State tests of the latest K-16 armored personnel carrier (APC) and the K-17 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) on the Boomerang platform have begun, Mikhail Osyko, a member of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission (MIC) of the Russian Federation, told TASS on Thursday, August 19.
"The state tests of the machine (BMP and BTR on the Boomerang platform — Ed.) begin. The experimental-industrial batch will appear in the troops in the near future, " Osyko said on the eve of the military-technical forum "Army-2021".
The number of new vehicles will be determined in the new weapons program, the member of the military-industrial complex added.
Osyko drew attention to the fact that due to the good internal volume to accommodate the necessary hardware, the base chassis can be used as a platform for the development of communication and intelligence systems.
On August 18, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, announced plans for the department to sign 45 state contracts worth half a trillion rubles during the military-technical forum "Army-2021". We are talking about contracts for the supply of robotic complexes "Uran-14", remote mining systems, artillery systems and heavy flamethrower systems, special equipment for the Ground Forces, T-90M tanks and for the modernization of T-90 tanks.
The Defense Ministry will also conclude an agreement for the construction of reconnaissance ships and minesweepers, the supply and modernization of aircraft and the purchase of high-precision weapons.
The international military-technical forum "Army-2021" will be held from August 22 to 28, 97 countries have confirmed their participation in the event, 34 delegations of which will be headed by heads of military departments. About 1.5 thousand enterprises, including from 12 foreign countries, will exhibit 20 thousand samples of military and dual-use products at the forum. The forum will show weapons and military equipment not only in statics, but also in dynamics, with shooting.
At the same time, according to the head of the Ministry of Defense, the promising military equipment that is presented at the forum will enter the Russian army this year. In particular, we are talking about military transport aircraft Il-112B, as well as modernized An-124-100 and Mi-8AMTSh-VN helicopters. Also this year, the Russian Armed Forces will receive four submarines, three of which are nuclear-powered and one diesel-electric, six combat surface ships and serial multifunctional fighters of the fifth generation Su-57. According to Shoigu, such an expansion of the military arsenal will bring the share of modern weapons in the Russian Armed Forces to 71.9%.
The forum will be held in the military-patriotic park "Patriot", at the Kubinka airfield and the Alabino training ground, as well as in all military districts and in the Northern Fleet. Participants will be able to visit exhibition expositions, demonstration and scientific-business programs, protocol and cultural events.