The President of Ukraine announced on August 24 a military parade of unprecedented size and power in honor of this very independence. Apparently, I really want to catch up and overtake Moscow in this regard, because about 250 units of military equipment will be held at the parade in Kiev.
And then the question immediately arises: what will pass? As always, tinted old Soviet times, or the newest "wunder" Ukroboronprom?
Of course, there will be new products! Otherwise, what kind of parade is it? This is so … Pokatushki. After all, all talking heads, starting from the very top, squeal in unison that August 24 is cooler in importance for Ukraine than May 9.
And yes, from that day on, the official greeting of the Armed Forces of Ukraine servicemen will be "Glory to Ukraine!"
This is just an example. Very important, by the way.
But let's go over the "new things" that we managed to dig up on the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. There, in general, the video was bungled, which (in theory) should personify a complete reversal with a capital letter. In fact, it is thoughtfulness, because everything is shown in such a way that the beholder himself thinks out.
By the way, what I didn't like was just the overwhelming majority of Belarusian vehicles in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Seriously, if you look thoughtfully, there are at least three or four MAZs for one KrAZ.
But we will talk about MAZs in the Armed Forces of Ukraine separately, immediately after the release of this article.
The parade, apparently, will be opened by MAZ-5430, more precisely, armored cars "Varta" with "Javelins" on the roofs made on the chassis of the Minsk plant.
American gifts really have to be at the forefront. And it’s okay that only 11 of these cars have been filed down yet, as the Ukrainian military say.
More massive gifts will follow. Hummers. Which amused with machine guns and drones. Logically, one thing is clearly superfluous. In the rear, the machine gun is not particularly needed, but on the front line of the UAV.
It is a pity that the Americans did not present any mini-locator. A small antenna cup would also look organic. Although, perhaps, this is such an incentive: if the drone tried, let's go to the front line with a machine gun.
By the way, a wonderful miracle: Ukrainian-made drones! Suddenly it turned out that in terms of parameters they were no worse than those planned for the purchase of the British (do not ask when Britain managed to become a leader in the development of UAVs), and - really strange - cheaper !!!
And, of course, nowhere without the formidable Ukrainian missiles! No, the fact that in the Independence Square they are trying with all their might to revive the domestic rocketry is commendable. We here at one time neighing a lot over the OTRK "Thunder-2", which is made in KB "Yuzhnoye". Yes, the design bureau knows how to work with rocketry. I'll get better: they knew how. And they made a lot of really cool rockets.
But today the reality is that there is a chassis, but there are no missiles yet. Therefore, the missiles will not be shown, they are still top secret. And only tractors will pass through the parade. Patriobred, say? Well, yes. But why are we going to meddle in a strange monastery, right?
They will, of course, show the self-propelled gun "Bogdan" of the NATO standard, which the Ukrainian media have long been "frightening" the DPR and LPR with. We have already discussed this miracle of the German-French-Korean-Turkish-Polish military industry.
Just put this miracle not on a tracked chassis for some reason, but on a KrAZ-6322 truck with a 6x6 formula. There are guesses why.
The main thing is not to lose such an expensive combat unit! Therefore, cross-country ability is not much needed here. There is no need to climb into such a jungle, from where you can only crawl out on caterpillars.6x6 is also normal in terms of cross-country ability, but you can get away more quickly so as not to catch the "response". Is it logical?
It seems that they will also show "Yatagan". This is the T-84-120.
Why not show it? In Russia show "Armata", of which there are only 10 pieces? This means that it is quite possible to show the only "Yatagan". The main thing is not to stall at the start.
They will show a supernova: BTR-60MK. This is a modernized version of the Soviet BTR-60PB, which miraculously survived in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The modernization is very significant: GAZ gasoline engines are being replaced by diesel ones, the brakes seem to have been improved and - most importantly! - hatches were expanded in accordance with modern requirements. Peremoga, however …
In general, to admit that at this parade Ukraine will show something really new is simply stupid. Everything "new" is a well-forgotten old, whatever one may say.
Perhaps, if they show it, the Sapsan OTRK can be recognized as a new one. If they show it. The work seems to be underway, the complex seems to be there, but …
But for the most part, the power and strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is based on the old Soviet systems. And this is a fact that cannot be dismissed even with a crowbar.
MLRS "Alder" is "Smerch", "Verba" is "Grad". Yes, the “new” Ukrainian systems are more accurate than their progenitors, but Russia has long tested the “Tornado” with different letters, before which “Olkhe” and “Verbe” also bloom.
"Buk", "Tor-1M" S-300 - this is also past. And no matter how you improve, this is still the air defense system from there, from the 80s of the last century.
It should be noted that the Ukrainians have achieved certain successes in the development of ATGMs together with the Belarusians. "Corsair", "Stugna-P", "Skif" - they seem to even go to the troops. But if all of these items are so good, why would the Ukrainian armed forces need the Javelina?
On the other hand, really, why do we climb into a strange monastery with our charter? Well, Mr. Poroshenko wants to jazzle with old, but well-painted toys - well, let them joke. It makes us neither hot nor cold. Let's laugh, which in itself is not bad looking at the parade.
We need to think about ours. And may the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to repel the attacks of Russian troops on land, in the sky and at sea. In general, wherever the aggravated one tells you, you know what the psyche of the Ukrainian military and politicians is.
If the virus of the independent dope has penetrated so deeply, nothing can knock it out. No parade, no cauldron.
