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VSM-1 ( Russian: ВСМ-1—Вертолетная Система Минирования-1) is a Soviet helicopter-based remote mining system. It can be mounted on various variants of the
Generally, the helicopter crew performs the mining from an altitude of 30-150 meters, at speeds of 150-220 km/h. Depending on the type of mines loaded in the system, VSM-1 allows the mining of areas of 400-2000 meters in length, with a width of 15-60 meters. The mines are commonly used in tandem with bombing runs, preventing the enemy from properly navigating the ruins, resulting in more effective mine use.
VSM-1 ( Russian: ВСМ-1—Вертолетная Система Минирования-1) is a Soviet helicopter-based remote mining system. It can be mounted on various variants of the Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 (, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union, Soviet Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) in the 1960s and introduced into the ...
helicopter, particularly the Mi-8T and Mi-8MT. It is capable of deploying a range of high explosive and fragmentation mines.
The system was developed by the State Research Engineering Institute (ГНИИИ) and was manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Production Association, which was renamed to Kazan Helicopters
Kazan Helicopters, Joint Stock Company is a Russian helicopter manufacturing company based at Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan. It is one of the largest helicopter manufacturers in the world.
Its products include the Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-17 helicopter ...
in 1993. It is still being produced and used today by the Russian Armed Forces
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military of Russia. They are organized into three service branches—the Russian Ground Forces, Ground Forces, Russian Navy, Navy, and Russi ...
.
Action
The VSM-1 system is made up of 4 containers, a PUM-1V ( Russian: ''ПУМ-1В'') control panel, a PKPI-1 ( Russian: ''ПКПИ-1'') control device, a PP-1V ( Russian: ''ПП-1В'') electronics test panel and a container lifting & suspension system. Depending on the configuration, a Mi-8 equipped with VSM-1 can spray from 116 to 8352 mines in under a minute. This allows the creation of minefields with a density ranging from one mine per 5-6 square meters to several mines per meter, depending on the helicopter's altitude.Use
Generally, the helicopter crew performs the mining from an altitude of 30-150 meters, at speeds of 150-220 km/h. Depending on the type of mines loaded in the system, VSM-1 allows the mining of areas of 400-2000 meters in length, with a width of 15-60 meters. The mines are commonly used in tandem with bombing runs, preventing the enemy from properly navigating the ruins, resulting in more effective mine use.
Specifications
* Container size: 1884x410x630 mm * Weight: ** Loaded container: ** Empty container: ** Control panel: * Minefield sizes ''(up to)'': ** Anti-tank: ** Anti-personnel: ** Anti-amphibious: * Temperature range of use: * Average density of the minefield: **High explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...
: 3-5 pcs/m
** Fragmentation: 0.2-0.3 pcs/m
Combat Use
The VSM-1, along with other minelaying systems like the BMR-2 ( Russian: БМР-2), saw extensive use in theSoviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until it dissolved in 1991. During its existence, it was the largest country by are ...
. As a result, more than a million mines were dispensed across the territory of Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
.
Raid in Jalalabad
The mission was carried out in December 1981 and involved mining trails and passes on the border of Afghanistan with Pakistan. It was carried by two Mi-8MT helicopters of the 335th OBVP (from Rus. Otdelʹnyy Boevoy Vertolëtnyy Polk) helicopter combat regiment, escorted by two Mi-24B attack helicopters. However, the mission was led by a senior navigator of the Air Force of the 40th Army, who arrived from Kabul, and was unfamiliar with the area. He guided the helicopter's crew over the border with Pakistan and ordered the mines to be dropped there, essentially mining the territory of Pakistan. The helicopter crew realized their mistake as soon as they saw railroads, which were not present in Afghanistan at that time.Operators
*Former Operators
*See also
*PFM-1
PFM-1 () is a scatterable high explosive anti-personnel land mine of Soviet and Russian production. It is also known as a Flower Petal Mine (), Green Parrot, or Butterfly Mine. The mines can be deployed from mortars, helicopters and airplanes i ...
* Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until it dissolved in 1991. During its existence, it was the largest country by are ...
* Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation
* PMN mine
The PMN () series of blast anti-personnel mines were designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union. They are one of the most widely used and commonly found devices during demining operations. They are sometimes nicknamed "black widow" because of ...
* PTM-3 mine
The PTM-3 ( Russian: ПТМ-3: ПротивоТанковая Мина-3) is a Soviet scatterable self-liquidating shaped charge anti-tank mine. The mine's case is made up of a stamped steel body with notches in its side. The notches allow the min ...
Notes
{{reflist Land mines of the Soviet Union Military equipment introduced in the 1980s