Russian Military Technology : Updates and Discussions

Test footage of the prototype of the Russian kamikaze drone "Privet-82" has been published. The kamikaze UAV was developed by the novice Oko design bureau. The main project of the bureau is now the ultra-cheap Privet-82 UAV, within the framework of this project, the concept of using the Podkhvat drones has been developed. Let's explain in a simple way, soldiers on the front line do not always have drones, and it’s impossible to carry a lot of them, so drone launch pads are located in the rear at a distance of about 20 km, which serve several units on the front line. If a soldier on the front line notices an enemy, a drone is called from the rear, which flies to the front line in radio silence. On approaching the front line, the drone control is picked up by the operator, video transmission is turned on and the operator directs the drone to the target. The advantages of this solution are that soldiers do not need to carry a lot of UAVs and catapults with them to launch them, drones are used where they are needed in unlimited quantities. Drones will be controlled through repeaters, thanks to which the drone can fly very low above the ground and is difficult to intercept. The flight range of the current kamikaze UAV prototype has already reached 30 kilometers, while the payload is from 3 to 4 kilograms, and 5.5 kilograms are already being tested. The Bureau is also developing the "Privet 120" UAV with a payload of 20 kilograms. Small-scale production of the Privet-82 UAV has already been launched, 33 drones have been produced, but the designers need funding.

 

The hovering munition is equipped with American components. In particular, an NVIDIA Jetson TX2 single-board computer and a Xilinx Zynq chip. Note that Xilinx Adaptive, a developer and manufacturer of integrated circuits, is owned by US processor giant AMD.

Also seen in the photos the chip is developed by South Korean company SK Hynix. Many of the components used in the Russian company ZALA's barraging ammunition lack markings.

The Lancet was seized by the Ukrainian military after it failed to trigger and fell to the ground. Disassembly revealed that the kamikaze drone was equipped with a K3-6 shaped charge and an additional plastid charge located in the tail section.
 
Footage of Russian snipers training using the Russian 12.7mm ASVK sniper rifle has been released. ""Large-caliber Army Sniper Rifle" or ASK for short, was developed by JSC "Plant named after V. A. Degtyarev" and put into service in 2004. The rifle is designed to destroy lightly armored vehicles and equipment at a distance of up to 1000 meters, as well as enemy manpower at a distance of up to 1500 meters. In the video, a Russian sniper fires from it at a BRDM armored vehicle. The 6V 7 rifle is equipped with a 1P71 optical sight and a 1PN111 night sight. The rifle as a whole corresponds to the characteristics of foreign counterparts, but according to snipers, its optics still need to be improved. The rifle weighs 12.5 kilograms and has a 5-round magazine. The comments to the video show an example of the work of a sniper with an ASVK rifle in Mariupol.

 
Tank T-90M "Breakthrough" inside and the work of its crew. Footage of the equipment and work of the crew of the Russian T-90M Proryv tank has been published. The tankers with the call sign "Krepysh", the driver "Simba" and the gunner "Karas" spoke about their combat vehicle and showed the work of the crew of the T-90M "Proryv" tank.

 
Overview of the Russian MANPADS "Igla-S". Footage of the work of Russian military personnel with the Igla MANPADS has been published. The third-generation complex entered service with the Russian army in 1981, and since 1994 it has been exported to more than 30 countries around the world. MANPADS "Igla" has been repeatedly modernized, the most modern version of the complex is MANPADS "Igla-S". In addition to aircraft and helicopters, the 9K338 complex can also be used to destroy cruise missiles and UAVs flying at speeds below 1600 kilometers per hour. MANPADS uses a new 9M342 missile weighing 11.7 kg, with a 2.5-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. In the optical homing head of missiles, two photodetectors are used, which provide better selection of thermal noise. To achieve the maximum effect of defeat, the rocket is configured to hit not in the engine nozzle, but in the central part of the target. The probability of hitting a fighter-class target with a single missile is 80 to 90%. MANPADS "Igla" was used in all wars and has proven itself well. The complex is capable of hitting targets at ranges up to 6,000 meters and altitudes up to 3,500 meters. The mass of MANPADS in the combat position is 17 kg, the readiness time is 12 seconds. The price of the Igla-S MANPADS is 80 thousand dollars.

 
Overview of the Russian mortar 2B14 "Tray". Footage of combat work in Ukraine of Russian crews of 82-mm mortars "Tray" has been published. The 2B14 mortar was put into service in 1983 after tests in Afghanistan. To minimize the weight carried by soldiers, the mortar in Afghanistan was used even without a plate and bipod, the mortar barrel was simply held by hand. The mortar worked well, but insufficient strength of the lifting mechanism was revealed. The "Tray" mortar fires the same mines as the 2B9 "Vasilek" mortar, a link to it is in the comments to the video. The mortar has a fuse against double loading. The maximum firing range of the mortar is 3920 meters, the minimum is 80 meters. Rate of fire up to 24 rounds per minute, mortar crew from 2 to 4 people. The mass of the 2B14 mortar in combat position is 42 kilograms.

 
Overview of the automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 of Russia. Russian servicemen showed the preparation and firing of the Russian 30-mm automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame". The AGS-17 easel grenade launcher was put into service in 1971 and was first used in 1979 on the Vietnamese-Chinese border, the grenade launcher was also used in Afghanistan, where it received good reviews from soldiers. The AGS-17 grenade launcher tactically combines the properties of different types of weapons, the ability of mortars to conduct mounted fire, the high rate of fire of automatic cannons and the maneuverability of heavy machine guns. For aiming weapons, a PAG-17 mechanical and optical sight with a magnification of 2.7 is used, which allows direct fire at a distance of up to 700 meters. At night, it is possible to illuminate the sight scale using a special device. For firing, the AGS-17 can use several types of shots, among them VOG-17 and VOG-17M, the same ammunition is now being dropped from drones. The rate of fire of the AGS-17 grenade launcher is up to 400 rounds in bursts at a distance of up to 2100 meters, the grenade launcher uses boxes for 29 grenades, weighing 14.5 kg. The weight of the AGS-17 grenade launcher with a machine tool and a sight is 31 kg, the calculation of the grenade launcher is 2 people.

 
Overview of the Soviet howitzer D-1 used by the Russian army. The legendary Soviet howitzer D-1, model 1943, began to be used by Russian Wagner units in Ukraine. The 152-mm D-1 gun was produced from 1943 to 1949 and was actively used by Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War. The howitzer turned out to be successful and had good characteristics for its time, the gun was reliable and appreciated by artillerymen. The production of these guns in 1943 was able to be established in just 1.5 months, since the howitzer used mechanisms and solutions from other M-30 and ML-20 guns. The firing range of the gun is 12.5 kilometers, the rate of fire is up to 4 rounds per minute, the weight of the gun is 3.6 tons, the crew of the gun is 8 people.

 
A series of Russian homemade combat drones Autobot. Test footage of Russian homemade robotic platforms of the Autobot series. Beginning Far Eastern developers are constantly improving drones and now they are presented in different versions, we will show you some of them. Unfortunately, there are few technical details on drones, all versions are prototypes. Let's start with the Autobot 08 drone version, the drone is armed with PKT / PKM machine guns, the drone is also equipped with an RPG 7 grenade launcher. The drone is designed to hold defense in a given area and also storm buildings. The drone can also be used for demining, in particular, removing stretch marks. Next version, drone Autobot 06.2. The drone is equipped with 12 grenade launchers. Depending on the tasks assigned, RPG 7, RPG 18, RPG 26 and RPG 27 grenade launchers can be used. Judging by the video, it turned out to be a mini MLRS drone. The drone has a laser sight and an optical zoom, the range of the drone, according to the developers, is up to 100 km, how it is implemented is not reported. The third development, the Autobot 04 drone, the drone’s armament can change, the drone can also storm buildings and hold the defense of the area, technical details are not reported. The project of Russian combat robots is developing thanks to people's help

 
In Russia, the Central Design Bureau for Special Radio Materials has created a stealth material for the invisibility of aircraft. The new material absorbs up to 95% of the incident electromagnetic radiation of radars and significantly complicates the detection of an air object using radar equipment. In the process of creating a radio-absorbing material, several layers of fiberglass were interconnected. It is based on thin threads with a metal core in glass insulation. There are similar materials in the world now, but the existing types of aircraft stealth coatings require regular maintenance and restoration, which increases the cost of operating aircraft.

 
Footage of the launch of the Russian Forpost UAV has been published. The drone was developed in 2012 on the basis of the Israeli Searcher Mk II UAV, now the drone is fully localized and produced from Russian components and has Russian software. In 2019, the upgraded Forpost-R UAV was shown, and in 2021, the strike version of Forpost-RU. The Forpost-R UAV became one of the first Russian UAVs and surpassed the Israeli counterpart in performance. The drone was put into service as a temporary measure, but it turned out to be successful and its release was continued. The drone can conduct reconnaissance in almost any weather conditions and has a noise-resistant communication channel. The UAV can carry two KAB-20 satellite-guided or laser-guided aerial bombs and guided air missiles of the Kh-UAV complex for ground attack. UAV weighing 500 kg, carries a payload of up to 120 kilograms and can rise to a height of up to 6000 meters. The drone is equipped with an APD-85 engine with a power of 85 hp, which gives it the ability to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. The duration of the drone flight is up to 18 hours with a control range of up to 350 km. The approximate cost of the control complex and the Forpost UAV is about $7.5 million.

 
Overview of Russian guns MT-12 Rapier removed from storage. In Russia, on one of the echelons, 100-mm towed anti-tank guns MT-12 "Rapira" were taken out of storage. How the guns will be used is still unknown. Russia has about 526 guns of this type, Ukraine also uses them, there are about 500 of them, versions T-12 and MT-12. The MT-12 "Rapira" anti-tank gun was developed in the early 1960s and is an upgrade of the 100-mm T-12 anti-tank gun. The gun can confidently hit Leopard-1, T-62 and T-64 tanks. Advantages of the gun, versatility of use, low cost of ammunition, reliability, high rate of fire up to 10 rounds per minute. The gun can be deployed to combat position in just a minute. The MT-12 anti-tank gun is also capable of firing from closed positions. To do this, the gun is equipped with an S71-40 sight with a PG-1M panoramic. The firing range of the gun is up to 8200 meters. Calculation of tools from 4 to 7 people.

 
A Russian soldier showed a captured Ukrainian 40mm M320A1 grenade launcher of American production. The M320 grenade launcher was developed in 2008 by the German company Heckler & Koch to replace the US Army's 40mm M203 grenade launchers. The grenade launcher is mounted under the barrel of rifles or can be used by itself. The M320 can fire all NATO grenades - high explosive, smoke and flare. For him, experimental grenades with the GLUAS unmanned aerial system have also been developed; drones launched in this way can be controlled for 90 minutes at a distance of up to 2 kilometers. The effective range of the grenade launcher is 150 meters, the maximum is 400, the error at a distance of 350 meters, plus or minus 5 meters. The grenade launcher can have a sight of day and night vision. The cost of the M320 grenade launcher is $3,500. Weight 1.5 kilograms.

 
Modernized light tank Sprut-SDM1 of Russia. The Russian "Kurganmashzavod" announced that it is ready for serial production of the modernized self-propelled anti-tank gun 2S25M. The machine has passed state tests and is recommended for adoption by the Russian army. The vehicle was developed for the Airborne Forces as a replacement for the PT-76 light amphibious tanks. The design bureau that developed the vehicle did not have the authority to develop tanks, so the tank was designated as an "anti-tank self-propelled artillery gun." The 2S25 Sprut-SD machine was put into service in 2005, after many disputes it was sent for modernization, after which it received the 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 index. The upgraded tank is equipped with additional protection, gratings and armored screens, after which its weight has become 20 tons. The 2S25M tank is equipped with a 125mm 2A75-1 gun. The gun is stabilized in two planes, equipped with an automatic loader and provides a rate of fire of up to seven rounds per minute. The range of hitting a target with this gun is over 5 km. The tank also has a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and an optoelectronic suppression system. Tests have shown that the vehicle is not inferior in terms of firepower to tanks of the T-90 type, and in terms of mobility on land and water, it is at the level of the BMD-4M. The Sprut-SDM1 light tank has a crew of three and can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on land and up to 10 km/h on water, with a cruising range of 500 km.

 
Russian heavy bomb KAB-1500. Russian aviation began to use in Ukraine powerful corrected aerial bombs KAB-1500LG. The bomb is usually dropped from SU-24M, SU-34 and SU-35 aircraft, from a height of 1 to 8 kilometers. The KAB-1500LG guided aerial bombs are equipped with laser gyro-stabilized homing heads, and are guided from an aircraft equipped with a laser target illumination system, or using ground target designation. The KAB-1500 bomb, weighing 1.5 tons and having a warhead weighing 1170 kilograms, can penetrate 3 meters of reinforced concrete or 20 meters of earth. Accuracy of hit from 4 to 7 meters. The impact of such a bomb on Ugledarsky was caught on video

 
The Russian Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, and the project 1541 marine tanker Kama accompanying it, made a business call at the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. During their stay in Jeddah, the crews of the ships will replenish the reserves of fuel, fresh water and food that have decreased during a long trip. The last time warships of the Russian Navy made calls to the ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was about 10 years ago. The long-range sea voyage of the ships began in January 2023, as we reported earlier.

 
Russian plant of aircraft bombs FAB and ammunition. It is not often that you see Russian factories for the production of ammunition and bombs. The video shows the production process of FAB-500, FAB-1500 bombs and other ammunition at the plant. Such bombs are capable of destroying any reinforced concrete shelters, even if they are underground. In recent months, the Russian military-industrial complex has increased the output of ammunition by several times, the output of some types has been increased by 50 times, and Russian arms factories are working in three shifts.

 
Russian plant of Tigr armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers BTR 82. Personnel of the work of the military-industrial complex "Arzamas Machine-Building Plant". The plant produces armored vehicles "Tiger", AMN-590951 and BTR-82A. The new armored vehicle AMN-2 "Athlete" from the "Tiger" family of vehicles also got into the frame. Now the plant produces up to 40 armored vehicles per day, next year there will be 50 vehicles. The production of new Tiger armored vehicles is now very important, because despite the conflicting reviews, they turned out to be very tenacious. During a visit to the plant, the minister was shown a new double armor of advanced models of equipment that can withstand the detonation of two kilograms of TNT. The new armor for armored vehicles withstands armor-piercing incendiary ammunition, provides protection for the radiator, hood and other parts of armored vehicles.

 
Teachings of the armies of Russia and Tajikistan at the Harb Main training ground. The joint exercises of the armies of Russia and Tajikistan ended at the Kharb-Madison mountain range in Tajikistan, near the Afghan border. The exercises were held from 3 to 7 April. At the final stage, blocking and destruction of combat groups of a conditional illegal armed formation, as well as military operations aimed at restoring the state border, were practiced. “The basis of the Russian contingent was the military personnel of the Central Military District from the 201st military base.