Russia's Entry in the Remote Turrets Arena:
Epoch 30mm
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| Epoch 30mm Remote Turret |
Since the May 9th parade in Moscow, the new Russian Armored Vehicles and Armata MBT have been quite a hot topic.
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| Epoch 30mm Remote Turret |
On the new T-15 Heavy IFV, Kurganets-25 IFV and Boomerang 8x8, there was one big commonality and that was the Epoch Remote Turret.
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| Epoch Turret on T15 Heavy IFV |
Epoch Turret is developed by the KBP Design Bureau in Tula, Russia.
The turret is remotely operated from inside the vehicle and armed with a 2A42 gas operated, dual-feed 30mm autocannon and a coaxial 7.62mm PKT Machine Gun.
The 2A42 cannon has a maximum rate of fire of 800 and a muzzle velocity of 960 m/s.
The turret also has two Kornet-EM ATGM missiles on each side.
Kornet-EM is the most modern version of the Kornet missile system with three different warheads, a tandem HEAT warhead for tanks, a thermobaric warhead and a HE warhead. The most important capability is the automatic target tracker in the system that eliminates the gunner having to track the target until the missile impact. The range is also increased to 8-10km's.
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| Epoch Turret on Boomerang 8x8 IFV |
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| Epoch Turret Top View |
The ammunition for the main and coaxial guns are stored in bustle located ammoboxes. The 2A42 gun has a impressive load of 500 ready rounds with 340 of these being of the HE type and the remaining 160 being of AP type.
As you can see from the image above, the large hatch at the back of the turret is most probably for the reloading of ammunition. It leads me to think that there is probably no reloading from under armor for this turret.
The coax 7.62mm gun has 2.000 ready rounds which is also quite a feat.
The turret has all electric drives and has 2 axis stabilization capability.
The internal layout of the turret is shown below:
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| Epoch Turret Layout |
The turret has got two identical looking stabilized sights for the gunner and commander. A computerized fire control system is fitted with thermal imagers, day cameras and laser range finders for increased first round hit probability. All around the turret, laser warning receivers and smoke grenade launchers are located.
We will see if this new turret will be the universal turret for the new toys of the Russian Army.
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| Epoch Turret on Stand |
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| Rear Side of the Turret |