2 С31 "Vienna" - Versatility
The representative of the domestic military-industrial complex of the new millennium is a 120 mm self-propelled gun 2 С31 "Vienna". First of all, we note that domestic mortars are called guns due to the versatility of tasks - they can play the role of both a mortar and howitzers, mortars and anti-tank guns. The main feature is the ability to use ammunition (mines) of 120 mm caliber from any manufacturer.
2005 - a prototype of the CAO 2S31 begins to undergo state tests. 2007 - state tests have been successfully completed. 2010 - the pilot batch goes into service with the Russian ground forces. The developer and manufacturer is Motovilikhinskiye Zavody OJSC.
For the first time, the public saw "Vienna" in 1997 at an exhibition of weapons and equipment in Abu Dhabi. A prototype of this weapon was demonstrated there. "Vienna" continues the traditions of its predecessor, which is in service with the ACS of the "Nona" project. The basis of the new universal type weapon is the BMP-3 chassis and the 2 A80 rifled gun. The main purpose is fire support for motorized rifle units, where the main standard unit is the BMP-3.
ACS layout:
- aft location of MTO;
- nasal location of the OS;
- BO with a centrally located tower installed on it.
Crew 2 С31 "Vienna" 4th person:
- driver-mechanic - OU;
- commander, loader and gunner - BO;
The hull with the turret is made of welded structures. Armor - anti-bullet, anti-fragmentation. The 2 A80 gun is a further development of the 2 A51 gun of the Nona self-propelled guns. The tool consists of a rifled barrel, a combined semi-automatic bolt, a cradle secured with a fence, anti-rollback devices and a lifting sector mechanism. The main feature of the gun is that the barrel is longer than the 2 A51 gun, which increased the range of the used ammunition to 14 kilometers. Also, the gun has a pneumatic rammer and a forced-type barrel blowing system. Horizontal angles - 360 degrees, vertical (-4) / (+ 80) degrees. The vertical angles are controlled by a special drive, which restores guidance after a shot has been fired.
The main difference between "Vena" and "Nona" is the presence of a modern fire control system and a weapon computer complex. The gunner is provided with a periscopic sight and a direct fire sight. The commander's cupola, made on the right side of the turret, has an autonomous target designation system that uses its own reconnaissance and surveillance equipment. It can be rotated 90 degrees, providing the gun commander with a large view of the battlefield. The OMS includes topographic reference and navigation systems. The weapon-computing complex stores positional data and shot angles data. He also determines on the basis of the data obtained, the guidance angles and the charge used. HVAC stores the acquired data for up to 30 targets. Ammunition is 70 ammunition, which are placed in mechanized ammunition stowage in the BO. It is possible to fire when ammunition is supplied from the ground, through the hatch on the starboard side of the vehicle. In addition to the cannon, SAO "Vena" is armed with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, which is mounted on the commander's cupola. The smoke screen is installed from 12 81 mm 902A grenade launchers - two blocks of six grenade launchers are installed on the sides of the turret. Fire from them can be conducted automatically - upon receipt of a command from the detector TShU-2 "Shtora-1" of laser radiation. According to their characteristics of the power of the OFS, used by the SAO 2S31 are equal to 155 mm projectiles. And if we take into account the high accuracy of fire, then SAO 2S31 gets an undeniable advantage over its foreign counterparts.
Self-propelled mortar "AMOS" - Rate of fire
The main competitor of Vienna Joint Stock Company is the Finnish-Swedish AMOS SM. Patria Weapon Systems and BAE Systems Hagglunds decided to create a mortar system of the future "AMOS", which was supposed to provide a solution to "mortar problems" - a low speed of a mine, quick detection of a mortar installation, a low speed of withdrawal from a firing position. In the late 90s, Patria Weapon Systems took up the design and manufacture of mortars, BAE Systems Hagglunds took over the design and construction of the turret and the necessary systems. Initially, the AMOS chassis was an 8-wheeled armored personnel carrier from Patria Weapon Systems, but in the end AMOS was installed on the CV90 BMP chassis.
During the tests, the developers settled on a breech-loading mortar - it was a long-range mortar with a muzzle-type loading - the firing range was about 13 kilometers. In addition, the convenience of loading and the convenience of the location of the mortar and other factors left no chances for the muzzle-loaded mortar. And after installing a breech-loading mortar on the tracked type BMP "CV90" chassis, it only confirmed its high performance. The main feature of AMOS is twin mortars. Due to the ballistic characteristics of the mines used and the execution of mortars on the CV90 chassis, the range of use dropped slightly and became equal to 10 kilometers. During the tests, the rate of fire of the paired mortars did not exceed 12 shots per minute, but bringing the automatic loader to mind doubled the rate of fire and the AMOS could now fire 26 shots in one minute.
Self-propelled mortars are weapons of firing from closed-type positions, therefore, their armor in order to increase mobility is bulletproof, anti-fragmentation. AMOS was no exception here. Vertical aiming angles (-5) / (+ 85) degrees, with the possibility of direct fire. The horizontal angles are 360 degrees, provided by the turret rotation. The loading system is semi-automatic, which provides firing a burst of 10 shots in 4 seconds. In addition to a pair of mortars, "AMOS" has a 7.62 mm machine gun. Ammunition used - 120 mm NATO standard mortar mines. The parameters of the shot are calculated by the computing equipment of the combat module, which can produce aiming for firing while moving at a speed of up to 30 km / h. True, the effective range of fire will drop to 5 kilometers. According to the developers, the main feature of AMOS is preparation for the use of mortars on the move. The combat module will calculate all the calculations required for this in motion, after which a small stop for a series of shots and the continuation of the movement.
The developers assure that the accuracy of the fire will be no worse than the usual method of firing, and using modern satellite navigation, this statement looks quite real.
The result of the Swedish-Finnish cooperation:
- 2006, Finland acquires 24 AMOS units for a total value of just over $ 100 million. 4 "AMOS" minimum and 20 "AMOS" standard. It is also planned to purchase these mortars, the number of which will be determined by the structural performance of the FDF troops;
- 2006, Sweden ordered 2 AMOS for installation on the CV90 chassis and 10 units for further installation on the SEP chassis, 4 units for installation on surface ships. In total, about 2 dozen units of the AMOS system were purchased;
- an order from Poland is possible, the AMOS system is planned to be installed on a Polish chassis. However, Poland, which year has not been able to decide on the order.
At the request of customers, the system can be provided with only one barrel. This system is called "NEMO". They want to acquire such a system:
- Saudi Arabia - 36 NEMO units for installation on floating armored personnel carriers;
- United Arab Emirates - 12 "NEMO" units for installation on patrol boats;
- Slovenia - 24 CM "NEMO".
Such unpretentiousness to the chassis has good prospects, customers can, at their discretion, order the installation of modules on their own chassis or purchase a ready-made self-propelled wheeled or tracked mortar.
Outcomes
Prospects for the development of "AMOS" are obvious, but if we compare both self-propelled mortars, then the domestic "Vienna" due to its high characteristics of power, incredible versatility, accuracy and accuracy, negates the advantages of the rate of fire of "AMOS". And the direct support of tank and motorized rifle units in the destruction of areal and small objects makes the superiority of the Russian self-propelled universal mortar complete and unconditional.
