The Russian army will receive satellite-guided shells.
The Moscow design bureau "Compass" has developed the latest module for unguided artillery shells.
Compass is one of the main developers of navigation aids for the Russian Armed Forces. The ICD successfully passed preliminary tests of the GLONASS navigation module for artillery shells.
As reported from the military department, the module was developed within the framework of the "Dynamics" program and can be attached to both existing and new shells.
The module designed by Compass can be installed in place of the fuse in the head of an artillery projectile with a caliber of 152 mm and above. The module consists of a combined fuse, a GLONASS signal receiver and a control surface - the so-called aerodynamic rudder, which unfolds and corrects the projectile's flight path.
A projectile with the "Dynamics" module, unlike projectiles that are guided by a laser beam, is not affected by weather conditions and does not require external target illumination. This makes it possible to effectively hit point targets with previously established coordinates. In a projectile improved in this way, the probable circular deviation does not exceed 10 meters. But at the same time, for conventional, 152-mm projectiles, with a significant firing range, it is 100 meters or more.
The modernized Russian ammunition with the Dynamika module makes it possible to produce satellite-guided projectiles at an order of magnitude cheaper than the American 155-mm Excalibur projectile with GPS guidance. The cost of such a projectile is over 80 thousand dollars. It is equipped with built-in rudders and a gas generator. With the serial production of such a projectile, its price will be 50 thousand dollars. According to reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the cost of the upgraded projectile with the Dinamika module will not exceed $ 1,000.
This module can be used both for upgrading outdated shells and for new ones. Its cost, anyway, will be much less than that of its American counterpart. Russian developers have achieved stable reception of the GLONASS navigation signal on a rotating projectile, while the American Excalibur, in order to receive a signal, must stop rotating. This causes its high cost and greatly complicates the design.
The editor-in-chief of the specialized magazine "Arsenal" Viktor Murakhovsky believes that the latest Russian development has made a real revolution in artillery.
Mr. Murakhovsky is sure that such a projectile significantly reduces ammunition consumption. When firing conventional shells at a platoon strongpoint, up to two thousand shells are needed, and in this case, much less is required. At the same time, the firing accuracy of shells with modules does not decrease with distance - it will be constant regardless of how far the firing is carried out - by 5 or 50 kilometers. This makes it possible to instantly hit any target. The most important thing is accurate information regarding the location of the target, obtained from reconnaissance, UAVs and other channels, - the expert expressed his opinion.
Mr. Murakhovsky also stressed that due to the low cost of the module, it will be possible to provide Russian artillery troops with a large number of guided shells in a short time, while no additional funds will be needed to modernize the guns themselves.
Anatoly Tsyganok, head of the Center for Military Forecasting, stressed that in order to effectively use such projectiles, the army lacks precision targeting systems.
Further, Mr. Tsyganok notes that deep reconnaissance has completely different tasks and no one will distract it to aim long-range artillery at a target. The satellite will also not be able to readjust to each separately taken weapon, since it controls the entire battlefield.
He believes that high-precision missiles should be directed by unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, but they are not yet in the Russian army.
