In the interests of the missile forces and artillery, new types of weapons and equipment are being created. Several self-propelled guns of a new type have been developed in recent years as part of development work with the Sketch code. The new family of vehicles includes three combat vehicles with different base chassis and different weapons. According to the latest news, such equipment will be able to enter service with the Russian army in the near future.
New messages about the progress and results of the "Sketch" project, as well as about the equipment of this family, appeared a few days ago. It is curious that the first news was announced at the official level. On September 30, on the eve of the Day of Ground Forces, the MK edition published an interview with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleg Salyukov. The commander spoke about current work and promising projects. Among other things, he mentioned new developments for artillery formations.
Self-propelled gun "Phlox". Photo T-digest.ru
According to the commander-in-chief, a promising artillery and mortar complex with the code "Sketch" is being developed. Systems from this complex are intended for use in missile forces and artillery at the battalion level. All samples of the family are based on different chassis. Among other things, it provides for the adaptation of equipment for operation in the Arctic.
On October 3, new details of the "Sketch" project were published by the Internet edition of the NPK "Uralvagonzavod" T-Digest. In addition, his message contained new information on the progress of work. According to T-Digest, the Sketch family includes three SPGs. These are the self-propelled guns "Phlox" and "Magnolia", as well as the self-propelled mortar "Drok". The new "flower" systems have some common features, but at the same time they seriously differ from each other in all respects.
The development of equipment for the new family was carried out by the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" (Nizhny Novgorod), which is part of the NPK Uralvagonzavod. This enterprise has long been engaged in the creation of artillery systems, and for some time now its product catalog includes three promising products at once.
T-Digest indicates that all three artillery systems are currently being tested. Moreover, they are already reaching the final stage of the project. Thus, in the near future, three self-propelled guns can receive a recommendation for adoption, and then go into mass production. However, the timing of the completion of the tests and the possible start of service have not yet been specified. The publication at Uralvagonzavod dispenses with a general wording and writes “very soon”.
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It should be noted that the latest reports are about already well-known developments of the domestic industry. So, the development work "Sketch" started in 2015 and soon gave the first results. A prototype of Floks JSC was presented for the first time at the Army-2016 exhibition. At the same event, the first demonstration of the Gorse mortar took place, although this development was demonstrated only in the form of a scale model. The third example of the Sketch family, the Magnolia cannon, has not yet been shown openly. Thus, in just a few recent years, the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" has created and brought to testing a promising artillery and mortar complex.
"Phlox", side and stern view. Photo by NPK Uralvagonzavod
Back in 2016, some information about the goals and objectives of the projects was announced, as well as their technical details. The new self-propelled guns, which, as it is now known, are part of the same family, are intended for firing at enemy ground targets located at distances of up to tens of kilometers. SAO is proposed to be used when firing from closed positions, while ensuring the possibility of hitting targets in a wide range of ranges, including at minimum distances.
It was argued that in new projects, a concept of a universal 120-mm gun on a wheeled chassis, new for our army, was being implemented. The armament is already in the CAO "Nona" and "Hosta" with similar weapons, but they were built on the basis of a tracked armored vehicle. It is expected that the use of wheeled chassis will allow combining the combat qualities of weapons and high mobility of vehicles. The latter capabilities are of particular importance, since they allow increasing the survivability and combat effectiveness of self-propelled guns.
At the same time, the Sketch project provides for the installation of similar artillery systems on different chassis. This approach provides additional benefits associated with mobility. So, CJSC "Flox" is built on a wheeled platform and is intended for use in areas with a developed road network and not the most difficult off-road. For more difficult areas, including the Arctic, created another version of the self-propelled gun - "Magnolia". The presence of a floating tracked chassis gives such a combat vehicle obvious advantages.
As a result, the customer gets the opportunity to choose from several offers the car that best meets his requirements. Or it becomes possible to distribute equipment of several types in different districts and regions, taking into account its capabilities and characteristics. From certain points of view, this approach to rearmament has some advantages over the traditional construction of one machine for all needs.
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The Sketch family includes three artillery systems. Two of them have already been shown in the form of mock-ups or full-fledged prototypes. The third has not yet been shown to the public, but its approximate appearance is already known. Also, the authors of the project have already published some of the characteristics of promising technology. All this makes it possible to compose a fairly detailed picture, in which, however, there are still white spots.
SAO "Flox" is a 120-mm artillery system based on a three-axle armored vehicle. The basis of this sample is the Ural-VV chassis, rebuilt as necessary. In the front part of the chassis there is a double-row cab, behind which there are two large blocks with the necessary equipment. A rotary device with a gun was placed directly at the stern. The chassis is equipped with a 270 hp diesel engine. and a four-wheel drive transmission.
Models of promising equipment from the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik". In the foreground is the Drok self-propelled mortar. Photo Soyuzmash.ru
The self-propelled gun was developed on the basis of the existing product 2A80 and unified with it in a number of units. The original design was seriously redesigned, which made it possible to increase the accuracy and accuracy of fire, as well as reduce the load on the chassis. Used a 120-mm barrel without rifling, equipped with a semi-automatic bolt. With its help, the gun can use both standard mortar mines and artillery shells of the corresponding caliber. This expands the range of tasks to be solved and makes "Phlox" a direct analogue of the serial "Vienna" and "Hosts". The gun ammunition consists of 80 rounds. Of these, 28 are located in the so-called. operational styling.
"Phlox" is equipped with a modern fire control system, including navigation and gun guidance control. An interesting innovation is the sensors that track the position of the barrel. With their help, after each shot, you can restore the aiming. In terms of ballistics, "Phlox" corresponds to "Vienna", as a result of which the firing range of conventional projectiles reaches 8-10 km. Active-jet aircraft fly 15-17 km.
The crew has an armored cabin that protects against small arms and shrapnel. In addition, for self-defense, it is proposed to use a remotely controlled combat module with a Kord machine gun. Next to it, 902B products are mounted on the cab roof.
The appearance of CJSC "Magnolia" has not yet appeared in open sources, but certain features of this machine are already known. According to recent reports, this project provides for the installation of a Phlox gun on a different chassis. The latter is played by the DT-30 two-link tracked transporter. Apparently, a modification is used with armoring of the manned compartment, and the rear link is allocated for the installation of the artillery system.
DT-30 is equipped with a 710 hp diesel engine. and a special transmission that drives the tracks of both links. The two conveyor bodies are connected to each other using a special unit that includes hydraulic drives. With a curb weight of 28 tons, the conveyor is capable of transporting up to 30 tons of cargo. The new gun of the 2A80 type does not differ in its large mass, and therefore the Magnolia must have a large reserve of carrying capacity. It can be used to increase ammunition or improve conditions for the crew.
NPK "Uralvagonzavod" and the Ministry of Defense have not yet shown SJSC "Magnolia" to the public, but it is already known about the existence of a prototype of this type. It is possible that the prototype will soon receive its fair share of attention.
The DT-30 transporter is the basis of the promising Magnolia Joint-Stock Company. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
The self-propelled mortar "Drok" also exists in the form of a prototype, but at the exhibitions so far only models of such equipment have been demonstrated. With their help, the designers clearly showed the main provisions of the project, the architecture and the capabilities of the combat vehicle. First of all, it should be noted that the new mortar on a self-propelled chassis is seriously different from previous domestic developments in its class.
The base for the "Drok" was a two-axle armored car "Typhoon-VDV", originally designed for the installation of various weapons. The new project provides for the use of a special combat module mounted on the roof. This module is a turret with mounts for an 82mm mortar. The barrel is placed on recoil devices, but if necessary, it can be removed. In this case, the mortar turns into a portable one and is used with a two-legged and base plate of standard types.
Combat vehicle "Drok" is designed to solve the same tasks as other mortars of all classes. The characteristics of 82-mm mines make it possible to effectively solve the tasks of fire support at the battalion level. According to the developer, the Drok self-propelled gun carries with it 40 minutes and shows a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute. The firing range is from 100 m to 6 km.
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In recent decades, the need to transfer artillery systems of all main classes to self-propelled chassis has become obvious. At the same time, the construction of an ACS with a traditional look is not always possible or advisable. All this becomes a prerequisite for the emergence of new original samples of artillery equipment, which are noticeably different from those previously created.
According to reports of the last few years, the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" and NPK "Uralvagonzavod" within the framework of the "Sketch" project managed to create at once three variants of a self-propelled gun, differing in relative simplicity with sufficiently high combat characteristics. In addition, they are distinguished by good mobility, which contributes to increased survivability. At the same time, two of the three samples, being equipped with special weapons, are capable of performing the functions of cannons, howitzers and mortars.
Previously, the components of the new artillery and mortar complex were featured only at exhibitions, but to date, projects have advanced far ahead. According to the latest reports, "Phlox", "Magnolia" and "Drok" have already entered the state tests and are nearing their completion. After all the necessary checks, the new vehicles can enter service with the ground or airborne forces.
