Main Battle Tanks and Armour Technology

[Rahul Singh]

may be they will install ACs or desert cooler inside T90 tank. May be they have installed one in the latest version of T90 tank.

I think it is right time for DGMF to go shopping as winters are arriving and dealers are more than happy to sell at huge discounts for the shake of clearing the stocks.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Now, that is what I am puzzled about. How does the temperature inside the tank result in blurring of images? It is obvious that they are using a camera, not a long pipe-like telescope, hence refraction is not likely to be a problem. Even then, if the temperature is uniform, there will be no refraction. I wonder if someone could explain how this is even possible, because, it seems like those who are making such claims are simply trying to fool others. I'll be happy is someone corrects any mistakes in my own understanding.

You missed the important part which is electronics which are prone to high heat conditions. Be it thermal imager, laser range finders or any electro-optical device all needs cooling especially when they are not optimised or hardened enough to operate from a MBT whose room temperature goes beyond 55* C. Unfortunately Russian T series tanks are made for cold deserts not for hot. At least performance of T-90s in Thar desert says so.

 

[pmaitra]

You missed the important part which is electronics which are prone to high heat conditions. Be it thermal imager, laser range finders or any electro-optical device all needs cooling especially when they are not optimised or hardened enough to operate from a MBT whose room temperature goes beyond 55* C. Unfortunately Russian T series tanks are made for cold deserts not for hot. At least performance of T-90s in Thar desert says so.

I realise I totally missed the electronics. I think, like San said, the 'blurring' is not related to electronics but the infrared images that lose their sharpness if the surroundings are warm.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

You missed the important part which is electronics which are prone to high heat conditions. Be it thermal imager, laser range finders or any electro-optical device all needs cooling especially when they are not optimised or hardened enough to operate from a MBT whose room temperature goes beyond 55* C. Unfortunately Russian T series tanks are made for cold deserts not for hot. At least performance of T-90s in Thar desert says so.

Performance of T-90S in thar was really bad or worst, now you can say its electronics, crew comfort or engines output..

These Problems are there coz many Gens in army argue that AC will make tank crew lazy ( Respected Gens are still living in 70s )..

Besides i think that this exposure of T-90 defect is good coz our dear takers were using T-72 which have no AC too in thar desert for last 20 years, Hopefully we get rid of those T-72 forever..

 

[sayareakd]

kunal an AC would greatly increase the comfort of Tank crew enable them to perform more them 100% in deserts conditions. BTW AC was installed as told by a doodhwala............:emot0:

 

[Agantrope]

kunal an AC would greatly increase the comfort of Tank crew enable them to perform more them 100% in deserts conditions. BTW AC was installed as told by a doodhwala............:emot0:

AC is not a problem in the T-90s, but the APC which not present creates a problem. When engine is running ok, but what if the engine is switched for silent operation like a ambush from sands. Really impossible with the T-90s

 

[JBH22]

Top Brass is either complete ****head or ignorant a rested and relaxed crew performs well in combat, A/C in that tin can is a small investment to improve fighting condition of the crew.
PS; Before russian bashing starts the Thermal Imager is of french origin and its an old story everyone knows that since 2001 that this imager can't take that heat and crew even fainted during trial.

 

[venkat]

what is called TEC ,thermo electric solid state coolers need to be used around sensitive electronic assemblies.Thermo electric coolers are called peltier effect modules ,which gets cooled when DC supply is given to the modules. Attach these modules to the heat sinks and turn them On,if the temp exceeds certain limits above the ambient temp. I think these modules need to be imported at the moment!!http://www.analogtechnologies.com/tec-module.htm

 

[Crusader53]

In a Top Ten List of the Best Tanks available today. How would the T-90 rank???

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Burlak turret with unknown heavy ERA..

 

[p2prada]

Damn is there a pic of the turret. Looks like the 2A82 is fitted too. Kaktus is still classified.

 

[Andrei_bt]

In a Top Ten List of the Best Tanks available today. How would the T-90 rank???

The list of top ten tanks is rather speculative and non scientific. The Russian experts in tank industry have the so called index of military-technical level which is following for the tanks –

"object 195" is so called "T-95"

 

[Andrei_bt]

as for the T-90S unless the issues like -

1. a high powered engine

2. an AC to take care of the "electronics"

3. an APU is installed

are settled, it can't fight anywhere.

1. Are there any information about T-90S engine drawbacks in use in indian army?

2/3 THe Indian army did not ordered air conditioning, that is why it is not present on T-90 as well as APU.

 

[ppgj]

1. Are there any information about T-90S engine drawbacks in use in indian army?

2/3 THe Indian army did not ordered air conditioning, that is why it is not present on T-90 as well as APU.

if you go thro' this and the Arjun thread you will see observations with links. do go thro' them.

a problem, recent one (apr 2009) -

The Indian Army has decided to replace the main commander's sight on all current and future T-90S main battle tanks, and has issued a request for information for this. The T-90's PNK-4S commanders sight, manufactured by Russia's JSC Rostov Optical-Mechanical Plant (ROMZ), has been found to be far below what the Army wants, and it has therefore put out an RFI for an advanced thermal-imager based panoramic night sight.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/08/indian-army-has-decided-to-replace-main.html

 

[Anshu Attri]

Comparison of the combat features and layout modern T-90 and foreign tanks


In the 60 - 70th years in the USSR troops received about 20,000 modern tanks, which the technical levels than Western models. This is taking into account the quantitative superiority BTVT provides a significantly higher potential park Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union in particular, with respect to NATO countries. Domestic tanks have several advantages: a low silhouette and a smaller mass, the presence of guided weapons (CUW), automatic loader, a smaller crew, ease to use and reliable in operation and in the 80 years added to them yet and the system of remote blasting fragmentation explosive projectile (FFS).
Until the late 80's on these measures domestic tanks were indisputable superiority over NATO tanks, but by the early 90's things began to change for the worse for the domestic tank production side. After the appearance abroad in the mid-90 tanks, tank modifications M1A2SEP, Leopard 2A6, Challenger-2, as well as the "Leclerc", there has been lagging domestic tanks on military-technical level. Increase the combat potential of the park BTVT NATO countries in Europe are currently planned due to the upgrading of existing tanks.

Military-technical level of the tanks of the Russian Federation and NATO [1]


Each of the properties of the sample is estimated by its index. Indicator in assessing the entire structure of their own properties, called the complex. Like properties, each of the indicators can serve as a comprehensive with respect to indicators of their own structure and as a private in relation to that of higher level properties.
By the mid-90's almost all technological advance, accumulated in the 80's - early 90-ies through funding by the Soviet Union expired. And if you do not pay attention to it, it will be a planned gap in the strategic future. Indicators of military-technical level of the tanks of NATO and the Russian Federation show some recent slippage.
At the Russian tanks using an outdated scheme of the mechanism of rotation, whose role is performed on-board speed gearbox, precision shooting on the run from the tank was lower than that of tanks of the NATO countries, due to the use of analog systems, guidance and stabilization of weapons and tank ballistic computer, the smaller the power of Russian serial ammunition compared with serial NATO countries.
Priority directions of development of armored and armored vehicles are working to improve the performance characteristics of mass-produced and developed samples BTVT:
The creation of integrated information management systems.
Automation Control Unit
Providing all-weather and vsesutochnosti use complex weapons;
Testing of high-tank guns and tank ammunition ballistics of high power;
Creation of small high-efficiency motor and transmission facilities.
Although these plans have been proposed for a long time, at the moment little is realized in production. As before, base tank fleet up the tanks T-72B and T-80BV, which do not undergo any major upgrade. For 2009 was delivered 120 new tanks T-90A with a thermal imager [2].
It is evident that most promising solutions for the modernization of Russian tanks T-72B and T-80U exist only as prototypes demonstrated at the exhibition. So the exhibition was shown a modernized T-72B "Slingshot" with improved mobility, firepower, and command-handling-to-date. Developed and adopted the modernized tank T-80U and T-80BV significantly increases their performance, but their production has not acquired a large-scale in nature. Corresponds to world standards and a number of indicators exceed their tank "Hold" (KMDB, Kharkov) is also related to the national school of tank development.
Thus, it is obvious that the lag in domestic tanks is not due to the lack of solutions and ideas for improvements within the existing layout.
In recent years, the Internet and in magazines there are many denigrate domestic tank production of publications. They argued that the post-war domestic tank production moved ostensibly in the wrong direction and domestic tanks are inferior to Western on the basic parameters.
Often are clearly false arguments which distort the essence of the problem.
Among these claims are most common:
The assertion that domestic tanks is easier, so booking them weaker;
Speculation about a lot of weakened zones frontal projection of domestic tanks;
The assertion that domestic ammunition tanks inferior to foreign;
Adoption of the uselessness of guided weapons (CUW) against modern tanks;
Insufficient corners of weapons fire from the inverse slopes of heights;
Lack of benefit loading mechanism;
Speculation about the supposedly low-yield domestic tank engines and low maintainability;
Consider this in more detail the points.

1. The assertion that the alleged domestic tanks is easier, so booking them weaker.
Besides the weight is such a thing as a reserved volume, which depends on the density of the layout and number of crew members. That's right, from domestic tanks it is less than a third. Hence, the smaller the area covered by armor, hence less weight and dimensions.
For tanks with a pronounced characteristic of differentiated book accommodation bulk booking within 20 ... 35 at the rate of the tank. Therefore, in assessing the security area of the frontal projection is important.
Reducing the height of the tank - the safest and easiest way to reduce the frontal projection, and as a consequence, the small size can increase the area of the thickest armor, which is considerably strengthened the frontal projection and reliably protect the corners of the probable exchange of fire.
The fact that our tanks are 20-30cm below the western and the area of the frontal projection is much less, largely explains why they are lighter. At T-72 frontal projection of 5 m2, and the "Abrams" - 6 m2, that is the heaviest armored plate Abrams, 25% more area. In addition, the decrease in the frontal projection of the probability of destruction of the tank, although this was especially true at the time of the creation of 60 - 70 years, when we created the T-64, whose ideology is applied to all mass-produced domestic tanks. With the massive proliferation of overseas laser rangefinder, thermal imager and automated SLA role of the frontal projection in the aspect of reducing the probability of getting dropped.

Comparison of the size of tanks "Abrams" and T-90


Nearly three decades from 1940 to 1969, created and produced in medium and heavy tanks, continually enhance the basic indicators. The level of body armor has increased in 2,5 ... 4 times, and armor - 2 ... 3 times. At the same time for the further growth of these indices were exhausted reserves in terms of mass. Separate prototypes tanks weighed 70 tons and more. This has forced designers to seek new technical solutions, and they were found.

Comparison of the size of tanks "Abrams" and T-90

In the late 60's was created by the main battle tank curve, which merged values of the basic properties: firepower, and protection of heavy tanks, and the mobility sequence of averages. This is made possible, including, and due to new protection schemes (multi-booking), application loading mechanism, thereby reducing the number of crew members up to 3 people, and many others but vatsiyam [3].
T-64A marked with a series of fighting machines, determining the development of tank building into several decades. That is the concept of the tank due to the appearance representation term "main battle tank." Development of the T-64 are now T-72 tanks and T-90 T-80U, "Hold".

As we can see, through the use of advanced for its time, materials, combined with a rational layout, with less weight domestic tanks is not inferior to the West in terms of armor.

Comparison of the dimensions of the towers tanks "Abrams", "Leopard-2 and T-90C. Seen much smaller dimensions of the tower T-90 with mechanized loading.

Comparison of the dimensions of the hull of the Abrams, Leopard 2 and T-90C.

Visible to much larger volumes of foreign logistics tanks


Also note that the armor-plated tanks should be read in conjunction with antitank weapons, since the adoption of the arms of the T-72B in 1985, replaced by four overseas-generation armor piercing projectiles, and the protection of the tank and remained at the level of the early 90 years. Without regular upgrading body armor in accordance with new developments tank will be vulnerable to a newly developed shells.
Now frontal armor of tanks T-80U, T-90A maintains contact with the most popular Western BPS M829A1, M829A2, DM-33, DM-43.
Both tanks are equipped with explosive reactive armor "Contact-V» developed in the 80 years that no longer meets modern requirements. For the T-90 and T-90A is also characterized by lack of space overlapping the hull and turret angles within safe maneuvering.
Installation of an ERA is a rather overloaded chassis Western tanks Leopard 2 A5 and M1A2, reduces resource chassis. In recent years, due to increased losses in Iraq, U.S. tanks, "Abrams began installing hinged armor (ARAT-2).

 

[Anshu Attri]

2. Weakened zone frontal projection


Vulnerable zones in booking the T-80U tanks, and other home sites are on both sides of the gun, not covered by explosive reactive armor and have no spetsbronirovaniya (at the installation coaxial machine gun). The weakened zone is also available on the upper front body parts on the inspection device driver. These vulnerable areas are also typical for all domestic tanks (T-64 T-72 T-80 T-90).

Consider the tower of a contemporary T-80U tanks Leopard 2A4 "shows extensive weakened zones and heterogeneity of body armor in the corners of the safe maneuvering associated with the design solutions adopted by the German developer - setting sight gunner in the front part of the tower, placing a gun in a massive mask, devoid spetsbronirovaniya, weak protection of the sides of the tower at the location of ammunition bunker.

At angles of attack 30 ... 35 degrees tower design Leopard 2 "does not provide uniform protection

Thus, it is obvious that the presence of weakened zones reservations characteristic of both relatively easy to domestic tanks weighing 46 tons and overseas with a mass of more than 55 tons.
Envelope body armor, which is for domestic and foreign tanks without additional protective devices also slightly different, accounting for the T-80U 600 ... 650 mm and 400 ... 650 mm for the Leopard 2.
Placing guns "Leopard" in a massive mask reduces its frontal projection. If it affects this area, even with a favorable outcome for the tank crew loses the ability to conduct fire and crashes. More on the comparison of T-80U and the German Leopard 2 "you can on the links" Bars vs. Leopard "and comparison of T-90A and the M1A1 Abrams.
Various foreign tanks "Abrams", "Challenger-2", "Leoprard-2" have different weak areas, depending on the tasks that their designers and the customer considers to be priorities, but on the whole area of these zones, foreign tanks of various types of the same.

Tower of the Leopard-2 and T-80U. Armor and a big angle - 830 armor on the turret roof tank T-80U provides high protection against both weapons attack from above and in front.


In recent decades, have changed the situation of the main battle tanks in the atypical conditions (urban, mountainous, etc.) due to frequent low-intensity conflicts, peacekeeping operations. These situations are characterized by the use of TCP for the most vulnerable sections of the tank - the sides, aft and roof. However, protecting these sites from the most common TCP is a very complex task, which entails a significant increase in weight and size characteristics of the tank.
Protecting domestic sides of tanks exceeds foreign due to the installation of the dynamic defense. On foreign tanks installed screens with passive armor. In recent years several countries have undertaken the development and production of protective devices to enhance the on-board fodder, and parts of the turret and hull tanks, such as the ARAT-2, AMAP-B. For the tank Redoubt developed side skirts to protect against the tandem of ammunition, such screens can be mounted on other types of tanks such as T-72B and T-90.

Shows the vulnerable sections of the roof of the tower and the hull of the T-90 and Abrams.Tank Abrams is most vulnerable to popular cluster munitions, aviation and MLRS among all NATO tanks.

Weakened zone frontal projection inherent in all existing tanks, this is not due to the possibility, even within the frontal projections to provide a fully homogeneous level of protection.
Depending on the priorities and anticipated features of intensified fighting these or other areas of the frontal projection of the tanks. Common to both foreign and domestic tanks are for the installation location guns.
The presence of weakened zones in the central frontal site of the tower does not provide equivalent protection throughout protivosnaryadnoy frontal projection of the tower. Falling into these zones may be accompanied by penetration of armor, defeat of the crew. General are also weak areas for the installation of observation and sighting devices, crew hatches.
The lower part frontal site of most tanks have less protection than the upper and / or center because of the screen area.
Unevenness of protection inherent in both domestic and foreign tanks to the existing layout, with foreign tanks, with greater mass and frontal projections have a large area of the weakened zones.


3. The assertion that domestic ammunition tanks inferior to foreign


USSR, the world's first developed armor piercing shells, which create a real revolution in weaponry and anti-tank artillery.
This provided a superiority over the NATO countries in the 70-early 80's. But thereafter, foreign developers ammunition not only caught up but surpassed domestic. So now we have a situation where defeat the most protected tanks likely opponent - M1A2 Abrams and Leopard 2A5 is not guaranteed with the first shot. However, it is worth noting that the most protected areas are no more than 40% of its frontal projection. Modern domestic BPS examined in feathered Piercing piercing projectiles.

For a period of disintegration of the Soviet Union on arms of the Russian Federation were obsolescent BPS BM-32 and BM-44 with a core of uranium and tungsten alloy. BPS had a standard pattern of conduct in the barrel and aluminum sectors caliber feathering bearings. Along with the advantage - low weight of the master and, accordingly, a high initial velocity at a distance of over two kilometers manifest flaws - a big loss of speed due to air resistance [5].
Has been developed and improved projectile of the uranium alloy "Lead" with increased elongation and a new system of management, superior staff by 40%.
Was developed and refined BPS from a tungsten alloy, superior staff by 20%.
Also, continued development of advanced shots with a core of super-dense single-component and composite materials and improved ballistic characteristics.
According to its size and elongation of the core indicators of domestic BPS developed in late 80's early 90's with the best foreign, developed in 90 years. Ratio of length and diameter of the core BPS "Lead" is 22:1. The German BPS DM53 and DM63 ratio of 30:1. With similar initial velocities and a somewhat larger mass of the core "Lead" is inferior to the German shell armor penetration which is 600 and 660 mm sootvetsvtvenno.


4. Speculation about the uselessness of guided weapons (CUW) against modern tanks


T-80U and T-90 equipped with CUW "Reflex-M with a round" Invar "and" Invar-M gave a fundamentally new combat capabilities: firing range TOUR 2 ... 2.5 times higher than the range of return fire of any BPS modern tanks. This allows domestic tanks to win the battle before entering the zone of effective fire of enemy tanks.
Increased firing range of modern tanks up to 3000 meters makes it necessary to deal with them at this distance, increase the frontal armor system reduces the distance of effective use of armor-piercing projectiles. The most effective means to defeat hardened armored targets is guided weapons.

Modeling encounter battle tank companies (10 T-90 tanks against 10 modern tanks M1A1) showed that, beginning with the firing range TOUR 5000 m, T-90 have time to range 2000 - 2500 m to hit 50 - 60% of enemy tanks. Numerical superiority determines the outcome of the battle with any enemy tactics. Grouping of T-90 tanks wins the battle, having suffered their own losses minimal.

Changing the number of tanks and M1A1 CUW in a counter battle on rough terrain [6].


The general conclusion is obvious: a tank yn ravlyaemym arms wins battle for two reasons:
at long range is not under rejects the retaliatory fire against the nick;
range from 2500 m igryvaet you can because of the high society of the munition and the greater the probability of hit.
Even the presence of a strong body armor on a tank of the enemy in this case is determining the phase Ktorov as power UPRA ations weapons enough to destroy a tank, regardless of the distance.
Given that the precision guided weapons fire always has the advantage of the foregoing leads to the conclusion: this type of tank weapons is the most effective [7].
The attack TOUR by powerful tandem shaped-charge warhead with armor 850 ... 900 mm with a high probability of breaks frontal armor of tanks, standing now in service. Calculate the probability of defeat 3 groups of tanks, carried out taking into account the random coordinate values falling ATGM probabilistic characteristics tera armor penetration and destruction of vital units of the tank and its crew of armor, show that the probability of the destruction of tanks with antitank guided missile complexes RS "Invar" is the angle of attack in a head-on sector 90 for a tank M1A1 - 0,7 ... 0,8 for the M1A2 tank over 0,5 ie one or two missiles to destroy a tank.
Numerous enough in modern armies are the most unprotected tanks constitute a significant percentage of tank with protection frontal projection, equivalent to 600 ... 700 mm and more powerful, with protection of 800 mm and a firing range and armor-piercing discarding sabot projectile up to 3,0 ... 3,4 km.
Penetration of BPS depends on the distance, so the German DM BPS-53 at a distance of 1 km has to be penetrated by 690 mm, at a distance of 2 km - 660 mm and 620 at a distance of 3 km, which may already be sufficient to defeat modern tanks with explosive reactive armor. Unlike the BPS guided missiles remain unchanged armor penetration rates at any distance and give a significant advantage when shooting at distances greater than 2.5 km.
To control the missile trajectory method is applied semi-guided, at which the gunner keeps the line of sight toward the goal, and guidance system automatically conducts a missile to it. The coordinates of the missile with respect to the line of sight are determined on board the tank, and guidance is carried out on a narrow laser beam. The source of laser radiation is not directed at the target, and the coordinator of the tail of the rocket, when zhetom laser beam in the mode of the excess is directed above the target, not zasvechivaya it only at the end of a missile laser beam is combined with a purpose. This time is not enough for the reaction of opposition.

 

[Anshu Attri]

5. Insufficient corners of weapons fire from the reverse slope heights
Horizontal angles pointing the main armament of foreign Leopard 2 "," Abrams, Leclerc are -80, 150 ... 200. In the domestic T-64A T-72A and T-80B, the figure is -60 140, -60 130, -50 150.
When preparing to repel the expected attack of the enemy defensive positions, tanks can be fitted on the reverse slopes and disguise, which represents a significant advantage in defense. In the conduct of fire tanks inverse slopes angle of declination guns can reduce the visible projection of the tank. It paid attention to the west in both qualitative and quantitative superiority of domestic tanks in the 70 years.
Indeed, on this indicator domestic tanks slightly inferior to foreign ones. Application in the arms of the T-64B, T-80B, T-72B, T-90 and T-80UD guided weapons from firing under natural cover have improved the range of angles of sight guidance 1G46 T-80U and T-90 in the vertical plane is -160 +200, which allows using a tank guided weapons in defense.
There is speculation that smaller than that of foreign tanks declination angle of the gun associated with a dense arrangement of "domestic tanks. This is not true, for example, heavy tank JS-7 was created after World War II at a mass to 70 tons at a height of 2600 mm by the level of the tower had a declination of the gun just -30. Thus, it is obvious that the angles of declination and the elevation of the tank guns nesvyazanny directly with its dimensions of height and weight.
The benefits of domestic tanks in the defense is the availability of equipment for self-entrenching intended for individual digging trenches to hide the tank corps from the likely firing. All items of equipment for self-entrenching located on the lower bow hull plate of the tank.

6. Lack of benefit loading mechanism
The advantages of charging mechanism should be considered in the aspect of the benefits that it gives the tank a whole. Benefits include the ability to create a tank with a lower height and lower the volume to be booked. Placing the charging of the tank requires that it required height at up to 1700 mm and 500 mm in width. Application of long unitary projectiles requires the deployment of a large volume of booked for the "motor field" loader.
Increased internal volume booked requires increasing the mass of armor to provide the required level of protection.
Through the use of loading mechanism could be excluded from the crew of the tank and remove the charging thereby reducing the height restrictions on the tank. Soviet tanks became the turning point T-64, which is the precursor of all modern domestic tanks.
Compared with the previous T-62 tanks T-64 tank has advantages due to the new layout with the use of loading mechanism:
Reducing the frontal projection, weight and dimensions of the tank.
Increased bronironezaschity frontal projections in 1,5 ... 2 times, while maintaining the mass of 38 tons.
Increased rate of 115 mm guns and 10 rounds a minute from the spot and immediately (4 shots from the place of the T-62).
Increased stacking shots ready for immediate use up to 30 shots (20 in T-62).
Lack of influence factors on the psychophysical process of loading.
Accommodation ammunition below the tower.
The tanks T-64A and T-80 and their modifications installed a more powerful 125 mm gun. At the T-64A and T-80 to establish the mechanism of loading capacity of 28 rounds with tandem chambering (projectile-charge) for one cycle, the location of L-shaped trays. Loading time with the rotation of one tray is 7 seconds when you turn the conveyor on one step and 12.5 at the turn conveyor 180 °. Thus, thanks to MH for domestic tanks without increasing the volume of booked achieved rate of fire, not inferior to the rate of foreign tanks. In this case, if foreign tanks high rate with a cycle of loading up to 7 seconds is provided only to place or when driving on flat terrain, the tanks in domestic rate is preserved under all driving conditions.
Another advantage is the presence of 28 MH ready to use shots, boeukladke first stage in a tower of foreign Leopard 2 is 15 shots, 42 shots overall ammunition. The rest of the ammunition (27 rounds) is laying placed in the department of administration, to the left of the driver's seat, of course, of no use it in a fleeting tank battle can be no question, because for reloading ammunition from the corps pilings require reversal turret.
The tank T-72 and T-90 installed automatic charging. Loading mechanism provides a large capacity (28 rounds) compared with AS (22), and a great rate due to a tandem chambering (projectile-charge) for one cycle.
T-72 tanks and their variants, including T-90 no longer meet modern requirements, according to the following: in the contemporary domestic and foreign tanks, including Leclerc, Abrams, modifications of the Leopard-2, significantly increased the protection of front projection. The effectiveness of armor-piercing shells, in response to increased protection, also increased due to the increase, mainly active part of the core with discarding sabot. Loading mechanism can be upgraded for use shots of high-power, that does not require serious intervention in the design (patent RF 67246). Automatic loader T-72 and T-90 shots for the application of high power needs to be replaced (RF 2204776). The length of the projectile is limited dimensions of the conveyor.
Any solution has both advantages and disadvantages. So for MH disadvantages associated with the benefits, since the ammunition is placed below the level of the tower increases the vulnerability of the tank at a penetration housing, where available ammunition. It is known that in conditions of combat use in local conflicts, the largest slug load comes on the turret of the tank within the bearings + 300 when the tanks are used in built-up areas, such as storming of Grozny, the probability of hitting a tank are distributed more or less the same in the 360 ° azimuth .
The problem has become particularly relevant in today's low-intensity conflicts, where the tanks were amazed with the short distances in the vulnerable areas of the board in terms of urban development, mining and forest terrain. This shortcoming can be resolved gain setting protivotandemnoy protection, as exemplified by the Tank "Hold".
It is worth noting that the placement of vulnerable burning ammunition cartridges into the body characteristic of most modern foreign tanks.

Leopard-2. 15 rounds are left in the rear recess of the turret, additional boeukladka (27 shots) are placed in the body to the left of the driver's mechanics without any special protective devices.

Tank Challenger. Placing pilings charges in the case.

Charges to the gunshots boeukladkah stored in containers having a "shirt" with a liquid, these measures reduce the probability of ignition of the charges of the fragments the body, but in the case of penetration of containers cumulative jet dosochnuyu retained power, these measures are ineffective. Accommodation kartuznyh charges of fine fabrics containers necessary measure, since they are much more flammable than used in other countries charges from burned down sleeve. Placement of ammunition in the body below the shoulder strap of the tower is also characteristic of tank Merkava.
According to the location of ammunition modern tanks can define three groups:
Placing the main part or all of the ammunition in the body (T-64 T-72 T-80, Merkava, "Challenger", K1);
Placement of ammunition in the housing and the tower ("Leopard 2, Leclerc, Type-90 and HK2);
Placing the main part of the ammunition in the turret (Abrams).
It is obvious that every solution has its advantages and disadvantages, but most developers are inclined to place the main part of ammunition in a less vulnerable housing.

7). Opinion on the low-power domestic tank engines and low maintainability.

With 70 years in the Soviet tank building a situation where at the same time to produce three types of tanks T-64A, T-72 and T-80 with various turbo-piston-powered two-stroke diesel engines, modifications of the four-engine B-2 and a gas turbine engine. They all had their advantages and disadvantages, but time has shown which of the options was the most promising. At this stage in mass production are two-stroke turbo-piston diesel engines series 6TD modern two-stroke diesel engine modification - B-84 and B-92.
The tanks T-64 T-64A T-64B, T-80UD, T-72 engineering and special vehicles based on them installed seven-board transmission (OPF), which was developed in the early 60's for the T- 64 under 5TDF, engine with 700 hp Subsequently, the OPF has been strengthened under the engine B-46, B-84, 6TD capacity 840 ... 1000 KM
More - Evaluation of technical level of tank transmissions and ways to improve.
Naturally, the OPF developed in the 60's did not fully meet modern requirements. Due to the use of obsolete circuit rotation mechanism, whose role is performed on-board speed gearbox, the maneuverability of the Russian T-72B and T-90A is lower than that of foreign tanks. In addition to the lack of maneuverability of transmission of the T-90A is a low speed reverse gear - 4,8 km / h. In modern Western tanks used hydrostatic slewing with digital automatic control systems, provided by reversing up to 30 km / h.
Another aspect is the serviceability of tank engine, wherein the B-84 and B-92S2 yield to foreign diesels.
For T-72 tanks and T-90 is characterized by large complexity of repair work at a mene units and units of the engine compartment and undercarriage. Replacement engine for the more difficult because of poor access to it in the engine compartment and the need for Centro gauge works (replacement of the engine factory team in the 4chelovek takes 22.2 hours. The presence of guitars and the need for alignment with its other units difficult and complicated repair work nye motor Gear Division Research Institute. This is not consistent with requirements of the position trolled to future armored vehicles in the 70's.
Dismantling of the B-92S2 is even demonstrations factory specialists to 4 hours, the engine requires a labor-intensive assembly operations to alignment in general replacement of the engine under normal conditions takes about one day.
To resolve the above shortcomings of tanks for the tanks T-80UD, T-84 and Al Khalid "KMDB. AA Morozova with other engineering and scientific research organizations in Ukraine, a complex work consisting in the creation of infinitely variable rotation mechanism and an integrated digital control units of the tank. When creating a stepless rotation mechanism Ukrainian tank designers did not copy double-flow hydrostatic turning mechanism mounted on all foreign tanks third postwar generation, although such a mechanism has been developed in the process of modernization of tanks T-64 back in the mid-80's. Kharkiv designers opted for the use of airborne HYDROVOLUME-mechanical transmissions that perform at the same time the role of airborne transmission and the rotation mechanism.
This system allows for smooth rotation of the tank with the wheel instead of levers, which greatly simplifies the process of the machine, increases maneuverability and allows for duplication of process management. The complex was successfully tested on a tank of Al-Khalid "in Pakistan, which made it possible to carry out a contract to supply logistics to the 6TD-2 with this system for the tanks of the Al-Khalid" and upgrade tanks in service.
Thus it is proved that it is possible to carry out development within the existing transmission dimensions with high efficiency and characteristics to the world standards. Speed reverse 31 km / h. In matters of the engine series 6TD far exceed the B-92 and virtually not inferior to foreign analogues.
Conclusions can be drawn that the tanks T-72B and T-90A engine B-84 and B-92 and OPF outdated inferior modern foreign tanks in maneuverability and ease of management. Tanks equipped with 6TD-2 with a modern automatic transmission correspond to foreign tanks on indicators for maneuverability and ease of management.
Advantages of the engine were to be considered against the backdrop of the benefits that accrue to the tank.
For example, the engine must have a minimum height in order to reduce the silhouette of the tank, lower the heat transfer in the cooling system for the creation of MTO small volume, to be able to force on the specific power, stable operation at high ambient temperature, etc.

The tanks are equipped with turbo-piston diesel 6TD-1 and 6TD-2, developed on the basis of diesel 5TDF on specific parameters and layout specifications MTO has no analogues in the world tank building (specific power of 387 hp ITO / m 3 vs. 333 and 258 hp ./m3 respectively in Leopard 2 and Abrams).

Conclusions
Soviet tanks became the turning point T-64, which is the precursor of all modern domestic tanks. Tank was created in the 60 years of the twentieth century, long before the start of work on foreign Abrams and Leopard 2. Subsequently, the ideology of the T-64 was adopted at the domestic T-72 tanks and T-80, as well as some foreign, such as "Type-85", "Type-96", "Type-99", "Al-Khalid."
Layout of the T-64 proved more room for improvement. Trends in the development of armored vehicles, are formed based on the functional purpose of changing and new challenges for which solutions and creates a sample. Naturally, the tank is not created as an ideal product to ensure invulnerability and the highest possible performance, but as a product that can be mass-produced and operated within the existing infrastructure, capacity and traffic crossing means providing strategic mobility parts to the probable areas of application. Design of the tank is so designed as to ensure optimal performance of its tasks the balance of three main components of the tank - protection, firepower and mobility, while ensuring the fulfillment of the requirements for the cost of its production and operation.
As emphasized IV Stalin: "Tanks have in the first place vuyu be agile and have good maneuverability and if the new armed multiplication and thickening armor entails deterioration maneuverability of tanks, then we must abandon ot thickening of armor and new weapons ..." [8]
It was T-64 tank allowed to achieve a balanced performance protection, firepower and mobility and the production cost, thus beginning the development of domestic major tanks was conducted from mid-tank "430" (Order of the Ministry of Transport Engineering â„– 00252 on the development of a new medium tank T-64) posed to replace T-54 tank.
In the same period were the development of heavy tanks. There is a perception [9] that the domestic main tank should be based on hard. To understand the absurdity of these versions, you can assess the extent of production of medium and heavy tanks in the period 1049 - 1965's, in which the heavy tanks were less than 8%. Work on post-war heavy tanks was, in fact, work for nothing.
So tank IS-4 does not provide the resources to work even in the range of 1000 km, were sent to military units in the Far East, these peretyazhelennye tanks decommissioned and placed on long-term storage, and more and removed from service.
JS-7 in the state tests do not correspond to the charges specified performance characteristics: the weight of the tank about 68 m instead of 65, which increases the ground pressure to 1 kg / cm 2 (in TTX-0.95 kg/cm2) and reduces the power density up to 15.5 liters. a. / t (on TTX-16.2 hp / t). In what was planned to increase the weight of the tank and up to 70 tons, and for not addressing the issue of high thermal regime of the engine. Fuel capacity is 850 liters. instead of 1000 liters. by TTX. Cruising range amounted to fork 198 km of highways and 100 km on a dirt road. Final drives are not guarantees of Nogo sustained period, the first gearbox broke down after 100 miles. It became apparent that the creation of heavy tanks, where the characteristics of protection are to the detriment of other characteristics of the tank existed at the technical level is futile. Nikolai Kucherenko on this issue, wrote: "In the tank - a comprehensive system of weaponry - to harmoniously combine the power of weapons, armor protection you reliability and high mobility. Amplification of at least one of the components, possible only through the other two, will inevitably destroyed in the trinity exists. "
Recommendations were not put into service JS-7 [10] were obtained after the comprehensive study and testing specialists NIII-38, its acceptance into service would be another costly mistake.
In addition the designers of IP-7 based on the old ideology in creating their body armor, did not take a revolutionary leap armor penetration of new anti-tank created by the end of World War II and after the (cumulative). The development of heavy tanks, at the time, was considered futile in all countries, developed earlier tanks were issued small-lot.
February 18, 1949 Decision of the Council of Ministers â„– 701-270 were stopped work on the JS-7. The ruling stated: "necessarily show MTrM (that Nosenko) to stop further work on the design and manufacture of heavy zhelogo JS-7 or the entire project design documents, drawings and tooling for the production of the JS-7 zalo live in a mobilization reserve.
The same decree on MTrM near the assumed design and production of new heavy tank, weighing not more than 50 m. The tank was accepted for service under the brand name T-10.
With the massive proliferation of nuclear weapons and the possibility of his tactical use of tanks, the role of mobility in the broadest sense has increased, while the role of high performance reservation for a breakthrough highly secure lines of defense. As a result, the experience of creating unbalanced peretyazhelennyh JS-3 and IS-4 was made an informed decision to transition to the tanks with balanced performance, each of which is not at the expense of another.
T-72/T-90 tanks and T-80 that are based on the T-64 tanks differ from western rational layout of the WCO, the smaller the volume of booked an area of frontal projection, at comparable and in some respects superior and booking.
Features comparison
Type

In the domestic tank building development of the tank with the new arrangement were in the 70 years of AA Morozov. With increasing Ammunition and fuel capacity, and strengthening arms, the inner volume and dimensions of the tank even decreased somewhat compared with the T-64A. Isolated location within the tank crew, ammunition, fuel and weapons will improve the crew and reduce its vulnerability.

Advantages and disadvantages of domestic tanks
Due to the complex impact of guided weapons fire begins to turn 5 km. At ranges of more than 2,5 ... 3 km guided weapons has advantages over BPS on the accuracy of hitting and armor penetration.
The possibility of forcing the water obstacles up to 5 meters deep and no restrictions on the length of a water hazard (tanks with 6TD).
More uniform protection of the towers at the corners of the safe maneuvering of +35 degrees and fewer weak areas (compared with the tank "Leoprad-2").
Less vulnerability projection of the hull and turret roof.
The presence of mechanized loading.
The presence of armor in the embedded or modular options.
-Vulnerability ammunition at a penetration in the main reservation.

Advantages and disadvantages of foreign tanks
Naya automated control system BMC4ISR battle with a single information space and complement each other with their tools of destruction (M1A2SEP).
isolation of the crew members from a possible detonation of ammunition (M1 Abrams).
- The main modes of transport are the marine and automotive. By Air Abrams and Leopard 2 can carry only two types of aircraft the U.S. Air Force and only one tank per trip.
Mass - Western tanks will not allow them to pass on many European bridges, limiting their ability to maneuver. Equipment for underwater driving a tank M1 Abrams can overcome water obstacles up to 2 meters in depth.
Are there any advantages of heavy tanks to bronezaschite? Some argue that foreign tanks of NATO because of its weight and dimensions of superiority was in the booking of domestic tanks with lower mass.
Reading the Internet you can find a number of statements in general to the effect that foreign tanks were superior to domestic booking. For any tank is important confidence and the extent to which functional responsibilities crews, which heightens the sense of security when they are placed under the perfect armor protection.
This leads to a lack of fear of breaking through the armor and explosion or fire in the fighting compartment. In this regard great success achieved American propagandists, who give the tank Abrams as "invulnerable", ignoring the negative facts and issuing extremely positive. Against this background the success of the Russian side is very weak.
Packages filler board and the frontal armor of the tank Abrams made on the basis of "reflective sheets" is less than a third cavity filling a niche that is inefficient use of the dimensions of booking. Of course, even such a primitive barrier is enough to protect against obsolete anti-tank weapons such as grenades PG-7V and its analogs. But, above all, that shows a tank on the battlefield played the main role of crews' training, the effectiveness of the interaction of tanks with infantry and other troops leave, especially air with their mutual complement.
Among the most massive cases of combat using tanks of Soviet and Western Development are:
Application of the T-72M during the Iran-Iraq War, where Soviet tanks showed superiority over foreign M60A3 tanks and "Chieftain Mk 5", made at the same time. Enemy forces in aviation, intelligence and controls were comparable.
Application of T-72M and T-72M1 during Operation Desert Storm, where he showed drastic backlog of Iraq from the multinational forces (United States) reconnaissance and command and control, along with the complete air superiority of the coalition forces.
Fighting in the liquidation of illegal armed formations in Chechnya, Russian tanks T-72B, T-80BV suffered great losses as a result of inadequate crew training.
In the process of modernization of tanks "Abrams" was carried out increasing reservations hull and turret. The above events led to the capacity of the tank weight and increase the load on its undercarriage, although some revision was made of nodes. Increased weight of the tank led to the congestion of road wheels and increased wear busbar. In this case, the interaction zone, the tire treadmill having high contact stresses and, consequently, is their rapid destruction.
The disadvantages of the chassis Abrams are among his greatest of all modern tanks, weight and dimensions, creating problems not only for aviatransportabelnosti, but also for transport by rail.
Transportation Abrams on the U.S. rail network CONUS possible, but when the issue of transport tanks by rail, such as eastern European countries with their tunnels, crossings and other restrictions is difficult [11], [12]. A recent example - loading tanks "Abrams" on maneuvers in the Baltic States has won more than a day.
- MTO takes up almost half of the body length and body height in addition to the area of logistics is much more than the height of the hull in front of his.

 

[Anshu Attri]

 

[Kunal Biswas]

This was a update of T-72BM by relict ERA and Arena APS..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Looks like they have put ERA where it needed most.