During the recent exhibition "Army-2019" it was announced that the K-16 armored personnel carrier, based on the promising unified wheeled platform "Boomerang", is going to state trials in July. Based on the results of these measures, the issue of adopting equipment for service will be resolved. Thus, in the near future, the Russian army will be able to obtain a fundamentally new model with special capabilities, which favorably differs from the operated armored vehicles.
New approach
Unlike a number of existing armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, the new "Boomerang" was developed from scratch and taking into account urgent problems. The project is based on modern ideas and solutions, due to which the required characteristics and qualities are achieved.
First of all, "Boomerang" was developed as a universal platform suitable for use in the construction of equipment for various purposes. At the same time, the appearance of the platform is optimal for creating a protected infantry transport. In the future, it is possible to develop equipment for other purposes.
The Boomerang project provides for the creation of a wheeled armored vehicle with a number of features that distinguish it from existing domestic models. Some of these solutions have been tested in foreign projects. Due to this, it was possible to get rid of a number of shortcomings typical for existing armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles of domestic production.
Protection issues
The problem of the safety of the crew and the landing force in the Boomerang project is solved in several ways. The first is hull booking. According to various sources, the frontal and side projections receive combined protection with ceramic elements. The armor should provide protection against large-caliber small arms, small-caliber artillery and various fragments. Hull bottom design provides improved blast protection. The armor is complemented by an anti-splinter lining. Unfortunately, the exact parameters of the armor have not yet been announced, only its most general features are known.
Ballistic protection can be supplemented by other means. Earlier, it was mentioned the possibility of installing hinged modules to increase resistance to various threats. It is possible to use active protection. In the future, "Boomerangs" are proposed to be equipped with an integrated system of protection against high-precision weapons.
The combat survivability and safety of the crew are also improved by using the correct layout. The power units are brought forward, and a large aft compartment is intended for the landing. The landing is carried out through the aft ramp, so that it remains under the protection of armor for the maximum time. Fighters are placed on energy-absorbing chairs, which reduce the negative impact of detonation under the wheel or bottom.
Serial armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles operated in the army have only bulletproof booking. So, the BTR-80, without additional protection, cannot withstand the fire of large-caliber rifles or machine guns. BMP-1/2 is struck in the frontal projection by small-caliber artillery shells. Various options for enhancing protection do not lead to a radical increase in performance. Older armored personnel carriers have been criticized for the lateral positioning of the landing hatches, which leads to unnecessary risks.
Vehicle mobility
In different versions of the Boomerang project, it is equipped with two types of diesel engines with a capacity of 510 and 750 hp. With a combat weight of the order of 34-35 tons, the armored vehicle has a specific power of at least 15 hp. on m. In combination with hydromechanical transmission, this provides sufficient mobility and maneuverability.
An important innovation is the independent suspension with the ability to change the ground clearance. Moving the hull by 300-350 mm vertically allows you to optimize the characteristics of the vehicle on the march or in battle. However, as mentioned earlier, the platform can also receive a less complex torsion bar suspension. Despite its considerable mass, the Boomerang can float and is equipped with water jet propellers.
The maximum speed of the Boomerang platform on the highway exceeds 100 km / h. On a dirt road - 92 km / h. On rough terrain, acceleration up to 50 km / h is allowed.
For comparison, the 14-ton BTR-80 has a 260 hp engine. and, consequently, the specific power is not more than 18, 5 hp. on t. Its speed on the highway is limited to 80 km / h, off-road - 40 km / h. The tracked BMP-2 with a mass of less than 15 tons is equipped with a 300-horsepower engine (20 hp per ton). It can accelerate to 65 km / h on the highway, and on rough terrain, its performance is comparable to that of the Boomerang.
Modular armament
On the roof of the Boomerang hull, a place is provided for mounting a crew compartment or a remotely controlled module of a compatible type. It is already known about the possibility of using a number of similar products, and some of these proposals have been tested in practice.
During the first public screening in 2015, Boomerangs were shown in two configurations. The public was shown the K-16 armored personnel carrier and the K-17 infantry fighting vehicle. The key difference between these vehicles was their armament. The BMP has different combat missions, and therefore received a more powerful weapon.
The K-16 armored personnel carrier is equipped with a DBM with a Kord heavy machine gun, which allows it to support the landing force with fire and effectively fight a number of targets on the battlefield. BMP K-17 receives a combat module of the "Boomerang-BM" type with more powerful weapons. This turret is equipped with a 30-mm 2A42 cannon, PKT machine gun and Kornet missiles.
In 2017, for the first time showed a variant of the BMP "Boomerang" with a manned fighting compartment B05Ya01 "Berezhok". Such a module has rocket, cannon and machine-gun armament, but differs in its architecture - it is controlled by the crew members located directly under the turret.
Earlier it was reported about the fundamental possibility of equipping the Boomerang chassis with the DUBM AU-220M Baikal or a similar system. In this case, the wheeled platform becomes the carrier of a powerful 57-mm automatic cannon, which gives it special combat characteristics.
From the point of view of the choice of weapons "Boomerang" compares favorably with the BTR-70/80 and BMP-1/2. In the order of development of the latter, various projects were proposed with the use of new fighting compartments, but their choice is limited. In addition, compatibility with different modules was not a key requirement for older projects.
To replace obsolete samples
The unified wheeled platform "Boomerang" was created taking into account current and future threats, as well as taking into account domestic and foreign experience. The result of this was the rejection of a number of developments on previous own projects and the introduction of new solutions for our technology.
The result of the "Boomerang" program has already become several variants of experimental armored vehicles for different purposes and with different equipment. The K-16 armored personnel carrier with a voluminous troop compartment and machine-gun armament is entering state tests and is close to being put into service. It will be followed by the K-17 infantry fighting vehicle.
During Army 2019, the development organization indicated that the current status of the Boomerang program allows it to start creating new projects. The Ministry of Defense can now order a command-staff vehicle, anti-tank or anti-aircraft complex. In addition, a technical assignment for a wheeled tank may appear. In all cases, a unified four-axle chassis will be used.
However, so far we are talking only about wheeled armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles on a common chassis. In the distant future, they will have to replace the equipment of the old models and increase the combat effectiveness of the ground forces. First of all, it is planned to replace obsolete wheeled armored personnel carriers that are still in the army. The BTR-70 and BTR-80 do not meet all modern requirements for a long time, but so far there is simply nothing to replace them with. Successful completion of work on K-16 and K-17 will allow the launch of rearmament.
The proposed vehicles on the Boomerang platform have obvious advantages over the existing wheeled armored personnel carriers. The latter lose in the level of ballistic and mine protection, have a limited choice of weapons, and, in addition, are criticized because of the not very successful ergonomics of the habitable compartments. The new project completely removes these questions.
Various projects of the Boomerang family are still at the stage of development or field testing. Rearmament with their help will begin only in the future. However, it is already clear what the positive consequences of the creation and implementation of such a technique will be. Motorized riflemen will receive improved protection and more powerful fire support, which will reduce risks and increase combat effectiveness.
