The best options for upgrading their weapons are still offered by developers
The active promotion of the products of the Israeli defense industry companies on the arms market of Kazakhstan gives its own, as yet not so well discernible at a cursory glance, but quite real fruits. The KADEX-2010 exhibition held in Astana demonstrated this quite clearly. In addition to a very representative exposition of Israeli manufacturers proper, one could see a number of products developed by them in cooperation with Kazakhstani colleagues. True, active military-technical cooperation between the former Soviet republic and the Jewish state brings other results as well - in the form of corruption scandals and criminal cases.
Among the relative novelties of this cooperation, one can note, in particular, the stabilized combat module WAVE 300 "Tolkyn". It is a joint product of the private West Kazakhstan machine-building company (ZKMK, the former Ural plant "Metallist") and IMI and is a remote-controlled installation with a 12.7-mm NSV machine gun manufactured in Uralsk, equipped with an Israeli-made opto-electronic aiming system. According to a ZKMK representative, the module is intended both for equipping armored vehicles and for stationary ground deployment. The guidance system allows automatic locking and tracking of the target, as well as aimed fire at night and in bad weather conditions.
ZKMK's plans for the WAVE 300 are quite ambitious. It is supposed to be exported to the neighboring states of Central Asia, and possibly to Russia. In any case, the module's advertising leaflet contains a photograph in which it seems to be "mounted" on the Russian armored car "Tiger", negotiations on the possible supply of which to the armed forces of Kazakhstan are still at an initial stage.
Among other proposals of the Israelis, one can note a project for the modernization of the T-72 tank, presented by Elbit Systems and providing for equipping the vehicle with a new FCS with a thermal imaging channel (TISAS), an intercom system, an auxiliary power plant, and active armor. And on the basis of the BRDM-2, the Israelis propose to create a reconnaissance complex, equipping this machine with a telescopic mast with a long-range observation system, an automated control system, a remotely controlled module with a large-caliber machine gun. In addition, the complex includes wearable equipment for a crew member going on reconnaissance outside the BRDM.
SEMSER test
Mortar "Aybat"
MLRS Niza
However, the most ambitious, but at the same time the most notorious project, implemented in the course of cooperation between the defense industry of Kazakhstan and companies from Israel, was the development of the Semser, Aybat and Naiza weapons systems. All three samples represent the modernization, respectively, of the 122-mm D-30 howitzer, the 2B11 120-mm mortar, as well as the Grad and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, a kind of symbiosis of Soviet / Russian-made carriers and barrels and modern technologies of Israeli companies Soltam systems and IMI.
The Semser self-propelled howitzer is the infamous D-30 mounted on a KamAZ-6350 (8x8) chassis. It is equipped with loading and fire control systems developed by Soltam systems as part of the ATMOS-2000 self-propelled 155-mm howitzer project.
Self-propelled 155 mm howitzer ATMOS-2000
"Aybat" is a 2B11 120-mm mortar mounted on an MTLB chassis with an Israeli recoil system and a CARDOM complex. The latter includes a computerized control system and inertial navigation equipment, the use of which reduces the preparation time for opening fire (up to 30 seconds) and increases the probability of a hit from the first shot. The rate of fire of the system reaches 16 rounds per minute. The capabilities of the Aybat allow the mortar subunit to operate according to the “shot and hide” scheme. The complex also has an 82-mm mortar. Both implements can be used in the usual way - for this, the machine is provided with mounts for base plates and bipeds.
RSZV BM-27 "Hurricane"
"Naiza" is a universal system, on the launcher which can be mounted packages of guides for 122-mm Grad missiles, 220-mm Hurricane, 160-mm Israeli LAR-160, as well as Extra, Super Extra and Delilah from IMI … The production of the Naiza MLRS in Kazakhstan was carried out by the Petropavlovsk Heavy Machine Building Plant (PZTM). According to representatives of the enterprise, containers for firing Grad and Uragan missiles, a transport-loading vehicle were developed here, a launcher was manufactured according to the IMI project, that is, up to 90% of the mechanical part of the complex was made in Kazakhstan.
BM-21 "Grad"
The Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan signed contracts with Israeli firms in 2007. The army of the republic received three batteries of 120-mm self-propelled mortars "Aybat", one division of 122-mm self-propelled howitzers "Semser" and one division of MLRS "Naiza".
The idea of such a relatively inexpensive modernization, which makes it possible to increase the mobility and combat characteristics of missile and artillery systems, can be considered very successful. But the implementation of the idea cannot be called such.
In August 2008, an investigation was launched into kickbacks in the course of the conclusion and execution of contracts. As a result, in 2009, Boris Sheinkman, a citizen of the Jewish state, who represented the interests of Israeli defense companies in Kazakhstan, and Lieutenant General Kazhimurat Maermanov, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who oversaw these projects, were arrested and subsequently convicted.
The Kazakh media reported that over $ 190 million was paid to Israeli enterprises, which is 82 million more than the real cost of the weapons received. In addition, during the firing practice, flaws in the design of new weapons were identified. The Vremya newspaper wrote that Niza is unsafe for calculation, since “in some cases the jet stream from the missiles will hit the platform of the vehicle on which the installation is based, and in some cases - into the cockpit where people are hiding. Contrary to the assertions of the generals, the installation will not be able to fire the Smerch and Hurricane missiles at all. It will simply turn over."
After the demonstration firing from the Aybat mortar, the deformation of the bottom of the crawler tractor hull was revealed. As for the Semser howitzer, according to the Vremya newspaper, “the chassis of the car on which the D-30 cannon is installed is visually clearly overloaded. In addition, the conventional D-30 field howitzer is fully operational according to the standard in 90 seconds. It takes up to three minutes for the Semser artillery system."
Howitzer D-30, 122mm
In some cases, it is rather difficult to understand the meaning of the journalists' claims, although the low quality of the work was clearly evident. It is worth recalling that the weight of the D-30 howitzer in the combat position is 3200 kg, and the carrying capacity of the KamAZ-6350 chassis is 12 tons, so it is unlikely that the loading system and retractable supports, along with the howitzer itself, did not fit into this tonnage in terms of weight. It takes from 1.5 to 2.5 minutes to transfer a conventional D-30 from a traveling position to a combat position.
CARDOM was adopted by the armies of Israel and the United States, but no cases of breakdowns of the armored vehicles on which the mortars are installed seem to have been identified. Damage to MTLB during firing in the army of Kazakhstan may be the result of poor-quality manufacture of recoil devices.
Judging by the appearance of the Niza installation, the jet stream during firing is indeed capable of hitting the platform if the launcher is directed along the axis of the vehicle and has a large elevation. As for the ability to open fire by deploying the launcher with its rear end to the cockpit, even if the design does not provide for the appropriate limiters, the banal instinct of self-preservation should not allow the calculation to proceed. From "Niza" they hit with missiles "Grad" and "Hurricane", and she really is not yet capable of using the LAR-160.
Be that as it may, but Kazakhstan's dissatisfaction with the models created in cooperation with Israel plays into the hands of Russian manufacturers, first of all - SNPP "Splav". This company has deployed a fairly representative stand at the KADEX-2010 exhibition. "Splav" is ready to offer the Kazakh army its own version of modernization of three types of MLRS, which will increase the firing range, automate combat vehicles, reduce the time to prepare for opening fire, extend the life cycle of missiles of the "Uragan" systems, provide new, including high-precision ammunition "Tornado".
As for the Niza, the developer of the Russian MLRS naturally refuses to bear any responsibility for the safety and combat effectiveness of the systems upgraded in accordance with this project. On this issue, representatives of "Splav" made a report to the President, Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Missile Forces and Artillery of Kazakhstan.
Increasing the combat capabilities of rocket launchers is one of the priority areas for modernizing the equipment of the armed forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Indicative in this regard is the great interest shown by the Kazakh military to the heavy flame-throwing system TOS-1A, also known as "Buratino". During the KADEX-2010 exhibition, specialists from Rosoboron-export and Russian defense enterprises made a special presentation of this system for the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan. According to Esen Topoev, advisor to the general director of FSUE Rosoboronexport, an agreement was reached that the Kazakh side would send applications both for the purchase of ready-made TOS-1A and for their joint production. The second option may look like mounting Russian-made launchers on the chassis of T-72 tanks, available in Kazakhstan in excess for the army.
