Russia pushes airdrop anti-tank gun

The Volgograd Machine Building Joint Stock Company is hoping to export its unique 2S25 125 mm self-propelled anti-tank gun (SPATG) originally developed for Russian air assault units under a new sales push.

Close-up of the turret of the 2S25 125 mm self-propelled anti-tank gun clearly showing the banks of 81 mm grenade-launchers and the ejection hatch for the 125 mm 

stub cartridge cases in the turret rear. (Christopher F Foss)

The 2S25 - also referred to as the SPRUT-SD - has the firepower of the Russian T-72, T-80, and T-90 series main battle tanks (MBTs), but with a combat weight of only 18 tonnes it has greater strategic mobility and can be deployed in terrain inaccessible to heavier armoured fighting vehicles.

In essence, the vehicle uses automotive components from the BMD-3 airborne assault vehicle (AAV), which was also designed and built in Volgograd, following on from the BMD-1 and BMD-2 AAVs. Volgograd also developed the BMD-4, but quantity production of the BMD-4M was shifted to Kurgan (using parts from the BMP-3).

Future production of the 2S25 would be undertaken at the Volgograd facility, which retains all of the jigs and tools required from the production for the Russian Army.

The Russian Army 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun is uniquely air-droppable, air-deployable, and amphibious. (Christopher F Foss)

The 2S25 features an all-welded hull and turret, which provides protection from small arms and shell splinters all round, but with thicker armour over the front arc. The vehicle is rear-engined, with the driver seated at the front and a two-man turret in the middle of the hull.

As noted, its main armament is the 125 mm 2A75 smoothbore gun developed at Artillery Plant No 9.

A total of 40 rounds (projectiles and charges) are carried, 22 of which are held in the automatic loader, with the remainder to manually replenish the loader from a locker. The mix typically consists of 20 high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG), 14 armour-piercing, fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), and six high-explosive, anti-tank (HEAT) projectiles. It can also fire a laser-guided projectile - usually carrying a total of six - fitted with a tandem HEAT warhead.

A 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun is mounted co-axially with the main gun, fed by a store of 2,000 rounds, while two banks of three 81 mm grenade-launchers are mounted on the back of the turret.

The 2S25 also features an adjustable hydropneumatic suspension system that enables the driver to alter the ground clearance from 100 mm to 500 mm.

As well as being airportable and air-droppable, the 2S25 is fully amphibious with very little preparation and, according to the prime contractor, can also be used during amphibious operations.

It is propelled in the water by two waterjets low on the hull rear, giving a maximum speed of at least 9 km/h powered by the 2V06-2S diesel, which develops 510 hp, sufficient for a maximum road speed of up to 70 km/h.