2A46 125 mm gun

Description

It was developed by the Spetstekhnika Design Bureau in Ekaterinburg in the 1960s originally for the T-64 tank. They were subsequently manufactured at Artillery Plant No. 9 in Ekaterinburg and Motovilikha in Perm. Other variations include 2A46M, 2A46M-1, 2A46M-2, 2A46M-4, 2A46M-5, and Ukrainian KBA-3 and Chinese ZPT-98.

The 2A46 can fire armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and high-explosive fragmentation (HEF) projectiles. The ammunition for the 2A46 gun is in two pieces: the projectile is loaded first, followed by a separate propellant charge.

The early versions of the 2A46 suffered from a relatively short barrel life, but this was rectified on the 2A46M-1 version. Depending on the version it offers 510.0 MPa or from the 2A46M-1 650.0 MPa Pmax chamber pressure.

The Ukrainian KBA-3 guns are based on the 2A46 gun. In addition, the Chinese ZPT-98 is based on 2A46M imported from Russia's T-72 or T-80.

Projectiles

Variants

Soviet Union and Russia

• 2A46 (1963): Used on T-64, T-64A and T-72. Basic model, connected to either AZ-172 or MZ-610 autoloaders with 2E23 or 2E28 hydroelectric gun stabilisers that both utilise the TPD FCS, with BV-72 or BV-64 mechanical ballistic calculators, that can fire 3BM15 APFSDS, 3OF19 HE-FRAG-FS or 3BK14 HEAT-FS.
• 2A46-1 (1976): Used on T-72A. Connected to AZ-172 electromechanical autoloader and the 2E28M2 gun stabiliser that utilises the TPD-K digitised FCS that can fire 3BM22 Zakolka, 3BM26 Nadezhda-R and 3BM29 Nadphil-2 APFSDS, 3OF26 HE-FRAG-FS or 3BK18 HEAT-FS.
• 2A46-2 (1973): Used on T-64B and T-80. The first "modern gun" of the series, with basic barrel sensors fitted for the 1A33 digital FCS with the 1V517 8x bit digital ballistic computer, connected to MZ-640 hydromechanical autoloaders and 2E26 or 2E28 hydroelectric gun stabilizers and can fire 3BM22 Zakolka, 3BM26 Nadezhda-R and 3BM29 Nadphil-2 APFSDS, 3OF26 HE-FRAG-FS or 3BK18 HEAT-FS as well as radio guided 3UBK12 Kobra GLATGM.
• 2A46M (1983): Used on T-72B. Mobilization model of the 2A46M-1, made for fast build T-72Bs to allow firing of more advanced munitions without added fire control additions for better accuracy. Added a thermal sleeve and connected to 1A40-1 digitised FCS with a 1V510 4x bit digital ballistic computer utilising the AZ-184 digitally controlled electromechanical autoloader and the 2E42 digitally assisted hydroelectric gun stabiliser and can fire 3BM42 Mango and 3BM32 Vant APFSDS, 3OF26 HE-FRAG-FS, 3BK29 Breyk HEAT-FS and 3UBK14 Svir GLATGM.
• 2A46M-1 (1983): Used on T-64BV, T-80BV and T-80U. The first real modernization, with more sophisticated gun and barrel sensors being added, a muzzle reference system would not be added as it's thought that by designers that internal position and temperature sensors combined with a thermal sleeve would be enough for enhanced accuracy, whilst long range shooting was dealt with the guided gun launched ATGMs. Improved barrel sensors that connect to 1A45 and 1A33-1 digital FCS with the 1V528 16x bit digital ballistic computer connected to MZ-643 digitally controlled hydromechanical autoloader and the 2E42M1 digitally assisted hydroelectric gun stabiliser and can fire 3BM42 Mango and 3BM32 Vant APFSDS, 3OF26 HE-FRAG-FS, 3BK29 Breyk HEAT-FS and 3UBK14 Svir GLATGM. (said to be the first Rh-120 analogue)
• 2A46M-2 (1989): Used on T-72S, T-72BA, T-72B3 and T-90 tanks. A simple upgrade. Allows for firing of 3BM48 Svinets APFSDS and the 3Sh7 Voron Anti Personnel Canister and is connected to the 1A40-2, 1A40-M2, 1A40-4 and 1A45T fully digital FCS utilising the 1V528 16x bit, 1V558 32x bit, Sosna-U 32x bit and 1V528-1 32x bit digital ballistic computers, all connected to the AZ-184 digitally controlled electromechanical autoloader and the 2E42-4 digitally assisted hydroelectric gun stabiliser and can fire laser guided 3UBK14M Refleks.
• 2A46M-3 (1990): Used on T-80UK and T-80UM. Allows for firing of 3BM48 Svinets APFSDS and the 3Sh7 Voron Anti Personnel Canister and is connected to the 1A45M and 1A45T fully digital FCS utilising the 1V528 16x bit and 1V528-2 32x bit digital ballistic computers using the MZ-643 digitally controlled hydromechanical autoloader and the 2E42-4 digitally assisted hydroelectric gun stabiliser and can fire laser guided 3UBK14M Refleks.
• 2A46M-4 (1995): Used on T-80BVM and Object 640. A more substantial upgrade with complete overhaul of internal sensors and barrel, with more durable materials used to greatly increase MPa. Utilises the 1A33-4 fully digital FCS with the Sosna-U 32x bit digital ballistic computer utilising the MZ-643A fully digitally assisted hydromechanical autoloader and the 2E42-4 digitally assisted hydroelectric or the 2E58 fully digital electromechanical gun stabiliser and allows for firing of 3BM44M Lekalko, 3BM59 Svinets-1 and 3BM60 Svinets-2 APFSDS, 3BK31 Start HEAT-FS, 3Sh8 Ainet Anti Personnel Canister, 3OF26M HE-FRAG-FS and laser guided 3UBK20 Invar, along with more sophisticated connections for 1A33-4 FCS.
• 2A46M-5 (1999): Used on T-90A, T-72M1M and T-72B3M. A more substantial upgrade with complete overhaul of internal sensors and barrel, with more durable materials used to greatly increase MPa. Utilises the 1A45T, 1A48 and 1A40-4 fully digital FCS using the 1V528-1, 1V558 and Sosna-U 32x bit digital ballistic computers all connected to the AZ-184A fully digital electromechanical autoloader and the 2E42-4 digitally assisted hydroelectric or the 2E58 fully digital electromechanical gun stabiliser and allows for firing of 3BM44M Lekalko, 3BM59 Svinets-1 and 3BM60 Svinets-2 APFSDS, 3BK31 Start HEAT-FS, 3Sh8 Ainet Anti Personnel Canister, 3OF26M HE-FRAG-FS and laser guided 3UBK20 Invar, along with more sophisticated connections for 1A45T, 1A48 or 1A40-4 FCS.
• 2A46M-1M (2016): Used on T-90M (2A82-1M offshoot, Utilises the Kalina/Proryv-3 all digital FCS (Armata downgrade for T-90M) with a 64x bit digital ballistic computer connected to AZ-185M2 fully digital electromechanical autoloader with the 2E58 fully digital electromechanical gun stabiliser, with advanced barrel sensors for the Kalina/Proryv-3 FCS and a dynamic MRS on top for firing 3BM69 Vacuum-2 and 3BM70 Vacuum-1 at long range with an added ammunition data link to fire the programmable 3VOF128 Telnik round)
• 2A82-1M (2014): Used on T-14 Armata. A Generational leap, completely new gun with the addition of a ammunition data link for programmable firings, sensors that allow the firing of radar and IR guided gun missiles and lastly a dynamic MRS for the firing of long range APFSDS and reducing the need for more regular boresighting, utilises the Kalina-Armata all digital FCS using the 1V577 64x bit digital ballistic computer connected to AZ-185 fully digital electromechanical autoloader with the 2E60 fully digital electromechanical gun stabiliser, can fire the 3BM69 Vacuum-2 and 3BM70 Vacuum-1 APFSDS, 3VOF128 Telnik Programmable MultiRole round, can also fire radar guided 3UBK21 Sprinter and infrared homing 3UBK25 Sokol-V)

Source:

China

• ZPT-98: Used on Type 96. Thermal sleeve with barrel sensors for FCS.
• ZPT-98A: Used on Type 99. Modern gun with modern sensors and a static MRS for long range APFSDS.

Ukraine

• KBA-3: Used on T-84. 2A46M-1 analogue. Slovakia

• 2A46MS: Used on T-72 M2 Moderna and PT-91M Pendekar

Tanks using the 2A46

The 2A46 has been used in numerous tanks, almost exclusively Soviet/Russian designs or foreign derivatives:

• Armenia
  • T-72A
  • T-72B
  • T-90S
• Azerbaijan
  • T-72A
  • T-72B
  • T-72AV
  • T-72 "Aslan"
  • T-90S
• Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh
  • Type 59G(BD) Durjoy
• • Type 96B
  • Type 99
• • M-95 Degman
  • M-84D
• • T-80U
  • T-80UK
• • T-72M4CZ
  • T-72M1
• • T-72SIM1
• Iran
  • Zulfiqar
  • Karrar
• Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg Iraq
  • Asad Babil tank
• • T-80U
  • T-80UK
• • Chonma-ho V (Ma)
  • Pokpung-Ho II & III
• • PT-91M Pendekar
• • PT-91 Twardy
• Romania Socialist Republic of Romania
  • TR-125
• • T-90
  • T-80
  • T-72
  • T-67 (125mm gun-armed T-62)
  • T-64 (after T-64A variant)
  • T-55M6
  • Obyekt 640/Black Eagle
• • M-84AS
• • T-90
  • T-72
• • T-84
  • VT-4
• • T-84
  • T-64
  • T-80
  • T-72
• • T-90S
  • T-90SK
• • M-84

Sources

• http://fofanov.armor.kiev.ua/

References

Notes

References

1. "Vasiliy Fofanov's Modern Russian Armor Page".
2. Charlie Gao. (20 December 2021). "Chinese Tanks Still Lag Behind Other Top Armies". The national interest.
3. 2А46ТО1. 125-мм танковые пушки 2А26, 2А46, 2А46-1, 2А46М, 2А46М-1, 2А46-2. Техническое описание и инструкция по эксплуатации. Часть 3. Боеприпасы.
4. Рособронэкспорт. (2003). "Каталог экспортного вооружения". «Интервестник».
5. А. В. Карпенко. (2001). "Каталог современного российского вооружения и конверсионной техники на международных выставках вооружений и военной техники (1992-2001 гг.)". «Бастион».
6. А. Хлопотов.. (2009). "Танк Т-72БА: посредственная модернизация или модернизация по средствам?". Техинформ.
7. Jane’s Ammunition Handbook 2001—2002
8. Суворов С.. (2003). "Танк Т-64". «Техинформ».
9. "Pokonać pancerz! Część III – dane amunicji APFSDS-T".
10. "Противотанковая управляемая ракета "9М119 9М117"".
11. ''А. В. Карпенко'', Ракетные танки, стр. 36
12. "Комплекс управляемого танкового вооружения 9К112 Кобра". Информационно-новостная система «Ракетная техника».
13. Энциклопедия XXI век. Оружие и технологии России. Том 12. Средства поражения и боеприпасы, стр. 185
14. Р. Ангельский.. (2006). ""Кобры" стерегут страну советов". Техинформ.
15. "Выстрел 3УБК14Ф с управляемой ракетой 9М119Ф". Завод имени В.А. Дегтярёва.
16. "Выстрел 3УБК14Ф1 с управляемой ракетой 9М119Ф1". Завод имени В.А. Дегтярёва.
17. "Overview".
18. "120mm and 125mm Main Guns".
19. "Ukrainian Tanks".
20. (2023-10-10). "T-72M2". Wikipédia.