The main event of the week was the international exhibition of arms and military equipment Russian Arms Expo-2013, which started on September 25 at the Staratel training ground near Nizhny Tagil. RAE-2013 deservedly bears the title of one of the largest military technical salons in the world. This year, the landfill near Nizhny Tagil has become a platform for demonstrating the products of more than 400 companies and organizations from several countries. The level of international interest in the exhibition is clearly demonstrated by the fact that delegations from fifty foreign countries arrived at RAE-2013.
The Russian defense industry presented several new developments at the RAE-2013 exhibition, as well as projects for the modernization of existing equipment. An interesting feature of the current exhibition was a fairly large number of announcements: a few days before the start of the event, manufacturers of military equipment began to talk about their new products, which are scheduled to be shown at RAE-2013. At the same time, information about one of the most interesting exhibits remained closed to the public until the opening of the salon.
A few days before the opening of the exhibition, a photograph of a certain wheeled armored vehicle with cannon armament appeared on the Internet. In the photo, the sample was covered with a tarpaulin, which immediately started controversy about which car was preparing to be shown at RAE-2013. The answer to this question turned out to be much more interesting than some of the versions expressed. As it turned out, the Russian enterprises Uralvagonzavod and the Central Research Institute Burevestnik, together with the French companies Renault Trucks Defense and Nexter Systems, are developing a promising wheeled infantry fighting vehicle of a heavy class. So far, the project is at the stage of concept development, but some of its features already allow us to talk about quite large prospects. A turret with a 57 mm automatic cannon is installed on a chassis with an 8x8 wheel arrangement, which is common for modern armored vehicles. The capabilities of such a weapon are significantly higher than that of any other gun used on modern armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles. It is expected that the promising Russian-French infantry fighting vehicle will interest foreign customers.
A few months ago it became known that Uralvagonzavod is preparing its new development for RAE-2013, which is a further development of the already well-known machine. During the exhibition, the first demonstration of the updated tank support combat vehicle, which received the BMPT-72 index, took place. The purpose of this modernization was to improve the combat characteristics of the Object 199, as well as to ensure unification with existing equipment. BMPT-72, as its name implies, is based on the chassis of the T-72 tank. The main features of the weapons complex remained the same, but some of its elements were changed. Thus, the use of new electronic systems made it possible to reduce the crew of a combat vehicle to three people. Bulletproof and splinter-proof protection of a number of tower units is provided. It is assumed that BMPT-72 vehicles will not only be built, but also converted from T-72 tanks. In the latter case, the base tank must undergo repairs, during which, at the request of the customer, the power plant can be replaced. As stated, the BMPT-72 retained all the fighting qualities inherent in the previous vehicle of this class, and surpasses it in some respects.
There are several more news related to the line of domestic tank support combat vehicles. Deputy Prime Minister D. Rogozin said that this class of military equipment will be improved and new models of BMPT will appear in the future. In the future, it is planned to create a vehicle with missile and cannon armament on the basis of the Armata heavy armored platform. Thus, all domestic BMPTs will use the chassis, unified with the tanks used by the troops. Due to the lack of a ready-made serial platform "Armata", the Nizhny Tagil enterprise "Uralvagonzavod" still has to make plans in accordance with the current state of industry and troops. General Director of Uralvagonzavod O. Sienko said that the production of BMPT-72 can be started in the near future. No specific dates were named, which can be explained by the lack of orders from the Ministry of Defense. Nevertheless, rumors have been circulating for quite some time about the possible adoption of the BMPT-72 into service.
A large number of T-72 tanks, operated in the Russian armed forces and several foreign armies, forces tank builders to create various options for modernizing this technology. At the RAE-2013 exhibition Uralvagonzavod presented its version of a complex of additional means of protection designed to ensure the survivability of the tank in the conditions of modern urban battles. To protect against various anti-tank weapons and explosive devices, the T-72 tank is proposed to be equipped with several additional modules. So, it is proposed to install modules of the dynamic protection system on the frontal and side parts of the hull and turret. The rear of the hull and turret are covered with anti-cumulative gratings. To protect against radio-controlled explosive devices, the T-72 tank with a set of protective equipment carries the RP-377UVM1L electronic countermeasure system. The purpose of this system is to suppress frequencies used to command mines. The problem of protecting the tank commander who fires from a machine gun installed in front of his hatch has been solved in an original way. On the sides and back, the commander is covered with a shield of complex shape, which protects against bullets and shrapnel. To monitor the situation, each of the five panels of the dashboard is equipped with bulletproof glass. In case of movement through rubble, the T-72 tank protection kit includes a TBS-86 dozer blade. With this unit, you can make passages in obstacles, as well as dig trenches. After the installation of the complex of means of protection, the combat weight of the T-72 tank increases to 50 tons, which probably leads to a decrease in its mobility.
Another option for upgrading the T-72 tank, presented at RAE-2013, involves the installation of the Arena-E active protection complex. This complex allows you to automatically monitor the situation around the tank and track anti-tank missiles or grenades flying towards it. Arena-E independently detects threats and issues a command to launch a protective ammunition. The active protection complex is capable of destroying anti-tank ammunition flying up to the tank at a speed of up to 1000 m / s from any direction in azimuth. The sector of defeat in elevation is from -6 ° to + 20 °. High operational reliability is ensured by double redundancy in each direction.
Visitors to the RAE-2013 exhibition could not only view the presented developments at the stands and exhibition grounds, but also watch their work. For example, during the demonstration performances of the equipment, the updated anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-23-4M4 "Shilka-M4" was shown. The new ZSU differs from previous modifications in the composition of electronic equipment and weapons. The Shilka-M4 uses modern digital devices instead of old analog electronics. In addition, new night vision devices that do not need illumination, new communication equipment, a system for monitoring the operation of electronic equipment and an air conditioner are being installed on the combat vehicle. The combat capabilities of the ZSU-23-4M4 have been significantly increased due to the use of the Strelets anti-aircraft missile system. At the rear of the tower are two launchers with mounts for transport and launch containers for Igla missiles. Thanks to the use of guided missiles, both the range and the likelihood of hitting targets increase.
It is noteworthy that in addition to the modernization of combat vehicles, the domestic defense industry is actively engaged in projects for other purposes. So, at the Russian Arms Expo-2013 exhibition, a new fire-fighting and rescue complex was shown, created on the basis of the T-80 tank. A fire truck based on the tank was developed at Uralvagonzavod by order of the Russian Ministry of Defense. On a significantly modified tank chassis, a set of tools is installed that is necessary for extinguishing fires in ammunition depots. The armored vehicle is equipped with a 25 cubic meter water tank. meters and, if necessary, can send a jet at a distance of up to 100 meters. A fire truck based on the T-80 is equipped with video cameras and remote control systems, thanks to which it is able to operate without endangering the crew. Now the last tests of the new fire engine are underway, and the re-equipment of the remaining T-80 tanks will begin in the foreseeable future. In the future, it is planned to create a similar project in which the chassis of the T-72 tank will be used.
RAE 2013 provided a platform for various announcements. Deputy Prime Minister D. Rogozin spoke about the actions of the state aimed at optimizing economic processes in the defense industry. In order to reduce the cost of rearmament, a regulatory and legal framework is now being created to regulate pricing issues for the products of defense enterprises. First of all, an emphasis will be placed on flexible prices. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this will be useful both for the Ministry of Defense and for enterprises. This approach will allow for more correct planning of work on the creation of high-tech equipment with a production cycle of about 5-7 years. At the same time, Rogozin notes that the price of any contract should initially and guaranteed include the contractor's profit. The task of the state is not only the rearmament of the army, but also the development of industry. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the interests of the latter.
In the future, the industry and the military department will continue to conclude contracts that imply not only the supply of weapons or equipment, but also full service throughout the entire service life. The military-industrial commission under the government has already made a decision, the number of such contracts will grow. According to D. Rogozin, full-cycle contracts are one of the main ways to implement the current state program for the rearmament of the army.
The exposition of the Russian Arms Expo-2013 exhibition was divided into two parts. One of them was opened for visitors, and only specialists and officials with a special permit could get to the second. In the closed part of the exhibition, several new developments were shown, which are still too early to demonstrate to the general public. According to some reports, the leaders of the Ministry of Defense and the state were shown a promising tank based on the Armata platform. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who visited the exhibition, noted that there was a lot of interesting things in the closed exposition. He did not rule out that some samples may appear at the Victory Parade in 2015, which so far are shown only to a narrow circle of high-ranking officials of the government and the Ministry of Defense. Medvedev noted that a considerable part of the projects presented at the exhibition were not only developed, but also ready for the imminent start of mass production.
In the near future, the "Prospector" training ground will undergo some changes, which for many years has been a platform for an exhibition of weapons and military equipment. General Director of Uralvagonzavod O. Sienko said that this year the organizers of the salon faced some problems and limitations of an infrastructural nature. In this regard, a government decree has already been issued, according to which the "Prospector" landfill will be expanded and updated. Thus, the RAE-2015 exhibition will take place at a new level.
