T 14 with front engine. Russia has just announced how many deadly Armata tanks it will build. Active protection complex "Afganit"

Background

The development of a new (third post-war) generation tank began in the USSR a little later than the creation of the new main tank T-64A in the 70s. Leningrad, Chelyabinsk and, later, Kharkov designers participated in the work called "Theme 101".

A number of projects were implemented, both with traditional and new layouts, most of which remained on the drawings or in the form of layouts.

Tanks with traditional solutions, such as "" and "" did not give a significant advantage over the upgraded versions of the T-64A, T-72 and the tank with a gas turbine engine. Tanks with a new layout () required a long search for both layout solutions and the creation of fundamentally new components.

In the late 70s and throughout the 80s, the Kharkov Design Bureau was chosen as the lead one on the topic of creating a promising tank of the 90s. These events are considered from the point of view of one of the developers of the tank, responsible for its electronic component -. Variants of the layouts considered in the 80s are considered in the material -.

The development of a promising tank was never completed until the collapse of the USSR.

The design bureaus remaining in Russia set about creating a promising tank based on the existing backlog. Of the most advanced, we can mention the Leningradsky, which had a very bold layout. Which, along with objective reasons characteristic of the 90s, prevented its implementation.

In 2009, the closure of these projects was announced.

At the beginning, one gets the feeling that a promising tank in the post-Soviet space will never be created.

But in 2015 at the Victory Parade general public products based on the Armata platform were presented - a new generation tank T-14 and a heavy infantry fighting vehicle T-15 with front-mounted MTO.

With the advent of the first shots of the "Armata", a lot of speculation appeared about this tank. Someone gave him embellished qualities, To he called something plywood and invented non-existent flaws.

Layout

The scheme with the concentration of the crew in the front of the hull requires maximum automation of the control of weapons installed in fighting compartment, creating a number of technical difficulties. Such a scheme is of interest due to the large opportunities for enhancing the protection of the crew, including from means mass destruction, as well as improving the conditions for interaction between personnel.

When placing 3 crew members shoulder to shoulder, as done, the crew is accommodated in sufficient comfortable conditions. But at the same time, it is not possible to realize sufficient protection of the onboard part of the crew compartment. Even with a reduction in the width of the space allocated for each crew member from 70 to 60 cm, the opportunities to provide protection during shelling in the side areas are minimal. At the same time, the railway dimensions do not allow increasing the width of the hull.

Such a scheme has been considered more than once, starting from the 70s in different countries, but applications in tank building, with the exception of experimental models, such as the American did not find.

Crew capsule. The driver's seat is on the left along the tank.

The display complex of the driver (DKMV) installed on the tank is designed to replace the pointer instrumentation and provide a solution management tasks, control of functioning, operational technical diagnostics of systems and chassis units and issuance of recommendations for the operation of the facility.

Gear shifting is carried out by buttons on the steering wheel. Most important information about the parameters of the movement is displayed directly on the remote display on the steering wheel. The monitor displays an image from a front-view thermal imaging device located on the upper part of the nose assembly of the hull.

video viewing device and control button block

View of the driver's seat from the gunner's seat, located in the center of the crew capsule

PMF-5.0 monitors with LCD panels high resolution from a series of multifunctional panels "5".

On the left in the photo is the gunner's console.

Products PMF-5.0 (5.1) have an extended set of interfaces, including a touch panel with a multi-touch function, etc.

Development of the Instrument Design Bureau (UKBP), which is part of the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern.

The information management system displays information about the state of weapons systems, security, mobility, etc.

Informational messages are displayed on the screen below, critical messages are shown in red, important ones in yellow, regular ones in white.

View of the commander's and gunner's positions. Commander panels (3) right side of the photo.

They display video information from external sources, synthesized video information of devices (TV cameras, sighting systems), information exchange, the issuance of navigation cartographic information, as well as the input and transmission of information to control the main systems of the tank. Control panels are installed under the panels, the gunner and commander have similar devices

The devices are manufactured in the Russian Federation and are unified for the entire line of promising ground vehicles (Armata, Kurganets, Boomerang). Devices are still manufactured and assembled by hand, but their reliability is growing.

It is on these devices that tank control is based.

Commander's place. A visual overview of the terrain is carried out through three viewing devices. The main information is supposed to be received through the TV cameras located along the perimeter of the tank and a multi-channel panoramic sight-surveillance device.

Such a decision can be called very bold, especially for ground vehicles, where conditions are much more severe than in aviation. On the right is the AVSKU-E control panel (intercom, switching and control equipment). Under the control panel is an optical sensor of the fire-fighting equipment system (OD1-1S). The installation of optical sensors and high-speed cylinders in the fighting compartment ensures fire detection and the release of fire extinguishing composition in no more than 150 ms. Such sensors are installed around the entire perimeter of the capsule.

View of the back of the crew capsule. Visible ventilation and air conditioning systems

Despite many digital innovations, some traditions in post-Soviet tank building are unshakable, for example, not very accurate welding seams.

Comfortable seats - a big step forward compared to the tanks of the previous generation

Side view of the crew capsule from the gunner's seat. Crew seats have a wide range of adjustments, ensuring the comfort of the crew

Protection

The layout of the "Armata" is similar to that worked out on the "Object 195". Increased crew security is achieved by transferring the crew jobs located in the turret to a highly protected forward hull module, the protection mass of which can be increased by the amount of the reduction in the turret defense mass due to a decrease in its dimensions and internal volume intended for crew jobs.

Improving the security and survival of the crew in the module is achieved by reducing the total area internal surfaces control module (compared to the habitable compartment of tanks of the classical layout).

The weapon module is separated from the transverse bulkhead control module, which reduces the likelihood of hitting the crew in the module.

The fire and explosion safety of the module and the survival of the crew are achieved by the complete separation of the crew's workplaces from the sealed volume of fuel and from the ammunition load.

Schematic representation of the general layout

tank T-14 "Armata" (similar to T-95)

The advantage indicated by the authors of the patent, along with the above, has one more drawback - insufficient protection of the tower. They will come to this question, just as the developers of the promising Soviet-era tank - the Hammer and the Note - also came.

The tank protection complex includes combined and dynamic protection installed in the front part of the hull with the crew capsule.

Also, dynamic protection is installed on the sides of the hull (up to the engine compartment). In front, the caterpillar branches are blocked by the DZ, which is especially important when placing the crew in the hull. In the front part of the side of the hull, the DZ blocks are made folding for ease of maintenance of the undercarriage. In general, the solutions for installing DZ are reminiscent of its installation on the Nota tank (KMDB).

The turret is covered with super-dynamic protection, and the DZ is also installed to protect the capsule, including hatches. Part of the side of the hull in the MTO area is covered with lattice screens.

DZ covers both the upper and lower parts of the nose assembly of the hull.

Externally, the DZ is similar to that installed on the T-95. the working surface of the thrown plate is significantly increased

The technical requirements for a promising tank, set back in the days of the USSR, required protection from above against cumulative ammunition with an armor-piercing ability of 250-300 mm. Despite the small size of the roof and hatches, which is clearly visible in the photographs, it can be assumed that this requirement is met.

The most important feature of the tank is the use of a set of means to protect against precision weapons. They include an active protection complex that provides cover in the range of 120 ° in the direction of the tank turret and a complex for setting up multispectral curtains and a complex of laser and UV radiation indicators installed along the perimeter of the turret.

In order to fire false IR and RL targets quickly and accurately in the direction of the means of attack from wherever it flies up, without turning the turret, the use of rapidly turning grenade launchers is required.

Thus, protection from attacking ammunition in a horizontal projection is provided by the KAZ and the jamming complex (in two rotary installations on the tower). And from the attackers from above - a jamming complex (in two fixed installations directed upwards).

An anti-mine electromagnetic protection system is also installed.

Tank protection complex from WTO

Along the perimeter of the tower are indicators of laser irradiation and ultraviolet radiation (missile launch detection system).

Under the front indicators of irradiation and missile launch, there are radars with headlight detection and target designation KAZ.On the roof of the tower, a system for launching multispectral interference in rotary and fixed installations

Irradiation and launch indicators in the photo and during the demonstration at the parade are covered with shutters. Next to the block of indicators of the TV camera of the front and side view

Installed under the radar block launchers KAZ. KAZ "Afganit" is the development of the "Drozd" system. This development of TsKIB SOO dates back to the 80s. The difference from "Drozd" is the possibility of correcting the fired counter-munition in azimuth (~ 0.5 m ) and vertically (±4°). The complex has the ability to destroy anti-tank missiles attacking a target in flight, but does not protect against attackers from above

To reduce the visibility of the tank, a light casing is installed on the turret with geometric characteristics that are optimal for reducing visibility in the radar wavelength range.

Side view of the T-14 Armata, in the central third of the hull, DZ blocks are installed optimized for protection against cumulative warheads at an angle of impact close to normal

Part of the side of the hull in the MTO area is covered with lattice screens.

Fuel barrels are visible. At the parade in Moscow, "Armata" were without them. Apparently they think it's not fashionable

Firepower

The tank is equipped with a 125mm high-powered 2A82-1M cannon. Judging by the patents, the gun can use both regular shots and newly developed shots with an increased powder charge. Ammunition 40 shots (of which 32 in the automatic loader, 8 - transportable). The AZ ideology has been retained from the "Object 195", but the small 152 mm ammunition load has been increased to an acceptable value.

7.62mm PKTM machine gun in a remotely controlled installation on a platform combined with a panoramic sight-surveillance device. Ammunition 2000 rounds in a continuous belt.

The absence of a machine gun coaxial with a cannon is a strange and undoubtedly wrong decision. This will lead to an increased consumption of ammunition by the gunner on targets that do not correspond to 125 mm shells, to distract the commander from monitoring the battlefield when using a single machine gun. Some justification for this may be in the form of an automated ammunition load increased by 10 shots compared to the T-72. The 30 mm automatic cannon, as was the case on the Molot and T-95, is also missing.

Diagram of the AZ of an uninhabited tower.

Projectiles and charges are arranged vertically.

The conveyor is raised above the bottom of the hull to prevent jamming when the bottom deflects (undermining a mine).

The idea of ​​installing such a gun arose long ago, back in the late 70s (D-91T) and continued in the future, including the "Object 187". In terms of its potential, it is 30% higher than the regular one.

It is known that shots of increased power 3VBM22 with BPS 3BM59 "Lead-1" and 3VBM23 with BPS 3BM60 "Lead-2" with L = 740 mm have increased armor penetration by 100-150 mm. Improved BPSs designed for the "Armata" are likely to reach levels in excess of 800mm (450/60°). EFFECT: possibility of using both regular ammunition and newly developed ammunition of increased power is provided.

Whether the truth is reached is an open question, all these topics have been underway for more than two decades. So the same "Lead-1" and "Lead-2" have been formally part of the ammunition load of the modernized T-72BA, T-80UA, T-80UE1 since 2004.

To combat infantry, a shot 3VOF128 "Telnik" -1 was developed (Completion of the R & D - 2014). The projectile implemented a trajectory gap on approach to the target (at a preemptive point) with the target being hit by the axial flow of the GGE; trajectory gap over the target with the defeat of the target by a circular field of hull fragments; shock ground break with installation for instantaneous (fragmentation) action; shock ground break with installation for high-explosive fragmentation action (small deceleration); shock ground break with a setting for a penetrating high-explosive action (large deceleration).

Armament stabilizer 2E58 - electromechanical with electric drive for vertical and horizontal guidance. It has reduced power consumption, increased accuracy and less fire hazard.

The UUI-2 transceiver is installed at the base of the barrel. Provides automatic measurement of barrel bending during firing.

Wind and pressure sensor (DVD). Capacitive type sensor provides measurement of longitudinal, transverse wind and atmospheric pressure.

Mobility

"Armata" is equipped with a 12-cylinder four-stroke X-shaped turbocharged diesel engine 2V-12-3A. Swing mechanism with GOP

Engine power 1200 horsepower. According to the developers, there are opportunities for forcing up to 1500-1800 hp. in perspective.

The total capacity of the fuel system of the tank is 2015 liters with two connected barrels. Of these, 1615 liters are in the internal and external fuel tanks of the tank, the fuel is partially located inside the hull (816 liters), the rest is in the fuel tanks on the fenders in the rear of the hull.

The transmission is mechanical with a planetary central gearbox with automatic shifting. The built-in reverser can provide an equal number of forward and reverse gears, which is important when unifying the chassis with the rear and front MTOs. The cooling fan drive is two-stage controlled.

The stiffness of the suspension is 167…206 kN/m, and the resistance of the hydraulic shock absorber on the straight and backwards does not exceed 55 kN and 120 kN, respectively.

the torsion shaft has an operating stress level of more than 147·104 kN/m 2 and an allowable twist angle of more than 80°.

The damping characteristic of the hydraulic shock absorber is speed, that is, it represents the dependence of the resistance force on the speed on the lever. The kinematic connection of the hydraulic shock absorber with the suspension is designed to provide a gear ratio of the vertical speed of the track roller of the caterpillar mover of the tracked vehicle to the speed of movement of the hydraulic shock absorber lever 0.15 ... 3.5 with an increase at the end of the track roller travel.

EFFECT: increased progressivity of suspension characteristics of the suspension system and smooth running of tracked vehicles weighing up to 55 tons.

1- guide wheel; 2 - caterpillars; 3 - track rollers; 4 - supporting rollers;

5 - torsion shaft; 6 - balancer; 7 - hydraulic shock absorbers; 8 thrust

The progressive suspension characteristic is shown in comparison with the suspension characteristic of the Leopard 2 tank.

Project evaluation

The positive side of the project is that it was nevertheless implemented, in more than any of the existing projects of a promising tank in the post-Soviet space after the creation of the T-64 tank.

Positive for the industry in the Russian Federation is the development of new technologies (touch panels), a new element base in tank control systems (IMS, FCS, etc.), the development of which can become a serious impetus to the development of the electronics industry.

Sufficient attention has been paid to the complex protection of the tank - KOEP, KAZ, DZ, etc.

Ergonomics meets modern requirements.

The negative features of the tank stem from the choice of its layout, this is the impossibility of providing a sufficient size of the onboard armor of the capsule due to the placement of the crew shoulder to shoulder, the vulnerability of the turret from the fire of modern automatic guns, the lack of a visual channel of the commander's and gunner's sights, the impossibility of providing all-round visibility from the commander's seat. Exhaust on both sides increases the IR visibility of the tank.

Of the removable shortcomings, the absence of a machine gun coaxial with a cannon can be noted. And the sight-understudy gunner.

And most importantly, what else can be added, the tank is being tested, they have been released for this moment a small amount of. Most of the systems installed in the "Armata" have not yet been sufficiently mastered, undoubtedly it will be required big time to cure childhood illnesses. So to be or not to be "Armata" time will tell.

Not so long ago, in the comments, there was talk about comparing the dimensions of the T-14 with the T-90 and Abrams. The size of Almaty was taken from the Internet (Fig. 1), counted from the diameter of the rink, taken as 700 mm. The results obtained raised some doubts, after which I decided to recalculate using photos of the nearby T-14 and T-90 (Fig. 2). All calculations are carried out taking into account all protruding elements, except for thin antennas.

Rice. 1 T-14 Armata

Rice. 2 Same photo

Knowing the length of the T-90 hull of 6860 mm and the width of 3780 mm, we calculate the dimensions of the T-14. We get: hull length 8677 mm, width 4448 mm, length with gun forward 10642 mm, height along the DPU 3244 mm, along the roof of the tower 2723 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 17.28 m2, of which the towers are 4.06 m2; the frontal projection area is 8.43 m2, of which the towers are 2.76 m2.

The most modern tank in the Russian army before the T-14 was the T-90A (Fig. 3). Its length with the gun forward is 9530 mm, the height along the roof of the tower is 2230 mm, the height along the DPU is 2732 mm. The area of ​​the side projection (excluding external tanks) is 11.37 m2, of which the towers are 3.29 m2; the frontal projection area is 6.18 m2, of which the towers are 2.63 m2. It is worth considering that a significant part of the tower area falls on the body kit, in which the devil will break his leg.

Rice. 3 T-90A

For a long time, it was customary to first of all compare the T-90 with the American Abrams (Fig. 4). For comparison, the M1A1 version is taken. Hull length 7920 mm, width 3660 mm, length with gun forward 9830 mm, height along anti-aircraft machine gun 2822 mm, tower roof height 2430 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 15.22 m2, of which the towers are 4.80 m2; the frontal projection area is 7.56 m2, of which the towers are 3.42 m2.

Rice. 4 M1A1 Abrams

We can assume that Europe now has a single tank - the German Leopard (Fig. 5). Hull length 7720 mm, width 3700 mm, length with gun forward 10300 mm (for tanks with the L55 gun), height on sights 3040 mm, height on the turret roof 2790 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 16.56 m2, of which the towers are 5.36 m2; the frontal projection area is 7.56 m2, of which the towers are 2.73 m2.

Rice. 5 Leopard 2A6

The French Leclerc (Fig. 6) is not as common as its German counterpart, but is also a modern and dangerous machine. Hull length 6880 mm, width 3710 mm, length with gun forward 9870 mm, height on sights 2950 mm, height on the turret roof 2530 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 14.73 m2, of which the towers are 4.74 m2; the frontal projection area is 7.12 m2, of which the towers are 2.78 m2.

Rice. 6 AMX-56 Leclerc

Another representative of European tank building - English Challenger 2 (Fig. 7). Hull length 7400 mm, width 3520 mm, length with gun forward 10740 mm, height at sights 2930 mm, along the roof of the tower 2490 mm. The area of ​​the side projection (excluding external tanks) is 15.16 m2, of which the towers are 4.87 m2; the frontal projection area is 7.14 m2, of which the towers are 2.52 m2.

Rice. 7 Challenger 2

On the basis of the Leopard in Italy, they made their own car - C1 Ariet (Fig. 8). Hull length 7590 mm, width 3800 mm, length with gun forward 9670 mm, machine gun height 2960 mm, turret roof 2500 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 15.75 m2, of which the towers are 4.44 m2; the frontal projection area is 8.42 m2, of which the towers are 3.12 m2.

Rice. 8 C1 Ariete

The most unusual modern tank- Israeli Merkava Mk.4 (Fig. 9). Hull length 7800 mm, width 3720 mm, length with gun forward 8800 mm, machine gun height 3020 mm, turret roof 2600 mm. The area of ​​the side projection is 16.53 m2, of which the towers are 5.73 m2; the frontal projection area is 8.37 m2, of which the towers are 3.29 m2.

Rice. 9 Merkava Mk.4

As you can see, the T-14 has the most big sizes among existing tanks, and the tower fits into the size of Western vehicles. UVZ gives the mass of Almaty to 48 tons, which is within the T-90, which in the side view is less than a third, which means either thin passive protection, or deliberately false data about the tank.

Rice. 10 Silhouettes of the above tanks

Production tanks of Eastern Europe based on the T-64, T-72 and T-80 did not take for comparison. I did not find projections of Asian tanks.

Serious passions flared up around the Russian T-14 Armata tank. A number of foreign and domestic media reported that the Russian authorities allegedly abandoned the latest combat vehicle, in the development of which hundreds of millions of dollars were invested.

The reason for unequivocal conclusions was the statement of the curator of the national defense industry, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov. The official said that the "Armata" turned out to be quite expensive for the army, and for this reason it makes sense to bet on the modernization of the current tank fleet.

“Well, why flood all the armed forces with Armats? Our T-72 is in great demand on the market, everyone takes it, compared to the Abrams, Leclercs and Leopards, it significantly surpasses them in price, efficiency and quality, ”Borisov said.

In his opinion, in the coming years, the army can do without a massive supply of new generation vehicles, which are "rather expensive in relation to existing ones."

“We are already succeeding, having a budget ten times smaller than the NATO countries, due to such effective decisions, when we look at the modernization potential of old models, to solve the tasks,” Borisov emphasized.

Truth and deceit of Borisov

Currently, the Russian army is armed with about 1.8 thousand tanks, most of them are modernized versions of the T-72. Borisov was not cunning when he said that the domestic tank is not inferior in terms of price and quality to the American Abrams, the German Leopard and the French Leclerc.

The T-72B3 has the worst firepower, security and automation indicators compared to foreign vehicles. At the same time, the Russian tank is significantly superior to Western competitors in terms of mobility and reliability.

On the side of the T-72 and the economy. The cost of a brand new T-72B3 is about $2 million, and the modernization of each tank costs only $200,000.

At the same time, the price for one "Abrams", "Leclerc" and "Leopard" exceeds 5-6 million dollars. In unpretentious conditions of local conflicts, the T-72B3 will undoubtedly be stronger. In addition, the purchase and maintenance of a Russian tank does not require large expenses. By the way, "Armata" is not worth quite sky-high money. In the media, you can find a figure of 250 million rubles and 4 million dollars per unit.

Borisov did not distort reality when he emphasized the advantages of the T-72, but he can be safely reproached for changing ideas about the development of tank troops. In 2013, in an interview for Ekho Moskvy, while in the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, he stated the following: “Our army can no longer live with the equipment that has remained from the USSR. We must do big jump and create a new combat vehicle before 2015. And we will do it."

Obviously, it was about "Armata". Nevertheless, Borisov's former peremptory attitude towards the Soviet legacy is justified by the factor of the acute economic crisis that hit our country in 2014. The Ministry of Defense and the government were forced to adjust their procurement plans and sequester military spending.

In 2017, Borisov's predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, announced that the State Armament Program for 2018-2027 envisages "serial deliveries" of T-14s. Most likely, last year the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation decided to equip several units with the Armata, which, as we figured out, is completely uncritical for the Russian army.

T-14 ahead of its time

Since 2017, T-80 gas turbine tanks and T-90 diesel tanks (Proryv-3 development work) have been in the process of modernization. The start of the renewal of the fleet, in fact, of Soviet vehicles, was perceived by experts as the result of a slippage in the process of adopting the T-14.

And yet, it is unreasonable to conclude from Borisov's statement that Russia is abandoning the T-14. An example is the situation with the T-90 "Vladimir", which was considered the most advanced combat vehicle in the world as of the early 1990s. For a quarter of a century, the Russian army received only 350 of these tanks (about 20% of the tank fleet).

At first glance, the T-90 project seems to be a failure, since truly large-scale revenues newest tanks did not happen to the troops. However, for 25 years, the RF Armed Forces have not experienced any urgent need for these machines. What was the point then to invest in the creation of the T-90?

Firstly, Russia was able to make good money on Vladimir. In the 2000s, the T-90 became the best-selling tank on the international market. Secondly, on the basis of some technological innovations embodied in the T-90, the Armata was created. It is possible that in in general terms T-14 can repeat the fate of "Vladimir".

It is worth adding that the "Armata" project was developed to conduct a "network-centric war", which distinguishes high degree automation of battle management processes. T-14 should be included in a single information loop, which will allow you to receive information from multiple sources. This is the key advantage of the tank over its predecessors.

However, the Russian army still does not have enough drones, and the formation of a single information circuit is still on the way. initial stage. "Armata" was simply ahead of its time. And this fact cannot be the basis for asserting that Russia does not need a car. With a high probability, within the framework of the SAP, the Russian troops will receive several dozen T-14s, and if the economic situation improves, the Ministry of Defense will increase the volume of purchases.

It seems that the main problem with the latest domestic tank lies in the fact that he was praised too early by the federal media at the suggestion of the military and politicians. Against such an informational background, any, even not very serious problem with the T-14, recklessly perceived as a disaster.

23:03 — REGNUM According to the latest statement of the Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, Armed forces Russia will not massively receive new generation armored vehicles - T-14 tanks based on the Armata heavy tracked platform and armored personnel carriers (APCs) on the Boomerang wheeled platform. Instead, in order to save money, it is planned to continue the modernization of the available Soviet armored vehicles. How correct is this approach?

Ivan Shilov © IA REGNUM

Grandiose rearmament plans collide with economic crisis

First land technology the new generation was officially demonstrated at the Victory Parade in 2015, while the development of these machines began much earlier than 2014 (before the economic crisis caused by falling oil prices and anti-Russian sanctions). Then the T-14 tanks and combat vehicles infantry fighting vehicles (BMP) T-15 based on the Armata heavy tracked platform, infantry fighting vehicles based on the Kurganets-25 medium tracked platform, armored personnel carriers based on the Boomerang wheeled platform and 152-mm self-propelled artillery mounts(ACS) "Coalition-SV".

Vitaly V. Kuzmin

In the future, this really promising and modern armored vehicles were regularly demonstrated at the Victory parades in Moscow. In addition, it is undergoing military tests, and there is already a contract for the same T-14 tank - it is planned to supply the first series of 100 vehicles. Now the question becomes whether this contract will also be fulfilled. As for the plans that existed before, the need to supply 2,000 T-14 tanks was also discussed.

The main argument in favor of reducing the purchase of new equipment is budget savings, because the same T-14 is noticeably more expensive than the T-90, even in the latest modification, and even more expensive than the upgrade package Soviet tanks T-72 to the level of T-72B3 or T-72B3M. Another argument that Borisov brings is the lack of potential adversaries tanks, superior in capabilities to the upgraded T-72.

Daria Antonova © IA REGNUM

To some extent, we can agree with this, but only in part. For example, the modernization of the T-72 does not include the installation of an active protection complex (KAZ), and this is one of the main directions in the development of armored vehicles. These systems are capable of detecting and shooting down ammunition flying towards the tank. For example, Israeli Merkava Mk.4 tanks have been equipped with the Trophy KAZ for quite a long time, which proved to be quite good in the fight against grenade launchers and anti-tank guided missiles. The T-14 is also equipped with a KAZ system called "Afghanit". Real Results tests of "Afghanit" are unknown to the general public, but, according to official information, it is capable of shooting down even armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber shells (BOPS) - the main weapon of enemy tanks. No other known system is capable of dealing with such ammunition.

I must say that it is precisely such advanced electronics and sensors that greatly increase the cost of the T-14, and their installation on the same modernized T-72s will greatly increase the cost of upgrade packages. However, the installation of KAZ is a necessary thing, especially considering the fact that Russia actually participates only in local conflicts, where crew survival plays a key role, and a huge amount of armored vehicles is not needed.

What is the best way?

A complete rejection of the T-14 tank and other promising ground weapons is fundamentally wrong. First, it took a lot of time and money to develop them. Secondly, in terms of categories such as infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, Russia has a serious backlog. Russian army mainly uses Soviet BMP-1 and BMP-2, which in terms of weapons, and especially protection, are very outdated. The existing BMP-3s also have problems with security, and in general are much less convenient for use by motorized rifles than their Western counterparts. It is the new models of infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers that are able to solve this problem - although they have large dimensions (according to some experts, they become more noticeable to the enemy, which is becoming less relevant in the age of drones and other modern systems reconnaissance), but due to this, a noticeably better level of security and ergonomics is provided. Upgrading the existing BMP-1 to the level of "Basurmanin" and BMP-2 with the installation of the "Berezhok" module only partially solves the problem - the security of the vehicles still remains low. The same can be said about the modernization of the BTR-80.

Daria Antonova © IA REGNUM

At the same time, in no case should you refuse to modernize a huge fleet of armored vehicles, however, to have a fairly significant amount of new modern armored vehicles, which can be used in real local conflicts, securing the crews as much as possible, is also necessary. In this sense, it would be worth finding golden mean"- 2000 "Armat" today is really a lot for the Russian budget, but it's worth having 200-300 cars of this type, the same goes for Kurganets-25 and Boomerang. Do not forget about the export potential of these machines - it is unlikely that someone will acquire them if the Russian Ministry of Defense does not first. At the same time, the cost of vehicles is high precisely in Russian realities - in fact, promising vehicles are close in cost to Western models of armored vehicles.

- the world's only tank of the third post-war generation. This is a completely Russian development.

Work on the creation of a new tank "Armata" was opened in 2010. The unified heavy platform of the Armata cipher, on the basis of which the tank was created, was developed by Uralvagonzavod from 2009 to 2010.

The T-14 "Armata" tank is equipped with a 125 mm 2A82 smoothbore gun (with the possibility of mounting a 152 mm 2A83) with a remote ( uninhabited tower) fully digitally controlled. Ahead behind the powerful frontal armor is a protected isolated armored capsule with a crew sitting in a row on all sides. The gun is controlled from an isolated armored capsule. For the first time in the world, the crew is placed in an armored capsule, separated from the ammunition, which makes it possible for tankers to stay alive even when direct hit into the tower and the ignition of the ammunition. The tank will be able to withstand a frontal hit of most modern and promising types of anti-tank shells and missiles.

The tank contains up to 40 projectiles for various purposes in the automatic loader, and also has machine guns and sights that are superior to existing models, with the ability to fire on the move.

The power plant is a single 1200-horsepower A-85-3A diesel turbopiston engine for front- and rear-located engine compartments (MTO). Motor resource not less than 2000 hours, weight up to 5 tons. There is a possibility of modernization.

The Chelyabinsk GSKB "Transdiesel" was engaged in the development of the engine. Diesel four-stroke, X-shaped, 12-cylinder with gas turbine turbine supercharging and intercooling of air, liquid-cooled engine 12Н360 passed the whole range of tests, from resource to running in 2011.

Tank "Armata" with the latest active defense system "Afganit", which can both physically destroy targets and disable them. Radio-optical radar "Afganit" consists of four active phased antenna arrays that warn of approaching projectiles. The electronic suppression system knocks down the trajectory of missiles - with the help of blocking lasers and radars and with the help of a smoke screen. In addition, the Armata is equipped with the Malachite dynamic defense system with the Relikt modular system, which, as expected, can easily eliminate tandem-type missiles.

The original silhouette, combined with the use of a special coating, significantly reduces the vehicle's visibility in the thermal and radar surveillance spectra.

Tactical and technical:

Combat weight - up to 55 tons

Crew - 3 people

Clearance - 500 mm

Caliber and brand of gun - 125 mm 2A82-1M

Engine power - 1500 liters. With.

Highway speed - up to 75 km / h

Target detection range - over 5000 m

Target engagement range - 7000-8000 m

Power reserve - over 500 km

Armor resistance - over 900 mm

For the first time, the T-14 tank on the Armata platform was demonstrated at the Victory Parade on May 9, 2015.