Saha Expo International Defense Exhibition Turkey Istanbul

Analysis Russian anti-tank guided missiles & ammunition able to destroy modern armored vehicles 10301173

Military Defense Industry Technology - Russian ATGM ammunition

Analysis : Russian anti-tank guided missiles & ammunition able to destroy modern armored vehicles.

Despite recent developments in modern military hardware, Cold-war era materiel is still in service with many world`s armies. For instance, the world-known T-55 and T-62 main battle tanks (MBT) are being intensively used in various operational environments. However, they are rapidly ageing, as these pieces of materiel were developed several dozen years ago. The aforementioned tanks need radical upgrades that will boost their firepower in order to bring them to a relatively modern level.

3UBK10M-1 can fire the 9M117M Kan Tandem HEAT missile (Source Wikipedia)

Russia`s Rosoboronexport company (a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation) offers rounds with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) that will allow the ageing tanks to engage modern armoured vehicles.

The family of the 3UBK10M munitions includes several rounds (namely, 3UBK10M, 3UBK10M-1, 3UBK10M-2, and 3UBK10M-3) equipped with the 9M117M missiles. The rounds are intended for 100 mm and 115 mm anti-tank guns. They are designed to engage modern MBTs (including those equipped with explosive reactive armour (ERA)), small ground targets, and low-flying low-speed aerial targets (for instance, hovering helicopters).

The fixed rounds incorporate the 9M117M ATGM (it is common for all rounds) and a steel case with percussion primer where the propellant charge is placed. The munitions are fired through gun barrel. The 9M117M missiles is armed with an effective high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) tandem warhead. It can engage ground, air, and surface targets in all types of terrain and climatic conditions, by day and night. The missile is controlled through the medium of laser beam-riding, semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system that is resistant to jamming. The commands are sent via a laser beam directly from tank`s combat compartment or anti-tank gun position.

According to the specifications, there are four rounds in the 3UBK10M family. The 3UBK10M round is intended for the MT-12 and T-12N anti-tank cannons. It is fired through 100 mm smoothbore gun. The round has a flight time at maximum range of 17.6 seconds, an average armour penetration of 600 mm, an operating temperature range between -40 C° and +50 C°, a weight of 27.5 kg, a length of 1,138 mm, and a firing range of 100-5,000 m. It is controlled through the medium of a laser beam-riding SACLOS jamming-resistant guidance system.

9M117M missile

The 3UBK10M-1 round is intended for the T-55M and T-55AM tanks. It is fired by a 100 mm rifled gun. The round has a flight time at maximum range of 13.5 seconds, an average armour penetration of 600 mm, an operating temperature range between -40 C° and +50 C°, a weight of 27.5 kg, a length of 1,138 mm, and a firing range of 100-4,000 m. It is controlled through the medium of a laser beam-riding SACLOS jamming-resistant guidance system.

The 3UBK10M-3 round is intended for the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). It is fired through the barrel of a 100 mm rifled gun. The round has a flight time at maximum range of 13.7 seconds, an average armour penetration of 600 mm, an operating temperature range between -40 C° and +50 C°, a weight of 22.9 kg, a length of 1,239 mm, and a firing range of 100-4,000 m. It is controlled through the medium of a laser beam-riding SACLOS jamming-resistant guidance system.

3UBK20 ammunition with 9M119M guided anti-tank missile. (Source Wikipedia)

Rosoboronexport also offers rounds with ATGMs that are intended for modern MBTs. The 3UBK20 Invar separate-loading round with the 9M119M missile is intended for the T-72B, T-80U, and T-90S tanks. The round is designed to engage modern MBTs up-armoured with ERA, small ground targets, and low-flying low-speed targets (for instance, hovering helicopters).

The 9M119M missile is armed with a HEAT tandem warhead. It can effectively engage ground, air, and surface targets in all types of terrain and climatic conditions, by day and night. The missile is controlled through the laser beam-riding semi-automatic guidance system that is resistant to jamming. The 3UBK20 round does not require any maintenance during operation and storage. It can be transported by all types of transport or air-dropped. According to the specifications, the 3UBK20 Invar round has a flight time at maximum range of 17.6 seconds, an average armour penetration of 700 mm, an operating temperature range between -50 C° and +50 C°, a weight of 24.3 kg, and a firing range of 100-5,000 m.

To increase the combat capabilities of the BMP-3 IFV, Rosoboronexport offers the 3UBK23-3 Arkan fixed round equipped with the 9M117M1-3 ATGM. It is designed to engage modern MBTs up-armoured with ERA, small ground targets, and low-flying low-speed targets (for instance, hovering helicopters). The round incorporates the 9M117M1-3 ATGM and a steel case with percussion primer where the propellant charge is placed. The missile is fired from the vehicle`s gun-launcher.

The 9M117M1-3 ATGM carries a HEAT tandem warhead that can effectively engage ground, air, and surface target in all types of terrain and climatic conditions, by day and night. The missile is controlled through the medium of laser beam-riding SACLOS guidance system that is resistant to jamming. The commands are sent via a laser beam directly from the combat compartment of the BMP-3 IFV. According to the specifications, the round has a flight time at maximum range of 22 seconds, an average armour protection of 750 mm, an operating temperature range between -20 C° and +60 C°, a weight of 19.5 kg, a length of 1,035 mm, and a firing range of 100-5,500 m.

30mm ammunition for 2A42 automatic cannon

Rosoboronexport also offers a wide range of 30 mm cartridges intended for automatic cannons. The aforementioned range includes the 3UOF8 cartridge with high-explosive incendiary projectile, the 3UOR6 cartridge with fragmentation tracer projectile, the 3UBR6 cartridge with armour-piercing tracer projectile, and the 3UBR8 cartridge with armour-piercing composite projectile. The aforementioned cartridges are designed to engage various surface and air targets.

They can be fired from the 2A42 and 2A72 automatic cannons installed on the fighting vehicles and helicopters, as well as from the 2A38 automatic cannon mounted on air defense systems. The cartridges are reliable and effective; they can be used in all types of weather conditions. The 3UOF8 and 3UOR6 cartridges are intended for engaging ground and air soft-skin and light armoured targets, as well as manpower. The 3UBR6 and 3UBR8 cartridges are designed to engage light armoured vehicles and low-flying aerial targets. The aforementioned cartridges feature high kill probability.