Russian engineers have devised a new design for a tank gun barrel tube with a thickened multilayer casing. The development improves barrel protection against fragments, climatic effects, and reduces the risk of deformation during firing. The patent was registered in the FIPS database in January 2026.
The submitted documents show that the advanced tank gun barrel tube received a two-section casing with a central spacer. The design includes lock-fixed threaded attachments and an additional section that provides alignment along the entire length of the barrel.
The casing was proposed to be made thickened, with a multilayer structure. In a number of variants, armor-resistant steel and reinforcing materials are used, including Kevlar fiber. A small gap was left between the casing and the tube for temperature stabilization.
At present, in combat conditions, the outer surface of the barrel is exposed to fragment impacts, temperature fluctuations, and moisture. Damage leads to the appearance of microcracks and reduced accuracy. The new design lowers the risk of tube bending, reduces the effect of uneven heating, and extends the service life of the gun.
Interestingly, the casing includes technological openings for installation and removal. The central spacer can be made detachable — from two half-rings — to replace damaged elements more quickly without fully disassembling the gun.