Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a prototype of a heavy T-15 infantry fighting vehicle will be presented at the Army-2019 international military-technical forum. The newest BMP will be equipped with a remote-controlled combat module "Dagger".

“In addition, the factory (Uralvagonzavod Corporation. - RT ) is developing the latest T-15 infantry fighting vehicle on the Armata platform with the Dagger combat module and 57-mm gun. The prototype machine will be presented at the international military-technical forum in June, ”Shoigu said at a selector meeting of the Ministry of Defense.

The T-15 machine was developed within the walls of the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (UKBTM) and is designed to conduct the so-called network-centric war. This type of combat involves the widespread use of information and switching facilities. For the first time, the T-15 was demonstrated to the public at the Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015.

"Initiative Development"

Originally, the T-15 was developed with a 30-mm Boomerang-BM combat module, which included an Arkady Shipunov automatic 2A42 gun, a 7.62-mm Kalashnikov machine gun and two Kornet anti-tank launchers.

In a conversation with RT, Sergey Suvorov, a candidate of military sciences, noted that the transfer of the T-15 to a larger caliber was justified by the increased security of modern armored vehicles. According to the expert, 30-mm guns are gradually becoming a thing of the past.

“Since the 1990s, there has been a distinct tendency to weighting the combat vehicles of the leading military powers. Weight gaining as BMP, BTR, and tanks. Their body armor at the expense of the latest materials has improved significantly, and the 30-mm cannon began to lose its relevance. For example, NATO moves to the 40-mm standard, but we went further and will adopt the 57-mm caliber equipment, ”Suvorov explained.

The combat module “Dagger” is a modified version of the AU-220M “Baikal”. The main advantage is the universal automatic gun of high ballistics. Its rate of fire is 80 rounds per minute. The gun is capable of striking almost all ground targets, including tanks (side armor), as well as helicopters, attack planes and drones. For firing, high-explosive and armor-piercing shells are used.

Baikal was the initiative to develop the Petrel Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod. The Defense Ministry looked closely at the module, and it was made taking into account the requirements of the military department, called the Dagger. The complex is able to hit any heavy class armored vehicles. In addition to the T-15, these modules will be installed on promising armored vehicles "Kurganets" and "Boomerang", - said Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Arsenal of Fatherland, in a conversation with RT.

The Dagger module consists of a 57-mm cannon, a 7.62-mm Kalashnikov machine gun and guided 9M120 Attack anti-tank missiles. Vertical target destruction range is 7.5 km, horizontal - 14.5 km. Ammunition gun - 80 ammunition, machine gun - 500 rounds. The weight of the "Dagger" - 3650 kg.

Shooting from the module can be conducted on the move and afloat. "Dagger" is equipped with a combined sighting system with laser rangefinders, television and thermal channels.

  • Battle module AU-220M "Baikal"
  • © TsNII "Petrel"

Sergei Suvorov believes that the adoption of the "Dagger" will greatly enhance the power of the Ground Forces. The 57-mm gun, according to the expert, “easily breaks through a frontal projection” of promising combat vehicles and armored cabins of modern helicopters.

“The dagger has a higher rate of fire than its predecessors. You can even meet the data that it reaches 120 rounds per minute. In fact, the Dagger’s practical rate of fire is lower, but it allows you to effectively hit maneuverable and moving targets at long distances. For example, a helicopter can be destroyed at a distance of over 6 kilometers, that is, before the pilot has time to launch a rocket, ”Suvorov stressed.

"In a single tactical level"

T-15 is unified with a third-generation tank T-14. For this reason, it is much heavier than the models in service. T-15 weighs about 50 tons, for comparison, the mass of the BMP-3 is about 20 tons.

“In fact, the T-15 is equipped with armor T-14. Our new car is probably the most secure BMP in the world. In terms of mass and level of protection, it surpasses the nearest “competitor” - the German “Puma” (Schützenpanzer Puma), which is now coming to the German forces to replace the Marder BMP, ”said Murakhovsky.

The T-15 case was designed to withstand the explosion of land mines and hitting grenade launchers. The body of the machine is made of a combined multi-layer armor using the latest steel alloys, composite materials and ceramics. According to TASS agency sources, the T-15 armor is resistant to NATO tank shells and advanced anti-tank missile systems.

Earlier, the Research Institute of Steel reported that the armor of machines on the platform "Almaty" provides protection against all ammunition and projectiles of 100-150 mm caliber grenade launchers. The defeat of the T-14 or T-15 will not lead to the withdrawal of the tank system and the death of the crew.

Also, the T-15 is equipped with a full range of active protection (KAZ) "Afghan", capable of intercepting ammunition, including sabots, flying at a speed of 1.7 km / s. It is designed in such a way that the enemy projectile explodes without contact with the surface of the combat vehicle. Striking elements are located in mortars under the tower.

Moreover, "Afghan" can determine the area of ​​launch of the enemy missiles for striking. The launch of enemy shells is fixed by phased antenna arrays. They are able to track any "suspicious" activity near the BMP.

The indispensable helpers of the newest KAZ are electronic warfare devices that jam satellite navigation and radio signals, preventing the enemy from directing projectiles and controlling them.

An important feature of the layout of the T-15, Sergei Suvorov, called the armored capsule, where the commander, driver and operator are “quite comfortable”. According to him, this decision has significantly improved the safety of the crew.

“The most important thing is human lives. Ural engineers have put a lot of effort into making the T-15 a comfortable and safe machine. The crew is separated from the ammunition and engine compartment. I have been inside many tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, including Western ones, but I have never seen such a level of comfort as in Armata, ”said Suvorov.

  • T-15 passes through Red Square
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Wilf

In August last year, Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko announced that by 2022, Uralvagonzavod must deliver a batch of 132 samples of T-14 and T-15 to the troops. As Viktor Murakhovsky suggests, the combat vehicles will be received by the troops of the Western Military District, but in the future they will appear "in all strategic areas."

“Deliveries of T-14 and T-15 will be carried out simultaneously, both vehicles were developed for conducting combat operations in a single tactical level. In addition to them, armored repair and recovery vehicles T-16 are handed over to the troops. That is, the Russian army gets three cars on the platform of the new generation “Armat”, the expert emphasized.

Sergei Suvorov believes that in the Ground Forces the T-15 will be used to perform tasks in the most complex theaters of military operations: in urban settings, in mountainous and wooded areas. At the same time, the expert called the brainchild of the Ural designers "universal machine", which can be used in any defensive and offensive operations.

“The need of our army for the T-15 is huge due to its high security and outstanding destructive power. As far as I understand, the T-15 has passed the entire test cycle and is now being mastered by the troops. After the revision of the states, it will definitely be put into service, ”Suvorov summed up.