40 years ago, by a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the world's first anti-aircraft gun-missile system (ZPRK), which received the name "Tunguska", was adopted by the Soviet army.
The main developer of this unique self-propelled vehicle was the Tula Instrument Design Bureau (KBP).
The work was headed by the famous gunsmith Arkady Shipunov.
He was actively assisted by Vasily Gryazev, who created automatic guns, and Vladimir Kuznetsov, who was responsible for the manufacture of missile weapons.
Serial production of the Tunguska was launched at the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant, guns were produced in Tula, missiles in Kirov, sighting equipment in Leningrad, and the GM-352 tracked chassis with a power supply system in Minsk.
The main purpose of the "Tunguska" was to cover the ground forces at close range from low-flying air targets - primarily aircraft and helicopters.
In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal, Dmitry Kornev, explained that the creation of the Tunguska was the USSR's response to the emergence of new well-protected aviation platforms in the United States - the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.
These types of aircraft, as believed in Moscow, posed a serious threat to the tank forces.
“Preparing for a hot war with NATO, the USSR focused on the rapid breakthroughs of tank troops.
In a hypothetical confrontation, the American Thunderbolt II and Cobra could cause a lot of trouble for Soviet tanks.
The army needed a new military air defense system capable of firing on the march.
They, in fact, became the "Tunguska", - said Kornev.
Instead of "Shilka"
Before the advent of the Tunguska, the functions of covering tank troops at close range were assigned to the ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled gun, which was adapted to hit targets at a height of up to 1.5 km.
These air defense systems began to enter the troops from 1965.
Initially, Shilki interacted with ZSU-57-2 self-propelled guns, and then with Strela-1 anti-aircraft missile systems.
ZSU-23-4 was constantly upgraded.
Soviet designers improved its reliability, survivability, increased the ammunition load of self-propelled guns and installed more advanced guns on it.
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"
© Russian Ministry of Defense
However, in the second half of the 1970s, even the radically updated Shilka could hardly cope with new air threats, says Kornev.
According to the expert, the Soviet military leadership wanted to get a self-propelled gun, which would fit anti-aircraft missiles, guns, radar and a large amount of other equipment.
“At the end of the 1970s, the 23-mm Shilka guns lacked power.
In addition, MANPADS were widely used in the armies of the USSR and Western countries.
It became clear that the self-propelled gun should be the carrier of more solid guns and a certain number of anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) for strikes at a distance of at least 5 km, ”Kornev said.
As the expert said, initially the USSR Ministry of Defense sought to arm the ZPRK army with 57 mm caliber guns.
Such guns, in the presence of high-quality guidance systems, could create a very high density of fire on air targets.
“Ideally, the Soviet Union needed an air defense system with 57-mm guns, but placing them on the same platform with rocket launchers turned out to be an extremely difficult task.
Such an air defense system was too massive, losing its advantage in mobility.
Therefore, a compromise option with 30 mm caliber guns was chosen, ”added Kornev.
According to the expert, the rejection of 57 mm caliber guns made it possible to avoid the weighting of the ZPRK.
The mass of self-propelled guns with full ammunition and fuel was at an acceptable level of 34 tons.
“Thus, the Tunguska retained a good ride.
This quality is important not only in terms of crew comfort.
Without it, it would be difficult to ensure the accuracy of shooting on the move, ”Kornev explained.
"Tunguska" received an arsenal of two double-barreled 30-mm automatic guns AO-17 (GSh-30).
These guns had a mechanism for remote reloading of the machine gun and means of forced water cooling of barrels with external circulation.
Subsequently, more advanced 2A38s were installed on the ZPRK, firing high-explosive fragmentation incendiary projectiles.
The rate of fire from two such guns exceeded 4 thousand rounds per minute, the initial speed of the projectiles was 960-980 m/s.
Shooting from ZPRK "Tunguska"
Later, upgraded versions of 2A38 were mounted on the Tunguska.
They had an autonomous water-evaporative cooling system for the barrel unit.
This device made it possible to shoot a significant amount of ammunition under intense firing conditions.
Important advantages of the 2A38M are the electropyrotechnical reloading system, which provides high speed and reliability of fire control, as well as the muzzle sensor of the actual values of the initial velocity of the projectiles, which improves the accuracy of hitting targets.
The rate of fire from both 2A38M guns reached 5 thousand rounds per minute.
The maximum affected area was 3 km, and the slant range was 4 km.
On the sides of the Tunguska, Tula engineers placed two twin 9M311 missile launchers capable of operating independently of each other.
The range of hitting targets with this ammunition was 8 km, height - 3 km, average speed - 600 m / s, warhead weight - 9 kg.
The main developer of the rocket - Vladimir Kuznetsov - deprived his offspring of a sustainer engine.
Such a design solution eliminated the smoke in the line of sight of the target, as a result, the reliability and accuracy of aiming ammunition increased.
Instead of a marching power unit, the 9M311 received a lightweight starting engine with a plastic case.
After taking off from the transport and launch container, he informed the rocket of the initial speed and separated after about 2.6 seconds of flight.
In general, the absence of a marching unit made it possible to create a small-sized, fairly light missile with a simplified layout of on-board equipment and combat equipment.
The vacated internal space was used by Kuznetsov to install a warhead that was powerful enough, given the modest dimensions of the rocket.
Anti-aircraft complex "Tunguska-M"
© Russian Ministry of Defense
9M311 hit targets both with a direct hit and undermining at a distance of up to 5 m from the object on the signal of a non-contact sensor.
The missile had decent ballistic characteristics and could hit maneuvering targets, Dmitry Kornev explained.
Together with missiles and cannons on the GM-352 tracked platform, Tula engineers placed a fairly solid amount of equipment necessary for monitoring the air situation and aiming weapons.
Tunguska received the RCC 1A27 radio-instrument complex as part of a radar station, a digital computer system and a complex for measuring roll angles.
Also, the KBP team equipped their brainchild with an optical sight, navigation and communication equipment.
To protect the crew, an armored hull was made, capable of withstanding hit by 7.62 mm caliber bullets and fragments from artillery shells.
The former head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Special Forces Command of the Russian Air Force, reserve colonel Sergei Khatylev, in an interview with RT, called the Tunguska a highly effective means of covering tank columns and other armored vehicles at low, extremely low altitudes.
“The appearance of the Tunguska is without any doubt a great achievement of the domestic defense industry.
On one tracked platform, our engineers were able to accommodate everything you need.
The new ZPRK has become an important element of our military air defense system, ”the expert said.
According to Khatylev, the Tunguska received its baptism of fire in the Afghan campaign.
True, there it was used by Soviet troops to destroy ground targets.
“The cannon armament of the Tunguska is well adapted to combat ground targets.
Its power is enough to pierce the armor of almost any armored vehicle and destroy rocky fortifications, ”Khatylev said.
"Conceptually not outdated"
For 40 years of service, the Tunguska has undergone modernization twice, which was accompanied by the installation of modern weapons and electronic equipment.
The first improvement program ended in 1990 with the adoption of the Tunguska-M.
Currently, the Russian army uses a modification of the Tunguska-M1, adapted to destroy small aircraft.
This air defense system is equipped with automated equipment, improved 9M311-1M anti-aircraft missiles and the domestic GM-5975 chassis.
Modern modification of the short-range complex "Tunguska"
RIA News
© Igor Zarembo
According to Khatylev, the Tunguska-M1 has not lost its relevance as a short-range air defense system.
At the same time, according to the expert, in order to continue the operation of the ZPRK, it is necessary to replace cannon armament, radar and navigation equipment with more modern models.
“After 40 years, Tunguska is conceptually not outdated.
I think that in a modern theater of operations, she is able to cope well with UAVs and other low-flying objects.
However, the self-propelled gun still needs modernization.
Moreover, more effective short-range systems appeared in the Russian army - these are Tor-M2, Pantsir, ”Khatylev argues.
A similar point of view is shared by Dmitry Kornev.
According to the expert, the Russian Armed Forces continue to operate the Tunguska-M1, primarily due to the lack of a tracked modification of the Pantsir, which is also armed with guns and anti-aircraft missiles.
“The high effectiveness of the Pantsir has been repeatedly proven in real combat conditions.
But this complex does not have a caterpillar version and it cannot escort tanks in all areas of the terrain.
From my point of view, it is necessary either to modernize the Tunguska-M1 or replace it with a tracked Pantsir, that is, a self-propelled gun with great fire capabilities, ”summed up Kornev.