Kurganets & Boomerang Discussions Thread #2

Boomerang with a "snorkel"



http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1997387.html

Like Deadly Legos: New Details on Russia's Bumerang APC/IFV Combat Platform

Russian military analyst Vladimir Tuchkov comments on the prospects for Russia's newest armored personnel carrier platform, which has a design that allows it to be configured to serve roles other than just carrying troops.

Last week, Russian media reported that the final stage of amphibious testing on the Bumerang wheeled armored personnel carrier/infantry fighting vehicle platform had begun. It is expected that vehicles in the APC configuration, dubbed the K-16, will begin to enter service in the Russian military by the end of the year. In 2017, the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant is slated to begin mass production of the K-16.

In a new analysis for Russia's independent online newspaper Svobodnaya Pressa on the Bumerang's capabilities and prospects, Tuchkov recalled that the vehicle, "completely new" in design terms, "differs fundamentally from the machines Russia presently has in its arsenal in this class of weaponry." Russia's aptly named Military-Industrial Company (VPK LLC) was selected to develop the Bumerang platform in 2011, and was given a list of capabilities requirements that was "extremely tough."

"First and foremost," the military analyst recalled, "it was necessary to protect the APC and other military vehicles created on the Boomerang platform from the detonation of mines. In previous comparable APC and (IFV) designs, this had been the vehicle's most vulnerable area….VPK solved this task with flying colors."

Increasingly exacting demands were also made regarding the new vehicle's armor. "Using new materials and optimal geometry research, designers succeeded in making the vehicle impenetrable to small arms and small-caliber munitions, as well as fragments of large caliber shells."

Moreover, the vehicle, which sits on an 8x8 wheeled suspension, is now proving its amphibious capabilities, with its 510-horsepower diesel engine allowing the 15-20 ton unit to nimbly navigate rugged terrain.

"On the highway," Tuchkov noted, "it is capable of speeds of up to 100 km per hour, with fuel supplies for up to 800 km. Equipped with two waterjet engines, the vehicle is also capable of overcoming water obstacles, and of 'swimming' in rough waves. For this the Bumerang is equipped with intakes and snorkels towering above the water, providing for a sealed engine and internal compartments. In this connection, vehicles using the Bumerang platform can be used by the army, but also by the Navy's amphibious assault units."

First seen in public during the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade, much has been written in the Russian defense community regarding the vehicle. Accordingly, Tuchkov pointed out, "experts who have had the opportunity to 'get a feel' for the K-16 suggest that it has reached a level of comfort [for operators] which simply did not exist in previous generations of [Soviet/Russian APCs]. The engine and control module are at the front of the machine, while passengers are loaded up from behind using a ramp. In this way, the men are under the protection of the vehicle's armor."

The Bumerang platform was developed according to an extremely tight schedule. With the Defense Ministry approving the project in November 2011, the first prototypes were delivered in 2013; the vehicles participated in the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9, 2015. Since then, they have been undergoing extensive testing, and are being selectively introduced into the army.

"To date," Tuchkov recalled, "the Boomerang platform includes two combat vehicles built for different purposes: the K-16 APC and the K-17 IFV."

In the foreseeable future, the military expert added, the platform is expected to feature a 'full deck' of configurations. Prospective variations include a command vehicle, along with reconnaissance, electronic warfare, self-propelled artillery, armored ambulance and repair vehicles, making the Bumerang something like deadly Legos, configurable according to the military's needs.

"All this variety demands the use of optimum armaments, given that the platform's 20-ton weight does not allow for the installation of heavy weapons," Tuchkov noted.

Accordingly, the APC variant of the platform is equipped with the 'Bumerang-BM' module, developed by the Tula Instrument Design Bureau. The module includes a 2A42 30 mm auto cannon, along with a coaxial 7.62 mm PTK heavy machine gun, and the Cornet anti-tank system, which features four laser-guided missiles.

"The module is unmanned and fires remotely, either by the vehicle commander or a gunner. This allows for an increased survivability rate for the crew on the one hand, and on the other, for a reduction in the module's size, including a more dense arrangement of the equipment that can be placed within it."

"There are also blocks on the system whose purpose has not yet been disclosed," Tuchkov recalled. "According to experts, they may contain systems of electronic warfare or optronic countermeasures."

"The Bumerang-BM main gun's maximum range is 4,000 meters. Ammunition consists of 500 rounds, including 160 armored piercing tracers and 340 high-explosive rounds. The machine gun box includes 2,000 rounds of ammunition, with a 1,500 meter firing range. The gun barrel is capable of being elevated up to 70 degrees, and of being fired on air targets. Anti-tank missiles, located on the sides of the unit in transport-launch containers, are capable of firing between 8,000-10,000 meters, depending on the modification."

According to Tuchkov, there have been indications that the Bumerang-BM module will be installed not only on the Bumerang APC, but also the Kurganets-25 modular IFV, "and even some modifications of the heavy tracked Armata platform. In the meantime, the Tula Instrument Design Bureau is continuing to develop its weapons systems; there are plans to create the BM-'Epocha', a deep modification of the Kurgan-BM, by the end of the decade."

"As far as the K-17 IFV is concerned, in accordance with the objectives of [providing] fire support for infantry, it is necessary to equip it with a powerful combat module like the Bumerang-BM. Open-access information on this process is extremely limited, and sometimes contradictory." In any case, the analyst noted, the K-16's arsenal is likely to include smoke and possibly aerosol grenades.

Ultimately, according to Tuchkov, the next likely project to be developed on the basis of the Bumerang platform is a 120 mm self-propelled artillery system, along with a 57 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft system.

http://sputniknews.com/military/20160711/1042779344/bumerang-combat-platform-new-details.html

So, the K-16 would be the APC variant (armed with 12.7 mm Kord machine gun on an RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon Station), and the K-17 would be the IFV variant (armed with the Boomerang-BM remote controlled turret), right?

Currently the 57mm gun armed turret is not ready, so at the moment the APC and IFV turrets have a HMG and a 30mm cannon and Kornet ATGM respectively.

When the 57mm gun turret is ready then the IFV will have a 57mm gun and the APC will have the small turret with the HMG.

Remember, by definition an APC is a troop transport with light firepower to support the troops... ie HMG. The IFV needs to be able to destroy the enemy equivalent, so a 57mm gun is needed to penetrate 30 ton class vehicles.

Note for every vehicle family see the quote below:

In the foreseeable future, the military expert added, the platform is expected to feature a 'full deck' of configurations. Prospective variations include a command vehicle, along with reconnaissance, electronic warfare, self-propelled artillery, armored ambulance and repair vehicles, making the Bumerang something like deadly Legos, configurable according to the military's needs.

This includes the Boomerang and the Kurganets and the Armata and Typhoon.

As for the 120 mm SPG system, I think it would be more likely a mortar carrier, since AFAIK the standard russian howitzer calibres are the 152 mm (2S3 "Akatsiya", 2S5 "Giatsint", 2S19 "Msta, 2S35 "Koalitsiya-SV") and 122 mm (2S1 "Gvozdika), with a few exceptions like the 2S4 "Tyulpan" heavy mortar system (240 mm), or the 2S7 "Pion" heavy SPG (203 mm). The only 120 mm systems are the 2S9 "Nona" and the 2S31 "Vena", both of them are Self-propelled Mortars.

The 120mm mortar carrier in the Boomerang family will be a mortar carrier like the VENA and NONA. It will likely look a lot like the 2S23... and likely nothing like the Stryker model you posted a link to.

As for the 57 mm SPAAG system, a dual configuration of 57 mm cannons would be logical

Not logical. The ZSU-57-2 had two barrels to increase rate of fire, but it did not have guided shells so a high rate of fire increased hit probability.

Otherwise a second barrel just increases weight an cost and complication.

The fire control system on the vehicle would be the limiting factor as to how many targets could be engaged at one time... rate of fire would be irrelevant in comparison.

Actually rate of fire is relevant. But not for long series but bursts. Fire control with current state of electronics/optics is not limiting factor but ability to move barrel in stabilized way is.

I disagree... this gun is supposed to be able to fire at about 300rpm, so we are talking about 5 shells a second... with guided shells unless the targets are very close together firing in a burst just means if the first shell gets a direct hit the other shells would need to be guided to targets very close to the previous target or wont have the energy to manouver and hit a different target in the time available... it is rather more likely that a single shot or two shot burst will be fired at a single target... two shells should be plenty for almost any aerial target in terms of damage.

I just wonder is 57mm based system swill have additional AGTMs?

On the IFV it would need an anti tank capability so I would suspect yes.

Equally the Kornet-EM has been adopted by air defence units in its HE version as a cheap simple light missile for targets like small drones that don't require a full power SAM. Now the 57mm rounds might make more sense but I suspect a combination of a 57mm gun and either Kornet-EM and or SA-22 missiles might be a standard loadout.

First, rate of fire does make sense, it is an important factor to be reckoned with, so it is totally relevant.

I think that the 2*57 mm configuration would be similar to the 2K22 "Tunguska" (if it will be ever made).

This config would be useful for countering incoming bombs or other guided/unguided free-falling airborne projectiles that are posing direct threat to friendly troops or the system itself. This could be executed with the use of combined electro-optically/ radar guided 57 mm shells with a radio-controlled fuse and a HE-Frag (High Explosive fragmentation) warhead. And believe me, the high rate of fire and the guided shells combined would have an amazing hit probability.

High rate of fire is only useful for fire and forget guided munitions.

With laser beam homing or laser beam riding guidance with relatively high velocity shells you would likely only be firing one or two shells at each target engaged... you would then wait for a result before firing further shells... Having two guns only makes sense if each target requires multiple hits... and considering the size of the 57mm rounds I rather doubt that.

The scheme of its use would look like this:

1. The surveillance radar detects the incoming threat.

2. The radar adjusts the electro-optical aiming system (and the guns) onto the target.

3. The aiming system measures the target's distance, height, speed and direction of flight, thus calculating its predicted flight path.

4. When the necessary calculations were made, the fire control system fires the cannons.

5. The electro-optical aiming system (likely with the help of a laser rangefinder), measures the shells' distance from the cannons, and also the shells'distance to the target in every split second, thus fine tuning the fuse before impact/explosion.

6. In the close proximity of the target, the fuse detonates the HE-Frag warhead, creating a cloud of fragments, which is surely obliterates any incoming bomb, and severely damages or even immediately kills enemy attack helicopters/drones or even low flying CAS (Close Air Support) aircraft, maybe even cruise missiles etc.

I would expect search and tracking radar for all weather day night use and for the most part (for the air defence model) with EO backup and alternate detection and tracking.

So it would be more like:

1. The surveillance radar detects the incoming threat and continues to scan for other targets while the turret turns to the target to be engaged thereby pointing the tracking radar at the target.

2. The tracking radar acquires the target and projects the targets location when fired shells arrive on target. It then aims the barrels to direct the shells to that intercept point. It would also allow the EO system to view and confirm the target as a valid hostile target.

3. The cannons can then be fired with guided shells able to manouver to compensate for any flight path changes made between firing the rounds and impact.

5. There is no need to fine tune the fuse... it can simply be set to go off when the shell gets within a certain range.

6. When the target is being tracked the EO component can examine the target to determine the type. A bomb or missile target would require a direct hit or very near miss to ensure destruction... a large aircraft target could use proximity fuse with broader settings. Terminal guidance should ensure direct hits are normal against all but the smallest targets.

2. Low rate of fire. Even the ZSU-57-2 had a fire rate around 120 rpm, and the single barrel AZP S-60 had an even less, around 105-120 rpm cyclic, and a 70 rpm sustained firing rate.

The ZSU-57-2 had AZP S-60 cannon... of course each gun will fire at a lower rate than a system with two cannon.

The main limit to the firing rate was the huge 4 round clips the ammo was loaded into the guns with and the manual loading. The new gun reportedly fires at a cyclic rate of 300 rpm which is better than the ZSU-57-2s 240rpm.

But again it does not need a high rate of fire... it gets its high hit probability from having guided shells not from its rate of fire.

Isn't it most likely that the 57mm version would be with the Baikal turret or a version based on it?

That is the proposed IFV turret... it would need search and tracking radar for air defence roles...

AA isn't the primary task so twin barrels is not necessary.
Killing other modern APC/IFVs & infantry behind/through cover would be main task. (but also better range & bigger bang can be better AA than a 30mm)

AA is not the primary task of that turret... for use on an IFV its primary task is to be able to penetrate enemy IFVs and to support infantry and to be able to kill tanks in self defence.

With the BMP-1 the 500m minimum range of AT-3 meant the main gun had to be able to kill tanks so the 73mm gun was primarily the short range anti tank weapon... and it could kill M60 tanks easily enough.

With the BMP-2 the AT-4/-5 launcher had a minimum range of about 30m so the main gun just needed to support infantry and kill M113s.

It was found the 73mm gun had heavy HE capacity while the light 30mm cannon was good against other targets so both systems were kept in service and their replacement combined decent HE capacity and light auto cannon in the 100mm/30mm combination.

For the next gen IFV the 30mm is not powerful enough against NATO IFVs so the 57mm gun has been developed.

The fact that the 57mm calibre makes guided shells possible and practical means that not only will it be used with the new IFV, but will likely also be used for air defence to replace the 30mm calibre guns.

The 30mm lacks armour penetration for use against enemy IFVs but it also lacks performance against very small targets like drones where large numbers of rounds would need to be fired to assure a hit on a small target, whereas a single proximity fused HE shell in 57mm could probably do a much better job... especially if it has guidance.

Which is why I don't know why people are talking AA.
The quote in question that mentioned a coming 57mm made no mention of AA at all -> is probably talking about an IFV with 57mm -> Baikal.c

There have been several quotes mentioning 57mm as the replacement for 30mm in AA guns...

one example from above:

Ultimately, according to Tuchkov, the next likely project to be developed on the basis of the Bumerang platform is a 120 mm self-propelled artillery system, along with a 57 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft system.

Note the Baikal turret is a proposed turret to upgrade the BMP-3 and other existing vehicles.

They have already revealed the Epoch turret and a further upgraded version is expected to be revealed in a few years time... it is that upgraded turret that is expected to have a 57mm gun plus Kornet and sensors for the IFV role on the armata, Kurganets, Boomerang and typhoon chassis.

For air defence use a totally different turret will be used that includes radar and probably missiles as the vehicle will likely replace the Tunguska/Pantsir type platform...

and that is a good question iin which cases thy would need missiles? Tunguska missiles have actually less range then 57mm not to mention 30mm guns. Only reason to add missiles would be IMHO saturation attack but would they add extra missiles to very 57mm AAD vehicle or built specialized with Morfeyr this is another question.

Soviet and Russian divisions have in their air defence battalions gun/missile vehicles and missile vehicles currently.

Previously gun and missile were separate but as the most expensive components of light gun and light missile systems are duplicated when you have separate vehicles like Shilka and SA-9 or SA-13 then combining into a gun/missile vehicle makes sense.

Previously there was little overlap... guns were short range and cheap and all weather day night capable, while missiles were available in smaller numbers but had better range and hit probability.

With guided 57mm shells the range of the guns has increased significantly... as has its hit probability, but I suspect the lethal range for guided shells will likely be about 10km.

I rather suspect the use of Pantsir type missiles on a 57mm gun armed vehicle makes a lot of sense... with 20km range or 40km range missiles used against aircraft while the smaller 57mm guided shells could be used against cheap drones or incoming munitions like Hellfire or even Javelin...

The talk is laser homing 57mm shells but I like the idea of simple command guided shells like the command guided Pantsir missiles... cheap and simple... the main question is can it be made compact enough to leave enough space for a decent HE payload...

Having a vehicle with morfei and a 57mm gun would be an interesting turn of events... because it reverses the range capabilities of the current SPAAGAMSs...ie the missile will have a shorter range than the guns...