The unification of armored combat vehicles in terms of chassis and other components makes it possible to significantly simplify and reduce the cost of operation, and also provides an increase in the main technical characteristics. The best results of this kind can be obtained when developing unified families on a common basis. However, so far such ideas are receiving only limited distribution and are far from always being fully realized.
Combat vehicles complex
The idea of AFV families based on common components appeared a long time ago and developed over a long time. For example, in the Russian "Bulletin of armored vehicles" back in 1991, the concept of "a complex of combat vehicles of the front edge" (KBMPK) was described. She proposed the construction of five armored vehicles with a common chassis and different functions.
KBMPK included a tank with all the characteristic features and capabilities, a heavy and well-protected infantry fighting vehicle, a fire support vehicle, a self-propelled air defense system, as well as a reconnaissance and battle control vehicle. They should be based on common components and have similar mobility and protection characteristics to ensure effective front-line performance.
Also, at different times and in different countries, other versions of KBMPK or similar concepts were proposed. All such projects had a common feature: it was proposed to build the equipment on a common base chassis, initially taking into account the requirements for specialized samples.
However, the implementation of such ideas in practice turned out to be quite difficult. Even now, only a few such families of equipment are in operation and at the development stage. At the same time, not all of them provide for the construction of a full range of AFVs of the main classes. First of all, this is due to the technical complexity and high cost of such projects. In addition, the requirements and needs of the armies must be kept in mind.
American attempt
The idea of a unified BMPK complex has been worked out in the United States for several decades. In the 2000s, it was implemented as part of the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. Part of the latter was the Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV) project, during which a whole family of armored vehicles for various purposes was created.
The MGV was based on a versatile tracked chassis. Due to the specifics of the application, it had a front-engine layout, which made it possible to free up volumes in the center and aft of the hull. The available free compartments were proposed to be used to accommodate weapons, troops, special equipment, etc.
On such a chassis, it was proposed to build nine different combat and auxiliary armored vehicles. The XM1201 project provided for the construction of a combat reconnaissance vehicle with advanced surveillance equipment and a small-caliber cannon. The XM1202 was supposed to be a new version of the main tank. The XM1203 self-propelled gun was built on the chassis with a 155 mm gun. There was also a project for the XM1204 self-propelled mortar. The simplest component of the KBMPK FCS / MGV was supposed to be the XM1206 armored personnel carrier. On the same chassis, it was planned to build the XM1209 command vehicle, the XM1206 repair and evacuation vehicle, as well as the XM1207 and XM1208 ambulances.
The most successful in practical terms was the project of the ACS XM1203. During the work under the FCS program, eight prototypes of this type were built, which were used in tests. Other armored combat vehicles of the family did not leave the stage of testing individual units.
Despite the obvious positive qualities, the FCS program has been criticized. The reason for this was the complexity and excessive technical courage, as well as the associated high cost. In 2009, after much debate, the program was closed. Subsequently, another attempt was made to create a new family of armored combat vehicles for the US Army, but it was unsuccessful. As a result, the American military still has to use a large fleet of equipment of different ages and with limited unification between samples of different classes.
Russian successes
The KBMPK concept has been studied in our country for a long time and has even reached practical implementation by now. Moreover, several unified platforms for different purposes with different characteristics have been created at once. At the same time, the Armata platform is distinguished by the greatest versatility, which makes it possible to build a wide range of armored combat vehicles, from tanks to auxiliary vehicles.
The development of the "Armata" began at the turn of the last decades and was carried out by the forces of the NPK "Uralvagonzavod". The goal of the project was to create a unified heavy-class platform suitable for use as a basis for a tank, self-propelled guns, heavy infantry fighting vehicles, etc. By the middle of the decade, the first samples of new technology were built, and on May 9, 2015, their first public demonstration took place.
The platform is made in the form of a classic tank-type tracked chassis with a 1500 hp engine. Several new components are used in the power plant and chassis. An interesting feature of the project is the possibility of "turning" the chassis. So, the T-14 tank, the T-16 BREM and other samples are built on the chassis in its original form, and the T-15 TBMP uses an "inverted" platform with a front-mounted power unit.
To date, the main tank T-14, TBMP T-15 (in several configurations), ARV T-16 and ACS 2S35 "Coalition-SV" have been developed, built and tested on the Armata platform. The appearance of a combat vehicle for fire support, a heavy flamethrower system, engineering equipment, etc. is expected. In the future, the Armata platform should become the basis for armored forces, which makes special demands on the composition of the family based on it.
By now, the main work on some versions of the "Armata" has been completed. In mid-2018, the first contract for the supply of T-14 tanks and T-15 infantry fighting vehicles appeared. In the near future, new samples are expected to appear on a unified platform - later they will also go into series.
Transition link
Also in the world, other KBMPK are being developed on a unified basis, but these projects may be of less interest. Due to limitations of various kinds, these designs provide for a reduced family composition that does not include examples of some of the main classes.
For example, General Dynamics is developing the Ajax family of armored vehicles in the interests of the British Army. It is proposed to build armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, BRM, KShM, BREM and other samples on a universal tracked chassis. At the same time, restrictions on dimensions and weight did not allow the introduction of carriers of large-caliber weapons - MBT or self-propelled guns - into the family. The most powerful weapons of the Ajax are small-caliber cannons and guided missiles.
It should be noted that this approach to creating the Ajax family is mainly related to customer requirements. The British Army wants to radically update the fleet of light and medium armored combat vehicles, but has not yet planned such a modernization of tank units. The existing Challenger 2 MBTs will remain in service, although they will undergo modernization, and other equipment will be replaced.
Of particular interest in the context of KBMPK is the Israeli program "Carmel", in which at the moment all the main defense enterprises of the country are involved. The purpose of this program is to create promising AFVs of different classes with a number of fundamentally new capabilities. The issues of automating the main processes, reducing the workload on the crew while simultaneously reducing it, introducing unmanned systems, etc. are being worked out.
At the moment, under the Carmel program, several prototypes of different shapes have been built and are being tested. In the future, full-fledged armored vehicles should appear on new platforms with all promising devices and capabilities.
Within the framework of the Carmel project, BRM and BMP are being created on the basis of a unified chassis. Heavier vehicles will probably not be included in this lineup. So far, the MBT niche is closed by the equipment of the "Merkava" family, and its timely modernization allows the service to continue. With an eye to the distant future, another tank project is now being worked out.
Benefits and Difficulties
It is easy to see that the idea of families of armored combat vehicles on a common basis in the form of a unified chassis enjoys a certain popularity, but not all such proposals reach practical implementation. Such results are directly related to several factors of various kinds.
First of all, the wishes and requirements of the customer affect the prospects of the KBMPK idea. Not all armies now see the need to create and equip entire families of armored combat vehicles. Among other things, the customer's opinion may be determined by the complexity and high cost of the development and production of such equipment. However, even the presence of an order does not guarantee a positive outcome. A striking example of this is the American FCS program - it was launched, brought to the test of experimental equipment, but in the end it was closed.
However, the failure of some projects does not negate the development of others, which, moreover, show the desired results. Obviously, the leading countries will continue to develop unified platforms, and over time, samples of this kind will take their place in the troops. The first such examples are expected in the near future.
