Since last year, the US has been testing a prototype M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle with a redesigned chassis. The standard torsion bar suspension was replaced by a hydropneumatic system with different characteristics and capabilities. The purpose of the current tests is to collect data that in the future will allow the use of hydropneumatic suspension in the creation of completely new types of armored vehicles.
Experiment in the news
The American media first spoke about the new experimental version of Bradley in July last year. Then it was reported that at the Yuma Proving Ground testing ground, the M2 infantry fighting vehicle with a modified chassis was being carried out. Details of a technical nature were not specified, but information was provided on the new capabilities of the technique.
It was argued that due to the processing of the chassis, the BMP can change the ground clearance. In addition, the new units should reduce shaking while driving, increase off-road speed, etc. Soon, plausible versions appeared in the press describing the technical part of the project.
New messages about the project appeared a few days ago. According to them, the prototype is still in full-scale sea trials. The car regularly makes long-term trips and overcomes various routes. These events take place four times a week and last for seven hours.
The landfill specialists named the goals of the project. An experimental version of the M2 is needed to test the technologies proposed for use in a fundamentally new project of a combat vehicle. The latter is still in the early stages of development, but individual systems and components are already being tested in real conditions.
However, the promising armored vehicle will not receive the same suspension as the experienced M2 Bradley BMP. The chassis will be redesigned for it - albeit using the best practices and accumulated experience. The timing of the appearance of such a design has not been specified. The time required to test the experimental "Bradley" also remains unknown.
Origin of the project
The basic principles of the pilot project have not been officially disclosed, but they are already clear. The stated suspension capabilities indicate the use of hydropneumatic systems instead of standard torsion bars. Based on these data and the well-known images of the experienced BMP, profile foreign resources have compiled a plausible version of the origin of the tested suspension.
The M2 is believed to be equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension developed in the past by Horstman Holdings Ltd. This system was created for use in two armored vehicle development programs - the British Future Scout and Cavalry System (FSCS) and the American Future Combat System (FCS). As you know, both programs did not give real results, and the suspension from "Hortsman" along with a number of other developments remained out of work.
Not so long ago, they decided to use the FSCS and FCS developments again - within the framework of another promising project. A prototype with such a suspension has been built and is being tested, and in parallel, a completely new armored vehicle is being designed, initially having a similar chassis.
Update for Bradley
Published materials show what changes the serial M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle underwent during the transformation into a prototype. It is easy to see that the bulk of the machine's units remained in place and did not change. At the same time, part of the structure was significantly altered in accordance with the new requirements.
The standard suspension with all its external and internal units was removed from the prototype. On the lower part of the sides with holes for torsion bars and mountings, overhead sheets with a new set of seats were installed. First of all, this is due to a change in the architecture of the chassis: after the alteration of the chassis, it has five rollers per side instead of the original six.
Outside the hull are now the characteristic large rocker arms with road wheels. Chambers for oil and compressed gas from the hydropneumatic suspension are located directly in the balancers. Only pipelines and other equipment are mounted inside the body.
The new suspension is controlled and allows you to change the ground clearance, although the range of its values was not named. Other characteristics are also not published - testers prefer to just talk about certain advantages of the experimental suspension.
With all these changes, the bulk of the M2 BMP units remained in place. As a result, the dimensions and weight of the vehicle have not changed. Also, the power plant with a 600 hp diesel engine remained the same. Thanks to this, it became possible not only to evaluate the parameters of the new suspension, but also to compare the characteristics of armored vehicles in standard and experimental equipment.
Expected benefits
At the moment, several advantages of the experienced M2 infantry fighting vehicle have been identified over the equipment with the original torsion bar suspension. First of all, we are talking about the growth of running characteristics. The hydropneumatic system better "works out" the unevenness and reduces the shaking of the car with a negative impact on the crew and onboard systems. It is also possible to control the suspension. By changing the pressure in the hydraulic and pneumatic chambers, the crew can adjust the ground clearance and suspension stiffness in accordance with the terrain.
All this helps to improve cross-country ability and dynamics on rough terrain. In particular, an increase in the maximum off-road speed is announced - although the exact value of this parameter is not named. It is known that "Bradley" with torsion bars accelerates off-road to 40 km / h. Probably, the experimental BMP develops at least 40-45 km / h.
The suspension developed by "Hortsman" has an original layout with the location of the chambers inside the balancer. As a result, only individual units remain inside the housing without special layout requirements. It becomes possible to more successfully assemble units inside the armored vehicle and more efficiently use the available space.
The new suspension should also improve the car's survivability. In the event of an explosion under the track, the balancer and roller must be pulled out of their place without causing any significant damage to the body. The torsion bar suspension in such a situation can harm both the car and its crew.
However, there are also disadvantages. The main one is the complexity and high cost of production. The standard torsion bar suspension for the M2 includes several fairly simple parts, while the experimental hydropneumatic system consists of more complex components and devices. All this turns out to be a price to pay for improving performance and gaining new opportunities.
Backlog for the future
Experiments with the experienced M2 Bradley BMP are being carried out in the interests of the further development of armored vehicles of the ground forces. Now the relevant structures of the army are working on the issues of creating new models of armored combat vehicles and are testing individual solutions and even ready-made systems.
Curiously, plans for the hydropneumatic suspension have already been determined. Such a system is used in a new project, but it will be developed from scratch, although using the accumulated experience. It is likely that Hortsman's system, as it stands, was considered obsolete or unusable outside of tests. At the same time, its basic principles and the resulting capabilities, most likely, completely suit the military.
While the army continues to test the experimental version of "Bradley" and collect the necessary data. It is not known when exactly the experience of these tests will begin to be introduced into the project of a new armored combat vehicle. In addition, given the experience of previous programs for the ground forces, one can doubt the possibility of its appearance. However, so far everything is going according to plan, and the prototype based on the serial BMP copes with the tasks.
