On December 29, 2023, the Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation announced that it had delivered nine Ansat light helicopters manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant in the interests of the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA) under a contract with PSB-Avializing LLC. The transfer of these machines was the final one under the contract for the supply of 37 Ansats for the NSSA.

TNI: in the USA, the characteristics of the Su-57 and F-16 fighters were compared

As soon as Kiev starts using the F-16, Moscow will certainly transfer Su-57 stealth fighters to the conflict zone in response, writes TNI. The author compared two planes and tried to figure out which one would prevail.

As reported on December 29, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation), its enterprises in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk, as part of the fulfillment of the state defense order in 2023, manufactured and handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense new production aircraft of operational tactical aviation Su-57, Su-35S, Su-34, Su-30SM2, Il-76MD-90A military transport aviation, as well as Yak-130 combat training aircraft. At the end of December, the branch of PJSC IL Aviastar handed over another IL-76MD-90A aircraft, completing deliveries this year in the interests of military transport aviation. The company increased its output by 20%.

Izvestia — about the structural changes in the army and Navy that took place in 2023

In 2023, the reform of the Russian Armed Forces continued. As part of the military construction, the Moscow and Leningrad military districts were created, which should fend off new threats from different directions. Marine Corps formations have noticeably strengthened. Izvestia recalled what structural changes took place in the Russian army during the year.

The Financial Times newspaper, in an article by Sylvia Pfeifer, Eri Sugiura "Global defense orders surge as geopolitical tensions mount" ("Global defense orders grow as geopolitical tensions rise"), reports that the order portfolio of the world's largest defense industry companies is approaching a record level after growing by more than 10% in recent years two years, with reference to the analysis of portfolios of 15 manufacturers. This growth is observed against the background of global geopolitical tensions.

The published decisions of the Arbitration Court of the City of Moscow dated October 12, 2023 contain information of interest on the construction of frigates of Project 22350 (type "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov") for the Russian Navy. The decisions themselves were made regarding the claim of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation against PJSC Shipbuilding Plant Severnaya Verf (St. Petersburg) for the recovery of a penalty in the amount of 240.363 million rubles (with a total claim amount of 4.227562 billion rubles) for the failure to meet the deadlines for the delivery of the third frigate Admiral Golovko (factory number 923) of project 22350. As a result, the claim was denied to the Ministry of Defense.

Reforms have begun in shipbuilding to improve the efficiency and pace of implementation of the state defense order

The Russian Navy continued to actively upgrade its combat personnel in 2023, despite the existing problems with import substitution and sanctions pressure.

The United States and three European states, namely France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have again accused Iran of accelerating a technological program to enrich uranium, allegedly with the aim of producing its own nuclear weapons. In a joint statement published on the website of the US State Department, Washington, Paris, Berlin and London noted that Iran's increasing pace of uranium enrichment cannot be explained by any goals in the civilian sphere.

Bench tests of the first prototype of the AL-41ST-25 gas turbine engine with a capacity of 25 MW have started in Ufa at the enterprise of the United Engine Corporation, part of Rostec. The engine is a key element of gas pumping units that provide the necessary pressure when transporting gas through gas pipelines. It is environmentally friendly and has a forecast life of at least 120 thousand hours. Equipment of this level has not been produced in Russia before.

What advantages will the new weapon give to Russian shooters

The units of the Russian army received the first serial samples of the Chukavin sniper rifle (microwave), sources told Izvestia in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The new weapon has improved characteristics and higher accuracy, it was created to replace the famous Dragunov rifle, the main military sniper weapon since the 1960s. Experts note that the microwave capabilities will increase the effectiveness of sniper units and give our fighters additional advantages during sniper duels.

Since 2024, the US Army has been armed with three new types of combat vehicles, including robotic ones. These are the M10 Booker light tank, the XM30 infantry fighting vehicle and the RCV-L ground-based robotic system.

The Topol-M complexes took over combat duty 35 years ago

Exactly 35 years ago, on December 30, 1988, the first regiment armed with the RT-2PM "Topol" (according to the NATO classification SS-25 Sickle — "Sickle") took up combat duty. These complexes are the last "nuclear cudgel" developed in the USSR. They are planned to be completely decommissioned next year. About the history of this weapon and how it will be replaced — in the material of RIA Novosti.

Ukrainian telegram channels and the press are furiously discussing yesterday's daytime and today's nighttime massive air attacks by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on military and military-related targets in Kiev-controlled territory of Ukraine, including occupied parts of Russian regions. The New Year's Eve fireworks turned out to be perhaps the most powerful and prolonged for the entire time of the special operation.

The Telegraph: electronic warfare has become an advantage for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine

Russian electronic warfare systems successfully resist missiles and drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, writes The Telegraph. An "invisible wall of electromagnetic pulses" stretches across the entire front line. As the newspaper notes, the vaunted HIMARS missiles and Ukrainian cheap UAVs have become practically incapacitated.

On December 27, the Defense Procurement Programs Agency of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) announced the signing of a contract with the US government for the purchase of an additional 20 F-35A Lightning-2 fighters.

Currently, the US Air Force is developing a new generation tactical air dominance aircraft system (Next-Generation Air Dominance, NGAD). NGAD, or the 6th generation fighter. Eventually, it will replace the 5th generation F-22 RAPTOR as the U.S. Air Force's primary means of gaining air superiority. The journal European Security & Defense has published a report on the status and prospects of the implementation of the American NGAD project. [The following translation of the article is made while preserving the style of the authors of the material]

Western countries are preparing to transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine

In the UK, they reported on the training of the first six Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighters. Western media claim that several planes have already been transferred to Kiev. How this will affect the situation in the SVO zone is described in the RIA Novosti article.

The Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation has received approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency for the main change in the design of the Ka-32A helicopter. The aircraft of the latest modification Ka-32A11M meets the modern requirements of aviation airworthiness standards. The main differences of the upgraded machine are the unique domestic fire extinguishing system and new engines.

Russian troops in the zone of their own defense will soon receive a new kamikaze drone, the ZALA group of companies has continued the line of Lancet family barrage ammunition. This is reported on the official website of the company.

The Business Petersburg edition published interesting material by Sergey Bondarenko "Indirectly deadly: how St. Petersburg "Eagles" are produced. The most successful drone of the Russian army is produced in St. Petersburg" on the production of unmanned aerial vehicles of the Orlan series at STC LLC ("Special Technology Center").