Military Technology 06/2020

22 · MT 6/2020 Topic Russia’s Airborne Mobile Fires The inclusion of Fire Assault Vehicles in airborne units, the other force structured for expeditionary use, is a consistent theme in the Russian mi- litary. The designation BMD literally translates as ‘Combat Vehicle of the Airborne’ and versions have resided within Soviet Airborne Divisions sin- ce the late 1960s. These were light enough, at around 7t, to be transpor- ted in the Antonov An-12 and either parachute-dropped or air-landed with the assault forces. They drew from the Soviet IFV design, mounting the 73mm low pressure cannon and anti-tank missiles’ as well as provisions for three troopers in the rear. The BMD-4 model substitutes the 100mm cannon with a 30mm auto-cannon turret similar to the latest BMP. It has an adjustable hydropneumatic suspension and a larger chassis, bringing the weight to 15t. Its buoyancy and water jet propulsion have also seen its adoption by the Russian Naval Infantry. Seeking a more powerful capability for airborne forces, however, the Volgorad Tractor Plant debuted its 2S25 SPRUT-SD design, with a 125mm smoothbore 2A75 cannon using the same munitions as Russian MBTs, including 9M1119 SVIR cannon-launched laser-guided missiles. It uses automatic loading and has advanced fire control and thermal sigh- ting. At 18t, passive protection is limited to 23mm rounds at 500m (fron- tal) and small arms all-around. However, its hydropneumatic suspension, ground pressure as low as 0.36 kg/cm², and 510hp engine allow for use in mountains and marsh. It is reportedly air-drop capable with crew on- board and also swims using water jets at 8-10 km/h in up to Sea State 3. A SPRUT- SDM1 was displayed in 2017 with an added panoramic com- manders sight, a 7.62mm RWS and reportedly, an improved fire control system drawn from the T-90MS MBT. Although only a small number of SPRUTs appear to have been fielded, it suggests another acknowledge- ment of the need for lethal direct fire capability by expeditionary forces. A New Expeditionary Force Model? The large-scale inclusion of armoured combat vehicles, particularly the emphasis on mobile direct fire assault vehicles integrated into the struc- ture and tactical execution of expeditionary operations, offers unique opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, it applies the principles of armoured manoeuvre warfare to the most difficult of military opera- tions – the amphibious and airborne assault. Successfully executed, it holds the potential to overcome some of the concerns facing the sta- ging of such intrusions. The speed, shock and momentum achievable by such a force capitalize and amplify the surprise typically awarded to these insertions. Meanwhile, the mobility and striking depth possible to combined arms mobile forces enhance its capability to pre-empt the opponent’s ability to respond. Finally, the inclusion of organic direct fire assault systems integrated with the most forward elements offers a counter to the primary threat to such incursions – armoured counterattack. Even further, these fire assault systems, once in place on the ground, also present a significant obstacle and deterrent to any potential expeditionary insertion by another power, especially by the lighter equipped expeditionary assets of the United States and its allies. In power projection, combat presence in place is paramount. Light fire assault systems can reign supreme in such scenarios. The VT-5 was specifically developed to operate in dense forest, desert, mountains and plateaus and is thus well suited to expeditionary operations. The 105mm main armament fires a wide range of rounds, including tube-launched missiles and the vehicle’s agility, reactive armour, threat warning capability and potential active protection measures are used to compensate for lower passive protection. (Photo courtesy China TV) protection, with its expeditionary and intervention forces. Originally, it was developed to provide an MBT equivalent capable of operating in moun- tainous regions, like those of the India-Pakistan border, as well as heavy forest, jungle and areas where heavier standard MBTs (like the 58t Type 99A and 43t Type 96A), are restricted. The design retains the lethality of the MBT with even better mobility, illustrated by provisions to supplement its steel armour with additional advanced composite and/or reactive ar- mour modules, versions of which are also used on the Type96A, widely viewed as the PLA’s primary tank. Similarities in rectangular lines between the ZTQ and Type 96 suggest it, too, has spaced armour on the turret. The ZTQ’s 105mm rifled gun is an improved version of the 105mm used on the earlier Type 88 that preceded the Type 96. It has a new, higher-per- forming APFSDS round that can penetrate 500 mm RHA: it can also fire the cannon-launched missiles. Fire control parallels that of the Type 99 and Type 96 MBTs, reflecting hunter-killer, gunner and panoramic com- mander day-night sighting and fully stabilized on-the-move engagement. It also mounts the standard 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and has been seen with both a 12.7mm open manned heavy machine gun and, alter- natively, with a remote-controlled weapon station of the same calibre. In fact, it is to be expected that each of the Fire Assault vehicles, including the amphibious ones, have benefited from not just the advanced fire con- trol technologies developed and adopted in the Type 99 but also position, navigation and battle management capabilities. Overall, the firepower and lethality of the ZTQ is only marginally less than its much heavier MBT cousins. On the mobility side, the ZTQ-15 is clearly superior strategically and, in many operational circumstances, at least equal. Its standard 33t or 36t (up-armoured) weight facilitates ready transport by air, or ship. Beijing- based military analyst, Wei Dongxu, suggested the system could also be air-delivered using the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System, when aircraft fly at extremely low level and extract heavy loads via drogue para- chutes. The approach was the primary means for delivering the US Army’s M551 SHERIDAN. The enhanced tactical ground mobility provided by its lower weight and ground pressure also allows its use of rural bridges and roads common in remote, less-developed regions. These conditions alo- ne work to decrease the supposed deficiency of the ZTQ-15, as well as the other Fire Assault vehicles. In these circumstances, traditional MBTs are likely to be either unable to operate or will be restricted to major tho- roughfares and, thus, significantly ‘channelled,’ vulnerable to attack by these lighter assault systems. f