T-72B3 - what kind of beast? Specifications

As for the new modifications of the T-72, a lot of rumors have been heard in recent years, some of them frankly enthusiastic, and in another case it comes almost to the point of blatant abuse. And when, at the end of 2013, a decision was made to refuse the purchase of the T-72B3 for the needs of the army, the report produced a grenade that exploded.

It should be mentioned here that this decision was made on the basis of actual experience in operating prototypes in parts where T-80 tanks were used before. Tankmen are more important than the real work of technology, and they are frankly spitting on the opinion of "experts". So, what is good or not so good about the T-72B3? Differences from previous modifications - in our material.

The works of Serdyukov will not be forgotten ...

Ordering weapons for the army at the present time is a huge act, in which each side strives to snatch a piece of profit more. Here are the main interests:

• KB are trying to sell their developments and get grants for further research.
• The industry generally does not care what has to be done, if only there was a long-term state order and there were means for paying workers.
• Army. Previously, she simply wanted to get reliable equipment in large quantities, but in Serdyukov's time everything changed a little, and not for the better.

However, enough lyrics. We need a T-72B3. What kind of beast will yet begin to enter our troops (this year's decision)?

Major Changed Nodes

Let's dwell on those nodes that have really been modernized:

• JMA, changed observation instruments and aiming means for the crew.
• New radio communication system.
• Updated weapons.
• Improvements in fire extinguishing mechanisms.
• Tank T-72B3 received tracks with a new RMS.

What's new for the gunner?

In the role of the sight for the gunner is the device "Pine-U". Originally it was developed by the Belarusian "Peleng". For today it is issued by the Vologda enterprises. The main characteristics are as follows:

• Standard optical channel for day conditions.
• Thermal imager for night aiming.
• Standard rangefinder with a laser channel.
• Range finder laser for aiming while firing rockets.
• Detection of enemy tanks in day conditions - up to 5 kilometers, at night - up to 3.5 km.
• Stabilization of the image in two planes.
• The possibility of using KVV (this is a set of guided weapons) on the move, without the need to stop the machine in combat.
• There is an automatic tracking of the goal.
• Displays the operating mode and type of ammunition used.
• There is equipment that allows making corrections during combat shooting.

Negative moments

This sight in our troops has been known for a long time already, and it deserved many positive reviews. Here only the thermal imager is made on the basis of the French camera Catherine-FC, the release of which deals with the company Tomcon-CSF. How can you equip the T-72B3 OWT "Burevestnik" with components from a country whose political will is like a weathervane under a strong wind? On the current situation there is no exact information, but in 2014 the French components continued to arrive ... The modernization of the gunner's instruments was carried out very ... let's say, the designers tried to save as much as possible:

• We pulled out a well-proven sight of PPN 1K-13-49 (which was previously a component of KUV 9K120 "Svir").
• They put Sosnu on the vacant seat.

The disadvantages of such a strange approach are many, and all of them are serious:

• The aiming line and the bore channel line are strongly displaced relative to the sight itself, which in the field makes it extremely difficult for the gun to be guided normally to the target.
• Obviously, no one thought of the gunner's work, which made it even more inconvenient to use the sight. Tankmen say that for normal use of "Pine" you have to strongly "mow" on the left side, simultaneously bending your back.
• The video surveillance device of the gunner was placed "at random", why the troops constantly need new ones: the tankman simply smashes it with his left boot when landing in the car.
• Finally - the most "delicious". The external optical unit is closed ... with a good metal cover, which is screwed (!) At once with four bolts.

The last circumstance for the main combat vehicle, which is the T-72B3 tank, is complete surrealism. Yes, optics on modern tanks should be protected, but at what cost? Of course, the cover can be hypothetically removed before the start of the battle ... But when will this battle begin? Or should the tankmen spin the bolts with the key, until the enemy politely agrees to wait for them !? After all, on all the OBV of the world, the opening of the armored damper occurs remotely, from the gunner's workplace. And in domestic tanks such a decision was used repeatedly! What prevented to install such a mechanism here?

Positive solutions

Fortunately, there are also positive moments. In the MSA left (in full set) sight type TPD-K1, which is part of the 1A40, and even equipped it with protection from laser radiation. Simply put, the T-72B3 is equipped with two main sights at once. If even one person is injured in battle, the tankman will always be able to use the second.

Behind the hatch gunner finally set what was there long ago had to stand: ambient temperature sensors and wind characteristics (speed and direction). Henceforth, the gunner no longer needs to risk his life, leaning out of the hatch and performing the work of the Hydrometeorological Center. By the way, many experts express a well-grounded opinion that the "ahovaya" shooting at the tank biathlon in 2013 was due to the lack of these devices. So the T-72B3, the characteristics of which we are considering in this article, on biathlon to this day demonstrated not all of its capabilities, which he can show.

On the complexities of the work of the commander

Alas, but the designers for some reason only for their reasons left in the tank a real antiques - TKN-3 (combined periscopic binocular sight). Recall that when it was already installed in 1991 on the newest at that time BMP-3, it looked like an anachronism! Yes, an electron-optical converter (EOP) was placed in the "old man", referring to the second generation, but it became better from this quite a bit. What was the purpose of installing this miracle on the T-72B3?

And further. Even with the first field tests, eye damage was detected in the gaping tankmen. "Slingshot" with a shot strikes with such force that a couple of minutes of dizziness is ensured (if you do not remove your head in time). He also has a positive feature. If you click on the end, the tower of the tank will automatically turn to the side where TKN-3 "looks". At the same time, the "commander" indicator lights up in the gunner's workplace. In general, more this commander T-72B3 in battle can not do anything.

Absurdity when aiming at a target

Very interesting is the fact that during night work the gunner will see the tank at 3.5 km, but the commander will have to settle for the same duplicate picture, or try to "pierce" the night with his TKN-3MK, which allows you to see as much as 500 meters . What valuable commands will he give to the crew if the working conditions are so inadequate for him? After all, there are variants of modernized TKN from domestic companies in which the commander can at least measure the distance to the target! In any case, our main battle tank continues to sparkle no worse than the Christmas tree in IR surveillance devices, which, no doubt, pleases potential opponents.

Modernization of the communication system

Here everything is more fun. The VHF radio station R-168-25U-2 "Akveduk" was put on the tank. It has long been requested by the military. Has independent channels for sending and transmitting data. Can conduct open, hidden and secret communication sessions. In the latter case, external ZAS is required. There are two independent transceivers in the factory package.

I am glad that the tankmen have finally received the coded connection. The release of this model was started by Ryazan Radio Engineering Plant in 2005. It should be noted that the station's developers have provided an excellent reserve for the modernization of this equipment: it is now possible to connect a remote console for a data set, which can also be used as the main control if the main control devices are damaged. Alas, but here it was not without the "tar" - the tankmen say that in the military conditions this station often messes up. Apparently, it has not yet been brought to an absolutely reliable state.

Tangents with individual volume control also proved not very good. They themselves are not very reliable, they are also distinguished by their increased fragility. But this is the main battle tank. Of iron. Solid. Tankmen say that the old tangents could even support the hatch, but the new one is undesirable even to drop ... What else does the modernization of the T-72B3 imply?

Main Gauge

Until now, official sources say that the upgraded version is equipped with a 2A46M or 2A46M-5 gun. It is to be hoped that the latter option will be put in the database. This tool is nothing more than a deep modernization of the well-proven model D-81TM (2A46M). At the same time, the rigidity of the structure was significantly increased, which provides better accuracy. In addition, when it is manufactured, it is much more rigid than OTK, which ensures the receipt of only those guns, the difference in the wall thickness of which does not exceed 0.4 mm.

Zapfennye clips from now on are attached by a reverse wedge. The support of the sliding parts is located in the rear part of the cradle, the neck of which is increased by 160 mm. She herself also became much tougher. The rails for the cradle are in the shape of a prism. All this allowed to reduce the dispersion during firing immediately by 15%. When shooting immediately, the spread of shells fell almost twofold. Based on this, we can conclude that the T-72B3, whose TTX we are considering, can be much more accurate and faster to hit all available targets.

The reflector is fixed to take into account the degree of bending of the barrel. The received data are transferred to the gunner's place in the initially digital form, which again ensures better accuracy of shooting, neutralizes the consequences of various interferences that inevitably arise during the combat operation of the machine. It should be noted that all this information goes directly to the ballistic computer. This device greatly facilitates the work of the gunner and allows him to quickly put the gun on the target.

Enhancement of standard ammunition

Several types of "long" shells were introduced at once. ZVBM22 with BPS ZBM59 "Lead-1" and "Lead-2" were developed. With a simultaneous increase in the range of ultimate shooting, the degree of armor penetration at all distances is increased. To ensure the normal loading of new projectiles, the automatic loading mechanism was slightly modified. However, a similar mechanism has already been put on our tanks, starting with the T-72BA, so there is nothing new here.

Mated machine-gun and ZPU

In this respect, there is no change - PKT / PKTm. There was information about the tank "Pechenegs", but there is no confirmation yet. But only there is still no data on the normal mechanism for collecting shot cartridges. The fact is that the rupture of a standard tarpaulin bag with the subsequent scattering of hot casings on the container AZ (automatic loading) can lead to extremely sad results. Apparently, on this the energy of the designers (and money) is completely over, because it's hard to think of something more unsuitable for a battle tank than an open ZPU ...

Apparently, the crew needs a full-time suicide bomber who will cover the T-72B3. Reviews of the tankers in general is better not to give due to their complete obscenity.

The main conclusions on the weapons system

• This time, modernization really improves the performance of the machine: a new cannon and improved ammunition. All these components give a chance for a quick and guaranteed suppression of the enemy.
• PKT - no comments, a hit for all time.
• ZPU without remote control is a blatant disregard for the life of crew members. Since the weight of the tank T-72B3 still increased to 46 tons (42 tons weighs a simple T-72), it could be isolated a couple of hundred kilograms for a normal remotely controlled installation.

Automatic fire extinguishing systems

NPO "Electromashina" specially for this modernization has developed a system of "hoarfrost". This is an automatic installation for detecting and extinguishing fires that can occur in the combat and engine compartments. Main characteristics:

• Double action.
• In the kit there are four cylinders with "Khladon".
• Optical and thermal sensors are used to detect the source of ignition.

Power plant and transmission

The V-84-1 was left in place. Of course, accustomed to the T-80 tankmen "kill" all diesel engines, but this motor is really good. The V-84 is very reliable and tested by combat operation. In the operating parts there are a lot of specialists who know this motor perfectly. The B-92, which was originally intended to be installed, still needs many-sided tests. Since the power plant remains the same, the transmission has not undergone any changes either. The OPF was not amplified, the number of friction pairs in the friction elements did not increase. So the engine and transmission remained virtually the same.

Chassis

A caterpillar was used with a sequential arrangement of the RMS. This version is used both on the T-72BA and on the T-90 since 1996. The chassis, which is equipped with Russian T-72B3, also undergoes corresponding changes. About any other innovations in this area is not reported.

Main conclusions

• The gunner's abilities are really impressive: he has two sightings, a new gun with improved bend control systems, and other "raisins."
• Alas, because of the openly archaic means of observation, the commander of a new tank is simply not able to fight normally at night.
• Communication systems are good, but they should be brought.
• "Hoarfrost" is good, but only a two-fold operation is not enough, and it is desirable to have more cylinders with a mixture.
• The protection of the tower and the hull is a complete failure.
• The engine, running gear and transmission - no change.

There remains a firm impression that the modernization was simply abandoned halfway. Many of the unfinished elements can be improved without spending phenomenal money on it. Here, in general, that's all. In principle, the modernization of the tank turned out to be quite good, but some moments frankly cut the eye.