The best military equipment. Promising and latest weapons of Russia: missiles, anti-tank, small arms
Unfortunately, one of the main impulses for the development of existing and the creation of new technology is war. Any military conflict gave a powerful impetus to the development of weapons, but the greatest contribution was made by the military conflicts of the 20th century. Many solutions first used in military equipment and weapons subsequently find application in civilian life.
Early 20th century
The first wars of the new century brought machine guns into the battle arena and created a new type of military equipment - the mortar, which first appeared during the Russian-Japanese War. The Japanese design school introduced a new type of high-explosive shells with increased power, thanks to which they won all the naval battles of that war.
During the interwar period, new war technology was created with an eye on the experience of the past. It was the experience of naval battles of the Russo-Japanese War that led to the creation of a new type of battleship - dreadnoughts.
First World War
The warring sides entered the First World War with rifles and horses. Just a few years later, completely new war techniques began to be used at the front - toxic substances, tanks, and aircraft for various purposes.
At the same time, means of combating new weapons began to appear - gas masks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery.
As new types of weapons developed, tactics for their use were developed and perfected.
The First World War revealed to the world such types of equipment as are known today, such as high-power long-range artillery, anti-tank rifles, and various automatic weapons.
Motorized military equipment was widely developed during the First World War. In addition to the already mentioned tanks, armored vehicles with cannon and machine gun armament, built on truck chassis, began to be used.
During the First World War, early examples of engineering equipment appeared, such as, for example, machines for digging trenches. Such installations significantly accelerated the preparation of defensive lines.
Interwar period and World War II
Already in the 20s, the active development of weapons developed during the First World War and the introduction of new solutions into their design began. Slow and lightly armored tanks radically changed in design and by the end of the 30s of the last century they became a means of lightning-fast offensive operations.
The USSR, which created many new types of weapons in the pre-war decades, did not lag behind the global trends of those years.
Soviet designers created such weapons as the T-34 and KV-1 tanks, modern Yak-1 and MiG-3 fighters, Pe-2 bombers and much more. The new military equipment was practically not inferior to its German counterparts, and in some respects even surpassed them.
Domestic military equipment passed the test with honor in the Second World War, which went down in history as the “war of engines.” The development of Soviet military equipment during the war progressed at an increasing pace. Already in the first year, multiple launch rocket systems “Katyusha” began to enter service, the equivalent of which no other army had.
In the first post-war years, there was not much interest in the technology and weapons of the Second World War. This was due to the general situation in the country and the impossibility of purchasing such equipment after being written off.
Many samples of equipment were irretrievably lost, but some of them were preserved in museums.
The largest collection of armored vehicles in Russia is located in the town of Kubinka near Moscow.
Interest began to awaken only in the early 70s, when collectors of old cars began to unite in various clubs. However, the sphere of interest of these clubs did not extend beyond automotive technology.
Nowadays, there is a growing interest in various equipment from the Second World War that took part in hostilities on the Soviet side or on the side of the Wehrmacht. Dozens of different search teams and workshops are engaged in the search and restoration of old military equipment.
One of the museums demonstrating weapons and military equipment of the ground forces is located on Poklonnaya Hill.
Post-war conflicts
After 1945, the creation and development of new war technology began, which was created taking into account the emerging nuclear weapons. All samples of tracked and wheeled vehicles were created taking into account possible action in conditions of contamination of the area with radioactive decay products.
For this purpose, various filtering devices were used to prevent radioactive dust from entering the machines. The first direct competition between military equipment of the USSR and the USA was the Korean War.
During this conflict, jet fighters of the latest models at that time - the MiG-15 and Saber - were massively used. During the Vietnam War, the brainchild of the American and Soviet design schools met again in the sky.
A little later, many famous examples of Soviet military equipment appeared - the T-55, T-62 and T-80 tanks. These vehicles were supplied to the armed forces of many countries and are still in service today. Another symbol of military conflicts of the second half of the 20th century was the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
The experience of operating US military equipment had a great influence on the development of the post-war industry of the USSR.
This was especially pronounced in the automotive industry. The experience of using Studebaker US6 army vehicles has shown the urgent need to create similar wheeled vehicles of domestic production.
Such vehicles under the designation ZiS-151 appeared immediately after the Second World War. Gradually, this technique began to be used in the civil service. Based on existing developments, Soviet designers were able to create a number of unique off-road army vehicles - GAZ-66 and ZIL-131.
In terms of cross-country ability, these vehicles will leave many developments of that time far behind. However, the price for such characteristics is a complete lack of comfort in the cabin.
Another important legacy of Lend-Lease was the two-stroke diesel engines that were used to equip post-war YAZ-200/210 (and later MAZ) trucks.
Initially, the American diesel GM was created to equip light army equipment. Domestic motors remained in production until the end of the 80s and were used to drive various mobile power plants.
Collapse of the USSR
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a fairly long period of stagnation began in the development of weapons and the army.
The troops of Russia and the CIS countries were content with the remnants of military equipment of the USSR, which remained in large quantities in various warehouses. But the existing weapons fleet quickly became outdated and, without a stable supply of spare parts for military equipment, broke down.
Almost 10 years and two bloody wars in Chechnya had to pass before the need to modernize the army was realized.
Since the beginning of the 2000s, active decommissioning of military equipment that has reached its end of life and the supply of new ones, which were manufactured anew or came from long-term storage bases, began.
Rearmament
The Russian armed forces today are very different from the army equipment of the early 2000s. The existing arsenal of weapons and military equipment is constantly being updated with new and modernized models.
According to experts, by 2020 at least 70% of the existing arsenals should be updated, for which it is planned to spend at least 19 trillion rubles. However, existing difficulties with financing may shift the timetable for rearmament to the distant future.
Thus, in December 2017, a decision was made to temporarily suspend work on the promising Barguzin rail-mounted missile system. Further prospects for the development of this unique and paradoxical type of military equipment remain in question.
It is planned to create several dozen different types of aircraft (including the new fifth generation fighters) and helicopters.
The total supply of such equipment should exceed 1,500 pieces.
Moreover, many helicopters are dual-use military equipment, since they can be used for military or civilian purposes. At the beginning of December 2017, the new generation Su-57 fighter, equipped with a new promising turbojet engine, made a test flight.
Particular attention is paid to light military vehicles intended for the delivery of personnel and fire support for attacking units. One example of such equipment is the Kornet-D complex, installed on the chassis of the Tiger armored vehicle.
Another direction in the development of wheeled warfare vehicles are multi-axle vehicles used for the delivery and launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
To popularize various types of weapons, a permanent exhibition of military equipment has been organized at VDNKh. Everyone can freely visit this exhibition and get acquainted with the exhibits, among which is the Shilka anti-aircraft gun.
This installation became the world's first complex capable of repelling attacks from aircraft moving at high speeds at low altitudes. Also among the exhibits are the Buk and Osa anti-aircraft systems.
Prospects
The military equipment of the future is created not only on the basis of existing technical and technological solutions. One of the new directions is the use of an electromagnetic field for firing from artillery and small arms.
Such samples of US military equipment have already passed the first tests, which confirmed the viability of the idea. Another option for accelerating bullets is centrifugal force. Such technology can theoretically provide a rate of fire of over 100 thousand rounds per minute. At the same time, the weapon is absolutely silent and does not reveal its location by flashes of shots.
The disadvantage of the scheme is the very large dimensions and difficulties in controlling such installations.
Classic firearms are not lagging behind in development. Instead of all-metal bullets, the possibility of using products with a built-in guidance system is being considered.
At the moment, prototypes of 12.7 mm bullets with a trajectory correction system have been created.
Another way to hit targets is a laser beam. The US Navy conducted a demonstration of this type of weapon. According to American representatives, the army laser can cut a steel sheet up to 6 meters in length in a second.
In parallel, development of small-sized lasers adapted for placement on aircraft is underway. Such weapons could theoretically be used to combat enemy aircraft and UAVs.
While the introduction of such weapons remains a matter of the future, various laser equipment is widely used in welding various metals, making it possible to obtain thin and strong seams.
Another direction in the development of military technology is the use of unmanned systems. Small unmanned aerial vehicles are used for reconnaissance. There are prototypes of large drones capable of carrying various missile weapons.
The prospects for this type of weapon are quite high, especially considering the rapid introduction of such technologies on civilian equipment.
New concepts of warfare provide for the use of so-called non-lethal weapons. One type of such weapon is a sound vibration generator.
The operating principle is based on sound amplification through a resonator. The resulting shock waves temporarily disorient people. The principle of the influence of sound of a certain frequency, causing a feeling of fear and even panic in the enemy, has been studied. The psychological aspect is very important, especially with modern warfare.
It is proposed to facilitate the movement of infantrymen of the future with the help of special exoskeletons. Parts of such equipment are made of titanium and titanium-based alloys. The use of an exoskeleton makes it possible to increase the weight of the load carried by a person for a long time to 100 kg.
Any development of weapons contributes to the progress of conventional technology. All possible advanced weapon technologies are gradually finding or will find application in civilian technology - just as it was 50 and 100 years ago.
Any technology becomes obsolete over time, and some mechanisms are replaced by more advanced units and devices. Traditionally, the army not only does not remain on the side of innovation, but its modernization is one of the priority tasks of modern Russia. International competition in the issue of technical equipment for troops forces the introduction of new technologies in the production of equipment for the armed forces. Today we will talk about the current equipment and weapons of the Russian army, as well as what combat units will be added to our country’s military arsenal in 2018.
Modernization-2017
It is known that, starting from 2017, Russia has been modernizing the technical equipment of the army. The prospect of the next three years is the replacement of at least 70 percent of the equipment and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces with more advanced and powerful units
This year, part of the grandiose set of measures has been completed almost completely (several large deliveries of new army equipment are also expected in December). Since January, the Russian defense industry has produced and improved about 3,500 combat units for the ground forces and navy, including:
- 16 new warships;
- 190 modernized aircraft and helicopters;
- about 800 tanks and armored vehicles built;
- over 150 anti-aircraft missile systems;
- about 2,000 units of multi-purpose automotive equipment.
Let's take a closer look at the sections of equipment that are currently in service and underwent modernization in 2017, and also get acquainted with the new products of the Russian army, which are planned to be released in 2018.
Tanks and armored vehicles
Among tank equipment, the T-90 model traditionally stands out, having undergone more than one degree of modernization and being a leader in combat characteristics. However, this year the state order included the improvement of T-72BZ tanks. Thanks to the work done to modernize the model (additional armor, a new fire control system and automatic transmission), these tanks received a “second life” and, in some respects, are able to compete with the famous T-90.
In the category of armored vehicles, the Russian Armed Forces in 2017 received the improved BMP-3 (the model almost completely replaced the BMP-2 in service) and the BTR-82A (the modernized units were equipped with anti-fragmentation synthetic protection). Also, the ranks of airborne equipment were replenished with several copies of the BDM-4M and BTR-MDM (a distinctive feature of these vehicles is the fact that they can be dropped immediately with a crew on board).
Aerospace Forces
The defense of the country's aerospace space is a priority and most pressing task, therefore special attention is paid to the armament of the Aerospace Forces. Of course, the main event of recent years has been the production and subsequent delivery to the troops of the new generation Su35S universal fighter (4++), which is currently the most advanced aircraft in service with the Russian army.
In addition to the main “star,” the VKS continues to receive Su-30SM and Su-34 (modernized for “ground work”). The latter, by the way, are planned to be produced under government orders until 2020.
In addition, the arrival of improved models of MiG-31BM interceptors continues, on which colossal work has been done - the new aircraft have replaced the on-board equipment and systems responsible for controlling weapons equipment.
As for the modernization of the helicopter fleet, the production of Mi-28N attack vehicles is expected next year. These helicopters are distinguished by high stealth from enemy radars, improved armor and powerful weapons capable of delivering a targeted strike on ground targets. Also in 2018, it is planned to deliver unique Ka-52 vehicles - “Alligators” can hit enemy tanks, artillery and helicopters. The world's largest mass-produced helicopter, the Mi-26, also underwent modernization and was placed at the disposal of the Aerospace Forces updated.
In addition to the above-mentioned units of equipment, some military units of the Russian Aerospace Forces units were replenished with weapons in the form of special complexes equipped with drones of the “Pear”, “Granat” and “Forpost” types.
Strategic missiles
In such an important and very relevant category of army equipment as nuclear weapons, there is also a process of gradual modernization and updating of equipment. In particular, in 2018 it is planned to produce a completely new type of weapon - a railway missile system under the working name "Barguzin". Also, as part of the campaign to improve Russia’s nuclear military potential until 2020, the following pieces of equipment are being commissioned:
- RS-24 Yars(created with the aim of replacing the RS-18 and RS-20 ICBM complexes in the country’s arsenal);
- RS-26 Rubezh(produced since 2014 and gradually adopted by the Strategic Missile Forces; in the future, this complex is planned to replace the famous “Topoli”);
- RS-28 Sarmat(production of the first elements of the complex was launched in 2015; at the moment the project is in a state of implementation).
Anti-tank weapons
The modernization also included elements of anti-tank weapons. This includes both automotive systems and individual means of destroying enemy tanks. Today, there is a gradual change in technical equipment with the commissioning of the following improved modules:
- Kornet-D complex(vehicle-based anti-tank gun);
- Hermes complex(produced for arming the Ka-52 and Mi-28N helicopters; in addition, the production of this complex is carried out jointly with the Pantsir S1 air defense system);
- MGK BUR(individual anti-tank grenade launcher);
- RPG-32 Hashim.
Small arms
While not all possible military battles are fought through aerospace, individual small arms are still relevant, and their improvement is taking place.
In particular, the ADS machine gun attracts a lot of attention. The uniqueness of this model is that this weapon can be fired with equal success both on land and under water. It is also necessary to note the versatility of the machine gun - the shooter can fire equally from both shoulders. In addition, as part of the project to modernize the technical equipment of the Russian Army until 2020, it is planned to put into operation the following types of sniper small arms:
- SVLK-14S(a high-precision sniper rifle capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 2,000 meters);
- complex 6S8(among the advantages of this sniper complex, it is worth highlighting the lightness of the design, its compactness and firing range of up to 1,500 meters).
The modern Russian Armed Forces are strikingly different from the army that existed in the 90s and early 2000s. Today, the Russian Armed Forces are receiving the most modern weapons. By 2020, the latest models of military equipment and weapons in the Russian army should make up at least 70%. According to experts, over 19 trillion rubles could be spent on modernizing the army. Such a huge amount is provided for by the new state program on military-technical priorities and armament of the Russian army.
Prospects for the latest secret weapons of the Russian army
Rearmament of the army is not only the supply of already created modern equipment to the troops. In Russia, fundamentally new weapons are constantly being developed, and decisions are being made on their maximum development. According to experts, in the next decade the Russian Air Force will receive the latest types of weapons:
- over 500 aircraft of various types;
- over 1000 helicopters of various types;
- over 200 of the latest air defense systems, which will be integrated into a unified aerospace defense system;
- the latest fifth generation fighters;
- upgraded and new ballistic missiles for nuclear deterrence;
- the latest types of precision weapons - a variety of bombs and missiles with the latest guidance systems;
- new types of anti-tank weapons and new generation air defense systems;
- new small arms.
Automated troop control systems will also receive additional development. Perhaps in the near future Russia will have a super weapon that works on new physical principles. Currently, scientific developments are underway to create this super weapon. At the moment it has a "secret" status. Also, developments to create air-launched hypersonic missiles do not stop. They should appear before 2020. Hypersonic missiles will exceed the speed of sound by about 6-8 times. The first types of hypersonic vehicles should appear no earlier than 2030.
New nuclear strategic missiles
The basis of Russia's shield is strategic nuclear weapons. Its main representatives are the heavy liquid-fuelled ICBMs Sotka and Voevoda. Their service life has already been extended three times. Today they are being replaced by the Topol and Topol-M missiles, and promising new generation nuclear weapons are and will continue to be supplied.
— a small-sized grenade launcher system with a reusable launcher and a single shot. This anti-tank weapon was developed by the Tula Instrument Design Bureau, created on the basis of the RPO-M flamethrower. The BUR MGK was first demonstrated at arms exhibitions in 2010. This anti-tank weapon was adopted by the army in 2014. It has been mass-produced since the same year.
RPG-32 Hashim
SVLK-14S
SVLK-14S is an ultra-precise sniper weapon that can effectively hit targets at a distance of 1.5-2 km. This small weapon was created by Vladislav Lobaev. His companies Design Bureau of Integrated Systems, Tsar Cannon and the Lobaev Arms brand are the first in Russia to develop and produce long-range and high-precision weapons, from the stock to the barrel. According to Lobaev, the main tasks of Lobaev Arms are divided equally - this is work with the law enforcement agencies of Russia and the commercial component.
The most powerful small arms in terms of effective firing range from Lobaev Arms is the SVLK-14S sniper rifle. Initially, the SVL rifle was designed to accurately hit a target at a distance of over 2000 meters.
The SVLK-14S rifle provides very high accuracy when shooting. This small weapon allows you to confidently hit targets at a distance of up to 2300 meters.
Sniper complex 6S8
The 6S8 sniper complex is the leader among Russian large-caliber rifles. The 6S8 sniper complex was created at the plant named after. Degtyareva. This rifle was created back in 1997, but for a long time, due to various reasons, it was not mass-produced and was not put into service. Nevertheless, having worked on the mistakes and collected all the developments from the previous 10 years, the Degtyarevites managed to achieve the adoption of this rifle for service. This happened in June 2013. The ASVK large-caliber sniper rifle was adopted for service under the designation 6S8 sniper complex.
The 6S8 sniper rifle is designed to solve special problems of defeating lightly armored and unarmored enemy equipment, including openly located manpower, including group and other targets at a distance of up to 1500 meters. The rifle can use a specially created 7N34 cartridge, as well as the entire range of standard 12.7x108 mm cartridges. This large-caliber sniper rifle is structurally made according to the bullpup design. This made it possible to reduce the weight and dimensions of the weapon, ensuring increased compactness and maneuverability. Overall, this sniper rifle turned out to be quite reliable and simple, which is incredibly important.
Russia's new surface-to-surface cruise missiles
- The BrahMos complex with the SK310 missile is an anti-ship cruise missile or a special cruise missile against ground targets. Work on the complex began in 1999 in related design bureaus (for example, NPO Iskra). The rocket model was first shown at the MAKS-2001 air show. Tests began in 2001, and mass production began in 2004. The complex was offered for export. In 2006, the BrahMos missile was adopted by India. Many of its characteristics are identical to those of the Onyx and Yakhont anti-ship missiles.
- The KTRV hypersonic missile is a project to create the latest hypersonic cruise missile. Work on its creation has been carried out by the Dubna division of the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (formerly the Rainbow ICB) since 2011. When creating a hypersonic missile, test results from the Kholod-2 research project will be used, as well as the experience of creating the hypersonic experimental vehicle Igla. In August 2013, it was reported that the TRV Corporation had created a hypersonic missile, but it only flies for a few seconds.
- BrahMos-II is a project for a new hypersonic missile. The development has been carried out by NPO Mashinostroeniya together with the Indian company DRDO since 2008. The work was planned to be completed in 5 years. The BrahMos-II hypersonic missile was supposed to have a speed of 5-7M. In 2013, exhibition photos of the rocket model appeared.
- Zircon-S is a missile system with a hypersonic missile. The development of the complex has been carried out by NPO Mashinostroeniya since 2011. In 2012, there was a hitch with the design of the rocket, but since 2013, work has continued. In 2019, work continues, issues of creating materials, technologies, demonstrators, as well as the concept of combat use of the latest hypersonic missile are being resolved.
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MODERN SMALL WEAPONS
World practice shows that in recent decades the development of conventional means of armed warfare has reached a qualitatively new level. Under these conditions, the real prospects not only for solving combat missions, but also for the survival of personnel on a modern battlefield without modern equipment and weapons are practically reduced to zero.
In the new Russian Military Doctrine, attention is focused on the use of the latest means of armed warfare against the enemy: high-precision weapons, weapons based on new physical principles, unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous marine vehicles, bio-cybernetic and other systems. Russia needs a modern and well-equipped army with high combat power.
Various fire weapons are used to defeat the enemy, but small arms remain the most widespread. It is in service with all branches of the armed forces and branches of the Armed Forces. It is no coincidence that the Kalashnikov assault rifle is considered the “most important” weapon of the last 50 years.
The importance of small arms and portable fire support equipment is especially great in local wars, counter-guerrilla and anti-terrorist operations, which have become the main type of military conflicts of the modern era. In such conflicts, the
capturing the enemy's dispersed manpower is much more important than capturing or destroying infrastructure, and here small arms are indispensable. And in a large-scale war, it becomes the main means of destruction in battles in the city, in the forest, in the mountains, when the capabilities of other means are limited. Such conditions are usually referred to in combat regulations as “special battle conditions,” but this does not mean they are rare or exceptional. On the contrary, battles under such conditions are becoming more common.
Small arms, which are in service with the Russian Army and intended to solve combat and operational tasks, are classified as combat weapons. There are different approaches to the class and characteristics of modern small arms. One of them is its classification according to combat capabilities. Let's look at samples of military small arms in service with military units of the Russian Army.
Pistols
Pistols and revolvers are weapons of direct attack and defense at short distances - up to 50 m. Low weight and small size allow you to constantly carry these weapons with you and quickly open fire from various positions. Shooting is carried out predominantly with one hand - in fact, this was the main advantage of personal weapons throughout the history of its existence.
Most modern combat pistols have self-cocking (double-action) trigger mechanisms. This allows the first shots to be fired much faster if the cartridge is in the chamber. Self-loading pistols are used as service weapons by senior and senior officers, and auxiliary weapons by officers, privates and non-commissioned officers, and are widely used by special forces units. The most common combat pistols are 7.62-9 mm calibers with a magazine capacity of 8-18 rounds (Fig. 66). Figure 66 Makarov pistol
Revolvers have now been withdrawn from service in the armies of developed countries, but remain in paramilitary forces and the armed forces of underdeveloped countries. Revolvers are mainly used as police and civilian weapons. An important requirement for modern military personal weapons has become a reduction in size and weight, since for the owner it is usually an auxiliary load, and not the main one; increased shooting accuracy and penetration due to the widespread use of personal armor protection. An example of this is the appearance of Russian pistol cartridges with bullets of increased penetration such as 7N25 (9x18 PBM) or 7N31 (9x19 PBP) while maintaining the stopping effect.
Slot machines
During the Second World War, the problem of increasing the density of fire in close combat had to be solved with the help of submachine guns. But the war revealed the need for weapons that would reliably hit targets at medium ranges. Neither a low-power pistol cartridge nor an overly powerful rifle cartridge were suitable for this. The problem was solved by creating an intermediate power cartridge. On its basis, an automatic handgun with a replaceable magazine and variable fire mode was created, which over time became the main one. In the USSR and a number of other countries, this weapon began to be called an “automatic machine”, in the West - an “assault rifle”. Their first samples had a caliber of 7.5-7.62 mm. Initially, the difference between a machine gun and an assault rifle was not only in name. If the Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle (AK) was created for an intermediate cartridge (later called “automatic”), which made it possible to make the weapon compact and maneuverable enough for close combat, then NATO countries adopted a rifle-power cartridge and relatively long-barreled assault rifles for it (Fig. 67) .
Machine guns and assault rifles took their place in the center of a kind of “triangle” (between a rifle, a submachine gun and a light machine gun). With a mass of 3.5-4.5 kg, they have a relatively short length of 800-1100 mm, a combat rate of fire in bursts of up to 100-150 rounds per minute, are convenient for operations in various conditions, and are reliable.
In the 1960s An important change occurred - a reduction in the caliber of weapons. The United States adopted the M16 (M16A1) assault rifle of 5.56 mm caliber, and soon small-caliber rifles appeared in other countries: the Israeli Galil (SaSh), the Belgian
Rice. 67. Kalashnikov assault rifle
FNTs (Р1^С), Austrian Stt-77 (51d-77), French FAMAS (RA MAZ). An automatic cartridge of 5.56 mm caliber, with a slight decrease in the sighting range, made it possible to increase the firing efficiency at ranges up to 300 - 400 m, since a high-speed bullet gave a flatter trajectory at these ranges, and thanks to the lighter cartridge and reduced recoil, the maneuverability of the weapon increased and increased wearable ammunition.
In 1974, a new system of small arms of 5.45 mm caliber entered service in the USSR, its basis was the AK 74 assault rifle. Nyukopulse small-caliber cartridges equalized the capabilities of machine guns and assault rifles. Since the machine gun has to fire at various targets, its ammunition includes cartridges with both an ordinary bullet with a steel core and tracers, as well as other special bullets. The bullet must have a good stopping and penetrating effect. The stopping effect of a bullet depends on the amount of energy transferred to the target upon impact and the nature of the damage.
The combination of the stopping effect of a bullet with the penetrating effect is becoming especially important nowadays due to the widespread use of personal armor (body armor, helmets, shields). Bullets of modern machine guns pierce steel helmets at a distance of up to 800 m, body armor of the 2nd - 3rd class - up to 400-500 m. Night sights are used for shooting at night, and optical and collimator sights are increasingly being used in individual weapons." For hand-to-hand combat serves as a detachable bayonet knife.
1 Collimator sighting systems are systems that use a collimator to construct an image of an aiming reticle projected to infinity. Collimator - a device for producing parallel beams of light rays or particles. The collimator sight provides a very high aiming speed - approximately 2-3 times higher than traditional front sights, since when aiming you need to combine only two points: the red luminous mark, which is visible through the eyepiece, and, in fact, the target itself.
For airborne troops, operations on vehicles, etc., a number of models are equipped with folding or retractable stocks.
In the development of machine guns and assault rifles over the past 10-15 years, one can see the desire to ensure that a fighter can fire the first shot as quickly as possible or transfer fire to another target, with the maximum probability of hitting a point target with the first shot or the first short burst, as long and conveniently as possible carry a weapon. This is achieved by improving the weapon itself (its accuracy and accuracy of fire, improving balance and ergonomics, more convenient location of the safety switch) and sighting devices, reducing its size and weight without compromising accuracy and power. In a number of samples, two standard fire modes - continuous and single - are supplemented with a fixed burst mode of two or three shots to increase the probability of a hit without wasting ammunition.
The versatility of machine guns and assault rifles has made them the most widespread, “circulation” weapons used in all branches of the military. They will remain so, apparently, for a long time. A modern complex of individual weapons is often an automatic grenade launcher, that is, it is characterized by a combination of a “small” barrel, “artillery” in the form of an under-barrel grenade launcher with a fragmentation shot and an electro-optical system in the form of a night or combined sight.
Sniper rifles
Rifles chambered for a powerful rifle cartridge have remained in service mainly as sniper weapons. The sniper rifle has gone through several historical stages in its development. At first, from a batch of ordinary rifles, the specimens that gave the most accurate combat were selected, and optical sights were fitted to them. Then they began to make sniper rifles based on standard ones, making minor changes to the design, but they were manufactured with increased accuracy, and sights were specially developed for them.
A modern sniper rifle is a specially designed cartridge-weapon-sight complex. Optical sights, special sniper cartridges manufactured with increased accuracy, and improved ergonomics significantly increase its accuracy (Fig. 68). One of the first such sniper complexes
Rice. 6 V. Sniper rifles
The weapon became the Soviet SVD rifle with a 7.62 mm sniper cartridge and a PSO-1 optical sight. The main tasks of army snipers include hitting small targets at ranges of up to 600 m, and large ones - up to 800 m.
Important targets for which a sniper must work include command personnel, observers, messengers, snipers, group weapon crews, enemy tank crews, surveillance and communications equipment. In addition, a sniper can conduct harassing fire at a range of 1,000 - 1,200 m, demoralizing the enemy, protecting his movements, interfering with mine clearance work, etc. Currently, the sniper’s likely targets are becoming increasingly protected, including manpower in Indian weapons. armor protection.
Among military sniper rifles, two types can be distinguished: rifles for the best shooters (specially designed, or “ersatz snipers” based on an assault rifle or light machine gun) and more accurate rifles for professional snipers.
The weapons of a professional snapper are subject to special requirements for accuracy and accuracy of fire at long ranges, and sufficient penetrating effect of the bullet.
For police sniper rifles, the requirements are higher: if a mistake by an army sniper may not have fatal consequences, then the price of a mistake by a police sniper is the loss of a hostage or injury to a person not involved in the incident.
Since there is no "standard" shooter (people vary in height, shoulder width, neck and arm length, and hand size), many rifles use an adjustable stock and cheek rest. The use of special target weapons in close combat is ineffective, so the sniper must be additionally armed with a shortened machine gun or submachine gun.
Local conflicts, counter-guerrilla and counter-terrorism operations have only increased the importance of the combat work of single snipers, sniper pairs and targeted sniper units. It is characteristic that a qualitatively new sniper rifle was among the priority models for adoption by the Russian army.
Light machine guns
Light machine guns are superior in combat capabilities to assault rifles and machine guns and are designed to destroy manpower at distances where the latter’s fire is ineffective - up to 1,000 m.
16T19 [modern version) |
Light machine guns usually have the same caliber as machine guns in service, differing in a heavier barrel, larger magazine capacity or the possibility of belt feeding, and firing supported by a bipod (Fig. 69). This provides better
Rice. 70. 6P50 Kord 12.7 heavy machine gun on a 6T7 infantry machine
accuracy and higher combat rate of fire - 150 rounds per minute in bursts. The weight of light machine guns in full gear is usually 6-14 kg, and the length of the blinker is the same as the length of rifles. This allows machine gunners to operate directly in the combat formations of units. Modern light machine guns fill the niche between individual and group weapons (Fig. 70).
The main method of shooting from a light machine gun is with a support on a bipod and the butt resting on the shoulder, but you also need the ability to fire from the hip, in motion. The main problem of a light machine gun is the need to combine small size and weight in mm weapons with a larger high intensity of fire, accuracy and supply of cartridges than a machine gun.
Related information.
In total, the forum included 78 foreign defense enterprises from 14 countries. National expositions were organized by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Slovakia and South Africa.
The demonstration program, which unfolded on the territory of three clusters, involved more than 190 units of weapons, military and special equipment. Aviation is presented at the airfield in Kubinka, ground equipment - at the Alabino training ground. Here, on Lake Komsomolskoye, there is a water cluster, where one of the main new products is underwater robots. Small arms are presented in the Multifunctional Fire Center area.
Microwave sniper rifle
© Press service of the Kalashnikov concernThe latest development for high-precision shooting. The Chukavina Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle (CHR) is available in two calibers - 7.62 x 54 mm and 7.62 x 51 mm (the latter is also known as .308 Win, very popular in the world market). At the same time, in caliber 7.62 × 54 mm, it is compatible with SVD magazines. In the basic configuration, the microwave is equipped with a telescopic butt with an adjustable cheekpiece.
According to the general director of the Kalashnikov concern (part of Rostec) Alexey Krivoruchko, this development has a very bright future, the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Guard, as well as export partners, are interested. There are great prospects in the civilian market. “We are already conducting some of the civilian tests this year and hope to begin testing these rifles for law enforcement agencies in the near future,” he said in an interview with TASS.
The microwave differs from conventional small arms primarily in its layout. The designers decided to move away from the traditional design with a receiver closed with a lid. The new layout simplifies the mounting of optics, collimator sights, night and thermal imaging attachments and other sighting systems.
BMD-4M with the Sinitsa combat module
The Sinitsa combat module is an improved combat compartment of the infantry fighting vehicle - BMP-3, which retains a powerful set of weapons consisting of a 100-mm cannon - the 2A70 launcher, a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun.
BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle with the Sinitsa combat module © Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS
The BMD-4M with Sinitsa is designed for transporting units of the Airborne Forces, conducting combat from a vehicle and providing fire support. Its total combat weight does not exceed 14.3 tons. The crew consists of three people; transportation of four paratroopers is allowed. The BMD-4M can be parachuted with the combat crew inside. The previously developed version of the BMD-4M was equipped with the Bakhcha-U fighting compartment.
Medical armored vehicle "Tiger"
The medical version of the BMA Tiger-Aibolit armored car was created by the Military Industrial Company (MIC). This machine was made on an initiative basis.
Armored medical vehicle (AMV) "Tiger" © Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS
Tank support combat vehicle "Terminator"
The vehicle was involved in demonstrations at the Alabino training ground. It became known at the forum that for the first time the Russian Ministry of Defense bought a tank support combat vehicle in the interests of the Ground Forces.
Tank support combat vehicle "Terminator-3" in Syria. @WaelAlHussaini
Created taking into account the military operations that took place in Afghanistan. The BMPT based on the T-90 tank is capable of identifying a hidden threat and destroying it before the main tank is hit. Crew - five people. Firepower is provided by two 30-mm automatic cannons, one machine gun, two AGS-30 grenade launchers and four Ataka-T anti-tank guided missiles.
Armored personnel carrier BTR-87
Presented at the exhibition for the first time. The new armored personnel carrier, designated BTR-87, was developed by the Military Industrial Company. It received a front-engine layout, in which landing and disembarking of troops is carried out through the aft doors. Somewhat similar to the BTR-4 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Armored personnel carrier BTR-87 © Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS
BTR-4 Ladya (Ukraine)
“The BTR-87 is an initiative development work. There may be a stern exit for paratroopers with a hinged door, as shown in the example at the exhibition, or we can make a very convenient folding ramp, again in the stern. This is the main difference between the BTR-87 and the BTR-82A, where troops land through hatches located on the sides of the hull,” Alexander Krasovitsky, general director of the military-industrial complex, told TASS.
The new vehicle is equipped with the chassis of the BTR-82A armored personnel carrier. The BTR-87 is a four-axle all-wheel drive amphibious vehicle with an 8 x 8 wheel arrangement. The BTR-87 received a combat module, the armament of which includes a 30-mm automatic cannon, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and four anti-tank guided missiles.
According to the developers, the BTR-87 has already passed a number of tests and is now being presented to the Ministry of Defense in order to open development work in the interests of the military department.
Motorcycle for special forces
The presentation of a silent motorcycle developed for was held as part of the forum.
Motorcycle IZH for special forces © Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
According to the head of the company, the range of motorcycles produced by the concern will be very wide. “We will make different models, of different classes, but the emphasis will be on electric motorcycles,” he explained. The plans include the production of other electric vehicles.
As previously reported, the concern has developed an electric motorcycle for the traffic police and police departments. The charging range of such a car is 150 km. Maximum power - 15 kW. The first samples will be handed over to the Metropolitan Police at the end of August.
Armored communications vehicle "Tiger-US"
Presented at the exhibition for the first time. This machine will be able to transform into a control and reconnaissance center, a secure communications center or a mobile data processing center.
Armored vehicle "Tiger-US" © Alexey Panshin/TASS
According to Voentelecom CEO Alexander Davydov, the system has unprecedented characteristics and is capable of replacing up to 70% of bulky and different types of command and staff vehicles and complex communications hardware, while providing much richer functionality and significantly improved tactical and technical characteristics with a multiple reduction in purchase costs and service.
It also became known that at the concept level, Voentelecom considers this communication and control machine to be unmanned, controlled by artificial intelligence, which independently determines the route based on the situation in the theater of military operations.
Buggy "Chaborz" M-6
Airmobile multi-purpose all-terrain vehicle (buggy) “Chaborz” M-6 © Marina Lystseva/TASS
The new six-seater Chaborz M-6 buggy was presented by the training center of the Chechen special forces.
It is primarily intended for military needs and has ample capabilities for transporting cargo and installing additional equipment. Serial production of all-terrain vehicles at the Chechenavto plant will begin after the presentation at the Army-2017 forum.
Today the volume of serial production is 30 cars per month. The vehicle is universal and adapts to various military and civilian needs.
Combat module using neural network technologies
For the first time, a new combat module using neural network technologies was presented at the Kalashnikov Concern pavilion, allowing it to recognize targets and make decisions.
TASS/Ruptly
A neural network is a quickly learning system that is capable of acting not only in accordance with a given algorithm, but also based on previously used experience. It also became known that this combat module could go into production in 2018 and can be installed on any vehicle.
"Gun" for fighting drones
The electromagnetic “gun” “Stupor” was created by the Main Research and Testing Center for Robotics of the Russian Ministry of Defense to suppress unmanned aerial vehicles.
Electromagnetic “gun” “Stupor” © Dmitry Reshetnikov/TASS
The complex is designed to suppress drones, including copter-type ones, used on land and water surfaces, at a line-of-sight range. In addition, it can suppress the navigation and transmission channels of drones, as well as their photo and video cameras in the optical-electronic range.
The “gun” emits electromagnetic pulses and is primarily intended to suppress the control channel of a drone, which, under the influence of radiation, loses contact with the operator, which leads to uncontrolled flight and fall.
“Stupor” operates at a range of 2 km in a 20-degree sector. It can be charged either from the network or from a car battery.