A modification of the T-72 main battle tank for street fighting was first presented by the Uralvagonzavod corporation abroad. The debut of a combat vehicle designed for battles in urban areas took place at the KADEX-2016 exhibition in Astana. As noted, interest in the new version of the T-72 tank, which was first demonstrated back in 2013 during the RAE-2013 exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, has grown significantly after studying the experience of hostilities in Syria. The interlocutor of the Lenta.ru edition noted that the T-72 tank demonstrated outstanding mechanical reliability and survivability in Syria even in its original form, and with the installation of new equipment on a combat vehicle, the tank's capabilities will increase significantly.
At the same time, the interlocutor of the publication noted that there are still no orders for the new tank, but there is great interest in it, negotiations on its purchase are currently underway. The version of the T-72 tank for urban combat differs from conventional T-72B3 tanks in its enhanced level of protection, it includes side screens with reactive armor, additional armor, and anti-cumulative grilles. In addition, additional protective screens appeared on the turret of the anti-aircraft machine gun. Also, the combat vehicle acquired a bulldozer blade, which makes it easier for the tank to overcome blockages and barricades on the streets, also providing an additional level of protection in the frontal projection.
The T-72 tank is the trademark of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ). The development of this tank began back in 1967. The T-72 "Ural" was adopted by the Soviet Army on August 7, 1973. The tank was produced from 1974 to 1992 at Uralvagonzavod and the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. In the period from 1974 to 1990, 20,544 T-72 tanks of various modifications were produced in Nizhny Tagil alone. In total, about 30 thousand of these combat vehicles were produced. This tank is still in service with the Russian army and the armies of many countries of the world. The existing reserve for the modernization of the MBT allows you to build up its combat capabilities so that it meets modern challenges.
Photo: uvz.ru
It is worth noting that at the KADEX-2016 exhibition two main "highlights" of the program were presented - the Kazakh armored personnel carrier "Barys" with a wheel arrangement of 8x8, equipped with an AU-220M combat module with a 57-mm automatic cannon manufactured by Uralvagonzavod and the main battle tank T -72 with the urban combat upgrade kit. The combat module with a 57-mm automatic cannon is remotely controlled. A shot of such a weapon at the present time cannot be sustained by any of the existing infantry fighting vehicles in the world.
According to the general director of UVZ Oleg Viktorovich Sienko, the project of modernization of the T-72 tank seems to be of higher priority, which is dictated by world events in recent years. The conflict zone, unfortunately, is expanding, and domestic equipment is actively involved in them. The events that are taking place today in Syria clearly confirm the relevance of tanks in urban battles, and the modernization kit from UVZ is designed to increase their reliability, as well as increase the combat capabilities of the T-72. The variant of modernizing the T-72 tank for street battles is an initiative development of UVZ. Work on this project is being carried out outside the framework of the official ROC. The tank is currently being tested. The Russian military, of course, is aware of all the work on this project.
Thanks to the availability of a modernization kit for urban combat from the Russian corporation Uralvagonzavod, the states that are armed with the main battle tank T-72 do not have to worry about what to do with obsolete equipment and the transition of the main military operations from the vast fields to urban conditions modern cities and urban agglomerations. According to Vyacheslav Khalitov, UVZ deputy director for special equipment, this project was developed based on the experience of urban battles in Syria. He spoke about this in an interview with Gazeta. Ru journalists before the KADEX-2016 exhibition, which was held in Astana from June 2 to June 5, 2016.
“If you carefully analyze the latest armed conflicts in the world, it turns out that hostilities are conducted mainly in cities, no one fights in open areas these days, because it is, in fact, instant destruction,” said Vyacheslav Khalitov. At the same time, in the city and urbanized areas, it is possible to conduct military operations quite successfully. Therefore, UVZ, taking into account the experience of fighting in Syria, the war in Iraq and the conflicts in the Middle East in general, came to the conclusion that it was necessary to develop a special set of additional protective equipment that could be installed on the tank, if necessary, in order to more effectively fight in the city.
This modernization option is also needed in order to give the T-72 tanks a new life. First of all, it is proposed to increase their firepower: to install a modernized 125-mm cannon 2A46M, an automatic loader modified for firing missiles, a more effective fire control system (FCS) with a multi-channel gunner's sight "Sosna", as well as a new stabilizer with an electromechanical drive. As a result of the installation of a new FCS on the tank, the commander of the combat vehicle and the gunner-operator will be able to confidently hit all kinds of targets with cannon and machine gun fire, as well as launch guided missiles at any time of the day and in any weather conditions.
Separately, you can highlight the increase in the dynamic characteristics of the tank. It is equipped with a new engine developing 1000 hp. and an automatic gearshift, exactly the same as on modern T-90S tanks. Also, the new "city" tank received tracks, which are adapted for the installation of "asphalt shoes". Modernization of the T-72 tank for urban battles also implies the installation of a powerful bulldozer blade TBS-86 on it, which is designed to dismantle barricades, debris formed during the destruction of buildings and structures, pushing damaged equipment off the road. Among other things, it also creates additional protection in the frontal projection of the tank hull.
But the greatest attention was paid to the protection of the tank and its crew. In terms of protection, UVZ specialists propose an integrated approach. So to protect the commander of a combat vehicle, who has to look out of the hatch during the battle in order to fire from an anti-aircraft machine gun installation, something akin to a cockpit appeared on the modernized version of the T-72 tank. Before that, looking out of the tank, the commander was open from all sides, getting hit. UVZ's deputy chief director noted that the enterprises made this cabin with windows so that the commander had an all-round view, but at the same time he himself was covered from all sides, the booking there is mainly bulletproof. Viktor Murakhovsky, an expert in the field of weapons and military equipment, explained in an interview with Gazeta. Ru that in fact this means that something similar to a birdhouse is being built on military equipment - armored protection with observation windows, loopholes around the tanker or infantryman are installed on top. Such protection is given by all armies that take part in urban battles.
According to experts, the tank itself will be equipped with dynamic protection modules (ERA) from all sides, which will cover the hull of the tank in front, behind, from the sides, above the track shelves, and also cover its turret. In addition, special lattice screens will be installed on the tank, which will be placed above the track shelves in the area of the engine-transmission compartment, and will also cover the stern with them, providing additional protection against cumulative ammunition, said Vyacheslav Khalitov. Also, the tank will be equipped with special equipment designed to suppress the channels of various radio-controlled explosive devices. This will be a kind of electronic warfare element that will protect the tank in a modern "high-explosive war". According to Khalitov, these electronic warfare means will also prevent ammunition flying towards the tank from hitting it. “Currently, militants are increasingly using radio-controlled shells, it is necessary to extinguish their signals in a very wide range, which is especially important in urban development,” the specialist emphasized. The RC Explosive Devices Suppression System is two inconspicuous, antenna-like devices located at the back of the turret.
Murakhovsky notes that the special conditions of battles in the city force the designers to make various improvements to the existing and created armored vehicles, primarily from a technical point of view. “Firstly, in the city, shelling is possible from almost any direction, and not only from the frontal projection, as it could be during a battle in the field. Secondly, the city requires large elevation angles of weapons in order to confidently fire on the upper floors of buildings and structures, suppressing enemy firing points. Thirdly, better viewing conditions are needed for those who work with weapons systems - there should be a better view around and up. In Israel, for example, there are 2-3 additional machine guns on the roof of a tank, which are designed to defeat the enemy, which is located on the upper floors of buildings,”said Viktor Murakhovsky. He also emphasized the fact that the kits for the protection of armored vehicles in urban battles are now also made in the USA and Germany for their Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams main battle tanks.
It is no coincidence that the upgraded version of the T-72 tank was presented in Kazakhstan for the first time abroad. Apparently, this is due to the fact that at one time the Kazakh army became the only one that acquired and put into service the Terminator tank support combat vehicle, created on the basis of the T-72 tank. This Russian-made BMPT is armed with a pair of 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannons, two launchers with Ataka-T supersonic anti-tank missiles, as well as two 30-mm AG-17D automatic grenade launchers and a PKTM 7.62-mm machine gun. The combat vehicle is able to recognize small targets even at long distances, while the LMS installed on it allows you to do this in any weather and at any time of the day.
