Berezhok protects
A combat module is a complete (often replaceable) element of military equipment that carries weapons, optoelectronic devices, and auxiliary equipment. If crew members are located in it, it is called a combat compartment. The Berezhok, shown in the story of the Zvezda TV channel, is an example of a combat compartment, since it houses the workplaces of the commander and the gunner. The department was developed by the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau (KBP) of the High-Precision Complexes holding of the Rostec State Corporation for the modernization of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle. The armored vehicle was created in the early 1970s. The armament installed on the first version of the "Queen of infantry" was advanced at that time. The main caliber is a 30-millimeter automatic cannon, stabilized in two planes and capable of quickly switching from high-explosive fragmentation ammunition to armor-piercing. To defeat heavily armored vehicles, the developers added the Konkurs anti—tank missile system (ATGM) - its missiles could penetrate up to 800 mm of armor at a distance of 4 km. There is also a 7.62 mm machine gun.
Berezhok, created in KBP on an initiative basis, additionally received a 30-millimeter automatic grenade launcher AG-30M. Fragmentation grenades are designed to fight infantry sheltering in fortifications at a range of up to 1.7 km. The ATGM was replaced by the Kornet, the most advanced anti—tank missile system of the Russian Armed Forces. The Kornet missile, depending on the type, is capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 10 km, and its armor penetration allows you to "open" the armor of any modern tank — even covered with dynamic protection. The module houses two ATGM launchers with two missiles in each. Another important improvement is the automated all—day fire control system (FMS), equipped with an automatic target tracking system.
Bekhan Ozdoev
Industrial Director of the cluster of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemicals of Rostec State Corporation
It is believed that all of the above innovations have almost quadrupled the combat capabilities of the BMP-2 with Berezhk compared to the original version and provided a twofold superiority over the American M2A3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.
BMP-1AM "Basurmanin"
Image source: © Sergey Bobylev/ TASS
Even older BMP-1s, developed in the mid-1960s, are also getting a new lease of life. Over a decade and a half, about 20 thousand of these machines were produced, which became the ancestors of a whole class of military equipment. However, their guns with a low rate of fire and the outdated anti-tank complex "Malyutka" did not meet the requirements of modern combat. The solution was to "transfer" a combat module from a modern BTR-82A armored personnel carrier to the BMP-1. The upgraded vehicle, called the BMP-1AM Basurmanin, acquired a 30 mm automatic cannon and a Metis anti-tank complex, while retaining a 7.62 mm machine gun.
The tank becomes a "Terminator"
Another example of the modernization of an armored vehicle by replacing the combat compartment is the BMPT-72 Terminator-2 tank support vehicle. It was developed by Uralvagonzavod Concern (UVZ, part of Rostec) based on the T-72 tank, one of the world's most massive main battle tanks, which has turned more than half a century old. The tower of the honored veteran of the tank forces is being replaced with a new combat module. The main striking force of the Terminator-2 is two 30 mm automatic cannons with an impressive ammunition supply of 850 shells. They are complemented by a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun with a remote reloading device. In addition, the combat module has launchers with four anti-tank missiles. The early version of the Terminator was additionally equipped with two automatic grenade launchers. At the same time, the firepower increased even more, but the crew of the combat vehicle grew from three to five people.
BMPT-72 "Terminator-2"
Image source: © Anton Novoderezhkin/ TASS
The main purpose of the Terminator is the destruction of enemy anti—tank weapons and assistance to the tanks of their units. BMPT will also help in urban combat due to the ability to raise the barrels of guns high and fire at the windows of buildings in which grenade launchers can hide.
Combat vehicles of the Terminator family are successfully fighting in a special military operation. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, BMPT are used in assaults on enemy defensive positions, helping other armored vehicles with dense fire from automatic cannons.
The UVZ press service stated that the T-72 is in service with more than 50 states, so such an upgrade will be relevant for them.
The caliber is growing
Russian gunsmiths have created a wide arsenal of uninhabited remote-controlled combat modules (DBMS) for advanced armored vehicles with a variety of weapons. As a rule, they are equipped with an automatic cannon, a machine gun and an anti-tank missile system. An example is the Boomerang—BM combat module, armed with a 30 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun and a Kornet ATGM. They are equipped with machines of the unified Boomerang platform.
BMP K-17 "Boomerang" with DUBM
Image source: © Viktor Bodrov/ TASS
Defense manufacturers from Serbia are interested in Russian combat modules. Thus, at the international arms exhibition "Partner-2021", held in Belgrade, the Serbian Lazar III armored personnel carrier with domestic DUBM 32B01 and AU-220M was presented.
DUBM with a larger caliber cannon are also being developed. Thus, the Epoch combat module is equipped with a 57 mm automatic cannon, as well as a traditional 7.62 mm machine gun and Cornet missiles. An important addition is the Bulat missile system, the launcher of which extends from the module body. Bulata missiles have a smaller caliber and are used where heavy Cornet missiles with high armor penetration will be too much, for example, to defeat lightly armored vehicles. The Epoch is installed on the latest infantry fighting vehicles (BMP) B-19.
BMP-3 with the Epoch combat module
Image source: © Vadim Savitsky/ press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/ tass
A cannon of the same caliber, but with a longer barrel, is equipped with a self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery complex "Derivation-air defense". The self-propelled gun is capable of hitting aerial targets (including supersonic ones) at an altitude of 4.5 km and a range of 6 km. The rate of fire of the 57 mm cannon "Derivation-air defense" is 120 rounds per minute.
The Dagger combat Module
Image source: © Viktor Bodrov/ TASS
The Dagger combat module, designed to be mounted on a promising infantry fighting vehicle, is also equipped with a 57 mm cannon and additionally an anti-tank complex with supersonic missiles of the Ataka and Chrysanthemum types, considered among the most advanced for fighting heavy armored vehicles.
Heavyweights
The latest generations of heavy Russian military equipment are equipped with uninhabited towers, which can be considered remotely controlled combat modules. An example is the uninhabited tower of the promising T-14 main battle tank on the Armata platform. The tank's crew of three is located in a protected armored capsule and controls the tower remotely.
T-14 Armata tank
Image source: © Sergey Fadeichev/ TASS
According to the information presented at the Army-2023 forum, the main armament of the turret module is a 125 mm smoothbore cannon with an automatic loader (it can later be replaced with a 152 mm cannon). A 7.62 mm machine gun is paired with the cannon, and another machine gun of the same caliber with a remote reloading device on a controlled turret is located on the roof of the module. The module has an optoelectronic panoramic commander's sight and a multi-channel gunner's sight. The tank has an active protection system that automatically knocks down enemy ammunition flying up to it, and an automatic guidance counteraction system.
The tower of the newest self-propelled artillery installation (ACS) "Coalition-SV" is also remotely controlled. The self-propelled gun fires from a 152 mm long-barreled cannon. As in the case of the T-14, the crew is located in an armored capsule, which is isolated from ammunition — in case of fire, the servicemen will have time to leave the car. It is possible to remotely control the fire of the Coalition-SV using equipment that is placed outside the combat vehicle — for example, from a separately located mobile control point. Automatic loading of the gun complicates the cartridge propellant charge, which is recruited depending on the range of the intended shot from individual cylindrical powder modules (caps). But automation also copes with this task.
In December 2023, a TASS source close to the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Coalition-SV had already been used in a special military operation.
Victor Bodrov
