How much has already been written about the military parade in Moscow on May 9. From whatever angles our "partners" viewed Russian military equipment and weapons. Even the infrared radiation of the combat vehicles was measured. How many expert assessments have been posted on the pages of the media of different countries by leading experts in the military field. Moreover, the assessments are the most contradictory. From fear to complete denial. I could not resist evaluating it either. We can also draw conclusions. And we have thoughts. Own.
Western media paid special attention to new combat vehicles, which are designed to work in the Arctic. We are talking about short-range anti-aircraft missile systems Pantsir-SA and Tor-M2DT. Complexes that are specifically designed to work in the harsh conditions of northern latitudes. Conventional equipment and weapons of the Russian army are required to operate at temperatures from plus 50 to minus 50. Arctic vehicles, therefore, operate at lower temperatures.
By the way, it is completely incomprehensible why such a fuss is being raised right now. It is stupid to say that the vehicles were especially secret by our defense industry. In 2016, the complexes were shown at the closed exposition of the Army-2016 arms exhibition. And even painted in arctic camouflage. Yes, and the emblem that the spectators of the parade saw, the bear, the people christened "Umka" last year.
It is no secret that the Arctic two-link tracked transporters "hail" from the 80s of the last century. It was then that unique DT-30PM machines were created and even tested at the Ishimbay machine-building plant "Vityaz". Carrying capacity 30 tons. Ground pressure 0.27 kg per square cm. The ability to move on any number of tracks (even one!). And for the most impressionable - no caterpillars at all. True, the speed will be only 200 meters per hour.
And if we add to these characteristics the ability to maintain autonomy and the ability to conduct combat operations at temperatures below 60 degrees for 3 days? Driving in virtually any terrain (less ground pressure than a human)? Possibility of forcing water barriers? Maintaining a comfortable microclimate for the crew at ultra-low temperatures and a wind speed of 35 meters per second? And what about the 700 km fuel reserve?
But let me return to the interest that our "partners" from NATO are showing today in the Arctic successes of the Russian armed forces. It was somehow forgotten that talk about the Arctic was conducted ten years ago. Even the fact that Russia, through the mouth of its president, on February 8, 2013, voiced the Strategy for the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring national security for the period until 2020.
Meanwhile, the complexes that we saw at the parade are just weapons, which will be based not in an "open field", but on bases that are fully equipped for life. Let me remind readers of some of them.
More than 100 facilities will be commissioned in the Arctic zone by the end of this year! And the geography of this construction is impressive. From Kamchatka to the Kola Peninsula. Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, Cape Schmidt, Kotelny and Wrangel Islands. Moreover, in these harsh conditions, not temporary bases are being built, but quite comfortable permanent bases.
Construction is carried out all year round! Only building materials imported from the mainland are used. Suffice it to say that the minute you read these lines, more than 1000 builders are working … More than 200 pieces of equipment are working …
And the fact that we, in addition to building and equipping new bases, "clean" the Arctic from the garbage of the past decades … This has also been forgotten. Let me remind you. Collected more than 6,000 tons of scrap metal. 90 abandoned and decommissioned buildings were demolished. More than 160 hectares have been cleared.
New projects for the Navy are also impressive. Battle icebreakers! A ship that is capable of fighting sea, coastal and air targets. And at the same time overcome ice up to one and a half meters thick.
Speaking about the Arctic, we must not forget one more service, which also does a lot for the development of the expanses of the Russian North. This is the FSB. it is the FSB that is now building border outposts in the Arctic zone. By the way, they promise to hand over the first outpost in Kamchatka by the upcoming Day of Border Guards. And by the end of the year other outposts will also be modernized.
Why hasn't the West seen all this? And suddenly he saw the light. It's all about … Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of the character traits of the president, which Russians like very much, is to try everything that is possible "to the teeth." Aviation problems? The President is in the cockpit of a fighter jet. Navy? We see Putin on the deck of a warship. Problems in a certain region. He's there again.
Now let's remember March 29 this year. Where was the president that day? Where was the prime minister that day? Why was he soon "dumped by the flu"? Where was the Minister of Defense that day?
And the top leaders of Russia were not in Sochi or the Crimea, but on the islands of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. Officially, Putin, Medvedev and Shoigu visited the island of Alexandra Land. Consequently, Russians will not treat the Arctic more as a "bear's corner".
But then "miracles" happen. And the further, the more "miraculous". There is one question, the answer to which is shocking by the difference in understanding between us and them. Why are the Russians exploring the Arctic and creating permanent military bases for their Arctic units? Why are new airfields being built? By the way, this year the northernmost airfield in the world (after the 80th parallel) will be fully commissioned.
For us Russians, the answer is obvious. If the military and border guards are involved in the case, it means defense capability. Moreover, we were already doing about the same thing in Stalin's times. Only the airfields were floating. On ice floes. But the principle is the same. A jump airfield for bombers.
It is clear that in the event of an aggravation of the situation, the airfields and infrastructure in the Arctic will play an important role in "pacifying" the overseas warriors. To the rather limited number of strategic bombers (Tu-160, Tu-95), the much more numerous Tu-22 will immediately be added … And it’s shorter for missiles to fly through the North Pole. And tracking stations in the Arctic almost completely "cover" the northern part of the American continent. Not to mention the Arctic Ocean. Thus, the region is almost completely controlled by Russia.
But such a simple and logical explanation does not fit the Western pragmatic man in the street. What kind of war? Nobody will do nonsense. We just scare each other all the time. Are the Russians preparing the lines of defense? From whom? From U. S? We never attack others. We are the lambs of God. The question of a military presence in the Arctic Ocean will arise before the discussion of the military budget for next year.
Today, themes are used that are close to the western man in the street. Here is what Rex Tillerson, US Secretary of State in the Trump government, said: “The United States currently has important decisions to make on a number of issues - including what approach the Trump administration will take to address climate change. We are grateful that each of you took a position on this issue. However, we need time to reflect on your concerns. We are not going to act rashly and try to find the right solution for the United States."
So, get a dose of American propaganda, dear readers. For a long time, scientists around the world have been talking about global warming on the planet. (I understand that some are now looking out the window with hope for this warming.) And according to the forecasts of American scientists, by 2030 the Arctic will be almost completely free of ice in the summer. This means that Russia will be able to extract rare earth metals, gas, oil, gold … Almost the entire periodic table. This means that Russia's activity in the Arctic is caused by the beginning of the struggle for the resources of the region!
Such interesting conclusions can be drawn from the usual passage of military equipment at the parade. Several complexes painted in arctic camouflage aroused so many emotions and so many conclusions. Of course, Western politicians and the military are well aware that Russia will not give up the Arctic. Fight for the North? Alas, this cannot be done in this region. Finns who fought with the USSR until 1944? Yes, they fought. But on their own territory. They cannot withstand the oceanic expanses. Europeans in general? Even a huge fleet will only fight to the edge of the ice. And then what? Death by anti-ship missiles and bombing?
Very often we do not pay attention to the actions of our government in the field of defense. And only after some time, when they start to threaten us from any direction, it turns out that the "response" from there is ready. And it is not being prepared here and now, but for some time now. We are still "one step ahead". Difficult, but it turns out …
