Over the past several years, Russian defense enterprises have continued to work on a universal combat module with a 57-mm automatic cannon. Such a product has known advantages and is of interest to customers. Naturally, the promising concept did not go unnoticed by foreign specialists, and direct analogs of Russian developments are already appearing. So, a few weeks ago, the Desert Spider combat module was presented for the first time, which was the result of cooperation between enterprises in Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates.
The existence of the new project was officially announced in February this year during the IDEX-2019 exhibition in the UAE. In one of the pavilions of the event, a full-size sample of the Desert Spider system was presented. Also, the development organizations have published promotional materials. The authors of the project expect to receive orders, and therefore disclose all its main features and advantages.
Active module Desert Spider in air defense configuration. Photo by Valhalla Turrets
A promising combat module Desert Spider ("Desert spider"; perhaps it meant a specific arachnid - solpuga) was developed in the framework of cooperation between the Slovenian company Valhalla Turrets and the Emirati International Golden Group. The Slovenian company is widely known for its developments in the field of remotely controlled weapons systems, and has already managed to offer a variant of the module with a 57-mm cannon. Now similar ideas have been implemented in a new project.
The Desert Spider product is a rocket-cannon-machine gun combat module with the ability to transport or place it in a stationary position. It is proposed to strengthen air defense, but at the same time it can work on ground targets. The project uses ready-made components and assemblies, which should reduce the cost of the module, as well as simplify its operation.
The module of the new type is an armored turret with a small turret basket, suitable for mounting on different platforms. At IDEX-2019, the product was demonstrated on a simple stand covered with a camouflage net. Other media appear in promotional materials and statements.
Thus, in promotional images, the combat module is placed on a special stationary base. It is an armored box with a set of rigidly fixed supports and folding hydraulic outriggers. In the near future, Valhalla Turrets promises to present a modified version of the "Spider" designed for mounting on armored vehicles. This version of the module has already received the name RCWS Viper, it will be presented no later than next spring.
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The combat module Desert Spider is based on an armored dome; spaced armor made of steel panels is used. Wedge-shaped frontal units and inclined sides are used, which should enhance protection. The declared level of protection according to STANAG 4569 - the armor must withstand 7, 62-mm rifle armor-piercing bullets or fragments of a 155-mm projectile at a distance of 60 m. Some of the external equipment, apparently, does not have equivalent protection. The proposed stationary base must correspond in its protection to the module itself.
In the center of the tower is a swinging part with a barrel armament. The design of the tower provides circular horizontal guidance. The swinging part moves in a vertical sector from -20 ° to + 70 °, which corresponds to the tasks set. With such aiming angles, the combat module can fight both air and ground targets.
The 57-mm automatic cannon AZP-57 from the Soviet-designed S-60 anti-aircraft gun was chosen as the "main caliber" of the module. Such a gun retains all the main units, uses standard ammunition and shows the same characteristics. At the same time, the ammunition supply system has been changed. Instead of a cage system, a continuous chain feed is used.
Boxes for 92 shells were placed inside the combat module. The gun can use two types of 57x348 mm R unitary shots: the OR-281 fragmentation tracer and the BR-281 armor-piercing tracer. Due to the new ammunition supply system, the combat rate of fire has been increased to 120 rounds per minute. Fire characteristics remained the same: effective firing range - 6 km, height reach - 5 km.
Together with the cannon, a large-caliber KPVT machine gun is placed on the swinging part. Its ammunition load includes 300 rounds of 14.5x114 mm in one tape. Depending on the type of target and other conditions, the machine gun is capable of effective fire at distances of up to 1500-2000 m.
On the sides of the combat module are two packages of guides for missile weapons. The package is an armored box with six longitudinal tubular guides of 70 mm caliber. The packages have vertical guidance drives. Two of these launchers can be used with 70-mm unguided or guided missiles of existing and future types. It is assumed that missile weapons can be used against various targets in the air and on the ground.
Module without support device. Photo Armyrecognition.com
On the roof of the tower there are two sights for the commander and gunner. A panoramic combined sight with a rangefinder is intended for the commander. A compact radar antenna is mounted on the casing of this sight. The gunner has only optical instruments. The available means allow you to find various targets at ranges up to 15-20 km - depending on the conditions and type of objects. Data from sighting devices must be transmitted to calculation panels by cable or radio channel. Commands for mechanisms and weapons go back. The consoles themselves can be located at a distance from the combat module - on various vehicles or in protected structures.
The mechanisms of the Valhalla / IGG Desert Spider combat module are built using electric drives. Their work is provided by a built-in rechargeable battery. Its capacity allows the module to work for 14 days. Also, the product can be connected to an external power source, which expands the possibilities for long-term duty.
The combat module in a stationary configuration has a total length of about 7 m and a height of more than 2-2.5 m. The mass in this form is about 5 tons. When developing a new modification of the "Desert Spider" for mounting on armored vehicles, it is planned to reduce the weight of the system to 3850 kg. For this, the designers will donate a 14.5 mm machine gun, instead of which they use a 12.7 mm caliber weapon. Launchers for 70-mm missiles will be replaced with other products, and the radar will be removed.
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The first official demonstration of the Desert Spider combat module took place just a few weeks ago, and it is too early to talk about the signing of contracts for the supply of such products. However, it is already possible to evaluate the joint project of Slovenia and the UAE, and also try to predict its real prospects.
The product "Desert Spider" is proposed, first of all, for use in air defense, although its use against ground targets is not excluded. In the context of air defense, the module can play the role of a short-range protection means, complementing other anti-aircraft systems. Independent use of the Desert Spider leads to certain risks: the firing range of its main weapon is noticeably inferior to the drop range of modern aircraft weapons. Thus, the new combat module should be considered only as a means to "finish off" targets that have broken through other echelons of defense.
Desert Spider is of particular interest in the context of fighting ground vehicles. In recent decades, there has been a trend towards an increase in the protection of combat vehicles; modern samples can withstand the impact of 30-mm shells. Thus, to defeat them, artillery of increased caliber is required - such as the S-60 / AZP-57 cannon. Its presence not only guarantees the defeat of vehicles with light and medium armor, but also increases the effective firing range.
Additional armament in the form of a KPV machine gun and 70 mm rockets significantly expands the range of tasks to be solved. Thanks to them, the combat module is able to attack a specific target using the most effective ammunition in this case. Thus, excess exposure is eliminated and savings are achieved.
The old 57 mm cannon has obvious advantages, but it is not without its drawbacks and may not fully meet modern requirements. The Desert Spider module should use old types of fragmentation and armor-piercing projectiles, which can only hit the target with a direct hit. The probability of hitting a target could be increased with the help of a 57-mm projectile with a programmable fuse, but such products are still being developed only in Russia. Whether the Slovenian and Emirati enterprises will be able to develop such ammunition or obtain foreign products is a big question.
Stationary placement of the module can lead to unnecessary risks. Like any other air defense system, it is a priority target for the enemy. As a consequence, the inability to quickly leave the position and go to a safe place is a serious disadvantage. However, in this case, some measures have been taken. The module has bulletproof armor and is partially protected from artillery. Control panels are located at a distance from the module itself, which reduces risks for operators.
It must be admitted that the Valhalla / IGG Desert Spider combat module has a number of positive features, thanks to which it can have certain commercial prospects. A stationary or transportable air defense system with a weapon of increased power may be of interest to some customers. In addition, its modification, intended for installation on armored vehicles, may become the topic of contracts in the future.
Anti-aircraft gun S-60 - it was her gun that was used on the "Desert Spider". Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
Nevertheless, for all its advantages, the Desert Spider project has significant drawbacks that can disappoint a potential customer. In addition, despite the presence of a certain interest on the part of the armies, modern artillery systems like the proposed one have not yet received noticeable distribution.
You can also recall the history of Valhalla Turrets, which does not allow us to look to the future with optimism. Over the past few years, Slovenian engineers, independently and in cooperation with foreign colleagues, have developed a number of combat modules with different capabilities. In particular, such a product with a 57 mm cannon was already offered in 2017. However, none of these developments has yet gone beyond the exhibition pavilion. Slovenian combat modules are attracting attention, but no one orders them.
It is quite possible that cooperation with an enterprise from the UAE will not lead to a change in the situation, and Desert Spider will add to the list of projects without real prospects. In the future, this may even lead to the closure of the developer company. However, a positive outcome is also possible, in which the joint Slovenian-Emirati development will still reach the series. For now, it remains only to wait for the news.
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It should be noted that the Valhalla / IGG Desert Spider project should be of particular interest to Russian specialists and amateurs of military equipment. The fact is that to a certain extent it repeats the concept implemented in the domestic project of the AU-220M "Baikal" module. The creation of a remote-controlled system with a 57-mm automatic cannon as the main weapon is again proposed. Under certain circumstances, the "Desert Spider" may even become a competitor to "Baikal" on the international market. However, such a competitor should not be overestimated.
The emergence of new projects from Valhalla Turret and related organizations brings an important conclusion. It seems that foreign designers have studied Russian ideas about returning 57-mm artillery to service and began to work out their projects of this kind. Until now, these developments have not received any distribution, but in the future the situation may change. In the meantime, defense enterprises should develop their projects, study other people's developments and prepare for the possible start of fierce competition. Demand for combat modules with 57-mm cannons may appear at any time.
