Domestic materials can reduce the weight of the product by 35% without loss of protective characteristics
In Russia, they began to produce bulletproof vests with plates made of domestic boron carbide — this is the lightest and most durable material capable of stopping an automatic or machine-gun bullet. At the same time, it allows you to reduce the weight of the product by 35%. The new bulletproof vest has received the highest protection class — BR-5 and is already being supplied to the troops in the SVO zone. Izvestia correspondent got acquainted with this and other products at Expocentre in Moscow. Domestic developments are now widely represented at the specialized exhibition "Equipment".
Boron carbide and armor
The bulletproof vest is produced by NGO Front, a group of companies and enterprises located in several cities, including Donetsk and Krasnoyarsk. Their product corresponds to the highest protection class adopted in Russia — BR-5. The armor panel consists of two layers: directly plates made of hot-pressed boron carbide and a substrate made of aramid organocomposite. All materials are of domestic production.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
The weight of the anatomical boron carbide panel, measuring 315 by 255 mm, is only 2400 grams.
Thanks to the new material, its weight was reduced by 35% compared to similar products made of other materials.
— Now there are three types of ceramics that can be used in the manufacture of armored panels — aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and boron carbide, — Mikhail Kondrus, director of NPO Front, told Izvestia. — The last one is the best in its properties. It is the coolest, the most durable, the lightest, and, of course, the most expensive. I can say that we are the only production in the territory of the Russian Federation that can make such a product. We have our own production, completely domestic. We don't buy anything in China.
The vest itself is made of aramid fabric, the ballistic properties of which are 15-20% higher than world analogues — Kevlar and twaron.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
According to the manufacturers, the bulletproof vest will bring the survival rate of a serviceman to a new level — by reducing the weight of the product and ease of wearing, as well as high protective characteristics.
The products are already being delivered to the SVO zone, and the manufacturers have already received good feedback from our fighters.
NGO "Front" also produces an anti-shatter suit.
— It weighs only 2.5 kilograms and covers 90% of the body, — said Mikhail Kondrus. — It is also made of domestic material — aramid.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
The suit has been coming to the fighters in the zone of their own for a long time. Manufacturers say that it easily "holds" small fragments — for example, from VOGes (grenades for under-barrel grenade launchers) and ammunition made on their basis for dropping from quadrocopters.
— The fighters who participated in the battles in the SVO zone like the product, — the manufacturers say.
A tuned Kalashnikov
At the Equipment exhibition, it immediately catches the eye that many Russian companies have begun to manufacture tuning for small arms. The company "K.Arma produces a whole line of such products.
— Now there are a lot of weapons made using traditional materials, such as wood, — the commercial director of the company "K." told Izvestia.Arma" Vitaly Chevela. — For example, we propose to change the wooden stock to a telescopic one made of modern materials. The fighter can adjust its length to suit himself. It is also possible to install more anatomically correct pistol grips on Kalashnikov rifles. Among other things, they are rubberized — in summer the hand sweats, but does not slip.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
According to the manufacturer, such improvements make life in combat conditions much easier.
— We have been actively helping our fighters in their military for a long time, — Vitaly Chevela notes. — Our company has already been included in the American sanctions list. We are happy about this, which means that we are doing everything correctly and effectively. Thank them for their attention.
Also "K.Arma manufactures tuning options for upgrading Dragunov sniper rifles (SVD) and Makarov pistols (PM).
Robots under Berdych
Vologda LLC "Front" showed at the exhibition boxes and tapes for automatic grenade launchers and machine guns, including large-caliber ones. They also supply their products to the special operation area.
— Our boxes and tapes are used in the manufacture of Courier combat robots, — Ilya Dobryninsky, CEO of Front LLC, told Izvestia. — These vehicles are armed with machine guns and AGS. They recently operated near Berdych in the area of their own. The machines worked well. Our components did not disappoint either — we were satisfied with them.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
Image source: iz.ru
The NOVO company is engaged in the development and production of surveillance devices. At the exhibition, they presented a line of thermal imaging sights.
— We make, let's say, smart sights, — Alexey Tyukhtenko, a representative of the developer company, told Izvestia. — It has a built-in ballistic module that counts corrections by itself. That is, it immediately reduces the requirements for the qualification of the shooter. He does not need long-term training, you can send an unprepared person almost immediately to work at serious distances. This gives our units an advantage over the enemy.
SVO gave an impulse
— The exhibition was much smaller five years ago, — many participants of the event note.
According to them, the special military operation gave an impetus to the development of a large number of domestic design bureaus, NGOs and small companies developing or manufacturing military equipment or equipment.
Currently, domestic manufacturers produce the widest range of products — from shoes and clothing to weapons, optics and medical supplies.
Bogdan Stepovoy
