The state press agency TASS reported that Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport with the Sprut-SDM1 lightweight amphibious tank will necessarily take part in India’s tender for the delivery of light tanks and will even offer the technology transfer and, quite probably, the arrangement of local production of separate units and assemblies. All the munitions produced in India for employment with the T-72M1 and T-90S tanks can be used for the Sprut-SDM1 light tank. This light tank evokes great interest from the countries with complex geographical conditions that combine the presence of water obstacles, swamps, and mountains.
The Sprut-SDM1 (NATO named 2S25M) lightweight amphibious tank has been developed by the High Precision Weapons Company within the state tech corporation Rostec and is based on the Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun. The Sprut-SDM1 is designed to defeat tanks, hard-skinned material, and enemy manpower by airborne and amphibious landing forces. the tank has powerful weapon systems, a modern automated fire control system, state-of-the-art armor protection, robust engine and transmission, and efficient chassis. SPRUT-SDM1 is intended for fire support of units fighting against heavily armored materiel, destruction of enemy strongholds and fortifications, battle reconnaissance, and combat security.
The Sprut-SDM1 is equipped with a two-man turret armed with a 125 mm anti-tank gun. The gun is fitted with an autoloader, which ensures a high rate of fire of 6?8 rounds per minute with both conventional projectiles and rounds with guided missiles. It is completely stabilized in the vertical and horizontal planes and conducts fire with the same 125 mm separate case ammunition loadings that are used for the 2A46 smoothbore tank gun. With the fire control system featuring this stabilization of the elevation and azimuth, it also includes a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer that provides ever-changing data about the target.
Its main armament is capable of firing APFSDS, HE-Frag, HEAT, and 9M119 Svir/Refleks anti-tank guided missile ammunition. The main armament of the Sprut-SDM1 is a 125 mm smoothbore 2A75 tank gun, which is a derivative of the 125 mm 2A46 tank gun installed on Russian main battle tanks. This allows the Sprut-SDM1 firepower to be as powerful as the main battle tank and as maneuverable and amphibious as airborne infantry combat vehicles. For smaller targets there is a Remote Controlled Weapon Station with 7.62mm MG and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun mounted to the left side of the main armament that serves as the secondary armament of the 2S25; equipped with one tape of 2000 rounds.
The Sprut-SDM1 is based on the chassis of the BMD-3M armored vehicle, which is also produced by the Volgograd tractor factory and is in service with the Russian airborne troops. The weight of the tank is 18 tonnes, which is comparable to that of infantry fighting vehicles. Like the BMD-4M, the 2S25 features hydropneumatic suspension with a variable height clearance of 190–590 mm, which can be altered within 6–7 seconds to reduce visibility. The hydropneumatic suspension provides high smoothness while driving and dampens the recoil of the main gun. Suspension on each side consists of seven single rollers, four support rollers, a rear-wheel drive, and a front-mounted steering wheel.
While driving, the 2S25 can reach a top speed of 71 km/h per hour (44 mph) on an even road; the average speed being 45?50 km/h (28-31 mph) when driving off-road. Like many other Russian armored fighting vehicles, the Sprut-SD is completely amphibious and moves with the help of two water jets that allow it to reach a speed of 8–10 km/h depending on the state of the currents. The hull of the 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun is composed of welded aluminum armor with a composite skin to maintain a lightweight. The frontal armor protects against attack from 23 mm weapons at 500 m and small arms fire and shell splinters through the remainder of the vehicle.
