Since 2006, in the mediainformation periodically there is information about the creation and early entry into service of the Russian army tank of the fourth generation. Almost a decade has passed, and no one has even seen a prototype image. It is only known that the creator is the Ural Transport Engineering Design Bureau in Nizhny Tagil. At the parade on May 9, 2014, a new type of heavy weapon is expected to appear in public. For twenty years of development, the project has been encrypted in different ways: “Improvement 88”, Object 195, T-95, T-99 “Priority”. Sometimes the names “Black Eagle” and “Armata” are also included here. It should be noted that to identify “Armata” with previous projects, and especially with the T-95, should not be, this is a completely new product.
In the late eighties, our engineers looked into the future.
Designing a new type of combat vehiclestarted in 1988. The main idea was to increase the survival of the crew and the possibility of upgrading weapons systems without major machine modifications. To meet this requirement, it was proposed to make the tower uninhabited. That is, aiming a weapon or a small arms at the target, choosing the type of ammunition and making a shot had to be automatic. The crew itself should be placed in an isolated, well-protected armored capsule. It should have turned out a tank with a completely new layout and powerful protection. The political turmoil of the last decade of the last century did not allow us to fully realize our plans. And the level of development of electronics of that time would hardly have given the opportunity to create a highly effective combat system. This concept was embodied in metal a few years later by the Ural tank builders having created Object 195. A photo of a tank covered with a tarpaulin cannot help to get an idea of the design of an autonomous artillery unit.
Unfinished detective
Due to the high level of secrecy of the projectthe creation of the fourth generation tank, there was confusion in the name of the machines. It is possible that the discrepancy is inspired by the customer, the Ministry of Defense. The details of many developments become known many years later, after losing their relevance or reaching a wide circulation. There is still a lot of idle speculation about the reasons for the refusal to produce new cars two decades ago. In the 90s, domestic tank-building concerns went through hard times. Each plant was looking for its own means of survival. Omsk tank builders based on the T-80 gas-turbine tank developed Object 640, called the “Black Eagle”. The car was presented at a closed show in 1997 in Kubinka. A little earlier, in 1995, Uralvagonzavod began to develop its own version of the modern tank. Despite the use of innovative technologies of passive protection and weapon systems, both vehicles - Object 195, “Black Eagle” - were a deep modernization of third-generation tanks. And this military is not very tripled.
Futuristic exterior
Tank Object 195 was brought to several experiencedsamples. Models, meaning under one cipher, are far from identical. According to the military strategists, the height of the new combat vehicle should not exceed two meters. These parameters, in theory, should correspond to Object 195. The photo, however, captured a car about three meters high with a massive artillery mount, covered with a tarpaulin. This is unlikely to be a pre-production sample. Uninhabited tower must be very compact. Most likely, the future universal platform was tested as a mobile base for advanced weapons systems. After all, the military conceived to create a universal chassis. One of the modules should be a tank Object 195. Photo of other structures, if they exist, has not been managed to get anyone so far.
4th generation tank requirements
By the end of the first decade of the new millennium,Finally, the concept of a promising tank was formed. The new combat vehicle will be a revolutionary step in the development of land combat platforms. In this regard, it must implement the following requirements:
- The possibility of maximum probability of destruction of the target by a projectile.
- Guaranteed crew survival if a tank is hit by cumulative or kinetic ammunition.
- A combat unit is a segment of the network-centric system of ground forces.
- The chassis should be universal, for the possibility of placing on its base combat vehicles for other purposes and also engineering equipment for the troops.
- The possibility of a phased modernization.
Armament out of competition
Object 195 is supposed to besmooth-bore gun 135-152-mm with a projectile initial speed of not less than 1980 m / s. If a six-inch 2A83 gun is taken as the main gun, then the ammunition will be 42 sub-caliber, high-explosive and cumulative projectiles. Traditionally, an exclusive feature of domestic cars is the ability to launch guided missiles from the barrel of an instrument. Together with the gun rotates and all ammunition. The automatic charging system ensures a firing rate of at least 15 rounds per minute. On the rotary gun carriage guns will be mounted machine guns in caliber 7.62 and 14.5 mm with the possibility of firing at aircraft, as well as four small-sized missiles 9M311. One of the options for light weapons is a 30-mm automatic cannon, coupled with the main tool.
Fire control and countermeasures
The completeness of the visual information of the situation on the fieldbattle tankers will receive not only through observation through optical instruments. Due to the fact that the crew is deprived of the possibility of a circular view (the tower will be uninhabited), the fire control system is supposed to be equipped with a set of transmitting devices and several screens inside the cabin. The monitors receive information from other machines of the unit. The crew will see "through armor" in all directions. The standard radar system and laser range finder must provide high efficiency of armament. The laser device will be actively counteracting the enemy’s guidance systems. The active device will find the enemy’s optics and neutralize it with a beam of light. The machines will be equipped recognition system "friend or foe", eliminating the defeat of friendly fire in highly maneuverable combat. The complex of active protection consists of Wok “Shtora-2” and ”Arena-E”.
Impenetrable tank
Object 195 - heavy tank (compared to itspredecessors). The base model T-72 weighs 41 tons, the last derivative of this series T-90 is 46.5 tons. The perspective model is 10 tons massive. Improvement of passive protection led to an increase in combat mass. Combined multi-layered armor provides for the availability of integrated dynamic protection of the new generation. The equivalent of the reservation system against the impact of sub-caliber ammunition is 1000 mm, against cumulative projectiles - at least 1500 mm
Power point
Designers equipped tank Object 195Chelyabinsk diesel engine V-92S2F2. This is a temporary measure, the power plant does not meet modern requirements. Power only 1130 liters. p., the mobility of a promising tank slightly exceeds the performance of the main combat vehicle of the previous generation. As a standard unit is supposed to install diesel 12N360T-90A. Four-stroke engine, X-shaped, 12 – cylinder, with gas turbine supercharging and intermediate air cooling. Liquid cooling system. Working volume - 34.6 l. Capacity not less than 1650 l. with. provides a combat vehicle of at least 30 l. with. per ton. The engine is located along the combat vehicle and is aggregated with automatic transmission.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the Object 195
If we identify a promising vehicle with a T-95, then the characteristics of the fourth-generation tank are as follows:
- Maximum combat weight - 55 tons.
- Dimensions: body length 8 000 mm, width 2 300 mm, height 1 800 mm.
- Crew - 3 (2) people.
- Engine - diesel1650 hp
- The speed on the roadway is more than 70 km / h.
The tank is dead. Yes, live tank!
In 2008, it seemed that the moment was closewhen the tank forces start getting the best equipment in the world. Several prototypes of the T-95 (Object 195) were sent for state testing. Two years later, a benefit performance took place in the face of responsible officials of the Ministry of Defense. The Office refused to further fund the project. At the very least, this wording is the official version for the past few years. “Uralvagonzavod” at its own expense completed the creation of the project. One of the reasons for the refusal to adopt a new model of a promising tank was the obsolescence of technological decisions adopted as the basis for its development. Also, the general concept of a complex of heavy combat platforms was revised. The time has come for the modular principle of shaping the appearance of a combat vehicle. Object 195 was taken as the basis for the future mobile battlefield system.
So, Object 195 - “Armata” or not?
Obviously, the current project has a differentwork index. It is also clear that the long-term developments of the 195th project and the Black Eagle will not be forgotten. The leadership of the Armed Forces set the task in 2015 to begin production of a new machine. Taking into account the short time to complete the task, Armat will embody the basic concepts of experimental predecessors. The layout and technological solutions will remain. At the same time, in order to reduce the cost of production, it will be necessary to abandon some components of protection and armament. The T-14 (this designation received a new main tank) is slightly smaller, four to five tons lighter, more technological and cheaper to manufacture. In order to reduce prices and simplify production, they will abandon the wide use of titanium elements of passive protection.
