detect flashes of shots or shell explosions. By processing data from a set of cameras, automation is able to determine the direction to the flash point with high accuracy. The calculation of data on the found gap is carried out in real time.

The sound-thermal reconnaissance complex also has facilities for receiving and processing sound signals. The complex includes four devices for collecting acoustic signals, as well as equipment for their processing. The receiving device is a product with a body of characteristic curved shape. These devices are proposed to be placed at certain positions near the complex and connected to it using cables. The main element of the receiving device is a seismic sensor that receives ground vibrations and converts them into an electrical signal.

A shot from an artillery gun or a projectile burst creates a sound wave in the ground that propagates over considerable distances. Receiving devices "Penicillin" are able to detect this wave, after which the automation makes the necessary calculations. The special arrangement of the four seismic sensors leads to the reception of oscillations with one or another delay. The difference in the signal arrival time allows you to determine the direction to the source of vibrations, as well as the distance to it. Apparently, sound reconnaissance means can be used together with optical ones, which significantly increases the speed of calculations and the accuracy of determining the coordinates of a gun or a projectile impact site.

According to published data, AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" is able to detect firing positions or places where shells fall in an area up to 25 km wide along the front. The detection range of the enemy mortar reaches 10 km, other types of cannon artillery - 18 km. Provides high detection accuracy: up to 1.5 minutes of arc in azimuth. It takes only 5 seconds to calculate the location of the source of sound waves or infrared radiation. Regardless of the conditions and intensity of artillery work, the complex can take direction finding at least 90% of explosions or shots.

Data from seismic sensors on the screen of the operator's workplace

With the help of regular means of communication, "Penicillin" is able to interact with artillery formations. It can work in the spotter mode and determine the places where shells fall, the data on which will allow the gunners to correct the aiming and deliver an accurate strike. When solving counter-battery tasks, the 1B75 complex must identify enemy firing positions and issue target designation to its gunners for a retaliatory strike. The minimum time is required to receive and process data, followed by the issuance of information to consumers, which increases the efficiency of artillery.

The most important feature of the new AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" is the ability to work at some distance from the front line. In addition, it is distinguished by the absence of unmasking factors during operation. All the main components of the complex work only for reception, while in the transmission mode only the radio station operates, which provides communication. Thus, the enemy does not have the opportunity to identify specific signs and take measures against this complex. In this regard, "Penicillin" has advantages over other means of artillery reconnaissance, using other principles of detection.

Last year, it was reported that a new type of automated sound-thermal artillery reconnaissance complex is undergoing state tests and will be able to go into series in the foreseeable future. IN Lately negative news about "Penicillin" did not arrive, which is a reason for optimism. Apparently, the industry has successfully coped with the tasks set, and is currently preparing production facilities for the future release of equipment.

What will be the order of the Ministry of Defense for 1B75 "Penicillin" for domestic ground forces, has not yet been specified. However, the consequences of acquiring such equipment are already clear and obvious. The new tools will enhance the capabilities of intelligence units and at the same time have a positive impact on the capabilities missile troops and artillery. Rocketeers and gunners will be able to hit assigned targets faster and more efficiently or protect their troops from enemy fire.

According to the websites:
http://tass.ru/
http://tvzvezda.ru/
http://romz.ru/
http://vega.su/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
http://russianarms.ru/