The engineering troops' fleet should have armored vehicles of various types capable of solving a wide range of tasks. Several years ago, in our country, the idea of creating a universal engineering armored vehicle capable of replacing several existing models at once appeared. To date, this proposal has been implemented in the form of a new project, according to which a prototype has already been built. Just a few days ago, the general public was shown for the first time a new Universal armored engineering vehicle - UBIM.
The existence of the UBIM project was announced about a year ago. Within the framework of the international military-technical forum "Army-2017", the scientific and production corporation "Uralvagonzavod" for the first time showed a model of a promising engineering vehicle. The new model with the working designation "Object 153" or UBIM was created by the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (UKBTM) by order of the engineering troops. The purpose of the development work with the code "Robot-3" was to create an engineering machine capable of clearing rubble, working with various loads, etc., performing the work of several existing samples at once.
General view of the universal engineering vehicle "Object 153"
Before the first demonstration of the layout, UKBTM managed to form the appearance of the future UBIM and began to develop the necessary documentation. The first public demonstration of a full-fledged vehicle of a new type was scheduled for the Army-2018 forum. At the same time, the announcement of the new development took place shortly before the start of the exhibition. The footage from the tests of the UBIM Object 153 was shown by the Zvezda TV channel in its Military Acceptance program. Later, the shooting of these tests was included in the official advertising video from Uralvagonzavod.
According to the terms of reference, the new model should solve problems inherent in several classes of equipment at once. UBIM must solve the problems of a repair and recovery vehicle, an engineering barrage vehicle and a track paving machine. In addition, special requirements are imposed on it in terms of mobility and protection. Similar engineering problems were solved by using a tank chassis and a set of special equipment of various kinds.
Object 153 was built on the chassis of the T-90M main tank, which was recently put into production. In connection with the new tasks, the body of the finished machine is seriously reworked and retains only some of its features. In particular, some of the layout features are retained. In front of the hull there is a wheelhouse with crew workstations and part of the target equipment. The central volume contains the necessary equipment, and the feed is still given under the power plant.
UBIM model presented in 2017
UBIM is equipped with a V-92S2F diesel engine with a power of 1130 hp. and mechanical transmission, assembled into a single unit. In terms of the composition of the power plant, the engineering vehicle is unified with the base tank, but has some differences. The transmission includes means for taking off power to the target equipment, primarily for driving the pumps of the hydraulic system.
Unchanged from the tank borrowed chassis with six road wheels on each side. The unification of the power plant and the chassis allows you to get mobility at the level of the base tank and work in the same order as the serial armored vehicles of the troops.
Perhaps the largest and most noticeable innovation of the Object 153 project is the new upper part of the hull. The forehead of the armored vehicle now includes slightly inclined armor plates on which some of the special equipment is mounted. Above them is the cockpit of the crew, which is relatively large and shifted to the left side. To the right of it, on the fender, there is a flat platform used to place the boom. Behind the wheelhouse, above the central part of the hull, there is a box for the carriage of goods. Additional space for various assemblies and belongings is located above the left fender.
KILL at the landfill
The new housing units are designed to ensure the required level of protection. In particular, the frontal projection has a combined protection based on armored steel and ceramic elements. This armor provides protection against artillery shells. Another variant of booking has also been developed, in which lead plates are used instead of ceramics. UBIM in this configuration is distinguished by an increased level of protection of the crew from radiation.
On the frontal part of the body, a unit is provided for the installation of bulldozer equipment. Using the experience of the development of previous engineering machines, a blade with a variable position of the wings was created. On a common frame with hydraulic drives responsible for vertical movement, a pair of movable blade halves is fixed. Depending on the tasks to be solved, they can be "assembled" into a straight dump located directly or at an angle, or converted into a wedge-shaped configuration. The blade is controlled hydraulically by commands from the operator's panel.
It is reported that bulldozer equipment allows UBIM to work in urban conditions, as well as in fields, in mountainous or wooded areas. In all cases, the movement of soil or various debris is ensured. With the help of the dump, "Object 153" must clear debris and ensure the passage of other equipment, both combat and auxiliary.
The commander is using an arrow. Control is carried out using a remote control
On the starboard side of the hull, on a reinforced fenders, the designers placed a boom pivot device capable of carrying various working bodies. The boom itself consists of three sections made of armored steel. They are pivotally connected to each other and equipped with hydraulic drives that provide mutual movement in the same plane. The UBIM boom can move in a horizontal plane at large angles and work with objects at different distances from the machine. In the stowed position, the boom is placed on the right fenders, while the working body is at the back and rises up.
The boom has a seat for a replaceable working body. There are two types of such equipment in the kit with UBIM. The first is an excavator bucket of the gripping-and-tong type. The soil collection device is complemented by a movable element, which allows you to literally grab various objects. Thus, such equipment can be used both for digging out pits or trenches, and for moving loads. The design and boom drives allow you to work with loads weighing up to 7.5 tons.
The second working body from the "Object 153" set is a hydraulic hammer. It is made in the form of a replaceable module in its own body, from which the impact wedge protrudes. The characteristics of the hammer ensure effective destruction of brick and concrete structures, as well as large stones of natural origin.
Clamping bucket in operation
The main working body on the boom is a grab bucket. When the machine is transferred to the stowed position, it is behind the stern and rises up to avoid touching the ground. The large protruding unit gives the machine a recognizable appearance. The press has already compared the characteristic-looking engineering vehicle to a scorpion. The hydraulic hammer, in turn, is proposed to be transported on a special frame fixed at the rear of the hull. This location does not significantly affect the dimensions of the UBIM, but simplifies installation on the boom before use.
Object 153 is capable of solving some of the tasks inherent in armored recovery vehicles. For this, there are traction and auxiliary winches of high power on board. However, UBIM is not a full-fledged replacement for ARV. The composition of the on-board equipment does not allow solving all the tasks of such equipment, first of all, repairing damaged vehicles.
The universal armored engineering vehicle is intended for work on the front line, where there are characteristic threats. For this purpose, the portable equipment UBIM includes a manual induction-type mine detector. There is also a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device that warns of the presence of contamination. Due to the sealing of the habitable compartment and the presence of a filter-ventilation unit, the "Object 153" can operate in areas where weapons of mass destruction are used.
Load transfer with boom and bucket
There is also a variety of hand tools on board the machine for performing certain types of work. It is possible to transport various units or spare parts. The total weight of the cargo in the compartment on the roof of the hull is 4.5 tons.
Inside the wheelhouse, space is provided for two crew members and three sappers. The latter are not included in the regular crew of the UBIM, but can help to solve the main tasks. The commander's and driver's workplaces are located in the front of the wheelhouse. The commander is located in the center, the driver is at the port side. The wheelhouse is distinguished by its high height, which improves visibility from the crew's seats, both through open hatches and with the use of observation devices. The rear landing compartment of the wheelhouse has several periscopic devices with which the sappers can monitor the situation.
The commander interacts with an automated workstation equipped with modern communication and control systems. The commander can receive and transmit data about the situation on the battlefield within the existing unified tactical echelon control system. Communication with the command and other vehicles is carried out via a secure digital channel. Also, the commander's AWP receives data from the satellite navigation system. In place of the commander, there is a remote control panel for the boom.
Interior of the crew compartment, view of the driver's seat
Object 153 should not come into direct collision with the enemy, but is still equipped with weapons for self-defense. In the rear part of the roof of the wheelhouse, a seat is provided for a remotely controlled combat module. This product is equipped with a large-caliber machine gun with 1200 rounds of ammunition. The search for targets and the guidance of weapons is carried out using a block of optoelectronic equipment and remotely controlled drives. On the front left on the body is a battery of eight smoke grenade launchers aimed at the front hemisphere.
Due to the installation of a number of new devices, differing in size, UBIM surpasses the basic T-90M in terms of its dimensions. The total length of the vehicle with a blade and a bucket in the transport position is comparable to the length of a tank with a cannon in front. In addition, Object 153 is more tall. The curb weight of this sample is set at 55 tons. Due to the powerful engine, the car is capable of speeds of at least 60 km / h. The power reserve is 500 km. In terms of cross-country ability and mobility, the UBIM differs little from serial main tanks.
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To date, NPK Uralvagonzavod has built a prototype of the newest UBIM and brought it for testing. Some episodes of work at the landfill were included in the demo video. It clearly shows how the "Object 153" can move over rough terrain, move objects using the gripper bucket, and also make passages in blockages from logs or brick-concrete debris. In the latter case, KUBIM not only removed obstacles from the path, but also removed some layer of soil.
Active module with a large-caliber machine gun
According to the developer, the latest model of an engineering vehicle can solve various problems that arise on the battlefield. First of all, it is intended for disassembling debris using a blade or a bucket, and there is the possibility of crushing large debris and obstacles using a hydraulic hammer. If necessary, "Object 153" is able to pull out stuck equipment and evacuate it.
Such a universal machine is of particular interest to the customer. Moreover, last year it was reported that the command of the engineering troops plans in the future to replace the existing IMR and BAT with new serial UBIM. Thus, instead of several different models with different tasks, a universal machine will appear in the fleet. At the same time, the universal model will be unified with modern armored vehicles of the ground forces. The new samples are supposed to be operated in divisional and army levels.
According to known data, the Universal Armored Engineering Vehicle exists only in the form of a prototype and is still undergoing the necessary tests at proving grounds. After their completion, a decision will be made on the further fate of the project, including the launch of serial production and the introduction of UBIM into service with the engineering troops. The prospects for this car look optimistic. The fact is that the ROC "Robot-3" and the project "Object 153" were created by order of the engineering troops and taking into account their requirements. Subject to all the wishes of the customer, the finished vehicle will be able to enter service.
KILL on the track of the landfill
Obviously, in the event of a positive development of events, the ground forces of the Russian army will become the starting customer of the UBIM. If the information about the planned replacement of obsolete equipment is true, then NPK Uralvagonzavod may receive a very large order. To replace a significant part of the available samples, the engineering troops need tens or hundreds of "Objects 153". It should be noted that the mass delivery of such equipment will optimize the fleet and realize the benefits associated with the use of a modern tank chassis.
There is reason to believe that UBIM may be of interest to foreign customers as well. The main battle tanks of the T-90 family have been supplied to many foreign armies, which also require engineering equipment. The use of a unified chassis in this case turns out to be an important competitive advantage.
Judging by the reports of recent years, the command of the Russian engineering troops came to the conclusion that the previously used approaches were erroneous. The construction and operation of several samples of engineering equipment performing different tasks was considered impractical. In this regard, the new model of an engineering machine has become universal and has the ability to perform various works. In the foreseeable future, he will have to go through all the necessary tests and show how correct this approach is. If the "Object 153" UBIM cope with the tasks assigned to it, then the Russian engineering troops will face a serious rearmament.
