On December 8, 2009, the "Object 188M" tank was presented to Vladimir Putin before a meeting on the development of Russian tank building, which took place in the "tank capital" of Russia - the city of Nizhny Tagil. Coverage of the visit of the Prime Minister, the journalistic fraternity "rattled" a lot about the commander's version of the serial MBT T-90A equipped with a software and hardware complex integrated into the automated control system of the tactical level, and about the "EMK" standing on the demonstration site of the GDVTs next to the T-90AK, and which was a real, genuine, sensation of the show - not a word!
"Object 188M" is created as an initiative development of the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering, as opposed to the ROC "Burlak" carried out in the Omsk Design Bureau. The named OCD is an example of the mess in the industry and the reckless waste of public funds. ROC "Burlak" provides for the creation of a unified fighting compartment for the modernization, primarily of the T-90 and T-72 tanks. At the same time, OJSC UKBTM, the developer of these machines, is constantly working to improve the design of the T-90 MBT and modernize the T-72. It would seem that it should be engaged in this work, but no … ROC "Burlak" was transferred to the Omsk KBTM, which is a very good technological design bureau, but has weak capabilities for new and even more promising design.
ROC "Burlak"
The main advantage of the solutions within the framework of the Burlak ROC is an integrated approach to the issues of ensuring the protection of the tank and its firepower.
This was achieved through innovative solutions that implement, within the framework of the existing layout and without fundamental changes to the chassis and fighting compartment, create a tank that has the characteristics of a promising based on existing technologies and profound changes in mass production. The layout solutions offered within the "Burlak" make it possible to increase the survivability of the tank when the ammunition load is hit, by placing it in an isolated compartment equipped with expelling plates.
Moreover, KBTM does not have and had nothing to do with the T-90 tank. And such an organization is entrusted with such a difficult job! As a result, the advance payment for the work was successfully eaten away, the "inventions" were protected by patents, and the "Burlak" itself was not and is not. According to some reports, KBTM cannot adapt its BO to the T-90 “cart” and has already turned to UKBTM for technical assistance. In addition, the mass of the developed design is such that even such a powerful chassis, which is present in the Tagil T-90, cannot withstand it. Exceeding any permissible load standards is so great that it affects the resource in the most disastrous way. Of course, a negative result is the same result, but excuse me, why then GABTU arranges a tender for the development and supply of simulators for this most failed Burlak? Why not allocate funds from the UKBTM to complete work on the "Object 188M" - the next stage of improvement of the T-90?
The new Tagil vehicle - "Object 188M" - is distinguished, first of all, by a completely new design of the tower, the protection of which is practically devoid of weakened vulnerable zones and is all-round. Not only the frontal, but also the lateral projection and stern are significantly better protected. The most important thing in terms of protection is improved roof protection. The machine has a significantly improved MSA. Its feature is the inclusion of the commander in the three-channel thermal imaging panoramic sight. During the development of the LMS, we used the developments obtained in the course of the highly successful R&D "Frame-99" and "Slingshot-1". Noteworthy are the smaller dimensions of the sights and their very serious protection against small-caliber artillery fire, bullets and fragments of large-caliber shells. This is especially noticeable against the background of the Ukrainian Oplot-M tank presented in March 2009. In general, special attention is paid to visibility on the 188M.
BMPT (Tank Support Fighting Vehicle) "Frame 99" - Terminator
The fruit of mutual love of "Uralvagonzavod" and "Ural Bureau of Transport Engineering" - the first combat vehicle in its class to support tanks. The official name is like the Soviet haircut, by God: "Frame-99". However, the military quickly renamed the novelty "Terminator" - this is both more solid, and much more accurately conveys the purpose of the machine. The power of her weapons is devastating: here you have guns, and four launchers for anti-tank missiles, and a machine gun, and automatic grenade launchers. The BMPT can fire nine hundred 30-mm shells, six hundred 30-mm grenades and two thousand 7.62-mm bullets in a minute, and the ammunition is enough to burn out all living things in an area of 3 square meters. km. Needless to say, BMPT missiles penetrate the armor of any tanks and concrete bunkers at a distance of up to 5 km, and can also shoot down a helicopter and even a low-flying enemy aircraft. Well, the AG-17D grenade launchers with a hinged grenade flight path ensure the destruction of targets in trenches in an area of up to 1 km.
Also, good working conditions for the crew have been created - the ergonomics of the Tagil vehicles are clearly going well! The vehicle is equipped with a new cannon with improved ballistic characteristics. It can be equipped with both the 2A46M5 cannon, which has already become standard for serial Russian vehicles, and a completely new weapon, the 2A82. In addition to the new autoloader designed for high aspect ratio BPS, a container for additional ammunition is provided in the rear of the tower. In our opinion, this is not the right decision, but at the best it meets the latest standards of international armored fashion. Auxiliary weapons were not left unattended either. The ZPU was replaced by a remotely controlled autonomous machine gun installation. The 188M is equipped with new secure communication systems, a navigation system, and integration into the automated control system is foreseen.
At present, only the tower has been manufactured by the UKBTM pilot production facility. The construction of the hull is constrained by insufficient funding. To show the Prime Minister, the tower, as befits a combat module, was easily installed on the first chassis that came across - this explains the presence of the Contact-V on the hull instead of the projected Relic. In addition, for the 188M Object hull, it is also envisaged to strengthen the protection of the VLD by installing a new combined booking package. Reinforced hull roof - especially in the area of the driver's hatch. In addition to the introduction of a modern fire extinguishing system on the tank, the likelihood of fire has been reduced due to the rejection of the fire hazardous antineutron overcharge and replacement of the underlay with fire-resistant anti-fragmentation material of the "Kevlar" type.
To improve the operational characteristics, UKBTM, together with the Chelyabinsk enterprises ChTZ and Elektromashina, is working on the development and implementation of a monoblock power plant based on a V-shaped 1000-horsepower turbodiesel V-92S2 or its formed version B-99 with a capacity of 1200 hp. and steering wheel control systems. The successful demonstration of the new Russian combat vehicle to the leadership of the state and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will undoubtedly give a new impetus to work on the radical rearmament of our Army with qualitatively new equipment, which in turn helps to strengthen the export potential of Russian engineering and increase interest in Russian tanks from foreign customers.
