Vietnam's upgraded anti-tank missiles allow penetration of 750-800mm of steel armor after breaking through explosive reactive armor (ERA).
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| Anti-tank missiles are currently one of the most effective weapons to destroy tanks on the battlefield. In the Vietnam People's Army, anti-tank missiles appeared in service (B72 missile type - Vietnam's designation for the Soviet Union's 9M14 Malyutka ammunition) since 1968 and have proven their excellent power by burning countless M41 and M48 tanks of the US Army and the Republic of Vietnam. Photo source: QPVN Channel |
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| However, the rapid development of modern main battle tanks, equipped with many advanced armor types, requires upgrading anti-tank missiles. Currently, the world has developed anti-tank missiles to generation 4 and continues to be improved and upgraded, considered the fifth generation. Meanwhile, in our country, the generations of domestic anti-tank missiles are still only at generation 1 (B72), generation 2 (9K111 Fagot). Photo source: QPVN Channel |
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| Faced with the urgent need to modernize anti-tank missiles, according to Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, Head of the Missile and Special Equipment Engineering Department (Army Engineering Department, General Department of Engineering) in an interview with the QĐND Online newspaper, he gave some good news: "Anti-tank missile complexes including ammunition and equipment (launchers, control stations) are in the planning for use until 2020 and the following years, and our Army is improving and upgrading technical and tactical features". Photo source: QPVN Channel |
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| Improvements focused on anti-tank missiles with tandem and thermobaric warheads. Photo source: Wikipedia |
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| Specifically, the improvement of anti-tank missiles in the direction of carrying dual warheads includes: Replacing the old warhead with a Tandem warhead (two explosive charges) and new propellant, keeping the missile body and the remaining parts intact. After the improvement, the missile is capable of penetrating 750-800mm thick homogeneous steel after breaking the explosive reactive armor. The speed of the improved missile is up to 135m/s and is capable of destroying new generation main battle tanks at a distance of 500m to 3,000m. Photo source: Wikipedia |
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| Improved bullets in the direction of carrying thermobaric warheads, including: Replacing the warhead and new propellant, keeping the missile body and remaining parts (control block, gyroscope, steering machine, electric ignition...) intact. When exploding, the bullet creates a pressure zone of 0.3 Bar, 7m from the explosion center and creates a stronger effect when destroying solid targets such as bunkers, closed fortifications, bunkers, buildings. The flight speed of the improved missile is on average 120m/s and is capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 3,000m. Photo source: Wikipedia |
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| The anti-tank missiles all have the same improvement in replacing the cruise engine propellant to increase the range and flight speed of the missile. The average speed of the improved missile increases by 12.5% and the flight time is shortened to about 3 seconds at maximum range. The replacement of the warhead ensures higher combat performance. QPVN Channel |
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| The missile's control system and launcher have also been improved, ensuring operation in manual and semi-automatic guidance modes. Photo source: QPVN Channel |
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| According to Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, currently, our Army has completed the implementation of phase 1 of the Anti-Tank Missile Improvement Project. The improved missiles have been successfully test-fired. The General Department of Engineering is preparing to organize a demonstration of the improved anti-tank missile to report to the leaders of the Party, State, and Ministry of National Defense. Photo source: Hawk26 |
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| According to the People's Army Newspaper, the Special Weapons and Missile Engineering Department directed and coordinated with technical forces of units to ensure the technical safety for live firing of improved anti-tank missiles on BMP armored vehicles of the Armored Corps. In the photo: BMP-1 of a foreign army is launching a B72 anti-tank missile. Photo source: Hawk26 |
According to Kienthuc
