The first information about the new Russian kamikaze drones "Gerbera", developed by the N. F. Gastello Design Bureau, has appeared. The Gerbera UAV can be considered a junior version of the Russian Geranium-2 drones. The Gerbera UAV is cheap for its class of drones, the estimated price is $10,000 per piece, the drone is made of foam and plywood. The Gerbera UAV can be used as a reconnaissance drone, a target drone or a kamikaze drone. The Gerbera drone is equipped with a 4G modem with two antennas and a SIM card, this allows you to control the drone over any territory, Drones can be used in a swarm and are equipped with an internal combustion engine. The estimated speed of drones is up to 150 km / h, at altitudes from 20 to 1000 meters. The Gerbera strike UAV is produced in Tatarstan in the Alabuga special economic zone.
Russia is increasing the production of gunpowder, solid rocket fuel and explosives, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev reported. In order for gunpowder production in Russia to operate at the limit of its capabilities, new plants are being created and old ones are being re-equipped. Now the plants regularly produce pyroxylin gunpowder for all types of weapons, artillery systems of all calibers, but there are problems with the supply of raw materials. The fact is that gunpowder production requires nitrocellulose produced from cotton, its production is concentrated in China and Uzbekistan. Since 2022, Russia has begun to actively buy nitrocellulose on world markets, but this was not enough, and China has also limited the supply of nitrocellulose to world markets. Since 2015, Russia has begun to decide to develop a new technology for the production of gunpowder from flax. As it turned out, new gunpowder from wood and flax cellulose is no worse than the usual one. The advantages of flax powder are higher energy than cotton, stability of characteristics, this allows to reduce the weight of the powder used to 8% and get the same values as when using nitrocellulose powder. The price of flax powder is up to 5 times lower, artillery shoots more accurately with shells with flax powder. Since the spread when shooting with the use of standard powders is 3-5 meters, and for flax powder this spread is 0.5 meters. It is worth noting that Russia grows flax in record quantities. In the future, the share of wood and flax cellulose in the production of gunpowder will reach 60-70%.
The video shows the operation of the Russian naval air defense missile system "Osa-M", accepted into service in 1973, upgraded to the Osa-MA version in 1975 and upgraded again in the first half of the 1980s to the Osa-MA-2 version. The Osa-M air defense missile system is used on ships with a displacement of 500 tons or more. The Osa-M air defense missile system has two guides for 9M33 missiles weighing 128 kg, later upgraded to the 9M33M3 version. Under the deck of the ship, in a special "cellar", there are 4 drums with ammunition for five missiles each. After the launch of a 9M33 missile, it is captured by a missile sighting station, which guides it to the target. When the missile approaches the target, a command is given to arm the radio fuse, radio magnetic pulses are emitted and at a distance of up to 15 meters from the target, the warhead of the missile is detonated. The probability of hitting targets for the latest versions of the SAM is 70-80%, the probability of hitting modern targets is lower. The reload time of the SAM is from 16 to 21 seconds, the rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute for air targets and 2.8 for surface targets. The Osa-MA-2 SAM can hit targets at a range of up to 15 km and an altitude of up to 4 km, the minimum altitude of hitting targets is 5 meters.
Russian military personnel demonstrated the use of a robotic platform for cargo delivery, we showed it earlier. The robotic platform can also be used to evacuate the wounded, the platform's load capacity is up to 150 kg, the model name and other technical characteristics are still unknown.
Production of Akhmat armored vehicles increased by Russia, review. Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov announced an increase in the production of Z-STS Akhmat armored vehicles; more than a thousand new armored vehicles have already been produced. The use of serial chassis and auto components made it possible to significantly increase the production rate of these armored vehicles. Earlier, we showed the Z-STS Akhmat armored vehicle with total protection against drones, more details about it in the link to the video in the comments to the video. The Russian Z-STS Akhmat armored vehicle was developed at Remdiesel in record time in 25 days, in April 2022, and the first 5 samples were created within 2 weeks. The Z-STS Akhmat is made on the KAMAZ-5350 chassis, it has high mobility and cross-country ability. The rejection of the monocoque body in favor of a simpler frame design allowed to reduce labor costs by 7-10 times compared to the armored vehicles of the Typhoon family, which are also produced by the Remdizel plant. The production of Akhmat armored vehicles takes 7-10 times less time, and they are also cheaper. The vehicle body is made of rolled and, according to some sources, ceramic armor. It is worth noting that the Akhmat armored vehicle cannot fully replace the Typhoon armored vehicles or other vehicles. The armored vehicle can be equipped with a remote-controlled Arbalet-DM module with a thermal imager and a Kord machine gun, a 30-mm grenade launcher, or a 12.7-mm machine gun. The armored vehicle can be converted into a medical module in two hours. The V-shaped bottom of the armored vehicle can withstand an explosion of 6 kg of TNT equivalent. The armored car has an armored capsule that protects the crew from 7.62 mm bullets. The total weight of the armored car is 18 tons, it is equipped with a 260 hp engine and develops a speed of up to 90 km/h. The armored car is designed for 10 people, including the crew.
Kurganmashzavod sent the next batch of BMD-4M and BMP-3 combat vehicles with additional protection to the troops. In total, two batches were sent - one contained BMD-4M, and the other - BMP-3, the exact quantity is unknown. "The armored vehicles received standard sets of additional protection - armor and lattice screens from cumulative ammunition. BMP-3 received standard factory protection from drones, in the form of a visor above the turret, also called "Mangal". It is worth noting that this type of protection saves the BMP-3 crew only from drones dropping ammunition from above. Additional protection for armored vehicles is supplied complete with it and is installed in combat units, which allows for the prompt transportation of BMPs and BMDs on regular cargo platforms. As reported, Kurganmashzavod fully fulfills the plan for the delivery of equipment every month. Technical information about the equipment is available on the channel.
In Russia, tests of the Iskander-1000 tactical ballistic missiles with an expected range of 900 to 1300 km have begun at the Kapustin Yar test site. The missiles are supposedly planned to be deployed in the western part of Russia and Kaliningrad. Why is this being done?! The fact is that the takeoffs of MiG-31K aircraft with Kh-47M2 missiles are quickly detected by optical-electronic reconnaissance satellites, as a result of which the enemy has 15 to 20 minutes to prepare to repel the attack. When launching Iskander-1000 ballistic missiles, the warning time will vary from 2 to 7 minutes, which significantly reduces the chance of repelling a missile attack. The new Iskander-1000 missiles retain the classic layout of the 9M723-1/K5 series of missiles, but have a solid propellant charge volume increased by 15%, which increases the operating period of the missile engine. Presumably, the Iskander-1000 missiles with an octogen-based fuel charge will be able to hit targets at a range of up to 1,000 km, having a charge of 300-350 kg, for strikes at targets at a range of up to 1,300 km, the missiles will have a warhead weighing from 200 to 230 kg. In the future, the speed of the Iskander-1000 missiles may reach the values of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Sample Top camouflage of the Russian mortar position. Footage of the engineering equipment of the Russian position for the 82-mm mortar 2B14 "Podnos", technical information about it is on the channel. The video shows one of the best examples of camouflage of the mortar firing position. With this method of underground camouflage, imitating the plant background, the position cannot be noticed from the air, even when using drones with high-quality optics. Judging by the video, the position is connected to the stronghold of the Russian army.
As part of the third stage of the exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces of Russia, footage of the MiG-31 aircraft being equipped with an R-33 air-to-air missile has been published. The R-33 medium-range missile was accepted into service in 1981, information about it is in the link to the video in the comments to the video. It is assumed that in this case, the R-33 missile is shown for the first time equipped with a special warhead, that is, in a nuclear version. Officially, the warhead of the R-33 missile is not reported.
Footage of the Russian mobile radio relay station R-419L1, which was put into service in 2018, the station is manufactured at the A.S. Popov Radio Plant. The R-419L1 communication station is mounted on the KAMAZ 4350 chassis and is designed to organize communications as part of field communication systems at the tactical and operational levels. The radio relay station provides interference-proof communication in analog, digital and mixed modes; this type of communication is significantly better protected in terms of radio suppression and radio interception. The R-419L1 communication station provides communication on lines up to 120 km long in the 390-645 MHz range, in digital modes up to 400 km and up to 1500 km in the 1550-1850 MHz range. The maximum information transfer rate is 8.448 Mbps. The R-419L1 communication station has two onboard AD4-T400-1VM2 power units and operates autonomously for at least 48 hours without replenishing fuel and water supplies. The deployment time of the communication station is 25 minutes, the mean time between failures is at least 20,000 hours, and the service life is at least 15 years. The R-419L1 communication station is serviced by 4 people. Details in the video.
An unusual hybrid of military equipment was noticed in the Marine Corps of the Pacific Fleet of Russia. The MT-LB armored transporter developed in 1964 was again used as a test subject. Servicemen of the repair units installed a 100-mm anti-tank gun MT-12 "Rapira" on the Russian military transporter MTLB, technical information about the gun MT-12 "Rapira" in the link to the video in the comments to the video. The approximate firing range of the hybrid MT-LB and the gun MT-12 "Rapira" will be about 8200 meters. It is worth noting that the Ukrainian army is also actively creating hybrids of military equipment
The Soviet, the last surviving reusable spacecraft "Buran", known as "Baikal", will be restored in Russia. The collection of the museum complex in Verkhnyaya Pyshma has been replenished with the manned spacecraft "Buran" created in 1993, it will be restored. The first apparatus of the "Buran" program flew on November 15, 1988 and is now destroyed. The second Buran spacecraft, known as Burya, never flew in space and is stored at Baikonur. The third Buran spacecraft, whose flight planned for 1994 also did not take place, the program being closed at that time, will be placed in a museum near Yekaterinburg after restoration. The reusable Buran spacecraft looks like the American Space Shuttle, but unlike it, it had the ability to land in automatic mode and emergency ejection of the crew. Buran was also capable of long flights, up to 30 days, orbital maneuvering, controlled descent and aircraft landing at a specially equipped airfield. Due to lack of funding, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Buran program was transferred from the Ministry of Defense to the Russian Space Agency and was closed in 1993.
Research Institute of Steel presented a new Russian modernized titanium armor helmet "Bars-M". The armor helmet has become the development of the line of titanium helmets "Bars" and was made to the requests of customers from the Russian army. The development differs from its predecessors in a new, more ergonomic form factor, now the helmet provides the ability to install low-profile active headphones. It was quite difficult to implement a special combined structure of the visor glass, now it can withstand two shots from a 9-mm Stechkin automatic pistol at temperatures ranging from -40 ° C to + 40 ° C. Helmet protection class Br2 - protection from a lead bullet 9x21 mm, visor protection class - Br1. The mass of the helmet assembled with a visor is 3.4 kg. Price not reported
Russian T-80BVM tanks have been given enhanced protection against drones. The Russian tank plant Omsktransmash has shown the process of upgrading Russian tanks taken out of storage and upgrading them to the T-80BVM version. The video shows additional enhancement of the T-80BVM tank's protection. The plant has heard the wishes of tank crews, and in addition to the standard protection against drones, in the form of a "barbecue" and gratings, protection has been added to the engine-transmission compartment. The engine-transmission compartment of the tank and its rear part are equipped with additional protection, this was the weak point of the tank, it is worth noting that many tanks do not have protection. The video shows additional gratings and layers of reinforced rubber. The tanks also have continuous protection for the guide wheels. A batch of T-80BVM tanks with the new anti-drone protection has already been transferred to the troops.
The Russian Army has received a new batch of upgraded 120-mm 2S12A Sani mobile mortar systems. The 2S12A Sani systems include a Ural transport vehicle and a 2B11 mortar. The mortar is unloaded from the vehicle using an electric winch. The upgraded Sani mortar system features improved materials, a sight, increased maneuverability, and improved ammunition. The mortar can fire KM-8 Gran' guided munitions. The upgraded 2B11 mortar plate allows for all-round fire. The maximum firing range of the 2S12 Sani system is 9,000 meters, and the sighting range is 7,100 meters. The sighting rate is up to 10 rounds per minute, the mortar crew is 5 people, and the deployment time is 2 minutes.
Testing of the Russian Army's kamikaze drone KUB. Footage of testing the Russian loitering munition "KUB" by ZALA AERO. Technical information about it is in the link to the video in the comments to the video. Drone "KUB" "KUB" has been actively used since 2022, it was presented in 2019. The new high-explosive fragmentation warhead of the drone "KUB" uses an explosive substance octogen, also known as HMX or OKFOL, which is 1.7 times more powerful than trinitrotoluene. The drone is launched from a catapult and can self-destruct after falling if you approach it. The weight of the drone is from 10 to 15 kg, the price of the drone "KUB" is still unknown.
Review of Russian mechanics of the FV103 Spartan armored personnel carrier of Ukraine. Russian mechanics restored the Ukrainian FV103 Spartan armored personnel carrier of British manufacture. The FV103 armored personnel carrier was adopted by the British army in 1978, in 2007 it began to be decommissioned and later transferred to the Ukrainian army. Technical information about the FV103 is on the channel. The FV103 crew is 3 people, it is capable of transporting up to four soldiers. The FV103 armored personnel carrier was abandoned by Ukrainian units in the Artemovsk direction, after which it was evacuated by Russian repair units. Details in the video.
The Irkutsk Aviation Plant has manufactured and delivered new upgraded Su-30SM2 aircraft to the Russian Defense Ministry. Russian Su-30SM2 fighters are equipped with an improved set of onboard radio-electronic equipment. The aircraft upgrade has increased the detection and identification range of air targets. The fighter has also received new high-precision weapons for destroying air, land and sea targets at a range of several hundred kilometers. The technical characteristics of the upgraded Su-30SM2 have not been disclosed.
The prototype of the Russian modernized combat training aircraft Yak-130M was shown at the 2024 forum. The main goal of the modernization is to expand the combat capabilities of the aircraft. The new Yak-130M will become a full-fledged light attack aircraft. Technical specifications in the links to the video in the comments to the video. The Yak-130M aircraft is equipped with systems that significantly increase its capabilities: the BRLS-130R onboard radar station, the SOLT-130K optical-laser thermal television system, the President-S130 onboard defense system, and the KSS-130 communications system. New systems and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles will ensure the use of the Yak-130M aircraft for training and combat purposes around the clock and in difficult weather conditions.
At the Army-2024 forum, the Russian robotic tracked chassis MTS-15 "Clover" with a 122-mm howitzer D-30 was shown. The towed howitzer D-30, adopted into service in 1960, has now become self-propelled thanks to the robotic platform. It is now known that the Russian howitzer D-30 on the chassis MTS-15 "Clover" can be controlled at a distance of up to 500 meters. The howitzer "Clover" is reloaded by an automated loading system, cassettes designed for four shots, perhaps over time there will be more. The ability to control the howitzer MTS-15 "Clover" remotely allows you to protect personnel in the face of a large number of drones. The time to transfer the howitzer D-30 "Clover" from the marching position is 30 seconds. The maximum firing range is 15,300 m. The chassis load capacity is 15,000 kg. Maximum speed – 12 km/h. Fuel range 120-400 km.
