Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1281650
placed over the target again to shoot. This wastes precious se- conds and increases the probability of error or erroneous firing solutions if the target changes its speed or direction of move- ment. Rosomak crews have a primitive auto tracker system at their disposal. Once the target is in the crosshair the turret may automatically move in the given direction at a specific speed. However, these parameters do not depend on the target move- ment or the fire control system settings. The Mk 44 cannon fe- atures an electro-mechanical stabilizer, allowing the gunner to hit stationary targets with 2.3 x 2.3-meter dimensions at a distance of 1,500 meters with a hit probability of 80%. The above description does not mention the disadvantages that have been reported by the Rosomak crews. The first thing that the crews mention is the lack of ballistic protection for the main sight is often pointed out. If hit, the damaged sight practically eliminates the vehicle. No redundant targeting system is available. The main sight has no wiper and sprinkler - considering the Polish weather, this is ridiculous. A drying system could also be a use- ful addition. The commander does not have a night optical track at his disposal and this has been one of the primary disadvanta- ges of the Rosomak platform. When on the move and once the hatch is closed, the commander is forced to use the gunner's sight picture, as the M17 periscopes are useless, when the ve- hicle is on the move. A fully stabilized panoramic viewing device for the commander, with an independent thermal imaging camera, would be useful here. However, if hardware as such is introduced this would probably double the cost of the vehicle's fire control system. Nonetheless, it would also probably enhan- ce the commander's situational awareness. Currently, the com- mander needs either to work with the hatch being open or cha- otically switching between the periscopes, the radio, and the gunner sight picture. The practitioners note that, should the thermal imaging camera be damaged, the crew would be blind. The commander does not even have a basic night vision system at his disposal, and this is especially painful at night. Implemen- tation of a simple PNK-72 Radomka instrument would be a ma- jor improvement here. The Galileo Avionica TILDE FC offers in- sufficient magnification. This disadvantage could be disregarded in Poland, but during the Afghan deployment, it became a real nuisance. Communication systems are another disadvantage. The Polish Rosomak APCs feature the RADMOR RRC95000 UHF/FM radio that is a good design, being quite effective and coupled with the FONET intercom. However, there are some issues here. Each of the commanders needs to monitor two ne- tworks, including one placed a level above. If a single radio is available, this becomes a serious challenge forcing the user to continuously switch between the levels. Furthermore, no hel- met integrated headsets are available. The standard-issue kit is „dramatically uncomfortable in use". The soldiers tend to pro- cure US-made headsets and modify them to be usable with Ro- somak's network. Many of the aforesaid deficiencies have been rectified in the "Afghan" Rosomak M1 and M1/M variants. They have been fitted with Pilar acoustic gunshots detection systems (the lack of which, in the vehicles used in Poland, is also a disap- pointment for the crews), two PCO KDN-1 day/night cameras, and, what's most important, second KF Harris RF-300U-TR Fa- con II, or Harris RF-5800H radio, coupled with a SIGNCARS and AFTS (blue forces tracking) terminal, and Honeywell TALIN 3000 INS navigation unit. Only after the hardware above is in- stalled, the vehicles become capable of conducting ops on a mo- dern, net-centric battlefield. The communications assets confi- gured in a manner described above allow the crews to freely switch between different networks, whereas the lack of a pano- ramic observation system for the commander is still a major deficiency. Coming back to the series manufactured Rosomak vehicles with the Hitfist-30P turret system, the above de- scription gives us a clear view as to why the reputation of the vehicle varies among the users. Any crew that transitioned to Rosomak from the BMP-1 may consider the Polish wheeled IFV www.fragoutmag.com