Russia is testing new "Telnik" high-explosive fragmentation shells produced at Uralvagonzavod. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, General of the Army Oleg Salyukov, spoke about the successful tests of the shells as part of the T90-M tank's ammunition load in an interview with the newspaper "Krasnaya Zvezda."
As Salyukov noted, the "Telnik" developed by Uralvagonzavod is distinguished by "ready-made striking elements and air detonation at a given point in the trajectory".
That is, it is possible to control where the shell fragments will fly - forward to the target or in a circle. Also, the shell itself can detonate not immediately after reaching the target, but after a specified period of time or obstacle – this can also be controlled.
The "Telnik" shell, or ZVOF128, is a development of Russian engineers, similar to the standard ZOF26 high-explosive fragmentation tank shell. Uralvagonzavod publicly presented the ZVOF128 in India at the international exhibition of weapons and equipment Defexpo India 2016.
Due to its characteristics, it has few analogues among foreign competitors. "Telnik" is capable of replenishing the ammunition load of any Russian tank with a 125-mm gun, with adjustments to the fire control system in it.