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 MODERN SYSTEMS


The German company Rheinmetall has developed a project for a new generation of the future main combat platform, known as Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). The crew of the tank consists of 2 people and is placed in an isolated capsule in the hull. The idea of 2-man tank was offered and tested in the end of 80-s during EGS program (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann). Protection of the crew from above is provided by overlapping placement of elements of the turret and gun. The engine is located in the front of the hull, the fan cooling system is located in the aft hull. It is evident that the platform will use most of the components of chassis from KF41"Lynx" presented at the exhibition "Eurosatory" in 2018. In the aft part of the hull there is also a compartment where it is possible to transport additional ammunition or a landing force.
Rheinmetall'‎s future tank. Main Ground Combat System (MGCS)





The new version of Object “ 490” by E. A. Morozov was under development in parallel with the Object “477”, and was also redesigned to equip with a 152 mm 2A73 cannon. This led to the creation of one of the most unusual and fundamentally new projects in the history of post-war tank design, characterized by unmatched levels of crew protection, mobility and firepower:
- crew protection with a level equivalent to more than 2000 and 4500 against APFSDS and HEAT (CE), 200 and 600 from the upper hemisphere;
- 32 unitary shots with L=1400 mm in fully automated loading system;
- 2 engine motor compartment with variable power up to 2000 hp;
- 4-track chassis with the possibility of movement in case of damage of 2 tracks (from opposite sides).
Future Soviet Tank of the 21st century. Object “490”






A future 1980-s tank with maximum protection, firepower and crew safety. One of the most unusual developments of the Soviet tank construction in the post-war period was the project of a two-cannon tank by Evgeny Morozov. The works were carried out in the late 70s and were presented to the customer (Soviet Ministry of Defense) along with other future directions for the development of the design for the future tank. The design of the tank was unusual, the hull was divided into isolated compartments, the first - the transmission compartment, the second - the fuel compartment divided by partitions, the third - the engine compartment. The crew consisting of two operators (commander-operator and driver) was placed in the rear of the hull in an isolated stationary (weapon platform rotated while crew stations remain stationary) capsule.
Soviet two-gun tank project (490 "Poplar")






Work on the future Soviet tank was officially conducted in Kharkov design bureau from the beginning of the 1980s under the guidance of N. A. Shomin, chief designer of the KMDB. Initiative work on the new medium tank of the 80-s NST-80 [New Medium Tank] began even earlier, from 08.17.1977, when the group of designers approved by N. A. Shomin was formed. The layout of the future tank was represented by two projects - a two men crew Object “490” developed by E. A. Morozov and Object “490A” with a crew of three, a low-profile turret and low-profile turret, the design of which was headed by V. R. Kovalyukh, deputy chief designer of the KMDB.
Soviet 80s Future tank projects. Object “ 490” , Object “490A” (Rebel), “490A” with 152 mm gun (Boxer).






Development of future Soviet tank in 80-s and was a continuation of works started in 1970-s under designation “Project 101”. Necessity for development was grounded by the development of next generation tank in US and NATO. The importance of this task was well realized by Nikolay Shomin, a new chief designer of Kharkov design bureau, who replaced Alexander Morozov after he retired in 1976. The development of the tank had two main directions – conventional layout with 3-man crew and unmanned turret, which was known under designation “Object 490A” and later “Object 477” and unconventional 2-man design known as “Object 490”. The project “490” developed in the 80s was under development by Eugenie Morozov, son of the famous designer of tanks T-34, T-54, T-64 Alexander Morozov.
The main features of the “Object 490” were:
- crew consisting of two people - commander-gunner and driver. Reduce the crew to two people and place them in a compact, well-protected capsule. Depending on the specific layout, this gives a volume saving of up to 1.2 m3.
- the use of hydro pneumatic suspension. In addition to solving the main problem - increasing average speeds by improving running smoothness, it allows to control the clearance of the tank, which increases maneuverability and survivability in battle. In addition, controlled hydro pneumatic suspension by changing the hull angle allows to increase the pointing angles of the gun in the vertical plane.
- Creation of a special armored refueling and reloading vehicle capable of accompanying the tank in the same formation, overcoming hard natural and artificial obstacles, passing through nuclear contaminated areas of the terrain, and operating under conditions of use of nuclear weapons. In layout no. 1 and 2, it was supposed to implement the replenishment of ammunition and refueling the tank without leaving the crews of the tank and refueling-loading machine.
Object 490 "Poplar". Unknown Soviet future tank of 80s





The “Object 640” also known as a “Black Eagle” was created in 1990-s by the designers of Omsk KBTM (transport machine building bureau). The tank belongs to a new generation and realizes a lot of innovative constructional decisions and arrangement which differs it from all classical Russian and western tanks. The tank uses the new design turret with low frontal profile and detachable transport and loading module. The armor protection of front hull and turret is modular design. The crew is stationed in the hull below the turret ring and completely separated from ammunition and fuel.
“Object 640” (Black Eagle), "Unified turret" and "Burlak"









Maybe one of the most original ideas of tank redesign
What to do with old T-55 tanks and T-64 which are planed to be scrapped? It was primary aimed on countries which have difficulties with modern tanks with autoloader service. The ideas presented in 2000-s by the Ukrainian 115 armor repair plant in Kharkov. The plant was without work at that time and created various interesting ideas for it’s survival.
1. Take 1 T-55 and remove turret, place it on T-64 hull – you have T-55-64 hybrid tank
2. Make a survivable heavy IFV from T-55 hull – HIFV-55
3. What to do with an old T-64 turret? Make a remote controlled unmanned defense station with concrete strengthened protection.

Heavy armored fighting vehicle made on the basis of the chassis of the tank T-55
Hybrid variant of the tank T-55-64 (Modernization of the tank T-55)
Battle module with 125 mm tank gun on the base of the turret of the main battle tank T-64 (BM-125-64)





Russia develops a new wheeled version of advanced “Coalition-SV” SPA. On a visualization presented by “Burevestnik” Research institute a new design of SPA can be seen. Though placement of system of such size on “Kamaz 6560” looks questionable. “Burevestnik” is famous from it’s previous 2-barrel design for tracked version of “Coalition-SV”.
САУ «Coalition-SV-KSh»





T-15 (Object 149 by the designation of Russian main armor departament) – is a next generation heavy infantry fighting vehicle based on the universal platform "Armata". It is intended for conducting all types of combat operations and transporting units of motorized rifle troops and fire support for dismounted riflemens. It was first demonstrated at the Victory Parade in Moscow in 2015. The period of state tests - 2016-2017, after their completion, mass production will start. It will become the first heavy Russian infantry fighting vehicle in the Armed Forces of Russia. Internal and external photos of T-15 -



T-15. Next generation heavy infantry fighting vehicle



T-14 (Object 148 by the designation of Russian main armor department) - the newest Russian main tank with an unmanned turret. To the general public, the T-14 was presented at the Victory Day parade in 2015 along with other products based on "Armata". “Armata” became famous in Russia, as well as along all the world before entering mass production. What it represents can be seen on photos of it’s crew “capsule” in hull and overall views -




T-14 - the newest Russian main tank with an unmanned turret.


Tests of seagoing qualities of BTR-4, adapted for the needs of the Indonesian marine infantry before the transfer of Indonesia. In January 2017, 5 units of armored personnel carriers BTR 4-M was successfully delivered to the Marine Corps of Indonesia as part of the contract, Signed in early 2014. At this time, the future fate of the contract is not known.





BTR-4 for Indonesian marine infantry




Upgraded T-72B tank (option T-72B3 with additional options). The main novelties of the presented tank are in the engine (1160 hp with automatic gearshift), The new panoramic sight of the commander with a laser rangefinder (produced by VOMZ), Installation of a rear view television camera and a number of other improvements. The tank self-pulling log is located on the starboard side (in the course of the tank) because of the installation of the rear view camera. The decision is very unfortunate, because Prevents the reinforcement of the sides with dynamic protection.

T-72B3 with additional options






Our site is for those who are interested in information about modern tanks of the world's leading countries. Particular attention is paid to developments of new generations of tanks and IFV, new concepts in the development and application, as well as to development of new Active protection systems, elecro-optical countermeasures, reactive armor e.t.c. Also you can post your articles on your site, memoirs or photo materials, contact address btvt2017@gmail.com We also invite you to take part in the discussion of the materials on the pages of facebook, youtube and livejournal.


 HISTORICAL ARTICLES


In the beginning of 60-s cast turrets with composite armor were introduced for T-64, T-64A (later for T-72A and T-80B) which had a significant protection against shaped-charge projectiles and APDS rounds. Such protection provided Soviet tanks with protection superiority over western designed tanks of that time like M60A and “Chieftain”. But in same period of time in the 1-st half of 70-s it became evident, that future development of tank cast turrets has no long term perspectives comparing to welded design. An experimental turret was tested with results published in 1977 special literature.


Development of welded turrets for post-WW2 tanks in USSR, Russia and Ukraine



Technical data on soviet 1-st post WW2 generation of tanks, Like T-54, T-55 and T-62 are well known and well described in literature. But what if Soviet “premium” tanks of 70-s era were engaged into real combat against western tanks in Europre. This article provides description of "Object 432" (T-64) and T-64A tank combined protection (composite armor, anti radiation and chemical protection) in comparison to western designed tanks – “Chieftain” Mk5P and M60A1. Information on T-64 protection includes technical project (presentation) dated 1961 and technical drawings from various periods. Information on “Chieftain” Mk5P and M60A1 tanks is a result of study of captured tanks delivered to USSR in 1970s and beginning of 1980-s, published in technical reports of that period. The importance of information is the common testing criteria based on Soviet approach to tanks testing and protection design. This article contains mostly direct citations of facts and numbers published in reports with some comments.


Armor protection of the tanks of the second postwar generation T-64 (T-64A), Chieftain Mk5P and M60





The ERAWA armor is connected whit person of the Prof. Ph.D. D.Sc. Adam WISNIEWSKI from Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) in Poland. Name of this reactive armor is based on acronym: Explosive Reactive Armor Wisniewski Adam 1 and 2 layered. The origins of the ERAWA are hidden in half of the 1980s when polish Military Institute of Armament Technology had started (in person Prof. Ph.D Wisniewski) development process about new armor for deep modernization of the T-72M1. In fact WITU work had started about whole family of the armor whit two „tank” part: ceramic CAWA armor for main tank armor and explosive ERAWA armor as external layer. Rumors about eastern ( Soviet Union ) origins of the ERAWA are false. Polish Army during negotiation about future production in Poland T-72s tank (planned at half of the 1990s) rejected Kontakt-1 armor as solution whit many flaws and not good enough against suspected RPG's and ATGMS warhead in breakthrough of the 1980/1990.


Polish Explosive reactive armor: ERAWA-1 and ERAWA-2





The ERAWA armor is connected whit person of the Prof. Ph.D. D.Sc. Adam WISNIEWSKI from Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) in Poland. Name of this reactive armor is based on acronym: Explosive Reactive Armor Wisniewski Adam 1 and 2 layered. The origins of the ERAWA are hidden in half of the 1980s when polish Military Institute of Armament Technology had started (in person Prof. Ph.D Wisniewski) development process about new armor for deep modernization of the T-72M1. In fact WITU work had started about whole family of the armor whit two „tank” part: ceramic CAWA armor for main tank armor and explosive ERAWA armor as external layer. Rumors about eastern ( Soviet Union ) origins of the ERAWA are false. Polish Army during negotiation about future production in Poland T-72s tank (planned at half of the 1990s) rejected Kontakt-1 armor as solution whit many flaws and not good enough against suspected RPG's and ATGMS warhead in breakthrough of the 1980/1990.
Leopard-2A0-A4 armor protection estimation