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00:16On this desert sand in the Middle East, modern weapons clash in a fierce and fiery contest.
00:24But this isn't a conventional battle. It's a duel between weapons developers for the region's
00:30lucrative arms market. In the Cold War era of weapons proliferation, battle lines between
00:43NATO and the Warsaw Pact were clearly drawn. But as this duel recedes into history,
00:51defense industries on both sides are faced with new dilemmas. To what degree should they
00:59fund new weapons technologies? Will today's relative tranquility last? Will there be a
01:09need to maintain robust defenses? The United States and most European nations continue to develop new
01:19weapons as insurance against an uncertain future. But as domestic markets shrink, many nations
01:27hope to sustain their defense industries by selling technologies abroad.
01:39countries of the Middle East present such an opportunity to foreign weapons developers. With very few local arms
01:48manufacturers, imported technologies are called upon to outfit well-financed armies of the region. And in an
01:58area where tensions continue to run high, there is a heavy demand for military modernization.
02:08In this episode of Arsenal, we will review the technologies that compete for the Middle Eastern dollar and see
02:15them in action as they compete in the Duel in the Desert.
02:25America
02:27In …
02:47In the mid-1990s Russian design competition,
02:51a principal new tank was selected for its potent blend of advanced firepower,
02:55modern electronics and armor protection. It is one of the brightest stars in the
03:00arms market today. This is the Russian T-90 main battle tank. Although it's called
03:08the T-90, this tank is actually an advancement of the well-known T-72. In
03:14the former Soviet Union, it was common to manufacture two tank models in parallel
03:19production. An advanced expensive tank was built at the same time as a less
03:24sophisticated, less costly main battle tank. This two-tiered approach was
03:29necessary in order to sufficiently equip the mammoth forces of the former Soviet
03:34army. The first high-cost tank was the T-64, later the T-80. Its low-cost economy
03:43tank since the early 1970s has been the T-72. Not only was the T-72 built in
03:50large numbers for the Soviets, but it was the primary tank exported to the members
03:55of the Warsaw Pact. In addition, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Algeria, Libya, and more than a
04:03dozen other nations made the T-72 one of the most widely used tanks of its
04:09generation. It was also manufactured in Poland, India, the former Czechoslovakia, and
04:15the former Yugoslavia. It is still in production in some of these countries.
04:21The T-90 is a radical departure from the tradition of economy established by the T-72. It adapts
04:28the best and most sophisticated features of the T-80U tank on a less expensive chassis, and
04:35its diesel power plant is less costly to operate than the turbine-powered T-80. Let's take a look
04:41at some of the features of the T-90, the latest in Russian tank development. The heart of the
04:47changes in the T-90 are in its weapon systems. It uses the same 125 millimeter smoothbore gun
04:54as the T-80U. This version increases accuracy by 20 to 25 percent compared to earlier models. A new gun
05:02has been developed which offers a replaceable chromium barrel liner to improve the notoriously short barrel
05:09life of early Russian gun tubes. But the biggest improvement in the T-90 gun is its ability to fire
05:15the new generation of ammunition developed by NIMI, the Mechanical Engineering Research Institute in
05:22Moscow. This ammunition includes a full range of armor-penetrating, fin-stabilized, discarding
05:28sabot projectiles using tungsten alloy and depleted uranium long-rod penetrators. Alternative types of ammunition
05:37include a new family of high-explosive anti-tank rounds, a round with a depleted uranium cone, and the
05:44world's first tank round with a triple charge system to defeat advanced reactive armor. NIMI has developed
05:51other innovative ammunitions for the T-90, including a high-explosive round designed to air burst over enemy
05:58infantry or anti-tank positions using a timed laser pulse. T-90 also fires the full range of Russian
06:05guided projectiles, such as the Reflex and the new Agona. No matter how powerful the gun, it is nearly
06:13useless without sophisticated fire control systems. The T-90 employs a derivative of the fire control
06:19system used in the T-80U, along with a new digital ballistic computer and wind sensor. Traditionally,
06:27Russian tanks have trailed their Western counterparts in night fighting and have been slow to adopt
06:32thermal imaging night sites due to their cost, as well as manufacturing problems associated with
06:37sophisticated sensors. But as the Gulf War of 1991 clearly demonstrated, thermal imaging sites are a necessity on the
06:45modern battlefield in order for tanks to find targets accurately at night or when smoke or fog obscures
06:52daytime targets. As such, the T-90 can be fitted with current Russian thermal imaging sites, such as the Agava.
07:00It has been widely reported that the T-90 is equipped with a T-80U turret, but this is clearly
07:07not the case. The T-90 does share a
07:10similar fire control and gun system with the T-80U, but the turret is based on the earlier T-72B.
07:18The T-72B turret was
07:20retained on the T-90 because it was the best protected contemporary Russian design. The T-72B uses a version
07:29of
07:29Chabam armor consisting of a basic steel armor shell, equivalent to 15 inches of steel armor, alternating layers of
07:36aluminum and plastics, and a controlled deformation section. In addition, the T-90 has a layer of third-generation
07:44Contact 5 reactive armor applique, offering a 34 to 57 percent increase in protection at a very modest weight cost,
07:53about 3 metric tons. This package gives the T-90 the equivalent protection of 32 inches of steel armor against
08:01kinetic energy penetrators, and the equivalent of 48 inches against shaped charge warheads common to
08:07anti-tank missiles. The T-90 is one of the first tanks with a defensive electronic system that combats missiles
08:15and other precision-guided munitions. Called STORA-1, this system has four elements, electro-optical dazzlers,
08:23laser warning detectors, anti-laser smoke grenade launchers, and system controls. The two devices on
08:31either side of the gun tube are electro-optical dazzlers that confuse tracking systems used by wire-guided
08:38missiles. This system is supported by four laser illumination sensors on the turret that warn the crew when
08:45enemy lasers are range-finding or designating targets. When enemy lasers trigger the sensors, STORA automatically
08:56launches smoke grenades to shield the tank and issues a warning to the crew of the laser designation.
09:12One of the main differences between the T-90 and the T-80U is in propulsion. The T-90 uses
09:19an 840 horsepower
09:20diesel engine, while the T-80U uses a 1000 horsepower turbine engine. A turbine powered engine generally offers
09:28more power for a given weight in space than diesel power, but tends to consume more fuel. Diesel engines,
09:35while more economical in initial purchase costs and operation, have only recently had their power outputs
09:41reach the level of turbines. After unfavorable experiences with T-80 turbines in the Chechen conflict,
09:48the Russian army selected diesel-powered T-90s. But this decision has not been universally accepted,
09:54and many Russian tankers still consider the T-80U to be the superior design.
10:10Many Russian tankers and Western analysts agree that the T-80UK is the finest tank in Russian service,
10:18based on its excellent engineering, highly integrated fire controls, and most notably,
10:23the automotive performance afforded by its 1000 horsepower turbine engine, nearly 20% more powerful
10:30than the T-90's diesel engine.
10:46As the T-90 has been selected as Russia's principal tank, the continued simultaneous production of two
10:52different tanks may puzzle post-Cold War Western observers. The reasons today are more economic than
11:00technical and technical in nature, the T-90 is produced in Nizhny Tagil and the T-80 in Omsk.
11:11If one of the plants were shut down in favor of producing a single design, its local economy would greatly
11:17suffer.
11:19As a result, Russian defense officials have chosen to produce the T-90 for domestic requirements,
11:25while offering the high-tech T-80 for export.
11:44The T-80 pioneered many of the features that are now found in the T-90.
11:51They share the same gun, fire controls, and store a defensive system.
11:56And though their armor protection is not identical, it is very similar.
12:04Like the T-90, the T-80 is fitted with a laminate armor hull and turret,
12:08and an applique layer of Contact-5 reactive armor.
12:29Although Russian tanks developed a poor reputation for armor protection in the 1991 Gulf War,
12:36Iraq employed older model T-72s, which had substantially less protection than the T-90s.
12:42in either today's T-80 or T-90.
12:52The new Russian tanks have armor protection approaching that of the best Western tanks,
12:58but in a substantially smaller and lighter vehicle.
13:11A more significant difference between Western and Russian tanks is long-range firepower.
13:34Western designers have preferred sophisticated computer-based fire control systems,
13:39supported by a network of wind and barrel warp sensors,
13:43ammunition temperature gauges, and other sensors.
13:47Such systems allow for outstanding accuracy, even when firing unguided ammunition.
13:58The Russians, though, prefer guided projectiles for long-range firing.
14:03The T-80 and T-90 both fire the reflex guided projectile,
14:08which has a high level of accuracy in ranges of 5 kilometers.
14:15The reflex contains an advanced 4.2-kilogram shaped charge warhead,
14:20which can penetrate the equivalent of 30 inches of steel armor.
14:25After the reflex is launched, the T-80's fire control system emits a laser funnel with the missile riding in
14:32the center.
14:39The frequency of the laser beam is modulated in different sectors around the funnel.
14:44So if the missile deviates off center, the onboard guidance system can make flight corrections accordingly.
14:53The reflex is reported to have an 80% probability of a hit at 5,000 meters.
15:01With a list price of $40,000 per round, most armies generally outfit a tank with an average of only
15:08four of these highly accurate but highly priced missiles.
15:20A close relative to the T-80 and T-90 tanks is the T-84 super tank.
15:28The main difference between the T-84 and its cousins is its point of origin, Kharkov in the Ukraine.
15:38The T-84 super tank highlights one of the national defense dilemmas in the former Soviet Union.
15:45Should the newly independent republics foster large defense industries?
15:49Lacking other viable alternatives, many of the republics have answered yes.
15:55Curiously enough, Ukraine had long been the center of Soviet tank development.
16:01The Melesha plant in Kharkov was home to the two most revolutionary tank designs in Soviet history.
16:08The legendary T-34 tank of World War II and the radical T-64, the best tank of the 1960s.
16:16Prior to the Soviet collapse, Ukraine had shifted to the production of a version of the T-80 tank called
16:23the T-80 UD.
16:31The T-80 UD combines the best features of the Russian T-80 and T-90, sharing their advanced fire
16:38controls and armor features,
16:40but with a locally developed diesel engine that offers both the power of the T-80 turbine with the economy
16:47of the T-90 diesel.
16:49When Ukraine split from Russia in 1991, it had no source for the T-80 UD turret castings and 125
16:57millimeter guns.
16:58But in the years since the breakup, Ukraine has regained these capabilities.
17:03A new welded turret was developed using German technology that offers somewhat better armor protection than the T-80 UD.
17:11The resulting tank has been dubbed the T-84 super tank by Ukraine.
17:17In 1996, Ukraine sold 300 tanks to Pakistan, making it a serious player in the international market for advanced main
17:26battle tanks.
17:39While many nations in the Persian Gulf seek to acquire the latest in tank technology, other countries are saddled with
17:46older but still functional models.
17:48An alternative to purchasing new tanks is the modernization of older versions.
17:54Ukraine is attracting users of the widely exported Soviet T-72 to a major upgrade called the T-72 AG.
18:03This upgrade substitutes the highly regarded Ukrainian 6TD diesel for the older T-72 engine,
18:11giving automotive performance approaching or surpassing many contemporary main battle tanks.
18:18Besides engine improvements, many countries are examining ways of making the T-72 the equivalent of the T-90.
18:28Slovakia has developed the T-72M2 Moderna upgrade, which uses a host of new advancements to update the venerable T
18:37-72.
18:45Tanks are not the only armored vehicles on today's battlefields, nor are they the only vehicles available on the international
18:53arms market.
18:53Many other vehicles, from self-propelled artillery to supply trucks, are needed to sustain an effective ground force.
19:02Of these vehicles, infantry combat vehicles are of particular interest, as they not only carry troops into the heart of
19:09the action,
19:10but many carry enough armaments to defend themselves without any additional support.
19:16The Russian BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle exemplifies this class of vehicles.
19:24The BMP-3 sets a new standard for firepower in its class.
19:30While most infantry combat vehicles are armed with autocannons in the 25-35mm range, the BMP-3 has a 30mm
19:40autocannon and a 100mm low-pressure gun.
19:52The BMP-3 is an attractive alternative for armies in the developing world because it combines the firepower of a
20:00tank with the infantry features of an armored transporter.
20:08As a result, the BMP-3 has been one of the leading success stories of recent Russian exports.
20:17The first export of the BMP-3 came in 1992 with the sale of 448 to the United Arab Emirates.
20:26The Emirates wanted an armored vehicle with heavy firepower that could support its newly acquired LeClaire main battle tanks from
20:34France.
20:41As a result, its BMP-3s, as seen here, are fitted with the same French Namoud thermal imaging night sights
20:48used in its LeClaires.
20:55Recent buyers of the BMP-3 have included South Korea and Cyprus.
21:00At the present time, more BMP-3s have been built for foreign clients than for the Russian army.
21:09The BMP-3 shares another firepower feature in common with Russian main battle tanks, its guided projectile.
21:16The vehicle's gun can fire a guided projectile as well as high-explosive ammunition, making it highly effective against enemy
21:25armor or helicopters at long range.
21:46While not of great concern in the Emirates, the BMP-3 is designed to be fully amphibious without preparation.
21:56While not of great concern in the Emirates, the BMP-3 is designed to be fully amphibious without preparation.
21:57The BMP-3 comes from the vehicle's European origins and the obstacles posed by rivers in temperate regions.
22:05The hull is buoyant by design and does not require sealing before water entry.
22:19Three features are employed to assist in water operations.
22:24A bow plane, lowered at the front to direct water away from the driver's vision devices.
22:33Rear hydro jet ports, which provide efficient water propulsion, and a small snorkel that automatically raises in the middle of
22:42the hull to prevent water from seeping into the engine compartment.
22:59The BMP-3 chassis serves as the basis for a host of other specialized vehicles, including a self-propelled 120mm
23:07artillery vehicle, a scout vehicle, recovery vehicle, and a missile-firing anti-tank vehicle.
23:25While there has been a long-standing debate between tankers over the virtues of diesel and turbine engines, other armored
23:32vehicle experts continue to argue the utility of tracked and wheeled vehicles.
23:42Tracked vehicles are widely favored in European climates, where snow and mud make it a rough go for similar wheeled
23:49vehicles.
24:11But in especially dry climates, wheeled vehicles are preferred for their higher speeds and economy.
24:27The BTR-80 is the latest in a long line of Russian-wheeled armored transporters.
24:32While the original vehicles in this class in the late 1940s were little more than trucks with armored bodies,
24:40contemporary wheeled armored vehicles represent a very sophisticated design.
24:46The BTR-80 comes in two basic varieties.
24:50The BTR-80 that uses a conventional turret with a 14.5mm heavy machine gun.
25:01And the new BTR-80 that uses an advanced turret design and an externally mounted 30mm autocannon.
25:32Older generations of armored infantry vehicles were designed to merely transport troops.
25:43A vehicle in this class, such as BTR-80A, allow infantry to fight from within its armored hull.
26:03Each infantryman is provided with a firing fork for his assault rifle and a periscope for aiming.
26:09A vehicle in this craft.
26:10A vehicle in this little brutal, which causes a weapon to be born.
26:29A vehicle in this experiment would be very helpful.
26:29A vehicle in this ship is dangerous.
26:30A vehicle in this event in this country is a vehicle for one-time two-time training.
26:30A vehicle in this vehicle and an emergency to take over the ship and to take over.
26:53The BTR-80A, like the BMP-3, is fully amphibious.
26:58It can easily forge small water obstructions, as we see here.
27:37The BTR-80A, like the BTR-80A, is fully amphibious.
27:38When faced with a river or small lake, the BTR-80 can swim across.
27:59Its hydrojet sucks in water at one end of the vehicle and jets it to the rear for propulsion.
28:23The BTR-80A, like the BTR-80A, is fully amphibious.
28:24The BTR-80A, like the BTR-80A, is fully amphibious.
28:35Oh, my God.
29:11With over 50,000 built, the M-113 is the most widely manufactured tracked armored personnel carrier of all time.
29:20While not the most modern in design, it remains a simple, economical vehicle for the modern battlefield.
29:27The sheer number still in service ensures that the M-113 will be on active duty well into the 21st
29:35century.
29:37Many armies are looking at ways to extend the life of their armored personnel carriers, with the German Bundeswehr being
29:44a good example.
29:45They fitted theirs with a new diesel engine and other upgrades that will extend its life for at least another
29:52decade.
29:53Not surprisingly, several upgrade programs are available, not only from Germany, but also from Pakistan.
30:01The M-113 has spawned many derivatives, including the substantially redesigned M-763 version.
30:09Although not built in large numbers for the U.S. army, this vehicle became the basis for several foreign manufactured
30:16derivatives,
30:16including the Dutch YPR-763 and the Korean KIF-V.
30:22The latest member of this family is a new version from Turkey.
30:28Turkey is relying on this well-proven chassis for a range of light armored vehicles,
30:34including the basic armored transporter seen here,
30:37an infantry fighting vehicle, a mortar carrier, and several other variations.
30:47Wheeled armored transporters are very popular in the Gulf due to its flat, rolling desert.
30:58These vehicles are used by National Guard and Border Security Units,
31:02while regular armies rely on heavily armored tracked vehicles.
31:08For the day-to-day duty of Border Patrol,
31:11wheeled armored vehicles offer both economy and ease of maintenance.
31:17The Pandur is a good example of a contemporary vehicle in this class.
31:29Pandur was developed in Austria by Steyr Daimler-Puch,
31:33the well-known automotive firm.
31:37The first prototypes of this vehicle were rolled out in the mid-80s for the Austrian army,
31:42who wanted a simple, economical armored vehicle for U.N. peacekeeping missions.
31:50The Kuwaiti National Guard selected the Pandur in 1996,
31:55issuing a contract for 70 vehicles with an option to expand the order to 200.
32:02This version is fitted with an American 25-millimeter Bushmaster cannon,
32:07the same weapon as the U.S. Army's Bradley fighting vehicle.
32:13Kuwait desired conformity between its National Guard's patrol vehicles
32:17and its regular army's heavy infantry vehicle,
32:20and fitted them both with the same gun.
32:26The Pandur, like many armored vehicles in its class,
32:30is of modular design
32:31and can be fitted with a wide range of weapons
32:35from light machine guns
32:36to 90-millimeter fire support weapons.
32:43It has many specialized variants,
32:46including air defense vehicles,
32:48command and communication vehicles,
32:50ambulances, and others as well.
32:57The growth of the export market has led many developers
33:01to customize designs specifically for their clients.
33:05A good example of this is GKN Defense's Desert Warrior.
33:10The Desert Warrior is a derivative of the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle
33:14used by the British Army.
33:16After the Gulf War of 1991,
33:19Kuwait expressed interest in acquiring the Warrior
33:22after seeing it in action.
33:25However, Kuwaiti requirements were different
33:27from the British specifications.
33:29They desired a weapons arrangement similar to the American Bradley
33:33with a 25-millimeter Bushmaster chain gun
33:36and a tow anti-tank missile launcher.
33:39So was born the Desert Warrior.
33:41The Desert Warrior substitutes the U.S. Delco Systems turret,
33:47originally developed for the U.S. Marine Corps' LAV,
33:50but is fitted with tow missiles.
33:52The result is a roughly 70% British and 30% American vehicle.
33:58This mix-and-match approach is increasingly common
34:02as export clients pick systems specifically for their needs.
34:06In August 1993, Kuwait signed a $740 million contract
34:11for the delivery of 254 GKN Defense Desert Warrior IFVs.
34:18Delivery began in 1994 and lasted through 1997.
34:27For heavy firepower support,
34:29few weapons can challenge the self-propelled 155-millimeter gun.
34:34Among the more novel configurations of such a weapon
34:37is South Africa's G6.
34:40Most European and American weapons in this class
34:43are based on track chassis.
34:46But South Africa selected a wheel chassis
34:48to accommodate its local terrain.
34:51The vastness of its country combined with dry rolling planes
34:55gives this wheeled vehicle greater strategic mobility.
35:04This point has been widely appreciated in the Gulf,
35:07where the G6 has proven very popular.
35:11The United Arab Emirates was the first foreign customer,
35:14purchasing 78 G6 guns in 1990.
35:17In 1994, Oman followed suit and ordered 24 vehicles.
35:25The firepower of the G6 is tremendous,
35:28as evidenced by this demonstration.
35:44In addition to self-propelled guns,
35:47South Africa offers other artillery weapons,
35:49such as the Bat-Lure multiple rocket launcher.
36:05This weapon combines two interesting features.
36:08The chassis of a mine-resistant transport
36:10with a multiple rocket launcher.
36:23One of the surprises of the Bat-Lure
36:25is the amount of shrieking from its rockets after launch.
36:29This may be an added feature
36:30for its psychological effect on nearby troops.
36:42Another multiple rocket launcher prominent in the Gulf region
36:45is the Russian Smirch.
36:47This massive system fires 300-millimeter rockets
36:50at ranges over 45 kilometers.
36:54Kuwait was the first country in the region
36:56to acquire this system, ordering 26 vehicles in 1995.
37:02Smerch rockets can carry a wide range of submunitions,
37:05including dual-purpose anti-tank, anti-personnel types,
37:09mines, and even the sophisticated MOTIV-guided submunition.
37:20The growing importance of peacekeeping operations
37:23has led to interesting forms of armored vehicles.
37:25An excellent example is South Africa's
37:29Kaspir mine-resistant vehicle.
37:32Anti-personnel and anti-tank mines
37:34have been a major problem facing peacekeeping forces
37:37as they prevent the use of roads
37:39for both armies and civilians.
37:42South Africa began facing these problems
37:44more than a decade ago
37:45and developed a unique solution,
37:48a relatively inexpensive vehicle
37:50that sacrifices its external parts
37:52to save its passengers inside.
37:55The armored body of the Kaspir
37:58is designed to divert the explosive force of a mine
38:01away from the passenger compartment.
38:04Vehicles of this design can be used in mine-infested areas
38:07with little fear of troops being injured.
38:10Damaged vehicles can be quickly and inexpensively repaired.
38:15Here, we see a mine-resistant Kaspir
38:18detonate a 7-kilogram anti-tank mine
38:20that blows off the rear wheels.
38:33A mine of this size would easily destroy most trucks.
38:39Quite remarkably, none of the several passengers
38:42in this Kaspir were injured.
38:46This Kaspir was repaired and returned to action
38:49in about 20 minutes, requiring minimal support.
38:59For this reason, the Kaspir is favored
39:02by United Nations peacekeeping forces.
39:07Another special-purpose vehicle is the British Aquatrap.
39:17Hold on!
39:20This multi-purpose utility vehicle
39:23is designed for operations in coastal areas.
39:36At home, on land, and in the sea,
39:39Aquatrack can transport personnel or equipment
39:41across waterways or along coastlines.
39:56It is particularly useful in combat engineer operations.
40:09Special forces operations since the Gulf War of 1991
40:12have found the utility of specialized equipment
40:15for such missions.
40:17U.S. and British long-range reconnaissance patrols
40:20have found lightweight scout vehicles useful
40:23in order to insert teams deep behind enemy lines.
40:36The advanced light scout vehicle seen here
40:39is typical of this category.
40:42The first designs were based on Baja dune buggies,
40:45a popular sport vehicle in the California deserts.
40:55With its unique suspension, the advanced light scout
40:59is well-suited for all-terrain travel.
41:01The frame is extremely light, enabling the vehicle
41:05to be airlifted by helicopter if necessary.
41:15The armaments vary considerably,
41:18usually including machine guns and grenade launchers.
41:24For other missions, including the Border Patrol tasks
41:28of National Guard units, more firepower is necessary.
41:34The Humvee all-terrain vehicle, armed with a Gatlin gun
41:37that fires hundreds of rounds per second,
41:40provides a formidable punch.
41:58Special forces also need specialized equipment
42:01for missions from the air.
42:03An Australian firm displayed new technologies
42:06for the insertion and extraction of troops by helicopter.
42:10In this simulated mission, two special forces troops
42:14are inserted into the area of a downed pilot.
42:17As they strap him into the rescue harness,
42:20the helicopter returns to quickly extract
42:22the rescue party and pilot.
42:48such a system is particularly useful for operations
42:51in rough terrain, where it would be difficult to land
42:54or when a helicopter cannot linger in a combat zone
42:57for an extended period of time.
43:22Special operations can not only be conducted
43:24from the land and air, but from the sea as well.
43:27The Manta fast-attack craft seen here demonstrates such a use.
43:43The Manta fast-attack craft seen here demonstrates such a use.
44:01This craft is designed for postal patrols,
44:04postal raiding, and the insertion of special forces teams.
44:17Capable of speeds over 50 knots, the speedy Manta is armed
44:21with a ring-mounted autocammer.
44:36The attack helicopter has become an indispensable weapon
44:40for modern armies.
44:41Its combination of heavy firepower and high speed
44:45makes it ideally suited for a wide range of combat missions.
45:00It has become a modern form of cavalry,
45:03serving as a commander's rapid reaction force.
45:18It has become a modern form of cavalry.
45:35It has become a modern form of cavalry.
45:35It has become a modern form of cavalry.
45:36Today, Russia's Black Shark is one of the more impressive helicopters to watch.
46:06The Black Shark was designed by the Camelot Design Bureau in the 1980s.
46:10In competition with the Mill Design Bureau's MI-28 Havok attack helicopter.
46:17With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the competition was never resolved.
46:22The Russian army has bought small numbers of both types.
46:25But a major purchase has yet to occur, and lacking a large domestic one.
46:30The Kamov Bureau hopes to attract foreign customers to its design.
46:39The Black Shark is unique among attack helicopters in several respects.
46:45It is the only current attack helicopter with a one-man crew.
46:49It was the designer's conviction that modern electronics and automation would make it possible for a single pilot to handle
46:56this weapon.
46:58By reducing the size of the crew, the overall size and weight of the helicopter are also reduced.
47:03This remains a controversial point, and Kamov is now testing a two-seat version of the Black Shark, the KA
47:11-52 Alligator, for armies preferring a two-man design.
47:20The other unique feature of the Black Shark is its counter-rotating blades.
47:26Most helicopters use a main rotor, teamed with a small tail rotor, to provide stability.
47:32Kamov has pioneered a counter-rotating blade design, that provides enough stability to eliminate the need for a delicate tail
47:39rotor altogether.
47:50The Black Shark is heavily armed.
47:53On its side is a 30-millimeter autocannon, the same weapon used on many Russian armored vehicles.
47:59But its most potent weapon is the long-range laser-guided Vicar anti-tank missile.
48:13It also carries many other weapons, including these general-purpose rockets.
48:28The threat posed by the attack helicopter has led many armies to improve their air defense capabilities.
48:35Few air defense systems rival Russia's new 2S-6 Tunguska.
48:39The Tunguska continues the long tradition of Russian air defense systems with its 30-millimeter guns.
48:46This system unifies two gun barrels on either side of the turret, giving the Tunguska a total of four 30
48:53-millimeter cannons that produce a remarkable amount of firepower.
49:11The accuracy of the Tunguska gun system is a result of its advanced fire controls.
49:24On the roof of the vehicle, a rotating surveillance radar acquires enemy air targets such as helicopters or aircraft, while
49:33a second radar set on the turret directs the guns.
49:36The Tunguska is also fitted with a pair of electro-optical sights in case its radars are jammed by electronic
49:43countermeasures.
49:45Attack helicopters pose a special threat to ground formations, since they fire very long-range missiles, far beyond the range
49:53of most anti-aircraft guns.
49:55As a countermeasure, the Tunguska is fitted with the Tragolnik anti-aircraft missile.
50:00This missile provides long-range punch to deal with the standoff helicopter threat.
50:05The vehicle carries eight of these missiles, which can also be used against ground targets in a pinch.
50:12Even though the Tunguska is likely to be the scourge of attack helicopters well into the next century, it has
50:18not enjoyed wide export sales yet.
50:20Its initial major order was from India, but the high capability of this system is certain to lead to future
50:27contracts.
50:48As a result of the breakdown in Cold War weapons acquisitions patterns, the international defense industry is developing a new
50:55trend,
50:55pitting traditional allies in competition with each other, and forcing old foes into cooperative ventures.
51:05It will be intriguing to see what developments emerge from the duel in the desert.
51:27The fascist from the
51:28Eux enfermedades
51:28Head of the Plans
51:32Theicians
51:37Learnih
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