“Object 787” is one of the prototypes of a tank support combat vehicle that has not gone into mass production. Further implementation of the conceived design was continued in projects 199 (“Frame” and “Terminator”). The "Viper" until recently remained in storage, and later became a museum exhibit.
History of Design and Creation
The development of a new combat vehicle was entrusted to the Design Bureau No. 2 as part of ChTZ. Design was carried out under the guidance of A. Ermolin. Chelyabinsk designers in just a few months formed the general configuration of the “Object 787”, including technical, combat and economic parameters. The first prototype began to be built in 1996.
The new complex received the second name "Viper", associated mainly with the features of the combat kit. The equipment was supposed to use a pair of machine gun and cannon blocks, visually resembling a bifurcated snake sting.
Base platform
To simplify and reduce the cost of the assembly process, the designers decided to use ready-made basic techniques as the basis for the “Object 787 Viper”. This role was assigned to the T-72AV battle tank. As part of the project, it was planned to dismantle all weapons and aggregating equipment from the machine. It was to be replaced by the latest weapons and defense systems. As a result, a multi-purpose combat vehicle was to be developed, focused on supporting infantry and armored vehicles, capable of fighting in various landscapes, effectively attacking various enemy targets.
The development of this project did not provide for the alteration of the standard tank chassis. It was also planned to preserve the native armored corps with comprehensive protection of the front. Own armor of the T-72AV tank was supplemented by the defense of the Contact-1 dynamic type. Elements of this unit were located on the front of the hull, as well as on the side screens and the main tower units.
Changes
"Object 787" was equipped with a diesel power plant with a capacity of 780 horsepower, which aggregated with a mechanical transmission unit. The chassis remained unchanged. It includes six road wheels on each side mounted on a torsion bar suspension. In the front part there are guide wheels with devices for tensioning the tracks. Leading analogues are located aft. The characteristics of the updated mobility machine are identical to the serial base tank.
Most changed the fighting compartment. From the standard configuration there was only a turret basket, an armored dome and horizontal guidance drives. The embrasure of the main 125-mm gun was closed with a protective cover. On the sides appeared boxes-casings for the installation of a new ammunition. These nodes were made of armored steel, equipped with additional dynamic protection. An impressive armor box was installed in the rear of the turret, which was used for combat laying of guns. The tape with the shells was fed using a simple system with guiding elements.
Armament
Ammunition "Object 787" is assembled on a pair of airborne units by mounting on installations of identical design. A common thrust device is based on a cylinder. An automatic gun and a coaxial machine gun are fixed on this site. A package of guiding hinge elements for unguided missiles is mounted near it. The gun and machine gun were mounted closer to the tower dome, equipped with protective devices.
There is evidence that the multi-purpose combat vehicle "Object 787 Viper" had the ability to separately direct weapons of different sides. Most likely, the horizontal aiming was nevertheless carried out by turning the tower. Vertical aiming was carried out using the appropriate drives, which simultaneously raised or lowered the entire airborne ammunition. The identical movement of the systems was carried out by means of a transverse shaft passing over the stern of the tower.
The main barrel armament of the technology in question is a pair of 2A72 automatic guns. Each barrel could fire up to 350 shells per minute, hitting targets at a distance of up to 4 kilometers. The defeat of the enemy’s manpower, as well as unarmored equipment was carried out with PKT machine guns (7.62 mm), induced in synchronism with guns. Supposed additional equipment of combat complexes turrets. In the aft part, it is possible to mount a pair of large-caliber machine guns NSV.
Features
To increase the firepower of the promising Object 787, it was equipped with individual launchers for unguided missiles. Each tower board was equipped with one unit with six tubular starters, arranged in three horizontal rows of two pieces. The back of the guide elements was fixed in the middle of a rectangular clip (casing).
According to available sources, MBM "Object 787" is intended for the use of unguided aircraft missiles. Presumably, these should be charges of 80 mm caliber, suitable for the type of S-8 reactive systems. Theoretically, this machine could hit targets using cumulative, fragmentation, high-explosive and other types of charges.
Protective systems
In case of emergency, the experimental “Object 787”, the design of which is given above, could use smoke grenade launchers. These guns were mounted in two blocks in front of the airborne tower units. Smoke charges shot up and forward relative to the axial guide tower.
The new weapons were controlled using optoelectronic systems, some of which are similar to tank counterparts with adaptation for the use of weapons of a different type. In the front of the tower remained a characteristic protruding box of optical devices of the gunner. In addition to guidance devices, surveillance devices are installed on the commander’s compartment.
Crew
The combat brigade of the promising tank support combat vehicle included only three people. The driver was located in a regular place in the middle of the building. It has a separate hatch with a viewing device. The commander and gunner were in the tower, from the starboard and port side. Each fighter is provided with an individual sunroof. Both control posts made it possible to conduct separate observation and target destruction with the help of existing weapons.
Interesting Facts
In April 1997, a series of tests of the “Object 787” were carried out. After successfully checking the running parameters, the testing of the weapons complex began. Was checked the work of guns and machine guns (day and night). Fire was carried out from place and on the move, the distance to the targets varied with imitation for a real battle. The prototype did an excellent job with the first stage of the fire tests.
In summer, the second stage of testing began. It concerned rocket weapons. The crew performed all kinds of combinations when hitting targets at various ranges. Again, the tests were successful, the command and representatives of the highest state structures were satisfied.
However, "Object 787 Viper" in the series did not go. The activity shown by the media in the project aroused interest among the controlling structures, which classified the wide access to information about the new machine as the disclosure of state secrets. The search for violators began, and all work on the project was curtailed.
Recovery
A prototype of the military equipment in question has been standing in the open air at the Kubinka training ground for several years. Many were interested in the question, will the “Object 787” be restored in Russia? And in the spring of 2017, it was decided to reanimate the car. After carrying out restoration work, the unit itself was able to reach the repair site, where it was completely restored. Now the "Viper" is an exhibit from the exhibition of Patriot armored vehicles of domestic production.