9K116-1 Bastion Manned Tank Weapon System

The 9K116 Kastet system with a laser-guided missile fired from the barrel of the T-12 100 mm anti-tank gun was adopted with the Soviet land forces in 1981. The system was developed by the Tula KBP team headed by A.G. Shipunov.

It was decided to begin the development of the guided weapon systems for the T-54, T-55 and T-62 tanks unified with the Kaschet system before the work out of it has been completed.

Two 9K116-1 Bastion systems compatible with the 100 mm D-10T family of T-54/55 and 9K116-2 "Sheksna" tanks and designed for T-62 tanks with 115 mm U-5TS smoothbore guns were developed almost simultaneously. The 9M117 missile was borrowed from the Kaschet complex without any changes, and in the Sheksna complex it was equipped with support belts to ensure stable movement along the barrel of 115 mm caliber. Changes were mainly in the case of projectile casings, which were redesigned to fit the gun cams.

As a result, within a short period of time and at relatively low costs, conditions were created for the modernisation of the third generation tanks, which ensured a multiple increase in combat efficiency and largely equalised the firepower of their upgraded models - T-55M, T-55MV, T-55AM, T-55AD, T-62M and T-62MV at long range with the fourth generation tanks.

The development of tank complexes was completed in 1983.

Later on, the Bastion and Sheksna tank complexes served as the basis for the development of the 9K116-3 "Fable" complex of guided weapons of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. At present, Tulamashzavod has mastered serial production of the upgraded 9M117M missile with a tandem cumulated combat unit capable of penetrating the jet armor of modern and advanced tanks.

Its western designation is AT-10 Sabber.

Composition:

Ракета 9М117

The 9K116 guided tank armament complex includes the following elements:

ZUBK10-1 shot with 9M117 guided missile;
Volna (wave) control equipment;
1K13-1 sighting device with 8x magnification of day channel and 5.5x magnification of night channel;
9C831 voltage converter.

The ZUBK10-1 controlled shot is close to its uncontrollable analogues - shrapnel-flagged ZUOF10 and ZUFO37. The ZUBK10-1 shot consists of a missile and a cartridge case. The casing is made of steel and has a screw bottom with a detonator. Inside the case there is a throwing charge, which informs the missile of the initial velocity of 400-500 m/s, a lattice shell, a centering ring and a tank with inert gas, which provides blowing and removal of the products of combustion of the throwing charge after the shot.

See the gallery of ZUBK10 gunshot images.

The ZUBK10 shot is a unitary loaded ammunition, which allows its use in automated warheads. The entire sequence of missile launch operations is automated.

The rocket is made according to the scheme "duck" with the placement in front of the cumulative combat unit 9H136M open backwards on the flight of the rocket aerodynamic rudders and air-dynamic steering wheel drive closed circuit with frontal air intake. To reduce the size of the solid fuel engine is made with the front location of two nozzles. In a tail part the main blocks of onboard equipment of guidance system with the laser radiation receiver are located. The wings opened by a special device are placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rocket and provide its rotation in flight. Guidance of the missile is semi-automatic along the laser beam.

The Volna (wave) tank automatic fire control system was developed based on equipment of the Kastet system. It is distinguished by the minimum weight and volume - 47 liters of additional blocks to be installed. The guidance system is well protected from various interferences and provides high accuracy of engagement.

Characteristics:

Range of fire, m	100-4,000
Rocket speed, m/s.	370
Flight time at maximum range, sec	13
Weight of rocket 9M117, kg	17.6
Caliber, mm	100
Length, mm	1,048
Swing of stabilizers, mm	255
Armor-piermeable, mm	550-600
Probability of hitting a target like a tank at maximum range	0.8
Battle temperature interval, °С	-40..+50

Testing:

The main elements of the ATACMS system were tested mainly at the White-Sands test site. The system received its baptism of fire in the desert storm. The ATACMS was used to destroy Iraqi army air defense batteries and communications hubs. During the operation, about 200 trucks and equipment were destroyed. The combat effectiveness of these systems has been quite high.