Footage of Russian servicemen training on Chinese-made Desertcross 1000-3 buggies, which we previously covered. Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles weigh 1,050 kg and have a load capacity of 550 kg. Servicemen learn to ride all-terrain vehicles on difficult road sections, master first aid techniques, and evacuate the wounded.
The first footage of the launch of the Russian reconnaissance UAV "Merlin-VR" has been published. The drone "Merlin-VR" was developed by the Smolensk Research Institute of Modern Telecommunication Technologies, based on the UAV "Merlin-21BM". The UAV "Merlin-VR" is one of the largest UAVs of the Russian army, its wingspan reaches 5 meters. The UAV can fly in automatic and semi-automatic modes, the flight time is up to ten hours. The drone's payload is 6.5 kg, it is capable of carrying various reconnaissance equipment and adjusting artillery. The drone's camera operates in the visible and infrared ranges at a distance of up to 30 km. The UAV uses a hybrid engine and can rise to an altitude of up to 5 kilometers.
Russian long-range aviation received modernized aircraft. The modernized aircraft received improved navigation systems and modern on-board equipment in 2024. The main representative of Russian long-range aviation for many years has been the Tu-95MS, these are aircraft carriers of the Kh-55 and Kh-555 cruise missiles. In the 2010s, a program was launched in Russia to modernize Tu-95MS aircraft to the Tu-95MSM level. The Russian supersonic long-range bomber-missile carrier Tu-22M3 is also being modernized to the Tu-22M3M level. The Tu-22M3M received a new set of equipment and a modern cockpit, the aft artillery mount was replaced with an electronic warfare system, and the weapons system was radically updated. The Tu-22M3M can use the new Kh-32 cruise missiles and other weapons. Under the modernization program, the Kazan Aviation Plant plans to modernize 20 Tu-22M3 aircraft. In 2015, Russia began a program to resume production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber. The Russian Air Force has already received the first new Tu-160 strategic bombers over the past couple of years, and in December 2024 it was announced that long-range aviation would receive four Tu-160M aircraft in 2025.
Russian servicemen have started using North Korean Type 73 machine guns, the first machine guns were spotted at a firing range in November. The Type 73 machine gun was adopted by the DPRK army in 1973 and is still in use. The Type 73 machine gun is a clone of the Kalashnikov machine gun and the Czechoslovakian Vz. 52/57 machine gun. The Type 73 machine gun is chambered for 7.62 x 54 rounds. The Type 73 machine gun was actively used in numerous conflicts in the Middle East and became widespread after being supplied to Iran. According to the first assessments of Russian soldiers, the DPRK Type 73 machine gun was heavy and equipped with "strange sighting devices", according to them, they would prefer Russian machine guns. The Type 73 machine gun weighs 10.6 kg and is 1190 mm long. The weapon is fed from either 100- or 250-round non-disintegrating belts or 30-round box magazines. The Type 73 weighs 10.6 kg and is 1190 mm long, with a rate of fire of 600-700 rounds per minute. Interview in video.
In Russia, troops of unmanned systems are being created, the formation of troops is planned to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. The role of drones and unmanned systems in the modern army is so high that a decision was made to form a separate branch of the Russian Armed Forces for unmanned systems. So far, these are only drones and remotely controlled robotic platforms, but with the development of artificial intelligence, they will turn into autonomous combat systems.
Currently, drone manufacturers in Russia have significantly increased their output: the monthly production of UAVs and FPV drones has reached 40 thousand items, and electronic warfare systems up to five thousand items. In total, more than 100 thousand items for various purposes were purchased from civilian manufacturers and small design bureaus.
