The largest domestic arms exhibition – the military-technical forum "Army-2023" – begins its work on Monday, August 14, 2023 in Kubinka, near Moscow. Among the traditional participants of the weapons salon is the leading Russian developer of small arms and artillery weapons, as well as combat equipment for military personnel, the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH, is under the trust management of the Kalashnikov concern of the Rostec State Corporation). On the eve of the exhibition, the interim director General of the Institute Anton Semenyako gave an interview to RIA Novosti correspondent Ivan Suraev, in which he spoke about the novelties of TSNIITOCHMASH at Army-2023, the latest aerosol ammunition hiding fighters and equipment from high-precision enemy weapons, tests of a promising artillery installation for the airborne forces "Lotus", as well as work on the combat equipment of the soldier of the future a new generation of "Legionnaire".
– Anton Ivanovich, what will TSNIITOCHMASH present at the Army Forum this year?
– This year our developments will be presented at four sites of the forum at once. The first is the demo center of the Kalashnikov Concern, which has been located since July last year. The second is the exposition of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, where we will present a 120–mm perspective self-propelled artillery piece of Airborne troops "Lotus". The third site is the defense industry pavilion, a closed exposition, about which, as you know, I can't say anything. The fourth is the Rosoboronexport chalet and the fifth is the Kalashnikov shooting center, where everyone will be able to test our weapons in dynamics.
– At what stage are the works on the "Lotus", what are its advantages compared to the "Nona" tool, to replace which it is being created?
– From October 2020 to March 2022, preliminary tests of a prototype of the 2C42 self-propelled artillery gun (code "Lotus") were conducted. A total of 131 inspections were carried out, including stationary and special tests, firing tests, ergonomic expertise and reliability assessment, and so on. During the firing tests, such checks were carried out as for the maximum firing range, the implementation of the firing mode according to the maneuver-firing scheme, the execution of firing tasks in the "simultaneous fire raid" mode, and others. During transportation tests, we confirmed the characteristics of the mobility of the product on land and on water at a level not lower than BMD-4M. In addition, the Lotus successfully passed the copra tests, during which eight machine drops of different heights and at different angles were carried out. To date, TSNIITOCHMASH eliminates the comments received during preliminary tests, after which the design documentation will be assigned the letter "O" and two prototypes of the Lotus will be transferred to state tests.
Indeed, I think it is logical to compare "Lotus" and "Nonu". CAO 2S42 "Lotus" is 1.5 times superior to CAO "Nona-SM" in the firing range of regular high-explosive shells, in the ammunition carried and in the integral indicator of the power of the main high-explosive projectile. Unlike the Nona-SM, the Lotus has a significantly higher level of protection of the combat crew from bullets, fragments and mines, the turret of the gun can fire in the range of 360 degrees on the horizon, the gun can parachute with the calculation inside. Agree, a clear advantage.
– What promising samples besides "Lotus" will your institute show?
– Our biggest exhibition will be in the pavilion of the Kalashnikov Concern. Visitors of the forum will be able to see and hold in their hands samples of small arms and special weapons developed at TSNIITOCHMASH: the SR1MP pistol, SR2MP submachine gun and SR3MP submachine gun, the 6P72 9–mm self-loading pistol and its special modification 6P72-1 (created as part of the development work "Boa"), 7.62-mm self-loading pistols PSS and PSS–2, as well as upgraded versions of the famous "Screw Cutter" and "Shaft" - 9-mm sniper rifle special upgraded (VSSM) and 9-mm automatic special upgraded (AFM). Yes, this is not the first time we have exhibited these products, but they still arouse the interest of both specialists and fans of small arms. And this is not surprising. Despite the fact that some samples were developed 10-20 and even 30 years ago, they remain leaders in their classes, as our colleagues from Rosoboronexport say, in demand on international markets. This was confirmed by the recent Russia-Africa forum, where the stand with small arms, where the CP line was also presented, was of particular interest.
If we talk about new products, at Army-2023 we will for the first time present to the general public a unified RDG-U hand smoke grenade, a PDM-MD anti-airborne mine and new aerosol-forming ammunition. Last year we showed these products only to specialists.
The relevance of each of the developments is obvious. The anti-amphibious mine PDM-MD is designed for coastal defense at shallow depths. As you know, Russia has the longest water border in the world. The hand smoke grenade is designed to mask individual servicemen, small units, military equipment and vehicles from enemy targeted fire. The grenade remains operational in the temperature range from -50 to +55 degrees Celsius. Today, to install a smoke screen, it is necessary either to involve specialists of the RCBZ, or to use equipment. With the RDG-U grenade, each fighter will be able to provide his own disguise. New developments of TSNIITOCHMASH in the line of aerosol-forming ammunition (the so-called AOB) can significantly increase the resistance to high-precision enemy weapons. High–precision weapons (OBE) with any – laser, thermal, radar - guidance system during flight should periodically "refine" their route to the target, that is, "see" this target. The aerosol curtain does not allow the homing head of the WTO to carry out this refinement. And then the ammunition either goes off course, or by switching to inertial control, its accuracy of destruction decreases. The tests have shown that the use of AOBS significantly increases the survivability of armored vehicles on the battlefield: the stated principle of "one munition – one target" does not work.
Yes, precision weapons are constantly being improved, but aerosol ammunition is also developing. If not so long ago our AOBAS were protected from the WTO with three guidance systems – laser, optical and thermal, now they can also resist high-precision weapons with a radar guidance system. Plus, it was possible to increase the number of cartridges in the ammunition, which led to the possibility of creating a denser curtain of combined aerosol-dipole interference.
– It is known that TSNIITOCHMASH is the main developer of combat equipment of the first and second generation military personnel "Barmitsa" and "Ratnik". How is the work on the equipment of the third generation "Legionnaire" going now?
– Indeed, TSNIITOCHMASH has been identified as the main enterprise for research work "Legionnaire". The task of the research is to determine the vision of the equipment of a third–generation serviceman. Of course, it should surpass the "Warrior" in all positions: protection, life support, communications, means of destruction. New materials should be used in the equipment, which will be lighter, but will provide better protection. To date, we have already decided on the co-executors. These are about fifty enterprises and research centers. The "core" of the team is our long–standing partners in the development work of Ratnik. But due to the fact that there are not five, but six subsystems in the equipment of the new generation, a robotic subsystem has been added, and the number of partners has also increased. In accordance with the task, the results of the research should be summed up by the end of this year.
– What else are the specialists of your institute working on now?
– The preparation of the CAO "Lotus" for the state tests, which are planned for the autumn of this year, is underway. The Small Arms and Ammunition Research Center is actively working on improving small arms ammunition in 7.62-mm, 8.6-mm and 12.7-mm calibers.
Preliminary tests have already been carried out on some products, which have shown good results. New variants of high-strength fiberglass packages for high-precision ammunition and small arms are being developed, and the production base for their manufacture is significantly expanding.