Russia defence & technology updates

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Despite all the efforts of the military industry, simple effective protection of tanks from FPV drones has not yet been invented. Therefore, the crews of Russian tanks install homemade protection against drones on their tanks. Sometimes the defense looks ridiculous, but these solutions work. The apotheosis of homemade defense was this design: the crew of the Russian T-72 tank simply covered the tank on all sides with shields. The design protects the tank from drones, but turret rotation and visibility are now limited.

 

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The Russian unit of Espanyol received a robotic turret with a Kalashnikov machine gun for testing. It is not known who produces the turret; it will probably become known after testing. Externally, the turret does not look like a handicraft product. Details in the video.

 

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Rostec demonstrated footage of factory tests of the Terminator BMPT at the test site; each combat vehicle undergoes them before being sent to a military unit. The Terminator BMPT is based on the T-90 tank chassis and is produced on a limited basis at Uralvagonzavod. The combat vehicle is armed with two 30-mm 2A42 cannons, four 9M120-1 Ataka-type anti-tank guided missiles with a laser guidance system and a 7.62-mm modernized Kalashnikov tank machine gun. In addition, the BMPT is equipped with two AGS-17 grenade launchers. The crew of the Terminator combat vehicle is five people.

 

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The Vepr-12 “Hammer” smoothbore self-loading carbine was received by the Russian engineering troops; they are already being used near Avdeevka in mine clearance groups. The soldier will talk about him further. The main area of application of the Hammer shotgun is the destruction of drones and the neutralization of anti-personnel mines. Russian smoothbore self-loading carbine Vepr-12 "Hammer, developed based on the design of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. The carbine is intended for hunting, competitions, self-defense, and also for use as a service weapon. Vepr-12 carbines are quite popular and are supplied to the armed forces of 17 NATO countries since 2012. The Vepr-12 carbine, 12x76 mm caliber, is equipped with a folding stock, has an elongated barrel, which increases the accuracy and destructive power of the weapon. The carbine can be equipped with a collimator, thermal imaging sight and other devices, it is equipped with a Picatinny rail. The carbine is designed for 10 rounds and has a mass of about 4 kilograms. The firing range of the Vepr-12 carbine is up to 100 meters. The price of the Vepr-12 "Hammer" carbine is about 70,000 thousand rubles or $750

 

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Rostec is accelerating the first serial deliveries of the newest anti-aircraft artillery system "Derivation-PVO" to the troops, industrial director of the State Corporation Bekhan Ozdoev announced on April 8. The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was created by Uralvagonzavod specialists on the basis of the BMP-3, and is a fusion of the combat capabilities of well-known ZAK "Pantsir-S" and "Tunguska". In the West, the complex was called a "hellish thresher". ZAK "Derivation-PVO" is the only anti-aircraft system in the world that hits air targets with 57-mm cannons and is equipped with artillery fire control equipment. For the first time, the complex was introduced in 2018. The Derivation-PVO anti-aircraft complex is capable of firing ammunition with controlled detonation for the most effective combat against air targets. It is known that in the head part of such a projectile there is a “steering mechanism” and folding rudders. In the aft part there is a laser radiation receiver and a folding stabilizer. The central part of the ammunition body is filled with explosive material, about 400 g. A guided projectile weighing about 2 kg is controlled by a laser beam. The 2S38 complex is primarily designed to combat UAVs, cruise missiles and aircraft weapons in the near zone; it is equipped with a passive reconnaissance and targeting system. The detection range of air targets is up to 10 thousand meters. The automatic cannon of the uninhabited combat module "Baikal" is capable of firing several types of ammunition, remotely detonated and controlled - at a distance of up to 9000 meters and an altitude of up to 4500 meters. The maximum range of destruction of ground targets and surface targets is 14,500 meters. Rate of fire – 120 rounds per minute. The complex is capable of operating in conditions of optical and electronic countermeasures from the enemy. "Derivation-PVO" can automatically "select" ammunition for a specific object, work autonomously and according to target designations from a remote command post. ZAK "Derivatsiya-PVO" reaches a speed of up to 70 km/h and has a range of up to 600 km, the crew of the complex is 2 people.

 

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The first batch of Su-35S fighters produced in 2024 was transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The aircraft underwent a series of ground and flight tests and flew from the airfield of the aircraft plant named after. Yu.A. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, to the place of service. The Su-35 has a low effective dispersion area; for example, the American Patriot air defense system sees the fighter only at a distance of about 70 km, instead of the standard 130 km. The Su-35 has an AL-41F-1S thrust vectoring engine, which began production in 2010 and is also installed on the Su-57 fifth generation fighter. The Su-35S made its first flight in 2008, the maximum speed of the aircraft is 2500 km/h, the flight range is up to 4500 km, and the combat radius is up to 1800 km. Combat load – 8 tons, service ceiling – 20 km. The service life of the Su-35 aircraft is 6000 flight hours or 30 years. Su-35S cost: from 80 to 100 million dollars.

 

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Gradually, news about drones and UAVs is beginning to displace traditional types of weapons, and every year there will be more and more of them. Information has appeared about a new Russian homemade remote-controlled robotic platform, which we previously showed, they are already being used by troops. Unlike many drones, this is already a working prototype. The ground drone is called NRTC "Courier", this project is being implemented with the support of military commander Chengis Dambiev and Boris Rozhin. Technical information can be seen on the screen. The “Courier” robot is multifunctional; it can be equipped with an AGS-17 “Plamya” grenade launcher, a “Kord” machine gun, RPG-7 grenade launchers, ATGMs, RPO “Shmel-M” and other weapons. The robot can use an unknown model of electronic warfare power up to 560 W. In addition, the robot installs TM-62 and TM-83 anti-tank mines, working as a mine layer. The robot has a camera mounted on a rod and has armor plates, but their thickness is unknown. The robot control range is up to 10 km, autonomy is up to 72 hours. The robot weighs 250 kg, is equipped with an asynchronous electric motor with a power of 6 kW and can reach speeds of up to 35 km/h.

 

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Episodes of assembly and testing at the test site of the Russian T-90M Proryv tank at the Uralvagonzavod tank plant. The plant currently operates three shifts, seven days a week. The production of T-90M Proryv tanks is growing, they are gradually displacing the modernized T-72B3 tanks from the assembly line, the number of tanks produced is not reported. The video shows episodes of the assembly of the T-90M “Breakthrough” tank, its transmission assembled at the factory, installation of the turret, and the autoloader of the carousel-type tank. The T-90M “Breakthrough” tank is constantly being modernized, it has already been reinforced on the nose bottom shield with additional armor for protection against mines, dynamic protection has been added to the turret, frontal protection has been improved, they say that there is already a new transmission. Improvements are not always officially reported. Each tank is tested at the factory test site, which will be shown at the end of the video. The main armament of the T-90M tank is a 125 mm smoothbore gun. The firing range of the gun with armor-piercing cumulative and sub-caliber ammunition is 4,000 meters, with guided missile ammunition - 5,000 meters, and with high-explosive fragmentation ammunition along a ballistic trajectory - up to 10,000 meters.

 

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Russian engineering units have begun using the new Patrol-IV armored vehicle. Armored vehicles of the "Patrol" family appeared in 2014, they are produced by the company "Astace", there are medical, police, military and special modifications of the vehicles. The Patrol-IV armored vehicle is built on the KAMA3-5350 chassis and has fourth class armor according to OTT 9.1.12. The crew of the armored vehicle is protected from damage by small arms of 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm caliber. Detonations of explosives weighing up to 6 kg, under the wheels of a car, or detonations of explosives up to 10 kg, two meters from the car. High molecular weight polyethylene panels are installed inside the machine to protect against splinters. The vehicle can be equipped with mesh and lattice screens for protection against RPGs. It is possible to install a turret with a machine gun. The vehicle is capable of carrying 11 people with a driver and is equipped with a KAMAZ-740.30 engine with a power of 260 hp. Load capacity 3000 kg.

 

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The Rybinsk Shipyard company and the Kalashnikov concern demonstrated the launching of the Russian hovercraft "Haska-10" of project 03660 onto the ice. The vessel was designed as a civilian transport, but the navy is also showing interest in this project. They plan to use it in the Arctic, Siberia and the Far East. The hovercraft was first shown in 2020 and is currently undergoing sea trials. Flexible skegs – rubber-fabric cylinders of high elongation – are attached to the sides of the vessel’s hull; this is the first time this has been done in Russia on ships of this displacement. The vessel is equipped with 2 1500 hp engines. and reaches a speed of up to 40 knots, has a range of up to 400 miles with an autonomy of up to three days. Total - vessel displacement is 45 tons, payload - 9.3 tons, crew 3 people.

 

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Engineers from the Kurgan enterprise MobiDik showed the Russian unmanned mine clearance system Chelnok. The Chelnok mine clearing robot is designed to make passages in minefields and is equipped with a UR-83P mine clearing unit. The remotely controlled robot sapper "Shuttle" allows you to make passages in minefields 6 meters wide and 115 meters long, consisting of anti-tank anti-track mines and anti-tank anti-bottom mines with a pin target sensor. The firing range of the mine clearance charge is up to 440 meters. The installation is controlled via cable, remotely or through a repeater on a UAV. The Chelnok mine clearance robot is equipped with two electric motors with a total power of 100 kW and weighs 1350 kg without the UR-83P. The Shuttle installation is capable of operating for up to 6 hours and reaches speeds of up to 50 km/h, with a cruising range of at least 30 kilometers.

 

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Tests of the Russian Ovod-S FPV drone with a target homing system were published by the developers; we have previously shown this drone. The drone is equipped with an on-board homing system "Square". The homing system is implemented through two types of tracking: algorithmic, which uses technical vision, and neural network, for recognizing objects by the drone. Having captured a target, the drone continues to track it and engage it, regardless of whether it is a static or dynamic target. The cost of early versions of the Gadfly drone, without a homing system, is about 40 thousand rubles or 480 dollars.

 

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Russian troops will include mobile groups to combat enemy drones. Mobile teams to combat UAVs will be armed with ZU-23-2 automatic cannons mounted on truck chassis, as well as pickup trucks equipped with heavy machine guns. The new units will also include electronic warfare equipment and smoke production vehicles. The vehicles will cover objects with a smoke screen that is impenetrable to both optical-electronic systems and UAV thermal imagers. It is worth noting that such mobile groups have been operating within the Ukrainian army for quite a long time; they are used to cover various objects.

 

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The Russian Ministry of Defense showed robotic equipment. Promising examples of military robotic equipment were shown in Russia. It is worth noting that this is not homemade military equipment, but factory products. New samples of military equipment were shown at the Patriot convention and exhibition center and were inspected by the Russian Minister of Defense. In total, more than 30 promising models of weapons, military, special equipment and military-technical equipment from 18 Russian industrial enterprises were presented. Reportedly, by the end of next month the first 30 prototypes will be manufactured for delivery to the troops. Models of military equipment are not reported. Multi-purpose robotic vehicles on wheeled and tracked chassis were shown. Equipment for transporting supplies, evacuating the wounded and using it as a platform for mounting various work equipment and weapons, a line of robotic multifunctional platforms. The head of the Russian military department noted that the presented promising ground-based medical robotic complex is in great demand and should be delivered to the troops as soon as possible.

 

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As part of this year's state defense order, guided ammunition for the Pantsir-S air defense system is being delivered to Russian troops ahead of schedule. Rostec reported this today; the supply is carried out by the Shipunov KBP. Earlier, a Russian ship armed with a naval version of the Pantsir-M air defense system confirmed its combat characteristics. Currently, more than 50 Pantsir air defense systems are used to cover objects on Russian territory from drone attacks; according to experts, this is still not enough. The Pantsir air defense system is designed for close-in defense of civilian and military targets, as well as for covering long-range air defense systems

 

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Russian robotic remote-controlled transport platform PGU-15 from DST-Ural. The platform is capable of transporting cargo weighing up to 15 tons on and off-road. It has been suggested that weapons can also be placed, but the manufacturer does not report this or technical details. The PGU-15 platform has fastenings for cargo and containers.

 

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Military personnel of the Russian army and the army of Tajikistan conducted a joint bilateral exercise to destroy mock terrorist gangs. According to the legend of the exercises, Russian crews of the Orlan-10 UAV and the Supercam UAV discovered enemy SUVs during aerial reconnaissance of the state border of Tajikistan. The exercises took place at the Kharb-Maidon mountain-desert training ground in the Khatlon region from April 15 to 18. The enemy was destroyed using Piranha FPV drones, Mi-8MTV5-1, Mi-24 helicopters, BM-21 Grad and Uragan MLRS, and 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled guns were used. The infantry was transported on Russian BTR-82A and Tajik BTR-80. T-72B3 tanks from Russia and T-72 tanks from Tajikistan also took part in the exercises. ZSA "Linza" ambulance armored vehicles were used. At the end of the exercises, in order to prevent the enemy from retreating to the state border and the complete defeat of illegal armed groups, a tactical airborne assault force was landed on the enemy’s retreat route.

 

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Assembly of T-80BVM tanks, inspection of the Omsktransmash tank plant. Footage of the visit by the Russian Minister of Defense to the T-80BVM tank production plant in the Omsk region. In the video you can see the assembly of T-80BVM tanks, gas turbine engines GTD-1250 or GTD-1500 at the Omsktransmash tank plant. The plant management reported that all T-80BVM tanks, while still on the assembly line, are equipped with the “Cape” camouflage system and a protective visor, also called a barbecue. It is worth noting that the tanks still do not have protection for the base of the turret and the engine compartment from FPV drones, these are the vulnerable spots of the tank, the main damage to tanks now occurs in these places. Despite the skepticism about the T-14 Armata tank, it is being produced and is being mastered by cadets; one of the new tanks will be shown at the end of the video, along with the T-90M Proryv tank, on which the Relikt dynamic protection was installed. The company’s management also reported to the minister about an increase in the production of heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1A “Solntsepek” by 2.5 times. This was achieved through the expansion of production capacity, the transition to a 24-hour work schedule and an increase in personnel by 1,200 people in 2023.
Summing up, the minister noted that the company promptly solves all assigned tasks. To date, the issue with the production and supply of new engines of higher power has been resolved.

 

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“The Kalashnikov Concern presented a new Russian UAV SKAT 350M. The drone is the result of a modernization of the well-proven Supercam 350 UAV, which often works in conjunction with the Lancet kamikaze drone; there is a video about all drones on the channel.
The UAV is designed for aerial surveillance, searching for objects in the optical and infrared ranges. The SKAT 350M UAV received a new design of the wing and control elements; its mechanical strength and reliability were improved. Many functions have been automated, an automatic operating mode has been introduced, and a new battery controller has been installed. A new target load has appeared, and technical solutions have been implemented to improve the functioning of daylight and thermal imaging cameras. A module with updated algorithms is also installed, providing target acquisition and tracking.
The SKAT 350M UAV is equipped with an electric motor and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h with a range of up to 100 kilometers at altitudes of up to 2000 meters. The weight of the UAV is 15 kg, the flight time is up to 4 hours, it is launched from a catapult.

 

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Repair of a Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 tank by Russian mechanics. Russian mechanics inspected a Ukrainian Leopard 2A6 tank made in Germany in 1999. Previously, the tank was used by the 47th separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Army; the tank ran over a mine and was abandoned in the Avdiivka direction, where it stood in a field for a long time due to problems with evacuation. The Leopard 2A6 tank was produced in Germany since 1997; when the tanks arrived in Ukraine, they were equipped with additional grilles to protect against cumulative ammunition. We are publishing an interview with mechanics talking about the Leopard 2A6 tank, they promise to restore the tank within 2 days, but judging by the damage, this will be difficult to do. Most likely the tank is being prepared for the May holidays.