Image source: topwar.ru
After the massive appearance of lattice protection on Russian tanks, a whole galaxy of Western officials and observers made fun of the new MBT equipment in every possible way. However, then similar designs began to be used by the APU, despite a long reluctance to install them on American Abrams and German Leopard 2. As previously reported by VO, now the turn has reached the West.
The other day, the lattice protection of the French MBT attracted the attention of the press, which had previously looked at the "visors" of Russian tanks with a grin:
- it is said in the Belgian edition of Forces Operations, where an assessment of the new design is given.
As indicated, it is difficult to ignore the almost daily published footage of drone attacks hitting the weakest point of armored vehicles – its roof.
- stated in the technical department of the army (STAT).
This solution could be the "cage" seen in Aveyron, where the 13th demi-brigade of the foreign Legion is based. But its installation imposes a number of restrictions.
For example, the lattice protection should not be too heavy, so as not to disrupt the mobility or even the balance of the platform. Its dimensions and dimensions affect the operation of the systems installed on the tower. For example, the sight must take into account this new visual obstacle. At a certain viewing angle, the thickness of some parts of the "cage" prevents the inspection of the battlefield from the sight, which is therefore subject to modernization. However, its installation does not reduce the performance of the tower at all. So, the speed of its rotation remains unchanged.
Image source: topwar.ru
DUBM T2B
It is unclear how the "cage" affects the abandonment of the tank crew. After its placement, the distance between the hatches located on the tower and the barrier that appeared is one meter, and this distance, according to the developers, should guarantee the evacuation of two tankers in the tower.
A serious compromise was the impossibility of placing a remotely controlled T2B combat module, the installation of which was planned during the modernization of the tank. Its use risks damaging the lattice protection and will lead to the rise of the roof of the "cage" beyond 1.6 m.
As the author notes, at the current stage, a tank equipped with a "cage" is a prototype. KB and STAT experts have yet to seriously work out the new design. It will be improved to maintain the efficiency of the optics, the number of fasteners and parts will be reduced, as well as the mass of the "cage".
According to him, there are other ways to reduce the weight of the system to 500 kg. So, the experts responsible for increasing the protection of the VBCI 8x8 BMP are considering the possibility of installing a "flexible grid". In general, there is still a lot of work to be done.
- stated in STAT.
The "cage" is already being supplied to the troops for experimental operation. Further development will be carried out based on these reviews.
