24.11.201927.05.2017

The new Chinese-designed Type 99 tank attracts the attention of foreign experts and even commands respect. The most modern models of armored vehicles of the three leading countries "Type 99", M1 Abrams and T-90.

The latest Chinese main battle tank "Type 99" naturally attracts the attention of specialists, the public and, of course, the press. One of the manifestations of such interest are attempts to compare a Chinese-designed tank with modern foreign armored vehicles. Last on this moment an attempt of this kind was made by the American edition of The National Interest.

The Buzz featured a new article by Sebastian Roblin titled "China's Type 99 Tank: Could It Beat an M1 Abrams or Russia's T-90?" (“Chinese Type 99 tank: can it beat the M1 Abrams or the T-90?”) As the title of this Security article makes clear, the author intended to compare the most advanced armored vehicles of the three leading countries.

S. Roblin begins his article with a reminder that China has a lot of tanks - about 8 or 9 thousand. And the question immediately follows: who else could support such a strange number of armored troops? Only the United States and Russia. Here the author draws attention to the fact that we are talking about the total number of tanks, both in combat units and at storage bases. He promises to give the number of "active" equipment later.

Despite the presence of a large amount of equipment, many old machines are still in service. Among them there are tanks "Type 59" or "Type 69", which are copies Soviet technology fifties. There are so many old tanks that they can be used in uncharacteristic roles. So, S. Roblin had a chance to see an old tank on the playground, where he served the interests of the "youth".

However, the new Chinese-designed Type 99 tank attracts the attention of foreign experts and even commands respect. At the same time, vehicles of this type have not yet been exported and have not been used in battles. The reasons for the interest in this technique are simple. The manufacturer claims very high performance, according to which the tank is comparable to foreign technology. In addition, some special solutions were applied in the project.

S. Roblin suggests considering the Chinese Type 99 tank, as well as comparing it with the American M1A2 Abrams and the Russian T-90A.

Before studying and comparing techniques, the author comes up with another proposal. He considers it necessary to determine whether China really needs tanks. Beijing's main efforts in last years directed towards the Pacific Ocean, and therefore such a question seems reasonable. The issue of a possible collision of Type 99 tanks and American Abrams tanks may also be relevant. In this regard, S. Roblin jokingly asks: will the Chinese tank be able to cross Pacific Ocean and bombard Scarborough Shoal Atoll?

Joking aside, the scenario of a meeting between Type 99 tanks and M1 Abrams does not look very likely. At the same time, Taiwan is showing interest in American armored vehicles, and Australia already has 60 Abrams tanks in service. tank collision issue different countries is more appropriate if we add to the situation under consideration Russian technology. Moscow currently maintains good relations with Beijing, but in the past, in the sixties, disagreements between the two countries almost led to war.

S. Roblin considers it important that Russia sells its weapons to Vietnam and India, and some of the supplied systems are clearly intended to fight the Chinese army. In this role, both Brahmos missiles and more than a thousand T-90 tanks deployed along the northern borders of India can be used. The author refers to the relationship Asian states. So, in 1962, China fought with India, and in 1979 with Vietnam. At the same time, Vietnam, like other countries, is interested in the possibility of purchasing T-90 tanks.

India is a potential superpower, and therefore China continues to see it as a threat. The Chinese command is preparing border infrastructure for military use during a hypothetical conflict. In case of war, this will ensure the work of the army in the border mountains. In addition, China has close relations with Pakistan, including in the military-technical field. Pakistan has repeatedly fought with India.

Finally, the author of The National Interest proposes to consider the issue North Korea. What will Beijing do in the event of the collapse of the Pyongyang authorities or the civil war– unknown. However, one of the proposed scenarios involves the intervention of Chinese ground forces in order to restore order. In this case, the Chinese army risks clashing with the armed forces of South Korea.

Potential conflict, as is always the case with wars, is not needed by anyone and is associated with great risks. However, there are some situations in which battles involving armored forces may break out on China's borders. In addition, Russian-made armored vehicles can take part in such battles.

On this, S. Roblin proposes to finish with politics and move on to consideration of technical issues. This process begins with the "introduction of the competitors".

The author calls the M1 Abrams tank a classic American development. This machine destroyed Soviet-made Iraqi tanks during the 1991 war without loss from enemy fire. The Abrams tank is not new, but the army is constantly ordering new ammunition, detection and protection means, with the help of which it is possible to maintain the condition of the equipment at the required level.

The T-90 is the first Russian tank built after the Cold War. S. Roblin believes that this machine is not fully capable of competing with the Abrams, but it still has high potential. The equipment was updated and received a higher accuracy of fire, and was also equipped with new dynamic protection. While the revolutionary T-14 tank is just preparing for service, about 550 T-90A vehicles continue to serve in the armored forces. As part of the development of the tank, the T-90AM project was created, but it did not lead to the rearmament of the troops. Similar machines of the T-90MS type in the amount of 354 units were sold to India, which planned to deploy them on the border with China. In total, the Indian army has more than 1200 T-90 tanks of various modifications. Algeria, in turn, plans to increase the T-90 fleet to more than 800 units.

The Chinese Type 99 tank combines a hull reminiscent of the stretched chassis of the Soviet T-72 and a "Western-style" turret, giving some resemblance to the German Leopard 2. The first appearance of this tank took place in a parade in 1999, and then it was called "Type 98". Two years later, this machine was put into service under the designation "Type 99". With a combat weight of 57 tons, the Chinese tank occupies an intermediate position between the American Abrams (70 tons) and the Russian T-90 (48 tons). The Chinese industry introduced several new solutions into the project, resulting, among other things, in the upgraded Type 99A2 tank.

At the moment, the Chinese army has about 500 Type 99 tanks, distributed among 16 battalions. Also built 124 newer cars "A2". Some of the technologies used in the projects of the Type 99 family were used to create the export tank VT-4. At the same time, these machines themselves are not offered to third countries.

Firepower

Tanks T-90 and "Type 99" are equipped with 125-mm smooth-bore guns with automatic loaders, built on the basis of Soviet developments. During the Gulf War, such weapons showed insufficient ability to combat the Abrams and Challenger tanks. However, later, new armor-piercing shells with tungsten elements appeared, which made it possible to hit the frontal armor of American vehicles at short distances.

The upgraded "Type 99A2" received a gun with a longer barrel, in theory providing better projectile acceleration with a certain increase in penetration and firing range. Also, this tank features an updated stabilizer.

S. Roblin recalls the reports, according to which new modifications of the "Type 99" will be able to get a 140-mm gun. The latter has already been tested, but could not withstand the load and was damaged. Russia has similar plans. Her new T-14 tank can also get a new larger-caliber gun.

The 120mm gun of the M1 Abrams tank uses the "politically controversial" M829 depleted uranium rounds, which provide 15-25% more armor penetration compared to competitors. The production of new modifications of the M829 has already been launched, which are capable of penetrating armor behind dynamic protection of the Contact or Relic type.

China has also developed its own armor-piercing shells using depleted uranium. It is alleged that the Chinese 125-mm cannon with such shells is capable of hitting american tank M1 at distances up to 1400 m.

The Abrams crew includes a separate loader, which is considered to provide certain advantages. American tankers believe that such a crew is more efficient, capable of showing a higher rate of fire, and also has a spare pair of hands in case of emergency. At the same time, additional volume is required for the fourth tanker, which makes the tank larger and heavier.

The Type 99 and T-90 are capable of firing anti-tank missiles through the gun barrel, while the M1 does not. In theory missile system can be useful when shooting at long distances or against low-flying helicopters. However, as S. Roblin recalls, such missile systems have existed for about half a century and are not used very often.
The author suggests that the decisive factor in the context of firepower is the means of detection and aiming. In recent years Russian industry took a few steps towards tank sights and thermal imagers, but its products still lag behind foreign ones. So, some T-90A tanks were updated using French-made equipment. The T90MS tanks use the Russian Kalina fire control system.

China is known for its good electronics, and this can give results in the field of tank building. The newest "Type 99A2", presumably, has a new thermal imaging equipment. According to some estimates, in terms of the characteristics of this equipment, the Chinese tank may surpass the Russian T-90A.

Protection

"Type 99" of the first version is equipped with combined armor and dynamic protection. The new modification "A2" uses a new protection, which is believed to be similar to Russian system"Relic". This complex must use radar to detect a threat and undermine the protection element before a projectile hits it. This allows you to deal with tandem cumulative projectiles that can break through the dynamic protection of older types.

The T-90A tanks are equipped with the relatively old Kontakt-5 protection, while the new T-90MS for India are equipped with Relic products. Both of these systems are most effective in protecting against anti-tank missiles, and also have a certain potential in protecting against kinetic projectiles.

Chinese equipment is equipped with laser warning devices, with the help of which the crew learns about an enemy attack and can take the necessary measures. Videos from Syria or Yemen show that when attacking a tank with an anti-tank missile, the laser beam should illuminate the target for a long time. In 20-30 seconds, the tank is able to escape from the shelling, which shows the importance of laser radiation sensors.

The Type 99 is believed to carry a laser mount to counter infrared or laser guided missiles. In addition, this device can attack enemy optoelectronic systems or be used against the organs of vision of enemy observers. Fortunately, such equipment has never been used in battles. However, as S. Roblin writes, because of this, the real capabilities of lasers remain unknown so far.

There is also information about equipping "Type 99A2" with a communication complex that transmits encrypted data via a laser beam. This equipment can be used both to maintain communication in units and to identify detected vehicles.

The T-90 tank carries the Shtora countermeasure system, which can suppress the radiation of enemy lasers or create an aerosol cloud in front of the beam. The latter hides the tank and disrupts the attack. M1 Abrams, in turn, is not equipped with active or dynamic protection or laser radiation detectors. Perhaps such equipment will be installed as part of one of the next upgrades.

At the moment, the protection of the M1A2 tank is based on Chobham combined armor, equivalent to 800 mm of homogeneous steel against sub-caliber projectiles or 1300 mm against cumulative ones. For comparison, the protection of the T-90 tank is estimated at 650 mm. Also an important feature of the "Abrams" is the storage of ammunition in an isolated compartment, which reduces the likelihood of fatal consequences in case of damage to the stack.

It is believed that the combined and hinged armor of the "Type 99" provides protection at about the level of M1. According to one of the sources cited by S. Roblin, the protection of this machine is equivalent to 1100 mm homogeneous armor. However, the actual protection indicators are classified.

Mobility

Of the vehicles in question, the fastest is the Chinese Type 99 tank, capable of accelerating up to 50 miles per hour (80 km / h) on the highway. Machines M1 Abrams and T-90MS reach speeds of up to 42 and 45 miles per hour, respectively (67 and 72 km / h). The older T-90A only goes up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). At the same time, the gas turbine engine of an American car empties the fuel tanks for 240 miles (386 km). The power reserve of the T-90 and Type 99 is higher - more than 300 miles (over 486 km). In addition, the heavier Abrams is more difficult to deliver to the theater of operations.

After reviewing the mobility figures, the author of The National Interest summed up his comparison. According to S. Roblin, the American combat vehicle has the highest firepower. The best defense is the Chinese tank. It also wins in terms of mobility. The Russian T-90A tank, in turn, loses to competitors in a number of parameters. At the same time, its updated version of the T-90MS with new dynamic protection and improved fire control devices is quite capable of being compared with other modern combat vehicles.

However, it should be remembered that the real characteristics of the protection, weapons and electronics of the Type 99 tank remain unknown. In addition, unlike the Abrams and T-90, this machine has never been exported. Beijing is known for its habit of hiding the real performance of technology and disclosing inflated specifications.

Nevertheless, with all the special moments of the current situation, most of the data allows us to draw a very definite conclusion. Despite the presence of "hordes" of obsolete Type 59 tanks, China is able to develop and build modern combat vehicles. The existence of such a tank as the "Type 99" fits well with the recent statements of Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the need to improve the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the armed forces.

Tank T-14 "Armata" or T-99 "Priority"

The designers of OAO NPK Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) were given a specific task - by 2015 the tank should be on the production line.

The unified heavy platform of the "Armata" cipher (often referred to in the press as "Armada") is a promising fourth-generation Russian tracked platform developed by Uralvagonzavod since 2009-2010. On the basis of the Unified heavy platform of the Armata cipher, it is planned to create a main battle tank, combat vehicle infantry, heavy armored personnel carrier, tank support combat vehicle, armored recovery vehicle, chassis for self-propelled artillery installations and others. In fact, Armata is a unified interspecific heavy tracked platform for vehicles weighing from 30 to 65 tons, an analogue of the GCV in the United States.

Serial production of new Russian tanks T-14 "Armata" or T-99 "Priority" will unfold in 2015 and until 2020

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will receive 2.3 thousand of these vehicles.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia actually refused to purchase T-90 tanks, and in anticipation of the completion of work on the new Uralvagonzavod combat vehicle (the new Russian tank "Armata"), the military department intends to maintain the combat capability of the armored forces by deep modernization of the "best tank of the second half of the twentieth century" T- 72. Russian tankers are invited to wait another three years for the newest tank of the 21st century to enter service.

So far, the Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with Uralvagonzavod for the modernization of 170 T-72 main battle tanks worth over six billion rubles.

The technical specifications for the new tank and the Armata family of vehicles are classified. However, an analysis of existing developments and fragmentary information from open sources make it possible to outline a possible version of the future tank.

Layout


The drawing of the Russian tank "Armata" was created on the basis of images of a promising modification of the T-90 tank, by Aaron Sheps

Target new car"Armata" - the creation of a single undercarriage, engine-transmission unit, chassis controls, a driver interface, a unified complex of on-board electrical equipment, and life support systems that are the same for all army tracked armored vehicles. This level of unification currently has no analogues in weapons systems abroad.

It is also known that a unified interspecific heavy platform has two layout options: a chassis with a front or rear engine compartment (PMTO or ZMTO).

Suspension "Armata" 6-roller, controlled by paddle shock absorbers, differential steering mechanism with hydrostatic transmission (GOP). 12-speed automatic transmission with manual shift option. Controls: steering wheel, gear lever and gas and brake pedals.

The promising Armata tank will definitely have an IMS chassis - this is an information and control system - a "digital board". With its help, start-up and control, diagnostics, adjustments, protection, etc. are carried out. That is, in the event of a breakdown, the electronics will report what is broken and tell you what needs to be done.

Ammunition in a promising tank is in a special module. This approach to the "storage" of shells increases the "survivability" of the tank, preventing the ammunition from detonating when an enemy shell hits the hull of the tank.

"Armata" will fire both shells of various types (high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative), and ground-to-ground guided missiles with optoelectronic, infrared and satellite guidance, as well as anti-aircraft missiles ground-to-air class. In fact, this is not a tank, but a universal strike vehicle of the ground forces, which includes a full-fledged tactical missile system, an anti-aircraft system air defense, a complex of army intelligence and target designation and, in fact, a tank.

The promising Armata tank will be equipped with radars of the same technology as the fifth-generation T-50 fighter. According to the terms of reference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Armata will receive Ka-band radars (26.5-40 GHz) based on an active phased antenna array (AFAR), made using low-temperature ceramic technology.

An active phased array antenna consists of many cells - microwave transmitters. Such an antenna is capable of quickly changing the direction of the location (no mechanical movement of the "dish" of the locator is required) and is highly reliable - the failure of one element does not lead to a significant drop in power and beam distortion. Such a radar in armored vehicles will be indispensable in solving both defensive and offensive tasks. There are two options for its use - as part of a fire control system or as an active protection complex. It includes an antenna that detects weapons flying up to the tank. AFAR will determine the coordinates and parameters of such a threat, and the tank will destroy these targets.

The system is capable of simultaneously "leading" up to 40 dynamic and up to 25 aerodynamic targets - a completely unattainable indicator for all radars in service with other armies. The system will control the territory within a radius of up to 100 kilometers and will be able to automatically destroy targets up to 0.3 meters in size in this territory.

Armor

The new armor steel grade 44S-sv-Sh will be used on the new Russian tank "Armata". The steel was created by the specialists of OAO Research Institute of Steel.

The use of this steel on the promising Armata platform will make it possible to “remove” hundreds of kilograms of weight from the vehicle, where it will also be used not only for armor purposes, but also as a structural material.

The new steel was developed according to the terms of reference of the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering, which is part of the NPK Uralvagonzavod, which acted as a customer. Mining and industrial development fell on the shoulders of one of the flagships of Russian metallurgy - the Volgograd Metallurgical Plant Krasny Oktyabr, which is also part of the structure of Uralvagonzavod ..

Although the hardness of the steel is not less than 54HRC, its plastic characteristics remain at the level of serial steels having a hardness of 45-48HRC. It is this combination that makes it possible to reduce the thickness and, accordingly, the weight of armored structures made of new steel by 15% without reducing the protective characteristics and survivability at low temperatures Oh.

Now 44S-sv-Sh steel has been assigned the letter “O”, it is at the stage of pilot industrial development, at which the developer, the customer, and the manufacturer solve dozens of technical, technological and organizational issues.

Power point

The power plant is a single 1200-horsepower diesel turbo piston engine A-85-3A (sometimes referred to as 2A12-3, 12CHN15 / 16 or 12H360) for front- and rear-located MTO. Motor resource not less than 2000 hours. Weight up to 5 tons. MTU volume up to 4 m3. There is a possibility of modernization. In terms of size, weight and power characteristics, the novelty should surpass the best foreign models of motor-transmission units. it should be noted that the rated power of the engine is 1500 hp, up to 1200 hp. a restriction was introduced, which significantly increased the motor resource.

The engine was developed by the Chelyabinsk GSKB Transdiesel, and will be produced at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. Diesel four-stroke, X - shaped, 12-cylinder with gas turbine turbine supercharging and intercooling of air, liquid-cooled engine 12N360 passed the whole range of tests, from resource to running back in 2011.

Specifications engine A-85-3A (12N360) for a promising Russian platform Armata:

· Type of engine - four-stroke, X-shaped, 12-cylinder with gas-turbine supercharging and intercooling of air.

Mixing system - direct fuel injection

Engine power without resistance at the inlet and outlet, kW (hp) - 1103 (1500)

Rotation frequency, s-1 (rpm) - 33.3 (2000)

Torque margin, % - 25

Specific fuel consumption, g / kWh (g / hp * h) - 217.9 (160)

Weight, kg - 1550

Specific power, kW / kg (hp / kg) - 0.74 (1.0)

Overall power, kW / kg (hp / kg) - 1026 (1395)

Specific gravity, kg / kW - 1.32

· Length, mm - 813

Width, mm - 1300

Height, mm - 820

The 12N360 engine is a fully mastered engine, by no means a bench one, it was exactly the same on our promising tanks (object 195), which passed state tests not so long ago. In terms of the power plant, the GI was completed successfully, the engine had no complaints - despite the fact that the tests were very tough.

A gun

Based on reports about the refusal to bring the T-95 tank with a 152-mm cannon to the series, it can be argued that it is planned to equip the new vehicle with a regular main 125-mm gun

Until recently, versions of the well-known 2A46M tank gun were the main domestic cannon. The latest modification 2A46M-5 has a firing accuracy of 15-20% higher, the total dispersion when firing from the move has decreased by 1.7 times. Thanks to improvements, the gun acquired the ability to fire new armor-piercing sub-caliber shells of increased power.

The best Western gun is currently considered the 120-mm L 55 smoothbore gun with a barrel length of 55 calibers of the Leopard-2A6 tank. Compared to the old 120 mm L-44 smoothbore gun, the L-55 barrel length has been increased by 130 cm.

The DM-53 and DM-63 shells used on this gun have very high armor penetration characteristics. And this is despite the fact that, unlike American ammunition, the Germans do not use depleted uranium as a core material.

Of course, when creating the Russian main battle tank on the basis of a heavy unified platform, much attention was paid to ensuring high performance in terms of firepower.

In the 2000s, a new 125 mm 2A82 tank gun was created in Russia. By the fall of 2006, 787, 613 and 554 shots were fired from the prototype and two prototypes at Zavod No. 9, respectively.

The system, with an auto-bonded and partially chrome-plated barrel, is capable of firing both existing and advanced ammunition. In terms of technical level, it surpasses all existing tank guns by 1.2-1.25 times.

The muzzle energy of the 2A82 gun is 1.17 times greater than the best NATO gun - the 120-mm system of the Leopard-2A6 tank, while the tube length of our gun is 60 cm shorter.



Guns 2A46M and 2A82

High accuracy gun 2A46M-5

Mounting of trunnion clips in the turret with a reverse wedge has been introduced. The rear support of the retractable parts is located in the cage part of the cradle. The mouth of a cradle is extended by 160 mm. In the neck of the cradle, the rigidity of which is increased, there are two additional backlash-selecting devices. Both guide cradles are made as a prism.

These measures made it possible to reduce the average technical dispersion for all types of projectiles by 15% against the table values.

It was decided to modernize the 2A82 gun for "Armata" by lengthening the barrel by a whole meter - up to 7m. To automatically take into account the bending of the bore on the muzzle of the barrel tube, a reflector of the bending accounting device (CUI) is provided.

The digital signal processing adopted in the device ensures the measurement of the required barrel parameters in a wide range of interference and operational impacts. The received data are issued as corrections to the ballistic computer, which improves the accuracy of shooting.

Under this tool, the sweep contour of the AZ was also modified. However, it does not differ much from the standard one.


Overcasting contour AZ 2A46M-5 and 2A82.

For the new gun 2A82, new ammunition BPS "Vacuum-1" 900 mm long was developed. For the 82nd gun, a new "Telnik" was also developed with a detonation on the trajectory and URS 3UBK21 "Sprinter".

Further modernization of both guns and ammunition has already been planned.

The Germans, based on the Rh120L55, are making an electrothermochemical gun (this is the type of throwing). We are moving along the same path at a very fast pace. As part of the research work with the very telling names "Levsha" and "Levsha-M", the first experiments on ETC throwing were carried out. They gave positive results. A decision has already been made to develop this direction using the existing 2A82 type gun.

New ammunition for the 2A82 guns of the T-14 Armata tank successfully passed state tests in 2013 and was accepted for supply.

Their mass production has begun, the first batch was accepted by representatives of the Ministry of Defense in 2013 and sent to the arsenals to form standard stocks.

By the time the main tank of the "Armata" family is put into service, both the standard stocks of ammunition and the current need for combat training will be created.

The production of 2A82 guns is in full swing at the "Plant No. 9" in Yekaterinburg.

Machine gun.

The coaxial 7.62-mm PKTM (6P7K) machine gun is located outside the turret on a separate pastel connected by a parallelogram drive to the gun. Ammunition ready for battle - 1000 rounds. Another 1000 cartridges in tapes are stored in the spare parts box at the rear of the turret.

An additional installation with a 12.7-mm machine gun "Kord" (6P49) is mounted synchronously with the commander's panorama and monitors the stabilization of its mirror vertically, as well as horizontal rotation. Pumping angles - from -10º to +70 degrees. Ammunition ready for battle - 300 rounds in a tape. Another 300 cartridges in tapes are in the spare parts box at the rear of the turret.

Active protection complex - KAZ.

Armored vehicles based on this platform will be equipped with the Afganit active defense system - special charges allow you to fight enemy shells and missiles at close range, no more than 15-20 m.

KAZ "Afganit" was developed in the Kolomna KBM. From open sources of information, only the millimeter range of its radar operation, the near line of interception and the maximum interception speed of armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles are known - 1700 m / s. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that, unlike domestic and foreign predecessors, it is planned to use protective ammunition with a warhead of the impact core type described in Russian patent RU 2263268 in Afganit for the first time. Launcher consists of a carriage rotating in a vertical and horizontal plane. Additional targeting of the impact core on the target is carried out using the programmed initiation of one of the fuses located in the form of a matrix on the back side of the warhead explosive block.


Launcher KAZ "Afshanit"

Work on the creation of a new tank, codenamed "Armata", which should become the main tank of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, was opened in 2010, along with a message about the termination of work on the "Object-195" (T-95 tank)) from the Ministry of Defense.
The designers of OAO NPK Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) were given a specific task - by 2015 the tank should be on the production line.

One of the possible images of a new generation tank on a single combat platform "Armata".

The unified heavy platform of the "Armata" cipher (often referred to in the press as "Armada") is a promising fourth-generation Russian tracked platform developed by Uralvagonzavod since 2009-2010. On the basis of the Armata Unified Heavy Platform, it is planned to create a main battle tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, a heavy armored personnel carrier, a tank support combat vehicle, an armored repair and recovery vehicle, a chassis for self-propelled artillery mounts, and others. In fact, Armata is a unified interspecific heavy tracked platform for vehicles weighing from 30 to 65 tons, an analogue of the GCV in the United States.

Serial production of new Russian tanks T-14 "Armata" or T-99 "Priority" will unfold in 2015 and until 2020

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will receive 2.3 thousand of these vehicles.

One of the possible layouts of the tank project "Armata".

So far, the Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with Uralvagonzavod for the modernization of 170 T-72 main battle tanks worth over six billion rubles.

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Layout
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The drawing of the Russian tank "Armata" was created on the basis of images of a promising modification of the T-90 tank

The purpose of the new Armata vehicle is to create a single undercarriage, engine-transmission unit, chassis controls, a driver interface, a unified complex of on-board electrical equipment, and life support systems that are the same for all army tracked armored vehicles. This level of unification currently has no analogues in weapons systems abroad.

It is also known that a unified interspecific heavy platform has two layout options: a chassis with a front or rear engine compartment (PMTO or ZMTO).

Suspension "Armata" 7-roller, controlled by paddle shock absorbers, differential steering mechanism with hydrostatic transmission (GOP). 12-speed automatic transmission with manual shift option. Controls: steering wheel, gear lever and gas and brake pedals.

"Armata" will fire both projectiles of various types (high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative), and ground-to-ground guided missiles with optoelectronic, infrared and satellite guidance, as well as surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles ". In fact, this is not a tank, but a universal strike vehicle of the ground forces, which includes a full-fledged tactical missile system, an anti-aircraft defense system, an army reconnaissance and target designation complex, and, in fact, a tank.

The body is crammed with video cameras. They allow the crew to observe the circular situation around the tank. If required, the zoom is turned on, and the distant object can be considered in detail. There is the possibility of thermal imaging and infrared vision in all weather conditions, day and night.

Armor

The new armor steel grade 44S-sv-Sh will be used on the new Russian tank "Armata". The steel was created by the specialists of OAO Research Institute of Steel.

The front projection has a multi-layered combined armor protection that can withstand a direct hit by any type of shells existing today - sub-caliber and cumulative.

Power point

Diesel four-stroke, X-shaped, 12-cylinder engine 12H360

Technical characteristics of the A-85-3A (12N360) engine for the promising Russian platform Armata:

Engine type - four-stroke, X-shaped, 12-cylinder with gas turbine turbine supercharging and intermediate air cooling.
Mixing system - direct fuel injection
Engine power without resistance at the inlet and outlet, kW (hp) - 1103 (1500)
Rotation frequency, s-1 (rpm) - 33.3 (2000)
Torque reserve,% - 25
Specific fuel consumption, g/kW*h (g/hp*h) - 217.9 (160)
Weight, kg - 1550
Specific power, kW / kg (hp / kg) - 0.74 (1.0)
Overall power, kW/kg (hp/kg) - 1026 (1395)
Specific gravity, kg / kW - 1.32
Length, mm - 813
Width, mm - 1300
Height, mm - 820

A gun

Based on reports about the refusal to bring the T-95 tank with a 152-mm cannon to the series, it can be argued that it is planned to equip the new vehicle with a regular main 125-mm gun

Of course, when creating a Russian main battle tank based on a heavy unified platform, much attention was paid to ensuring high performance in terms of firepower.

In the 2000s, a new 125 mm 2A82 tank gun was created in Russia. By the fall of 2006, 787, 613 and 554 shots were fired from the prototype and two prototypes at Zavod No. 9, respectively.

The muzzle energy of the 2A82 gun is 1.17 times greater than the best NATO gun - the 120-mm system of the Leopard-2A6 tank, while the tube length of our gun is 60 cm shorter.

These measures made it possible to reduce the average technical dispersion for all types of projectiles by 15% against the table values.

Under this tool, the sweep contour of the AZ was also modified. However, it does not differ much from the standard one.

For the new gun 2A82, new ammunition BPS "Vacuum-1" 900 mm long was developed. For the 82nd gun, a new "Telnik" was also developed with a detonation on the trajectory and URS 3UBK21 "Sprinter".

Further modernization of both guns and ammunition has already been planned.

New ammunition for the 2A82 guns of the T-14 Armata tank successfully passed state tests in 2013 and was accepted for supply.

Their mass production has begun, the first batch was accepted by representatives of the Ministry of Defense in 2013 and sent to the arsenals to form standard stocks.

By the time the main tank of the "Armata" family is put into service, both the standard stocks of ammunition and the current need for combat training will be created.

The production of 2A82 guns is in full swing at the "Plant No. 9" in Yekaterinburg.

Machine gun.

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Active protection complex - KAZ.
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Armored vehicles based on this platform will be equipped with the Afganit active protection system - special charges allow you to deal with enemy shells and missiles at close range, no more than 15-20 m. In fact, this is an individual anti-missile and anti-ballistic defense of the tank. It protects the car from impacts, including from the air.

The front hemisphere is covered with active protection. Active protection is located around the entire perimeter of the turret at various levels, which provides tight protection for the most important elements of the tank.

KAZ "Afganit" was developed in the Kolomna KBM. From open sources of information, only the millimeter range of its radar operation, the near line of interception and the maximum interception speed of armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles are known - 1700 m / s. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that, unlike domestic and foreign predecessors, in "Afganit" for the first time it is planned to use protective ammunition with a warhead of the impact core type, described in Russian patent RU 2263268. The launcher consists of a carriage that rotates in vertical and horizontal planes. Additional targeting of the impact core on the target is carried out using the programmed initiation of one of the fuses located in the form of a matrix on the back side of the warhead explosive block.

Launcher KAZ "Afshanit"

On the one hand, this innovative solution is the most effective for destroying small-sized high-speed armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles. On the other hand, the use of a compact shock core instead of a spatial stream of fragments requires the radar and the KAZ fire control system to implement a higher level of accuracy in determining the coordinates, speed and direction of the targets.

Promising active defense systems face an even more difficult task - the interception of high-speed kinetic missiles and impact nuclei with an approach speed of 2500 to 3000 m/s. Based on the best reaction time achieved in the KAZ "Barrier" and equal to 0.001 seconds, then the minimum allowable interception line can be estimated at 4 meters (with a margin). This means that all potentially dangerous shells / rockets / rocket-propelled grenades flying over the roof of the combat vehicle turret below the specified height must be intercepted without fail while approaching the vehicle.

Dynamic protection

On the sides of the tower, three blocks of dynamic protection are installed on each side. The design of the blocks is similar to the dynamic protection blocks developed by OAO NII Stali. The blocks are containers with installed elements of dynamic protection, separated by layers of filler. The blocks are installed permanently, but are equipped with elements of dynamic protection only when the tanks are used for their intended purpose, that is, on the eve of hostilities.

On the fenders to protect the sides of the hull, seven blocks of dynamic protection of a similar design of blocks installed on the tower are installed. Blocks are installed in places that are not blocked by three regular side screens of dynamic protection on each side.

To reinforce the front area of the hull, which is covered by standard dynamic protection screens, an additional dynamic protection unit is attached to each screen, which has smaller dimensions in thickness (stroke). The blocks intended for installation on the sides of the hull are removable, and are equipped only on the eve of hostilities.

The stern area of the tank is protected by lattice screens, which are installed at the stern of the turret and hull.

Blocks of dynamic protection placed on the hull, as well as lattice screens, are installed on the tank only on the eve of hostilities in specific conditions (for example, battles in urban areas). The weight of the protective devices additionally attached to the tank will be about 1 ton, but taking into account the conditions in which tanks with additional protection will be used, it can be said that this will not fundamentally affect the mobility characteristics.

Fire control system.

Aiming complex:

The main gunner's sight is multi-channel with sighting and thermal imaging channels, a laser rangefinder, and a built-in laser control channel.
Enlargement of the sighting channel, multiplicity - 4; 12.
Target recognition range of the "tank" type through the sighting channel, m - up to 5000.
Target recognition range of the "tank" type through the TP channel, m not less than 3500.
Maximum range measured by rangefinder, m - 7500.
The commander's sight is a combined panoramic sight with television and thermal imaging channels, a laser rangefinder.
Target recognition range of the "tank" type through the TV channel, m up to 5000.
Target recognition range of the "tank" type at night through the TP channel, m not less than 3500.
Sight-understudy with a dependent line of sight.
Target recognition range of the "tank" type, m:
a day at least 2000,
at twilight at least 1000.
Ballistic calculator with a set of sensors for meteorological and topographical conditions and a sensor for accounting for the bending of the barrel electronic digital
The possibility of automatic tracking of targets is provided independently from the gunner's position and from the commander's position with the implementation of the "hunter - shooter" mode.
Armament stabilizer improved two-plane with electromechanical drive GN and electro-hydraulic VN.

TTX promising Russian tank "Armata"

Armored crew capsule - yes
Main gun mm. - 125 (2A82)
Gun ammunition in pcs. - 45
Automatic loader pcs. - 32
Combat rate of fire in min. - 10-12
Target detection range m. - over 5000
Target range m. - 7000-8000
Fire on the move - yes
Commander's panoramic sight - yes
Surround cameras - yes
Aiming and fire control system - yes
Combat control and navigation system - yes
Thermal imager - yes
Mine protection - active
Active Defense - Afghanite
Dynamic protection - yes
HP engine - 1200-2000
Engine replacement hour. - 0.5
Additional power point- there is
Maximum weight t. - 48
Maximum speed km / h - 80-90
Power reserve km. - over 500
Length mm. -
Width mm. -
Height mm. -
Crew - 3
Number of track rollers, pcs. - 7
Armor resistance mm. - over 900

Fedor DIANOV

Apparently, the tank really turned out to be quite good. Chinese designers, according to foreign experts, tried to embody in it the advantages of the Russian T-72 and T-80, the American Abrams, the German Leopard and the Israeli Merkava. This is especially true for the latest modification of the machine, which received the designation T-99A2. The driver controls the 60-ton colossus using the steering wheel. It has powerful turret and hull armor. The protection consists of homogeneous armor with a thickness of 500-600 mm, as well as two-layer active armor, which in total gives the equivalent of 1000-1200 mm of armor. Chinese designers believe that the American 120-mm cannon of the Abrams tank is capable of penetrating armor no thicker than 810 mm. The Chinese 125-mm cannon, created on the basis of Russian models, “mastered” with the participation of Ukrainian engineers and craftsmen, breaks through 850-mm armor, while the protection of the Abrams is equivalent to 600-700 mm of homogeneous armor. It is also alleged that in the PRC a new projectile has been created for the T-99, penetrating 950-mm armor.

Tanks have been extensively tested in various climatic zones, including the northern ones, simulating the subpolar regions.

Tank T-99 on the march.

According to the American magazine Defense News, the task of acquiring new armored vehicles is a priority for the PLA. At the same time, the military from the Middle Kingdom would like to buy more T-99A2 tanks. However, the pace of equipping army units with them lags behind the planned volumes and deadlines. First, the machine proved difficult to manufacture. Secondly, it turned out to be very expensive. Each serial tank costs 16 million yuan ($2 million or 1.6 million euros), which is about twice the price of the Chinese T-96 main battle tank. That is why the "Kings of Asia" come only into service with the elite units of the PLA.

The T-99 also has other hard-to-repair shortcomings. First of all, it's weight. It is too heavy for most Chinese bridges. There are restrictions on the transportation of the car by rail.

The latest modification of the T-99 - T-99KM has not yet been put on the conveyor. The tank is equipped with a 2100-horsepower diesel engine, a new modular active protection and an integrated laser complex counter JD-3. He automatically, after receiving data on laser irradiation by the enemy, turns the tower in his direction and fires a powerful beam that disables the optical means or organs of vision of the enemy operator. According to some data for

The T-99KM has developed a 152-mm cannon capable of firing guided missiles and new-generation kinetic rounds, including penetrating projectiles consisting of several penetrating elements made of special alloys. Of course, the tank has gained more weight, and its dimensions have increased. The price of this "super king" inevitably went up.

This circumstance forces the Chinese military leadership to look for new options for equipping the PLA with armored vehicles. Work is underway on a fourth-generation tank. He, according to the director of the Chinese Northern Automobile Research Institute, will be lighter than the T-99A2. The crew of two people will receive the information necessary for control and combat from numerous sensors (infrared, television, etc.). Most likely, the main weapon will be a 140-mm gun-launcher, which, as stated, is already "quite mature." The active defense system is designed to destroy incoming anti-tank missiles.

As can be seen from this rather sparse description, the promising Chinese tank is conceptually close to the unrealized Russian T-95. In any case, the influence of his ideology is undeniable.

Tanks of the T-99 series The first tank of the T-99 series "Prioritet" was created in 2014 as a promising tank to replace the T-90M. A non-standard layout for Soviet / Russian tanks was used with a rear-mounted uninhabited tower and a front-mounted engine-transmission group. In the stern there was a landing compartment for two soldiers in full gear. Initially, a 125mm 2A46-M5 smoothbore gun-launcher, a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun paired with it, and a 12.7mm Kord anti-aircraft gun were used as weapons. The engine used was a promising X (x)-shaped diesel engine 1300 horsepower at 3500 rpm. The crew - three tankers - was located in a special armored capsule in the center of the tank. The tank passed factory tests, however, numerous problems were later discovered related to the design of both the engine and the tank itself. However, in connection with the outbreak of war, the tank was put into service along with the T-90M and T-80UD that were not taken out of production. A few months later, the production of the T-90M was abandoned. Six months later, the T-80UD was discontinued. The T-99 "Priority" was upgraded more than twenty times before the T-991 "Patriot" was adopted. A total of 97 units were produced. T-991 "Patriot" is the second tank of the series and the most massive - 975 tanks were produced. Despite the similarity of the name and layout, the tank differs in many ways from its predecessor. It was decided to abandon the aft troop compartment, the 125mm gun was replaced with a promising 152mm smoothbore gun-launcher (ATGM for this gun was never put into service). The engine was also replaced. The new X-shaped engine produced 1520 hp. at 3500 rpm (it was planned to install a more reliable V-engine T-90M, but the MTO layout feature would require the creation of a completely new machine). It was decided to abandon the uninhabited tower in favor of the standard one. In total, the T-991 had more than 143 changes compared to the T-99. However, this generally successful tank had its drawbacks. The new engine proved to be very unreliable at low temperatures, and it quickly overheated due to an imperfect cooling system. Particularly many complaints from the tank crews were caused by the layout of the fighting compartment, its tightness and the high level of noise from both the engine and the automatic loader. Even more problems were caused by the rush to assemble the tanks. The most common problem was the absence of some non-critical nodes that had to be installed already at the location. T-992 "Vityaz", the third tank of the series. A total of 149 cars were produced. The tank is actually a "work on the mistakes" made when creating the T-991. A 152mm rifled gun was installed, a new, fully debugged X-shaped engine with a capacity of 1770 horsepower. The layout of the fighting compartment, the engine noise suppression system and the overall sound insulation have been completely revised. The only tank of the series that did not cause complaints from the crews, however, the armament clearly had excessive power. T-1520 "Vector-Alpha" - experimental tank, prototype. In total, three cars were produced, one of which took part in the battles. An attempt to create a fundamentally new tank based on the T-99. As armament, a 152mm 2A91 rifled gun with increased vertical aiming angles was installed. The latter made it possible, if necessary, to fire from closed positions along a hinged (artillery) trajectory. The engine is an experimental X-shaped engine with a power of 1850 hp, boosted to 2030 hp. The new automatic loader required the creation of a new turret. An extended uninhabited tower was used as a turret installation, however, not isolated from the fighting compartment. The latter caused the death of the crew commander of the experimental tank. A large niche in the turret contains an ammunition rack that can be detached from the turret for a quick change of ammunition. An emergency reset of the turret niche is possible to prevent the destruction of the tank by an explosion of the ammunition rack. The tank did not go into production. Armament of tanks, 125mm and 152mm guns. The 125mm smoothbore gun-launcher 2A46-M5 is practically no different from that installed on the T-90M tank. It has slightly better accuracy and better ballistics. A 152mm smooth-bore gun-launcher 2A88 was installed on the T-99 "Prioritet" tank. It has a great length, for which it was nicknamed "Spinning" in the troops. Unitary loading dramatically reduced the ballistic characteristics of the gun. The reduction in performance was not considered an obstacle, since it was assumed that the main type of ammunition would be 152mm ATGMs, which were not accepted into service. The carousel-type automatic loader made it possible to achieve a rate of fire of 8 rounds per minute. The gun was installed on the T-991 "Patriot". Also, a gun with an automatic loader modified for separate-sleeve loading with a rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute was installed on later modifications of the T-99 "Priority". 152mm rifled gun 2A90. Due to the large length of unitary shells - 145 cm - a new automatic loader was required. The ballistics of the gun approached that of the 2A46-M5. The rate of fire reached 8 rounds per minute, however, the power of the gun was excessive. Installed on the T-992 "Vityaz" and anti-tank self-propelled artillery mounts 2S39 "Kraken". The 152mm 2A91 rifled gun is actually a modification of the 2A90 (2A90-U2). New, even more powerful unitary projectiles with a length of 165 cm required a new automatic loader, arranged according to the French type: the automatic loader ammo rack was located not on the floor of the fighting compartment, but in a turret niche. Also, the gun had increased vertical aiming angles, which made it possible to fire from closed positions along a high trajectory. The gun was considered unpromising and unnecessarily powerful and difficult to manufacture. Installed on the experimental tank T-1520 "Vector-Alpha". In the future, all work on 152mm guns was curtailed.