Modern combat is swift. For victory, troops must surpass the enemy not only in firepower, but also in terms of maneuverability. Often, the success of operations depends on mobile teams that solve "point" tasks. In view of this, the Russian Ministry of Defense is constantly replenishing the military equipment fleet with new copies of vehicles. So the Russian armored vehicles "Scorpio" from the corporation "Defense" were adopted.
Historical reference
For the first time an armored car was presented to the public in 2011 at the international exhibition "Integrated Defense 2011". But the idea of booking an UAZ car (on the basis of which the armored car was designed) appeared in 1993. The first vehicles successfully passed the tests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, but were supplied exclusively for internal power structures - the military department did not show interest in new types of equipment.
The desire to expand the range of production prompted the domestic corporation Zashchita to construct an armored vehicle for collection. Later, sensing the potential of armored vehicles, it was decided to develop models for power structures. So there were armored vehicles "Scorpio" and "Bulat", the protective properties of which could not be surpassed by many foreign copies. And in November 2016, after the successful completion of the tests, the Scorpion was adopted.
The performance characteristics
According to the representative of the Zashchita company, the car has unique cross-country characteristics and is capable of speeds up to 130 km / h on any terrain. The level of protection of the machine from mines, firearms and other weapons is at the level of grade 5. The equipment protects the crew from explosives with a capacity of up to 6 kg in TNT equivalent.
The car body is a station wagon, the number of doors is 5. They are opened with a “closet”, that is, they move apart. According to the designers, this decision was made in order to provide additional protection for the crew at the time he leaves the Scorpio armored car. TTX are not inferior to modern representatives of the class:
- maximum speed - 130 km / h;
- ground clearance - 300 mm;
- power reserve (the ability to move without refueling) - 1000 km;
- curb weight - up to 4300 kg, full - 5 tons;
- carrying capacity - 1500 kg;
- dimensions - 519x215x206 meters;
- the number of seats for the crew - from 5 to 8 people, depending on version.
The layout of the car is front-wheel, four-wheel drive, and the wheel formula is 4x4. As a power plant, a Polish Andoria diesel engine is used.
Equipment armored car
The power plant of the armored vehicle is represented by a Polish Andoria diesel engine. This is currently the only item supplied by a foreign company. At this stage, it is planned to establish production of plants at plants in Russia.
It is the motor that gives the Scorpion armored car so high maneuverability. The engine meets modern reliability requirements and has the following characteristics:
- torque - 750 N * m, or 1800 rpm;
- maximum power - 280 horsepower;
- type of gearbox - automatic, 6-band;
- volume - 6600;
- operating temperature range - from -50 to +50 degrees Celsius.
The motor for the Ministry of the Interior meets Euro-5 standards, has slightly reduced characteristics. Two fuel tanks (on the sides of the car) with a special filler - polyurethane foam are installed to power the motor. Tanks have the ability to "self-tighten", thereby eliminating any hole, preventing the loss and ignition of fuel.
Modifications of an armored car
In preparation for the state tests of the Scorpio series armored vehicles, the OKP codes received the LSA index - a light assault vehicle. Equipment with this index is intended exclusively for the Russian Ministry of Defense. It, in turn, is divided into three subtypes, depending on the purpose:
- the Scorpion armored car LSHA-2B is positioned as armored;
- special equipment LSHA-1 has a tent roof, designed for operation in hot climates;
- the LSHA-2 armored vehicle is distinguished by the ability to install both an awning and a hard roof.
In addition, the name of the technique may supplement the literal “2M” (“Scorpion-2M”). Such armored vehicles are intended for foreign. customers and other law enforcement agencies. They have no fundamental differences in their design.
Destination
Currently, the presented modifications of armored vehicles are operated by special forces and airborne troops. The LSHA-2B car is intended for transportation of personnel and solving special problems. Versions LSA-2 and LSA-1 are planned to be used for warfare in hot or temperate climates.
In the future, the Russian Defense Ministry plans to expand the scope of operation of equipment. So, soon the Scorpio armored vehicles will be adapted for medical and command-staff vehicles. The base of the car will become the basis for communication vehicles with radar.
Reservation
Booking a car corresponds to class 5 of GOST R 50963-96 and provides reliable protection against the 7.62x54R cartridge, which most armies in the world and armed gangs are equipped with. In the future, it is possible to increase the level of protection to class 6a, but only by reducing the carrying capacity and the number of seats for the crew.
The V-shaped bottom does an excellent job of protecting against mines - it has proven itself in the course of modern military operations. During the explosion of an explosive, the destructive effect of the projectile is redistributed, "glides" along the sloping walls, and protects the crew from impact.
The Scorpio armored vehicles do not have an armored engine. This is due to an increase in the total mass of 300-400 kg when installing protective modules, which will lead to a change in the class of equipment. The hull is equipped with a splinter-off pad, which also serves as an additional barrier against bullets.
Mine Resistance Tests
During testing, at the request of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Hybrid III dummy was placed inside the car. He made it possible to obtain data on the loads that affect the human body during the explosion of explosives. In particular, the load on the spine and cervical spine, sound pressure (including eyeballs).
These data are enough to form an idea of the state of the human body during an explosion. During the tests, a 2 kg charge of TNT was placed under the Scorpion armored vehicles, the explosion of which the models did very well. In addition, 156 shots were fired from
the Dragunov sniper
rifle (SVD). All results met the requirements of the Ministry of Defense.
Crew seats
Tests of the Scorpio’s weapons were not carried out for one simple reason - the Ministry of Defense has not yet decided on the vehicle equipment. In combat equipment, when the car can accommodate up to 6 people, not counting the commander and driver, there is no place for a turret.
In the case of installing a protected machine gun, the number of seats for the crew will decrease to 4. This is due to the need to provide space for shelves with ammunition. If the armored vehicles “Scorpion” are equipped with a remote fire module, the number of empty seats will remain unchanged, but a “chair” for the fire operator will be added.
Interior fittings
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is supplied with six-seater armored vehicles without a machine gun hatch. To accommodate the crew, separate seats were installed, which underwent configuration and re-equipment - the shape of the pillows and backs was changed, and the steps were modified. According to the test for "comfort" in such a chair, a person, without changing his position, is able to spend up to 6 hours.
The crew seats are attached to the side wall, and the driver and commander in a slightly different way - to the pillers. An additional protection against fragments is provided by the shock-absorbed movable raised floor, which has shown better efficiency in tests than mine mats. In the Scorpion 2.B armored vehicles, special stands for body armor can be installed so that military personnel can take off the load during transportation. Mounts for weapons are provided only for the driver and commander.
For ventilation of air in the cabin, the installation of the FVU-100A filter-ventilation device is possible. But it is absent in models manufactured by order of the Ministry of Defense. In such armored vehicles, air is forcibly ventilated by means of an evacuation hatch. Even in the open position (in ventilation mode), he does not shoot.
Possible weapons
There is no exact information about the armament of armored vehicles. It is known that models can be equipped with several options:
- at the same time two machine guns: "Pecheneg" and "Kord";
- a combination of a machine gun and automatic machine gun grenade launcher AGS.
All weapons are placed on an open turret. Specially for the Kord machine guns, a box of 200 ammunition was developed. A significant disadvantage of such a weapon installation is the method of reloading - it is carried out from the outside.
It is possible to install a remotely controlled weapon module (DUMV), which was developed by the KB Display company from Vitebsk together with
the Degtyarev Kovrov
plant. The module can be controlled by both the commander and the operator, for whom there is definitely a place directly under the turret.
Possibility of transportation by air
In two ways, you can transport Scorpio armored vehicles. The characteristics of the mounts allow you to move the equipment on the external sling helicopters MI-8 and subsequent series. For this, 4 loops were installed, which showed themselves well during the tests.
Transportation inside the cargo cabins is possible with the Il-76 and An-124 aircraft, as well as with other models of air vehicles. An armored vehicle can be dropped from the air. Such an opportunity was realized at the request of the commander of the Airborne Forces Shamanov. This requires the P-7 platform.
Prospects
By 2018, the Scorpio armored vehicles are planning to fully arm the special forces. A certain number of models may go into the arsenal of internal power organs.
In the future, the Zashchita company plans to take a leading position in the market for light assault vehicles, displacing the models of the concern VPK LLC. It is impossible to say what the Scorpion armored vehicles will be in the future. Description of lightly armored vehicles is already a military secret.