At the recent international military-technical forum "Army-2016", domestic defense industry enterprises demonstrated a large number of the latest developments in various fields. In particular, the sector of remotely controlled combat modules was not left without the attention of enterprises. Several organizations presented a number of both already known and completely new systems of this class. One of the new projects, first presented at a recent exhibition, was developed by the designers of the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik".
One of the exhibition samples in the exposition of the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik", which is part of the corporation "Uralvagonzavod", is a promising combat module with cannon and machine gun armament. This new system is proposed to equip various armored vehicles of existing and future models. The design uses some relatively new ideas that were not previously widely used. Interestingly, the name of the promising development has not yet been announced. At the moment, it is known under the bulky, but revealing the essence of the project, the designation "30-mm remotely controlled weapon station".
General view of the module. Photo Defense.ru
The new project is based on the need to update the complex of armored vehicles using the latest ideas and developments. So, one of the main innovations of the project, which can significantly simplify the use of the module, is the placement of all necessary units, including boxes for ammunition, outside the armored hull of the base vehicle. Despite this, the module receives a full set of necessary equipment and weapons capable of providing the required technical and combat characteristics. To demonstrate the original layout, the combat module during the exhibition was located on a tripod stand, which further emphasized the absence of units installed below the shoulder strap.
In accordance with the new project "30-mm remotely controlled combat module", the base of the module, made in the form of a cylinder of small height, should be located directly on the seat of the roof of the armored vehicle. It must have horizontal guidance drives that rotate the entire structure around a vertical axis. It is proposed to mount a larger, complex-shaped body on a cylindrical base. For the correct distribution of loads on the support, the body and the base are additionally connected by several small struts.
The body of the combat module received a recognizable shape, formed by a large number of straight panels. The front has an angled top plate, a small vertical center plate and a backward sloped bottom piece. There are small cheekbones covering the junction of the forehead and sides. To accommodate the gun mount, the frontal part of the hull is divided into two side units, between which the swinging system is located.
The sides of the hull have a complex shape, formed by vertical top and inclined bottom sheets. Towards the stern of the module, the sides diverge. In this case, the right side of the product consists of only two sheets, while the left has a curved shape: its front part is parallel to the longitudinal axis, which is necessary to install the machine gun. Behind the swinging machine-gun casing, an armor plate of relatively small length is provided at an angle to the axis. The hull feed also consists of several parts, which, when assembled, form an angular structure curved back. The combat module roof is made of one sheet, installed horizontally on the sides. It should be noted that with a change in the size and shape of the side and stern parts, the total height of the hull does not change along its entire length.
The upper frontal parts of the case are given for the placement of some devices. So, on their outer parts, two large hatches are provided for accessing the internal volumes of the module. Apparently, with their help, it is proposed to place ammunition strips in the module boxes. The central parts of the frontal plates are given for the installation of two blocks of smoke grenade launchers. Three such devices are placed on each "half" of the frontal part of the body. Directly between the grenade launchers there is a niche necessary for the withdrawal of the gun mount. On the starboard side, in its front part, there is another hatch for access to the inside of the hull. Symmetrically to it on the left side there are mountings for a swinging machine gun mount.
Product from a different angle. Photo Vestnik-rm.ru
A gun mount with vertical guidance drives is mounted in the central part of the module. The most noticeable and curious feature of this item is the casing that covers part of the gun. This device has a complex shape with a large number of edges, which makes it possible to cover all the necessary parts of the gun, as well as to ensure the withdrawal of spent cartridges. To eject the latter, an opening with internal guides is provided on the side surface of the casing. At the rear of the casing, a block of optoelectronic equipment is mounted, placed in a box-shaped protective casing. Due to the rigid connection of the two casings, the optical devices move along with the weaponry.
The design of the combat module and its guidance drives allows for circular horizontal guidance. Vertical guidance varies from -10 ° to + 60 °. The drives are associated with both the central gun mount and the machine gun mounted on the left side. The aiming of this weapon is carried out synchronously and at the same angles.
The main armament of a promising combat module is a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon. This weapon has been in service for a long time and has managed to prove itself well as the main weapon of ground combat vehicles. In addition, such a gun is used in the corresponding installations on some helicopters. The wide distribution and existing operating experience make the 2A42 a good choice in terms of equipping promising combat modules.
A weapon based on gas-operated automation has a total length of about 3.03 m with a 2400-mm barrel. The total mass of the gun is 115 kg. A tape ammunition supply with a two-way supply of 30x165 mm projectiles is used. This allows you to make ammunition from two types of shells, as well as change the ammunition used during combat work. The rate of fire of the 2A42 gun can reach 800 rounds per minute. With an initial velocity of the projectile up to 960 m / s, an effective range of destruction of manpower is provided up to 4 km. Lightly armored vehicles can be destroyed at ranges of up to 1-1.5 km.
The design of the new combat module from the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" provides for the use of two volumes for storing ammunition in the form of shells of different types. The total amount of ammunition is 300 rounds. A standard loading is offered in the form of 200 rounds with high-explosive fragmentation shells and 100 armor-piercing ammunition. Such completing the combat module is expected to effectively deal with the entire spectrum of possible targets, from manpower and unprotected equipment to armored vehicles with light protection and aircraft.
On the left side of the combat module is a cover for additional weapons in the form of a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun. The machine gun is placed inside a metal case of a complex shape, equipped with an additional protective barrel casing. The body of the machine-gun mount is connected to the vertical guidance drives of the gun, which provides simultaneous aiming. On the outer surface of the casing, a window is provided for dumping the sleeves. The machine gun ammunition is located inside the main body of the module, where the box for the tape for 1200 rounds is located. With the help of flexible sleeves, the tape is fed into the machine gun installation and fed to the receiving window of the weapon.
An armored car "Typhoon-VDV" with an unknown combat module. Photo Bmpd.livejournal.com
It is argued that the promising combat module received a modern fire control system based on digital equipment. The most noticeable element of the FCS is a block of optoelectronic equipment, placed above the cannon casing. A television camera, a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder are placed inside the protective case. This equipment allows you to monitor the situation and search for targets, as well as measure the range to them and carry out guidance. Due to the presence of a thermal imaging channel, the combat module can be used at any time of the day without significant restrictions on meteorological conditions. The signal from the TV camera and thermal imager is transmitted to the control panel of the module and displayed on its screen.
Armament guidance drives are coupled with a two-plane stabilizer, which ensures the preservation of aiming regardless of the maneuvers of the base armored vehicle. A digital ballistic computer is used to calculate the corrections. It is proposed to control the operation of all systems of the combat module using a control panel installed in the habitable compartment of the armored vehicle. All control is carried out through the remote control. Direct interaction between the operator and the module during combat work is not provided.
Having a fairly powerful weaponry, the promising "30-mm remotely controlled weapon station" does not differ in its large dimensions and weight. The total weight of the product is reported to be 1100 kg. This allows it to be mounted on a variety of chassis with sufficient carrying capacity and capable of withstanding the recoil of a 30mm automatic cannon. A large number of existing and promising models of armored vehicles of domestic and foreign development meet these requirements.
The new combat module from the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" does not differ in strict requirements for the carrier, due to which it can be used as the basis of a complex of weapons of a wide variety of equipment. In particular, the possibility of using such systems on the latest domestic armored vehicles is not excluded. The remotely controlled module of the new model can be used to upgrade the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle, the Boomerang armored personnel carrier or the Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicle. In all cases, the features of the technical appearance of a new development can give positive results.
In theory, a promising domestic development can find wide application in the creation and renovation of armored vehicles of various classes and types. However, the real prospects for the new combat module have not yet been determined. As far as is known, by now the specialists of the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" have developed a project of this system and made a sample intended for demonstration at exhibitions. A few days before the start of the Army-2016 forum, the development organization announced a "30-mm remotely controlled weapon station" among the new products planned to be shown, and since September 6, the product has been shown to the visitors of the exhibition. At the same time, no messages about the future of the new project have yet been received.
The interior of the carrier armored car, the module rack and the control panel are visible. Photo Bmpd.livejournal.com [/center]
Officially, the new combat module with a 30-mm automatic cannon was first shown at the Army-2016 forum. However, there is reason to believe that the general public learned about him a few weeks earlier. Recall that in mid-August, a photo from the workshop of the Factory of Special Vehicles (Naberezhnye Chelny) appeared in the public domain, on which two Typhoon-VDV armored cars with non-standard equipment were captured. On the roof of one of these vehicles there was a previously unknown combat module with machine-gun and cannon armament.
The published photos showed that a special rack was mounted inside the cabin of the base armored car, supporting the combat module, and also serving as the basis for the installation of control equipment. Among other things, the combat module control panel got into the frame. When the new photos were published, it was claimed that the combat module would be equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 40 mm automatic cannon. The weapon, however, was not on the module at the time of shooting.
The external similarity of the products that were present in the workshop of the enterprise and on the exhibition site suggests that we are talking about a combat module of the same model. In addition, there are obvious conclusions about the imminent (or already begun) tests of the system together with the armored vehicle carrier. Also, the official data made it possible to sort out rumors about a 40-mm cannon - in fact, the module is equipped with a slightly smaller caliber weapon.
The combat module of the new model may indeed be of interest to domestic and foreign customers, which is why it has every chance of being installed on one or another chassis and in this form find practical application, having entered the army of any state. However, in this context, the final word and final decision rests with the customer in the person of the military department. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the new combat module and its prospects. The opinion of military leaders from foreign countries also remains a mystery. Thus, the future of promising development is currently in question.
It should be borne in mind that such uncertainty of the real future is inherent in all new developments, and persists for some time after the first publication of data or after the "premiere show". In the foreseeable future, there should be new messages about promising development, regarding its main features and possible contracts for production and supply. In the meantime, the "30-mm remotely controlled weapon station" from the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" retains the status of a recently shown development with an uncertain future.
