Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1407425
(Fagot, Konkurs, TOW-2A) - these may remain undetected as well. The latest soft-kill systems fielded by Israel, South Korea, and Germany all feature extra RF/IR/UV sensors, enabling them to detect passively guided ATGMs. Effectors are also a problematic issue. The Gak-81 grenade used now has one, primary disadvantage. It takes a couple of seconds for the phosphorus grenade to produce enough smoke. During those seconds, the camouflage effectiveness is not noticeable. Furthermore, the camouflage is insufficient within the 1-5 µm range in field conditions, and in the 8-12 μm range (the so-called II optical window) the protection is virtually non-existent. Gak-81, despite creating a smokescreen that is effective for 30 to 50 seconds (depending on terrain and weather), has capabilities that would have been sufficient in the 1980s. For now, it is not a measure that can be viewed as a state-of-art solution. A relevant attempt was made to remove those deficiencies between 2001 and 2004. A novel GM-81 multispectral grenade was being developed then. Contrary to its predecessor, the grenade has a two-phase operation principle. When launched, it creates an immediate cloud of smoke covering the vehicle for 5 to 8 seconds. Simultaneously, during the second phase, the primary smoke agent is initiated (based on red phosphorus), with the smoke remaining present several meters from the vehicle for 50 to 60 seconds. However, the most important enhancement made here is the ability of the grenade to provide effective camouflage in near, and far IR ranges, in the so-called 1st (3-5 μm), and 2nd (8-12 μm) optical windows. The GM-81 has met the requirements during testing. It is surprising then, that it is not series manufactured (still!), while the obsolete Gak-81 grenade is still acquired in quantities, by the Polish Armed Forces. The situation persists, 15 years after the successful completion of the test program. At the same time, a new generation of grenades has already been fielded in Russia, and the West, capable of reducing the vehicle's RCS. The smokescreens generated by those grenades are denser and last longer. A hard-kill active protection system is also missing in the case of RTCS-30. The initial requirements assumed that a solution as such shall become a part of the turret system, capable of destroying at least six ATGMs, including at least two missiles engaging the turret at once, from two different directions. Furthermore, it was assumed that the active protection system would protect the RTCS and its carrier from rocket-propelled grenades, at distances ranging from 1.5 to 30 meters from the protected platform. The requirement to integrate a hard-kill active protection system on the turret was dropped. Keeping that requirement valid would have forced the industry to procure a readymade, foreign system. Meanwhile, the state R&D institutes did not receive any funds to develop domestic active protection systems - even in the form of prototypes. This happened even though two design teams developed two different, yet prospective solutions. As a result of lack of consistency, a hard-kill protection system was required to be fitted onto the turret, but funds were not provided to launch a domestic R&D program concerning a system as such. As a result, we may conclude that the primary armor of the ZSSW-30 turret is not far off from the industry standard. The modular nature of protection and the protected area are distinguishing features. The Polish turret, however, will require the implementation of a new active protection system in the future though. It would be best if that system is supplied by a domestic entity, and if it fuses soft- and hard-kill protection measures. R&D study as such is undoubtedly feasible for the Polish industry. It is only a matter of proper funding. Firepower The firepower may be scrutinized in two dimensions - the first one is the primary armament, the second comes in the form of the fire control system and the associated information advantage. The main armament is the Orbital ATK Mk 44 Bushmaster II cannon. along with a programming unit. Its total length is 3,405 mm, it weighs 156 kilograms. The cannon mechanisms are powered by a chain that is, meanwhile, powered by a 1HP electric motor. In emergencies, the gun may also be crank-operated. The rate of fire is selectable - with single-shot, burst, and 5-rounds burst modes available. The cannon has 200 RPM rate of fire (120 RPM for the ABM ammo). The spent brass is extracted to the front, with 35,584 N recoil force. The gun features a threaded barrel that is 2,701 mm long (L/90), with a muzzle device. The gun system also features a counter, counting the shots fired. Bushmaster features a dual, left-side, link feed system. The turret houses two ammunition magazines on the left. The smaller one is used to store armor-piercing discarding sabot rounds, while the bigger one accommodates multi- purpose or ABM rounds (the latter ones are programmable, with user- selectable explosion time). The two ANALYSIS