Fulfilling the requirements of the current State Armaments Program, the defense industry creates new models of one kind or another. The Ministry of Defense, in turn, takes them into service and orders mass production. In the outgoing 2017, the fleet of equipment and arsenals of the Russian army were replenished with several new models. Consider what was put into service this year.
New items for the ground forces
Perhaps the main novelty coming into service with the ground forces can be considered a combat vehicle supporting tanks BMPT "Terminator". It should be noted that this sample of military equipment is not completely new. The first version of "The Terminator" appeared at the beginning of the last decade, and several years ago an improved modification was presented. However, until recently, this technique was not of interest to the Russian armed forces. For a number of reasons, the command did not want to put such equipment into service and purchase serial armored vehicles.
Combat vehicles supporting tanks BMPT "Terminator". Photo by NPK "Uralvagonzavod" / uvz.ru
In the summer of this year, it became known that BMPTs were sent to Syria for verification in the context of a real local conflict. As far as we know, an armored vehicle with a set of missile and barrel armament has shown itself well on the battlefields and has confirmed its potential in the context of modern low-intensity conflicts. Apparently, these events influenced the opinion of the Russian military leaders.
In mid-June 2017, there were reports of a possible resumption of BMPT production, this time in the interests of the Russian army. Then it was reported that these vehicles will be based on the chassis of the T-90 tanks and, possibly, equipped with new fire control devices. A little later, during the Army-2017 international military-technical forum, this information was confirmed.
Several agreements were signed at the forum between the Ministry of Defense and the Uralvagonzavod corporation, officials said. The topic of one of these agreements was the serial production of new Terminators for the Russian army. The quantity of the ordered equipment and the time of its delivery, however, were not specified.
According to unconfirmed reports, the construction of new BMPTs will start next year. There is reason to believe that at the same time as the serial production contract appeared, an order appeared on the adoption of such machines by the ground forces.
Also important innovations for the ground forces were new tanks, which are modernized versions of existing combat vehicles. This year, the army adopted and ordered new tanks of the T-72B3 mod. 2016 and T-90M. To date, the armed forces have managed to obtain the first production vehicles of the first type. The delivery of the latter will begin in the foreseeable future.
The new modification of the T-72B3 tank differs from its predecessors in improved protection and weapons, as well as a revised power plant. The tank's own armor is complemented by the "Relikt" ERA. The V-92S2F engine is used, supplemented by an automatic transmission. A rear-view video camera was introduced into the complex of surveillance equipment, the signal of which is displayed on the monitor in the control department. The combat effectiveness of the tank is increased by the 2A46M-5-01 cannon and improved fire control systems.
Deliveries of T-72B3 tanks in the 2016 modification started at the beginning of this year. In the shortest possible time, the industry handed over to the troops a significant number of updated combat vehicles, rebuilt from the equipment of combat units. On May 9, 2017, as part of the parade on Red Square, the first public display of such equipment took place.
Tank T-90M. Photo Decoder / otvaga2004.mybb.ru
In early autumn, the Ministry of Defense for the first time publicly showed the T-90M tank, which was the result of the Proryv-3 development work. This project provides for the replacement of the standard T-90 engine with a V-92S2F product of increased power. The main engine and generator are complemented by an auxiliary power unit. The own armor of the hull and turret is covered with reactive armor "Relic" and lattice screens. It is proposed to mount a mesh screen with reinforcements at the intersections of the threads along the perimeter of the tower. There is information about the possibility of using active protection.
The contract for the serial modernization of existing tanks for the T-90M project was signed at the end of this summer. According to known data, 400 combat vehicles will undergo a similar revision. This will make it possible to significantly update the fleet of armored vehicles and increase the combat effectiveness of the ground forces.
New arrivals for aerospace forces
In mid-November, the 344th Army Aviation Center received two newest Mi-28UB attack helicopters. Earlier, representatives of the military department accepted this equipment at the Rostvertol manufacturing plant. Soon, the aerospace forces were given several of the next combat vehicles of the new model. For the foreseeable future, the aviation industry will continue to build the Mi-28UB, giving the armed forces some new capabilities.
The Mi-28UB attack helicopter is an updated version of the serial Mi-28N. As follows from the letters indicated in the name of the new modification, this helicopter is a combat training helicopter and can be used both for destroying targets and for training pilots. The main innovation of the Mi-28UB project is the use of two sets of controls placed in both cockpits. The technical and combat characteristics of the modified vehicle remain at the level of previous modifications.
The presence of two sets of controls is primarily associated with the need for training pilots. In this case, one of the cabins is intended for the trained pilot, while the second is for the instructor. At the same time, despite such opportunities, the helicopter retains the ability to solve combat missions, and receives some new capabilities. The Mi-28UB differs from all previous modifications of the family with increased combat survivability. In the event of the defeat of the pilot-commander, the navigator-operator can take over the control of the machine.
Another novelty in the field of combat aviation should be the MiG-35 multipurpose fighter. At the beginning of 2017, flight tests of this machine started, which took several months. The aircraft received high marks from specialists and military personnel of foreign countries. In particular, it became known about the interest, which in the future may result in a number of export contracts. Nevertheless, the prospects for the MiG-35 in the context of the rearmament of the Russian Aerospace Forces are not yet fully clear.
Fighter MiG-35. Photo UAC / uacrussia.ru/
Throughout 2017, officials have repeatedly talked about the great prospects of the MiG-35 fighter and its imminent adoption. Nevertheless, the year is coming to an end, and the contract for the mass production of equipment and the order for its acceptance into service have not yet appeared. Perhaps, such documents will be signed, according to the old tradition, "under the Christmas tree", but their appearance may shift to the next year.
New items for the navy
As part of the current State Armaments Program, the Russian Navy regularly receives new warships, boats and submarines, as well as auxiliary vessels. The outgoing 2017 was no exception. The fleet received 10 warships and boats, as well as 13 vessels. In the future, deliveries of new ships will continue, thanks to which the Navy will be able to update and increase its combat capability.
It should be noted that most of the new ships and vessels transferred to the Navy this year are not new in the full sense. The shipbuilding industry continued to fulfill existing orders received in the recent past. For example, on December 25, the Project 11356 frigate "Admiral Makarov" was handed over to the fleet, which is the third ship of its type. The share of lead ships opening new series was not very large this year. Nevertheless, they were also present in the list of new deliveries.
On July 20, a solemn ceremony took place, during which the lead corvette of Project 20380 - "Perfect", was accepted into the fleet's combat strength. This ship, capable of patrolling and fighting surface or underwater targets, has been under construction since 2006. Due to certain problems, the construction was delayed, and the launching took place only at the end of spring 2015. At the beginning of 2017, "Perfect" went to sea trials, which took several months. In the middle of summer, the ship entered the Pacific Fleet.
The 105-meter ship with a displacement of 2220 tons is equipped with four diesel engines and two propellers, with which it can reach speeds of up to 27 knots. "Perfect" carries two launchers with four X-35 "Uranus" anti-ship missiles each. To destroy underwater targets, the corvette carries "Packet-NK" torpedoes. The ship is also equipped with an artillery mount and anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft missiles and other systems. There is the possibility of carrying a helicopter.
In early October, the newest frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" (Project 22350) went to the Northern Fleet to undergo the final stage of state tests. After all the planned checks, which were supposed to take several months, the ship will have to officially enter the combat strength of the navy. For a number of reasons, the construction of Admiral Gorshkov, which started back in 2006, took quite a long time and was noticeably delayed. Nevertheless, after solving all the problems, the ship is almost ready to start service.
It was expected that the delivery of the ship will take place in the last days of December, but literally yesterday it became known that it would be handed over to the fleet only next year. Such a postponement is associated with the need to work out some issues and the customer's desire to immediately accept the ship into the combat composition of the Navy, bypassing the trial operation phase.
In the near future, tests of the second ship of Project 22350 should begin. In total, it is planned to build eight such frigates. It is proposed to equip ships with a total displacement of 5400 tons and a length of 135 m with a combined power plant with diesel and gas turbine engines. With their help, he will be able to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. The basis of the armament complex of Project 22350 frigates are universal launchers capable of carrying 16 Onyx and Caliber missiles. Also used missile and artillery anti-aircraft weapons, torpedoes, etc.
The frigate "Admiral Gorshkov". Photo Wikimedia Commons
Just the other day, the ceremony of accepting another warship, which also had to wait for many years, may take place. The large landing ship of project 11711 "Ivan Gren" was laid down in 2004, and the construction was completed only in 2015. To date, the ship has been brought to the stage of state tests. According to the latest reports, this stage of checks will be completed as soon as possible. The acceptance certificate is planned to be signed in the last days of December.
"Ivan Gren" has a total displacement of 5000 tons and a length of 120 m. The ship with a diesel power plant is capable of accelerating to 18 knots. It is equipped with artillery pieces and multiple launch rocket systems, and is also capable of carrying helicopters. A battalion of marines with one or another equipment can be transported in the holds of the ship. The ship's hull is equipped with a bow ramp for disembarking floating equipment at a distance from the coast or bringing non-floating vehicles to a suitable coast.
Ahead of 2018
This year, the industry completed the development of a number of projects for advanced weapons and military equipment, and also received several orders for the serial production of such samples. In addition, some large volume contracts have been completed. All this, among other things, led to the entry into service of new types of equipment, as well as to the beginning of the service of modern ships.
A number of samples put into service this year have already entered serial production. Others, in turn, will begin to be produced only in the near future, and will enter the troops no earlier than mid or late 2018. In the case of shipbuilding, in the outgoing year, the results of the work of the last few years were obtained, and the ships, which are to begin service in 2018, are already at various stages of construction. In other areas, the situation is simpler - the finished equipment arrives at the customer much faster.
The process of renewing the material part of the armed forces continues. Serial samples of different classes and types are produced, as well as new ones are being developed and adopted. It should be expected that, simultaneously with the full-scale serial production of equipment and weapons that entered service in 2017, completely new samples will be accepted for supply in the next 2018. This process, which has a beneficial effect on the condition and capabilities of the army, will continue without interruption in the future.
