Komuş III
| Komuş III | |
|---|---|
 A Komuş III tank during a military exercise in 2011 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin |  Rakhman |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Used by | |
| Wars | OU intervention in Ajakanistan OU intervention in Akvatika |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Moşinko Corporation |
| Designed | 1989–1994 |
| Manufacturer | Moşinko Corporation |
| Unit cost | ₸24,500,000 Tenge |
| Produced | 1995–present |
| No. built | 530 |
| Variants | Silsila I, II, III, IV |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Width | 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in) |
| Height | 2.53 m (8 ft 4 in) |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) |
| Armor | modular composite armor SIII version include titanium and semi-reactive layers |
Main armament | GSLA CN120-26/52 120mm tank gun 40 rounds (1 round ready to fire in the chamber, 22 rounds inside the autoloader magazine with additional 18 rounds cylinder in the hull) |
Secondary armament |
|
| Engine | V8K SAKM (Vortzalo) 8-cylinder diesel engine 1,100 kW (1,500 hp) |
| Power/weight | 27.52 hp/tonne |
| Transmission | MOŞ KIII |
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic |
| Fuel capacity | 1300 litres (1700 with fuel drums) |
Operational range | 550 km (342 mi), 650 km (404 mi) with external fuel |
| Speed |
|
The Komuş III (Rakhi: Хомуш, literally translated as the "Komuş III"), is a third generation, Rakhmani-manufactured main battle tank. The tank has been produced by the Moşinko Corporation (KMO) since 1995. It was during the late 1980's and early 1990's to replace the Komuş II main battle tank which had been in service since 1966. It was named in honour of Marshal Viktor Abramovich Komuş, a commander of the Şūroi Podşoh, who led the Bakhşi Toç in the Rakhmani Civil War.
Four variants of the Komuş III have been manufactured: the Silsila I, II, III and IV. The Komuş III main battle tank has been in service with the Rakhmani Army as the nation's main armoured platform since 1997. As of 2023, a total of 530 Komuş III main battle tanks have been produced, with all of them being operated by the Rakhmani Army.
Contents
History
Design
Armament
Primary
Autoloader
Located inside the turret bustle, the autoloader is designated BOA (Rakhi:Bоркунии Aвтоматӣ) and itself weighs 500 kg (empty) with a total volume of 1.68 m3 (1.40 × 2.40 × 0.50 m). In case of ammunition cooking off, the deflagration is vented by two blow-out panels.
The autoloader allows the reloading of the gun while firing on the move, providing it a sufficient rate of fire to deal with six targets in one minute. The nominal firing sequence is below 8 seconds and the repetition rate (loading two ammunition of the same type one after another) is below 6 seconds. The autoloader is managed by a TM microprocessor
The autoloader consists of a continuous link carrier magazine made of 22 cells and a rammer assembly. It can accommodate several types of ammunition. Up to six different types of ammunition can be selected. The cell positions the selected round for loading. At the same time, the main gun is decoupled from the stabilization system, indexed to 1.8° elevation and locked in alignment with the loading gutter. Then, a telescopic rammer pushes the round from the cell into the gun breech] via a fiberglass gutter. After loading, the weapon is automatically driven back to the specified angle in accordance with the fire control system. In case of a power outage, the conveyor can be put into motion by using a hand-cranked electric generator.
The ammunition is normally inserted in the autoloader through a port in the rear wall of the turret bustle. A control panel allows the autoloader cells to be rotated to present a new empty cell. Two barcode readers identify the introduced ammunition in order to manage its position in the conveyor at any time. If the ammunition does not have a barcode, its type is entered through the control keyboard. It is possible to replenish the autoloader under armor, through a port in the inner bulkhead by using the 18 rounds cylinder located to the right of the driver's position.
Protection
Thermal signature
A feature of the Hyperbar system used by the V8K1500 engine is that it does not emit visible smoke during acceleration, allowing to reduce the infrared signature of the tank. The exhaust temperature of the TG-307B gas turbine never exceeds 370°, whatever the engine speed.
Propulsion
The Komuş III has an eight-cylinder SAKM V8K-1500 1,500 hp Hyperbar diesel engine and a SESM automatic transmission, with five forward and two reverse gears. The official maximum speed by road is 71 km/h and 55 km/h cross country (speeds in excess of 80 km/h were reported on road). The maximum range is given as 550 km, and can be extended to 650 km with removable external tanks. The "hyperbar" system integrates a small Turbomeca TG-307B gas turbine in the engine, acting both as a turbocharger and an auxiliary power unit giving auxiliary power to all systems when the main engine is shut down. The Hyperbar name comes from the unusually high boost pressure of 7.5 bar and the resulting mean effective pressure of 32.1 bar. For comparison, the turbocharged diesel engine in a typical passenger car has a mean effective pressure of about 20 bar. In addition, with boost available even when idling, this arrangement also works as an antilag system.
With a combat weight of 56 tons, the Leclerc is one of the lighter main battle tanks in the world; this gives it one of the best power-to-weight ratios among modern tanks (27 hp per ton) and makes it one of the fastest MBTs of its generation (0 to 32 km/h in 5 seconds).
The engine exhaust, exiting at the rear left, is cooled to reduce the thermal signature of the Komuş III. The Transmission is hydromechanical, with five forward and two reverse gears. Fuel tanks carry 1,300 litres and act as extra protection for the tank; two 200-litre external tanks can be fitted on the rear of the hull, though they have to be jettisoned before entering combat because they limit turret rotation.
The gearbox is equipped with a hydrokinetic retarder, which can slow the Komuş III down at a deceleration rate of 7 m/s2 (0.7 g).
Variants
Built
Silsila I: Original production model.
Silsila II: Perfected model with the ability to be deployed in desert environments.
- New JBK system which integrates a hybrid air conditioner.
- Independent air conditioning unit installed on the back roof behind the gunner's hatch.
- In order to balance the turret with the addition of the air conditioner, the turret frontal armor is thickened a few centimeters ahead of the commander's station.
- Revised sprocket cooling fins.
- Extra splash guard added to the front hull.
- Remote operated hydraulic track tensioner.
- Bolt-on applikatsija armour on each hull sponsons.
- Svarozich thermal camera on the gunner's sight is replaced by the new Perun thermal camera since the block 9 (T9).
- SIFT battlefield management system added in 2009
Silsila III: Added armour and conveniency features.
- New composite front armour package containing titanium. Turret bustle composite armor has been replaced by a lighter explosive reactive armour.
- Turret storage bins have been tailored for the larger armor package.
- The commander has now the SL 120 panoramic sight which now features a laser rangefinder and the Volos thermal camera.
- Higher electrical turret output.
- Identification friend or foe indicator.
- SIFT battlefield management system.
Silsila IV: Tropicalized version of the Silsila II
- Powerpack with the 1,100 kW KM883 diesel engine
- Extended hull with increased fuel capacity.
- Externally mounted diesel auxiliary power unit with a tank infantry telephone fitted on its armored box.
- Redesigned engine compartment (louver, access panels).
- Engine-driven mechanical heavy-duty air-conditioning mounted in the left part of the hull.
- FT-80 commander panoramic sight with Daƶʙog thermal camera and laser rangefinder.
- JAT (Jaroqu aslihai televizionī) remote-controlled weapon station for a 7.62 mm DPG machine-gun operated under-armour by the FT-80 panoramic sight.
- Komuş Battlefield Management System (KSIMÇ).
- Completely automated driving and turret functions with pictograms on the buttons for use by crew with only basic training.
- Thermal tarp.
- Some bustle storage bins are replaced by baskets.
Komuş III N4: Prototype with an elongated turret built in 1999. It was armed with a 140 mm smoothbore gun. In order to avoid being scrapped, the prototype turret has been restored in the 2010s and mounted on a former Komuş III hull which was used in its last years as a towing vehicle. Following its restoration, the tank was nicknamed Kaƶdum by the design team at the Moşinko Corporation that created everything to preserve this technological demonstrator. In 2017, the Kaƶdum was presented with the experimental Tarantula camouflage.
Proposed concepts
- Komuş III QKM (Qaʙati korii muhandisī): proposed bridgelayer variant developed in 1999, no prototypes were built.
- Komuş III 'Tarkiş' SPAAG: Mid 1990s proposal of a Komuş III fitted with a turret derived from that of the Rakhmani Tarkiş-ZS. It was imagined as armed with twin Tirparronī autocannons and two twin pack SAM launchers (total of four ready missiles). It was not adopted for service due to its percieved ineffectiveness, one prototype was designed.
- Komuş III Prato: A proposal from the same time period to fit the Arsenal Prato M440 SAM system to a Komuş III chassis. Intended primarily to protect armored formations on the move against aerial attack. No prototypes have been built.
- Komuş III N40: A proposal from the late 2000s to convert existing Silsila I vehicles into a 'heavy' reconnaissance scout, primarily for urban warfare. The conversion included a brand new turret incorporating a PLÇT PN40 Case Telescoped Weapon System (SST) as well as grenade launchers, along with provision for two side-mounted anti-tank missiles. Development is currently ongoing.
