Armor of Ukraine

[Harkonnen]

My last article on the results of 15 eyers of Ukraine's independance, it considers the following topics -

 

manafacture of ukrainian tank guns and fire controls - 120, 125, 140 mm

 

 

manafacture of tank rounds and guided missiles

 

 

development of top-attack guided missiles for tanks

 

 

cumulative ERA "NOZH"

 

 

 

New and upgraded tanks

 

"Oplot"

"Yanagan"

New autoloader in autonomous module conception

 

APC and IFV

BTR-3

BTR-4

 

 

Heavy APC

BTR-64

 

 

"Kontras" kit

 

Combat modules

 

 

TAIFUN

GROM

INGUL

SHKVAL

ЗTM-1

BAU-23Х2

 

 

Much more here -

http://btvt.narod.ru/4/Ukraine/ukraina_1991_2006.htm

Sorry, only for russian speacking, but all other can look many pictures, drawings and so on

[120mm]

"Kontras" kit

 

I think I'm in love. A "ghillie suit" for a tank!

[Djuice]

 

 

They transform that into:

 

[Harkonnen]

They transform that into:

 

No, thet one on the 2-nd pic is less advanced T-64BM2, notice the IR projector

[Gavin-Phillips]

No, thet one on the 2-nd pic is less advanced T-64BM2, notice the IR projector

335002[/snapback]

 

I remember hearing something about that parade, only one of the "T-64U" tanks being just that, the others were partially upgraded to at least resemble them for the cameras & media? Just wondering if thats true or not.

 

As for the second pic entitled "Kontras", what's that MBT? A T-84?

 

Its amazing the Ukranians can rebuild those T-64's into something like the T-64U, I would have thought years of neglect, ravaged by the elements in some open and unprotected storage area would have rendered them beyond saving....evidently not! Are any details yet known about how many will be brought up to T-64U standard?

[atst]

Ukraine certainly managed to keep the Kharkiv KB alive, which is almost a wonder considering they had to develop an own industrial base for maingun, ERA, ATGM,optical devices etc which were built in other republics before. The question is however, while ukarinian prototypes appear to be even more advanced the russian, how much of them remain prototypes instead of being acquired by ukrainian army or exported.

 

I don't assume ukrainian army is less cash-strapped then russian and the latter didn't afforded newer AFV designs like "1000hp and TI"- T-90 (they all went to India right?), so how much of the T-84s, Oplots, Bulats etc are really produced per year?

[Harkonnen]

I remember hearing something about that parade, only one of the "T-64U" tanks being just that, the others were partially upgraded to at least resemble them for the cameras & media? Just wondering if thats true or not.

No, this was just various upgrade options.

 

As for the second pic entitled "Kontras", what's that MBT? A T-84?

 

T-84-120 or "Yatagan"

 

Its amazing the Ukranians can rebuild those T-64's into something like the T-64U, I would have thought years of neglect, ravaged by the elements in some open and unprotected storage area would have rendered them beyond saving....evidently not! Are any details yet known about how many will be brought up to T-64U standard?

 

The rebuild is complete, so it is not many difference in what shape is the tank. The worst is better

 

 

The plans change from year to year, but it is from 150- to 400.

[Harkonnen]

how much of the T-84s, Oplots, Bulats etc are really produced per year?

 

There are 40 Bulats and 7 other modernized T-64 (T-64BM2) right now. The modernization started in 2004 with an about 20 tanks in a year (planned figures were 40-50). 10 "Oplot" were deliverd in 1999, new tanks are planned for this year, but it is hard to say certain about this.

[Skyhawk]

Harkonnen,

 

Investment in upgrading a part of their t-64 fleet, must be a big burden on the Ukrainian defence budget.

 

Doesn't it make buying new T-84's very uncertain?

 

Bert.

[zakk]

"Kontras" kit

 

I think I'm in love.  A "ghillie suit" for a tank!

334993[/snapback]

Its not a ghillie suit, its a sweater to keep it warm during the cold Ukrainian winters.

[Harkonnen]

Harkonnen,

 

Investment in upgrading a part of their t-64 fleet, must be a big burden on the Ukrainian defence budget.

 

Doesn't it make buying new T-84's very uncertain?

 

Bert.

335095[/snapback]

 

Upgrade of 1 T-64 is 4 times cheaper then a new OPLOT.

[Vasiliy Fofanov]

I don't assume ukrainian army is less cash-strapped then russian and the latter  didn't afforded newer AFV designs like "1000hp and TI"- T-90 (they all went to India right?)

 

Not exactly. New T-90s do trickle into Russian army at a rate of about 15 a year. But of course Indian contract dwarves all new MBT acquisitions by independent Russia for 15 years, combined

[iceHawk]

Any more info on the Kontras kit? I persume its somewhat similar to the "Nakidka" kit?

http://www.niistali.ru/pr_secure/nobron_en.htm#7

[atst]

Not exactly. New T-90s do trickle into Russian army at a rate of about 15 a year. But of course Indian contract dwarves all new MBT acquisitions by independent Russia for 15 years, combined 

335159[/snapback]

 

Yes i know russian army get few t-90s but are these the 840hp,old turret and IR versions or the indian-style 1000hp, TI, and welded turret version?

 

Nevertheless 15 tanks per year for a country which acquired 3000 once. Don't sound good. Even the much smaller Israel build more Merkavas. And how many are stricken each year? I'm pretty sure more then 15, so the once mighty soviet armoured force continue to deteriorate, despite the oil revenues.

[Davin]

Yes i know russian army get few t-90s but are these the 840hp,old turret and IR versions or the indian-style 1000hp, TI, and welded turret version?

 

335545[/snapback]

The original Russian army T-90 has Agava-2 TI sight.

Much more here -

http://btvt.narod.ru/4/Ukraine/ukraina_1991_2006.htm

Sorry, only for russian speacking, but all other can look many pictures, drawings and so on

Interesting.

Harkonnen,do you know how many T-64 tanks are service in Ukraine army now and how many T-64 will be upgrade to BMBULAT?

I heard that Ukraine will plan to join NATO.

Is the 120mm tank gun develop for their own tanks?Or only for export?

Edited June 23, 2006 by Davin

[Harkonnen]

HOW TO BE INVISIBLE

KONTRAST KMS IS THE ULTIMATE IN MASKING ART

 

 

 

By Valentyn Badrak,

Center of Study of the Army, Conversion and Disarmament

 

 

Back in Soviet times Ukrainian scientists were involved in 17 of the 21 critical technologies the Soviet Union possessed. But after the collapse of the USSR, the research schools situated in Ukraine found themselves forgotten and abandoned. So, the scientists decided to take care of themselves and survive. One of their successful projects is the Institute of Automated Systems. Established in 1992, the institute became a roof for several isolated research establishments. Over the years of Ukraine's independence, it has revived and developed an impressive number of concepts and ideas many of which have been converted into commercial know how. In the words of the institute director, Vasyl Vashchenko, the institute boasts 66 inventions intended for the military alone. "We have created professional research units that not only develop and enhance technologies but also protect intellectual property, monitor the research activity in the country and invest," he said. The institute has developed many innovative technologies by now. These technologies are working in real-life defense projects, bolstering the defense potential of the nation.

 

 

In the opinion of military experts, especially noteworthy are the technologies of new coating, masking materials and synthesis of modular electronic simulators of dynamic objects. The institute has also created an array of technologies that dramatically enhance the efficiency of antiter-rorist operations. These include rapid metal and concrete cutting, quick parachute-free descent of people from any point up to 100 m above the ground, and a special outfit protecting the wearer from optical and electronic sensors.

 

A pride of the institute is the unique masking solution known as Kontrast which is technically more advanced than any of its foreign analogues. A Kontrast product makes an object virtually undetectable for any known visual and radar systems. It has been adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and is now used by Ukraine's military contingent in Iraq.

 

After WWII, masking was downgraded in importance, with priority being shifted to other types of military equipment and arms. As a result, the remaining stock of masking facilities inherited from the former Soviet Union is now outdated and ineffective.

 

At the same time, the intensive development of high precision weaponry makes the masking of weapons and military machines an issue of key importance. The difficulty of this task lies in the diversity of modern weapons that are able to hit the target at any angle with their body. Another peculiarity of modern weapons is their ability to hit the target within the entire range of the battle arena that may span up to 300 km, irrespective of hour and weather. The researchers faced a real challenge so that it was not enough just to develop a single solution taking into account the said factors and considering the weight and size limitations.

 

In approaching this task specialists at the Institute of Automated Systems decided to proceed from the key idea behind the design of high precision weapons

which is the all-round approach to the design of sensor sets and target locators and implementation of multi-scanning capability across several adjacent visible and invisible spectra, including visible light, close and long infra-red waves, laser scan range in the infrared band and the millimeter and centimeter wave bands. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce vulnerability of such advanced military systems appears to be masking.

 

The obvious solution to this technical puzzle is the employment of various devices, special materials and coating, a very costly and time consuming solution. However, there is a much simpler and better answer to this question - a special camouflage net that is widely used abroad for this purpose. As a rule it comes with the unit it is intended to protect.

 

The developers of Kontrast took an ordinary camouflage net as the base and turned it into a new generation masking product with the help of modern materials and domestically-developed technologies. They took into account the sophistication of modern radar systems and other contemporary military reconnaissance means and produced a really effective solution.

 

The armies of the developed countries for masking purposes use both absorptive coating and coating that screens. electromagnetic waves of enemy locators. The technical requirements of such coating are very high - their reflection capacity must be below 20 dB in a wide range of bands. This prompts the researcher to look for new physical methods for reducing or amplifying reflection of radar rays to achieve effective masking. With this goal in mind, the Kontrast developers tried to find materials with absorptive and reflective characteristics for attenuating and amplifying electromagnetic waves. Experiments produced a composite material with optimum characteristics minimizing the wave reflection contrast between the protected object and its background.

The Kontrast masking solution simultaneously employs both absorption and targeted reflection and diffuse scattering of electromagnetic waves. The materials used in the product, each of which features one of the said qualities, allow protection from the entire range of known target location means. The work on the Kontrast product proved so successful thanks to special equipment to conduct all-round tests of coating materials.

 

Savastopol-based research and production enterprise Modern Fiber Materials together with the Institute of Automated Systems developed a material to be used as wide-range masking coating along with a production technology for it. The Kontrast masking net includes khaki textile strips. The net base is made of cords linked together so that they create square cells. The textile pieces are made of threads soaked in a dielectric polymer that can absorb and scatter electromagnetic waves. The Kontrast product provides cover for both stationary and moving objects. The result of the tests show that the Kontrast has more advanced characteristics than its foreign analogues, for example, the masking nets from Barracuda (Sweden) and Brishford (Britain).

The Kontrast net is a versatile product. For the first time in the history of production of wide-range anti radar masking facilities, a Kontrast net can be used to mask not only armored vehicles but also battle ships, anti-aircraft systems, and even individuals.

 

In 2002, the Kontrast product passed official state tests carried out using real military machines: the T-84 tank, Buk medium range anti-aircraft system, and border patrol cutter cre-

ated under the Grif project. The test statistics showed that Kontrast reduced nine-fold the locking capability of high precision weapons. In particular, it was established that the T-84 tank protected with a Kontrast net drops out of the visibility range of viewing devices at a distance of 500 m and up.

 

The tests also proved that Kontrast substantially lowers detectability of targets in infra-red, radio-thermal and radio wave bands and can be used to protect military machines and weapons on the move.

 

Kontrast showed excellent resistance to various external factors while keeping its masking characteristics unchanged. Tanks equipped with a Kontrast net ran at their tops speeds in off-road conditions and woods and Kontrst-masked cutters cruised a rough sea with wind force of 2-3 points on the scale. The product is resistant to fuels and lubricants (gasoline, diesel fuel, lube oil) and detergents. The Kontrst product is made of self-extinguishing materials so that the flames go out automatically without any subsequent glowing once the fire source is removed. The product consists of a set of standard components that can be put together to create a masking surface of any size and shape, with colors matching any field environment both in winter and summer. The masking facility can be easily taken down and packed up for transportation.

 

The results of the state tests persuaded the Ministry of Defense to adopt the Kontrast product for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In view of the impressive parameters of the product, its low cost and technology intensive nature, the testing commission recommended the product for serial production. Currently, the manufacture of the product is set up in various regions of Ukraine. "This is just an example of how the research branch can survive and develop under the harsh market conditions without . any outside patronage. We have proved that researchers are able to promote their own products, appropriately responding to modern market challenges," Vashchenko noted.

[120mm]

I'd just love to look at one of those through a TI. That is a DARNED GOOD idea.

 

HOW TO BE INVISIBLE

KONTRAST KMS IS THE ULTIMATE IN MASKING ART

 

 

 

By Valentyn Badrak,

Center of Study of the Army, Conversion and Disarmament

Back in Soviet times Ukrainian scientists were involved in 17 of the 21 critical technologies the Soviet Union possessed. But after the collapse of the USSR, the research schools situated in Ukraine found themselves forgotten and abandoned. So, the scientists decided to take care of themselves and survive. One of their successful projects is the Institute of Automated Systems. Established in 1992, the institute became a roof for several isolated research establishments. Over the years of Ukraine's independence, it has revived and developed an impressive number of concepts and ideas many of which have been converted into commercial know how. In the words of the institute director, Vasyl Vashchenko, the institute boasts 66 inventions intended for the military alone. "We have created professional research units that not only develop and enhance technologies but also protect intellectual property, monitor the research activity in the country and invest," he said. The institute has developed many innovative technologies by now. These technologies are working in real-life defense projects, bolstering the defense potential of the nation.

In the opinion of military experts, especially noteworthy are the technologies of new coating, masking materials and synthesis of modular electronic simulators of dynamic objects. The institute has also created an array of technologies that dramatically enhance the efficiency of antiter-rorist operations. These include rapid metal and concrete cutting, quick parachute-free descent of people from any point up to 100 m above the ground, and a special outfit protecting the wearer from optical and electronic sensors.

 

A pride of the institute is the unique masking solution known as Kontrast which is technically more advanced than any of its foreign analogues. A Kontrast product makes an object virtually undetectable for any known visual and radar systems. It has been adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and is now used by Ukraine's military contingent in Iraq.

 

After WWII, masking was downgraded in importance, with priority being shifted to other types of military equipment and arms. As a result, the remaining stock of masking facilities inherited from the former Soviet Union is now outdated and ineffective.

 

At the same time, the intensive development of high precision weaponry makes the masking of weapons and military machines an issue of key importance. The difficulty of this task lies in the diversity of modern weapons that are able to hit the target at any angle with their body. Another peculiarity of modern weapons is their ability to hit the target within the entire range of the battle arena that may span up to 300 km, irrespective of hour and weather. The researchers faced a real challenge so that it was not enough just to develop a single solution taking into account the said factors and considering the weight and size limitations.

 

In approaching this task specialists at the Institute of Automated Systems decided to proceed from the key idea behind the design of high precision weapons

which is the all-round approach to the design of sensor sets and target locators and implementation of multi-scanning capability across several adjacent visible and invisible spectra, including visible light, close and long infra-red waves, laser scan range in the infrared band and the millimeter and centimeter wave bands. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce vulnerability of such advanced military systems appears to be masking.

 

The obvious solution to this technical puzzle is the employment of various devices, special materials and coating, a very costly and time consuming solution. However, there is a much simpler and better answer to this question - a special camouflage net that is widely used abroad for this purpose. As a rule it comes with the unit it is intended to protect.

 

The developers of Kontrast took an ordinary camouflage net as the base and turned it into a new generation masking product with the help of modern materials and domestically-developed technologies. They took into account the sophistication of modern radar systems and other contemporary military reconnaissance means and produced a really effective solution.

 

The armies of the developed countries for masking purposes use both absorptive coating and coating that screens. electromagnetic waves of enemy locators. The technical requirements of such coating are very high - their reflection capacity must be below 20 dB in a wide range of bands. This prompts the researcher to look for new physical methods for reducing or amplifying reflection of radar rays to achieve effective masking. With this goal in mind, the Kontrast developers tried to find materials with absorptive and reflective characteristics for attenuating and amplifying electromagnetic waves. Experiments produced a composite material with optimum characteristics minimizing the wave reflection contrast between the protected object and its background.

The Kontrast masking solution simultaneously employs both absorption and targeted reflection and diffuse scattering of electromagnetic waves. The materials used in the product, each of which features one of the said qualities, allow protection from the entire range of known target location means. The work on the Kontrast product proved so successful thanks to special equipment to conduct all-round tests of coating materials.

 

Savastopol-based research and production enterprise Modern Fiber Materials together with the Institute of Automated Systems developed a material to be used as wide-range masking coating along with a production technology for it. The Kontrast masking net includes khaki textile strips. The net base is made of cords linked together so that they create square cells. The textile pieces are made of threads soaked in a dielectric polymer that can absorb and scatter electromagnetic waves. The Kontrast product provides cover for both stationary and moving objects. The result of the tests show that the Kontrast has more advanced characteristics than its foreign analogues, for example, the masking nets from Barracuda (Sweden) and Brishford (Britain).

The Kontrast net is a versatile product. For the first time in the history of production of wide-range anti radar masking facilities, a Kontrast net can be used to mask not only armored vehicles but also battle ships, anti-aircraft systems, and even individuals.

 

In 2002, the Kontrast product passed official state tests carried out using real military machines: the T-84 tank, Buk medium range anti-aircraft system, and border patrol cutter cre-

ated under the Grif project. The test statistics showed that Kontrast reduced nine-fold the locking capability of high precision weapons. In particular, it was established that the T-84 tank protected with a Kontrast net drops out of the visibility range of viewing devices at a distance of 500 m and up.

 

The tests also proved that Kontrast substantially lowers detectability of targets in infra-red, radio-thermal and radio wave bands and can be used to protect military machines and weapons on the move.

 

Kontrast showed excellent resistance to various external factors while keeping its masking characteristics unchanged. Tanks equipped with a Kontrast net ran at their tops speeds in off-road conditions and woods and Kontrst-masked cutters cruised a rough sea with wind force of 2-3 points on the scale. The product is resistant to fuels and lubricants (gasoline, diesel fuel, lube oil) and detergents. The Kontrst product is made of self-extinguishing materials so that the flames go out automatically without any subsequent glowing once the fire source is removed. The product consists of a set of standard components that can be put together to create a masking surface of any size and shape, with colors matching any field environment both in winter and summer. The masking facility can be easily taken down and packed up for transportation.

 

The results of the state tests persuaded the Ministry of Defense to adopt the Kontrast product for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In view of the impressive parameters of the product, its low cost and technology intensive nature, the testing commission recommended the product for serial production. Currently, the manufacture of the product is set up in various regions of Ukraine. "This is just an example of how the research branch can survive and develop under the harsh market conditions without . any outside patronage. We have proved that researchers are able to promote their own products, appropriately responding to modern market challenges," Vashchenko noted.

336936[/snapback]

[Przezdzieblo]

HOW TO BE INVISIBLE

Not to stand up?

[Djuice]

Can the Kombat GLATGM be fired from vehicles that can fire the 9M119M Refleks? Also whats its maximum effective range, and penetration?

[Harkonnen]

Can the Kombat GLATGM be fired from vehicles that can fire the 9M119M Refleks?

337183[/snapback]

 

Yes.

 

Also whats its maximum effective range

 

5 000 m

[Przezdzieblo]

Can the Kombat GLATGM be fired from vehicles that can fire the 9M119M Refleks? Also whats its maximum effective range, and penetration?

337183[/snapback]

 

That is what I have:

weight (of round, I guess): 30 kg

lenght: 1083 mm

diameter: 125 mm

range (min.-max.): 200-5000 m

velocity: 295 m/s

penetration: ??

But note Kombat is based on 9M128 Agona, which had 5 kg tandem warhead (2,1 kg of explosives) and penetration ~650 mm + ERA.

 

There is also 120 mm version of Kombat (named Falah-1?), 27 kg, same range, velocity 312 m/s.

 

Kombat could be fired by tanks with 1G46 or 1K13 sights (then f.e. T-80UD, modernised T-64, T-72B) at moving targets (up to 70 km/h) while tank is moving itself (up to 35 km/h).

[yak_v]

One Nato country (Holland?) trialled a similar 'suit' for the leopard, but it was rejected as being difficult to decontaminate. There was a similar system also developed for the Challenger2 turret which may have been rejected for similar reasons.

 

Have they conducted any decontamination trials with it? it has to be said, the effect it has on breaking up the vehicles outline is remarkable.

337182[/snapback]

 

I would think that in the modern days the threat from the guided weapons is so much higher than from chemical ones, that no matter how hard it is to decontaminate it makes sence to use this suit.

 

Vladimir

Edited June 27, 2006 by yak_v

[alejandro_]

Harkonnen

 

I have read your article using a translator and it was very interesting, well done. In one section you compare the T-90 and the T-84, you state that the firepower is similar, but previously in the article you mentioned that the ukrainian guns are equivalent to the 2A46M-1 gun. Can you give more details?

 

The T-64 modernization don't include any thermals right?

 

Regards.

[yak_v]

Fair point, though if that would always be the case, why fit an NBC system? That said If it can be easily removed, its academic in any case. Just throw it away.

337273[/snapback]

 

NBC is there because there is no easy way to add it if needed, but with this cover it is simple not to use it if there is an NBC threat if it is impossible to decon.

 

Vladimir

[pikachu]

Looking at the combat modules picture on the first page of this thread, it occured to me that there's no top egress hatch for most (all?) of them. What's the design rationale behind this choice? Totally separate from the need to sometimes use eyeball Mk.1, there's always the need to exit the vehicle quickly in cases of dire emergency. Is the turret operator expected to just join the passengers on emergency egress?