The tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) is a new class of multi-purpose armored vehicles. What is its meaning? Why
Table of contents
- "Multipurpose tank"
- So what is it exactly
- disadvantages
On the one hand, a tank is incredibly powerful.It is difficult to imagine anything more capable of terrifying enemy soldiers by its mere appearance. But at the same time, a tank is an incredibly vulnerable thing, since the Second World War, a lot of various means of destruction have appeared - from high-tech, such as ATGM (anti-tank guided missile) to improvised ones, such as the Molotov Cocktail, although modern machines are burned with it, like in the good old days, it won't work.
True, this talented guy managed to burn the armored personnel carrier with a piece of dry alcohol, so ... who knows, who knows:
The tank remains half-blind, and even today,models of tanks stuffed with electronics almost on a par with fighters, cannot be guaranteed to defend themselves. Therefore, today the tanks participating in the war need motorized rifle units that serve with both eyes and hands, like a fly swatter, beating off various non-priority, but dangerous small targets, while not distracting armored monsters from serious specialized tasks.
American Marines in a tank landing in Baghdad, 2003
SGT PAUL L. ANSTINE II USMC
"Multipurpose tank"
Back in the 1980s, Soviet designers caught firethe idea of creating special tanks in tank units, whose weapons will be radically different in their bias towards the defeat of manpower and lightly armored vehicles, including at the closest distances. That is, the tower will not have a long-barreled cannon, but a whole vinaigrette of automatic cannons, grenade launchers, machine guns and missile systems for various purposes.
On the one hand, the idea is good - transfer tasksvulnerable infantry, with their almost cardboard (against small arms) infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, a vehicle protected on par with a tank, and simply save lives. On the other hand, infantry, even in modern warfare, still remains necessary for many other tasks - clearing positions, assault, battle in the city, etc.
The military was not ready to rethink the structuretank units and the tactics of using only one type of military equipment. Therefore, the development of this class of machines went sluggishly in Soviet times, and even more so in the 90s.
Grenade launchers, even with the development of tanks dynamic protection systems, have not ceased to be the most dangerous threat to them.
But the experience of local wars, and especially the war in Chechnyashowed that the project was extremely underestimated, because the tanks had to be used in battles, the configuration of which could change rapidly - here tanks fire from large distances at enemy positions with almost impunity, and when entering a settlement, a fierce battle ensues, during which sometimes one successful hits from the RPG-7 for the loss of an expensive and valuable vehicle. It is impossible to predict such a shot, and it is not much easier to prevent it.
About Terminator or BMPT (Support Fighting Vehicletanks) began to talk a lot in the 2010s, as a "breakthrough development of the domestic military-industrial complex." True, we are now presented with any kind of Russian development, even if, when it appeared, it was already 10 years behind world analogues. The mastery of the exotic technique was slow - the new "half tank" looked formidable, impressive, but there were no intelligible thoughts about what to do with it.
BMPT in one of the early versions
In 2017, the Terminator went to heapto fight in Syria, the results of its tests remained classified, but still it is not difficult to guess that, on the whole, they were successful - the BMPT was adopted. By 2018, even three generations of these vehicles had accumulated, and this month of this year its fate turned out to be clear, since 9 units entered service in the Central Military District, namely in the 90th Panzer Division.
So what is it exactly
The base is the chassis of the T-72 or T-90 tank.Accordingly, the booking, engine, suspension - everything is identical. B-84 or B-92 engine (respectively, seventy-two or ninety chassis), with all their advantages and disadvantages.
But above the chassis are the same differences - instead ofa massive tower, a booth with wonders, a combat module with two 30-mm automatic cannons, a Kalashnikov machine gun (from the second generation independent of cannons) and two blocks of guided missiles (two in each), usually ATGMs (as a rule, they write about "Attack"), but there are variable warheads - cumulative, high-explosive and, presumably, thermobaric (where without them).
Ptur Attack-T
The warhead is, of course, equipped with a laserrangefinder, TV channel and thermal imaging channel in the panorama of the commander, stabilizers, enemies are displayed like in Modern Warfare. In short, everything is like that of people.
There is not enough information about this technology in general, and the generation difference is difficult to determine, but in general it can be described as follows
Terminator 1- the most obscure example, sincewas intended to be a funny curiosity for the general's sabantuy, a demonstration and test version. Elements of equipment constantly varied, but a significant difference between the first versions was that the weapons described above were supplemented by AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers in the fenders.
Terminator 1 on display in 2013
Terminator 2- the version with which something similar has already begunfor a serious attitude and serial potential. It also established the option of using the T-90 chassis, and it was probably the “second” ones who set off to conquer the Syrian beauties.
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BMPT-72 Terminator-2
Terminator 3- a version about which quite a lot has already been written.It is planned to rework the combat module towards modularity (sorry, but what else can you say), that is, the weapons can be variable, because they are already talking about a 57-mm cannon (probably the Epoch combat module influenced) with a wider range of capabilities to hit different types of ammunition. This model is already keeping up with the times, the weapons will be revised in the direction of being able to counter UAVs, the 57-mm allows you to install a smart filling with a programmed detonation into the projectile. In this case, the gun will also be automatic.
Terminator 3
RIA Novosti / Mikhail Voskresensky
Terminator 4— its fundamental difference is that it will be the Armata chassis.
So that's it. They did not have time to really take it into service, but already four generations. Well, everyone understands everything.
disadvantages
With the advantages, everything seems to be clear - the cartakes over the functions of the infantry in support of tanks. Moreover, due to the development of KAZ (active defense systems), tank landings become impossible - people will die from the explosion of their own anti-missile defense system of the tank. In short, there should be a minimum of a person not covered by armor on the battlefield. In a sense, the BMPT is a kind of helicopter on tracks.
Heavy BMP-15 Armata may be a smarter alternative to BMPT
In the same time:
1)The chassis has the same disadvantages as in tanks.: the speed is not enough, and the reverse speed is just scanty, it is impossible to force water obstacles without preliminary preparation, a long and time-consuming engine replacement in the field.
2)Crew 5 people. This is already too much and too cramped, it would seem.Such combat vehicles should not exist in our century, but here we are. The Terminator requires two guided missile operators, one for each block of two. While there are two of them, it is unclear what these fighters will do after two launches. Probably, in later modifications, this element will be optimized to at least one operator, because in tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, for a long time, the entire hodgepodge of weapons has been handled by one gunner-operator and commander.
3)Lack of radar stations, which is why the ability to shoot down drones is lower than even that of the ancient Shilka air defense system. Yes, even a helicopter cannot be detected in advance.
4)Over modern infantry fighting vehicles, the advantage is only in armor, in terms of weapons, everything is on an equal footing, and is not radically superior to even the modernization of the BMP-2M. It is necessary to do something either with the ammunition (significantly expand), or with the combat module.
5)Protecting the machine itself— one dynamic system will soon be completely insufficient; where to mount the active protection complex is still unclear. The BMPT, designed to protect tanks, is itself not very well protected.
6)Lack of powerful enough weapons to fight infantry in a fortified city... The 57mm cannon is unlikely to significantly enhance the Terminator in this regard. A block with a large amount of, for example, thermobaric ammunition is required.
Quite a good idea of the applicationTerminators in Kazakhstan, where they are attached to TOS units (heavy flamethrower system) such as Buratino or Solntsepёk. Those are also on a tank chassis, but equipped only with launchers for a salvo of thermobaric ammunition. BMPTs can enhance the assault capabilities of flamethrower systems; it will not be scary to use them at distances closer to the enemy.
The bottom line is not at all clear whether to consider thisdevelopment is steep and ahead of its time, or wasted resources, and there is no clarity about what fate awaits her. A single run-in in Syria is not enough for the adoption of equipment that will significantly rebuild the structure of the ground forces.
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