At the end of November, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the next delivery of armored vehicles to the ground forces. This time, the manufacturer handed over to the engineering troops six new armored demining vehicles BMR-3MA "Vepr". The delivery of such serial production equipment started last year, and some units of the engineering troops have already mastered it. The vehicles of the new parties, in turn, should increase the total number of such equipment and have the required effect on the potential of the troops.
The newest armored demining vehicle BMR-3MA, also known as "Vepr", is a variant of the further development of this class of equipment. A curious feature of this project is the use of approaches that previously found application in the creation of other special machines. All demining vehicles of the BMR-3 family are built on the basis of tank chassis, and as this line developed, different basic samples were used. In addition, the refinement and improvement of special equipment was carried out.
The BMR-3MA armored demining vehicle with a KMT-7 trawl during a dynamic display. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
Recall that the base BMR-3 was built on the chassis of the T-72A main tank. Subsequently, an engineering vehicle BMR-3M was developed on its basis. Its main difference was the use of the chassis of the T-90 tank. The latest project BMR-3MA provides for the construction of a mine clearance machine based on the T-90A tank, which leads to the replacement of the power plant and some other systems. In addition, during the development of the latest version of the Vepr, some ideas and solutions were introduced to improve the main characteristics of the machine, including fundamentally new ones.
The development of the BMR-3MA / Object 197A project started several years ago and was carried out by the Scientific and Production Corporation Uralvagonzavod. The new machine is based on the developments and components of the BMR-3M and T-90A projects. The widespread use of ready-made components and assemblies made it possible to speed up the development and testing process. At the same time, not without significant innovations. To date, the latest version of the "Boar" has coped with all the tests and went into series. The first vehicles of this type entered service last year.
The task of the BMR-3MA is to reconnoitre minefields and then organize passages for equipment or people. Due to the use of trawls and other devices, "Vepr" can make rut or continuous passes, clearing the terrain from mines of various types and for various purposes. At the same time, a high level of protection of the crew and units is provided, which allows the vehicle to work at the front edge under enemy fire. As in other late domestic projects of demining vehicles, means are proposed to ensure the comfortable work of the crew for a long time.
The BMR-3MA is based on the chassis of the T-90A main battle tank, but differs markedly from it. So, in the new project, the existing armored corps is used, seriously modified taking into account the new requirements. The tower is removed from the hull, instead of which an armored wheelhouse is mounted. Also, some rearrangement of the internal volumes is carried out: the habitable compartment is placed in the place of the former fighting compartment and is removed from the front end of the hull. It also provides for the strengthening of protection, primarily mine.
The frontal combined armor of the tank corps is reinforced with overhead explosive reactive armor units. The same "boxes" are installed on the forehead of the superstructure and on the side screens. Due to this, the level of protection of the Vepr from various anti-tank weapons is increased. The central habitable compartment receives a kind of armor capsule. Its floor and sides are formed by separate armor plates installed inside the main body on struts. The space between the outer and inner armor is given for a special filler. It is argued that such protection ensures the safety of the crew when blasting up to 7.5 kg of TNT under the bottom of the hull.
The previous version of the engineering vehicle is the BMR-3M. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
From the base chassis of the T-90A tank, the mine clearing machine receives a power plant. The aft compartment houses a V-92S2 diesel engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. The transmission is retained on the basis of planetary gearboxes. The chassis has not undergone any changes. It uses six road wheels with torsion bar suspension on each side. At the same time, it is envisaged to replace the torsion bar casings located inside the body. This increases the rigidity of the structure, and also makes some contribution to the overall level of security.
The Vepr's own crew consists of two people - a driver and a commander. They are located inside the wheelhouse and have all the necessary control panels. During trawling, the road is monitored using the driver's frontal viewing device and the commander's periscopes. Also in the manned compartment there are places for three sappers. If necessary, the sapper assault force can dismount and independently engage in the neutralization of the discovered explosive devices. A tank intercom is provided on board; for external communication there is a radio station R-123M.
The BMR-3MA project provides for the means to ensure the crew and the landing force can work for 2-3 days without the need to get out of the vehicle. On board there is a supply of food and water for 5 days, and means for heating food and boiling water are also installed. The crew has individual sanitary kits and a compact toilet at the disposal of the crew. The inhabited compartment has a filtration unit and an air conditioner.
"Vepr" has a set of different means offered for self-defense. On the roof of the wheelhouse there is an installation with a heavy machine gun NSVT or "Kord". On the sides of the habitable compartment, two blocks with "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers are installed for firing into the front hemisphere. Also, the packs carry an AKS-74U assault rifle with ammunition, hand grenades and even a pair of portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
To solve its main tasks, the BMR-3MA armored demining vehicle is designed for a wide range of various equipment, both built-in and mounted. On board the machine is installed its own station of broadband jamming, designed to suppress radio channels for controlling explosive devices. When working outside the vehicle, the sapper assault forces are invited to use a similar device in a portable design.
BMR-3MA with KMT-7 trawl. Photo Bastion-karpenko.ru
In the front part of the body there are fasteners for mounting various types of mounted trawls. According to the Ministry of Defense, serial BMR-3MAs are equipped with TMT-C engineering tank mine sweepers of a solid roller type. It is also possible to use KMT-7 products, which differ in their design and capabilities. Trawls can be equipped with electromagnetic attachments expanding the range of tasks to be solved.
Trawl TMT-S was developed by the Chelyabinsk enterprise "Stankomash". The main element of such a product is a frame of complex shape, hung on the front mounts of the carrier. Under the frame is a linkage system with two rows of massive rollers. The front row includes eight rollers, the rear row six. The antenna devices of the EMT electromagnetic attachment are mounted in the front part of the frame. The trawl weighs 13 tons and can be used with different types of armored vehicles.
The TMT-S product is capable of making a continuous passage with a width of 3, 9 m in obstacles organized with the use of pressure mines. The probability of defusing an explosive device reaches 95%. An electromagnetic attachment provokes the detonation of magnetic mines in a 4 m wide strip. The existing anti-aircraft mines sweep device affects dangerous objects within a radius of 100 m. When sweeping, the carrier vehicle can reach speeds of up to 15 km / h.
It is also possible to use the KMT-7 track roller trawl. This device consists of two blocks in the form of frame sections with their own rollers. The rollers are responsible for detonating anti-track mines. To combat explosive devices hitting the bottom of armored vehicles, the trawl is equipped with sagging frames or a chain. If necessary, it is possible to equip the KMT-7 trawl with knife devices from the KMT-8 product. The latter then duplicate the rollers and increase the likelihood of successful mine clearance. The total mass of the KMT-7 trawl reaches 7, 5. Trawling speed - up to 10-12 km / h.
On the frontal part of the armored vehicle BMR-3MA there are mounts for the installation of compatible trawls. At the stern, there is a platform for storing and transporting spare parts for trawls. The platform's lifting capacity is 5 tons. There is also a crane with manual drives with a lifting capacity of 2.5 tons. It is proposed to carry out field repair of trawls with the restoration of their operability, as well as other operations.
"Vepr" with a trawl of the TMT-S type. Photo Defense-blog.com
In terms of its size, the BMR-3MA hardly differs from previous demining vehicles and base tanks. The length of the vehicle without a trawl does not exceed 7 m with a width of less than 3, 8 m and a height of 2, 93 m. Combat weight with a trawl of one design or another is up to 50-51 tons. In terms of running characteristics, an engineering vehicle hardly differs from unified tanks.
On the basis of the BMR-3MA armored demining vehicle, a promising robotic complex for a similar purpose was developed. In the "Breakthrough-1" project, it is proposed to equip an engineering machine with a set of automated and remote control means. The control system uses an anti-jamming radio channel and ensures the operation of equipment in difficult conditions.
When used as part of a robotic complex, an engineering vehicle can be used in its original or unmanned configuration. In the latter case, the crew and sappers can leave their vehicle and take places in the shelter. Depending on the peculiarities of the current situation and the assigned tasks, it is possible to work in two modes. The operator can control "Breakthrough-1" using a remote control panel. It is also possible to create an action program, after which the demining machine must independently move along a given route and organize passages in the minefield.
The advantages of the Proryv-1 robotic complex are obvious. The basic BMR-3MA is distinguished by a high level of crew protection provided by enhanced tank armor. "Breakthrough-1", in turn, removes people from the battlefield and completely eliminates risks for them. At the same time, regardless of the method of work, a full-fledged solution of the assigned tasks is provided. The only significant difference between the base "Boar" and "Breakthrough-1" is the presence of a sapper assault force on a manned vehicle.
The breakthrough-1 robotic complex was first shown in 2016, and since then the project has made progress. Not so long ago it was reported that this development has successfully coped with government tests. Later it became known that the complex entered service in the engineering troops.
BMR-3MA shows its capabilities. Photo Defense.ru
In the past, it was reported about the creation of an armored demining vehicle BMR-3MS. This sample is as similar as possible to the BMR-3MA and is its export version. Despite the technical differences, the export engineering vehicle retains all the functions of the basic model and is able to cope with its combat missions. Information about the development of a robotic complex based on the BMR-3MS has not yet appeared.
By now BMR-3MA "Vepr" has passed all the necessary tests and received a recommendation for adoption. In the recent past, there was a contract for the serial production of such equipment, and NPK Uralvagonzavod launched the assembly of machines. In July last year, the Ministry of Defense announced the receipt of the first batch of new engineering vehicles. This equipment was transferred to one of the units of the engineering troops of the Russian army. The next delivery took place in January 2018, this time the vehicles went to serve in the engineering forces of the Eastern Military District.
Vepri several times became exhibits of various military-technical exhibitions. In addition, they already had to take part in combat training activities. In September, during the Vostok-2018 exercise, several BMR-3MA vehicles ensured the passage of troops through the minefields of a simulated enemy. As reported, these tasks were performed in a manned and remotely controlled configuration.
Recently, the Russian engineering troops receive and master new demining vehicles. Serial production and delivery of BMR-3MA products is of particular importance for the development of the ground forces. First of all, the fact is that a new sample of special equipment is not only based on a new chassis, retaining the old functions, but also gets new opportunities. Unlike previous engineering vehicles, the Vepr can operate both under the control of a driver and as part of a robotic complex. This gives the engineering troops obvious advantages.
The systematic development of engineering armored vehicles has led to a qualitative breakthrough. The latest example of a demining machine not only repeats the previous ones at a different technological level and using a different base, but offers new functions and capabilities. Thus, the armored demining vehicle BMR-3MA "Vepr" can be considered a real breakthrough, increasing the potential of engineer units of engineering troops.
