Before I started this blog, I described any types of weapons for little or less. In this article I would like to return to 1 of those entries, and it afraid the Slovak unmanned tower TURRA. However, this time I will make this subject. TURRA was designed by Slovak EVPU with a view to mounting on vehicles of the BMP family. This request resulted in many complications, due to the fact that due to the limited burden capacity of the BMP (which our designers experienced), the tower's combat mass was not to exceed 1500 kilograms. In addition, for easy exchange, this tower had to be operated by 1 individual and fit in a 1560 mm diameter opposition ring. It besides had to be much more modern than the solution offered so far, which was the manned DVK-30 tower, produced by another Slovak entity - ZTS Special. The Slovaks so decided to construct an unmanned tower.
Unmanned tower strategy TURRA 30
TURRA, due to the fact that that's what the tower was named, passed its premiere at the IDET in 2012 as part of the proposed BVP-1 modernization with designation MGC-1. A year later, it besides hit the most celebrated modernization of these cars, which was called BVP-M2SKCZ. At the very beginning, it was considered only as a possible weaponization of combat infantry vehicles in the BMP family. But then it changed thanks to plans to buy fresh KTOs for the Slovak army - at the beginning TURRA went to Rosomak and then to Pandura II. Over time, this tower was seriously curious in Czechs and Ukrainians, as evidenced by its installation and investigating on the BAE Systems proposed CV9030CZ. Although TURRA proved to be a small heavier than the weighing 1150 kg DVK-30, the biggest advantage is the switchover of the weaponry systems in the tower, although it is limited for now. Its first version was presented, being armed with an automatic cannon 2A42 kal. 30 mm and tank device weapon PKT 7.62 mm. Over time, however, another types of weapons were proposed. To date, the following weapons have been utilized for TURRA: - 2A42 automatic cannon (30 x 165 mm) - automatic cannon CZ30 (30 x 165 mm) - Bushmaster II drive cannon (30 x 173 mm) - NSWT tank device weapon (12.7 x 108 mm) - dense device weapon M2HB (12.7 x 99 mm) - Tank device weapon PKT (7.62 x 54 mm) - double-launcher ppk Fagot - double launcher ppk Contest - double-pppk Spike launcher (MR/LR/ER) The tiny price of this tower is rather interesting, due to the fact that it costs (without weapons) around EUR 600 000 - for comparison HITFIST-30P costs (with weapons) approximately PLN 4.9 millionand the price of ZSSW-30 is presently estimated at about PLN 10 - 11 million. Moreover, due to its mass, the tower can besides be utilized as a weapon for little armored vehicles, as illustrated by this year's MRAP Nimr 6x6. It is not a very common solution, but it can make Slovak construction popular. Summarum, however, is that the only vehicles that have been equipped so far with this tower are upgraded last year's combat reconnaissance vehicles BPzV Svatava, which in number 18 pieces They were armed by the Slovak army. However, there is simply a large chance that TURRA will besides hit the remaining 17 BWR, as well as any of the 81 ordered wheeled armored transporters to be created in Slovakia in cooperation with the Finnish Patria.
Technical data
Direction Poland
We first heard about TURRA at the minute PGZ attempted to get Slovak treatments by selling respective twelve KTO Rosomak to the local army. Local variant called ScipioHe was about to be equipped with this unmanned tower. Moreover, TURRA was offered to our troops as an "emergency option" to the USSR-30. Unfortunately, the Slovak transporters will not buy from us, and the HSW product has strong force from the MON, which is why it will take place. Of course, it is simply a large advantage for us that a national entity, in addition to having no experience in this respect, can make specified a complex product on its own, but it may be charged with the ZSSW in terms of requirements developed by MON and the mark price of the Polish tower.
Modernized BPzV Svatava, passing tests for the Slovak Army. It was equipped with TURRA 30. Nevertheless, it can be noted that despite the low tower mass, the vehicle's buoyancy reserve is small.
Nevertheless, the Slovak tower due to besides much mass ZSSW-30 could theoretically hit the Polish BWP-1. But their modernisation will surely not happen, and its sense at this point is heavy dependent on the planned number of ordered fresh BWPs, possible additional purchases of the Rosomaks, as well as possible reductions in the number of battalions in the Polish Army. Therefore, it is far besides early for specified judgment. Apart from possible integration on our vehicles, an interesting possible would be our aid in developing the tower system. Slovaks are inactive based on east small-caliber and small-caliber artillery ammunition, and our weapons plants have already moved on to western ammunition production. Moreover, device guns manufactured in Poland are a modification of east structures utilizing NATO standard ammunition. As a result, there would be no problem with the integration of the UKM-2000C or WKM-B, and the Polish manufacture could aid Slovaks to make a targeted export variant of TURRA, where we would be liable for the production of mark weapons. So far it would only be device guns, but in case of acquisition of a Bushmaster II licence (or another 30 mm tiny caliber cannon), it will be possible to extend the offer to include main armaments as well. In addition, our work could extend the ability to mount the main weaponry with a modified Bushmaster II, which uses more ammunition 40 x 180 mm. The Polish manufacture could besides effectively usage its products for optical and vehicle protection systems - French ASOP Galix could be replaced by a comparable Oper, while specified elements of the SKO as an IR camera or tv camera could be converted to Polish solutions in this respect. However, the deficiency of interest in Slovak products was 1 of many reasons why armoured transporters would have from Finland alternatively than from us.
Just a fewer more words about DVK-30...
When I talk about TURRA, it's besides appropriate to mention her manned counterpart. This is simply a much older design, due to the fact that the first variant of the tower called Cobra was first presented in 2002 as an component of the modernization package for BMP-1.
Manned tower strategy Cobra, armed additionally with the PKP competition launcher. Photo from IDEB 2003.
Thanks to the smaller weight (1050 or 1150 kg), the anticipation of utilizing this tower is much greater than for an unmanned tower. In addition to vehicles that can be equipped with TURRA, Cobra can besides be mounted on wheeled OT-64 armored transporters (known to us as SKOT) and BTR household cars. On the another hand, the ZTS peculiar has never utilized NATO-compliant weapons for DVK equipment, making the tower not modular like TURRA. In addition, the large disadvantage of this manned tower is that its operator has to thin out of the vehicle in order to be able to burden and usage a PPK launcher, which makes it more susceptible to hit during the fight and cannot simultaneously carry out automatic fire. For comparison, the TURRA 30 operator can execute both activities simultaneously from inside the vehicle. Unlike TURRA DVK-30 (or alternatively Cobra), he was successful in exporting, due to the fact that he was equipped with combat vehicles of the Sudanese and Azerbaijani army. In addition, the modernization package with DVK-30 is included in the offer of the Czech Excalibura, so there is simply a chance that the group of users will grow further. Bibliography - I'm sorry. TURRA 30 (forum.valka.cz) - I'm sorry. Modernizované BPzV - the most modern place - I'm sorry. NIMR Automotive from United arabian Emirates unveils its fresh JAIS 6x6 military vehicle at IDEX 2017 (armyrecognation.com)
