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BMP T-15 ARMATA IFV gallery

Javier
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The BMP T-15 Armata (Object 149) heavy IFV began its development at the same time as the Armata (family of heavy unified battlefield platforms) program in 2009, although it seems that the T-15 IFV was designed more specifically in 2011. It is a huge vehicle designed to carry a platoon of 8 soldiers in high-density combat zones and for offensive operations. For this purpose, it has been provided with a very high level of protection, similar to that of a main battle tank. This vehicle belongs to the infantry fighting vehicle class, although in some media the prefix “heavy” is added. The exact weight has not been published, but it is estimated that it is about 48 tons, although some media give it only 34 tons.
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The hull of the T-15 IFV is a derivative of that used on the T-14 Armata MBT, but the internal layout is totally different. On this occasion the engine is located in the front, with the crew behind it and the troop compartment in the rear of the vehicle. The engine also acts as protection for the vehicle’s occupants against frontal attacks. The crew is made up of 3 members: driver on the left, commander next to the driver, and the gunner behind the commander. Each crew member has their own access hatch while the riflemen access the vehicle through a rear door that can also act as a folding ramp. The driver has 3 periscopes located in his hatch, while the commander have 5 periscopes around the hatch and the gunner has a cuppola with 5 periscopes that cover a wide arc of vision.
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The undercarriage is similar to that of the T-14 MBT and has 7 road wheels of 70cm diameter on each side. T-15 has an active suspension system made up of torsion bars on wheels 3, 4 and 5 and a hydropneumatic system on wheels 1, 2, 6 and 7 that improves the ride over rough terrain compared to previous vehicles. Initially the T-15 Armata IFV had a 1,200 hp A-82-2 turbocharged diesel engine, but later, since 2019, the same engine as the T-14 MBT was installed. That is, the 1,500 hp 12N360 (A-85-3A) twin turbo diesel engine. It is estimated that it reaches a speed close to, if not greater than, 80 km/h, and the range is about 550 km. As in the case of the T-14 MBT, the engine is electronically limited to a maximum power of 1,350 hp under normal conditions for longer useful life.
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The T-15 Armata IFV is an extremely well protected vehicle and includes numerous active and passive protection equipment. The main compartments: engine, ammunition, fuel tanks, crew and troops are separated from each other by armored bulkheads and the vehicle has an automatic fire extinguishing system. It also has spall liner protection on the interior and a NBC protection system. Anti-mine protection has also been taken care of, reinforcing the hull floor with an added armor plate and an electronic jammer has been installed against land mines detonated via radio. Additionally, in certain areas of the hull a layer of heat reflecting material has been applied to reduce the vehicle’s thermal signature.
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The armor is the same as the T-14 MBT and its made of ultra high strength armored steel “44S-sv-Sh” type, ceramics and composite materials on which a Malachit dual explosive-reactive armor (ERA) layer have been applied on the front, sides and the top of the vehicle. Reactive armor (ERA) replaceable modular blocks have been mounted on the sides and the front of the hull, with those on the front and sides, (in the engine area), in wedge-shaped, which gives it a unique look. Additionally, a slat (cage) armor has been installed in front of the rear troop boarding door/ramp and rubber skirts have been installed over the entire length of the undercarriage to reduce the creation of dust clouds.
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In addition to the armor, the T-15 IFV has the same Afganit active protection system (APS) as the T-14 MBT and has 6 sensors/detectors that cover 360º of the vehicle and that automatically fire the grenade launchers. On this occasion the “soft kill” system is composed of 4 steerable smoke grenades launchers of 12 cartridges each to disrupt the missile guidance systems. Two are located at the rear of the vehicle, on each side of the door/ramp and the other two are located in the upper central part of the hull, between the fourth and fifth roadwheels, one on each side. The Afganit’s “hard kill” system is composed of 5 single explosive grenade launchers located on each central top side of the hull, just in front of the “soft kill” launchers and sensor box.
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The Armata IFV was introduced in 2015 carrying a remotely controlled Bumerang-BM (DUBM-30 Epokha) turret armed with a 30mm 2A42 automatic gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial PKT machine gun and two twin launchers of 9M133M Kornet-M (AT-14 Spriggan) anti-tank guided missiles, along with 500 30mm rounds, (160 3UBR8 BP Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) and 340 high-explosive fragmentation/incendiary (HEI)) and 2,000 7.62mm rounds. In addition, it has a sight for the commander, on the roof (to the right of the gun), and a sight for the gunner, (to the left of the gun) that allows observing and tracking targets both day and night as well as aiming all weapons.
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In 2018 a new variant of the T-15 Armata IFV appeared equipped with a new DUBM-57 Kinzhal unmanned turret. This turret carries a 57mm automatic gun, a 7.62mm PKMT coaxial machine gun and a twin 9M120-1M Ataka (AT-9 Spiral-2) anti-tank guided missile launcher on the left side. This variant can be considered an assault version and has been designed to accompany tanks on attack missions, and thanks to its powerful 57mm gun, it can act as a fire support vehicle and destroy almost any armored vehicle, including older battle tanks. Two different types of turrets have been observed, the initial one (on the image), smaller, equipped with 6 Tucha smoke grenade launchers and the main sight located on the left, and a more recent larger one, without smoke grenade launchers and with the main sight placed in the center.
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The 57mm BM-57 gun is derived from an anti-aircraft gun, it has a rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute and a maximum range of about 4 km against ground targets. It fires high-explosive (HE) and armor-piercing (AP) projectiles, of which it carries up to 80 inside the turret. AP rounds have a muzzle velocity of 1,500 m/s and are capable of penetrating up to 120mm of armor from 1,500 meters away. This image shows the late model DUBM-57 Kinzhal unmanned turret, wider, higher and with an enclosed twin anti-tank missile launcher, but with the same 57mm gun.
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In 2021, the prototype of a new vehicle developed from the T-15 IFV chassis could be seen. It is a command vehicle to which some sources have assigned the name “BMP KSh“, and is specially configured for command, control and communications (C3i) tasks thanks to various radio equipment and a battlefield management system. It has a crew of 2 members plus some members of the command staff and is basically similar to the T-15 IFV in terms of powerplant and protection level, although some images show the T-15 KSh with a double installation of ERA blocks on the sides of the hull to improve protection. In the images the vehicle does not appear to carry any type of weaponry, but it is assumed that if it enters service, some type will be included for self-protection.
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Although it was presented at the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade, it seems that its mass production has not just begun either and that its career is linked to that of the T-14 Armata MBT. The number of vehicles built is unknown, but it is almost certain that they do not exceed 80-90 units. Furthermore, it is possible that currently all the vehicles belong to the “experimental batch” requested in 2019 along with T-14 MBTs and some T-16 BREM recovery vehicles. Of course, in no case has the T-15 IFV been developed to replace the huge fleet of BMP-2 and BMP-3 IFVs in service with the Russian Army. It is believed that this vehicle would be used for special assault units, which probably also have T-14 tanks. In any case, if this vehicle suffers from the same mechanical problems as the T-14 MBT, on this occasion it has been less publicized and the current status of the delivery program is unknown.

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