The BTR-90 Rostock (GAZ-5923) is a Russian armored vehicle that was the first to be put into service in the new history of Russia. Vehicles are used by ground forces in various combat operations. The first prototype was collected in 1994, and all tests ended 10 years later, after which the army placed an order for serial production.
The design of the BTR-90
The body is made of thick armor plates. They are interconnected by welding at an acute angle. The armor protects equipment from hits from large-caliber guns and shrapnel of artillery shells. The bottom of the V-shaped form copes with the impact of the shock wave (for example, the bottom protects the crew from undermining the mines).
Specifications:
- Weight - 22,000 kilograms;
- Length - 8,150 millimeters;
- Height - 3 040 millimeters;
- Width - 3,100 millimeters;
- Armor - bulletproof;
- The maximum speed is 100 km / h;
- Power reserve - 800-900 kilometers;
- Capacity - 10 people;
- Power - 510 horsepower.
Engine compartment of an armored personnel carrier
Turbocharged diesel powertrain assembled in Chelyabinsk for the BTR-90. A liquid system is used for cooling. The engine develops up to 510 horsepower. It is located in the stern. The technician has access to it from the cabin and from the outside (there are two large hatches on the engine-transmission compartment). Radiator, fuel tanks and filling points were placed at the rear armor plate. In the role of additional protection are special covers. Water jet propulsion used for movement on water.
Reverse gearbox automatic hydromechanical. Power from the motor is transmitted evenly across all axes. Hydrovolume transmission is used for turning. Thanks to it, the side wheels can spin at different speeds. The design solution reduced the turning radius. The gearbox provides equal speed when moving back and forth.
The design of the torsion bar suspension of all wheels includes wishbones, energy-intensive telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers and wide-profile tires (withstand bullets). To improve the permeability of the device introduced a system of centralized tire pressure adjustment. This system also allows you to move with damaged wheels (up to 4 out of 8), as it can maintain constant tire pressure at full load.
Body and technology
The BTR-90 Rostock is equipped with an onboard information management system. This technique is the first in Russia to receive a similar technology. Through it, the driver can remotely control the power unit and transmission. It is also used to monitor the status of all armored vehicle mechanisms. The main differences from previous generations were the layout and new, more powerful weapons.
The driver and senior shooter are in the front of the body. The driver's seat can rise to the hatch. Also in the package includes a special cap that closes the hatch in the rain. The places of these two specialists belong to the rotating tower. Fire universality is achieved by stabilizing the fighting compartment in two planes (you can fire both on the move and standing). For a good view of the road, the driver uses any of the five periscopes. The same device has on hand a senior shooter.
To attack with firearms in the sides there are three pairs of windows with ball bearings, which are closed airtight armored. Two front loopholes are used for firing from light machine guns, another one is on the right in front of the body. A pair of windows is located next to the landing hatches. For a comfortable landing and disembarking the flaps are made so that they are supports for the soldiers. Thanks to them, you can shoot, leaning out of the hatch, from a grenade launcher.
The body of the BTR-90 Sprout is protected from the shock wave of a nuclear explosion, penetration of radiation, radioactive dust, penetration of harmful bacteria and other harmful substances. Export versions traveling to countries with hot climates are equipped with air conditioning and extra ventilation.
Armament
The first in the list of weapons - 30-mm automatic gun 2A42. Designed for 500 charges. For heavy enemy fire 7.62 mm PKT machine gun for 2000 rounds is used. Outside the tower there is a 30-mm grenade launcher AG-17, designed for 400 shots. The tip of the iceberg - Four-rocket ATKM "Competition". The horizontal pointing angle is 360 degrees, vertical is -5 to +75 degrees. The maximum distance of defeat "Competition" - 4 kilometers on the ground and 2-2.5 kilometers by air.
Standard sighting mechanism - combined BPKZ-42. The driver used the 1P-13 device for observation. Export specimens were equipped with a BOD-M scope, complemented by a French-made thermal imaging module.
BTR-90 Berezhok
Equipped with ATGM "Cornet-E" and a 30-mm automatic grenade launcher. The firepower exceeds the base version of Rostock 3.2 times. Armament complements the automated control system with an innovative sighting system. Used combined sight for the gunner, working in day and night modes. The commander is equipped with a panoramic combined sight, which consists of optical, thermal imaging, television and laser channels. This increases the overall accuracy of the armored vehicle. Stable defeat of targets at a distance of 3.5 kilometers.
The weapon stabilizer was built on a new platform, which made it possible to improve working conditions. The FCS is equipped with a digital ballistic computer, which is equipped with a firing condition sensor system. Automatic tracking of captured targets increased the accuracy of shooting at moving objects.
"Cornet-E" affects all modern tanks at a distance of 5.5 kilometers. The launcher is multi-charged, so the crew does not need to carry out constant reloading during combat operations. Thanks to the new weapons of the BTR-90 Berezhok, the rate of fire has been increased.
The back of the tower is equipped with an AG-30M 30-mm automatic grenade launcher. The gun is stabilized vertically, the store is protected by armor and is designed for 300 ammunition. AG-30M is used to defeat the enemy infantry, which is in the shelter.
BTR-90 Bakhcha
When developing this modification, the engineers had the task to increase the firepower several times. To accomplish the task, the designers equipped the equipment with a 100 mm 2A70 gun, a 30 mm automatic 2A72 cannon, and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
The OMS system was moved from Berezhka. Automated mechanism with separate sights for the commander and the gunner, coupled with automatic tracking of moving targets, ensure high combat effectiveness. Technologies allow to fire high-explosive fragmentation shells from the shelter. The sighting mechanisms, working effectively day and night, provide a stable target hit at a distance of at least 3,500 meters.
The first-hit guided missile weaponry Arkan disrupts modern enemy tanks, even if their design is supplemented with dynamic armor. The maximum distance of defeat is 5,500 meters (on the spot and on the go). The ATGM control system protects the missiles from enemy interference. Also, when firing at enemy tanks, the laser irradiation sensor does not work, which makes it possible to strike blows unexpectedly for the enemy. ATGM provides automatic recharging of guns, saving crew time.
At the request of the customer equipment can be equipped with additional equipment. The chassis withstands a load of 7.5 tons, so it is possible to install modules of both Russian and foreign production.
What can be concluded?
Armored personnel carrier BTR-90 is better than previous generations in all respects. Despite this, the military leadership refused to order serial batches. Mass production at the Gorky Automobile Plant was planned to start in 2011. For service adopted several copies that are collected as prototypes to demonstrate the possibilities.
The main reason for the failure was the layout, which is made on the basis of old armored vehicles. Modern realities require landing and landing through the stern. The device BTR-90 provides for loading through hatches located on top of the sides. This option makes the soldiers easily accessible targets during the fighting.
In recent years, engineers have been upgrading old models that have been used by the army for many years. In the near future, the release of the Boomerang platform is planned, on the basis of which they will build modern equipment of a new generation that satisfies all army needs.
