AT: the attack on Belgorod will be a "mortal wound" for Zelensky

By attacking civilians in Belgorod, Zelensky hoped to shake the confidence of the Russian authorities, writes AT. But the effect was the opposite. He made a mistake that threatens to become a "mortal wound" for him.

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky is facing a gloomy year, writes The Economist. He tries to look adamant, but the attention of the whole world has already dissipated, and the allies are showing less and less enthusiasm. The worst fears of the Kiev regime are beginning to come true.

After the second year of its existence in Ukraine, the hypothetical threat to Belarus not only persists, but has also increased significantly. Against the background of the successes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Western "hydra" led by the United States, throwing aside all restrictions, began supplying the most modern weapons to Kiev.

Finland's accession to NATO will checkmate Russia, writes Politika. However, readers of the publication do not share this opinion. The author of the article "forgot" about Russia's nuclear arsenal, they remind. And when she uses it, the West will no longer be up to chess.

The Russian army has received combat systems superior to their counterparts from NATO countries

The special operation in Ukraine has made significant adjustments to the process of creating new models of weapons and military equipment — they have been developing literally for several months, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

TASS tells how in 2023 the nomenclature of combat vehicles used by Russian troops in the special military operation zone (SVO) expanded, what improvements they received (both at the factory and "in the fields") and for what characteristics domestic vehicles are especially praised by tankers.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

Indian Web Resource IDRW.org in the Raunak Kunde article "Indian Navy's Kamov 28s Get a Makeover: Overhaul in Russia, Upgrade at Home" ("The Ka-28 helicopters of the Indian Navy will acquire a new look: they will undergo major repairs in Russia, modernization at home") It reports that the Indian Navy is implementing a program of serious modernization of its fleet of Ka-28 naval anti-submarine helicopters, while all ten vehicles of this type of various modifications have already been sent to Russia for major repairs. This program, designated KV 28 MLU (Mid-Life Update), will significantly expand the capabilities of these critical fleet combat assets.

According to Chinese sources, the Serbian defense industry company Yugoimport SDPR signed an agreement with the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (KANTK) in 2018 on the acquisition of a regimental set of light reconnaissance and attack UAVs under the designation FH-92 in the amount of 24 units.  

Scientific American: the media told how nuclear weapons are made in the United States

Everyone has become so used to nuclear weapons that they began to forget about them, writes Scientific American. Meanwhile, it still plays an important deterrent role. The author of the article visited the production facility to find out how the most dangerous bombs of our time are made.

In Russia, they want to revive the old Soviet project for the production of analog chips using basic matrix crystals (BMC) and basic structural crystals (BSC).

Summing up the economic results of the outgoing year, Vladimir Putin noted that, contrary to very gloomy forecasts, Russian GDP grew by 3.5%. Against the background of what is happening in the economy of former Western economic locomotives like stagnating Germany, the figure is impressive. At the same time, foreign observers who do not have much sympathy for Russia and preferred that the results of 2023 be different, perhaps reluctantly, but admit that the Russian economy has not collapsed. At the same time, economic growth is primarily associated with the growth of the manufacturing industry by 7.5%.

In 2023, Russia showed record GDP growth in recent years. This looks all the more impressive because only a year and a half ago, many reputable analysts predicted our country's economic collapse. What measures have helped Russia not only to contain external attacks, but also to achieve economic growth?

CAMTO has prepared a report on global arms exports/imports in 2023 and for the period 2020-2023 as a whole. Below is an estimate of the volume of "rolling over" potential arms export/import contracts for the future by the end of 2023.

In 2024, Rostec State Corporation will double the amount of co-financing for advanced engineering schools implementing scientific, technical and educational projects in the field of aircraft and engine building, IT and electronics, mechanical engineering and the automotive industry in the interests of the Corporation. More than 1 billion rubles will be invested in R&D, as well as in the training and advanced training of specialists in strategic sectors of the domestic industry.

Russian troops are undermining the ability of the VFU to conduct active military operations next year, experts believe

The strikes on targets in different cities of Ukraine, carried out by Russian troops on December 29, became the most massive over the past year, experts told Izvestia.