2012 was a time of total rearmament for the Russian army. The most obvious reason is that over the past two decades, the number of new weapons in the Russian military has dropped to 12 percent. The government has planned a lot, but by the end of 2012 it is obvious that this process is far from over. We bring to your attention an analysis of the military equipment that has already entered the troops.
First of all, it should be noted that the armament of the missile units has undergone a significant update. The strategic missile forces have been staffed with modern missile systems and complexes by a quarter. By the end of last year, the Tatishchevsk missile formation had almost completely switched to silo-based Topol-M missile systems (thus, in 2013, 56 complexes are in service here).
The first Russian military unit to fully switch to the Topol-M and Yars mobile complexes with ballistic intercontinental missiles was the Teikovo missile forces unit. It must be said that the new Topol-M and Yars mobile-based complexes are much more maneuverable, have greater maneuverability, and are equipped with better camouflage equipment.
Last year, the re-equipment of the Novosibirsk and Kozelsk formations of the Strategic Missile Forces was also begun, which will soon also be transferred to the Yars complexes.
Thus, by the end of the past year, the troops were armed with one hundred launchers with Yars and Topol-M missile systems, increasing the percentage of modern weapons in the missile forces to 30 percent.
The Iskander-M missile system also entered service with the Russian troops, in particular the 26th Neman missile brigade (taking into account further deliveries, it is assumed that this year the Russian army will have about 70 such complexes). This is one of the most effective complexes of its kind, which is significantly ahead of foreign counterparts. By 2020, it is planned to deliver 10 Iskander-M systems to the troops. The total number of complexes that the Russian army will receive until 2020 is 120 units. It should be noted that for serial production and supplies in the required volume of Iskander-M OTRK last year, construction began on the reconstruction of production facilities of 17 specialized enterprises.
In 2012, 4 divisions of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system entered service with various parts of the Russian army. Thus, at present, the Russian armed forces have five S-400 regiments, which are deployed in Nakhodka, in the Moscow region, in the Baltic Fleet (Kaliningrad region) and in the Southern Military District. The S-400 is intended to replace the S-300PM on alert. This complex is significantly superior to the American Patriot system and has no analogues in the world.
Also in the spring of last year, the Russian armed forces received 10 Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile cannon systems. It is a self-propelled ground-based short-range complex, which is designed to cover military and civilian targets from all possible air attack weapons.
In 2012, the rearmament also affected the Russian fleet. Both submarines and surface ships were launched.
Thus, the nuclear submarine Severodvinsk is currently at the testing stage. Severodvinsk is a multipurpose submarine equipped with cruise missiles and strategic missiles capable of striking enemy submarines and aircraft carrier groups. The ship is equipped with a new fourth generation nuclear reactor. One of the innovations is the elimination of the propeller, which allows you to get rid of the gearbox with gears, and this, in turn, allows you to get rid of noise. The gearbox was replaced by an electric motor, and the propeller was replaced by a water cannon. In addition, in order to achieve invisibility by the enemy's locators, each boat mechanism is equipped with a self-noise suppression system.
However, at the end of last summer, information appeared that the boat did not pass the tests due to problems with the nuclear power plant, which does not provide the specified power. In addition, the noise level is also not provided. Thus, "Severodvinsk" can enter service with the Navy no earlier than this year.
The Boiky stealth corvette built at Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg has also passed factory tests. Its purpose is to carry out actions in the near sea zone and to combat enemy submarines and surface ships, and in addition, it must provide artillery support for the landing force during landing operations. The ship was built using Stealth technology. During its construction, solutions were also used to reduce the physical field. Thus, radar signature was significantly reduced. However, the Boykiy has not yet been adopted for service due to the delay in deliveries of artillery installations, namely the Universal A-90 artillery system of 100 mm caliber.
In August last year, the Russian navy received the Dagestan missile ship, which is based in the Caspian Flotilla. Stealth technology was also used during its construction. The ship is equipped with special equipment that helps to change the magnetic field and distort the real outlines of the ship. Dagestan is the first Russian ship to carry the Kalibr-NK missile system with several types of missiles. In addition, the ship is equipped with rapid-fire cannons and an anti-aircraft fire system. Thus, "Dagestan" is a multifunctional combat ship.
At the end of November, the anti-sabotage boat "Grachonok" of project 21980 was put into service. It became part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The boat has high tactical and technical characteristics, improved seaworthiness, is equipped with modern electronic equipment and a power plant, which provides a wide range of tasks.
New aircraft appeared in the Russian army last year. In particular, this refers to the new front-line bomber Su-34. In December last year, the Sukhoi company handed over to the Russian air force all 10 Su-34 aircraft, which were planned by the 2012 state defense order. I must say that a distinctive feature of this aircraft is that this bomber is controlled using a digital multichannel SDU, which is capable of independently tracking angles of attack and overload. In addition, an active protection system is installed on the Su-34, which prevents an entry into an unacceptable flight mode and helps to prevent a collision with the ground in the event of a low-altitude flight. In addition, this system can automatically monitor the actions and physical condition of the pilots, the remaining fuel and the operation of the on-board system, and the approach.
The Su-35S became another aircraft that was added to the Russian Air Force fleet. On December 28 last year, transfer documents were signed for 6 Su-35S. This is the fourth generation aircraft, which has been improved in accordance with modern trends in aviation development. The main distinguishing feature of the new fighter is the electronics built into it. It is equipped with an information-controlled system, radar station NO35 "Irbis", which is equipped with a phased passive antenna array. The computational electronic unit of the radar is capable of simultaneously detecting and guiding 30 air or four ground targets.
Since the beginning of 2012, the Eastern Military District has received over thirty new helicopters, in particular, transport assault Mi-8AMTSh, transport heavy Mi-26, and shock Ka-52. In addition, by the end of 2012, 8 Mi-8AMTSh helicopters were received by the military aviation base of the Air Defense Forces, located in the Khabarovsk Territory. Six helicopters have already arrived at the base.
The deliveries of aircraft are carried out in accordance with the large-scale state armament program for 2011-2020. Within the framework of this program, the air force of the Russian Federation should receive more than one thousand different types of helicopters. We are talking, in particular, about the Ka-52 (according to some sources, about 10 units), Mi-28N (about 12 vehicles), Mi-35 (4 vehicles were transferred to the 6971st AB of the Russian Air Force), Ansat (5 helicopters). Thus, according to the results of 2012, the Russian troops are armed with 19 Ka-52 helicopters, 66 Mi-28N vehicles, 12 Mi-35 units and 15 Ansat helicopters. In the spring of this year, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed several contracts for the supply of aircraft. According to one of them, the troops will receive one hundred and forty Alligators (Ka-52).
Last year, military units of the Southern Military District, in the course of fulfilling the state defense order, received modern modernized Mi-8MTV-5 amphibious transport helicopters (as of 2012, there were 19 machines in service), which differ significantly from their predecessors, the Mi-8MT vehicles. The helicopter can be used not only for transporting people and goods inside the cabin, but also for large equipment on an external holder. The helicopter is configured in such a way as to shorten the landing time. At the same time, to increase the volume of the cargo compartment, the number of seats has increased significantly. Loading and unloading of cargo and troops is carried out at the expense of the aft ramp with a hydraulic drive, which replaced the side doors of the cargo hatch. This update allows you to leave the car in less than two minutes.
In general, the air defense and the air force received about 30 units of aircraft, in particular, the Mi-8AMTSh and Mi-26 helicopters (7 vehicles). By the end of last year, two dozen more modern helicopters and aircraft were delivered to the troops of the Southern Military District.
Artillery units were also re-equipped. So, in 2012, the newest radar artillery complex for servicing shooting and reconnaissance Zoo-1, the most modern means for conducting reconnaissance operations, which is one of the best in the world, entered service with the Russian "gods of war". The peculiarity of this complex is the ability to use it in conditions of intense shooting, an extended field of view and a high range of action, a high probability of accurate reconnaissance on the first shot, automatic control of work and transmission of reconnaissance data to units, and in addition, built-in performance monitoring.
Subdivisions of the Southern Military District also received the first batch of Tor-M1-2U anti-aircraft missile systems (the exact number of systems received in 2012 is not officially reported, but it is known that the total number of these complexes in service with the army is about 130 units). The systems were received as part of the state defense order. This complex is intended to replace the Tor, Osa and Tor-M1 systems, which have been in service until now.
The renewal of equipment was carried out in other branches of the military as well. So, in particular, the artillery combined-arms formations of the Southern Military District, which are deployed in the Krasnodar Territory and the Volgograd Region, received in 2012 more than three hundred modernized and modern pieces of rocket and artillery equipment.
The main receipts are 40 self-propelled howitzers "Msta-S" of 152 mm caliber. Also, 70 Grad and Tornado multiple launch rocket systems, more than two dozen self-propelled artillery guns of the Host, entered service. A distinctive feature of all the received equipment is that it is equipped with a satellite navigation system "GLONASS" and telecode communication equipment, due to which the accuracy and effectiveness of destruction are significantly increased, as well as the time for opening fire is reduced.
The motorized rifle unit of the Southern Military District, which is stationed in the Volgograd Region, has received the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun and missile systems. As of 2012, the total number of complexes in service with the army is 236 units. The complex has a distinctive feature in comparison with other air defense systems, which consists in a continuous affected area.
The artillery unit of the Southern Military District, which is stationed in Ingushetia, has received 10 new Chrysanthemum-S anti-tank missile systems.
As part of the state defense order, the Volgograd unit of the Southern Military District received 6 modernized Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems. Thus, the equipment of the motorized rifle brigade with modern weapons is completely covered.
In addition, the troops received 20 anti-tank missile systems "Kornet", which is designed to destroy armored vehicles and is equipped with dynamic protection, as well as a laser guidance system. The complex includes a launcher with a device - a sight and guidance drives, a launcher and a thermal imaging sight, as well as guided missiles that are in launch containers.
At the beginning of 2013, it is planned to supply 200 units of special and automotive equipment to Russian military units. The land base will be armed with a combined-arms vehicle - several modifications of Ural vehicles with 4x4 and 6x6 wheel arrangements. In addition, mobile means will also be received for carrying out maintenance of equipment and weapons in the field. Among them are maintenance workshops, electrical workshops and others. According to the representative of the district, these cars have increased capacity and cross-country ability, in addition, they are equipped for use in hot climates and can be operated in off-road conditions. All these vehicles will be serviced by the Ural enterprise. This service will be carried out by the field teams of the plant. Currently, the military base received 70 units of such equipment.
This is not a complete list of new weapons that have appeared in the Russian armed forces. But one can hope that if rearmament continues at the same pace, then soon the national armed forces will be able to effectively ensure the country's security, regardless of how events in the world develop.
