Thread on the Army 2021 Defense Expo. Rosoboronexport said that 35 foreign delegations will attend the expo. The T-90MS and T-14 Armata tanks, Su-57 fighter, and Antey-4000 air defense system will be displayed among other weapon systems. tass.com/defense/1327911
Remdizel is displaying a new MRAP specifically designed for Russian spetsnaz/SOF, the K-386 ZA-SpN. It weighs 12 tons, has a thermal imager, and can be equipped with different combat modules (seen here with a Kornet ATGM). 6/ t.me/ok_spn/13726
Kalashnikov is showing off the S-8L precision-guided missile, apparently a modernized version of the S-8 rocket. The S-8L has a range of 6km and can be launched from existing B8V20 and B8M1 rocket pods for helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. 7/ t.me/kalashmedia/474
Video of the Planshet-M-IR system for controlling artillery fire, in particular Krasnopol-M2 and Kitilov-2M PGM artillery rounds, equipped in an Atlet vehicle. 8/ t.me/rostecru/2909
Video of the Planshet-M-IR artillery C2 system in a VPK Atlet vehicle. 9/ t.me/rostecru/2909
Minpromtorg's Denis Manturov said the ZALA Aero KUB-BLA loitering munition is in its final stage of testing and said their was a naval variant in development (we've seen SSO test Lancet-3 loitering munitions from fast attack boats). 10/ militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=…
Manturov said the first new build Tu-160M strategic bomber would begin flight tests next year. 11/ militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=…
Manturov said serial deliveries of the Altius UCAV to the Russian military will begin this year and that a large contract for serial production of the Okhotnik UCAV will likely be concluded next year. 12/ militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=… militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=…
Photos of the export variant Izdeliye 305E ATGM for Mi-28NM and Ka-52M helicopters, which has a "guaranteed" range of 14.5km, though the domestic model reportedly could have a max range of 100km. 13/ anna-news.info/raketa-izdelie… tass.com/defense/1328741
Kalashnikov is working to adapt the Vikhr-1 ATGM to UCAVs developed by Kronstadt. The Vikhr-1 has a 10km range but they are working to expand that to 12km. 18/ tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1…
Photo of Remdizel’s modified KamAZ-5350 with a new armored cab, the K-5350-K1 Mustang-M. 19/ t.me/bmpd_cast/8909
There are a number of very cuddly mascots showing off Russia’s weapon systems at the Army 2021 defense expo. Not sure why the elephant is so impressed by a D-30 howitzer. 20/ instagram.com/p/CS6MgoArwZ6/… instagram.com/p/CS6RIeloiDR/…
Video of the BT-3F amphibious vehicle by Kurganmashzavod. BT-3F are currently in service with the Indonesian Marine Corps. I suppose the Arctic camo tells us something about who this is being marketed to. 22/ instagram.com/tv/CS6DxF-j_kL…
Rostec released a video of the TOS-2 Tosochka thermobaric MLRS. Previously, we’ve only seen them in action briefly at Kavkaz 2020 and one of two other exercises. 24/ t.me/rostecru/2919
And video of the new Zemledeliye mine-laying system, which was demonstrated recently during an exercise at the Mulino training area. 25/ t.me/rostecru/2921
More from Kalashnikov's exhibition, including the KUB-BLA and Lancet-3 loitering munitions. 28/ facebook.com/permalink.php?…
Photos of the new precision-guided S-8L missile, the new PPK-20 submachine gun, and the AK-12. 29/ facebook.com/permalink.php?…
From top to bottom:
-AK-12 5.45x39
-AK-15 7.62x39
-AK-19 5.56x45
-AK308 7.62x51 + Infratec night vision scope. 30/ facebook.com/permalink.php?…
An MoD source tells TASS that the MoD will sign several dozen contracts at Army 2021 for new weapons and equipment, including the Inokhodets UCAV, Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, a new reconnaissance ship, and two communications ships. 31/ tass.com/defense/1329169
Kalashnikov is prepping the 5.45 mm RPL-20 machine gun for preliminary trials. 32/ tass.com/defense/1329091
The RKhBZ RKhM-9 vehicle based on the Typhoon-K MRAP chassis. 33/ t.me/milinfolive/70…
Rostec First Deputy Director Vladimir Artyakov said Uravagonzavod has delivered an experimental batch of T-14 Armata tanks to the MoD as well as T-90M. 35/ tass.com/defense/1328993
Peskov said that Gerasimov will remain as Chief of the General Staff and Patrushev will be transferred to another position that will be named later. 3/ t.me/tass_agency/24…
When we evaluate how weapons perform, it is important to note the conditions in which they operate. Abrams were committed into the fight this winter at a time when Ukraine had a lack of infantry as well as mines, ATGMs, air defense, and artillery ammunition. This may seem bizarre from the outside, but Ukraine often employs tanks in a manner to compensate for a lack of infantry or ammunition for other systems because those are the conditions they face.
If you don't have enough artillery or ATGM ammunition, you may bring up a tank or Bradley to engage Russian armor or infantry instead. This could involve placing an Abrams or Bradley at greater risk than you would like, but these are the organic assets that the 47th Mechanized Brigade had, and they come with a different supply of ammunition.
All weapons have vulnerabilities, and you mitigate those vulnerabilities through combined arms. When several of those arms are weaker (e.g. infantry, artillery, air defense), because of attrition or a lack of ammunition, others will be more vulnerable as well.
Some thoughts about the supplemental bill. This is good news, but it will primarily help Ukraine defend in 2024 and into 2025. Russia will still likely make further gains this year, and it doesn't fix all of Ukraine's issues. It should be seen as one part of a long-term strategy.
Ukraine has had three main problems since Russia seized the initiative in October: ammunition, manpower, and fortifications. Ukraine is making progress building fortifications and multiple defensive lines, but defenses on many of the key parts of the front are still underdeveloped, contributing to Russian advances. 2/
The bill and first PDA aid package announced this week will provide a quick boost to Ukraine's defenses. But it is important to keep in mind that the limitations aren't just appropriated funds but also production capacity and size of stockpiles. Greater artillery ammunition deliveries will help reduce Russia's 5-6:1 artillery advantage, but it will not give Ukraine parity. 3/
Russian sources are saying that Ukraine is dropping caltrops on roads to damage their vehicles' wheels. When the vehicles stop, they are then targeted by artillery or FPVs. vk.com/milinfolive?w=…
Videos posted over the past ten days by a Russian Telegram channel associated with the VDV’s 106th Airborne Division of Russian Su-25 attack aircraft operating in the Bakhmut - Chasiv Yar area. 2/
Videos from the past two weeks showing reported Russian FAB-250 and FAB-1500 UMPK, UK RBP Grom, and artillery or S-8 strikes in the Chasiv Yar area. 3/