News about the state and prospects of the defense industry
A whole class of drones began to raise doubts
Experts argued about the role of heavy drones in the zone of their own
2023 was marked by an unprecedented flourishing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), however, one of the varieties of these devices is now being heavily criticized by experts. There were doubts that devices of this class could be useful on the battlefield at all. What kind of UAVs are we talking about and how justified is this criticism?
The Finnish Air Force airfield network is a new threat to Russia from the Northwest
In the previous article, we examined in detail the airfield network of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the regions bordering Finland. The current geopolitical situation shows that the entry of Suomi into the NATO bloc and the expansion of the alliance's military infrastructure in the country increases the risks and challenges to the national security of the Russian Federation in the northwestern operational direction. Against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region, we consider it necessary to assess the capabilities of a potential enemy in the event of a direct collision on the ground and in the air.
Better than Leopards and Abrams: how Russian tanks improved last year
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 Russian Aerospace Forces received the sixth new Il-76MD-90A aircraft in 2023
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%.
Modernization and repair of Indian Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters
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.
The United States told how the Russian Su-57 fighter is dangerous for the F-16 (The National Interest, USA)
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.
In the USA, the secrets of the production of the most terrible weapons in the world have been revealed (Scientific American, USA)
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.
The ring road: How the Russian armed forces are being reformed
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 National Air Ambulance Service has received the last ordered Ansat helicopters
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.
Russia wants to revive the 50-year-old Soviet analog BMK project for $100 million
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).
Sighting given: the troops began to receive the Chukavin sniper rifle
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.
The Russian Aerospace Forces received the last batch of Su-57 fighters in 2023
As reported on December 27, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation) manufactured and handed over to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation the final batch of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters according to the production program of 2023.
UEC has started testing a new industrial engine
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.
UAC fulfilled the State Budget in 2023
The enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation) in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk fulfilled the state defense order in 2023.
Turkish company Havelsan: on the way to digital troops
In the sixth issue of the magazine "Arms Export" for 2023, an article by Nikolai Kraskovsky was published about the developments of the Turkish company Havelsan within its concept of "digital troops". The bmpd blog presents the full text of the article to the readers.
We went into formation: what replenished the Russian Navy in 2023
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.
Production of unmanned aerial vehicles "Orlan"
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").
"With a sickle for NATO." The West has never learned how to track these missiles
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.
Problems with the construction of frigates of project 22350
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.
The newest fire helicopter Ka-32A11M has been certified
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.
