Directions for ensuring the survival of railway and road transport rolling stock in warfare

Abstract

In the conditions of full-scale armed aggression, the transport system of Ukraine has become one of the priority targets for enemy fire. The issue of preserving the integrity and functionality of the rolling stock of railway and road transport is becoming critical for national security, since the stability of logistics chains and the defense capability of the state directly depend on the technical condition of the means of transport. Traditional methods of operation, designed for peacetime, have proven to be insufficiently effective in conditions of constant shelling, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and sabotage threats. The main scientific problem lies in the high vulnerability of the existing fleet of equipment to modern means of destruction, such as artillery shells, missiles and kamikaze drones. The research is aimed at overcoming the deficit of systemic solutions for the modernization of civilian rolling stock for wartime needs. The aim of the work is to scientifically substantiate complex technical and organizational directions that will minimize losses of equipment and ensure rapid restoration of transport connections after attacks. 

The work uses methods of system analysis, modeling of explosive effects and statistical processing of data on real damage to equipment in the combat zone. The authors proposed a number of engineering solutions: differentiated booking and shielding, protection of fuel systems, increasing the survivability of the chassis, installation of bulletproof double-glazed windows, booking of cooling systems and duplication of critical electrical lines, use of heat shields for exhaust systems and radio-absorbing grids to reduce the visibility of equipment in the thermal and radar spectra. 

The scientific novelty lies in the development of a comprehensive approach to assessing the vulnerability of rolling stock and the justification of modular protection systems that can be quickly mounted in the field. It has been established that the combination of technical modernization with digital fleet management and timely camouflage allows reducing the risk of equipment damage by 40%. The practical implementation of the proposed measures ensures economic feasibility by significantly reducing the cost of replacing lost rolling stock compared to the cost of protective equipment. 

Creating a sustainable transport system requires coordination between the railway and automobile sectors, the introduction of mobile repair teams, and a review of the standards for the operation of equipment in conditions of armed conflict.