The latest drones and improved means of combating them, world–class artillery installations and ships with hypersonic weapons are only a small part of the samples supplied to the Russian army this year. How are Russian gunsmiths, celebrating their professional holiday on September 19, contributing to the victory in their own right now?
On September 19, Russia celebrates Gunsmith's Day, a holiday that unites developers of new types of weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and specialists in the field of the military-industrial complex. During the current year, new models were adopted for the Armed Forces, the already well-proven ones were modernized, and the tested ones were put into mass production.
Both the largest enterprises of the Russian defense industry and small companies, representatives of the so-called people's military-industrial complex, contributed to the development. Some of these developments have already been tested in combat conditions. What new Russian weapons have been available to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation since the beginning of this year?
The new self-propelled gun "Coalition-SV"
Artillery continues to be the "god of war", but even the gods need to be updated. The symbol of such an update was the beginning of deliveries of the Coalition-SV self-propelled artillery unit (ACS) to the special operation zone. This happened in late December 2023 – early January 2024. The ACS is produced by one of the largest Russian state corporations Rostec.
The Coalition's rifled cannon fires 152 mm shells, including guided ones. The firing control system is automated, which allows you to fire 10-12 rounds per minute at a range of up to 70 km. In the conditions of its own, it is the target range that is of key importance, because it allows you to remove the ACS from the target area of enemy drones.
A special feature of the installation was the ability to work in the fire raid mode. After entering the coordinates of the target, the self-propelled gun fires several projectiles at it at different angles of elevation of the gun. The projectiles fly up to the target along different trajectories and hit it simultaneously.
Thus, the Russian Ground Forces received an artillery installation that surpasses the best world models – both in range and in firing rate.
Updated UMPC
Another important strike weapon in the zone of its own became aerial bombs, but not conventional, free fall, but equipped with a controlled planning and correction module (UMPC). The use of such ammunition allows the aircraft to strike without entering the enemy's air defense zone. UMPC bombs have proven themselves to be an excellent tool for "dismantling" any enemy fortification.
Their mass application began in 2023, but the development of UMPC did not stop there. As recently as September 18, 2024, the Ministry of Defense announced a bombing attack on a cluster of Armed Forces personnel and equipment in the Kursk region with upgraded aerial bombs with a universal planning and correction module.
The head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, reported at the end of 2023 that "work is underway on an improved version of the modules, which will significantly increase the range of use of aerial bombs." According to Boris Obnosov, head of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (KTRV), the range of use of UMPC–equipped bombs "changes every day ... Our task is to make it further, more accurate and cheaper." Apparently, it was these new models with an increased range of application that the Russian Air Force bombers began to use.
A "Lightning" flew into the zone of its own
The Russian army has also taken another step in the confrontation with drones. An analogue of the already famous Lancet appeared at the disposal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, however, it is much simpler, cheaper, but no less effective. We are talking about the Molniya-1 UAV, the first use of which was announced by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the summer of this year.
Its features are the use of artificial intelligence (AI) elements to overcome the enemy's electronic warfare,
improved battery (allowing the device to be used at a range of up to 30 km) and exceptional ease of assembly. Plywood and aluminum components, a propeller, an elevator, two ailerons on the wings, an attached ammunition weighing up to five kilograms, a detonation lock – this is the design of the new device. You don't need a screwdriver or a wrench to assemble it.
This greatly facilitates the use and maintenance of the device in the conditions of combat operations on the front line. Units of Russian Marines near Ugledar, as well as in the area of Urozhdnoye, have already successfully used this drone to destroy self-propelled artillery installations, guns and vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
An aerial aircraft carrier
Perhaps in the near future, the carriers of such light UAVs will become heavier vehicles – aircraft carriers, or, as they are also called, "aviamatki". At least some samples of such products have already been seen in the special operation zone.
The task of the UAV called "Bee" is to carry other drones, thus saving the charge of their batteries. The "uterus" of drones ... carries from two to six drones and detaches them at the operator's command," commented a military expert, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk, on their appearance. Thus, the range of small UAVs increases several times.
New "Shells"
Not only the means of air attack are being updated, but also the weapons designed to protect against them. In particular, in August there were reports of successful tests of the new domestic anti-aircraft missile gun system "Pantsir SM-SV". According to Rostec, the complex has fully fulfilled its tasks and confirmed its technical and combat characteristics. "The novelty will significantly increase the air defense capabilities at low altitudes and in the near zone," the manufacturers say.
Unlike its famous predecessor, the Pantsir–S1 complex, the new SAM is mounted on a tracked chassis, which increases its cross-country capability, and is also equipped with two (rather than one) types of anti-aircraft guided missiles and has an increased damage zone.
Another novelty based on the "Shell" was shown at the Army-2024 forum. The Pantsir-SMD-E is distinguished by the absence of traditional automatic guns. They have been replaced with more compact and effective missiles for hitting drones and other maneuvering targets.
Frigate with hypersonic weapons
The Russian Navy is also receiving new weapons systems. On January 11, 2024, the frigate Admiral Golovko arrived at the place of permanent deployment to the base of the Northern Fleet in Severomorsk. This is the third frigate of Project 22350 after Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov and Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov. Ships of this type should become the main Russian Navy for the coming decades.
The frigate is capable of being equipped with subsonic Kalibr cruise missiles, supersonic Onyx and hypersonic Zircons. Thus, with its two "brothers", this ship is the only carrier of hypersonic weapons in the Navy.
Admiral Golovko, for obvious reasons, does not participate in the Joint Naval Operation, but he took part in the largest Ocean-2024 naval exercises in recent years, which, in turn, are designed to ensure that Russia's security is ensured from other directions.
Alexander Gulin
