In recent years, there has been a tendency towards a decrease in the development of fundamentally new models on the international markets of military equipment. More attention is paid to upgrading existing systems. This can be understood, since the relatively small purchases of the same type of combat vehicles, which are practiced by different countries, make the development and production of new tanks and infantry fighting vehicles unprofitable. What place does Russia occupy in these processes? And what are the prospects for our models?
Dynamics of development of armored vehicles
If the Soviet concept of war involved the use of nuclear weapons, now this is practically not taken into account. In the USSR, the opinion reigned that due to massive nuclear strikes, both personnel and armored vehicles would quickly fail. In other words, you need to take not quality, but quantity. In the world, this trend is practically not taken into account by either experts or manufacturers.
On the contrary, modern infantry fighting vehicles and tanks should be powerful, enduring, maximally maneuverable and comfortable for personnel. The improvement of models goes along such lines as building up high-tech systems (control from the display, communication within the link and with the command), strengthening the armor of the vehicle, and the rapid supply of effective projectiles. In the Russian expert environment, different opinions are expressed about how our developments meet the spirit of the times and combat missions.
There is a judgment that for the money invested in the defense industry, too low-quality and low-endurance equipment is obtained. Both infantry fighting vehicles and tanks cannot even cover 2-3 thousand kilometers without engine repair. Huge fuel consumption with minimal comfort for the crew - all this does not characterize the industry in the best way. On the other hand, there are still positive trends. At the moment, new developments in combat vehicles will try to change the stereotype about our technology.
T-90 vs Abrams
The modern Russian T-90 tank, according to Alexander Postnikov (military industry expert, Colonel General), is a modification of the T-72. Many readers will say that this is not entirely true, since their appearance and technical characteristics vary greatly. But the Germans are moving in the same direction, engaged in the modification of their "Leopard". We can say that this is a general trend characteristic of today's combat vehicle market.
Tank "Abrams" will be significantly modernized and released into serial production by 2020. The key tasks facing the designers are weight reduction (from 62 tons to 55 tons), the transition to diesel fuel, the use of a cannon to launch missiles. Needless to say, this combat vehicle will simply be "stuffed" with electronics, and the crew will make decisions based on its readings.
As you can see, the three leading military powers are not eager to work on the latest generation of tanks. This is due not only to the lack of funding, but also to other problems. The military budgets of many countries are steadily being cut. Due to the fact that governments are not inclined to increase spending on armaments, the service life of the tank should be as long as possible (45-50 years).
What should a modern tank look like?
In addition to a long period of operation, a military vehicle should be easy to upgrade. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are constantly being equipped with new technical units and weapons. Even their cost only grows from time to time. In addition, we must not forget about the convenience of driving the car, about how comfortable the crew will feel. Unfortunately, domestic developments pay little attention to this factor, preferring to rely on reducing the cost of their products.
A country like Holland has completely withdrawn its tanks from its army. This is a general trend, and the point here is not that there is no one to fight with. Potential and real threats always exist, but keeping even a few tanks can be very burdensome for an army. That is why even small tenders, which are periodically announced in the world, cause serious excitement among competitors. And the decisive role is played by the cost of solutions, not just their technical equipment.
The popularity of BMP has grown significantly
In contrast to the tank market, which has significantly decreased in volume, the demand for infantry fighting vehicles is still high. Russia is one of the three world leaders in sales of this equipment, having sold 928 vehicles in 2007-14 for about two billion dollars. Over the same period of time, Finland, which ranks first in the rating, delivered 1,041 cars under international agreements, with the amount of contracts amounting to $ 2,175 million.
The requirements for modern infantry fighting vehicles are no less stringent than for tanks and similar equipment. So, the car must withstand a direct hit from heavy shells, have mine protection. One of the best buyers is China, which is constantly updating its army with new combat vehicles. In the coming years, the Celestial Empire can enrich itself at the expense of 10 thousand infantry fighting vehicles, respectively, someone will have to supply them to this market. It is not hard to guess that the development of this industry is proceeding quite dynamically.
Does Russia need a new BMP?
As you know, the main purpose of the BMP is to clear the battlefield from infantry, without which tanks cannot fight. Western infantry fighting vehicles are primarily aimed at giving maximum protection to the crew from the hit of shells. Therefore, BMPs made in the UK or USA use powerful armor and excellent navigation systems. Due to the fact that tanks are in less and less demand, some of the models can be converted into tracked combat vehicles.
"Akhzarit", created on the basis of the T-55
The idea of using developments in the field of tank building for the production of infantry fighting vehicles was first used in Israel. It proved its worth: "Akhzarit", created on the basis of the T-55, showed excellent protection and excellent fighting qualities. It houses 4 machine guns at once, and the total capacity of the vehicle is 10 people (3 - crew, 7 - landing).
BTMP-84, which was made on the basis of the T-84
Something similar was created in Ukraine: the BTMP-84, which was made on the basis of the T-84. Unlike the Israeli version, this combat vehicle retained all the armament of the tank. In Russia, by a similar principle, on the basis of the T-55, the BTR-T was created. Its key advantage is its variable armament, which makes it possible to conduct combat operations more efficiently.
On the basis of the T-55, the BTR-T was created
However, adopting new equipment will be quite problematic, despite its relevance. Russia now faces complex tasks: it is both an increase in the export of equipment and an increase in its own military potential. However, given the fact that the demand for tanks is falling, it makes sense to develop a universal platform. It could be used for the production of various combat vehicles, as well as be adapted to large-scale modifications.
