METHOD FOR PROTECTING ARMOURED VEHICLES FROM UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVs)

Abstract

FIELD: military equipment.SUBSTANCE: armoured vehicle, several UAVs controlled by operators, communications equipment, and a hand-held flamethrower are used to protect armoured vehicles from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The above-mentioned several UAVs with video cameras are attached to the armoured vehicle, providing a 360-degree azimuth view, a hand-held flamethrower is attached to the armoured vehicle’s mounting unit, or the presence of a shooter, equipped with a general-purpose mine-clearing kit, with a hand-held flamethrower is ensured on the armoured vehicle. Support is provided for the movement of an armoured vehicle using another UAV that is in the air and following the route of the armoured vehicle.EFFECT: panoramic visibility from above is ensured, providing target designation via communication equipment to approaching enemy UAVs for flamethrower guidance.1 cl, 2 dwg

Description

[0001] Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are calling into question the pivotal role of heavy armor in modern warfare in general and in the air defense system in particular. Affordable UAVs are successfully combating tanks at a cost of $2.5-4.5 million each, changing the concept of combat operations.(1)

[0002] To protect armored vehicles, Russian experts have begun constructing various structures designed to prevent munitions from hitting their targets. Active protection systems (APS) are being successfully used, having proven effective against grenade launchers and ATGMs in real combat situations. However, APSs have vulnerable areas, and none of them can provide truly all-round protection for armored vehicles. Let's not forget that APSs use radar to detect projectiles, which, when activated, will literally "shout" to the enemy, saying, "Look, there's a tank with active protection within a 20-kilometer radius." Therefore, recent military conflicts have shown that protecting tanks from attack drones is becoming increasingly difficult. Moreover, the armies of many countries, including the US and UK, are considering options for significantly reducing their tank fleets in the face of the emergence of new weapons such as drones. (2)

[0003] And, indeed, the tank crew has a significantly limited visual all-round view of the space compared to the UAV operator, who quite calmly chooses the place of destruction on the target.

[0004] Therefore, to more effectively combat UAVs, it is advisable to recall the experience of the Great Patriotic War. In particular, the use of the Il-2 flying tank. (The pilot's seat and vital parts of the aircraft were combined into a streamlined armored capsule.) Initially, it was produced as a single-seat version. However, the obstructed rear view resulted in huge losses. Therefore, until 1943, personnel attempted to independently convert attack aircraft from single-seat to two-seat configurations, which dramatically increased the aircraft's survivability. The aircraft became popular. From 1941 to 1945, more than 36,000 aircraft were produced, making the Il-2 the most widely produced combat aircraft in history. (3)

[0005] A major challenge for armored vehicle crews is simultaneously controlling gun fire, maneuvering during combat, and monitoring the air situation in relation to UAVs. This is due to both the limited all-round visibility and the large number of tasks facing them. This limited visibility is partially addressed by a panoramic sight. For example, during repairs and modernization, T-72B tanks will receive a new modification of the Kalina fire control system, equipped with a panoramic commander's sight. (4)

[0006] However, in terms of UAV visibility, a panoramic sight can only partially resolve the issue, and its installation is quite expensive. There are reports, for example, that the cost of a T-72B3, with the installation of a panoramic sight, would increase by 50%. (5) However, what's crucial is that for a tank commander, simultaneously solving the combat mission of destroying a ground target, maneuvering in a rapidly changing situation, monitoring the air situation, and destroying UAVs is an extremely difficult task.

[0007] It is proposed to organize tank air defense by introducing several remotely located UAV operators into the combat crew and equipping the tank with a hand-held flamethrower. Several kamikaze drones with video cameras would be mounted directly on the armored vehicle, providing 360° azimuth coverage. A single UAV would follow the tank's route, providing panoramic coverage from above. In other words, as in aviation, fighter jets provide cover for bombers. In this case, the task of providing 360° coverage, detecting enemy UAVs, and designating targets would be delegated to the UAV operators. In this case, the UAV operators would be included in the armored vehicle's crew as an air defense system for a specific mission. Upon detecting an enemy drone, the air defense operator would transmit target designations to the tank commander via communication channels, who would then use the received target designation to fire a weapon, such as a remote-controlled machine gun.Rostec has reportedly developed remote control modules for tank machine guns. The platform is equipped with a high-resolution, full HD video camera with dual-axis stabilization and 30x zoom. The operator controls the module using a terminal consisting of an LCD monitor and a joystick. "The GOST control module allows for real-time target observation and accurate firing at ranges of 50 to 1,100 meters. The device can also be retrofitted with a thermal imaging module and night vision device. The platform has been tested and has already been verified in a real combat situation," said Andrey Kocherga, CEO of PJSC Signal. (6) However, in this case, remote control of the machine gun by an operator located outside the combat vehicle and part of the tank's air defense crew is possible. However, for a more reliable, robust, and cost-effective method of destroying enemy UAVs, it is proposed to use a hand-held flamethrower on armored vehicles to combat enemy UAVs. Fig.Its use doesn't require high aiming precision, unlike a machine gun, for example, and especially when a tank is moving. The flamethrower's beam is wide enough that aiming it at a target doesn't require high skill.

[0008] Currently, the Russian NBC Protection Troops are armed with unique heavy rocket flamethrowers TOS-1 "Buratino" and its modification TOS-1A "Solntsepek" on a tracked chassis. But in this case, it is proposed to use a hand-held flamethrower. For example, LPO-50, which is currently decommissioned from the Russian army. LPO-50 was a light backpack flamethrower with three vertical cylinders and a flamethrower mounted on a bipod. Weight - 23 kg, length - 968 mm, rate of fire - 2 shots of 2-3 seconds each, effective firing range - 40-50 m, maximum range - 70 m. (7) Currently, it is used by the People's Republic of China as "Type 74". The most serious drawback of the LPO-50 was the inability to interrupt a shot before the approximately 3.3-liter fuel mixture in each cylinder was exhausted. Therefore, the domestic weapon's ammunition complement consisted of only three shots (corresponding to the number of cylinders), after which the cylinder block had to be replaced.An additional unit could be assigned to a second crew member, if one was included in the combat unit's organization chart. Another drawback of the LPO-50 was the inability to refill empty cylinders by the crew in the field. And, of course, the short range of a "classic" flamethrower is its limited range. However, given the relatively low speed of UAVs, the flamethrower's use should guarantee the destruction of the target. An example is the successful use of hunting rifles in the Air Defense Forces, which have a wider field of fire than rifled weapons, although their effective range is approximately 50-80 meters (8).

[0009] The flamethrower's success against UAVs should be ensured by a wide, visible stream of fire (much wider than a hunting rifle) and the ability to adjust the fire (the shot lasts 2-3 seconds). This should ensure the unconditional destruction of the UAV.

[0010] True, the use of flamethrowers was severely restricted by the Geneva Conventions, which prohibited their use in combat due to the terrible injuries they inflicted on enemy soldiers. "Convention Prohibiting (CWC)" 23.09.1979 On the general principle of protecting civilian populations from the danger of military actions that may be expected to cause widespread, long-term and serious damage to the natural environment. (9)

[0011] But in this case, we're not talking about use against enemy personnel, much less civilians. And the flamethrower's burned-out fuel won't cause long-term or serious damage to the environment. It's proposed to use a hand-held flamethrower exclusively for destroying UAVs. And strictly speaking, using a flamethrower in this case shouldn't fall under the convention. Speaking of drawbacks, the jet flamethrower itself is a large, explosive device, and hitting the flamethrower tank can trigger an explosion, injuring or killing not only the flamethrower operator but also anyone nearby. But this applies to the gunner, an unprotected infantryman. However, if you recall history, the USSR already used tank flamethrowers based on the T-26, T-34, and KV. (10)

[0012] That is, even then a fairly safe location of the combustible mixture in the tank was envisaged.

[0013] Application.

[0014] Enemy UAV Detection. When performing a specific combat mission, it is necessary to use drones to provide visual 360-degree coverage around the tank. This can be accomplished by either tracking the combat vehicle from the air or by mounting several drones with video cameras directly on the tank's hull. For example, one drone can track an armored vehicle in the air. Reliable communication must be ensured between the drone and the operator, as well as between the operator and the tank commander, given the tank's potential use of electronic warfare. This may involve fiber optic communication. The tank's air defense crew's first and foremost task is to detect enemy UAVs. This task is somewhat simplified by the fact that the armored vehicle will be targeted both as a source of radiation and as a visible moving object, so each drone operator is assigned a specific area of ​​responsibility. Upon detection of an enemy UAV, targeting information is immediately provided to the armored vehicle commander. Destruction of the enemy UAV.Destroying a flying object with, for example, a machine gun mounted on a moving tank requires a highly skilled shooter and luck. Therefore, it is a probabilistic approach. Placing, say, a gunner with a hunting rifle on an armored vehicle increases the probability of hitting the target. However, placing an unprotected gunner directly on the armor exposes them to both small arms fire and shrapnel from a destroyed UAV. Therefore, it is proposed to use a hand-held flamethrower for the effective destruction of enemy UAVs. It could be mounted, for example, on the same mounting point as the machine gun. It could also be mounted on a separate mounting point, or it could be used on a mounting point instead of the machine gun for specific tasks. It is proposed that in critical situations, when flamethrower mounting equipment is unavailable, a flamethrower gunner could be used on the armor as part of the Combined Arms Mine Clearance Kit.For example, the OVR-2-02 general-purpose mine-clearing kit is the latest development, designed to protect sappers from the damaging effects of high-explosive and fragmentation antipersonnel mines. It also protects against the damaging effects of firearms bullets. It is equipped with a laryngophone. (11) Fig. 2.

[0015] In this case, the shooter can additionally survey the area and receive information via communications. If an enemy UAV is detected, use the flamethrower to engage the target.

[0016] The drones themselves, mounted on the armored vehicle, can also serve as an additional destructive factor. In this case, they are used as kamikaze drones. Given that enemy UAVs carry warheads and are therefore less maneuverable than light kamikaze drones, the target's destruction should be highly probable. Overall, the proposed air defense system for the armored vehicle should guarantee protection against enemy UAVs.

[0017] Literature

[0018] 1. "Tank vs. Drone: Who Will Win?" #specialoperation #army #politics #war @wpristav Military News SVO reports

[0019] https: / / vk.com / wall618718354_23679?w=wall618718354_23679

[0020] 2. "Who will win in the future: a tank or a UAV?", Military Review News, October 26, 2020 https: / / topwar.ru / 176461-kto-pobedit-v-buduschem-tank-ili-bpla-razmyshlenija-v-zapadnoj-presse.html

[0021] 3. Aleksandrov S.S. Winged tanks. - M.: Voenizdat, 1971

[0022] 4. "Commander's Panoramic Sights for Russian Tanks," Military Review. Tanks. October 18, 2013.

[0023] 5. "Panoramic sights on Russian tanks" October 1, 2022, https: / / dzen.ru / a / YzbpI9bh0iKL2rja

[0024] 6. "Rostec has developed remote control modules for a tank machine gun," November 17, 2023, 08:07, New equipment of the Russian Armed Forces, https: / / tass.ru / ekonomika / 19308933

[0025] 7. Light infantry flamethrower LPO-50. Technical description and operating instructions. Moscow, Voenizdat, 1970. 103 pp.

[0026] 8. Bob Brister (1976). Shotgun Shooting: The Art and Science. New Jersey: New Win Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8329-1840-7

[0027] 9. Shilo H. I. The first attempts to ban chemical weapons / / Bulletin of the RCB defense troops. - 2018. - T. 2. - No. 1. - P. 48-69

[0028] 10. Flamethrower / / Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes / Ed. by P. S. Grachev, I. N. Rodionov et al. - M .: Voenizdat, 1994. - V. 6. - Pp. 12-13. - 639 p. - 10,000 copies.

[0029] 11. Alexey Zakvasin, Ekaterina Komarova "Withstand a Direct Hit": What Makes Modern Russian Sappers' Equipment Unique. 02 / 20 / 2022 https: / / rassian.rt.com / russia / article / 964623-ovr-2-saper-kostyum-zaschita?ysclid=mfxyu8nwhr305494080

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