The Warrior combat equipment has become legendary in 10 years
The military equipment of the soldier "Ratnik" has been serving for 10 years to increase the combat effectiveness, prestige and protection of servicemen of the Russian Army. It has long been appreciated. Both the command and the ordinary servicemen defending the interests of our country love and are proud of her.
In 2014, elements of the equipment of the military "Crimean self-defense forces" became the most interesting subject of analysis by foreign media. Forbes magazine, for example, immediately recognized in the photos taken on the peninsula, elements of the latest Russian development – equipment "Ratnik", which has just begun to en masse in the troops. She organically complemented the image of "polite people" who have become a new symbol of the Russian army.
To raise the prestige of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the equipment was demonstrated at the Victory Parade in 2015. BEV "Ratnik" just four years after its adoption was already embodied in the monument to "polite people", installed in Simferopol in 2016.
The form of the "soldier of the future", as it is also called, was developed at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering, part of the Rostec State Corporation. The Institute was the main enterprise for its creation. But in general, more than 50 industrial enterprises have implemented one of the most ambitious modernization projects of the Russian Army.
After 10 years of using equipment, it is safe to say that the task of increasing combat effectiveness and survival on the battlefield of a single soldier through the use of the latest scientific achievements has been fully realized. At the same time, the BEV "Warrior" continues to improve.
HISTORY OF CREATION
Tsniitochmash JSC has been carrying out comprehensive and targeted work on the development of combat equipment for Russian military personnel since 1986. From 1991 to 1993, as a result of the research "Equipment" and "Ether", the basic principles of building promising equipment were determined, tactical and technical requirements for kits and individual elements were developed.
In 1999, the development of a basic set of individual combat equipment "Barmitsa" was completed, the main task of which was to increase the effectiveness of combat operations of motorized infantry units of the Ground Forces, airborne forces and special forces units. For the first time in domestic practice, the equipment of an individual fighter was presented as a single set. When performing the work, Tsniitochmash interacted with dozens of industrial organizations and the Ministry of Defense.
In 2000-2005, on the instructions of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, based on the results of the experimental design work of Barmitsa, Tsniitochmash performed the Barmitsa-M1 OCD. In its course, sets of combat individual equipment (KBIE) were developed for 28 specialties of the military personnel of the Ground Forces, Airborne Forces, Navy marines and units operating in mountainous conditions.
When performing the "Barmitsa" and "Barmitsa-M1" OCD, the issues of improving individual combat equipment sets during the entire life cycle became acute. For their research in 2006, the research work "Barmitsa-2" was set, during which the issues of combat use, supply to the troops and operation of KBIE, as well as issues of further improvement of combat equipment were studied.
Further, in order to ensure parity with the promising equipment of the military personnel of the advanced countries of the world, since 2012, Tsniitochmash, together with other industrial enterprises, has carried out the ROC "Ratnik" on the development of combat equipment kits for military personnel.
The ROC "Ratnik" on the creation of kits and elements of combat equipment for Ground Forces, Airborne troops, Navy marines and special forces units was successfully completed at the end of 2015. Its result was serial deliveries. Based on the results of the truly enormous work done, by the decision of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, Tsniitochmash in February 2019 was designated the main organization for arming and equipping military personnel.
BASIC "WARRIOR"
"In total, the equipment includes 65 elements that are interconnected and complement each other constructively," said Sergey Titov, head of the Department of advanced combat equipment programs at Tsniitochmash. – Compared to the "Barmitsa", the kit has been optimized. Emphasis was placed on modularity, compatibility and improvement of technical and operational characteristics. If we talk about what's new, then materials have improved, equipment elements have become lighter, more reliable, safer."
The kit consists of five integrated systems: defeat, protection, control, life support and energy supply. This combination ensures maximum efficiency of the fighter and his protection during special operations and military operations.
The defeat system includes all wearable weapons with the necessary sighting complexes. They allow you to effectively hit the enemy in all weather conditions day and night at maximum ranges.
The protection system ensures the preservation of the life and combat capability of a soldier on the battlefield. It includes a bulletproof helmet, a bulletproof vest, a combat breastplate and protective kits.
The control system includes devices for receiving and processing information, means of detecting and recognizing targets, means of communication, navigation, and determining the location of a particular serviceman.
The life support system includes combat equipment, engineering and medical equipment, a set of personal belongings, food rations, etc.
The power supply system is designed to guarantee the uninterrupted and high-quality functioning of the combat equipment systems listed above in all weather conditions.
For equipment, Russian gunsmiths specially created new models of small arms – AEK, AK-12 and AK-15 submachine guns, as well as sniper and automatic complexes equipped with electronic sights.
The Sagittarius control and reconnaissance complex, which is also included in the equipment, can work up to 12 hours on a single battery in continuous communication mode under extreme climatic conditions with temperatures from -40 to +60 ° C. Thanks to this complex, the unit commander can use a special tablet to track the location of fighters in satellite navigation and real-time mode. In addition, the commander can send messages, receive photo and video files on the tablet and indicate new targets on the map.
EQUIPMENT IN DETAIL
Andrey Sokolov, head of the TSNIITOCHMASH Advanced combat Equipment Program Group, clarified that the anti-shatter armor helmet weighing only 1.1 kg guarantees the same level of protection as foreign analogues weighing at least 1.3 kg. An adjustable under-arm device helps to fit the helmet to the size of the head and provides additional shock absorption during impacts and splinters. At the same time, the helmet design provides for the attachment of additional devices.
Bulletproof vests from the Ratnik kit are equipped with ceramic-composite armor panels. The ceramic outer layer effectively destroys the bullet, and the reinforced composite substrate holds its fragments and ceramic fragments. As standard, the "Warrior" bulletproof vest weighs 7.8 kg.
There is also an assault equipment of a bulletproof vest, in which the level of protection is increased to the maximum, bulletproof protection of the lateral zones and groin area is provided. In this case, the weight of the body armor reaches 15 kg. The area of anti-shatter protection of the body of a serviceman, if he is wearing both a combat protective kit and a bulletproof vest, reaches 90%.
A SET OF COMBAT EQUIPMENT
From the moment of its creation in Tsniitochmash, the workshop for the production of military equipment has been engaged in the execution of state orders for the assembly and dispatch of military equipment "Ratnik" to the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The head of the unit, Juliet Ivanova, reported that since 2015, the equipment has been replenished with a raid backpack (the main backpack designed to carry everything necessary in a raid up to 50-60 km) and a patrol satchel (about which below). As well as a transport vest with pouches, a universal shelter, a winter camouflage suit that allows you to effectively perform combat tasks and daily duties of a serviceman.
The patrol satchel is a product of a classic military layout: the main compartment with vertical loading, with a tube made of light fabric, plus two vertical pockets on the sides. In addition, there is a large flat pocket on the front wall of the main compartment. There is also a flat pocket under the flap and a pocket for a camouflage cover on the flap. The elements of combat equipment provide unification, compatibility with each other, multifunctionality of use, rational placement on a serviceman according to a military specialty, reliability of fixation and the possibility of fitting according to the figure of a person.
"The sewing technology developed at Tsniitochmash reduces the consumption of materials and reduces the production time, which accordingly minimizes the cost of serial production,– Juliet Ivanova clarified. – For example, the set of combat equipment "Warrior" includes a backpack and a shelter, which were developed by specialists of our company. Initially, the design of the shelter assumed that it would be individual, for one fighter – a type of cloak-tent with a hood. Then the concept changed. Now it is also a shelter for a person (you can build a tent for several fighters from it), as well as a stretcher for the wounded. In order for everything to work out, it was necessary to find and replace the fabric with a thinner and lighter, but very durable one."
During the development of the backpack, the workshop became an experimental production for sewing and testing the technology of manufacturing prototypes of products to meet the requirements for reducing their weight, which is very important and critical for a person who must perform combat training tasks. The volume of the backpack is 60 liters. It is possible to expand the volume by attaching additional elements to the backpack.
Today, the equipment of a serviceman is sewn from modern durable and lightweight materials – waterproof, fire-resistant, wear-resistant, not afraid of any mechanical and natural influences, including solar radiation. From fabrics with masking and radio-absorbing properties (in a wide range of wavelengths), heat-shielding from metallized threads and others. All materials are of domestic production.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO PERFECTION
Work on improving combat equipment continues.
"The third-generation combat equipment will be a completely new development, but work on it will be based on the experience gained within the framework of the ROC "Ratnik". The experience of operating the "Warrior", including in combat conditions, showed what you need to pay special attention to, what is missing. Naturally, the new combat equipment will be lighter, more ergonomic, more reliable and more technologically advanced. This is a global trend. The new set of combat equipment can be replenished with robotics for various purposes and elements of artificial intelligence," said Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the Rostec State Corporation armament Complex.
The Ministry of Defense has been announcing the start of work on the creation of new combat equipment for two years. In October last year, the Commander-in-chief of the Ground Forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov, specified that in 2019 the Sotnik complex of works began, where new models of small arms, melee weapons and personal armor protection equipment are being designed. And in 2021, together with domestic industrial enterprises, a series of events was organized to form a "vision" of the soldier's equipment of the future.
"Extensive work has been carried out to include a new robotic subsystem in the combat equipment of a serviceman, which includes mini- and micro–UAVs, wearable robotic complexes, as well as exoskeletons," General Salyukov noted.
According to experts, the date of adoption of the new BEV is 2035. The work is traditionally divided into several stages.
The first is the monitoring and evaluation of domestic and foreign scientific and technical achievements that determine the ways of creating individual elements and promising combat equipment as a whole. As well as experimental and theoretical assessment of the achieved level in domestic and foreign samples of BEV. This first stage has already been completed.
Now the second stage is being implemented, which consists in determining the technical appearance of the elements of promising combat equipment. During the second stage, the monitoring of the scientific and technical reserve of domestic industry enterprises in the field of the development of BEV elements and the selection of priority materials and technologies necessary for their creation will be carried out.
The next stage will be practical: the production of experimental samples of equipment elements and their evaluation tests. As a result of this stage, experts believe, tactical and technical tasks for the creation of elements of BEV and equipment in general will already be formed.
According to experts, bionic multifunctional systems (exoskeletons), ground-based robotic complexes of mini- and light class, as well as means of medical monitoring of the physiological state of a serviceman will be added to the previously named five integrated systems of BEV "Ratnik" (systems of destruction, protection, control, life support and energy supply).
Among the "chips" of promising combat equipment, active use of achievements in the field of microelectronics and nanotechnology is expected. In particular, in the areas of recognition of "friend-foe", means of processing and displaying information, orientation, means of warning about danger.
Stanislav Streltsov
Stanislav Sergeevich Streltsov is a military journalist.