MOSCOW, Dec 16-RIA Novosti, Nikolai Protopopov. Reliability, proven by multi-kilometer marches, mobility and impressive firepower-Russian paratroopers are preparing to adopt a self-propelled artillery gun 2S42 "Lotus". The car has already passed acceptance tests and confirmed all the declared tactical and technical characteristics. About the features of a promising self-propelled gun and other novelties developed for the Airborne Forces - in the material RIA Novosti.
lightweight fighter
At the Lotos training ground, he covered 400 kilometers without breakdowns and fired 14 shots from a standard 120-millimeter gun. the next stage is preliminary testing, which will begin before the end of the year.
The self-propelled gun was first shown to the general public in 2017, and the project was launched in 2009. The designers planned to create a 152-millimeter artillery complex "Zauralets" for the paratroopers on the basis of the anti-tank gun "Sprut-SDM1", but in the end they preferred a less powerful, but more mobile and light vehicle.
"lotus" will eventually replace the artillery and mortar installation "nona", adopted in the late 1970s and has proven itself well. As a base for the gun, the chassis was taken, unified in terms of components and aggregates with the BMD-4M. the mass of the combat vehicle does not exceed 18 tons, and the diesel engine with a capacity of 450 horsepower accelerates it on the highway to 70 kilometers per hour. the power reserve is 500 kilometers. Like other paratroopers ' equipment, the Lotus can swim and overcome water obstacles up to several meters deep.
the developers paid special attention to the safety of the crew, primarily protection from high-precision weapons. The armor is lightweight: the hull can withstand heavy machine gun fire and shrapnel. but on the perimeter — laser indicators that detect radiation "lotus" guidance systems of anti-tank weapons of the enemy.
This is a smart defense. The information received is automatically transmitted to the aerosol grenade launchers, which are aimed at the radiation source and fire off ammunition. The vehicle is instantly enveloped in a dense smoke screen and confused by enemy high-precision missiles operating in the laser and infrared ranges.
The first prototype of the latest self-propelled gun for Airborne troops "Lotus"
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Alexey Panshin
"Lotus" instead of " Nona"
Compared to its predecessor, the impact capabilities have significantly increased. The tower is an automated combat compartment. The gun is controlled remotely. The gunner is in the front of the car with the driver-mechanic, the crew commander and loader - in the tower. another feature is that landing from the aircraft is possible together with all crew members. In the "Non", when landing from the air, only the commander and the driver are allowed to remain in the car.
"The gun was chosen based on the fact that the" Lotus "was created on the basis of the BMD-4, the design of which is well suited for landing equipment in terms of size and weight," military expert Alexey Leonkov explained to RIA Novosti. — If you exceed the weight and size characteristics, the Il-76 military transport aircraft will not be able to take on board enough self-propelled units, and at least two of them are required in combat operations."
The ammunition of the Lotus is twice as large as that of the Nona — about 55 shots. Due to the longer barrel and muzzle brake, the effective firing range reaches 13 kilometers. However, according to the developers, a special planning munition is able to fly 20 kilometers.
The gun is aimed in a horizontal plane at 360 degrees. Moreover, the vertical elevation angles of the gun are from minus four to plus 80 degrees. That is, the self-propelled gun can shoot as an artillery gun, howitzer or mortar. in addition, it provides for firing in fully automatic mode, even in the absence of a crew in the car. Auxiliary armament — 7.62 mm machine gun installation with remote control.
The release of amphibious assault vehicles during exercises at the Raevsky military training ground near Novorossiysk
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Nikolai Khizhnyak
Leonkov also noted that due to modern means of communication, the new self-propelled gun can be easily integrated into an automated command and control system.
"the crew receives information about targets either from fire spotters from the ground or from drones," the expert said. -a kind of reconnaissance and fire circuit is formed, which allows you to accurately destroy enemy defense objects. this is very important and gives great advantages in battle. Especially in operations behind enemy lines, when ammunition is limited."
Prototype of a self-propelled gun for Airborne troops "Lotus" at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Alexey Panshin
tanks and " octopuses"
"Lotus" is not the only novelty developed specifically for the Airborne Forces. In the coming years, these troops will be equipped with the most modern weapons, and many samples are seriously "heavier" and have gained wider strike capabilities.
So, for example, in two years, the state tests of the floating tank "Sprut-SDM1" will be completed: the 125-millimeter artillery and missile system is not inferior in combat power to the main T-80 and T-90 battle tanks, but in mobility it is close to light BMD.
"Octopuses" are supposed to be used as a powerful means of defending bridgeheads, for making rapid raids into the enemy's rear, as well as for protecting columns of lightly armored vehicles on the march.
"The probable enemy is armed with new means of destruction, and the bet is made on mobile units," Leonkov adds. - nato light-armored vehicles are now increasingly equipped with large-caliber automatic guns. Therefore, it would be not only very expensive, but also suicidal for us to perform combat tasks on the same "armor".
Recently, the Airborne Forces are also forming full-fledged tank units. In the West, such units are called airmobile. In particular, last year, as part of three amphibious formations, battalions with T-72B3 tanks appeared. in the future, five more airborne units will be equipped with heavy military equipment.
according to experts, the tanks will significantly increase the firepower of the "winged infantry" and will make it even more effective to solve combat tasks in any conflicts.
T-72B3 tank at the opening of the international competition of airborne units " Landing Platoon"
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Vitaly Timkiv
