According to the press service of the Western Military District, at the beginning of next year, a separate brigade of radiation, chemical and biological protection of the Western Military District, stationed in the Kursk region, will receive new special equipment. In the first months of 2016, this compound should switch to the latest chemical reconnaissance vehicles PXM-6. Currently, the personnel of the brigade is undergoing training and mastering new equipment on the basis of training units, thanks to which they will be able to start operating the machines immediately after receiving them.
RHM-6 is the newest domestic chemical reconnaissance vehicle. This technique is intended to replace existing machines of a similar purpose. It is expected that through the supply of new equipment with the gradual decommissioning of the existing one, it will be possible to increase the potential of the RChBZ troops, in particular, to improve their capabilities to detect and identify various threats. The improvement in basic performance is achieved through a number of important innovations in the composition of equipment and methods of work of the crew.
The project of the RKhM-6 reconnaissance chemical vehicle was developed by the specialists of Tula Plant OJSC. The project involves the use of the existing chassis of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, on which it is proposed to mount a set of special equipment to study the situation and search for threats. The complex of onboard equipment allows monitoring the situation and detecting signs of a chemical or biological attack, as well as detecting radiation contamination. In addition, automatic observation of meteorological conditions is provided with data output to the operator's console. In this case, information about weather conditions and detected threats can be transmitted to the command post.
General view of RHM-6. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier is used as a base for the RHM-6, due to which the reconnaissance chemical vehicle has high mobility and maneuverability. The existing wheeled chassis, in combination with the KamAZ-7403 diesel engine, makes it possible to reach speeds on the highway up to 70 km / h. It also remains possible to cross water obstacles by swimming with the help of a jet propulsion unit. At the same time, the speed reaches 10 km / h. Good mobility and the ability to move on water allow the crew of the vehicle to explore various territories, including those separated by water bodies.
When installing special equipment, the body of the base machine undergoes minimal changes. Thanks to this, the crew of the reconnaissance vehicle, consisting of three people, is protected from small arms bullets and light shell fragments. The turret with machine-gun armament has also been preserved. For self-defense, scouts can use machine guns KPVT caliber 14.5 mm and PKTM caliber 7.62 mm. Smoke grenade launchers are located on the rear surface of the tower.
Most of the special equipment is installed inside the armored hull of the base vehicle. At the same time, some units remain outside the hull, making it possible to distinguish between two types of armored vehicles. So, on the starboard side of the PXM-6 there is a folding mast of a small height, on which one of the sensors is located. In addition, on the roof, behind the tower, there is a characteristic rectangular casing of the long-range chemical reconnaissance device PCRDD-2B.
To monitor the meteorological situation, the PXM-6 vehicle is equipped with an AMK kit. This equipment allows you to monitor basic factors such as air temperature, wind speed and direction, etc. With the help of the AMK kit, the crew of the vehicle can determine the risks of the spread of toxic or radioactive substances to new territories.
It is proposed to monitor the radiation situation using a dosimeter-radiometer of the IMD-2NM type. In parallel with it, the dose rate meters IMD-23 or IMD-24 are used. In the case of work in areas of radiation contamination, the reconnaissance vehicle can move at a speed of up to 50 km / h without loss in the effectiveness of special equipment and the quality of measurements.
The main means of detecting vapors of toxic chemicals and other substances posing a danger to personnel is the long-range chemical reconnaissance device PCRDD-2B. The main element of the device is a block of special optical equipment, installed on the roof of the PXM-6 hull, behind the tower. In the transport position, the equipment unit is closed by a folding casing. Before operation, the casing flaps are lowered to the sides, after which the equipment can begin to work.
The operator of the complex at work. Photo Mil.ru
With the help of optical equipment, the PCRDD-2B device is capable of detecting substances dissolved in the air at a distance of up to 6 km. The support device of the optical unit provides circular horizontal guidance. It is also possible to tilt the unit in the vertical plane from -15 ° to + 45 °. This provides the ability to monitor various sections of the airspace. With the help of special optical equipment, the PCRDD-2B system can study the situation on an area of about 10 square meters within one minute. km.
The RXM-6 machine also carries a GSA-14 gas alarm, an ASP-13 automatic alarm and a KPO-1 sampling kit. One of the main elements of the onboard equipment is the 14Ts834 Control-2D information and navigation system. Also provided are navigation equipment, a radio station for communication with other machines, etc.
Chemical and nonspecific biological reconnaissance equipment, like dosimeters, allows you to survey the area on the go, without stopping for certain measurements. Nevertheless, in the case of such threats, the maximum speed of the reconnaissance vehicle, providing the required survey efficiency, is reduced to 10 km / h.
Having discovered an infection, the crew of the RXM-6 vehicle can transmit data about it to the command post using the available communication means. In addition, it is possible to mark the contaminated area. For this, a throwing device for setting flags is provided at the rear of the machine. Passing along the border of the contaminated area, the reconnaissance vehicle can automatically set flags warning personnel of the danger.
The newest equipment installed on the RXM-6 vehicle allows not only to improve the main characteristics, but also to facilitate the work of the crew. If necessary, the crew can leave the vehicle to perform some tasks, but the bulk of the combat work is performed using systems controlled from the existing consoles. Thus, most of the tasks can be performed without the need to leave the vehicle, which reduces the risks to its crew. In order to avoid the ingress of poisonous or radioactive substances into the habitable compartment, the machine is equipped with a filter ventilation unit. In addition, the crew has protective suits that provide additional safety of work, and also allow, if necessary, to leave the car.
PCRDD-2B device. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The development of the RHM-6 project and preliminary tests of prototype machines were completed several years ago. In 2013, the military for the first time got the opportunity to get acquainted with the new technology, as well as test it in the context of exercises. In 2013, one of the formations of the RChBZ troops of the Southern Military District used RHM-6 vehicles during exercises at the Prudboy training ground. Soon this technique could be tested by the radiation, chemical and biological defense units of the strategic missile forces.
At the end of 2014, the first delivery of RXM-6 vehicles to the troops took place. A number of machines of this type were transferred to a separate special-purpose regiment and a separate airborne communications regiment stationed in the Moscow region. In addition, similar chemical reconnaissance vehicles were built for several other compounds during the past year.
According to the latest reports from the Ministry of Defense, the next batch of serial PXM-6 reconnaissance vehicles will enter the troops in the first months of next 2016. This equipment will receive a separate brigade of the RChBZ of the Western Military District, stationed in the Kursk region. Currently, the personnel of the brigade is studying a new material part and preparing for the future operation of promising equipment.
Over time, the PXM-6 reconnaissance chemical vehicles should displace and replace similar equipment of previous models in service with various branches of the military. The deliveries of new machines will allow upgrading the material part of the RChBZ units, as well as increasing their potential in detecting various threats and combating them.
