Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ "Colossal embezzlement" in Russia's defence industries has led to them failing to modernise Russian military equipment to meet modern demands. It has forced Russian troops in the field to make crude improvisations like 'turtle tanks', according to a Russian commentary. ⬇️

2/ The 'Segodyna. ru' Telegram channel highlights the inability or unwillingness of many Russian military equipment makers to develop new or improved versions of equipment. It attributes this to manufacturers being are content to milk the state rather than make improvements.

3/ The channel highlights problems with artillery and armoured vehicles in particular. On artillery, it notes "problems with the range and accuracy of artillery. The situation has not changed over the years of combat operations." Western-made artillery is superior on both counts.

4/ It's worth noting that other Russian sources have been making similar points for some time regarding UAVs, where corruption, bureaucracy and monopolistic manufacturers have hindered innovation and production.

https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1846823198765052111

5/ On armoured vehicles, "they are outdated! The anthropometric data of an infantryman has changed since the creation/production of armoured vehicles. A person has grown, physically become larger, and now barely fits in the troop compartment."

6/ "A soldier with equipment and weapons in a bulletproof vest is simply inconvenient there. The same thing happens during disembarking. That's why we ride on armour. But no one takes this into account!"

7/ The author praises the approach taken by Kalashnikov to resolve problems with the AK-12 assault rifle, which has resulted in multiple upgrades in response to feedback and complaints from users.

8/ In contrast, "a number of domestic military-industrial complex giants are not interested in the consumer's voice. They do not hear it at all. This is a disaster. It is important to talk about this, at the very least, constantly, raise the topic in the media."

9/ "The situation has gone too far. Even the republics of the former socialist camp are already producing their own versions of BMPs, APCs, which are superior to existing domestic models.

10/ "And we have frozen in place, preferring to churn out BMP-3s without modernisation and, when necessary, turn on the so-called anti-crisis [messaging], talking about "wonderful modern machines." But you can't lie forever.

11/ "Note that in 3 years of combat operations, the Ukrainians have established the production of folding screens to protect armoured vehicles from UAVs. Mass industrial production.

12/ "And we are still in a "some to the forest, some for firewood" [i.e. uncoordinated] situation. Our GABTU [Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation] has not even presented a standard for such a screen, what it should be like.

13/ And the enemy produces a folding one, which, if necessary, covers the armor with a hood from attack drones and ammunition...

14/ "How are we any worse? We're not. But in practice, we are in disarray, they still stick these "humps" on tanks, turning them into barns from science fiction films. In the 4th year of military operations, shouldn't some kind of spare parts kit for tanks appear?

15/ "Shouldn't someone think about this? Are they thinking? Not to stick sheds on tanks, but get something reliable and simple from the factory...

16/ "A huge number of questions. The same with the BMP, APC. The enemy was given "Bradley", BTR-4E. And where are our "Kurgan", projects that were developed with the Italians at the time? Continue to develop this!

17/ "But no – the monopolists are categorically against anything new being done. They are not able to do anything new, but they can spend a lot of money on stories about wonderful models from half a century ago.

18/ "Because there is a colossal embezzlement of state orders. And this is a lot of money." /end

Sources:
🔹 t.me/segodnia_ru/76…
🔹 t.me/milinfolive/14…