Arms 2010-4 light by Pavel Dem

HOPE FOR FUTURE COOPERATION

he Republic of South Africa is going to host a second ambitious event that can match in popularity rival with World Cup 2010 — it is AFRICA AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE that takes place from 21up to 25 September. Looking at the last event in 2008 one can assume that the ongoing event is one of the best showcases for local, regional and global exhibitors who supply civil, military and security products, systems, components and services to customers in Africa and around the world. For Russia and Russian defense enterprises the AFRICA AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE event gains the significance in the wake of the President Jacob Zuma's official visit to Moscow in August of this year where he met the President of the Russian Federation Dimitry Medvedev. The focal point of negotiations was the development of the bilateral relations in the field of economy, investment and high technologies. The two sides consider mutual cooperation in energetics, including nuclear energy, space, exploration and exploitation of uranium deposits, science and military technical cooperation as top-priority goals. As far as former as concerned the Russian specialists are able to participate in the construction of some nuclear power plants. Today the Russian-South African cooperation is estimated at the 0.5 billion-US dollar level. The leadership of the Russian Federation expresses assurance that this is not a limit but a starting point for further cooperation. Russian President D. Medvedev once again has underlined that South Africa is considered as one of the main business partners in Africa. The importance of cooperation with Russia clearly expressed the participants of the official delegation of the Republic of South Africa to Moscow. The delegation was composed of 11 Ministries which represent aviation industry, bank and financial sector, military industry, etc. Of course, Russian companies, which are involved in defense industry, keep watch for developments in military demands of South Africa. That is why the Russian delegation is expected to be representative. From editorial side, we did our best to include the most interesting articles concerning the latest developments and products of the Russian military industry, that could be helpful for our foreign partners in Africa. I wish you all the best. Please, enjoy reading!

Viktor MURAKHOVSKIY Editor-in-Chief of A4 Press

Anton CHERNOV Editor-in-Chief of “ARMS” Magazine

4(54).2010

C O N T E N T S p. 6

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief of A4 Press Viktor Murakhovskiy Editor-in-Chief of “Arms” Magazine Anton Chernov Editor-in-Chief of “Arsenal” Magazine Eduard Voitenko Editor-in-Chief of “Airfleet” Magazine Alexander Gudko Editor-in-Chief of “World Airshows” Magazine Svetlana Komagorova Editor Alexander Velovich DESIGN AND LAYOUT Art-Director Al'vina Kirillova Designers Alexander Strelyaev Alexander Cheredaiko Layout Designer Elena Shishova GRAPHIC ARTS Photo V. Kuzmin, V. Belogrud, JSC “Design bureau of automatic lines named after L. N. Koshkin”, FSUE “Mechanical Engineering Research Institute” PUBLISHING HOUSE Director General Evgeny Osipov Deputy Director General Alexander Kiryanov Marketing Director Leonid Belayev IT Support Pavel Chernyak OFFICE IN ST PETERSBURG Deputy Director General, Head of Office Oleg Perevoschikov Commercial Director Sergey Baydak Development Director Milana Nikolaeva Roman Moshnin Circulation: 8000 The magazine is registered in the Committee for Press of the Russian Federation. Certificate № 016692 as of 20.10.1997. Certificate № 77-15450 as of 19.05.2003. Any material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The editorial staff’s opinion does not necessarily coincide with that of the authors. Advertisers bear responsibility for the content of provided materials.

ARMS, 2010 ADDRESS P.O. Box 77, Moscow, 125057, Russia Tel.: + 7 495 626-52-11 Fax.: + 7 499 151-61-50 E-mail: af@airfleet.ru Office 1V, 2/6, Moskovsky prospect, Saint Petersburg, 190031, Russia Tel./fax: +7 812 310-61-46 E-mail: arsenal@msk2.da.ru

www.interarms.ru

p. 12

ARMS MARKET 4 Africa Aerospace and Defence 2010 has all chances to become a launch pad for russian military hardware

WEAPONS

p. 20

6 Prospects of ammunitions industry development 12 Cannon munitions

LAND FORCES 20 Russian spetsnaz arms 34 Russian UAVs on the rise

AIR DEFENSE 46 Tula “Duet”: small caliber can be formidable

p. 34

ARMS MARKET

AFRICA AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE 2010 HAS ALL CHANCES TO BECOME A LAUNCH PAD FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY HARDWARE peaking to press after the summit with South African President Jacob Zuma, D. Medvedev announced that Russia had planned to start a strategic partnership with the Republic of South Africa. The Russian President underlines that Russia has always held special position concerning the African continent and has been encouraging for its struggle for independence.

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

For sure, the Russian Federation has a lot to provide to South Africa. Following the bilateral talks, two countries signed a deal on the delivery of enriched uranium. Agreements on space cooperation, defense, space and high-tech sector also were widely discussed. Noteworthy the summit was held a month prior to the Africa Aerospace and Defence Event and of course defense cooperation was one of the focal point during negotiations.

AFRICA AEROSPACE ANDÂ DEFENSE-2008 To figure out the potential of Russian-South African cooperation in defense field, it's better to look back at Africa Aerospace and Defense-2008. The Russian pavilion, set up by Rosoboronexport, the main national state-owned arms exporter, and the Federal MilitaryTechnical Cooperation Service, featured over 250 displays in the form

ARMS MARKET of mock-ups, models, posters, video footage and advertising pamphlets. Russia also displayed Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30MK Flanker fighter-interceptors and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29SKM Fulcrum air-superiority fighter. The Dzerzhinsky Ural Railroad Car Works (Uralvagonzavod) based in Nizhny Tagil, Russia's Ural region, that has developed most of the country's post-war battle tanks, is displayed the T-90S tank. The Arzamas Engineering Plant and the Tula Instrument Design Bureau brought their BTR-80A armored personnel carrier (APC), Metis-M and Konkurs-M guided antitank missiles and surface-to-air-missile (SAM) systems, respectively. The Tula-based Splav (Alloy) State Research and Production Association contributed its Grad and Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems. The Popov Radio Plant based in Omsk, West Siberia, displayed a newgeneration mobile telecommunications system carried by the Vepr offroad vehicle. POSSIBLE FIELDS OF MILITARY COOPERATION WITH SOUTH AFRICA In 2002 a Russia-South Africa commission for military-technical cooperation was established. In November 2005 representatives of national defense industries held a joint seminar and in 2006 the two countries signed an inter-governmental agreement on copyright protection during their military-technical cooperation. Taking into account the interest of South Africa in Russian weapon systems as well as a known fact that Russian weapon is utmost reliable in combat, the future military cooperation with the country could be assessed as promissing. In this regard several fields of military cooperation could be developed. Well known Russian achievements in anti-aircraft systems could be successfully exploited in South Africa. First of all it is a small-scale radar systems for the Armed Forces. Secondly, the delivery of up-to-date AA missile systems, like C-300 and even C-400.

All know the achievements of South African engineers in developing armored vehicles. At the same time the Russian specialists can introduce an element of innovation and share the experience in engineering of armored vehicles, like tanks. It gives ground to develop cooperation in designing of a new-generation South African tank, that will meet the requirements of the 21st century. Being a regional leader, where a lot of top-ranked specialists work in the defense industry, the Republic of South Africa could be considered as a a regional center to service and repair Soviet Union and Russian military hardware that were used in other African countries. The last but not least Russian militaries are ready to help and participate in peacekeeping operations in

the African continent. Most probably it could be the deployment of Russian helicopters, both transport (Mi-8, Mi-17 of different modifications) and gun-ships (Mi-24, as it was used in United Nations Mission in Sierra-Leone, UNAMSIL). In this regard South Africa can provide not only political support but also technical one. Today the two countries are very close to work together and develop military cooperation not only on paper but also in real life. The benefits for Russia and South Africa are so clear that do not need to be elaborated. Hopefully after the Africa Aerospace and Defense-2010 Event Russia and South Africa will get forward to implement several attractive projects in realm.

Anton Chernov

MiG-35 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the best solution to gain superiority in the air

Russian military hardware still in use in many African countries

4(54).2010

â&#x2014;?

WEAPONS

PROSPECTS OF AMMUNITION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT Ammunition industry is an industry with hyper-mass production employing high technнologies, special production equipment and complex automation. It represents specialized industrial scientific and production system of significant importance for defense potential of the country. tructure of the ammunition industry have been forming for years and was driven by the demand in millions and billions of cartridges for small arms (CSA) a year. On all stages of its development from the beginning in 1869 (industry foundation) and till 1991 the ammu-

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

nition industry had a full-scale governmental support. As a result, in 1985–1991 the most capable and up-to-date production basis was created, that rested on high technologies and special production equipment –automated rotary lines of high capacity. With over 6 billions pieces every year the Soviet Union became the

largest manufacturer of cartridges in the world. For that period the industry had been presented by 9 factories — manufacturers of the cartridges and special production equipment for manufacturing of the cartridges as well as a head developer of technologies and equipment — Design Bureau of Automatic Lines. Works

WEAPONS for upgrading of the existing and developing of new cartridges were coordinated by Central Research and Development Institute of Precision Machinery Building. For many years each cartridgemanufacturing plant was aimed at production of 1–2 basic assortment of live cartridges with certain profile for not only main production line but auxiliary service units as well (technical support services, tool workshops, testing base, etc.). Meanwhile the cartridge plays a constantly increasing role in the modern warfare. If during the Second World War only 30–40 % of combat tasks were fulfilled by using of the small arms cartridges, modern warfare and local wars including anti-terrorism and special operation take 90 % and even more. Meanwhile, the current situation with ammunition for small arms drives into deep concern. The average age of life of the most stored live cartridges exceeds warranty shelf life of 25 years. Their majority is stored more than specified lifetime of 40 years. On 18th of June 2010 at the meeting on “Principle ways of development and requirements to the small arms and close combat means of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” held by General `Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, it was noted that in the frameworks of “Development Concept for the combat gear of the servicemen of the basic military professions of the Infantry, Airborne troops, Marine Corps and Special Task Units up to the year 2020”, the present system of small arms and close combat means no longer meets the set demands. Results of analysis taken in the course of preparation of “Complete policy objective of improvement of the combat equipage” show that performance characteristics of the small arms should be enhanced in 1.5–3 times. In practice such enhancement of the weapon efficiency can be achieved almost exclusively by means of improvement of cartridge performance characteristics, improving its power — bullet energy, stability of the performance and unification of cartridges.

It is obvious that enhancement of the cartridge efficiency, small arms and combat gear can be primarily achieved by improving the structure of the cartridge as well as the technology of production process. Today there is urgent need in supplies of the automatic lines for small batch production of high-performance cartridges to the market. After upgrading of the factories all unused facilities can be preserved with subsequent depreservation once in 5–7 years for scheduled maintenance by manufacturing of small batches of the products. Hence, today, is a demand for developing and commissioning of the advanced selective action cartridges with enhanced performance. Those tasks should be solved in complex. It is necessary to work out the whole lifespan of the product from design to disposal. The principle steps in such approach could be the following:

■ improvement of the design of

the current cartridges and developing of the new ones with enhanced performance based on the combat experience in the modern shooting wars; ■ establishing of the special production facilities for working out of industrial technology for manufacturing of the newly designed modern and test CSA as well as small batches of special-purpose cartridges; ■ supported on the basis of military doctrine production schedules of combat CSA for the current and special periods considering current and special tasks not only of the Russian army but also of other security agencies of Russia as well as export capabilities; ■ ensuring of the production process continuity of the ammunition production facilities as a basis defining the quality of the manufactured cartridges, keeping the per-

Nikolai Masljaev, General director of Design Bureau of Automatic Lines Named After L. N. Koshkin JSC

4(54).2010

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WEAPONS Automatic equipment for cartridges production was awarded by multiple medals and diplomas

sonnel and eliminating of the irreversible production costs; ■ unification of the major production process parameters for CSA which is specially important for multi-assortment production and providing redundancy in the special period; ■ upgrading of the current machinery of the ammunition factories 8

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

with enhancement of the production capacities in terms of: serviceability, durability, mobility, introduction of the modern control and automation; ■ establishment of the modern adjustable and automated modular equipment for current manufacturing of the wide range of CSA and high-performance equip-

ment for using in the special period. Establishment of the production basis for its manufacturing; ■ comprehensive approach to disposal of CSA. This is a strategy that Design Bureau of Automatic Lines is adhered to nowdays. The company (in the frameworks of the State Defence Order) develops new types of car-

WEAPONS tridges, automated rotary lines and production processes for their production and disposal. JSC “Design bureau of automatic lines named after L. N. Koshkin” and Central Research and Development Institute of Precision Machinery Building together with the ammunition factories, sometimes on our own accord, keep on developing of the highly-efficient cartridges which allow improving of the principle characteristics of the small arms. From 1992 till now we had developed and commissioned a number of modern cartridges. For pistols: 9×18 mm cartridge 7Н25 with armour-piercing bullet, 9×19 mm cartridge 7Н21 with steel core bullet, 9×19 mm cartridge 7Н30 with high penetrability bullet, 9×29 mm cartridge 7Н29 with steel core bullet. For submachine guns: 5.45×39 mm cartridge 7Н10 with high penetrability bullet, 5.45×39 mm cartridge 7Н22 with armour-piercing bullet, 5.45×39 mm cartridge 7Н24 with armour-piercing core, 5.45×39 mm car-

tridge 7БТ4 with armour-piercing tracer bullet. For rifles: 7.62×54 mm cartridge 7Н13 with high penetrability bullet, 7.62×54 mm cartridge 7Н14 sniper cartridge with armour-piercing bullet, 7.62×54 mm cartridge 7БТ1 with armour-piercing tracer bullet БТ, 7.62×54 mm cartridge 7Н26 with armour-piercing bullet. Special-purpose cartridges: 7.62 mm pistol cartridge 7Н36 for silent and flameless shooting, 9×39 mm cartridge 7Н9 with high penetrability sniper bullet, 9×39 mm cartridge 7Н12 with armour-piercing bullet. It is also worth to mention that due to the mass equipment of the manpower with personal protection equipment (body armour of various protection grades) abundance of armed forces in light armour vehicles, changing in forms and methods of combat, requirements to the efficiency of the small arms cartridges are dramatically increased, first of all requirements to the penetrability, fire dispersion and range of shooting.

Employment of high penetrability cartridges for extra high accuracy on bigger distances (1.5–2.0 km) significantly simplifies tasks connected with elimination of terrorist organizations. For ensuring modernization of cartridges assortment it is necessary to improve production processes and special production equipment for cartridges manufacturing. For this JSC “Design bureau of automatic lines named after L. N. Koshkin” within the scope of research and development works had carried out the works on improvement of cartridges production processes and equipment for their manufacturing and disposal. One of the most important developments of the Design Bureau of Automatic Lines is the creation of production process and automated line for charging cartridges into a plastic clips and packaging of the loose cartridges as well as cartridges in the clips into the bags made of multilayered polymer films instead

Modern packaging technologies allow warranty shelf life of cartridge of 40 years

4(54).2010

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WEAPONS

Process of charging of the submachine gun magazine with cartridges using the charged plastic clip takes 1–2 seconds of metal solid-drawn boxes. This will allow opening of the packages in combat conditions without any special tools and usage of plastic clips will allow charging of the magazine of a small arm in 1–2 seconds. In the nearest future together with ammunition factories the Design Bureau of Automated Lines is able to carry out modernization of existing production facilities on industry’s plants including creation of universal adjusted automated complex of typical productivity (200–250 pcs/min) for manufacturing of wide assortment of combat and civil cartridges ensuring necessary quality and profitability of the manufacturing. Depending on tasks set to this complex, it can include various types of equipment, automated rotary or quantified action as well as individual machinery for separate operations during production of small quantities of special-purpose cartridges. Simultaneously with upgrading it is necessary to create new production lines on the basis of modern production processes and equipment with actual performance of one line up to 800–1200 cartridges per minute which can ensure manufacturing of CSA during threat term outrun10

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

ning their consumption in the most intense period of the large scale military conflict. Such “Modules” should be preserved. For completion of the service life of the cartridges our Design Bureau during the R&D works “Razryv” in 2007 created an operation production process for disposal of cartridges with calibers of 5.45; 7.62 and 9 mm and a package of special production equipment for disposal. The production process provides separation of the cartridge into its components, collection of the gun powder, thermal demercuration of the primer within the casing ensuring environmental, fire and explosion safety. Individual components of the cartridge (casing) can be reused during manufacturing of ammunition for sporting and hunting weapons or sold (lead) as a recyclable materials and gunpowder transferred for recycling to the special chemical plants. Further works on refining of the chemical demercuration of the primer are on the way. Considering its specialties disposal of the cartridges can be located on the special plants, e.g. on one of the existing ammunition factories of Russia or directly on the armories or bases of the Defense Ministry using

the mobile version of the package also designed by JSC “Design bureau of automatic lines named after L.N. Koshkin”. In a nutshell, today the disposal is a costly process but recycling of the CSA components, including manufacturing of the cartridges for nonmilitary weapon, will reduce costs and, in addition, disposal in the mobile package will reduce transportation and security costs for dangerous cargo as well as reduce fire and explosion danger of the whole disposal cycle. Foreign economic cooperation is very important for the industry both for supplies of combat and sporting and hunting cartridges and establishment of the ammunition production abroad. Together with holding company “Small arms and cartridges”, established in state company “RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES”, parent organization JSC “IZHMASH”, JSC “Design Bureau of Automatic Lines named after L. N. Koshkin” is working over the program of integrated development of the companies manufacturing small arms systems and cartridges. Also our proposals were developed and handed over to the federal policy objective “Vooruzhenie”.

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WEAPONS

CANNON MUNITIONS ”Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery“. — A sign at Fort Benning, US Infantry School

he wide and successful use of airplanes and precision weapons to inflict damage upon the enemy in large scale battles and local conflicts for the last decades is interpreted as a de-emphasis of the traditional weapon systems like cannons and tanks. However in reality the situation is far from being considered as unequivocal. And the fact that cannon artillery is executed the main tasks to inflict fire damage upon the enemy is not only a centuriesold tradition tribute but an objective law. It is stipulated by clear advantages of the cannon artillery like maneuverability, pin-point fire accuracy, operational readiness, minor fire-effectiveness dependency on season, the time of day, weather conditions, etc. Local conflicts have shown that cannon artillery is powerful and effective combat arm. It is obvious that in a long-run the range

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

of fire missions in battles and local conflicts for the cannon artillery will be preserved. The above mentioned words can be fully referred for field and naval artillery, tanks and antitank artillery.

■ Theory of structural plasticity and

■

LEADING DEVELOPER In Russia, the leading developer of the ammunition for field, naval artillery, tanks and anti-tank artillery is FSUE “Mechanical Engineering Research Institute” (NIMI). The Institute has engaged in ammunition developing since 1932. NIMI has been developing more then 1000 types of ammunition for more then 70 years. The ammo was produced in series of ten million of pieces. Extensive scientific schools led by well known scientists were created for the time of NIMI's life. They are: Foundations of the theory and methods of HVAP projectile design (Yavorskiy, Doctor of Engineering Science);

■

strength (Member of the Academy of Sciences Ilyushin, Puchkov , Doctor of Engineering Science, Gruzdev, Doctor of Engineering Science); Shaped-charge effect researches (Founder, Member of the Academy of Sciences Lavrentyev, Ulyakov, Doctor of Engineering Science); Foundations of persistence and reliability of explosive with the use of ammunition (Lavrik, Doctor of Engineering Science); X-ray diffraction in explosion and shooting studies (Zukerman, Doctor of Engineering Science, Tatarskiy, PhD in Technical Sciences); The development of mathematical models for assessment of combat effectiveness of projectiles (Birulin, PhD in Technical Sciences, Platonov, Doctor of Engineering Science);

WEAPONS ■ Foundations

of complex firing simulation (Hovrin, PhD in Technical Sciences); ■ The use of pulse jet engine in artillery projectiles (Kostikov, Member of the Academy of Sciences, Merkulov, PhD in Technical Sciences, Bogdanov, Doctor of Engineering Science); ■ The non destructive testing of ammunition (Kuznetsov, Doctor of Engineering Science, Reznikov, PhD in Technical Sciences). The solution of challenging up-todate ordnance design tasks is based on the applicable and basic scientific research, mathematical and physical methods of simulation. NIMI has unique laboratory and bench-test facilities that were created in accordance with main scientific researches. The facilities provide fullscale test of a projectile, its functional assembly, elements, as well as to study the processes of an explosion and firing. Laboratory and bench tests of projectiles are based on using of physical simulation of process and projectile condition data. This leads to decrease the number of expensive actual tests as well as it gives opportunity to get statistic data on great

variety of parameters and provide high accuracy of measurements. Bench-test equipment includes: ■ Blast facilities to test explosive ammunition, to study physical phenomenon of an explosion; ■ Firing test facilities to study conditions of a projectile in the barrel and at the initial flight path; ■ Ballistic test facilities to study the behaviour of a projectile when it leaves the barrel and when it crosses different obstacles (including explosive-driven obstacles); ■ Integrity test facilities to study effect of different factors at a projectile. Due to the extensive scientific and test facilities the specialists of the Institute have created different types of up-to-date projectiles that are referred to the «Dumb» type projectiles. GUN AMMUNITION The great attention to the development of high precision weapon systems is paid by the Armed Forces of the developed countries. At the tactical level of the artillery systems the efforts are focused at the implementation of new types of precisionguided projectiles and mines. The

ammunition have aiming correction systems usually equipped with laser semiactive homing or integrated aiming correction unit linked to GPS. The intention of the Armed Forces of developed countries to use high precision-guided ammunition is caused by big ammunition consumption to execute a fire mission; the consumption of high precision-guided ammunition was fiveten times as small as conventional ammunition.

Director General of FSUE “Mechanical Engineering Research Institute” Sergey Rusakov

The firing position of Russian howitzer D-30. Afganistan, 2010

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WEAPONS “Has the time of massing “dumb” artillery fires passed? Years ago, some pundits said that the Air Force’s dumb bomb went the way of the dinosaurs and that only precision munitions would be used in future wars. The pundits seemed to be correct until B-52s dropped both guided munitions and large numbers of dumb bombs and changed the mind of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Other soothsayers called for the demise of the tank because future operations would never need armored vehicles. They argued the High-Mobility, Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle would be sufficient for everyone in every operation. This author does not have to tell you how that forecast turned out.

Caliber, mm 76

АК-726,АК-176 naval

UZSB-62RP

АК-726,АК-176 naval

—

АК-726,АК-176 naval

Type HE

AA with radio proximity fuze

AZ-UPS-62

AZ-ЗС/OF-62P AR-51L, AR51LM AZ-PS-62

Target Practice

АК-726,АК-176 naval

AZ-UCH-62

Drill

100

АК-100 naval

AZ-UZS-58Р

AZ-ZS-58

100

АК-100 naval

AZ-UPS-58

AZ-PS-58

Target Practice

100

АК-100 naval

—

AZ-UCH-58

100

АК-100 naval

—

AZ-UJR-58

100

D-10T, D-10С tank, BС-3 towed

3UOF10

3OF32

Drill Round for Proof and Testing Purposes HE

100

МТ-12(Т-12) towed

3UOF12

3OF35

100

2А70 IFV

3UOF17

3OF32

115

U-5ТС tank

3UOF37

3OF27

122

3VOF80

3OF56

3VOF82

3OF56

125

M-30 towed D-30 towed, 2С1 Self-Propelled l D-81 tank

3VOF36

3OF26

125

D-81 tank

3VP6

3P31

125

D-81 tank

3VP5

3P11

HE Target Practice APFSDS Projectile Target Practice Heat Projectile

125

D-81 tank

3VBK25I

3BK29I

Target Practice

130

M-46 towed

3ВOF43

3OF33

130

3ВOF44

3OF33

AZ-UF-44

AZ-F-44

130

M-46 towed АК-130 naval, А-222 SelfPropelled АК-130 naval

AZ-UZS-44Р

AZ-ZS-44

AA with Radio Proximity Fuze

130

АК-130 naval

AZ-UZS-44

AZ-ЗС-44

130

АК-130 naval, А-222 SAUl

AZ-UPS-44

AZ-PС-44

Target Practice

130

АК-130 naval, А-222 SAUl АК-130 naval, А-222 SelfPropelled

AZ-UCH-44

—

Drill

AZ-UJR-44

—

Discharging Round

130

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the high precision-guided ammunition at the battlefield. For instance, a target should be illuminated for 5-15 seconds by a ground-based or airborne laser projector in order to use a semiactive-laser-seeker projectile. The illumination reveals the position of an operator and it gives an enemy the opportunity to lay countermeasures aerosol screen in a very short time. Today almost all armored vehicles are equipped with such screen laying systems. In real combat, the use of semiactive-laser-seeker projectile is very limited due to the fact that a target should be illuminated. The operator is situated on the forward edge of the battle area and can observe tar-

HIGH EXPLOSIVE AND SPECIAL AMMUNITION Round Projectile Gun Mount Designation Designation АК-726,АК-176 naval AZ-UOFB-62 AZ-ЗС/OF-62

122

FA may not conduct massed fires often in the future, but it must never lose the ability to train for and employ them”. (Vincent R. Bielinski — the Supervisor and a Doctrine Developer in the Doctrine Division, Directorate of Training and Doctrine, US Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS), Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Fires Journal, Mart-April 2009.) When advantages of high precision-guided munitions were discussed the problems of their reliable delivery to a target under countermeasures environment were usually dissembled. It's not a fact that in case of comparable level of the defense technologies the belligerents are going to use successfully

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

WEAPONS gets at a distance not more then several kilometers under good conditions and on a flat terrain. Moreover in case of bad weather conditions, such as smoke or dust, which is common in real combat situation, a target cannot be illuminated. The successful use of an airborne laser projector could be possible only in case when a belligerent side does not have reliable anti-aircraft systems. The issue to fight against GPSlinked projectiles can be solved at a strategic level by destroying satellites, and at a tactical level — by GPS signals suppression using electronic warfare means. When saying about advantages of high precision-guided ammuni-

Caliber, mm 130 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 152

152

152 152 152 152 152

tion relatively to the cost-effectiveness factor, the designers often forget to mention some significant tactical limitations of such projectiles in regards of the effectiveness factor. In regards of the cost factor they forget to calculate the cost of very expensive navigation satellites, frequencytime control systems, target illuminating systems, etc. “With adequate risk mitigation and planning, artillery’s unique ability to deliver scalable fire support for limited warfare can reduce collateral damage, avoid civilian casualties, and is economically supportable over the course of a long war. When compared to rockets and missiles one will find many of the same limi-

tations that apply to the tank. While these systems are very accurate, they are also very expensive. With rocket prices ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 per shot, artillery’s cost of $250.00 for a box of two, complete 105mm rounds is quite a bargain. The cost benefit of leveraging artillery’s ability to deliver scalable destruction for limited warfare addresses the issue of supporting a long war”. (Command Sergeant Major Dennis J. Woods, Fires Journal, JulyAugust 2010) As US forces and their allies face contemporary operational environment (COB) threats — such as the al Qaeda during Operation Anaconda Operation Anaconda is the code

HIGH EXPLOSIVE AND SPECIAL AMMUNITION Round Projectile Gun Mount Type Designation Designation АК-130 naval, А-222 SelfAZ-UJP-44 — Conditioning Round Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF58 3OF45 HE, Multisection Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF72 3OF45 HE, Long Range Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF73 3OF45 HE, Reduced Multisection Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF96 3OF64 HE, Long Range Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF97 3OF64 HE, Full Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF98 3OF64 HE, Reduced Multisection Charge Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VOF91 3OF61 Base Bleed HE Propelled D-20, ML-20, 2А65 towed 2С3М, 3VOF32 3OF25 HE, Full Multisection Charge 2С19 Self-Propelled D-20, ML-20, 2А65 towed 2С3М, 3VOF33 3OF25 HE, Reduced Multisection Charge 2С19 Self-Propelled 2А65 towed, 2С19 SelfLong Range Cargo Projectile 3VO28 3-О-23 with Heat Bomblets Propelled Cargo Projectile with Heat 2А65 towed, 2С19 Self3VO29 3-О-23 Bomblets, Full, Multisection Propelled Charge Cargo Projectile with Heat 2А65 towed, 2С19 SelfBomblets, Reduced Multisection 3VO29 3-О-23 Propelled Charge Cargo Projectile with Heat D-20, ML-20, 2А65 towed 2С3М, 3VO14 3-О-13 Bomblets, Reduced Multisection 2С19 Self-Propelled Charge 2А65 towed, 2С19 SelfJammer, Reduced , Multisection 3VRB36 — Propelled Charge HE Improved Aerodynamic, Full 2А36 towed 3VOF86 3OF59 Charge HE Improved Aerodynamic, 2А36 towed 3VOF87 3OF59 Reduced Charge D-1 towed

3VOF101

3OF66

HE, Full Multisection Charge

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WEAPONS

From left to right: 125mm HEAT 3BK18М, HE 3OF26, 4Zh40 semicombustible propellant case, 4Zh63 semicombustible propellant case, APFSDS 3BM44 and 100-mm HE Round 3UOF17 for 2А70 IFV Gun

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name for an operation in early March 2002 in which the United States military, along with allied Afghan military forces, attempted to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the ShahiKot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat in the Shah-ekot Valley in Afghanistan — there is no question that our Army needs an all-weather organic precision fires capability. Air-delivered precision munitions are limited in their ability to provide close support to a ground force in contact — are most effective against fixed targets vice the fleeting targets in fast-paced ground combat. To supply with munitions are limited in their ability to provide close support to a ground force in contact — are most effective against fixed targets vice the fleeting targets in fast — paced ground combat. The ground force's artillery must be capable of responsive, surgical lethality that minimizes collateral damage Surgery a popular term for any undesired but unavoidable co-morbidity associated with a therapy-eg, chemotherapy-induced CD to the BM and GI tract as a side effect of destroying tumor cells. But at the same time, as Lieutenant Colonel Christopher F. Bentley, fire support coordinator for the ground forces during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, said, “PGMs (precisionguided munitions) are not «silver bullets» for every target array». In addi-

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

tion, precision munitions are expensive. As Major General Hagenbeck said in the interview, the mix of munitions on future battlefields is mission, enemy, terrain, troops and time available — dependent. Ideally, the options would include precision, but «all that matters is whether or not the munitions are time-on-target and provide the right effects”. Taking into account the above mentioned comments, the use of unguided munition is developed to be the main means of fire strike in modern environment. The unguided munition have several unchallenged advantages: ■ low price; ■ ability to produce and fill ammunition relating to local conditions; ■ can be used in all seasons and weather conditions, 24 hours a day; ■ can be used on all types of terrain in any climate zone; ■ ease of use and safety; ■ very high reliability; ■ not high employee qualification requirements; ■ ability to store for a long time without service and sophisticated control systems, including storage in the field. ANTITANK AMMUNITION Tank and antitank ammunition compose of projectiles that are able to destroy armored vehicles, personnel and hard targets. The base of ammunition for the anti-tank artil-

lery and approximately a half of ammunition for the tank is composed of HVAP and armor-piercing hollow projectiles. In spite of developing the anti-tank guided weapon and other missiles with hollow charge warhead, the anti-tank projectiles remain the main, most reliable and multipurpose weapon to fight against armored vehicles. At he beginning when the HVAP and armor-piercing hollow projectiles had been developed, they had higher piercing performance then HVAP projectiles. Today the piercing performance is almost the same. All other conditions being equal, the HVAP projectiles have the higher after-penetration effect. The well known and widespread T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks armed with the D-81 gun (2A46). The Institute developed an effective set of antitank projectiles for the gun. The ammunition for the main guns of the 2A46 line is of a separately-loaded type comprising 4Zh40, 4Zh52 or 4Zh63 semicombustible propellant case and various battle parts that include APFSDS, HEAT, HEF, HE-Incendiary, Illuminating and other types of ammunition. One of the latest additions is a new 3BM42M armor-piercing, finstabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round. Its penetrator's extended body, made of a tungsten alloy and high-energy powder propellant increase the piercing effect by 20 percent, compared with a 3BM42 APFSDS currently in service with the army. It features an unusual spoolshaped sabot with ”fins“. 125-mm 3VBM17 round with 3BM42 APFSDS projectile «Mango» was put into service in 1986. The advanced power projectile is designed to modern updated armored vehicles with combined armor protection. It has complicated structure, which includes solid ballistic and armor-piercing cap, armor-piercing damper and two penetrators made of high-duty tungsten alloy. The penetrators are fixed in the hull by a steel body made of low-melting-temperature alloy. When it penetrates, the steel body melts and the penetrators move to the penetrating pipe without consuming energy

WEAPONS to leave the hull. The sabot is made of V-96C1 alloy with advanced characteristics. When the projectile was tested the projectile engaged a multilayered armor, which simulates the armor of than cutting-edge tanks: seven-layer armor at an angle of 30 and 60 degrees; three-layer armor at an angle of 65 degrees; steel homogenous armor plate. The tests proved that the 3BM42 APFSDS projectile penetrated the armor which is the same as used in the main battle tanks M1, M1A1 «Abrams» etc. Basic characteristics of the 3BM42 APFSDS projectile «Mango» ■ Material of Active Part of the Hull — steel ■ Material of Penetrator — tungsten-nickel-iron alloy ■ Material of Sabot — V-96C1 aluminum alloy ■ Material of Obturating Device on the Projectile — polymeric amide ■ Round Weight — 20.4 kg ■ Projectile Weight with Additional Charge (3BM44) — 10.8 kg ■ Powder Weight of Main Charge — 5.0 kg ■ Powder Weight of Additional Charge — 3.4 kg ■ Weight of Active Part with sabot — 7.05 kg ■ Weight of Active Part without sabot (3BМ42) — 4.85 kg ■ Weight of Sabot — 2.2 kg ■ Length of Active Part (3BМ42) — 574 mm ■ Length of Hull — 452 mm ■ Diameter of hull — 31 mm ■ Length of Penetrator — 420 mm ■ Diameter of penetrator — 18 mm ■ Dimensions of armor-piercing Damper — 112х22 mm

■ Velocity — 1700 m/s ■ Guaranteed Piercing Performance

at a Distance of 2000 m, 0/60 degrees — 450/230 mm ■ Average Piercing Performance at a Distance of 2000 m, 0 degrees — 500 mm ■ Effective Range of Piercing: ■ 7-layer armored target, at 30 degrees. (Depth in the direction of travel 630 mm) — 3300 m ■ 7-layer armored target, at 60 degrees. (Depth in the direction of travel 620 mm) — 3800 m ■ 3-layer distributed armor target, at 65 degrees. (Depth in the direction of travel 1830 mm) — 2700 m ■ 230 mm homogenous armor, at 60 degrees — 2000 m ■ 440 mm homogenous armor, at 0 degrees — 2000 m ■ Service Temperature Range — –40…+50 (°) Celsius Caliber fin-stabilizer consists of five fins. A tracer is installed in the tail part of the projectile. The parts of round (projectile with additional charge 3BM44 and main propellant charge 4J52) are packed in the cylindric sealed zinked metal cases In the middle of 70-s in the Soviet Union, the works and afterwards tests of an improved efficiency tandem HEAT projectile were estimated to be successful. The tests were conducted under the leadership of professor Minin. Today it is the only one tandem HEAT projectile in the world that provides the cumulation of each charge. NIMI is working on the 3VBK25 high-efficiency round with the 3BK29M hollow-charge projectile which is intended to destroy heavily armored vehicles protected by com-

posite and explosion-reactive armor, as well as other armored vehicles, targets hidden by engineer constructions, and personnel. An experimental HEAT round that is obviously in close relationship with 3BK29 was displayed on VTTV-97 exhibition in Omsk. Its cutaway shows a very complex and ingenious design, including shaped-charge precursor, the channel through the middle charge to allow passage of the rear jet and so on. The round is credited with 800mm RHA penetration. STORAGE AND RECYCLING OF AMMUNITION After being produced at a factory and undergone different tests ammunition are stored at depots, stocks and arsenals. At the same time the guaranteed storage life is set. During the guaranteed storage life the technical and combat characteristics are preserved. When in storage, the control and maintenance works, including repair (it is usually related to cleaning metal surfaces of corrosion, lubrication, container mending) are done. Taking into account the experience of ammunition storage, the sensitivity of projectiles to outside factors is increased over time. The fact is linked to the changes of features of explosive which is used in a projectile. Despite paint coatings, explosive can interact with a material, the surface is made of, and it can cause the appearance of a new chemical combination that can be more sensitive then explosive itself. The risk of fault, when a projectile is used, is very much increased in this regard. The change of physi-

ANTI-TANK PROJECTILES Projectile Designation 3BМ25

Caliber, mm

Artillery System

Round Designation

Type

100

D-10Т, D10С tank, BС-3 towed

3UBM11

100

D-10Т, D10С tank, BС-3 towed

3UBK9

3BК17

HEAT

100

МТ-12 (Т-12) towed

3UBM10

3BМ24

APFSDS

100

МТ-12 (Т-12) towed

3UBK8

3БК16

HEAT

115

U-5ТS tank

3UBM9

3BМ21

APFSDS

115

U-5ТS tank

3UBK7

3BK15М

HEAT

125

D-81 tank

3VBM17

3BM42

APFSDS

125

D-81 tank

3VBK16

3BK18М

HEAT

125

D-81 tank

3VBK25

3BK29М

HEAT

APFSDS

4(54).2010

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WEAPONS cochemical characteristics effects at the terms of storage life. The change of physicochemical characteristics depends on conditions of storage and design features. The faulty manufacture of explosive, even when the quantity of acids and alkali is slightly increased, can significantly affect the characteristics of a projectile and increase the explosive hazard when in a long storage. The specialists of NIMI developed the theory of long time storage of ammunition, examined the dependance between resistance of explosive to chemicals and guaranteed storage life of ammunition. That's why they are able to do control over the conditions of storage and can prolong the terms of storage. In some cases NIMI executes control tests, when safety and combat characteristics of ammunition are

tested. The prolongation of guaranteed storage life can be fulfilled by replacement of containers made of wood to containers made of modern material — composite material. The composite material was developed in NIMI as well. Today the storage terms of ammunition (when the term is over a projectile should be recycled) are much low as they were given with overdesign effect. However it is a well known fact that TNT ammunition that were used in The Second and even First World War kept their explosive characteristics in spite of corrosion. When the guaranteed storage life is over projectiles should be recycled and transported to other depots It is prohibited to store them with good ammunition. The recycled ammunition need much more attention and

control when stored. In this regard, the terms of tests are reduced. The labour intensity during maintenance is increased and more qualified specialists are needed. The further storage life becomes unclear. Used military hardware can be stored for a long time but as far as ammunition are concerned cannot be left without proper security, fire safety measures and control system. Therefore, the reducing in numbers of ammunition by recycling after the end of storage life does not reduce storage costs but increases them. It is true not only for a depot but for a system of storage. The demolition of ammunition can be considered as a hazard. On the one hand the results of designers, engineers and workers are evaporated, and on the other the demolition is negatively effect towards environment. Moreover, when in depot, the ammunition with ended storage life can be stolen or used not properly. That is why the main way to reduce the number of projectiles in different depots is aimed at their recycling. NIMI is also engaged in solving these problems, like engineering support and production of specialised equipment for recycling. The equipment provides total safety of the recycling process and second use for ferrous and nonferrous metal, plastic material and explosives.

Viktor Murakhovskiy TODAY NIMI OFFERS ■ Delivery of modern rounds for 125mm tank and anti-tank guns, for BMP 100mm guns, for 100, 122, 130 and ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

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152mm field artillery, and for 76, 100 and 130mm naval artillery mounts; Transfer of know-how and licenses for production of rounds; Technical aid in organizing the production and operation of rounds; Modernization of rounds, and NIMI-developed products for use in an expanded temperature range; Co-development of rounds to meet customer requirements, including 155mm caliber rounds; The Institute's technology and services in comprehensive restoration of ammunition with expired storage life (inspection of stocks, study on ammunitions' properties, selection of a repair method, rounds upgrade, organization of repair facilities, replacement of rounds' individual components, extension of rounds' guaranteed storage and operational life). Federal State Unitary Enterprise ”Mechanical Engineering Research Institute“ offers: Supply of modern ammunition for 100, 115 and 125mm tank and antitank guns, 100, 122, 130, 152mm field artillery and 76, 100 and 130mm naval guns; Transfer of know-how and licenses for production of ammunition; Technical assistance in organizing production and operation of ammunition; Joint development of ammunition for tank, antitank, field and naval artillery, including the NATO calibers; Supply of hardware and methods for determination of remaining lifetime of operational objects.

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

International Defence Exhibition & Conference

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Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)

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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of UAE & Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Attend the 10th anniversary edition of IDEX, the largest defence and security event in the Middle East and North African region. t t t t t t

%JTDPWFS UIF MBUFTU BEWBODFT JO MBOE BJS TFB UFDIOPMPHZ TZTUFNT BOE FRVJQNFOU &OHBHF XJUI PWFS NBOVGBDUVSFST BOE TVQQMJFST /FUXPSL XJUI TFOJPS HPWFSONFOU BOE NJMJUBSZ PÃ³DJBMT (BJO JOEVTUSZ JOTJHIU BU UIF (VMG %FGFODF $POGFSFODF 5PVS WJTJUJOH OBWBM WFTTFMT BOE WJFX EFEJDBUFE OBWBM FYIJCJUT 8BUDI MJWF MBOE BOE PO XBUFS EFNPOTUSBUJPOT To exhibit please contact

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In association with:

LAND FORCES

RUSSIAN SPETSNAZ ARMS HISTORY OF RUSSIAN SPETSNAZ SpetsNaz dates back to the ChON special purpose units organized in the USSR in 1918. They were controlled by the VCheKa Security service and designed to fight the Basmachi, the anti-bolshevik rebels both in Central Asia and Russia. Later on and up to the mid-1950s, the special purpose units were mainly under command of the VCheKaNKVD-MGB-KGB. Then they were reassigned to the GRU Military Intelligence. When the USSR collapsed the special purpose units were part of the Army (reconnaissance units in divisions, armies, military districts); GRU (special operations brigades and detached battalions); airborne force (in divisions and airborne staffs); Navy (in the Marines and Combat Divers in the Black Sea Fleet); Air Force (combat support units). Also each combat arm of the Army had its own special purpose units. For example, Corps of Engineers — for capturing and dismantling nuclear charges; 20

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

When operating deep in the enElectronic Warfare Units — for jamming; Chemical Corps — for keeping emy territory the main unit of our chemical agents and operating spe- Special Forces is a reconnaissance cial weapons. The number of special and sabotage group of 5–7 to 12– purpose units in the Russian Armed 15 persons. Deep penetration is realized on foot, seldom onboard veForces is significantly lower now. hicles, by parachutes, water transTraining, Equipping and Organization port or diving devices. The tasks of these groups are the same as of Special Purpose Units The soldiers conscripted into those of western units. the military service always limited Operational Use the qualification level of the Special Soviet and Russian special purForces. Now most of the special units are mainly manned by volunteers pose units have the largest comwith long-term contracts. But there bat experience in the world and are still some problems with man- keep their best traditions nowaning. It is physical endurance, mor- days. We can mention operations al and psychological capabilities that of our SpetsNaz during the Winter make the main feature of our Special War of 1939–1940, Great Patriotic Forces, not combat equipment. Until War and many post-war local conrecently there were few small arms flicts. There were several special for the special units, standard ar- operations to seize weapons (even my, maybe a little modified, firearms tanks) during the US intervention were operated. The situation, though in the Indo-China and Arab-Israeli completely changed a few years Wars. The units accomplished a lot ago as a number of brand new and of missions in former Czechoslovakia unique small arms entered the ser- in 1968, as well as in many Asian and African countries. The SpetsNaz vice with our special purpose units.

LAND FORCES was widely used in the Afghan War of 1979–1989. To counteract armed opposition they also acted outside the Afghan territory sometimes as undercover members of armed groups. WEAPONS SPECIALIZATION Most rifled firearms manufactured by a great number of companies all over the world are universal, i.e. used in standard firing missions. So, standard pistols and revolvers are designed for short range shooting (25–50 m). That is why the main demand is sufficient bullet stoppingeffect at small weight. It means that knock-out of unprotected enemy is the main firing mission of a standard pistol. As far as sniper rifles are concerned, standard ones are designed to destroy valuable targets at a distance of up to 800 m (one or two shots are enough at the distance of 500 m). The unique feature of such army rifles is that they can be used for comparatively vigorous combat at the assault rifle effective range of 300–400 m. Besides, army sniper rifles may be mass-produced, operated in severe operational conditions and designed for a semi-qualified sniper. Their cartridges are also mass-produced. The most widespread firearms and assault rifles feature great universality. The range of their firing missions is extremely wide — mainly defeating manpower at short ranges (200–400 m). In single-shot firing their effective range increases up to 500–600 m. Intense firing can be produced at pistol (up to 50 m) or submachine gun (up to 200 m) effective range if necessary. Good stopping effect and penetration capacity is provided by 7.62, 5.56–5.45 mm standard ammunition and assault rifle barrel length. Both infrastructure and manpower in helmets and body armor hidden in the covers or nonarmored vehicles can be successfully defeated at the assault rifle effective range. A great variety of ammunition (standard, armor-piercing, tracer, etc) adds to the universality of assault rifles. Submachine guns are standard police firearms. Whereas on-

ly combat crews, combat and logistic support units operate SMGs in the Armed Forces, the guns are the major equipment of police special units. The standard SMG is chambered for the 9x19 Parabellum cartridges, fed with 20–40-round magazine and simple sighting devices for effective firing at a distance up to 200 m. Due to high density and accuracy of fire it fits missions in urbanized areas, woods, vehicles, etc. Special purpose units of all countries operate standard firearms which are the main part of their armament. It is not at all surprising

since reliability, fire power and easy maintenance of standard firearms allow completing any missions both on the front line and deep inside the enemy’s territory. However, there are some specific missions which cannot be completed by means of standard small arms. Underwater shooting where only special guns can be operated is one of many examples. I stress that special firing missions can be often fulfilled by both Army units and SpetsNaz. For example, defeating the enemy in so called ‘dead space’ (the area where the enemy cannot

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES be defeated with standard tank armament) is a specific firing mission which can only be completed without any risk for the crew with a special-purpose individual weapon. So ‘special weapon’ term means that firearms are designed or modified to complete specific firing missions, operate under special conditions or have additional features used in standard missions. Below

we will describe these features in details. Small-size Firearms The type includes pistols and revolvers designed to complete special tasks such as defeating the enemy in personal armor (body armor and helmet) hidden in covers and/ or in vehicles. Submachine guns, also part of the group, have their own

unique features: small overall dimensions (if compared with standard ones), and high density of fire. It can also be transported in cover. Hidden Use Firearms Silenced (noise-suppressed) firearms are designed for completing standard firing missions but they have a specific feature of their own — noise suppression — allowing operation under special conditions. Corner-shot small arms were originally designed to defeat the enemy in ‘dead space’ near the tank without leaving the combat vehicle. Later periscope sight models used in the field covers or shelters were designed. It is natural that it is very difficult for the enemy to notice the muzzle when the shooter is out of the line-of-sight. Underwater firearms are classified as the hidden ones as water visibility is very limited and it is impossible to notice the shooter if you are on the shore. Small-size Hidden Firing Devices There are not many devices of the kind as they are designed for the special operations and have their

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

LAND FORCES unique features. They can be successfully hidden under clothes or inside different things. As a rule they are intended for personal self-defense (close-range shooting) to defeat the enemy under special conditions (when in the enemy territory the shooter pretends to be a friend or a neutral). Large-caliber Sniper Rifles Unlike standard sniper rifles these were designed to defeat the enemy at large distances (up to 1,600 m). Anyway the enemy is to be killed with a single shot. They are often of personal design, are chambered for special cartridges and fitted with powerful telescopic sights. As a rule they demand highly skilled shooters and careful operation. Anti-materiel Rifles It is rather difficult to classify grand-caliber rifles which have recently entered the service with a number of units in different countries. Some specialists classify them as sniper rifles and others give them a special class. We think that it is necessary to classify them on the basis of firing missions where such rifles are used. These rifles are primarily designed to hit combat and transport vehicles (even soft-armored), military equipment and structures at large shooting ranges (600–1,600 m). And only then goes their use as sniper rifles to defeat manpower. So a number of anti-material rifles (sometimes referred to as ‘carbines’) designed recently are not suited for sniping and intended for short-range shooting. Smooth-barrel Firearms Developed from sport smoothbarrel firearms, they feature a very high degree of durability and reliability under close combat conditions. They are operated to hit the enemy in close combat (up to 100 m) when there is no time to take sight or you do not know the position of the enemy. As a rule such small arms are used as assault ones in urbanized areas, underground structures, trains or planes, etc. They are well-operated in jungles, savannas or in any other special conditions.

Crossbows They become popular again as a substitution for small arms in specific missions. Crossbow produces less noise than any silenced small arms. The usage of modern materials allows increasing their effective range to 200 m. A great variety of bolts (from poisoned to fitted with eavesdropping devices) ensured the universality of crossbows. They have unofficially entered the service with the British special purpose units. ARMY SMALL ARMS IN SPECIAL PURPOSE UNITS Army Small Arms Classification It is considered that pistols and revolvers make one class, rifles and carbines — another one, machine guns — the third one, etc. However there is no unity in such a classification. So, what differs one class from another? Fighting capacity is considered to be the main feature used as a basis of such a classification. What do we mean by fighting capacity? First, firearms must be convenient to transport and carry in tanks, infantry (airborne) fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and cars; during rush, crawling; in the communication trenches, forest, inside buildings. Small arms are to be easily converted into ready-to-fire position and able for quick shift of fire. The listed characteristics are concerned to be fighting capacity. They are defined by weight and dimensions, portable ammunition and convenience of shooting.

Second, fighting capacity includes characteristics defining successful fulfillment of standard firing missions most typical for the given weapon. They are referred to as firing capacity. To estimate them we need to analyze the following: effective range for standard targets, rate of fire and possible fire modes, ammunition, penetrative and stopping effects of various bullets, type of fitted sighting devices (optical sights, laser target designators and night vision devices). It should be mentioned that the declared effective range is the average one for standard targets. So, the Kalashnikov assault rifle has the effective range of 500 m against waist-figure or running targets in the open. The AK effective range decreases to 300-400 m when shooting at a breast-silhouette target protected by body armor and helmet. But when operated against big targets such as infantry on a vehicle it shows effective range up to 800 m. Under the fighting capacity criterion small arms can split into: ■ pistols and revolvers, ■ submachine guns, ■ assault rifles, ■ rifles, ■ light machine guns, ■ medium machine guns, ■ heavy machine guns, ■ rifle-attached or under barrel grenade launchers, ■ automatic grenade launchers, ■ special weapons. 4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES Pistols and Revolvers This class significantly differs from the others in its operational and firing capacities. Pistols and revolvers were designed to defeat manpower at short ranges — to 50 m (sometimes 75–100 m). They are lightweight, as a rule less than 1 kg, and small. It allows a very quick carrying and various kinds of shooting. Besides, the accuracy of pistols (revolvers) depends on the shooter’s skills and the way of holding and sighting. That is why this class of small arms is sometimes referred to as handguns. So, pistols and revolvers are side arms designed for defeating the enemy at short ranges in both offensive and defensive situations. Submachine guns These small arms widely operated in WWI became the intermediate weapon between pistols and rifles. The SMGs produced high density of fire at short ranges — up to 150 m. The submachine gun is an automatic weapon that fires pistol-caliber ammunition and has the rate of fire of 100 rounds per minute.

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

LAND FORCES Due to firing pistol cartridges this weapon is blow-back operated. SMGs feature a light weight and small dimensions. They are very simple in structure and effective for short-range fighting in trenches, woods, buildings, etc. Assault Rifles These small arms became predominant after WWII, which showed the lack of SMGs. Automatic small arms which would considerably excel SMGs in their firing capacities and defeat targets at the distances of 400-500 m were needed. That was the weapon that could not be chambered for either pistol or rifle cartridges. The intermediate cartridge was designed and fired with the new automatic weapon, more powerful than submachine guns and more rapid-fire than rifles. In the USSR and some other countries these small arms were referred to as ‘avtomat’ (the AKM and АК74 assault rifles in the USSR, the M62 in Finland, the Chermak assault rifle in Czechoslovakia, the Galil in Israel, etc.). In the Western countries the type of weapon was referred to as ‘assault rifle’ (the US Ml6, М16А1, М16А2 assault rifles, the G3 assault rifle in Germany, the British L1А1 assault rifle). Assault rifles successfully defeat targets in single-fire and burst-fire modes at the effective range up to 500 m, have a light weight (3.5–4.5 kg), small dimensions, are quite reliable and convenient for operation under various conditions. Rifles Rifles were the main infantry firearms till the assault rifles were designed. The magazine-fed infantry rifles, the best ones of the nonautomatic weapon, had high effective range — up to 600 m, rate of fire — up to 30 rounds per minute, and a powerful cartridge with special bullets. A relatively light weight, less than 5 kg, simplicity of design and high reliability allow operating the rifles in various combat situations. Most rifles were fitted with a folding bayonet to defeat the enemy in hand-to-hand battle. A demand for more compact weapons for cavalrymen led to the invention

of carbine, or shortened rifle, which es in a massive barrel, bipod, large was also operated in some other magazine capacity and belt-fed posunits. The carbine firing capacities sibility. They provide the effective are a little lower than those of the ri- range of up to 800 m, good accurafle due to lower muzzle velocity, but cy and high rate of fire when fired their light weight and short length in bursts — to 150 rpm. The weight were very convenient for cavalry of light machine guns is usually when mounted, onboard vehicles about 6–14 kg and their length is close to that of rifles. It ensures good and also in urban areas. There is one more model of ri- mobility for gunners (machine-gun fles — sniper rifles. These are special- crews) and enables their immediate ly designed rifles which produce very operation as part of rifle (motorizedaccurate fire. They are fitted with op- rifle) squads. tical sights and chambered for speMedium Machine Guns cial sniper cartridges that essentialIt is a powerful kind of normally increase the accuracy. Sniper rifles enable defeating small-scale targets caliber small arms. They allow deat ranges up to 600 m, and large- feating various hostile fire units and scale ones at up to 800 m. A large- manpower, deployed in the open caliber sniper rifle with the effective and in the cover, at ranges up to range of 1,200–1,500 m was recent- 1,000 m. The weapon mount, masly designed. sive barrel and considerable belt capacity provide highly accurate auLight Machine Guns tomatic fire. The rate of fire reaches This small arms class excels self- 250–300 rpm with 500 shots at susloading rifles and assault rifles tained fire. Medium machine gun fire in firing capacities. Light machine support is the important element guns differ from those two class- of the infantry defensive fire plan. 4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES range of 7–10 m), smoke, lighting, chemical and sometimes cumulative grenades. There are special models of such grenade launchers — separate devices with pistol grip and sight devices which are not fixed to the rifle (assault rifle). They are applied, as a rule, by the police units.

For firing at night medium machine guns are fitted with night sights. It is clear that such MGs are heavier than light machine guns. The weight with a tripod is 10–20 kg; some wheelmounted machine guns weigh more than 40 kg. The crew usually consists of two persons — the gunner and the assistant. They can move it to a small distance. Heavy Machine Guns These small arms appeared during WWI and intended to defeat softarmored targets. The caliber of 12.7– 15 mm allows the MGs firing powerful cartridges with special bullets — armor-piercing, armor-piercing incendiary, tracing, etc. It provides the defeating of soft-armored ground targets (15–20 mm armor) at the ranges up to 800 m, fire means, manpower and air targets at ranges up to 1,500–2,000 m. A heavy machine gun rate of fire is 80–100 rpm in burst-fire or sustained fire modes. Usability capacities of heavy machine guns are limited by their considerable weight and dimen-

sions. A machine gun with a mount can weight 140–160 kg and have a length of 2,000 mm. The MG crew consists of two or more persons.

Automatic Grenade Launchers These heavy weapons are designed to provide fire support to infantry units at the distant fire range (1,000–1,500 m). As a rule, they are 37–40 mm in caliber and fed with fragmentation and smoke grenades. Automatic grenade launchers are especially effective against manpower in the open. Due to their weight these weapons can be installed on vehicles or combat helicopters. If transported by a crew they can only be fired when mounted.

Heavy Machine Guns Rifle-attached or Under Barrel Grenade Launchers The rifle-attached grenade launchers are primarily intended to defeat armored targets and fed with the rifle hollow charge grenades. Later the rifle-attached grenades were also fed with smoke, lighting, chemical (with irritant gas) ammunition. Range of fire of rifle-attached grenade launchers does not exceed 150 m. Due to low-power ammunition, caliber limited by muzzle energy of the assault rifle (rifle) blank or special cartridge, rifle-attached grenade launchers are being retired. They are replaced by under barrel grenade launchers of large caliber (usually — 40 mm). They are intended for fire support of infantry units in close combat. Their effective range is over 200 m. They are chambered for the fragmentation (killing

SPECIAL WEAPONS If we mean small arms, special weapons are devices designed for non-firing missions. For example, the 37/38 mm police weapons sometimes referred to as grenade launchers are intended for riots breakup and non-lethal incapacitation. Other examples are flare guns, minefield breachers, etc. Special weapons also include different systems defeating the human being with any means different from firing (air, cold) gun energy. There were attempts to design very powerful lasers damaging the retina, infrasonic super high frequency and other ‘exotic’ weapons. The most terrible and unselective weapons are the special mass destruction weapons (nuclear, chemical, biological). Bizon-2 Submachine Gun The SMG has been built on Kalashnikov receiver but has a simple straight blowback operation

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF BIZON-2

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

Cartridge

9x18 mm

Empty Weight

2,100 g

Magazine Weight

1,040 g

Length

425 mm (stock folded)

Rate of fire

650–700 rpm

Effective range

100 m (9x18mm Makarov)

LAND FORCES

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF GYURZA Cartridge

9x21 mm

Empty Weight

1,000 g

Cartridge Weight

11 g

Length

195 mm

Rate of fire

40 rpm

Effective range

100 m

Feed system

18-round box magazine

and an unlocked breech system. It fires 9x18 mm Makarov ammunition in both standard and modified forms. The rear sight is permanently attached to the receiver top cover and the front sight is fixed on the barrel. The hand guard is made of plastic. The 67-round large capacity cylindrically shaped magazine is the main feature of the SMG. Design of the magazine, its feed system and cartridge stowage are very similar to the Calico system. The safety selector-lever, charging handle and ejection port are placed on the right side of the receiver. The shoulder stock folds to the left of the receiver. Thanks to the high rate of fire and large magazine capacity the SMG produces high fire density at the distance to 100 m. 9-mm Gyurza Submachine Gun It was designed at the TsNII TochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building), Russia, by a team of engineers headed by Piotr Serdyukov for a new SP-10 (9x21) cartridge made by Alexei Uriev. Though it was designed to the order of the Ministry of Defense it is still out

of service primarily due to the new 9-mm cartridge chambering. The SPS is short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It looks pret-

ty much alike the Makarov pistol. However, it is completely new small arms (though a number of Makarov design schemes were used). The double action pistol features two automatic fire safety devices, one located at the trigger and the other — at the grip base. The sighting devices are open front sight and adjustable rear sight. The broad trigger guard allows two-hand shooting and shooting in winter in three-finger gloves. The main advantages were guaranteed by its cartridge, which contains increased stopping power bullet. Such a decision resulted in high target penetration and good stopping power. At the distance of 100 m the bullet pierces 4-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. It successfully defeats body armor of class 1–3 at its effective range. Kashtan Submachine Gun The Kashtan SMG was created on the Kiparis SMG base and intended to arm the Interior Ministry special units. It differed from the Kiparis in its magazine chamber fixed before the pistol grip. This is a blowback operated weapon. In so doing, use is made of the counter recoil thrust configu-

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF KASHTAN Cartridge

9x18 mm

Empty Weight

1,650 g

Length (with stock extended)

325 mm

Muzzle velocity (standard cartridge)

315 m/s

Rate of fire

900 rpm

Feed system

20 or 30-round box magazine

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF KEDR AND KLIN

ration of the bolt (part of the bolt is above the barrel in the full shift position). The bolt is cocked by the reloading handle located on the left side which isn't tightly connected with the lock and remains stationary during firing. The barrel with polygonal riffling fixed in the receiver by the detachable hub can be easily removed from the submachine gun during its disassembling. The receiver is fully made from stamped steel and has two lines of notches serving as a fore-end. Its front and rear open sights are fixed on the receiver. The three position thumb safetyselector lever is located on the right side of the receiver. The pistol grip contains the magazine. The stock can be retracted into the receiver and is provided with a turning shoulder piece. The weapon can be fitted with a silencer and laser target designator. The SMG fires 9x18 mm ammunition in both standard and modified forms in single and full automatic fire. Its accuracy of fire is similar to that of the Klin-2 SMG gun. KEDR and Klin Submachine Guns It was originally designed by the Evgenij Dragunov (KEDR is an acronym for Konstruktsia Evgenija Dragunova) and developed at the Izmash Plant in Russia. In 1994 the SMG entered service with the Russian Interior Ministry. It fires 9x18 mm Makarov ammunition. It operates by means of unlocked blowback from the closedbolt position. The 120 mm long barrel is fixed on a rectangular stamped sheet-metal receiver. The pistol grip, magazine chamber and folding 28

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

Cartridge

9x18 mm

Empty Weight

1,400/1,410 g

Length (with stock extended)

300/305 mm

Barrel Length

120 mm

Rate of fire

1,000/1,200 rpm

Muzzle Energy

294/530 J

Recoil Energy

1.9/2.8 J

Accuracy at 150 m

over 200 cm/ about 80 cm

Feed system

20 or 30-round box magazine

stock are also fixed to the receiver. The SMG has six more components it can be dissembled into: a magazine, a receiver’s top-cover, and a single-coil recoil spring, a bolt, a firing mechanism and a safety / fire mode selector lever. The bolt is cocked by the reloading handle located on the left side, which is firmly connected with the lock and moves during fire. The safety / fire mode selector lever is on the right side of the receiver. In extreme low position it locks the sear, the bolt hold-close

pin locks the bolt in the rear position. The fire mode selector lever is set to the top position for full automatic fire and the middle position for semiautomatic fire. Sighting aids are open. The front sight is fixed on the barrel at the topcover of the receiver and the rear sight is fixed on the folding stock. The accuracy of fire is better than 50 mm in semi-automatic fire at the distance of 25 m. The weapon can be fitted with a silencer and laser target designator.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF PP-90 Cartridge

9x18 mm

Empty Weight

1830 g

Length (ready-to-fire position)

490 mm

Overall Dimensions (folded position)

270x90x32 mm

Barrel Length

200 mm

Muzzle velocity

320 m/s

Muzzle Energy

312

Effective Range

100 m

Accuracy at 25 m (2–5 cartridge burst)

100 mm

Shots before barrel cooling

90 rounds

Barrel Endurance

6,000 rounds

LAND FORCES MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF VIKHR Cartridge

9 mm

Weight

2,000 g

Length (with stock folded)

360 mm

Muzzle velocity

270 m/s

Rate of fire

900 rpm

Effective Range

200 m

Feed system

10 or 20-round magazines

Basic KEDR design was slightly reinforced for the 9x18 new cartridge, and appeared as the Klin SMG. The difference between Klin and KEDR is that Klin has radial grooves in the chamber to slow down extraction of the more powerful 9x18 PMM ammo Due to the increased recoil energy. It decreases the SMG rate of fire. There are a few more differences: the safety/fire mode selector lever was fixed on the left side of the receiver. The SMG can operate standard 9x18 ammo but the rate of fire is considerably lower. At the distance of 20 m the bullet of the modified cartridge pierces a 3-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. Klin-2 Submachine Gun It is a modified Klin SMG. The magazine chamber was moved into the pistol grip. That is why the SMG was better balanced and more convenient for single-hand shooting. The receiver was completely modified, the plastic forearm was fixed. A compensator was fixed on the muzzle. Though the SMG became longer, the compensator increased its accuracy of fire. Effective range of the new SMG is about 200 m.

PP-90 Submachine Gun (PP-93) The PP-90 is a Russian folding submachine gun, developed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in the city of Tula for the Russian Interior Ministry and Ministry of Defense. It is in service with the special purpose units. It is also used in Federal Protective Service (FSO). It is a conventional, blowback operated submachine gun firing from the closedbolt position. Chambered for the 9x18 mm low-power cartridge and a massive bolt it has the rate of fire of just about 700 rpm. The receiver and the magazine chamber used as a pistol grip are made of stamped steel. The 200 mm long barrel produces the muzzle velocity of 320 m/s. When needed, the SMG is to be unfolded into the ready-to-fire position in 3–4 seconds by pressing the stock and connecting the front and rear parts of the receiver. The low profile sights are fixed to the top of the receiver. The 30-round magazine is set inside the pistol handle. Due to the hammer firing mechanism it is an automatic-only weapon. The safety / fire mode selector lever locks the sear, the bolt hold-close pin locks the bolt in the rear position

up to the fixation of the front and rear parts of the receiver. The charging handle and ejection port are on the right side of the receiver. The folded SMG resembles a cuboid with the following dimensions — 270x90x32 mm. The only projecting part is the ready-to-fire position pin. The rear part of the barrel has a thread and can be fitted with a silencer. In 1993 the PP-93 SMG was developed. It is an unfolded model of the SMG. Vikhr Compact Assault Rifle It was based on the silenced 9 mm AS Val assault rifle and chambered for SP-5 (6) cartridges with subsonic bullet. Though it is gas-operated, the Vikhr is considered to be an SMG in Russia (for example, AKS-74U is a compact assault rifle) as it produces low ballistic performance (due to a short barrel). High penetration of SP-5 (6) cartridges ensured hitting protected targets at the distance of 200 m. At this range the bullet pierces a 6-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. It successfully defeats body armor of class 1–3 and kills targets onboard vehicles at its effective range.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SILENCED SNIPER COMPLEX Cartridge

9 mm

Empty Weight

2,500 g

Length

894 mm

SP-5 cartridge Weight

23 g

Muzzle velocity

270 m/s

Rate of fire

900 rpm

Effective Range

400 m / 300 m (daytime / night)

Feed system

10 or 20-round magazines

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES HIDDEN USE FIREARMS Silenced Firearms and Noise suppression Means Any gun is called noiseless if it is fitted with report decreasing devices. It can be confirmed by the fact that the term “noise suppressed” is substituted for “silenced” in the West. However, this term is relative as it is impossible to suppress the noise absolutely. Nevertheless if the gun’s report is lower than an air gun’s one (hardly heard at the distance of 50 m) it can be referred to as silenced. The report produced by explosive gas is only suppressed in some models of firearms. The report of muzzle blast wave is not suppressed as it is considered that it is next to impossible to detect the shooter’s position by it. Maybe it is acceptable for the army assault rifles but it is absolutely unacceptable for special firearms. The main record sources are muzzle blast (if the bullet has supersonic velocity) producing blast wave and explosive gas following the bullet or passing ahead it with superson-

ic velocity. When leaving the barrel it makes a clap. When using firearms we also take into account a clank, the sound of bolt striking the barrel and butt plate, etc. These sounds can be heard even if a good silencer is fitted. That is why single-shot nonautomatic firearms are used in special cases. Silenced Sniper Complex It was designed at the TsNII TochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building, Klimovsk, the Moscow Region) for the Ministry of Defense and one of the former KGB directorates. It was field-tested in the Afghan War and entered service with special purpose units of the Ministry of Defense and Interior Ministry. It consists of the Vintorez VSS Special Sniper Rifle (Army Index 6P29), special 9-mm SP-5 (Army Index 7N8) and SP-6 (Army Index 7N9) cartridges, and metal case for transportation, optical and night vision sights. The rifle was originally being designed with the new cartridg-

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SILENCED ASSAULT RIFLE COMPLEX

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Cartridge

9 mm

Weight

2,960 g

Length

875 mm

SP-6 cartridge Weight

23 g

Rate of fire

900 rpm

Muzzle velocity

290 m/s

Effective Range

400 m (at daytime) — 300 m (at night)

Feed system

10 or 20-round magazines

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

es. The SP-5 subsonic sniper cartridge designed by N. Zabelin is based on the 7.62x39 case, necked out for 9-mm bullet. The latter features a hardened steel penetrator as the core. It has good penetration at the high subsonic initial velocity. At the distance of 500 m the bullet pierces a 2-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. The rifle designed by P. Serdyukov and N. Zabelin consists of a receiver, an integral silencer, which wraps around the barrel, and a skeletonized wooden stock. It is a gas-operated rifle. The rotating bolt has lugs and locks into the receiver during firing. The rifle has a hammer firing mechanism. The safety/fire mode selector lever is set near the ejection port on the right side. The broad trigger guard allows shooting in winter in three-finger gloves. The receiver at the front is made of heat-resistant plastic. The magazine chamber is fixed in front of the trigger guard. The silencer is the integral part of the weapon, though it can be easily removed from the barrel. It has an absorption grid. The barrel at the front has a set of tiny holes, drilled in the rifling grooves, which lead the explosive gas into the integral silencer. The pressure reduces inside the expansion chamber, then the gas is divided into flows and finally cooled in the grid. As the silencer is located along all the barrel length it improves its noise suppression and allows burst firing. But

LAND FORCES according to the soldiers and officers operating the VSS rifle, if burstfired its noise suppression significantly decreases and it can be used only as a usual assault rifle. Standard sighting equipment consists of the PO 4x24 telescopic sight and 1PN52 night sight. It can also be fitted with any other sighting devices up to the NATO ones. Silenced Assault Rifle Complex It was designed at the same time when the sniper rifle was and is known as Val. It is in service with Russian special purpose units (Army Index 6P30). U. Frolov designed the 9-mm cartridge with the SP-6 high performance armor piercing bullet. At the distance of 100 m the bullet pierces a 6-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. The Val assault rifle has a piece commonality with its sister-gun, the VSS Vintorez. Both weapons are based on the same action and designed by the same constructors. The main differences are the metal folded stock and burst-fire cartridges with high performance armor piercing bullets. It is better adopted for burst-firing than the VSS sniper rifle. Low muzzle velocity is balanced by its fire intensity (it has higher rate of fire than the Kalashnikov assault rifle). As gas-operated the assault rifle is very reliable in the field. PB silenced pistol The pistol was designed in Russia and based on the standard Makarov PM pistol. It operates standard Makarov ammunition. It is in service with Russian reconnaissance and special purpose units and features a unique integral two-part silencer. Thanks to the subsonic muzzle velocity the silencer is of a very simple design. The front part of the barrel is connected with the silencer. The propellant gas enters the silencer when the bullet leaves the bore. The pressure reduces inside the expansion chamber and the gas is divided into flows and finally leaves the suppressor through the small holes in it. As the front part of the silencer is quickly detachable it is easily maintained in washing with White

Spirit and any other propellant gas dissolvent. The report is well suppressed; the slide is only heard during shooting. It cannot be referred to as a silenced weapon since the slide is heard at the distance of 50 m (pistol’s effective range) at night. That is why it is not popular with special purpose units and is replaced by the PSS Silent Pistol. Its specifications correspond to the Makarov pistol ones. The PSS Special Self-loading Pistol It was designed at TsNII TochMash by U. Krylov and V. Levchenko. It is in service with Russian special purpose units. The PSS pistol (Army Index 6P24) is also known as Vul. A special SP-4 cartridge with propellant gas cutoff was designed by V. Petrov. The PSS and NRS pistols are chambered for the SP-4 cartridges. As the special cartridge was used excellent noise suppression was achieved. No modern muzzle silencer can beat the SP-4 in noise suppression. It is a self-loading blowback pistol. It is very reliable in any conditions due to its high bullet pulse and gas cutoff. The thick-wall case ensures necessary muzzle velocity and keeps the slide return spring and propellant gas inside the pistol. It has a double action firing mechanism with an open hammer. The slide-mounted safety/decocker prevents the undesirable shot if either the trigger is accidentally pressed or the pistol has been dropped. CORNER SHOT WEAPONS They were designed in Germany at the end of WWII and allowed aimed firing from trenches and other covers, around corners, from hatches of combat vehicles. It enables the operator to both see and attack an armed target, without any exposure to counterattack. It was mainly designed for the combat vehicles crews and not for the infantry. In 1943 a periscope rifle device entered service with the German Army. According to the German reports, the 7.92-mm Mauser of 1898 and the Valter self-loading rifle of 1941 were fitted with such a device.

PB silenced pistol

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF PSS Cartridge

7.62 mm

Empty Weight

700 g

Length

165 mm

Width

30 mm

Height

140 mm

Cartridge Weight

24 g

Bullet Weight

10 g

Muzzle velocity

200 m/s

Effective Range

50 m

Feed system

6-round magazines

SPECIAL UNDERWATER FIREARMS Underwater firing is rather difficult as water has high density (water is 800 denser than air) and the bore can be easily filled with water. The pressure of propellant gas on the barrel and assault rifle components will increase. It means that special firearms and special ammunition are needed for underwater firing. Just a few companies managed to design such models. The 5.66-mm APS assault rifle and the 4.5-mm SPP-1 handgun with four barrels designed by the Simonovs are of great interest here. The designers Elena and Vladimir Simonov are grand-nephew and grand-niece of a greatest Russian gunmaker S. Simonov. 5.66-mm APS Assault Rifle The APS underwater assault rifle is chambered for the 5.66-mm MPS 4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES system which feeds with the extremely long projectiles and uses an unusually deep (front to back) and narrow magazine spring. It has a retractable stock which can be folded inside the receiver when transported. The cartridge was developed by the designers of the TsNII TochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building). The APS assault rifle is known to be second to none in the world.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF 5.66-MM APS Cartridge

5.66 mm

Length (with stock retracted)

840 mm

Length (with stock collapsed)

615 mm

Height (less magazine)

140 mm

Height

252 mm

Width

65 mm

Empty Weight

2,460 g

Weight (loaded)

3,400 g

Rate of fire

500 rpm

Feed system

26-round magazines

Arrow Length

120 mm

Cartridge Length

150 mm

Cartridge Weight

26 g

Arrow weight

20 g

SPP-1 Underwater Pistol The SPP-1 special underwater pistol is chambered for the 4.5-mm SPS cartridges (an analog of the MPS cartridge). The handgun is kept in a holster with three loaded magazines. Its four barrels are hinged to the frame in the same manner as on break-open shotguns. For reloading its ammunition comes as a clip of four cartridges inserted into the pistol's breech. It is a single-fire pistol. The double-action trigger unit consists of a striker so during each trigger pull the striker is cocked and simultaneously rotated by 900 to the next unfired barrel. A double-action firing mechanism fires one cartridge sequentially for each pull of the trigger. The single lever controls safety and reloading. It has three positions — "Reloading" (barrel release), "Safe", and "Fire".

Muzzle Velocity: Under water

240–350 m/s;

In the atmosphere

365 m/s

Effective Range*: At the depth of 5 m

30 m;

At the depth of 20 m

20 m;

At the depth of 40 m

10 m;

SMALL-SIZE HIDDEN FIRING DEVICES When the firearms appeared * Effective range is the max distance where the arrow is able to defeat diver’s suit and its mass production started unand his mask (5 mm glass). dercover spies needed them too. needle-like projectiles. The APS it- shots and full automatic fire (short — Both army firearms and specific self is a gas-operated rifle of rotat- 3–5-round and long — 8-round ‘spy’ devices were being developed. ing bolt action fired from an open bursts). The most unusual thing Depending on the situation they can bolt. The selector allows for single in the whole design is the feeding use both offensive and defensive In the open air

100 m

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SPP-1 Cartridge

4.5 mm

Empty Weight

950 g

Weight (loaded)

3,400 g

Arrow Length

115 mm

Cartridge Length

145 mm

Cartridge Weight

21 g

Effective Range*:

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

At the depth of 5 m

17 m;

In the open air

50 m

LAND FORCES firearms. There are not many such devices and they are being designed for special operations in global and local conflicts. Now the human intelligence avoids using small arms. But it still operates small-size hidden firing devices. The main demands for such a device are as follows: ■ Short effective range (several meters); ■ Maximum concealment when camouflaged under different devices; ■ High combat readiness and opportunity of surprised usage (without hands). It is natural that a great number of such devices were designed and operated in a number of combat, intelligence and counter-intelligence operations, and under conspiracy. Multi-shot Device by Mikhailovski A device of the type was designed by the Russian constructor Mikhailovski. It is designed for carrying under clothes and shooting when the hand is being raised. The barrel is standard in the vertical position. However under the command “Hands up!” the wire connected with the hand on one side and the trigger on the

other one releases the sear. The device was fitted with an auto-feed magazine. The NRS Scout’s Firing Knife Firing knives were being designed in different countries. So the French designer Lastavel fixed single-barrel pistol inside a knife handle. In standard mode the blade’s end closes the muzzle and locks the firing mechanism. If turned round its long axis, the blade released the muzzle and the pistol was ready for immediate fire. The Firing knife was designed in Russia and entered service as the NRS scout’s firing knife, index 6P25. It looked very like the same as the NR scout’s knife, Index 6P25U fitted with the razor wire cutter. The knife’s weight with the scabbard is 620 g, length — 322 mm. The firing device is assembled inside a cavity of the knife’ handle. The flash and fire crack are suppressed. The barrel is inside the knife’s handle and looks as a single chamber. For loading the upper part of the hilt must be turned. When the chamber is open the 7.62-mm SP-4 subsonic cartridge (the special SP-4 cartridge with propel-

lant gas cutoff is also operated in the 7.62-mm PSS pistol) is inserted. Then the chamber is inserted into the hilt and the device is cocked. If there is no need in the pistol at the moment the thumb safety catch is on. For shooting the release button is to be pressed. Twohand shooting is quite possible. The firing knife has short effective range (25 m maximum). At this distance the bullet pierces 2-mm steel sheet and still keeps its penetration. The NRS structure allows cutting razor wire and steel wire of 5 mm in diameter under the voltage of 400 V, as well as communication cables. The blade can be used as a screw-driver. The knife has a rig to carry it on the waist-belt, on hand or on the hip.

NRS

Viktor Murakhovskiy

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES

RUSSIAN UAVs ON THE RISE

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

LAND FORCES Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become one of the top aviation news stories in recent years. They have drawn worldwide attention because they have been successfully used by the American and Israeli forces in different combat and reconnaissance operations. It is obvious that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become of great importance for the Russia Armed Forces as well. A large number of the Russian UAV prototypes were presented at different aviation shows and specialized exhibitions and offered for the army and security agencies. Since the development of the Russian UAVs has been of a particular concern in recent years, it is worth studying the history of its development as well as the trends and best practices in this field. Notwithstanding the sceptical attitude of the Russian militaries toward those UAVs being currently in service, the drones have not caused much concern until recent times. As a matter of fact, the Soviet Union did not lag far behind the rest countries in the field of UAV development. Already in the 1950s Lavochkin, Yakovlev and Tupolev experimental design bureaus started R&D in this field. The first UAVs were successfully applied by the Soviet Army in different operations except for air strikes which were conducted by manned aircrafts.

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES Long-range Supersonic Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft Tu-123. According to the West’s opinion, it was used by the Soviet Union to perform strategic reconnaissance in Europe reaching the coasts of Spain, Britain and France

Tactical Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft La-17R at Monino Museum. It differs from the air drone by availability of aerodynamic shroud with slots for photographic equipment

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FIRST SOVIET UAVS: FROM LA-17R TO REYS The main reason why the Soviet Union started to develop unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was, undoubtedly, the advent of anti-aircraft missiles which significantly affected the combat survivability of manned aircraft. The first Soviet unmanned reconnaissance aircraft were developed in the late 1950s by Lavochkin Experimental Design Bureau. Its design was based on air drone La-17M (204). In 1963, tactical unmanned reconnaissance aircraft TBR-1 passed all the required tests, and later it was manufactured at plant no. 475 (also known as Smolensk Aircraft Factory). These aircraft, designated also as La17R, were delivered to four squadrons in Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia. The TBR-1 combat radius at a speed of 680–885 km/h and at an altitude of 900 m amounted to 5–60 km, while at an altitude of 7,000 m — up to 200 km. The aircraft was controlled by autopilot according to the pre-determined programme as well as by radio signals broadcast from a

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

ground station. Its onboard reconnaissance equipment included cameras of AFA 40, AFA-20, BFA-21, or ASCHFA-5M type as well as radiation surveillance equipment “Sigma” or video camera “Chibis”. The TBR-1 was used until the beginning of the 1970s. Tupolev Design Bureau developed high-speed unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Their high speed should improve aircraft combat survivability. These aircraft were intended for aerial photography operations according to a predetermined programme as well as for video recording or infrared survey. Radiation surveillance and radio intelligence equipment could be installed if required. Their history can be traced since 1957 when the Tupolev Design Bureau developed medium-range supersonic nuclear cruise missiles. Rocket 121 was launched for the first time in 1960, but afterwards this project was closed down. Its best practices were applied in the design of long-range supersonic

(M=2) unmanned reconnaissance aircraft DBR-1 or known as the Tu-123 “Yastreb” with the range of 4,000 km. At the beginning of the 1980s the drone was immediately withdrawn from service due to its high production costs. Besides, each mission ended with its breakage and the only part remained was the compartment with photographic equipment inside. However, the West considered that the Tu-123 “Yastreb” was used by the Soviet Union to perform strategic reconnaissance in Europe reaching the coasts of Spain, Britain, and France. Since 1968, Tupolev Design Bureau developed less sophisticated drones, such as supersonic (M=1.1) Tu-141 “Strizh” and subsonic Tu-143 “Reys”. Both aircraft landed with a parachute so that it made it possible to prevent any incidents. These unmanned reconnaissance aircraft were equipped with turbojet engines and solid propellant boosters. Air reconnaissance systems VR2 with “Strizh” apparatus (first flight took place in 1974) were intended for defensive operations within the range of 630 km, while air reconnaissance systems VR-3 with the Tu-143 “Reys”, for tactical operations within the range of 180 km max. Until 1989, “Strizh” systems were manufactured at Kharkov Aircraft Manufacturing Company and all produced VR-2 systems were deployed in the western boundary of the country. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, most of them remained in Ukraine, and now they are no longer being operated. The VR-3 systems were used both in the Soviet Union and in the countries of the former Warsaw Pact. Two squadrons of the VR-3 systems were delivered to Czechoslovakia in 1984, and some, to Romania and Syria. The latter applied the systems until the mid 1980s and could penetrate with their help to the air space of Israel and Lebanon without any losses. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, the VR-3 systems with the Tu-143 “Reys” joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Some of them remained in Russia as well. Today “Reys” unmanned reconnaissance aircraft are still used by the Russian Air Force. The VR-3 systems

LAND FORCES are integrated into unmanned reconnaissance squadrons which include four transporter-erector launchers SPU-143 and twelve UAVs of Tu-143 type. The squadron is capable to perform up to 20 launches per day. The Tu-143 “Reys” was manufactured at Kumertau Machine-Building Plant where the aircraft have been maintained and modernized even today. In 1982, the UAV was modernized into VR-3D “Reys-D” (or known as the Tu-243) with enhanced equipment and increased range. There are two possible versions for the Tu-243. The first version includes onboard panoramic air camera of PA-402 type and TV reconnaissance system “Aist-M” with realtime data transfer via radio channels “Trassa-M”. In addition to the onboard panoramic air camera of PA-402 type, the second version is provided with infrared intelligence “Zima-M” with real-time data transfer via radio channels “Trassa-M”. The data can be recorded by means of the onboard equipment as well. The new modernized reconnaissance equipment along with enhanced characteristics of a parent aircraft made it possible to increase surveillance area up to 2,100 square kilometres per one flight. “Reys-D” UAV may be also provided with radiation surveillance equipment “Sigma-F”. The Tu-243 is provided with the onboard flight navigation system NPK-243 made of upgraded hardware components which significantly enhanced its tactical performance in comparison with the Tu-143. Besides, there is beacon of Marker type integrated into the Tu-243 in order to facilitate early detection of the aircraft after its landing. However, the Tu-243 cannot be considered as a full-fledged remotely piloted aerial vehicle (UAV) even with onboard real-time reconnaissance data transfer. This UAV flying at a speed of 900 km/h and changing its trajectory according to the real-time incoming data cannot be operated promptly, notwithstanding the availability of the radio channel. The system is extremely clumsy so that it is impossi-

Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft Tu-123 “Reys” has been constantly modernized and upgraded. It served as the basis for the UAV Tu-300 “Korshun” offered for the Russian Army in different versions

ble to deploy it rapidly on threatened areas. The number of vehicles involved into “Reys” pre-launch operation totals to twelve, including MAZ heavy four-axle platforms. Nevertheless, the impressive dimensions of a three-ton Tupolev unmanned aerial vehicle and a large internal compartment made it possible to install any required equipment onboard. In fact, this advantage provides “Reys” with unlimited opportunities for its further modernization. NEW PAGE IN HISTORY OF RUSSIAN UAV DEVELOPMENT The new page in history of the Russian UAV development was opened in June 29, 1982 when Automated Systems Research Institute of the Ministry of Aircraft Production carried out a meeting devoted to the results of combat operations in Lebanon. The success of the Israeli Army was guaranteed by deployment of Unmenned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of Mastiff and Scout type designed by Israel Aerospace Industries. The UAVs were used as

decoy targets for air defence system, visual and radio reconnaissance systems and as the systems intended for monitoring attack effectiveness. In fact, these UAVs completely destroyed the Syrian air defence system at Lebanese Bekaa Valley which was developed together with the Soviet specialists. The further course of combat scenario was predetermined, and the Syrian Army suffered heavy losses. The Russian militaries highly appreciated UAVs because they could become a decisive factor in gaining the advantage over the enemy, and therefore, they demanded to develop similar systems for the Soviet Army by the following spring. In fact, there was one of such systems which was develop in due time. The programme for development of UAVs of new generation was called “Stroy”. Moscow Research Institute Kulon (Ministry of Electronic Industry) was assigned as an umbrella company. The ideology and deployment principles were developed UAV Tu-300 by the Central Research Institute of “Korshun”

4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES Reusable UAV “Pchela-1T”

“Pchela-1T” was launched by a Major General at training range Staratel in Nizhny Tagil during exhibition REA-2000 under the extended programme associated with the visit of then President Vladimir Putin

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Radio Electronic Systems, the leading enterprise in electronics industry. In previous years this was the Ministry of Aviation Industry that was responsible for the development of UAV and system in general. This time the main developer of UAV was the Ministry of Radio Electronic Industry while the Ministry of Aviation Industry was still responsible for the development of a whole system. Therefore, it would be correct to call it as a system with UAV. The development programme supposed to design the systems for regiment, army and combat purposes (“Stroy-P“, “Stroy-A“, and “Stroy-F“ correspondingly) with the relevant UAV. Development of “Stroy-P” system was assigned to Yakovlev Design Bureau. The first flight was made already on June 17, 1983. Then the system was modernized into the “Yak061” (or product 61T) which was launched on April 26, 1986. It was

ARMS Defence Technologies Review

that particular UAV called “Pchela” that is still the only UAV of this type that has been used by the Russian Air Force until now. Reusable UAV “Pchela-1T” (letter T stands for TV guidance) is intended for reconnaissance deep in the heart of the enemy. Its range amounts to 50 km. This UAV is launched by means of two solid-rocket boosters with short guide mounted on tracked chassis. The vehicle lands with a help of a parachute. Four fixed landing gears with bursting steel plates are used as a shock mount. All components and devices of the system and UAV were designed for the first time. Taking into account that “Stroy-P” system was to be used by mobile forces (Air Force in particular), armoured troop-carrier BTR-D was chosen as a base for transporter-erector launcher which at the same time could be used as a remote control ground station. Apart from that, the

first version of the system included ten aircraft and maintenance facilities (KAMAZ-based vehicle and transporter loader on GAZ-66 chassis. The system facilities provided UAV maintenance prior to launch, its start-up and control, real-time data reception and its display on the operator’s screen. Video monitor also shows the route of the vehicle and its actual position. “Stroy-P” systems were put into serial production even before they were adopted. Unfortunately, “Pchela” UAV had the same airframe as the La-17 since they both were manufactured at Smolensk Aviation Plant which designed and manufactured the Yak-18. Hardly large dimensions of the latter could contribute to UAV operating efficiency. That was the reason why “Pchela”’s flight performance was not spectacular. The main feature of the “Pchela1T” was ring propeller which increased thrust of wooden fixed-pitch propeller taking into account diameter space limitations. Propeller functioned as aerodynamic stabilizer by installation of ruddevators directly behind the propeller. Shell ring of propeller protected personnel from blades and propeller itself from hitting the ground when landing. When the “Pchela-1T” was developed, it met the military requirements. Its designers were awarded the government prize for this development in 1998. Small tactical “Stroy-P” system should have been updated with more powerful systems. “Stroy-A” system should have been provided with UAV “Dyatel” designed by sport aviation design bureau in Kazan. However, its development went difficult. It turned out that the system required two types of UAVs, namely high-speed reconnaissance and low-speed transponder. In 1984, this task was assigned to Design Bureau Luch in the town of Rybinsk. In fact, “Stroy-A” has never been completed. However, it was this particular design bureau that developed system “Tipchak”. For the development of “Stroy-F” system (or “Malakhit-F” for export version), the experimental design bureau of Moscow Machine-Building

LAND FORCES Plant “Opyt” (currently Tupolev Design Bureau) designed the UAV Tu300 “Korshun” (named also as “Filin” for export version). It was a modified version of the Tu-243. The design bureau put a large emphasis on export version since the new Russian Army was satisfied with UAVs produced in Soviet times. For the first time “Malachite-F” system was presented by RI Kulon during the Moscow Air Show held in 1993. It was assumed that the system would be provided with both high-speed and low speed vehicles. High-speed vehicle “Filin-1” with radio intelligence and radar equipment (cameras, infrared devices, side-looking radars could be also installed, if required) had launching weight of nearly 3,000 kg, speed of 950 km/h, and range of 200–300 km. Lowspeed vehicle “Filin-2” provided data reception and transmission as a transponder for two hour flight at a speed of 500–600 km/h and at an altitude of 500–6,000 m. All system vehicles (transporter-erector launcher, remote control station, and intelligence data decoding station) were mounted on ZIL-131 automobile. The system equipment controlled both UAVs simultaneously. During air shows MAKS-95 and MAKS-97, Tupolev Design Bureau presented an experimental version of the Tu-300. By the mid 1990s it built six prototypes which were subjected to testing. The best practices of the Tu-300 were used for the development of the first Russian strike drone because the Tu-300 had large internal cargo compartment and external load unit that could room cargo weighing a ton. The strike drone was developed until 2008 but backburnered in early 2009 due to retrenchment. Nevertheless, in 2010 Tupolev Design Bureau is going to take part in tender on development of medium-range UAVs.

The first prototype of “Pchela1T” could be operated only in daytime. It did not arouse much interest abroad. However, its export version “Malakhit-P” equipped with ten UAVs of “Shmel” type was delivered by Research Institute Kulon to North Korea in 1994. In late 1994, when the constitutional order in Chechnya started to restore, it was decided to use UAVs for combat operations there. In May 1995, “Stroy-P” systems were used for the first time to support combat operations performed by the Air Force troops. Indeed, it had only positive outcomes. “Stroy-P” systems were adopted on June 16, 1997. Since September 1999, they were used in combat operations in Chechnya. When the hostilities came to end, the Armed Forces aroused no interest in UAV development anymore, although Yakovlev Design Bureau offered some other versions, namely modernized “Pchela-1M” and “Pchela1IK” with infrared equipment so that

it could be operated at night. The UAV development was resumed only after a long period of time. In late 2005, Smolensk Aviation Plant resumed serial production of the new versions of “Pchela” UAVs on its own. “Pchela-1K” (letter K stands for twenty-four hour a day) was provided with TV and infrared equipment suitable for operation during a day and at night. “Stroy-PD” systems became of great importance for the Armed Forces since it did not have analogues to “Stroy-P” systems. The new system had from six to ten UAVs. The launcher was installed on KAMAZ chassis instead of tracked chassis of BTR-D. Besides, there was a remote control ground station installed on a separate KAMAZ chassis. As for the rest, it was almost the same. The TV image quality was enhanced due to digital filtering of the primary video signal of target channel. Previously the quality was poor because of the vibration of camera

Launcher of new version of “Stroy-PD” system is mounted on KAMAZ four-axis chassis. This version was demonstrated for the representatives of the People's Liberation Army of China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation during the joint manoeuvres “Peaceful Mission 2007” held in Russia

UAV System “Tipchak” with transport-launch vehicle on KAMAZ53501 chassis

DO RUSSIAN UAVS MEET TWENTY FIRST CENTURY? The state testing of “Stroy-P” systems was completed in summer 1990 and five systems with fifty UAVs were produced already by 1991. 4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES rate research squadron consisting of ten UAVs of “Pchela-1” type and fifty nine “Reys” unmanned reconnaissance vehicles and UAV air base with two UAV of “Pchela-1K” type, thirteen UAV of “Pchela-1M” type (probable “Pchela-1VM”, air drone), and twenty four “Reys” unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. According to other sources, the 275th research squadron was provided with unmanned reconnaissance aircraft of “Strizh” type.

Artillery intelligence and fire adjustment system “Tipchak”

optical axis caused by running engine. This time the image looked like a picture but, according to designers, targets "tank" or "vehicle" could be identified much better. In late 2007, “Stroy-PD” systems with “Pchela-1K” UAVs passed the state flight testing. By that time, in 2005 and 2006 there were manufactured two “StroyPD“ systems with UAVs under the government defence order. One system was passing state testing while the second one was delivered to the Armed Forces for trial operations. The next “Stroy-PD“ systems were to be ordered in 2008 because in 2007 it was supposed to carry out flight testing of “Pchela-1K” UAV with different target loads of special purpose, e.g. with jammers.

Smallest Version of “Tipchak” system

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

“Stroy-PD” system’s efficiency was approved during the SOC manoeuvres “Peaceful Mission 2007” in the town of Chebarkul. SOC manoeuvres were carried out at the same time as MAKS-2007 Air Show. Therefore, this system was not demonstrated at the show. However, there was shown a short film shot during the Peaceful Mission manoeuvres. According to the info allegedly provided by the Russian Air Force, on January 1, 2009 the central structure in the town of Egorievsk of the Moscow Region, which studied application methods of unmanned vehicles in the army, was named as the 924th Multiservice Centre for UAV Combat Use. The centre had a sepa-

VEGA CONSTELLATION Currently, the most powerful Russian company involved in the UAV development, is JSC Radio Engineering Corporation Vega. This company is also the parent Russian enterprise which performs R&D of air reconnaissance systems and UAVbased systems. Vega Company was established on the basis of Central Design Bureau no. 17, or Research institute no. 17, or Moscow Research Institute of Instrumentation, the oldest research institution in Russia engaged in R&D of aircraft and space radar systems and instrument production. Today the company represents a vertically integrated establishment engaged in radio electronics development. Its structure was formed according to the Decree "On the Development of

LAND FORCES As exemplified by equipment T-90 and some other devices manufactured by “Eniks” Company, it is clear that their dimensions and internal capacities are predetermined during R&D works

Radio Engineering Corporation Vega" issued by the President of the Russian Federation on March 20, 2009. The corporation integrates Research Institute Kulon, Design Bureau Luch, and other 18 companies which joined the corporation in 2009. However, there are no aircraft-building enterprises among them; therefore UAV R&D works are performed by the third-party companies which are financed according to the residual principle. Research Institute Kulon and Design Bureau Luch enjoy an obvious competitive advantage being integrated into powerful unified structure which has good ties with the customers. Independent producers Remote Surveillance System “Eleron-3” (manufactured by “Eniks” Company)

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

and specialized aircraft manufacturers play supporting roles, though the Council of Chief Designers brings together Vega Corporation and other enterprises involved in UAV development. The Council is chaired by V. S. Verba, Principal Designer in the field of UAV development, CEO and Chief Designer of Radio Engineering Corporation Vega. “Tipchak” system designed by Vega Company is almost the only example of a large UAV purchased by the Armed Forces. Unmanned artillery reconnaissance system “Tipchak” for regiments and brigades was developed in 2007 by Design Bureau Luch in Rybinsk. The system passed state testing and

was adopted for use. In 2008, it joined the Armed Forces of Russia. UAV system “Tipchak” with BLA05 (designated as 9M62) is designed to detect different objects, to identify the targets, to determine and transmit its coordinates in real-time at a distance of 40 km from the ground control station. In fact, UAV system “Tipchak” performs the same functions as “Pchela” UAV, but its UAVs are half times smaller in size and three times lighter. It was designed by a sub-contractor at Moscow Aviation Institute on the basis of spray equipment design. Speed, operating altitudes, range, and accuracy of equipment (positioning error of 50 m max.) are the same. It has the same catapult launch and parachute landing. However, UAV System Tipchak is smaller. It consists of four machines with capability to carry up to six UAVs. It cost 300 million roubles. Currently, it is being modified into compact tactical BLA07 and low-speed BLA-08 with enhanced flying capabilities. In general, “Tipchak” system is considered to be better than “Pchela” UAV. But the question is whether it will be upgraded further? Arkady Syroyezhko, who is in charge of UAV development Program Vega Company, reported at the opening ceremony of exhibi-

LAND FORCES tion "Unmanned multipurpose vehicle systems — 2009" that the annual volume of orders for unmanned systems amounted to hundreds of millions of roubles, including research and production within the frameworks of the government defence order according to multi-purpose programme of the Ministry Defence aimed at UAV development. In addition, in 2008 the Ministry of Defence purchased ten small electric-piloted vehicles. It is scheduled to manufacture and supply one UAV system “Tipchak” annually until 2011. In 2009 Research Institute Kulon was assigned to produce one “Stroy-PD” system as well. Both manufacturers were integrated into the corporation; therefore there is no rival competition between them anymore. What outcome do we have? Industries are actively developing UAV prototypes and drones. But how come that some representatives of the Ministry of Defence are not satisfied with the Russian UAVs? THE RIGHT WAY TO GET A TACTICAL UAV? It is clear from the very beginning that aviation requirements to UAVs differ from artillery requirements. Different levels of commands may express various suggestions. The fact is that there is no clear task assigned before the UAV manufacturers. Therefore, they are forced to design the prototypes they believe to be useful, and present them at different exhibitions where they convince the potential customers that this is what they really need... It seems that the established ordering procedure is sophisticated and it is easier to agree on personal contacts. It turns out that Valery Pobezhimov, General Director of Kazan Private Company “Eniks” and Designer of the remote monitoring complex “Eleron-3” was assigned with a task during a talk with the First Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Kolmakov and Commander-inChief of Russia’s Airborne Troops, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Shamanov in 2007 during the round table, held by the Krasnaya Zvezda editorial office.

The Е-26Т air targetby “Eniks” Company is successfully used in training for AA portable system crews

Small UAV of “Eleron-3” type is launched by means of rubber harness and is prepared for launching within 15 minutes. Its range is from 15 to 25 km with flight duration of 90120 minutes at an altitude of 3,000 m (against 2,000 m of “Pchela” UAV). The power plant is provided with an electric motor. Landing is performed with a help of a parachute. Maximum take-off weight amounts to 3.5 kg, where 0.5 kg is payload represented by TV camera, infrared camera, photographic camera, repeaters, etc. It can be operated under the following operation modes: autonomous, radio command, overflight or multiple pass modes. It automatically returns to the place where it has been launched. However, the system which fits two backpacks cannot determine the target position and work at night. It is provided with a heavy control board and has a lot of disadvantages which have not been pointed out during its development. However, Alexander Kolmakov considered this UAV as the battalion reconnaissance system and it was used in military exercise. During military exercise “Kavkaz-2009", “Eleron-3” was observed by the Commander-in-Chief of Russia’s Airborne Troops Vladimir Shamanov together with the Chief of General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov. Another unmanned air reconnaissance system “Istra-010” produced by “Istra” Experimental Mechanical Plant took part in Russian-Belarus military exercise “West 2009”. According to Yuri Bazhanov, Director of the plant, UAV “Istra-010”

performed reconnaissance operations at headquarters and command stations of the Belarus and Russian sides and determined their coordinates, transmitting the relevant data afterwards. UAVs also surveyed the territory and transmitted the coordinates of the predetermined target with accuracy even higher than stated in the specifications. In addition, it provided nearly four thousand images of good resolution. The Chief of the Military Training and Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, LieutenantGeneral Valery Yevnevich told, “UAV application during manoeuvres "Autumn 2009" (part of which were military exercises "Kavkaz-2009" and "West 2009") showed that air reconnaissance and troops control in real time enabled commanders to specify their decisions made in a rapidly changing environment.” ISRAELI UAVS FOR RUSSIAN AIR FORCE The most unpleasant thing was that the Israeli UAVs of “Hermes 450” and “Skylark” types, developed by Elbit Systems, and being available at the Georgian Army, demonstrated faultless operation. The transmitted picture was of such resolution that it impressed the Russian militaries very much. Indeed, there are no doubts that the Israeli Armed Forces will not sell their know-how. The first intention to purchase Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles was made by the Chief of General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov on November 13, 2008 during a speech before the Duma Defence 4(54).2010

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LAND FORCES The advanced tactical UAV “Eleron T-23E” on T23P launcher. The system also has portable ground 2C station T23U

Surveillance UAV “Eleron-3” (by “Eniks” Company) Committee. The Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Popovkin and Alexander Gorbunov who was responsible for the defence industry visited Israel. After tough negotiations and agreements, Russia’s Ministry of Defence decided in April 2009 what types of UAVs it would like to purchase from the Israel Aerospace Industries. These are twelve closer and medium range lightweight portable UAVs of Bird-Eye 400 type (take-off weight — 5 kg, range — 10 km), tactical UAVs of I-View MK 150 type (160 kg and 100 km respectively) and heavy-medium UAVs of Searcher Mk II type (426 kg and 250 km respectively). The transaction was concluded in June at the amount of 53 million dollars. The Israeli UAVs can be compared with the Russian ones: the first one with “Eleron”, the second, with “Pchela” (in terms of its design), “Tipchak”, and some other, and the third, with new UAV of “Aist” type developed by Research Institute Kulon. The most interesting UAV is “Searcher” because it has no analogues in Russia at all. It has been withdrawn from service in Israel, and Heavy-Medium UAV Dozor-600 (by Tranzas Company)

therefore offered for Russia without any fear. As for “Aist” UAV, one of three its prototypes crashed during its experimental flight in November 2009 due to some defects in its design. The flight was controlled and supervised by “Technoavia” Company, and it seems that one of the priorities of Research Institute Kulon is savings on the aerial part of the system, as it was done with “Pchela” UAV. This incident was quite undue taking into account that it has a direct competitor represented by UAV of “Dozor-600” type being developed in St. Petersburg (manufactured by JSC “Tranzas”). “Dozor” UAV has never been tested so far, but it has a chance to outperform its closer competitor. Taking into consideration the purchased Israeli UAVs, their small size and meaninglessness of their copy due to out-of-date design, one can assume that they will serve as comparison vehicles when testing the Russian UAVs. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE AT FIRST? The first thing to be done is obvious. At the end of September 2009,

the Army Commander, Army General Vladimir Boldyrev declared that all reconnaissance battalions of Russia’s Ground Forces would be equipped with anmenned tactical aircraft. Their radius should amount to 25– 100 km. These are small, simple and inexpensive tactical UAVs that are to be designed, manufactured, and delivered to the Army in mass quantities, and not just one or two vehicles produced once a year. This will work according to the principle "from simple — to complex UAVs". The application of UAVs at the battalion level would enhance combat training as well as improve the current situation in the UAV market. The Army’s training plan for 2010 provides concentrating maximum efforts on the battalion level even by brigade exercises. The Russian unmanned aerial vehicles are developed at the specialized centre in Yegorievsk town. Much should be done in order to improve the current situation. Procurement of the Israeli drones could help to evaluate the Russian UAVs regardless of where they have been manufactured. At the same time each, enterprise and parent organization in particular should reconsider their price policies and the quality of their UAVs. One of the trends is the development of reconnaissance aircraft and strike UAVs with range of over 500 km, which must be under jurisdiction of the Air Force.

Oleg Zheltonozhko

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AIR DEFENSE

TULA “DUET”: SMALL CALIBER CAN BE FORMIDABLE The development of small caliber artillery produced at the “AK “Tulamashzavod” (Stock Company) enterprise for the Russian Navy can be traced by weapon systems that have been put into service for the last 60 years. Tula Mechanical Engineering Plant is a unique enterprise in Russia that produces different types of 30-mm artillery systems for the Navy, - says Evgeniy Dronov, the Director General of the Stock Company. All ships in Russia have Tula made artillery systems which are well known not only in Russia but also abroad. Among these systems are formidable AK-306 and AK-630M, the “Kashtan” anti-aircraft missile and artillery system that were made by the specialist of “AK “Tulamashzavod”.

t the beginning sailors distrusted small-caliber artillery as devastating weapon was associated with big caliber like ma-

jor caliber. As far as new artillery systems were fielded at Russian combat ships the sailors found that Fleet had received state-of-the-art small-caliber powerful and effective weapon system. The radar controlled AK-306 and AK-630M artillery systems, later on “Kashtan” anti-aircraft missile and artillery system were designed to engage and destroy anti-ship missiles, airplanes and helicopters. The Tula made 30-mm artillery systems have been served in the Russian 46

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review

Navy for half a century. And up today foreign made similar artillery systems are failed to excel Russian ones. The artillery systems by “Tulamashzavod” have a good reputation as a reliable and simple weapon that has advanced fire power. Anti-ship weapon systems are constantly developed and designers are forced to create much more effective defense systems. The leading specialists of the Tula Mechanical Engineering Plant managed to create a 30-mm artillery system with design and combat characteristics that meet modern requirements. The AK-630M-2 advanced fire power 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount embodied all the best charac-

teristics. The mount received the second name “Duet”. In 2007 “Duet” was at first introduced to public in the framework of International Maritime Defence Show St. Petersburg (IMDS). The system drew interest of the specialists in naval small-caliber artillery systems. In one year at the “Defendory International — 2008” exhibition the AK-630M-2 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount was introduced the second time and once again it drew attention of militaries. Higher interest could be explained by stealth technologies that were used when the system had been under development. “Duet”’s cowl and pedestal stand have geometrical boundary

AIR DEFENSE

30-MM AUTOMATIC GUN MOUNT АК-306 TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Armament

30-mm six-barrel automatic gun АО-18L

Rate of fire, rds/min. main version

600...1000

version АК-306–01, -02, -03

300...500

Burst duration, rds Maximum

250

Minimum ( for version АК-306-01, -02, -03 )

1 ... 3

Max. range of fire, m

4000 ... 5000

Muzzle velocity, m/s

875±25

Ammunition allowance, pc main version

500 in magazine

AK-306-01

500 in magazine + 1000 in feed bin

AK-306-02

500 in magazine + 500 in feed bin

AK-306-03

500 in magazine

Feeding of automatic gun with cartridges

Continuous, belt

Max. traverse laying angles

±180°

Angle of elevation

+85°

Angle of depression

–12°

Weight of gun mount (less ammunition and SPTA set), kg, not over

1100

AK-306 30-mm light-weight automatic gun is designed to engage air and surface targets, buoyant mines as well as inflict demage at open manpower and fire emplacements of the enemy on the coast.

show the best correlation with modern combat ships. Stealth technologies are not a single advantage of “Duet”. The rate of fire using two AO-18 automatic guns is up to 10 thousand shots per minute, using one automatic gun is up to five thousand shots per min4(54).2010

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AIR DEFENSE 30-MM AUTOMATIC GUN MOUNT AK-630М TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS 30-mm six-barrel antiaircraft autoArmament matic gun AO-18 Rate of fire, rds/min 4000 ... 5000

The 30-mm automatic gun mount is remotely controlled from the radar fire control system and ring sight (secondary station).

ute. The high rate of fire significantly increases the fire power of the AK630M-2 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount. Allowance of ammunition is four thousand rounds that is two times as big as AK-630M has and four times as big as “Kashtan” possesses. Another advantage of the AK630M-2 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount is an integrated digital electric drive. The drive was produced under the technical specification of “Tulamashzavod” in the “PA” Special Design Bureau (Kirov city). The digital drive has smaller dimensions and longer service life, advanced fault-tolerance and service-

Max. range of fire, m

4000 ... 5000

Muzzle velocity, m/s Ammunition allowance (in magazine), cartridges, pc Additional ammunition allowance in reserve feed bin, cartridges Feeding of automatic gun

875+25 2000 1000 Continuous, belt

Max. traverse laying angles:

±180°

Max. elevating angles: Weight of gun mount (less ammunition allowance), kg, not over Cooling of barrel cluster

+88° ... -12°

Power supply, V/Hz

380/50 or 220/400

ability standards. The industry-standard AK-306 and AK-630M in the wake of modernization are equipped with the same digital electric drive. The housing of “Duet”at a combat ship is possible at the same place where the AK-630M is mounted de to the modular structure and attaching points. The “Duet” AK-630M-2 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount has advertising and export certificates. The Presidential Decree of November 1, 2007 authorizes export of “Duet”. Due to modern equipment, instruments and production methods the specialists of “Tulamashzavod” express assurance

Modular design makes the Kashtan CIWS adaptable to various types of ships from missile boats (of more than 500 tons displacement) to aircraft carriers. High combat stability of fire module is obtained due to integrated control system with use of radar and TV-optical guidance channels for simultaneous tracking of targets and the own missile.

1800 liquid, independent

that industry-standard “Duet” will be successful and will start in 2011as planned. The analysis, executed by the First Central Research and Design Institute of Russian Ministry of Defense, proves that the “Duet” AK630M-2 is very competitive and outperforms Russian and foreign made analogues. Some design bureaus have already taken into consideration the fielding of the “Duet” AK630M-2 30-mm double-barrel artillery mount at modern combat ships in the future. The look at the artillery mount of the 21st century gets the main and univocal conclusion — “Duet” as a cutting edge artillery mount is going to supplement the line of already produced by Tula Mechanical Engineering Plant artillery systems for the Russian Navy.

Anton Chernov AIR-DEFENSE MISSILE/GUN SYSTEM KASHTAN TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Destruct zone, m in range: by missiles

1500…8000

by guns

500…4000

in altitude: by missiles

5…3500

by guns

5 …3000

Reaction time, s 6…8 Number of simultaneously fired targets (depend- 1 … 6 ing on the number of fire modules) Rate of fire, rds/min 10 000

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ARMS Defence Technologies Review