With all that tank is a very formidable weapon on the battlefield, he has a serious enemy in the face not only of guns, hand-held antitank grenade launchers (RPGs), but also the worst enemy ATGM, anti-tank guided missiles. To get away from their dagger strike is almost impossible, but, as practice shows, to survive and to survive is quite capable. As shown by the experience of the last years of fighting in Syria, not even new tanks of Soviet production able to withstand the impact of foreign anti-tank weapons.
Frames really are unique. Yesterday T-72 tank of the Syrian army, which was fighting in ghouta, withstood a direct hit by anti-tank guided missile fired by terrorists. As seen in the video, the tank opened fire from anti-tank, but armored vehicles subjected to modernization, as seen in the footage, has not received serious damages and the crew alone was able to leave, and subsequently be evacuated from the battlefield. Is “Barmaley” (ISIS is a terrorist group banned in Russia) were in shock from such a low efficiency of their weapons and seen only commented on the word: “Satan!”.
“Let’s be objective – said the expert tank weapons, co-author of the forthcoming book “the Shield of Ephrata” Anton Lavrov of the current system of tank protection is quite low. From perspective – the complex of active protection, which is installed on modern Russian T-90 and which will be equipped with “Armata”, but its application is partly made only in the Russian army. In Syria it is definitely not. There originally was a very breath-taking.
The army cap was armed with about 5 thousand tanks, including quite outdated, but fully operational T-55, the number of which exceeded all armored part of the Middle East. They are very actively burning and the opposing forces of the moderate opposition, and the ISIS was destroyed about 70 percent of the tank fleet. Here in the first place played a factor in the weak training of tank crews and commanders of units who did not have the slightest idea of tactics tank battle. To roll out a fighting machine, albeit in a modern configuration, to the front and use it instead of the artillery is invariably to condemn the tank to death. To put the tank in front of infantry, and even alone, not at least of three-five cars, is also clearly sets him up for the shot ATGM or RPG.
Apparently, empirically, the Syrian military came to the conclusion that tanks should be equipped at least with means of passive protection – hinged armored screens and grilles. This has been quite successful modernization of missile defense, even primitive and built literally from make-shifts. But there remained weaknesses – it all depends on where you will get the rocket, where the jet stream can reach the armor and will be able to burn. However, the means of reinforcement has had its effect – the loss of tanks of the Syrian army has significantly reduced.”
Another invulnerable tank, composed of Syrian army T-62M Russian production last upgrade and with enhanced anti-mine qualities. One of them two months ago, ran over an antitank mine, was damaged, but not burned, and was soon repaired on the battlefield and was able to leave the dangerous area. The crew in this case also was not injured. Technology has not failed.
The principal antitank weapons used in Syria from all sides, presented as the old Soviet ATGW type “faggot” and “Competition” and more modern “cornet” and the American TOW-2A, which are armed forces of the moderate opposition. Meet in Syria anti-missile systems, Chinese and Iranian manufacture, on a mass scale presence of Soviet RPG-7 and disposable rocket propelled grenades such as the RPG-22. During the civil war, the group seized weapons from each other, including anti-tank. It happens that the ISIS Russian “Corvette” destroy the tanks of American manufacture. And with maximum accuracy – one shot, one kill.
American ATGM TOW-2A have also become one of the most dangerous weapons for the Syrian tanks. But practice of their application significantly decreased it after using even such primitive means of protection tanks, as mounted grille and the armor plates. There is not just need to get into the tank, and find that same “loophole”, which is not covered with protection, respectively, required a second, third shot, and that means there is a possibility for retaliation.
In service with the Syrian army is a few dozen Russian tanks T-90, early versions of T-90-And whose combat capabilities are significantly more than the potential of the tanks of the previous generation. They had previously supplied to Syria through official contracts, but probably modernized in recent times is due to missile weapons.
In his kit might be a part of a complex opto-electronic suppression “Blind”, which is released the projectile out of the range of ATGM is able to divert away from goal. It is possible that the test in combat conditions on the T-90 are the Russian and other systems of complex active protection. At least consider themselves Syrian military, this tank is invincible and even the presence of one company of T-90 on the whole front are regarded as the guarantee for the success of both offensive and defensive operations. This conviction grew when the Russian tank under the Syrian flag easily withstood a direct hit by American anti-tank missiles.
“Tanks in the domestic configuration, even if we talk about the T-90MS equipped with a wider complex of both dynamic and active protection, – says Anton Lavrov. – I do not exclude that the practical revision of these funds can be carried out in conditions close to the fighting in Syria. At least, even those published evidence of a successful test of armor-tank, show that against scrap there”.
Author: Viktor Sokirko
Photo: Ministry of defense of Russia, Alexey Ivanov / TRK Star