Izvestia's report from the workshop for assembling machine-gunners, mining drones and reconnaissance equipment
Hacking the deeply echeloned defense built by Ukrainian troops in the Donbass often requires non-standard solutions. The Russian military-industrial complex is actively saturating the troops with various unmanned systems, shock drones, heavy flamethrower systems and tanks with additional armor protection. But active work on the creation of new combat systems is being carried out on an initiative basis by the fighters of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation themselves. The correspondents of Izvestia visited one of the workshops near the advanced positions, saw how antipersonnel mines were being converted for use with the help of UAVs, evaluated a portable radio spectrum analyzer and a model of a combat robot machine gunner.
Tested in battle
On the workbench, an experienced soldier opens the container with a knife. This is a cluster device that allows you to remotely install four anti-personnel fragmentation mines POM-2 with one shot. Each of them opens the petal racks to strengthen on the ground, and long feeler threads shoot in different directions. Even a light touch will trigger a mine, which is almost impossible to bypass or neutralize.
— We will make a "homemade" for dumping from a copter based on the POM-2, — explains the purpose of his work, a fighter with the call sign Bill.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
KPOM containers are designed for the rapid installation of minefields in front of their positions. But their use with the help of copters allows you to cut off enemy positions from supplies and the approach of reinforcements from the rear. Special ammunition for such purposes does not yet exist, it is necessary to create them on the basis of existing ones.
Bill carefully cuts the body of the mine and completely disassembles it. At the next stage, he already assembles the device into pre-made plastic (to reduce weight) housing parts. Adds explosives and damaging elements.
The design has been tested in combat use. Its advantage is that the main mechanisms of the POM-2 mine are preserved, including the self-destruct in time. This distinguishes our mines from Ukrainian homemade and NATO devices, which are all made with an emphasis on the impossibility of removing them. Therefore, in violation of all conventions, there remain areas after the WWF, the clearance of which takes months and years. This is an indirect sign that the Ukrainian militants are not going to return to this land.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
At the next table in the workshop, a fighter with the call sign Frenchman shows a portable radio spectrum analyzer. All the necessary devices and two antennas easily fit into a small backpack. Of course, such an electronic intelligence system is inferior to complexes installed on cars. But today there are a lot of means of reconnaissance and destruction in the air, the ability to secretly go on foot to the line of contact and accompany your forces with such a complex is very important.
— The analyzer allows you to determine the range and starting point of any type of UAV. With the help of this equipment, a couple of days ago we found the starting point and it was hit by artillery fire. It is applied very simply: we have a directional antenna and a radiation analyzer. By signal strength and frequency, we determine the range, and the direction is determined by the antenna. In addition to UAVs, active radars can also be detected," the Frenchman explains.
Working with such equipment requires experience and knowledge — to quickly read the frequency characteristics and decipher them. But, according to the Frenchman, you can learn this in a few weeks.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Low Profile Robot
One of the most promising developments is a remote—controlled wheeled platform. On it, the fighters used the FPV technology familiar from working with UAVs — a first-person view through glasses. A four-wheeled robot with a machine gun mounted on it is already on the front line. The second one is currently being equipped for attaching stretchers-travois during the evacuation of the wounded.
An important advantage of such a car is not only that it is unmanned, but also in a very low silhouette. The robot, when moving, is much lower than a man standing in full height and is less noticeable to the enemy.
— If I go forward with the same machine gun, then the damage surface will be twice as large as that of this machine, — says Igor, one of those who is working on adapting the platform to use in combat conditions.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Four electric motor-wheels provide the robot with both high cross—country ability and stealth of movement - the mechanisms practically do not make sounds when working. Such universal platforms help to solve several important problems at once: fire support during an assault, cargo delivery to the front line and evacuation of the wounded under fire.
In modern technological armed conflicts, the constant introduction of new products is one of the most important factors that allows you to gain an advantage. This has already happened with the mass use of different types of UAVs. And in small workshops located at the forefront, even with less technological capabilities than those of specialized factories, military personnel can quickly implement their tactical experience. At the same time, there are no problems with feedback — the products are immediately checked in battle, and changes are quickly made to them.
Dmitry Astrakhan