High ratings are always enjoyable, especially when it comes to ratings from a major competitor. While domestic specialists try to follow the achievements of other countries, foreign experts pay special attention to Russian developments. In addition, they often give them the highest marks, recognizing that Russia not only has a high potential in the development of weapons and military equipment, but also actively implements it.
On November 8, the American edition of The National Interest published an article by Dave Majumdar with the telling headline The Russian Military's 5 Next Generation Super Weapons. As the name implies, the topic of the article is the latest Russian developments in the field of weapons and equipment. In recent years, the Russian defense industry has been engaged in a large number of projects of various equipment and systems. A large part of these projects attracts the attention of domestic and foreign specialists, as well as the public. D. Majumdar decided to make a kind of list of the latest Russian developments.
At the beginning of the article, the author recalls that, despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia continues to develop the defense industry and create new projects of weapons and equipment. The fact that the Russian military-industrial complex is only a shadow of the Soviet one does not prevent Moscow from realizing its plans.
Over the past few years, Russian industry has begun work on a number of new projects, the purpose of which is to update the fleet of equipment and other materiel of the armed forces. Recent events, such as economic sanctions or the fall in oil prices, have hit the Russian economy, but work on new projects continues.
D. Majumdar notes that different branches of the defense industry experienced the collapse of the Soviet Union in different ways. At the same time, Russia retained its advantages in some areas. Russian enterprises, as in the past, build excellent armored vehicles, airplanes, submarines, and also produce modern electronic warfare systems. With this in mind, according to the author, NATO specialists need to keep an eye on Russia and look to the future.
PAK FA
Probably the most famous modern Russian military hardware project is the Advanced Frontline Aviation Complex. The author recalls that the goal of this project is to create a new, stealthy fifth generation fighter, which in the future will replace the Su-27 aircraft.
After the completion of all the necessary work and the start of serial production, the PAK FA aircraft, with a number of reservations, can be considered an analogue of the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter. Both aircraft should have some similarities, such as the possibility of supersonic cruising or greater flexibility in the application to solve certain problems. The author also notes that the new Russian aircraft should receive modern detection and electronic warfare systems.
Nevertheless, recalls D. Majumdar, the PAK FA project is notable for its high cost, which is why the Russian military department is forced to adjust plans for the purchase of such equipment. So, relatively recently, plans were published according to which only 12 such aircraft will be purchased in the near future. In addition, the timing of the development of engines designed specifically for new aircraft can affect the pace of production. It cannot be ruled out that Russia will not increase production of the latest fighters until work on the engine is completed.
PAK YES
In parallel with a promising new generation fighter, Russia is creating a stealth bomber, so far designated as the "Advanced Long-Range Aviation Complex". The creation of this project was entrusted to the designers of the Tupolev company. This organization has developed a large number of bombers of various types and has solid experience in this matter.
The author recalls that at the moment almost nothing is known about the PAK DA project. Nevertheless, some information about him has already become public knowledge. Some published information suggests that the Russian Air Force in the future may receive a bomber built according to the "flying wing" scheme using stealth technology. D. Majumdar emphasizes that this is a departure from the ideas used in earlier projects. So, the existing Tu-160 strategic bomber is capable of speeds over M = 2, but the future PAK DA will be subsonic.
According to reports, Russia intends to postpone the implementation of the PAK DA project in favor of the construction of the modernized Tu-160. Because of this, the estimated dates for the first flight of a promising bomber are shifted to 2023. This may indicate a desire to change the strategy for the development of long-range aviation, but a new bomber may be needed earlier than is currently believed.
Armata
To arm the ground forces, Russia is creating a whole family of armored vehicles for various purposes called "Armata". Instead of specialized combat vehicles that can only solve predetermined tasks, a common universal chassis is being created. The latter can be adapted and refined for a specific role and become the basis for specialized equipment.
Within the framework of the "Armata" project, several types of military equipment are being created at once. These are the main tank, infantry fighting vehicle, self-propelled artillery unit and other equipment. The machines of the new project have a number of features that were absent in previous Soviet / Russian developments in this area. Advanced booking technologies and the latest electronics are applied. In particular, the T-14 main tank based on a universal platform is equipped with an uninhabited fighting compartment and an active protection complex.
D. Majumdar ends the story about the "Armata" project with a question that directs the reader to the introduction of the article. In his opinion, the question is whether Russia will be able to afford the production of such perfect equipment?
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare (EW) systems, according to the author, are an interesting example of differences in the achievements of industry in different countries. Thus, in many technologies, Russia is still lagging behind the West, but in the field of electronic warfare it is not inferior or even superior to its main competitors.
The Pentagon has already drawn attention to the diligence with which Russia is developing its electronic warfare systems. Recent reports on this topic make it clear that the US military has lost its dominant position on the air. A good example of the achievements of Russian specialists in the field of electronic warfare are the Krasukha-4 land-based complex and the Khibiny system designed for installation on combat aircraft. Such equipment has high characteristics, although some publications tend to overestimate it.
Russia continues to develop its electronic warfare systems, improving their characteristics. Thus, in the future, Russian weapons of this class will remain a threat to the armed forces of a potential enemy.
Nuclear submarines
The National Interest begins this section of the article with praise. According to him, Russia has always built excellent submarines. Nevertheless, he notes that the latest submarines of the Borey and Yasen projects, which are currently being built, represent a development of the developments of the Soviet era.
Russian experts are well aware that progress does not stand still, and they are taking certain measures. The result of this is the development of new projects of nuclear submarines, which in the future will replace the existing ones. As a result of the implementation of new projects, it is planned to replace the Oscar submarines (project 949A Antey) and Sierra (projects 945 Barracuda and 945A Condor).
D. Majumdar writes about the alleged roles of promising submarines. So, the submarines, which are to replace the boats of Project 949A, will monitor the US aircraft carrier strike groups. Subs intended to replace Sierra-class ships, in turn, will accompany strategic missile submarines and protect them from various threats.
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It must be admitted that the new publication of The National Interest, dedicated to Russian defense projects, turned out to be very balanced and objective. Its author reviewed five programs that underlie the renewal of the Russian armed forces, made some assumptions and conclusions, but at the same time did not maintain objectivity and did not increase the number of purely propaganda materials, which are enough even without him.
In fact, the only claim that D. Majumdar makes to new projects concerns the reality of their completion in the current economic situation. "Sanctions and low oil prices" have affected the state of the Russian economy and may have a negative impact on promising projects of weapons and equipment. Thus, the author's concern on this score, with some reservations, can be considered appropriate.
Despite the existing problems, the author admits that some promising projects of Russian weapons and equipment pose a serious threat to the enemy. For example, Russian electronic warfare, even taking into account the dubious stories that have grown out of a trivial typo, are a serious cause for concern. This means that, as the author of the article put it, NATO specialists need to keep an eye on Russia and look to the future.
