VSM-1 mine system
VSM-1 is a Soviet helicopter-based remote mining system. It can be mounted on various variants of the Mil Mi-8 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 and was manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Production Association, which was renamed to Kazan Helicopters in 1993. It is still being produced and used today by the Russian Armed Forces.
Action
The VSM-1 system is made up of 4 containers, a PUM-1V control panel, a PKPI-1 control device, a PP-1V 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 mmWeight:- * Loaded container:
- * Empty container:
- * Control panel:
| Cassette | Mine | Number | Number in cassette |
| KSF-1 | PFM-1 | 8352 | 72 |
| KSF-1S | PFM-1S | 7424 | 64 |
| KSF-1S-0.5 | PFM-1 and PFM-1S | 8352 - 4176 PFM1 & 4176 PFM-1S | 36 PFM-1 & 36 PFM-1S |
| KPTM-3 | PTM-3 | 116 | 1 |
| KSO-1 | POM-1 | 928 | 8 |
| KPOM-2 | POM-2 | 464 | 4 |
- * Anti-tank:
- * Anti-personnel:
- * Anti-amphibious:
- Temperature range of use:
- Average density of the minefield:
- * High explosive: 3-5 pcs/m
- * Fragmentation: 0.2-0.3 pcs/m