In 2010, at the French exhibition of arms and military equipment EuroSatory, the South African branch of BAE Systems presented its new development - the TRT (Tactical Remote Turret) combat module. Counting on a large number of contracts from different countries, the designers of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa incorporated in the design the possibility of changing the composition of weapons and sighting equipment. Thanks to this, the combat module can be equipped with a fairly wide range of different weapons and sighting systems produced in several countries.
All modifications of the TRT turret, despite the different weapons, are equipped with a unified set of electronic sighting equipment. During the first demonstration in 2010, it was argued that the unification of combat modules in design would reach 70%, and in electronics it would reach 95%. This means that most of the elements of the complex are made taking into account the possibility of using various weapons. To create a combat module of a specific model, it is required to install only a small number of parts and devices on a common base, as well as to mount the corresponding equipment. This feature of the project had a beneficial effect on its economic side, and in the near future, it may affect the number of customers.
Shown three years ago at the Satori exhibition, the TRT "tactical turret" model was a TRT-B25 combat module. The additional index after the hyphen stands for Bushmaster 25 mm. Hoping to attract the attention of developed countries in Western Europe and other regions, South African gunsmiths equipped the first version of the TRT module with an automatic cannon manufactured by the American company ATK. This gun uses standard NATO projectiles 25x137 mm, which, as expected, should have attracted the attention of a number of countries already operating such weapons. In addition, almost any machine gun using 7, 62x51 mm NATO cartridges can be installed on the turret.
Combat module TRT-B25 was tested at the stand and on several armored vehicles. Separately, it should be noted that during the tests, the tower with a 25-mm cannon was installed on wheeled armored vehicles with formulas from 4x4 to 8x8. This fact shows the versatility of a promising weapon system. Among other things, this versatility is due to the weight indicators of the TRT complex. Depending on the configuration, the combat module can weigh from 900 to 1800 kg. Versions with different weights differ in a specific set of weapons, protection and the size of the ammunition boxes.
When creating the TRT module, an interesting approach to the layout of the aggregates was taken. Some of the turret equipment is housed in a large chase unit. The second block is pivotally attached to it, in which the gun cradle, ammunition supply systems, and sighting equipment are located. The division of the tower into two parts made it possible to solve the problem of placing one or another weapon in the limited volume of the combat module: if necessary, only the upper swinging unit needs to be refined. The lower pivot block, in turn, remains the same. Depending on the wishes of a particular customer, the TRT combat module units can be covered with additional armor.
The composition of the sighting equipment can also be changed in accordance with the requirements of the customer. The recommended set of optoelectronic systems is as follows: an optoelectronic sight, which allows identification of targets at a distance of up to three kilometers during the day and up to one and a half at night; three video cameras; thermal imager with sufficient detection range and laser rangefinder. All this equipment is proposed to be placed on a stabilized mounting system on the upper block of the combat module, next to the weapon. The signal from the cameras and the thermal imager, as well as the data from the laser rangefinder, are transmitted inside the armored hull of the combat vehicle, to the control station. The tower operator controls the equipment and weapons, observing the situation using a liquid crystal display.
In the field of weapons for infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, there is currently a trend towards a gradual increase in the caliber of weapons used. Trying to meet this demand, BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa created two versions of the TRT combat module at once, designed for automatic cannons of 30 mm caliber.
The first one is called TRT-N30 (N - NATO) and is designed to mount the 30mm ATK Mk 44 Bushmaster II gun. This cannon is designed to use standard NATO projectiles 30x137 mm. The place for the machine gun allows you to install a rifle caliber weapon. The composition of the equipment of the TRT-N30 combat module is almost completely similar to the electronics set of the basic TRT and in the same way can be changed to meet the wishes of the customer. The variant of the combat module with the 30-mm Mk44 cannon is primarily intended for countries using NATO-type ammunition.
Unfortunately for some customers, the TRT-N90 turret modification is subject to a number of American regulations for the sale of guns to third countries. Because of this, not everyone can arm their armored vehicles with combat modules with the Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon. To meet the needs of customers who are unable to purchase a turret with such a weapon, South African gunsmiths have developed another version of the TRT, also equipped with a 30 mm caliber gun.
The TRT-R30 (R - Russian) turret is equipped with a Russian-made 2A42 automatic cannon and a 7.62mm PKT machine gun. The Russian gun, using 30x165 mm projectiles, is expected to be able to provide the TRT combat module with sufficient popularity in countries that are armed with small-caliber artillery of Soviet and Russian production. This will allow potential customers to unify weapons and ammunition with existing infantry fighting vehicles.
The development of the combat module with the Russian 30-mm cannon 2A42 was the TRT-R30MX project (the designation TRT-R30MK is also found). The new version differs from the basic TRT-R30 in the presence of an anti-tank missile system. The TRT-R30MX turret can be equipped with two transport and launch containers with Konkurs or Kornet-E missiles, and the corresponding components are included in the electronic equipment. Probably, this modification of the combat module can also use other anti-tank missile systems. However, the focus of the TRT-R30 on specific customers, expressed in the use of Russian weapons, so far limits the list of possible ATGMs only to those produced in Russia.
There is information about testing a ready-made TRT-R30 combat module with Russian weapons. In addition, it is reported that a combat vehicle with such a turret has already been demonstrated to potential customers from a certain Middle Eastern country. In the factory tests of the TRT-R30 turret, the iKlwa (deep modernization of the Ratel armored personnel carrier) and RG41 vehicles were used as weapons carriers. In addition, the Tawazun company (United Arab Emirates) this year showed a new version of the Nimr armored car, armed with a TRT-R30MX combat module. The placement of the combat module units on this armored car is interesting: the turret was installed on the rear platform, and the control system was mounted in the cockpit. According to reports, a prototype of a new vehicle from the UAE has already passed tests and trial operation in the armed forces.
Relatively low cost, a large selection of weapons or sighting equipment, as well as the ability to install on a large number of combat vehicles promise the TRT module a great future. However, to date, even three years after its first show, the towers of the new family have not yet become widespread. While the use of "Tactical Remote Controlled Turrets" South African development is limited only to experimental machines. Nevertheless, the first large orders may be signed in the very near future.
