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Future Russian armored vehicles will be equipped with Andromeda-D command and control system TASS 11310162

Military Defense Industry Technology - Andromeda-D C2 system

Future Russian armored vehicles will be equipped with Andromeda-D command and control system

Future Russian armored vehicles, including derivatives of the Armata commonized heavy tracked platform, will be compatible with the Andromeda-D automated command and control (C2) system, according to the Izvestia daily.

Andromeda-D automatic control system inside an armoured vehicle

Owing to the Andromeda-D, the Airborne Force’s unit commanders will be able to not only issue real-time orders to the crews of advanced tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and armored personnel carriers (APC), but also receive the information on their technical and tactical state ranging from speed and movement direction to the remainder of fuel, oil and ammunition.

"The requirements specification for the system integration of combat vehicles has been forwarded to industry. The first phase of the work is due to be complete before year-end 2017. No major modifications to the designs of the latest vehicles will have to be made, because the compatibility will be attained through software/hardware solutions. The communications gear of the vehicles will receive insignificant modifications, while their software will require some serious efforts," a Defense Ministry official close to the program said.

Airborne’s Andromeda-D automated C2 system from the Sozvezdiye Corporation is a network of ES-1866 laptop computers enabling their users at all levels - from the branch’s commander down to a squad leader - to swap real-time information.

The communication is by radio, radio relay and satellite communication channels. The computers can be used not only at the command post, but on the move and on the frontline as well.

The computers have a special software package with digital maps for each of the users to be able to update the information about enemy positions, weapons and vehicles online. In most cases, the positions of the friendly forces are downloaded to the computers automatically using the GLONASS/GPS positioning of the switched-on computers.

The United Instrument Corporation (UIC), which subsidiary Sozvezdiye is, says the Andromeda has been actively used by Airborne, while the scientific and technical foundation laid in the course of its development is being used for developing more advanced automated C2 systems.

"The Armata, Bumerang and Kurganets [armored vehicles] are in the Army’s inventory, and the Army has a command and control system of its own, the ESU TZ," expert Victor Murakhovsky said. "However, paratroopers have to operate in conjunction with infantrymen and tankers from time to time. Therefore, unit commanders have to remain in touch and receive relevant information in full irrespective of the system they use, be it the Andromeda or ESU TZ."

Interestingly, the planned system integration will be reciprocal. Infantry and armor commanders, too, will be able to issue orders to and receive technical state data from the Paras fighting on not only advanced BMD-4M airborne IFVs (AIFV) and BTR-MDM Rakushka APCs, but on older BMD-2s and BTR-Ds as well, even though they lack sophisticated comms.

The Armata, Bumerang and Kurganets armored vehicles are equipped with information management systems that consider the data fed by the sensors - from the grids, speed and direction the vehicle is heading to the ammo and fuel status. The venerable AIFVs and APCs have no information management systems, and the data they will receive will be limited. Vehicle commanders will be able to use the onboard navigation system to get such readings, as speed, movement direction, grids and a number of other parameters entered into the system in advance, according to the Izvestia daily.