Kurganets-25
Kurganets-25 30mm gun variantKurganets-25 IFVKurganets-25 machine gun variantKurganets-25 APC
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Armoured personnel carrier
Armoured recovery vehicle[1][2]
Place of originRussian Federation
Service history
Used byRussian Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerKurgan Machine-Building, Kurganmashzavod[2]
ManufacturerKurganmashzavod
Unit cost$5,600,000 per unit[citation needed][when?]
Produced2015 - present
Specifications
Mass25 tonnes (28 short tons)[1][2]
Crew3 (+8 passengers)[1][2]
Main
armament
Kurganets-25 IFV: Bumerang-BM remote weapon station turret with 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, 9M133 Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles, and PKT 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun or AU-220M Baikal remote weapon station with 57 mm BM-57 autocannon and 7.62 mm PKMT machine gun[3]
Bumerang APC: 12.7 mm machine gun remote turret
Kurganets-25 APC: 12.7 mm Kord machine gun[2]
Engine800 hp[1][2]
Power/weight32 hp/tonne
SuspensionTorsion bar[2]
Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph)[1][2]
On water: 10 km/h (6.2 mph; 5.4 kn)[1][2]

The Kurganets-25 (Russian: Курганец-25) is a tracked amphibious, 25-ton modular infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier being developed for the Russian Army. The Kurganets-25 is planned to evolve into various models, gradually replacing BMP, BMD, MT-LB and other types of tracked Soviet armored platforms.[4][5] The Kurganets-25 is supposed to have modular armor that can be upgraded for specific threats.[6][2] The Kurganets-25 IFV and APC variants were first seen in public (initially with the turret and main armament shrouded) during rehearsals for the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade. Serial production was supposed to begin in 2016,[7] but as of 2020, certification by the military is still pending.[8] In 2023, it was confirmed that Kurganets was undergoing trials, and that the vehicle was modified at the customer’s request. The changes affected the Kurganets-25 chassis, which as a result became more reliable and also easier to operate and repair.[9]

Design

The Kurganets-25 is designed to be a successor to the BMP-3 Russian tracked troop carrier which fulfills a similar role as Western designs like the American M2 Bradley and British Warrior. The Kurganets-25 is based on the Armata Universal Combat Platform while being lighter than the T-15 Armata "heavy IFV" based on the same and similar to the wheeled VPK-7829 Bumerang.[10]

There are two versions of the vehicle: a heavily armed infantry fighting vehicle carrying 6-7 troops, and a lightly armed APC carrying 8 troops. Other variants proposed for the Kurganets include an armored ambulance, an 82 mm Vasilek mortar carrier, an anti-tank vehicle, an armored recovery vehicle, a reconnaissance vehicle, a command vehicle, and an armored engineering vehicle.[11]

The vehicle represents a departure from traditional Russian low profile designs, having a higher floor more suited for mounted combat rather than troop carrying, which provides better IED and mine protection. While the T-15 is expected to be deployed with T-14 tanks in armored formations, Kurganets-25 platforms will equip mechanized units.[12]

Armament

The Kurganets-25 IFV features the Bumerang-BM remote control turret with its 2A42 30 mm autocannon, a 7.62 mm coaxial PKT machine gun and a bank of two Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missiles on either side. The Kurganets-25 APC variant has a 12.7 mm MG RWS instead of the Bumerang-BM turret.[13]

An SPAAG version with a 57 mm autocannon and a Kurganets-25 SPG with a 125 mm are planned.[14]

Mobility

The Kurganets-25 weighs 25 tonnes.[2][13] This allows the Kurganets-25 to be light enough to be mobile on water. The maximum speed of the vehicle is 80 km/h on land and 10 km/h on water.[1][2] Both the IFV and APC variants have a front-mounted 800 hp engine[13][1][2]

Protection

The Kurganets-25 IFV has 360-degree coverage from its active protection system launcher tubes. This APS is smaller than the one found on the T-14 Armata and T-15, but like the T-15, it is attached close the top of the hull. A two-part projectile detection system is placed on various places on the hull and turret. The Kurganets-25 APC variant, when revealed in the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade, had a scaled down APS system which was mounted only on the turret with none on the hull.[13]

Ergonomics and crew

According to the first vice president and co-owner of Concern Tractor Plants, Albert Bakov, the Kurganets-25 uses a console similar to a Sony PlayStation gamepad.[citation needed] It is wider than previous generations of Russian APCs and IFVs. The front located engine increases crew comfort and ease of access.[13]

Variants

A few different versions of Kurganets-25 are in development.[15][16]

Operators

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Курганец-25 "Объект 695" Боевая машина пехоты". Военный информатор. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Administrator. "Kurganets-25 BMP Kurganets AIFV armoured infantry fighting vehicle technical data sheet pictures video - Russia Russian army light armoured vehicle UK - Russia Russian army military equipment vehicles UK". Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Cloud from shrapnel: how controlled ammunition will strengthen the power of Russian armored vehicles - International News". Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
  4. ^ "First Kurganets-25 IFV to be supplied in 2019 to Russian army | July 2018 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2018 | Archive News year". Archived from the original on 20 October 2018.
  5. ^ Tamir Eshel. "Russia Plans to Field the T-99, a Radically New Main Battle Tank by 2015". Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Kurganets-25 BMP IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle at Army-2017 12208172 | Army-2017 Show Daily News Coverage Report | Defence security military exhibition 2017 daily news category". Archived from the original on 22 October 2018.
  7. ^ "БМП "Курганец-25" - Телеканал "Звезда"". tvzvezda.ru. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  8. ^ Roblin, Sebastien. "Russia's Next-Generation Kurganets-25 Fighting Vehicle "Indefinitely Delayed"". Forbes. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Шасси боевой платформы "Курганец-25" доработали". Российская газета (in Russian). 6 September 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  10. ^ Russia Hopes Its New Super Combat Vehicle Will Rule the Battlefield Archived 4 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Nationalinterest.org, 30 July 2016
  11. ^ Russia Hopes Its New Super Combat Vehicle Will Rule the Battlefield Archived 4 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Nationalinterest.org, 30 July 2016
  12. ^ Kurganets-25 – a new family of medium troop carriers from Russia Archived 27 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine - Defense-Update.com, 24 April 2015
  13. ^ a b c d e "Russia's armour revolution - IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  14. ^ "ТАСС: Армия и ОПК - Самоходную зенитную установку создадут на платформе "Курганец-25"". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Kurganets-25 IFV". Archived from the original on 3 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Kurganets-25 APC". Archived from the original on 24 April 2018.
  17. ^ a b "На полигоне в Алабино появились новые БМП Курганец-25". Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Kurganets-25 ARV". Archived from the original on 24 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Russian military to receive Kurganets-25 IFV in 2019 | Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kurganets-25.

Soviet and Russian armoured fighting vehicles after World War II
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