Tanks, whose protection is active. The armor of the tank is active: the principle of action. The invention of active armor

And in this article we will look at what active armor is. Note - the topic is quite interesting and necessary. So, active defense is a system of shooting specific warheads connected to a radar device of local influence. These systems are placed on tanks.

If a tank, for example, T-72 with active armor, found an ammunition approaching to it (grenades of anti-tank grenade launcher and the like), the team launches a projectile that, when approaching a dangerous object, explodes. What happens next? A cloud of debris is formed or destroying or greatly weakening the action of a dangerous object. It should be noted that scientists have also developed devices that work with protective charges that do not need to be launched.

In Russian federation

How did the active armor of the tank appear? It was developed and implemented by Soviet weapons makers. The concept of active protection of iron cars was first voiced in one of the Tula KBs, circa 1950. The first complex of the innovative invention "Drozd" was installed on the T-55AD tank, which the army received in 1983.

In general, "Drozd" is the first design in the world, adopted for armament and produced serially. Its performance allowed the tank to be used without restrictions.

By the way, active armor significantly (twice or more) increases the endurance of iron giants.

In 1980, the Drozd system was modernized and received the Drozd-2 index. At the same time, the active defense of the Arena was developed, but in connection with the collapse of the post-Soviet space, it did not go into the series in the same way as the upgraded complex.

The invention of the active armor "Arena" helped solve some problems. For example, earlier when the attacking warhead was destroyed, its infantry was struck with fragments of a rocket-propelled grenade or ATGMs and anti-missiles. And now the fragmentation of the fragments (from the top down) and the trajectory of the movement of the protective block were calculated so as to completely eliminate the zone of continuous damage and simultaneously guarantee the destruction of the attacking missile.

Today Kolomna KBM KAZ operates over the Armata platform. Specialists are working hard on the "Afghanistan" complex. It is said that the structure in its composition will have a radar millimeter range, and to eliminate the targets will be used shock core in place of the traditional spatial fragmentation flow.

The intercepted target is likely to move at a maximum speed of 1,700 m / s.

Foreign developments

And in what other countries was the active armor of the tank developed? It was created in France, the USA, Germany and Israel. But the USSR suddenly collapsed, and all these attempts lost their relevance. In addition, military budgets were reduced, and this entailed numerous funerals of unique projects.

It is possible to note only the only exception - the Ukrainian system "Zaslon". It was brought to the level of acting samples. Of course, by April 2010 the design had not yet passed state testing and entered the arsenal of the Ukrainian army, but it was very actively advertised for export.

I wonder how the active armor works. For example, the "Zaslon" complex has curious features - missile warheads do not fire back, but are suppressed directly on the surface of a military vehicle. Also, according to the developers, the issue of eliminating warheads storming from above was solved. Moreover, under the influence of an echeloned fragmentation stream and a blast wave, warheads with a metal integral shell (BOPS) change their path. They either meet with basic armoring at an unprofitable angle, or they go outside the zone of the screened object. It is these nuances that place this system in the category of protective universal means.

When there is an active armor, we'll figure it out further, and now pay attention to the West. In 2004-2006, in the Western countries, enhanced development of active defense complexes began. The Americans also accelerated the creation of such systems: they were forced to fight the constant shelling of military columns from the RPG-7 in Iraq. In addition, the Lebanese second war with concentrated use of ATGMs and grenade launchers spoiled the nerves of US leadership.

It is known that if in America the Quick Kill system still requires a significant improvement, then Israel is already in working order Trophy and Iron Fist. When the war ended in 2006, the specialists decided to equip the Merkava-4 tank with the active defense complex (KAZ) "Trofi" (Israel production). This system is capable of destroying machine-threatening ATGM / RPG rounds. That is why Mk.4 is the first foreign OBT with KAZ.

It should be noted that the first tanks were not actively protected due to insufficient funding. Serial production of "iron colossi" equipped with KAZ "Trophy", designated "Merkava Mk.4M", began in the last months of 2008. And already in 2009 they began to enter the army.

In general, the uniqueness of this Israeli complex is automatic recharging. In addition, it can hit several objects at the same time.

Problems

Many people say that if there is an active armored tank, it will come out victorious from any alteration. But all protection systems have general flaws. It is unclear how the complex will work with impressive shaking. Many ATGMs (for example, FGM-148 Javelin) fall into the roof of the tank, bypassing the protected perimeter. An explosion a few meters from the "iron giant" may damage the equipment placed on the roof. Certainly, the protective system will fail.

Also, the ultimate performance of the device with the need for recharging does not allow you to defend against multiple attacks from one side. This feature was taken into account in the development of the RPG-30, equipped with an advanced warhead, which ensures the operation of the protective device at a safe distance for a reactive grenade.

T-62

And now let's find out what the T-62 tank with active armor is like. In general, the T-62 (Object 166) is an average Soviet tank. It is designed on the basis of the T-55 tank. It was produced in the USSR from 1961 to 1975. It is the world's first machine with a smooth-bore gun of 115 mm caliber and the weight of an average tank at the maximum level of reservation (the concept of a basic military machine).

History of creation

In the Soviet Union in the 1950s was the T-54/55 - the basic medium tank. The car was constantly improved, its firepower increased, but its rifled 100 mm D-10T gun remained the same.

Until 1961, the D-10T fought only small-caliber armor-piercing shells and by 1950 could no longer effectively defeat the new medium-sized M48 tank (US production). And Western tanks at that time were already working with sub-caliber warheads with a separating pallet and non-rotating cumulative warheads piercing the armor of a Soviet tank at normal combat distances.

Two groups of Soviet tank-building specialists of the 1950s worked on the creation of the T-62. The first was developing new weapons for medium tanks, and the second was implementing the initiative projects of Uralvagonzavod Design Bureau - creating a promising medium tank for the replacement of the T-54/55.

It is interesting that in 1958 the Uralvagonzavod Design Bureau completed works on the promising tank "Object 140". The initiator of the completion of the project was L. N. Kartsev, who held the post of chief designer of the plant. It was he who found the new machine too untechnical and difficult to operate.

Anticipating this outcome, the experts simultaneously developed the Object 165 tank, which was a hybrid consisting of the tower and the body of Object 140, the combat unit of Object 150 and the engine-transmission part and the T-55 running gear. Factory testing of the product was completed in 1958: according to its results, the Ministry of Defense approved the draft of the second version of the "Object 165", even more approximate in structure to the serial T-55.

In addition to the "Object 165" in the 1950s, a large number of other promising medium-sized tanks were being developed. They were to be armed with a new rifled 100 mm D-54 gun (U-8TS), created in 1953. Compared with the D-10, the D-54 had an armor penetration of 25% greater, and the primary speed of its armor-piercing missile was increased from 895 to 1015 m / s. But these parameters were also considered insufficient for a successful fight against Western tanks, and more modern types of shells did not exist yet.

It should be noted that the military received serious objections to the presence of a muzzle brake on the D-54. This device during firing contributed to the formation of a snow, dust or sand cloud, unmasking the tank and interfering with monitoring the outcome of the firing. In addition, many feared that the muzzle would adversely affect the tank landing and infantry support.

Basic tank with active armor T-72B

Interestingly, what is a T-72B tank with active armor? This product is the 1985 version. It differs from ancestors in the presence of a system of rocket-coordinated weapons and powerful armored screening of the tower. In addition, this machine is equipped with a hinged dynamic protection, built of 227 containers, more than half of which is located on the tower.

It is known that the tank with active armor T-72B was designed during the modernization of the T-72A. The machine is the third generation of MBT: it is equipped with dynamic protection "Contact", advanced SPS (has a two-plane stabilizer gun 2E42-2 for firing on the move) and a system of coordinated weapons 9K120 "Svir" (equipped with a guidance device 1K13-49). The modernization of the tower entailed an increase in weight to 44.5 tons.

T-90

And what good is the active armor T-90? It is known that the T-90 "Vladimir" is the base military tank of Russia. It was created in the late 1980s as a deep improvement of the T-72B tank, called the T-72B modernized. But in 1992 he joined the army already under the T-90 index.

When Potkin V.I. (the main designer of the tank) was gone, the government of the Russian Federation decided to give the T-90 the name "Vladimir".

By the way, in the period from 2001 to 2010, T-90 was considered the best-selling new MBT on the world market.

It is interesting that in 2010 the T-90 was purchased under contracts for the Russian army at a price of 70 million rubles. By 2011, the cost of T-90 increased and amounted to 118 million rubles. Since the end of 2011, the purchase of T-90 for Russian troops has been discontinued.

September 9, 2011 in Nizhny Tagil at an international exhibition was shown publicly T-90SM, a new export sample of the T-90 tank.

Active Intercession

And does the T-90 have an active protection? He has a traditional armor, there is also a dynamic defense. In addition, this machine is equipped with an active protection, built from the system of optical-electronic suppression "Shtora-1." This device is designed to protect against the defeat of the iron giant anti-tank coordinated missiles and is designed from the station "Shtora-1" and the device that forms the veil.

By the way, "Shtora-1" is designed to protect against missiles equipped with a self-loading guidance system. It is constructed from a pair of modulators, two infrared illuminators OTSHU-1-7 and a control panel.

Everyone knows that when the defense is active, the armor is impenetrable. The device forming the veil, counteracts controlled warheads that are equipped with self-loading guidance along the laser beam or laser homing. This device also interferes with the operation of laser rangefinders and the formation of a smoke screen.

This structure consists of a set of laser radiation indicators, designed from two sensors of coarse and two-precise direction finding, a coordination device and twelve grenade launcher systems filled with aerosol.

This is really a unique invention - active armor. The principle of its operation is as follows: if the radiation of the tank is detected by laser radiation, the system forming the veil determines the direction of the outgoing danger and notifies the crew. Further, either at the direction of the commander of the crew, or automatically, an aerosol grenade is shot, which creates an aerosol cloud that neutralizes the laser radiation, disrupting the action of missile guidance systems. In addition, the newly appeared cloud masks the iron machine, turning into a smoke screen.

"Afghanistan"

So, we continue to consider what active armor is. "Afghanistan" - the active defense system (KAZ) of the tank. It was created by Russian specialists in the 2010s.

This device protects heavy armored vehicles from cumulative anti-tank missiles (ATGMs and CS) and sub-caliber warheads.

Designed from a radar unit, optical-electronic sensors and laser sighting devices, a pair of conversion units, a control panel, a calculator, a set of cables, a junction box, a protective weapon in the installation shafts.

The anti-ballistic protection is mainly under the tower on the hull, therefore it is not vulnerable to most warheads, unlike other KAZ. At this device radar devices are duplicated. It is equipped with a system of jamming and has the ability to eliminate ammunition, using an anti-aircraft machine gun and a basic AFAR radar. By the way, such a protection scheme, in fact, can also be considered a separate independent complex.

The creators of "Afghanistan" purchased patent RU 2263268 for the construction of a defense operating on the principle of a "nuclear strike", which makes it possible to shoot down advanced missiles at speeds of up to 3000 m / s. Today (before the end of state testing), attention is paid to the option with a target speed of up to 1,700 m / s. Such a device will be able to intercept almost any warhead, moving at maximum speed.

First of all, "Afghanistan" is the impact nucleus, launched from the fired warhead first in the direction of fastening the missile's container (straight), then in any direction. The device is capable of effectively destroying attacking targets of all types. In the tower there are also two types of ammunition, sheltered from lateral influences, necessary for jamming, which mask the tank at the time of attack from various modern anti-tank missiles.

By the way, the AFAR radar is an independent system.

Principle of manipulation

The step-by-step system operates as follows:

• Data obtained through communication channels that are hidden from the enemy, from various means of detection and resistant to interference are used. The system relies on personal guidance and detection tools.
• Detection of threats through the LRS. On the Afghanistan models for the T-14 and T-15, the threats are monitored through the AFAR panoramic sighting system of the AFAR type with an impressive detection range.
• It establishes the type of threat in the performance of short-range defense tasks with KAZ tools.

Sequence of interception:

• The threat is attacked by means of air defense (the T-15 uses a 30 mm cannon and ATGM with anti-aircraft missiles, and the T-14 - an anti - aircraft machine gun of 12.7 mm).
• Creation of interference by means of destruction of sighting devices, attacking systems. Destruction is conducted by KAZ forces.
• Interception by counter-charges. The interception operates in diameter up to twenty meters (it also neutralizes sub-caliber projectiles).

In the launch tubes of the "Afghanistan", located under the tower, can be placed as large missiles, and combined (two or three ammunition in each). The latter option corresponds to the logic of the preliminary shooting of the interceptor followed by a programmed target shot by the impact nucleus.

Officially revealed that the upper hemisphere is camouflaged by KAZ, so there is a possibility of using software undermining. Potentially, such interceptors are deployed in cassette anti-tank CCD MLRS with a caliber of about 200 mm.

By the way, two types of warheads attached to the roof can be both cause of interference and a means of destroying low-value warheads that attack massively. In addition, in the roof, one of the ammunition can serve as a grenade for prolonged cover-up interference or grenades with interference from other frequency ranges.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the presence of a total coating of T-14 and T-15, which effectively protects against cassette projectiles.

We hope that this article will help you in a deeper study of the active protection of tanks.