Belarusian defense industry enterprises are increasingly moving from the modernization of the old Soviet arms to create their own designs, meet the requirements of modern warfare, said military analyst Alexander Alessin.
The other day the portal Global Firepower has published its latest rating of the strongest armies of the world. Immediately it should be noted, that this rating is not taken into account the nuclear potential is estimated states, as well as an indicator of their military and political leadership.
All compilers were evaluated 137 armies of the world. The top three, as expected, It entered the US armed forces, Russia and China. Belarusian armed forces have occupied 39 th place in the ranking, up from last year's 41 th. AT 2017 , our army was on the 49th place. Thus progress - there.
Making assumptions about the reasons for such a notable achievement, it is fair to note, that according to the rating of the originator in the composition of the armed forces of Belarus has considerably increased the number of jets (missile) systems of salvo fire (RSZO): with 123 to 238.
On the number of units of this type of weapon Belarusian army takes 17 place in the world, ahead of such countries, Poland, Bulgaria. Germany, Lithuania and Latvia. (true, the total number of MLRS our army is far behind the North Korea - 5.000 u, Russia - 3.860 and China - 2.050.)
Since for the mentioned period, Belarus produces virtually no procurement of new MRL, reasonable to assume, that the growth of the total population in the country's armed forces was due to repair and upgrade systems, previously in storage. This applies above all to the MLRS BM-21 "Grad".
"Grad" has fallen to MAZ
The legacy of the Red Banner Belorussian Military District of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus has got a significant amount of MLRS - 376 meals. However, at the end of the 1990s, there was a problem of deterioration chassis, which was based on the MLRS "Grad" - Ural-375. For this reason, the number of combat-ready systems declined sharply. To remedy the situation it was decided to replace the worn-out chassis.
And not at the expense of procurement side, for example in Russia, but due to our own production, placing an artillery piece BM-21 on all terrain vehicle domestic MAZ-6317.
This all-wheel drive car (kolecnaya formula 6 × 6) had been building at the Minsk Automobile Plant is still on texnicheckim CONDITIONS OF Minicterctva of Defense. According to test results MAZ-6317 was recommended to the adoption and included in the plan 1991 year. but, after the Soviet Union collapsed the customer "gone forever", and the car was "bezhoznym".
AT 1996 year on MAZ-6317 drew attention to the Belarusian military, that after a new series of tests, concluded, that by its design and technology, and operational and technical characteristics of the MAZ-6317 meets the modern requirements of the troops and can be used as a substitute in the army car brands "KrAZ", "KamAZ" and "Ural".
In particular, it was decided the use of the MAZ-6317 as the wheelbase for various multiple launch rocket systems. All developmental work on a binding artillery unit BM-21, test modified cars and other activities have been carried out by the specialists of the Minsk Automobile Plant, Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus, Scientific and Technical Committee of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus and the services of rocket and artillery of the Armed Forces of Belarus. Belarusian version of "Castle" was named "Belgrad".
Using MAZ-6317 allowed, due to the peculiarities of its construction (the length of the loading platform of the Minsk-terrain vehicle almost twice as much, than the base "Ural": 6250 mm vs. 3900 mm), change the layout scheme advantageously retrofitted plant.
Placing the package launching tubes aft, designers have been able to establish between him and the cab racks 40 rockets (there is also an option to 80 shells). As a result of calculation got a chance to reload the launcher without using the transport-charging machines. Thereby reducing the preparation time for the second volley to 7 min.
Because, that compared with the original model in the combat vehicle (BM) based on the MAZ-6317 is not off spring mechanism, to enhance the stability of the installation during shooting time, in the rear part installed two support with jackscrews. Because of the greater, than using a chassis "Ural-375", height BM gunner on a turntable artchasti mounted folding platform.
Tests of the first prototype of the retrofitted plant held 23 December 1997 of the year. Further operation of the system in the army showed, that the result exceeded all expectations. By replacing kolecnoy base upgraded uctanovka acquired kachectva, who do not have the original system.
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Thriftiness - feature Belarusians
Along with the renovation of the BM it is very important and the fact, The plant precision electromechanical (ZTEM) Dzerzhinsk developed upgraded version of projectiles for rocket systems of volley fire BM-21 "Grad" and its domestic modification "Belgrad".
Analysis of stocks of this ammunition showed, that the existing stored missiles for a number of modifications of "Castle" (9M28F and 9M53F) have a high killing power. Which exceeds the combat power of a full-time "Gradovsky" ammunition in 9M22U 2 and 5 times, respectively.
Checking these types of ammunition also showed the presence of significant resources of their warheads. Having taken into account all of the above, ZTEM specialists together with the developers of these munitions from the Russian NGO "Alloy" created a technology of extending the life of shells and 9M28F 9M53F. Initiative supported by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, and 2014 year relevant work started.
As a result, upgrading of ammunition were obtained the following 122-mm rocket projectiles high-explosive action:
9M521MB - long range (40 km) missile with a detachable part of the parent increased power of action in goal;
9M522MB - long range (34 km) missile with a detachable warhead projectile;
9M523MB - long range (22 km) missile with a detachable part of the parent increased power of action in goal.
In applying fuze, providing air undermining, the effectiveness of actions ammunition increases 4-7 time.
Advanced missiles do not require completion under these war machines "Grad" and "Belgrad". State tests conducted by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus confirmed all the specified characteristics of upgraded ammunition, as well as the possibility of their use during the entire warranty period of operation. AT 2016 year, 9M521MB and 9M522MB rockets were put into service. AT 2017 year, the 9M523MB rocket projectile will be adopted.
As far as can be understood from the information of representatives of the Ministry of Defense, RSZO «City», a similar renovation will undergo maintainable BM from 72 more powerful installations (caliber 220 mm) MLRS "Hurricane".
Second after the atom
The most powerful reactive system, which the Belarusian army has, - this is the MLRS "Smerch", placed on the MAZ-543M chassis. Belarus, along with Russia and Ukraine, is among the largest owners of these weapons. The Belarusian armed forces have 36 systems "Smerch" (Ukrainian - 75, Russian - 100).
In many European countries, rocket artillery systems are classified as weapons of mass destruction.. However, in relation to the "Smerch" this is especially true.. Its 300 mm shells, equipped with solid-propellant mixed-fuel jet engines, have length 7,6 m and weight 800 kg. Head weight is 280 kg. It can be monoblock or cassette.
Shooting can be carried out by single shells or in one gulp (during 38 seconds). Projectiles are launched from the BM cabin or from a remote control. The salvo power of three Smerch MLRS installations is equal in efficiency to the fire power of two brigades, equipped with the 9K79 Tochka-U missile system. A volley of one combat vehicle with 12 rockets with cluster high-explosive fragmentation elements hits targets on the square 672 thousand. quarter. m.
To improve the accuracy of firing, Smerch missiles are stabilized in flight due to rotational movement around the longitudinal axis, attached at the time of start-up and then drop-supported stabilizer blades.
In addition, the "Tornado" used by the flight management system shells, correcting the trajectory of their movement in pitch and yaw. Control signals are generated by the Vivarium automated system and transmitted in the form of radio commands to each missile. Flight correction is carried out by gas-dynamic rudders. After the engines stop working, the rocket continues to fly along a ballistic trajectory. As a result, in terms of firing accuracy, the Smerch is comparable to artillery guns., and in terms of accuracy it is three times higher than their characteristics.
The development of satellite systems for global positioning such as GPS / GLONASS has opened up the possibility of creating weapons based on heavy MLRS, is similar in its characteristics to the tactical and even operational-tactical missiles. This is particularly excelled Chinese, creatively reworked Soviet design solutions. Ukrainian developers with their Alder missile system followed suit.
In Belarus, the military industrial complex enterprises have mastered the refurbishment of MLRS "Smerch" and deep enough their modernization. The automated control system of units. It provided the use of MLRS "Smerch" (along with other types of missile and artillery weapons) as part of reconnaissance-firing systems, using unmanned aircraft systems. This will increase the combat effectiveness of these systems, as well as the flexibility to solve the problem, organizations, planning and preparation of fire in real time.
Can not be upgraded to infinity
However, a significant degree of physical and moral deterioration of the material of the "Tornado" the Belarusian army calls into question the possibility of further improvement of the MRL in accordance with the requirements of modern warfare. Major global trends are in the development of similar systems: increase in caliber ammunition, expanding the range of tasks, increasing the rate of charge, range and accuracy of fire.
Radical solution to these challenges by continuing the phased renovation of existing MRL is very doubtful, because it is costly, comparable with the cost of new models. therefore, maintaining the extent possible readiness old missile systems, Russian military is working on new.
9 May 2015 of the year, at the parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, the installations of the new MLRS "Polonaise" of the Belarusian development were officially shown for the first time. A 22 August 2016 year, this complex was adopted by the 336th rocket artillery brigade of the country's armed forces. It included a formed division, including six combat vehicles, three transport-loaders and four command and control vehicles.
Basic tactical and technical characteristics of the MLRS "Polonaise" correspond to the best samples of rocket artillery foreign systems (and even surpass them).
One BM this system is able to simultaneously apply a surgical strike on eight targets at a range of 50 to 300 km, wherein the probable deviation from the target at maximum range does not exceed 30 m. Since individual flight mission is injected into each of the eight rockets BM. Their control unit, It is equipped with an inertial guidance system, augmented navigation system based on GLONASS / GPS system.
Munition itself has a small reflective surface, highest speed and makes the missile maneuver during flight. That allows him a high degree of probability to overcome the current missile defense system.
Thus there is sufficient reason to assert, that guided missiles MLRS "Polonaise" have combat properties, characteristic of tactical ballistic missiles with an inclined run type. Their mass production is established on Dzerzhinsky ZTEM.
This missile system is placed on the base of car chassis with automatic transmission MZKT-793000-300 manufactured by JSC "Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant", having road dimensions and 8x8.
A key feature of the machine is the use of independent innovation, height-adjustable, hydropneumatic suspension Volat, which provides excellent smoothness, high throughput and speed as the highway, and off-road.
At the moment, the main drawback "Polonaise" - a small amount of rocket launchers in the armed forces.
