One of the main novelties of the Russian Arms Expo-2013 exhibition, held at the end of September, turned out to be a promising heavy infantry fighting vehicle "Atom". This BMP is the result of cooperation between Russian and French specialists. The French companies Renault Trucks Defense and Nexter Systems, the Russian enterprise Uralvagonzavod and the Central Research Institute Burevestnik, using the existing developments, have created a promising combat vehicle that may be of interest to a large number of potential customers. It should be noted that the Atom project is not the first or only result of Russian-French cooperation in the development of armored combat vehicles. Similar projects began to appear several years ago.
VBL Kornet
In the middle of the last decade, the French company Panhard and the Russian Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) demonstrated their new joint development at several international exhibitions of arms and military equipment. In the course of the joint project, the French and Russian organizations used the existing developments, which made it possible to create a relatively simple combat vehicle capable of effectively dealing with armored vehicles and enemy fortifications.
The project called VBL Kornet implied the use of a French-made VBL armored vehicle as a carrier of the Russian Quartet combat module with anti-tank missiles. The basic armored car did not undergo any changes when the combat module was installed, due to which its characteristics remained the same. The VBL Kornet combat vehicle could accelerate on the highway to 95 km / h and carry up to four people, including the driver. The protection of the hull of the base armored car corresponded to the first level of the NATO standard STANAG 4569: armor plates protected the crew from 7.62 mm rifle bullets.
The VBL Kornet project involved the installation of a Russian combat module on a French armored car. The combat module "Quartet" is actually a launcher of the anti-tank missile system "Kornet-E", the design of which has been changed for installation on various types of equipment. A rotary platform is installed on the shoulder strap of the base vehicle, which serves as the basis for all units of the combat module. On the upper part of the platform, a block of sighting equipment and mounts for four transport and launch containers with missiles are mounted. The control panel and other devices of the operator's workplace of the complex are attached to the lower part of the platform. The total weight of the combat module is 600 kg.
The equipment of the Konret-E complex, which uses semi-automatic laser guidance, ensures the destruction of targets at a distance of up to 5500 meters. When using the thermal imaging channel of the sight, the range is reduced to 4500 m. Four transport and launch containers with guided missiles are simultaneously installed on the mounts of the combat module. Additional ammunition can be transported inside the base vehicle. The capabilities of the VBL armored car made it possible to place five containers with missiles inside the hull.
Panhard VBL armored cars are operated in more than one and a half dozen countries, primarily Africa and South America. It was these states that were considered as the main customers of the VBL Kornet anti-tank combat vehicle. In particular, and for this reason, the advertising materials mentioned the possibility of installing the Quartet combat module on a base vehicle in a military workshop. Domestic and foreign experts highly appreciated the prospects of the new French-Russian combat vehicle. However, after several demonstrations at international exhibitions, armored cars with anti-tank weapons VBL Kornet did not become the subject of contracts. None of the countries that were considered a potential buyer showed a desire to purchase equipment of joint Russian-French production.
ASTAIS-VBL
Cooperation between the Tula KBP and the French company Panhard did not bear fruit, but, nevertheless, showed the prospects for international cooperation. At the recent exhibition of weapons and military equipment "Interpolitech-2013" the Russian company "Asteys" and the French Renault Truck Defense revealed their plans. In the very near future, these firms intend to begin the production of modernized VBL armored vehicles for the needs of Russian law enforcement agencies.
Several years ago, Renault Truck Defense acquired Panhard and is now developing the VBL project. The next step in this direction is the project with the code name ASTAIS-VBL. The initiator of this project was a Russian company that studied the state of domestic and foreign developments in the field of light armored combat vehicles. According to the results of comparisons of several armored cars, the French VBL in the modernized version was recognized as the most interesting and corresponding to the requirements of the security forces. At the same time, it is planned not only to buy equipment abroad, but to start assembling new machines at Russian production facilities.
At the Interpolitech-2013 exhibition, representatives of Asteys spoke about further joint plans. Next year, the companies participating in the project intend to assemble the first batch of ASTAIS-VBL machines at one of the Russian enterprises. The power plant and chassis of the new cars will be delivered from France, and the hull, instrumentation, etc. will be made in Russia. The assembly of armored cars will also be carried out by Russian specialists. The joint project involves the construction of machines of the VBL Mk 2 modification, which differs from the basic version by a more powerful engine. Turbocharged diesel Steyr M14 with 129 hp. will increase the maximum speed of the armored car to 110 km / h, as well as increase the carrying capacity to 900 kg.
The first batch of ASTAIS-VBL armored cars will consist of 5-10 vehicles, which will be tested at the test site, and then transferred to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Subdivisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs must take the armored vehicles into trial operation and draw appropriate conclusions based on its results. If the Russian security forces are satisfied with the equipment of joint Russian-French production, its full-scale serial production will begin.
Backlog for the future
In the near future, it is possible that new projects will appear jointly by Russian and French designers. According to available information, the Tula Instrument Design Bureau is currently negotiating with Renault Truck Defense. It is proposed to create another armored combat vehicle armed with anti-tank missiles. It is proposed to use the Renault Sherpa Light Scout armored car as a basis for it, and the Quartet or Quartet-M combat module, using anti-tank missiles of the Kornet family, can become the weapon. For obvious reasons, the exact shape and further fate of this project has not yet been determined.
Finally, it is necessary to once again mention the Atom project, the first result of which was demonstrated at the Russian Arms Expo-2013 exhibition. In the course of this project, it is planned to create a wheeled armored platform suitable for use as a basis for combat vehicles of various classes. So, in the advertising materials presented at the exhibition, it was argued that the Atom armored platform could become the base for a heavy-class infantry fighting vehicle with a 57-mm automatic cannon, a self-propelled artillery installation with a 120 mm caliber gun, an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun, an ambulance and other military equipment.
Unfortunately, to date, not a single Russian-French project of armored combat vehicles has become the subject of orders and has not reached the stage of mass production. In the foreseeable future, Russian and foreign customers will be offered new types of equipment and it is quite possible that they will interest potential buyers.
