Armored cars "Scorpion": description and characteristics

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Modern combat is fast paced. To win, troops must surpass the enemy not only in firepower, but also in the level of maneuverability. Often the success of operations depends on mobile groups solving "point" tasks. In view of this, the Russian Ministry of Defense is constantly replenishing the fleet of military equipment with new vehicles. So the Russian armored vehicles "Scorpion" from the corporation "Protection" were adopted.

Historical background

For the first time, the armored vehicle was presented to the public in 2011 at the international exhibition "Integrated Protection 2011". But the idea to armor the UAZ car (on the basis of which the armored car was designed) appeared in 1993. The first machines 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 design an armored vehicle for cash collection. Later, sensing the potential of armored vehicles, it was decided to develop models for powerstructures. This is how the Scorpion and Bulat armored vehicles appeared, the protective properties of which could not be surpassed by many foreign specimens. And in November 2016, after the successful completion of the tests, the Scorpion was put into service.

Tactical and technical characteristics

According to a representative of Zashchita, the car has unique cross-country characteristics and is capable of speeds up to 130 km/h on any off-road. The level of protection of the machine from mines, firearms and other weapons is at the level of class 5. The equipment protects the crew from explosives up to 6 kg in TNT.

The body of the car is a station wagon, the number of doors is 5. They open like 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 when he leaves the Scorpion armored car. Performance characteristics are not inferior to modern representatives of the class:

• max speed 130 km/h;
• ground clearance - 300mm;
• power reserve (possibility of movement without refueling) - 1000 km;
• curb weight - up to 4300 kg, full weight - 5 tons;
• load capacity - 1500 kg;
• dimensions - 519x215x206 meters;
• number of seats for the crew - from 5 to 8 people, depending on modification.

The layout of the car - front-engine, all-wheel drive, wheel formula - 4x4. As a power plant, a Polish diesel engine is used.produced by Andoria.

Armored car equipment

The power plant of the armored vehicle is represented by a Polish-made Andoria diesel engine. Currently, this is the only element supplied by a foreign company. At this stage, it is planned to launch the production of units at factories in Russia.

It is the engine that gives the Scorpion armored car such high maneuverability. The engine meets modern reliability requirements and has the following characteristics:

• torque - 750 Nm, or 1800 rpm;
• maximum power - 280 horsepower;
• transmission type - automatic, 6 range;
• volume – 6600;
• operating temperature range - from -50 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Motor for the Ministry of the Interior meets Euro-5 standards, has slightly reduced performance. To power the motor, two fuel tanks are installed (on the sides of the car) with a special filler - polyurethane foam. Tanks have the ability to "self-tighten", thereby eliminating any hole, preventing loss and ignition of fuel.

Armored car modifications

During preparations for state tests, armored vehicles of the Scorpion series received the LSHA index according to OKP codes - 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:

• armored car "Scorpion" LSHA-2B is positioned as armored;
• LSHA-1 special equipment has a tent roof, designed for operation in hot climates;
• The LSHA-2 armored vehicle is distinguished by the possibility of installing both an awning and a hard roof.

In addition, the name of the vehicle can complement the literal "2M" ("Scorpion-2M"). Such armored vehicles are designed for foreign. customers and other power structures. They have no fundamental differences in their design.

Purpose

Currently, the presented modifications of armored vehicles are operated by special forces and airborne troops. The LSHA-2B vehicle is designed to transport personnel and solve special tasks. Versions LSHA-2 and LSHA-1 are planned to be used for combat operations in hot or temperate climates.

In the future, the Russian Ministry of Defense plans to expand the scope of operation of equipment. So, soon the Scorpion armored vehicles will be adapted for medical and command and staff vehicles. The base of the car will become the basis for communication vehicles with radar facilities.

Booking

Car armor corresponds to class 5 GOST R 50963-96 and provides reliable protection against the 7.62x54R cartridge, which most armies of 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 crew seats.

With protectionthe V-shaped bottom copes well with mines - it has proven itself well in the course of modern hostilities. During the detonation of the explosive, the destructive effect of the projectile is redistributed, "slides" along the sloping walls, protects the crew from impact.

Scorpion armored vehicles do not have an armored engine. This is due to an increase in the total weight by 300-400 kg when installing protective modules, which will lead to a change in the class of equipment. The hull is equipped with an anti-fragmentation lining, which also serves as an additional barrier against bullets.

Mine resistance tests

During the tests, at the request of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, a Hybrid III dummy was placed inside the car. He made it possible to obtain data regarding the loads that affect the human body during the detonation of an explosive. In particular, the load on the spine and cervical region, sound pressure (including on the eyeballs).

These data are enough to form an idea of the state of the human body during the explosion. During the tests, a charge of 2 kg of TNT equivalent was placed under the Scorpion armored vehicles, with the explosion of which the models did an excellent job. In addition, 156 shots were fired from the Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD). All results met the requirements of the Ministry of Defense.

Crew seats

Scorpion weapons tests were not carried out for one simple reason - the Ministry of Defense has not yet finally decided oncar kit. In combat equipment, when the vehicle 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 places for the crew will be reduced to 4. This is due to the need to provide space for racks of ammunition. If the Scorpion armored vehicles are equipped with a remote fire module, the number of free seats will remain unchanged, but a “seat” 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 hatch for a machine gun. To accommodate the crew, separate seats were installed, which were reconfigured and re-equipped - the shape of the pillows and backs was changed, and the footboards were also modified. According to the “comfort” test, a person can spend up to 6 hours in such a chair without changing his position.

The crew seats are attached to the side wall, and the driver and commander are attached to the pillers in a slightly different way. Additional protection against fragments is provided by a shock-absorbing movable raised floor, which showed better efficiency in tests than anti-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 air ventilation in the cabin, it is possible to install a filter-ventilation device FVU-100A. But sheabsent in models manufactured by order of the Ministry of Defense. In such armored vehicles, the air is forcibly ventilated through an evacuation hatch. Even in the open position (in ventilation mode), it cannot be shot through.

Possible weapons

There is no exact information about the armament of armored vehicles. It is known that models can be completed in several versions:

• simultaneously two machine guns: "Pecheneg" and "Kord";
• combination of a machine gun and an AGS automatic mounted grenade launcher.

All weapons are placed on an open turret. Especially for the Kord machine guns, a box for 200 ammunition was developed. A significant disadvantage of such a weapon installation is the method of reloading - it is carried out outside.

It is possible to install a remotely controlled weapon module (DUMV), which was developed by the Display Design Bureau from Vitebsk together with the Degtyarev Kovrov plant. The module will be able to be controlled by both the commander and the operator, for whom there is definitely a place directly under the turret.

Air transportable

Scorpion armored vehicles can be transported in two ways. The characteristics of the mounts make it possible to move equipment on an external sling by MI-8 and subsequent series helicopters. For this, 4 hinges were installed, which showed themselves well during the tests.

Transportation inside cargo compartments is possible with Il-76 and An-124 aircraft, as well as with other models of air vehicles. The armored car can be parachuted from the air. This opportunity was implemented at the request of the commander of the Airborne Forces Shamanov. This requires platform P-7.

Prospects

By 2018, it is planned to fully equip special forces units with Scorpion armored vehicles. A certain number of models may go into service with internal law enforcement agencies.

In the future, Zashchita plans to take a leading position in the light assault equipment market, displacing the models of the VPK LLC concern. It is impossible to say what the Scorpion armored vehicles will be like in the future. The description of lightly armored vehicles is already a military secret.