The APU uses prototypes that have not been tested by any NATO country
Ukraine is being used as a testing ground for new models of weapons and military equipment of Western companies in combat conditions. Moreover, promising systems that have not yet been adopted in NATO countries are being transferred to the Armed Forces. Thus, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced his readiness to provide Kiev with laser weapons long before they appear in the Royal Navy. What Western systems and complexes are being tested in the zone of a special military operation and how the Russian military is coping with them — in the material of Izvestia.
Robot Transporter
A few days ago, information appeared in the media about the destruction of a unique sample of American military equipment in the Artemovsky direction — the MUTT robotic vehicle (Multi-Utility Tactical Transport—. This four-axle vehicle was developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The land-based robot transporter is designed for reconnaissance and covert surveillance, as well as for transporting goods weighing up to 500 kg. It can work without recharging for up to three days and at the same time provides up to 3 kW of power supply to any consumers. The unit operates both in remote-controlled mode and in fully autonomous mode. This drone was created relatively recently — in 2016, MUTT was tested in the US Marine Corps, but has not yet participated in combat operations.
MUTT Robotic Vehicle (Multi-Utility Tactical Transport)
Image source: Photo: Defense World
Apparently, the first combat use of the MUTT robotic machine took place near Artemovsk, where the device was delivered from the USA for testing in a real situation. There he was destroyed by an FPV drone. The goal is unusual, but quite accessible to the Russian military.
Military trials
In February of this year, the first evidence of the use of the APU near the village of Kremennaya of new high-precision American GLSDB ammunition for missile systems such as HIMARS and MLRS appeared. The new product is a product of the American company Boeing and the Swedish SAAB, but so far it is used only from American launchers. The munition is a combination of the rocket engine of the HIMARS / MLRS complexes and the GBU-39 aircraft guided bomb.
Bombs of this type have a small caliber — about 100 kg, and are equipped with a guidance system. The rocket engine accelerates and throws the projectile to a height, then the bomb unfolds the wing and makes a planning flight to the target along a complex programmed route with a homing system at the final stage of the flight. This combination of missile and aviation technologies made it possible to create a projectile with a range of about 150 km, capable of hitting targets with an accuracy of about 1 m.
A set of four GBU-39 bombs
Image Source: Photo: Сommons.wikipedia.org
The special military operation served as a kind of accelerator for the GLSDB program, which developed very slowly after the 2015-2019 tests in the United States. The unusual situation is that it is Ukraine that becomes the first operator of this combat system. Neither the USA, nor Sweden, nor other countries have adopted the GLSDB yet, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine is already using them — this is such a way of conducting military tests in real combat conditions.
Vampire number two
Another example of high—tech systems that turned out to be in Ukraine is the VAMPIRE anti-aircraft missile system of the American company L3Harris (not to be confused with the RM-70 Vampire MLRS of Czech production). It allows you to aim missiles at moving objects using a laser beam and is positioned today as a unique and effective means to combat drones and barrage ammunition. It is equipped with 70 mm guided missiles with the APKWS laser guidance system, which ensure the destruction of low-speed objects at a range of several kilometers. The facilities of the complex are modular and can be installed on a jeep, armored personnel carrier or building in just a few hours.
The Vampire complex is in combat position
Image source: Photo: Army Technology
VAMPIRE shipments were announced in 2022-2023 in the amount of 14 units. And apparently, by the end of 2023, they were sent to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The first shots of the use of new sams appeared in February 2024 near Odessa. It should be understood that for the use of VAMPIRE-type complexes, direct visibility of the object is needed, since it cannot aim with laser illumination in clouds, fog or rain. It is unlikely that VAMPIRE will be able to provide air defense for an entire country, but it is certainly able to protect some local facilities. Actually, in this case, Ukraine becomes the first country to operate this combat system.
Laser weapons
Western countries are ready to use the Ukrainian test site even at the early stages of creating promising weapons systems. So, on April 12, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced the possible transfer to Kiev of laser weapons, which are under development and will be in service with the Royal Navy no earlier than 2027. "There is a conflict in Europe right now, within the framework of which our modern weapons may be useful. Let's just say it doesn't have to be 100% ready for Ukraine to receive it," The Daily Telegraph quotes the minister as saying.
British Minister of Defense Grant Shapps
Image source: Photo: TASS/EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
DragonFire is a British directed energy laser weapon technology designed to destroy targets over long distances on land and at sea, as well as in various weather conditions. It was first presented in 2017 at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) conference in London.
Dmitry Kornev