“Signal” All-Russian Research Institute (“VNII “Signal”) was established in Kovrov, Vladimir Region according to Decree No. 170 of April 19, 1955 signed by D.F. Ustinov, Minister of Industry of the USSR.
Nowadays the Institute performs research and development in the following areas:
- automated fire-control systems and combat vehicles for Artillery of the Land Forces;
- drives, laying and stabilization systems for artillery weapons, armoured vehicles, air missile/gun systems, launchers, antenna stations for the Land Forces, the Navy and the Air Force;
- navigation and survey systems for ground CVs and land-surveying CVs for strategic missile systems;
- hydrostatic transmissions, electrohydraulic control systems and hydraulic machines.
“VNII “Signal” ranks among the leading Russian developers of laying and stabilization systems for armoured vehicles, infantry combat vehicles, rocket systems, air systems, artillery systems, combat helicopters and naval ships. Most of the well-known armament systems (such as “Tunguska”, “Pantsyr-S”, “Smerch”, “Msta-S”, “Uragan” etc.) are equipped with the systems designed by the Institute’s experts. Lately developed ffrequency-regulated synchronous servo drives, static high-voltage converters, and controlled rotary supports have resulted in quantum leap of performance data of both military and commercial equipment.
Being the parent enterprise in navigation scope, “VNII “Signal” designed and implemented a new generation of tank navigation equipment TNA-3 and TNA-4, infantry combat vehicles, armoured personnel vehicles and combat reconnaissance patrol vehicles. Over 70 types of land vehicles of the Armed Forces are equipped with tank navigation equipment designed by “Signal” All-Russian Research Institute. The new generation of “Gamma”-family navigation equipment ensures time reduction, accuracy improvement and complete automation of navigation and survey missions for land combat vehicles. Fire control combat vehicles, “Iskander” artillery system and “Vena” SPG are already equipped with systems of the new generation.
As the general designer of artillery fire control systems, the Institute developed “Mashina”, the first domestic automated fire control system (AFCS) for self-propelled artillery. It was followed by “Faltset” AFCS, “Reostat” airborne reconnaissance and fire control CV, automated guidance and fire control system for “Msta-S” SPG. To date, “Kapustnik-B” and “Mashina-M” modern automated fire control systems, and automated guidance and fire control systems (AGFCS) of “VNII “Signal” design are in serial production. A modernization of deployed tube/rocket artillery systems has been started.
Development and design engineering of hydraulic drives, hydrostatic transmissions, hydraulic control systems, and various hydraulics for military and commercial systems are of high importance within the Institute’s scope of activity.
The most important hydraulic designs are:
- hydrostatic drives for rotating equipment of “Tunguska” and “Buk-M” systems, BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle, BMD airborne combat vehicle, “Beglyanka” armored recovery vehicle, “Sprut-S” antitank gun;
- elevation hydraulic drives for tank armament stabilizers;
- hydraulic drives for armament of “Tunguska”, “Grad”, “Tor” and “Smerch” systems, “D-219”, “Osa”, “Kinzhal” and “Universal” shipboard systems, “KA-50” helicopter;
- proportional electrohydraulics for metal manufacture;
- hydrostatic transmissions for “MKSM-800” and “PUM-500” small-size loaders;
- hydraulic stations for NC machine tools, automatic molding machines, forming presses for construction materials.
