At the Victory Parade in Moscow, millions of Russians saw for the first time the formidable military equipment in the Arctic version. And shortly before that, a throw of army vehicles of high cross-country ability took place over the Arctic Circle. For the first time in the world, an expedition of promising military vehicles made a test autonomous march Tiksi - Kotelny - Tiksi, covered over two thousand kilometers on ice, hummocks, snow obstructions, proving the possibility of ground support of the Arctic group of forces.
Along the way, we solved many experimental and operational problems. How was the preparation for the march going, what goals were outlined and what happened in the end?
Northern platform
The northern and Far Eastern directions are the most difficult for automobiles and armored vehicles. This is explained by the low density of roads, rocky boulder-gravel surface, close occurrence of groundwater in summer, high snow cover in winter, weather and ice conditions, and other extreme features. This limits the maneuverability of the troops and makes them attached to the directions along the valleys and ridges.
The specific climatic conditions of the Far North determined the priority equipping of troops in the region with mainly all-terrain vehicles - snow and swamp-going amphibious tracked vehicles and all-wheel drive vehicles. All of them are used not only for the transportation of personnel and army property, but primarily as base chassis (platforms) for the installation of various weapons.
The regulatory and technical documents of the Ministry of Defense for the creation of wheeled and tracked military vehicles provide for their operation from plus 50 to minus 50 degrees on any roads and terrain. The plans include equipping the formations stationed in the northern regions with promising military vehicles. But before putting them into series, a number of tests should be carried out, especially at low temperatures.
Following the international forums "The Arctic - Territory of Dialogue" (2010, 2011, 2013, 2017), the Ministry of Defense has step by step adapted the developed samples for use in the Far North. In November 2012, a new "Type of military vehicle" was introduced. It was distinguished from previous program documents by the presence of several fundamentally new groups of machines, primarily for operation in the Arctic. In particular, snowmobiles, special vehicles, including those on ultra-low pressure tires, lightly armored and unarmored two-link transporters of all categories, were recognized as promising.
The Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation understood that equipping the "northern" units with new snow and swamp vehicles would expand the range of tactics, increase the combat potential of the formations, and improve maintenance and repairs. After the approval of the type, they began to implement these ideas.
"Aleut" went into hummocks
The first stage was a complex of research tests and experimental operation of machines intended for the North in various parts of the Ministry of Defense, including those deployed in the Arctic region - on Kotelny Island. Previous experience with two-link tracked conveyors GAZ-3351 "Los", GAZ-3344 "Aleut", TTM-4902, DT-3P, a snowmobile with a heated cab TTM-1901 "Berkut", wheeled all-terrain vehicles on low and ultra-low pressure tires TTM-3930 "Nitra" and Trekol-39294 made it possible for the first time to formulate the tactical and technical requirements for these types of military equipment and to start designing. It is interesting that in the cycle of works the mechanism of public-private partnership was used.
One of the first reviews of prototypes of technology and its capabilities was a conference with a demonstration of dynamic capabilities at the NIITs AT of the 3rd Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense in April 2011.
The next stage is the implementation of the requirements by the industry in the ROC series. Moreover, each stage of the project was accompanied by research. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation set the task to work out the design of the machines and the tactics of the actions of the units during field tests in areas with extreme operating conditions.
It is no secret that experts and scientists relied on the experience of their predecessors. Expeditionary research of military motor vehicles was one of the features and most important components of the entire test system. The foundations of this school were laid in the very first well-known motor rallies of the USSR era. By the end of the 1980s, the system represented a well-proven and methodically developed research mechanism. Columns of promising vehicles were periodically sent to extreme areas to test various indicators, primarily readiness, reliability, mobility, and cross-country ability. Organizationally, the expeditions were supported by a system of support military units. However, in the 90s, all this was violated for obvious reasons. The Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense has developed a plan for the gradual restoration of the system while increasing efforts to develop the Arctic.
The first step was the December 2013 expedition to the Kola Peninsula. Involved 25 units of wheeled and snow and swamp vehicles, more than 80 people. They made a march over four thousand kilometers, conducted laboratory and road studies and autonomous runs on the Rybachy Peninsula in the Murmansk region. Together with the soldiers of the special operations forces, we determined the possibilities of performing tasks on existing and undergoing testing samples of military vehicles (BAT).
As a result, we formulated the requirements for wheel samples in the “HL” version (with the ability to operate at temperatures up to minus 60 degrees), tested new research methods in the Arctic and gained invaluable experience of interaction when performing expeditionary scientific and technical tasks.
Verification showed
The second winter expedition took place from 4 to 24 February 2016. It was attended by representatives of the military administration and industrial enterprises, 18 pieces of equipment. In particular, Ural-53099 Typhoon-U, KamAZ-43502 Patrol, Trekol-39295 with a cargo platform, KamAZ-53501 KhL, Ural-4320-31 KhL, Ural-63706 Tornado-U "with an armored cab," Ural-Next "with a 6x6 wheel arrangement," Ural-Motovoz-M "with a frame-panel cab, A1 army snowmobiles with a sleigh and equipped with a TTM 1901-40 cab, KamAZ-5350 with an armored body, support machines. Expeditionary tests started from Bronnitsy near Moscow. The route ran to the city of Naryan-Mar and back. In total, the technique has covered more than six thousand kilometers.
These tests made it possible to clarify the performance of the most promising samples during operation in the Far North. As a matter of fact, “KhL” performance cars got a start in life, requirements for military vehicles on ultra-low pressure tires were formulated and much more was done.
In the first expeditions, they mainly checked wheeled vehicles, then the turn of tracked samples came. At the coordinating scientific and technical council, the Deputy Minister of Defense made the final decision to carry out in 2017 the most difficult passage along the route Tiksi - Kotelny Island. Suffice it to say that they had to move in a blizzard, with limited visibility, on the ice.
The expedition included eight promising models: cars on ultra-low pressure tires "Trekol-39294" and "Trekol-39295", tractors DT-10PM with two snowmobiles in the second link, DT-30PM with a trailer, DT-10PM with a container body, GAZ -3344-20. More than 50 researchers from the GABTU, NIITs AT of the 3rd Central Research Institute, the Engineering Troops, the 25th State Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Main Military Medical Directorate, the Special Operations Forces, the Coastal Forces of the Navy, representatives of the industry participated in this transition.
The run turned out to be the most difficult. An autonomous march was completed by a column of snow and swamp vehicles along the route Tiksi settlement - Buor-Khaya cape - Svyatoy Nos - Bolshoy Lyakhovsky island - Maly Lyakhovsky island - Kotelny island and back. The total length of the route was more than two thousand kilometers. In addition, four test runs were carried out with a total length of about 800 kilometers.
The temperature dropped to minus 45 degrees, the maximum wind speed in gusts reached 35 meters per second. Since this was the first time such studies were carried out in such a volume and under similar conditions, it is important to name them. This will allow you to get a complete picture of the state of affairs.
So, have been tested and evaluated:
starting qualities and microclimate in habitable compartments at low temperatures;
the sufficiency of the energy reserve on board for autonomous (up to three days) being in standby mode with the accommodation of a regular crew while maintaining the one-minute readiness of the equipment for the start of movement;
the possibility of long-term autonomous residence of the crew in the inhabited compartments;
operating costs of fuels and lubricants and special fluids when driving on clean, hummock and mixed ice surfaces, on virgin snow with different density and depth;
average speeds of single samples and snow and swamp columns (mixed and tracked) when driving in various situations (with fully operational equipment, when towing a damaged vehicle, when driving with a speed limit set);
the possibility of control inspection, daily maintenance, numbered maintenance and routine maintenance, adaptability to military repairs at low temperatures and strong gusty winds up to 35 meters per second;
reliability of samples and completeness of spare parts during autonomous marches;
the effectiveness of lighting the area when driving at night in a blizzard with a visibility of one to two meters and the ability to move using a night vision device in normal conditions;
reliability of the installed additional equipment (crane-boom with an electric winch, removable ramps for the snowmobile to enter the second link, electric heating panels for the cab and habitable compartments, cargo platforms on the roof of the first link).
Along the way, equipment for determining the thickness of ice, communication equipment, electrical cable networks (for moisture and snow protection, a sharp change in temperature) were tested. The evacuation capacity was checked. The sufficiency of a set of Arctic uniforms and its convenience for carrying out work by a driver at low temperatures and gusts of wind up to 35 meters per second, visibility were assessed.
The program for testing military equipment and means of support in the difficult natural and climatic conditions of the Arctic has been completed in full.
On the tundra, without a railway
In the course of the last unique expedition, the possibilities of autonomous residence of personnel and the placement of material and technical property in frame-inflatable tents, repair and maintenance of equipment in a frame-inflatable hangar were assessed. The effectiveness of promising small-sized portable means of heating units and assemblies, individual BAT systems (in particular, heat guns and panels) has been established.
In addition, preliminary testing of a special snow and swamp vehicle on ultra-low pressure tires was carried out, acceptance tests of an inactive trailer link for two-link DT-30PM transporters were passed. The effectiveness of the changes made to the device of the GAZ-3344-20 two-link tracked conveyor-tractor has been tested. As a result, it was recommended for adoption for the supply of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
In the course of the autonomous march, the rational structure of the snow and swamp column for the transportation of property was determined. Army snowmobiles and special vehicles (on ultra-low pressure tires) were evaluated in route reconnaissance, ice crossings and crossings using special equipment, terrain orientation, and convoy guarding. The possibility of transferring forces and equipment by existing and promising models of snow and swamp-going BAT with a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons (army snowmobile A1, special vehicle "Trekol", two-link tracked transporters GAZ-3344-20, DT-10PM, DT-30PM) from the mainland to the island the territory of the country on the ice of the Arctic seas and the tundra zone in especially difficult climatic and road and soil conditions.
The main directions of the further development of snow and swamp-going AT and special equipment in terms of improving the parameters of autonomy, simplicity and reliability, life support at low temperatures, maintainability and mobility in the Arctic (including ice) are identified.
The results of the expedition are being analyzed. Obviously, changes will be made in the requirements for snow and swamp-going vehicles, in the methods of testing and research, and the organizational methods of future expeditions will be clarified.
The Russian Federation is seriously and systematically developing the northern territories, for which, as you know, there are enough applicants. It is not for nothing that experts say that the wars of the 21st century - for resources and water - will be fought in the Arctic. But we will not give up even an inch of our land.
From the blizzard desert to the southern
Dmitry Bulgakov, Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army: "Extreme tests will continue"
The main goals and objectives of the winter expedition were to confirm the characteristics of promising and modern models of military automotive equipment, as well as to determine the main directions of their further development, check design solutions, and gain operating experience in the regions of the Far North and the Arctic. In addition, in practice, the possibility of an autonomous march by units of the RF Armed Forces in difficult climatic and road conditions has been confirmed.
It was these tasks that determined both the choice of such a difficult route and the range of equipment. Also, the products, equipment and materials necessary for the organization of the full support of military formations located in the North, in isolation from the points of permanent deployment, were tested. This is an inhabited module, created on the basis of a container body, and promising fuels and lubricants for ultra-low temperatures, special uniforms and equipment, as well as engineering means to ensure the performance of tasks in high latitudes.
All samples basically confirmed the specified requirements. A unique experience in the operation of equipment and organization of logistics in the Far North and in the Arctic has been obtained. But most importantly, the personnel showed high professionalism in performing an unprecedented task. The expedition was autonomous. At a considerable distance from the places of permanent deployment of military units, in extremely low temperatures (up to minus 50 degrees and a wind speed of over 20 meters per second), in the absence of road infrastructure, considerable distances were overcome on ice.
The practice of such tests of equipment will certainly continue. It is planned to conduct an expedition in desert-sandy (at high temperatures and dusty air) and mountainous areas. Moreover, the range of equipment will be constantly expanding, its composition will be refined taking into account the tasks facing the Armed Forces.
