The 1K17 Szhatie (Russian: 1К17 Сжатие — "Compression") is a self-propelled laser vehicle of Soviet origin. The platform uses a Msta-S chassis with a battery of laser projectors mounted in the turret. It was developed by the Soviet Union in order to disable the optical-electronic equipment of enemy missiles, ground and aerial vehicles.
The 1K17 Szhatie was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the Soviet Union attempted to keep the plans secret, the Pentagon managed to obtain drawings from defectors. Western intelligence services code named it the Stiletto. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the development of the Szhatie was abandoned, as the development and manufacturing of the laser projection system had become too expensive and unnecessary. Two of these "tanks" were tested, with one being scrapped and the other being displayed in the Army Technology Museum near Moscow, but without its laser projector.
Designedit
The "tank" used an intense laser beam to disable the optical-electronic equipment of the enemy vehicles. This was created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies, which made the whole system very expensive to produce. The optics that produced the laser were placed at the end of a silver coated spiral which helped amplify the beam and increase convergence. The energy to power the laser was provided by a generator and an auxiliary battery system. The lenses themselves were able to operate in different environments by moving metal caps closer to protect the lens. It was also equipped with a 12.7mm NSV machine gun to defend itself against attacks by infantry and air.
A similar laser system was also developed around the same time named "Sangvin", which was based on the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.[1]
Triviaedit
This vehicle has sparked a folk tale in Romania according to which Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu used "laser weapons" in 1968 against Russian tanks. It claims that, after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, Ceaușescu received a telegram from the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain stating that the country was a target for a large-scale attack. Believing that Russia would invade Romania next, especially after squashing the Prague spring, Ceaușescu ordered the deployment of Romanian troops to reinforce the border with the USSR and equipped them with the so-called "laser weapons".
There are no witnesses or evidence to support that this encounter was real or that such weapon ever existed.[2]
Referencesedit
^"Боевые квантовые генераторы СССР" [Military quantum generators of the USSR]. army-news.ru (in Russian). Армейский вестник. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
^Teodoreanu, Daniel (January 7, 2016). "TANCURILE RUSEŞTI topite de ARMA LASER a României, în 1968. Adevăr sau propagandă în SUPER LEGENDA COMUNISMULUI? Există informaţii, dar nimeni nu şi le asumă". evz.ro. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
External linksedit
Media related to Laser tank 1K17 at Wikimedia Commons
"Star Wars" Laser Machines of the Soviet Past
Secret Laser Devices of the Soviet Union
January 01, 1970
1k17, szhatie, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2012,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 1K17 Szhatie news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message The 1K17 Szhatie Russian 1K17 Szhatie Compression is a self propelled laser vehicle of Soviet origin The platform uses a Msta S chassis with a battery of laser projectors mounted in the turret It was developed by the Soviet Union in order to disable the optical electronic equipment of enemy missiles ground and aerial vehicles A preserved 1K17 Szhatie Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Trivia 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe 1K17 Szhatie was developed in the 1970s and 1980s Although the Soviet Union attempted to keep the plans secret the Pentagon managed to obtain drawings from defectors Western intelligence services code named it the Stiletto With the collapse of the Soviet Union the development of the Szhatie was abandoned as the development and manufacturing of the laser projection system had become too expensive and unnecessary Two of these tanks were tested with one being scrapped and the other being displayed in the Army Technology Museum near Moscow but without its laser projector Design editThe tank used an intense laser beam to disable the optical electronic equipment of the enemy vehicles This was created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies which made the whole system very expensive to produce The optics that produced the laser were placed at the end of a silver coated spiral which helped amplify the beam and increase convergence The energy to power the laser was provided by a generator and an auxiliary battery system The lenses themselves were able to operate in different environments by moving metal caps closer to protect the lens It was also equipped with a 12 7mm NSV machine gun to defend itself against attacks by infantry and air A similar laser system was also developed around the same time named Sangvin which was based on the ZSU 23 4 self propelled anti aircraft gun 1 Trivia editThis vehicle has sparked a folk tale in Romania according to which Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu used laser weapons in 1968 against Russian tanks It claims that after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Ceaușescu received a telegram from the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain stating that the country was a target for a large scale attack Believing that Russia would invade Romania next especially after squashing the Prague spring Ceaușescu ordered the deployment of Romanian troops to reinforce the border with the USSR and equipped them with the so called laser weapons There are no witnesses or evidence to support that this encounter was real or that such weapon ever existed 2 References edit Boevye kvantovye generatory SSSR Military quantum generators of the USSR army news ru in Russian Armejskij vestnik Retrieved 2018 03 04 Teodoreanu Daniel January 7 2016 TANCURILE RUSESTI topite de ARMA LASER a Romaniei in 1968 Adevăr sau propagandă in SUPER LEGENDA COMUNISMULUI Există informaţii dar nimeni nu si le asumă evz ro Retrieved March 4 2022 External links edit nbsp Media related to Laser tank 1K17 at Wikimedia Commons Star Wars Laser Machines of the Soviet Past Secret Laser Devices of the Soviet Union Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1K17 Szhatie amp oldid 1193904584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
