The coming transformation of the British artillery: the structure and weapons
Today, 9:03

Britain started to reform its land forces in accordance with the plan, which received the designation in 2020 Army ("Army 2020"). This plan involves changing the structure of the armed forces of the re-connections and a number of other measures, which aim to create a modern army capable of solving various problems inherent in the current armed conflicts. One of the first steps in the implementation of the program was the creation of a compound Force Troops Command (FTC), a part of which will soon be on about a third of all existing units of the Army.

According to the British press, the next year in the structure FTC will include nine teams for various purposes, logistics and engineering corps. According to recent data, since September 1 this year under the authority FTC will go ten artillery regiments, summarized in one artillery brigade. Details of such a reform artillery are still unknown. Available data suggest the future only three regiments, which are said in the media, will form the core of artillery forces FTC.

These three regiments will have the same structure and will receive the new rocket and artillery weapons in the possession of the British Army. As part of each of these regiments are three batteries, armed with 155-mm self-propelled guns AS90, one battery with MLRS M270 MLRS (there is information on these batteries armed with guided missiles), as well as two platoons missiles Exactor Mk 2. other regiments get similar weapons and moreover they have to use other types of systems.

The structure of the three main regiments will create a universal shock system that can destroy targets at a distance of several hundred kilometers, using the most appropriate for a particular combat mission weapons. Destruction of targets at ranges up to 25-30 kilometers will be the task AS90 self-propelled guns and missiles Exactor Mk 2. shooting long-range goal is MRLS M270 MLRS American production. By using different ammunition maximum range may vary from 45 to 300 km.

Armament three regiments of artillery brigade from the FTC will allow to solve various tasks and fire to destroy targets in a wide range of distances. Consider these weapons more regiments.

AS90 Braveheart

Single receiver system as part of the "core" of artillery FTC would be self-propelled gun AS90 Braveheart. The development of the ACS was carried out in the eighties, it was offered as a replacement of obsolete machinery in light of the unsuccessful termination of the international project SP70. ACS AS90 is a classic layout armored vehicle equipped with a rifled gun caliber of 155 mm.



Machine with a combat weight of 45 tons is equipped with a 660-horsepower diesel engine. The hull and turret are made of self-propelled relatively thin armor, protecting the crew and the indoor units from bullets and shell fragments. The crew consists of five people. When shooting with the supply of ammunition from the ground requires five more people calculating working outside the combat vehicle. ACS AS90 is capable of speeds up to 55 km / h and has a cruising range of 370 km / h.

AS90 self-propelled guns armed with 155-mm rifled gun L31. Early modification of self-propelled gun was obtained with a barrel length of 39 calibres. At ACS later versions used gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers. Inside the crew compartment located 48 rounds of separate loading. 31 ammunition located in the tower, and the rest - laying the body. Depending on the tactical necessity of self-propelled calculation can use different types of ammunition, including controlled. Additional weapons - machine gun L7 7.62 mm machine gun with 1000 rounds.

AS90 Braveheart self-propelled with a "short" barrel capable of sending missiles at a range of 25 km. For ACS with a barrel length of 52-gauge reaches the maximum range of 30 km. Firing guns depends on the combat task. When shooting method MRSI (eg, a hail of fire) ACS after the necessary preparation can make 3 shots in 10 seconds. In other cases, the rate can vary within 2-6 rounds per minute, depending on the characteristics of the task.

Exactor Mk 2

To destroy targets located at a distance of no more than 25-26 km, it is proposed to use the missile system Exactor Mk 2. Until recently, it was one of the most secret weapons systems UK. Moreover, until 2011, British officials did not confirm the existence of this complex, but now in the public domain there is some information about him. In this case, the first known evidence of the use of systems Exactor family dating back to 2007.

Basis of the complex Exactor Mk 2 is towed uniaxial launcher mounted with her equipment and parts for mounting transport-launch containers missiles. This launcher has been tested and put into service last year. In 2014 started the delivery of serial technique in the army. According to the blog BMPD, earlier missile system, which bore the designation Exactor Mk 1, used as a base APCs M113, however, such a platform for various reasons did not work for the military, resulting in the emergence of a towed launcher.

Towed launcher missile system Exastor British Mk 2 using Israeli missiles Rafael Spike-NLOS (a) Christopher F Foss / Jane's (photo http://bmpd.livejournal.com)


As ammunition complexes family Exactor use guided missiles Spike NLOS Israeli production. Missiles are delivered in transport-launch containers mounted on the launcher. Ready-to-use ammunition - four missiles. Missile in container weighs about 71 kg. Solid rocket motor provides a range of up to 25 kilometers.


Station operator guidance missile system Exastor Mk 2 (c) Christopher F Foss / Jane's (photo http://bmpd.livejournal.com)


Spike NLOS missiles equipped with combined homing. Destination search is carried out using infrared (IIR) or dual-mode television head pointing. In addition, the possibility of missile control over the air. According to some reports, the missiles later versions can be equipped with semi-active laser homing head, but as yet unknown whether such systems on serial products. Missiles can carry high-explosive fragmentation or tandem shaped-charge warhead.


Rocket Rafael Spike-NLOS Mk 5, used as part of the missile complex Exastor Mk 2 (c) Rupert Pengelley / Jane's (photo http://bmpd.livejournal.com)


M270 MLRS

Hitting targets at maximum range will be the goal of rocket artillery, namely MLRS M270 MLRS. This system was developed in the USA in the early eighties and soon was adopted by the British Army. Originally MLRS M270 could be used only unguided missiles and fire only area targets. In the future, the creation of new ammunition, allowing to hit targets with greater accuracy through the use of control systems.



Tracked vehicle with a combat weight of about 25 tons carries the package of 12 guides 240 mm caliber. Combat vehicle equipped with an engine capacity of 500 hp, which allows it to move at a speed of 60-65 km / h. Range - 480 km.

Initially, the range of ammunition M270 MLRS system consisted only of unguided missiles family M26. Missile caliber 240 mm equipped with a cassette warhead and could carry several types of sub-munitions, primarily small shaped-charge fragmentation. Firing range missiles M26 later modifications (M26A1 and M26A2) does not exceed 26 km. In addition, in the arsenal of rockets consisted of a training projectile and cluster bomb Director min.

To engage targets, the distance to which exceeds 40-45 kilometers, were created rockets family GMLRS. Thus, M30 munition capable of flying at a distance of 70 km. The required accuracy is provided by the combined guidance system based on inertial and satellite navigation.

In order to further increase the firing range at the end of the eighties began to develop tactical missiles MGM-140 ATACMS, which could be used with a launcher M270 MLRS. Using a larger number of missiles and new technologies have allowed several times to increase the range, ensuring acceptable accuracy. So, the rocket MGM-140B is capable of flying at a distance of 300 km, and deliver to the target cassette warhead with 275 submunitions. In the initial part of the flight control system of the missile uses an inertial navigation system, on the target - a satellite.

According to some reports, the Army of Great Britain until the missiles were armed with MGM-140 family, which is why most long-range means of destruction of British MLRS M270 ammunition types are GMLRS. Perhaps in the future range rocket artillery ammunition FTC replenished with new types of shells.

***

Creating Force Troops Command is one of the first steps in the reform of the British Army's Army 2020. plan over the next years it is planned to convert the structure of the whole army, which, according to the authors of the reforms will optimize the size and organization of troops, as well as to keep their combat effectiveness by desired level. Later, at the beginning of the next decade, will be converted armored, infantry, aviation and other units of the Army. The results of the reforms will become apparent until mid-next decade, when completed the whole conversion and the British Army will test all innovations.


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