The Ukrainian defense industry often presents new developments based on existing products. It is on this principle that the promising Amulet self-propelled anti-tank missile system is built. The base for it can be almost any wheeled chassis, and key components, incl. missiles are borrowed from the existing serial ATGM. Whether such a complex will be able to find a place in the Ukrainian army is not yet clear.
From rocket to complex
The history of the current project "Amulet" dates back to the middle of the two thousandth years, when the State Kiev KB "Luch" began the development of a promising ATGM "Stugna-P". The development was completed at the turn of the decade, in 2011 the finished complex was put into service. In the future, the GKKB "Luch" proposed various methods of installing such an ATGM on a carrier vehicle, which basically did not differ in particular complexity.
At the beginning of last year, at one of the Ukrainian exhibitions, the Luch State Design Bureau presented a new project of an anti-tank complex called Amulet. It offered a combat module and a set of control equipment for installation on a suitable carrier. At the same time, the key components were borrowed from the Stugna-P serial complex.
Last year, an experienced "Amulet" was demonstrated at the exhibition, made on the basis of the "Novator" armored car. On the roof of the car there was a combat module with missiles, and a control panel was located inside the hull. Later, this machine (or another sample of the same configuration) was transferred to one of the combat units for military trials.
The advertising materials for the "Amulet" featured a prototype based on the BRDM-2 armored vehicle. Probably, it is this experienced ATGM that is currently being tested in the army. Based on the results of last year and the current operation in the military unit, conclusions can be drawn that will determine the further fate of the project.
Technical features
The main idea of the "Amulet" project is quite simple. A set of equipment for installation on a basic armored vehicle is offered. The complex includes a combat module with missiles and optoelectronic equipment, a control panel, power supplies and a set of auxiliary components.
The key component of the complex is a combat module installed on the carrier's roof. It is based on a turntable with supports for the swinging part. The latter is equipped with mounts for two TPKs with missiles and carries optical instruments. The combat module is controlled remotely. Search for targets, aiming and launching are carried out using the operator's console. In this case, the removal of the shot containers and the installation of new ones are carried out manually.
The combat module with two TPK has dimensions of 1440 x 775 x 790 mm and weighs 385 kg. Provides circular horizontal guidance. The swinging part moves from -9 ° to + 25 °. The actuators move the launcher at a speed of 5 deg / s.
The optical means of the "Amulet" are similar to the "Stugna-P" complex. He receives the so-called. guidance device - a unit with two cameras and a laser rangefinder. There are two modes of operation with a wide (4 ° 20 'x 3 ° 10') and narrow (1 ° 15 'x 0 ° 50') field of view. The device provides detection of a typical target "tank" at distances of at least 13.5 km and confident identification at 5.5 km.
A separate thermal imager is located above the guidance unit. This device is built on the basis of a cooled matrix of medium wavelength range with a resolution of 640 x 512 pixels. There are three modes of operation with different fields of view, from 35 ° x 28 ° to 1.8 ° x 1.44 °. Target detection and recognition ranges are declared at the level of 11 and 4.7 km.
The operator's console is designed as a protected case with a monitor and controls. Information in digital form and a signal from optical devices is displayed on a 12-inch monitor.
The Amulet complex receives two types of guided missiles from Stugna - RK-2S and RK-2M. The RK-2S rocket is made in a caliber of 130 mm and is placed in a TPK with a length of 1.36 m. The mass of a container with a rocket is 30 kg, incl. 6, 7-kg warhead. The RK-2M product has a 152 mm caliber and a longer length. TPK with such a rocket weighs 37 kg. Warhead weight - 9, 2 kg. The missiles are equipped with a unified semi-automatic laser guidance system and fly 5 km. Tandem cumulative warheads of 130 and 152 mm caliber provide penetration of 800 or 900 mm of armor, respectively.
Self-propelled ATGM "Amulet" on the tasks being solved is similar to the basic product "Stugna-P". It is designed to destroy stationary and mobile ground targets, incl. armored and equipped with reactive armor. Combat use is allowed at any time of the day, in different weather conditions and in a wide temperature range. At the same time, combat capabilities are significantly expanded due to the use of a self-propelled chassis and the presence of two missiles on the launcher at once.
Project potential
In the distant past, the Stugna-P ATGM entered service and went into production, which opened up opportunities for further development. One of the obvious ways to expand capabilities was the installation of a missile system on certain platforms. Such ideas have already reached implementation, but the modern project "Amulet" is distinguished by a more thorough approach.
The main advantages of the self-propelled ATGM "Amulet" are the very fact of its existence and the main features of its appearance. The combat vehicle is capable of quickly entering and leaving a position after an attack. It also simplifies the transfer of complexes over long distances. At the same time, the complex does not impose excessively high requirements on its carrier and can be used even with outdated samples.
The most complex components of the "Amulet" in the form of electronics and missiles are borrowed from the existing ATGM. Only the combat module and other means have been developed from scratch. This should greatly simplify production, operation and operator training. Depending on the choice of a wheeled platform, the customer will be able to obtain certain benefits.
There are not only advantages but also disadvantages associated with the base chassis. For example, the BRDM-2 is morally outdated and needs to be modernized for the protection and power unit. Without such measures, the Amulet ATGM will face various operational and combat problems. Modern machines with sufficient characteristics, in turn, are very expensive.
"Amulet" is distinguished by an open placement of a launcher with missiles and optical devices, without the possibility of their cleaning under the armor. In a number of situations, this can be a serious drawback that negatively affects the real survivability and combat stability.
The risks of being hit by retaliatory fire are further increased due to the limited firing range - the Stugna-P ATGM missiles fly only 5 km. It should also be noted that this complex is not new and is based on even older samples. Thus, the real combat potential of the "Amulet" may be limited, and in the future it should only be reduced.
It should be borne in mind that "Amulet" runs the risk of facing difficulties typical for all modern Ukrainian projects. Due to limited funding and other negative factors, the project runs the risk of not progressing beyond testing or production in a small series with the re-equipment of individual units. As a result, it will not become widespread and will not have a serious impact on the combat capability of the troops.
Ambiguous prospects
The emergence of the "Amulet" project shows the desire of the Ukrainian industry to follow current trends and the ability to create projects of a modern look. Self-propelled anti-tank systems based on existing vehicle chassis and missiles are of interest to the armies and can find a place on the international market. However, the lack of all the required modern technologies, production facilities, etc. seriously limits the potential of the new development.
Currently, the "Amulet" complex in an updated configuration, on an outdated chassis, is undergoing military trials. Probably, based on their results, the issue of launching the series and adopting it into service will be decided. What the real future of this complex will turn out to be is unclear. However, there are no reasons for optimistic assessments so far.
