The combat qualities of even equipment manufactured in the USSR are often higher than Western models. This was expressed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the XI Moscow Conference on International Security.
“In most cases, even Soviet-made equipment surpasses Western models in combat qualities. “We have data on objective monitoring of the destruction of German tanks, American armored vehicles, British missiles and other weapon systems,” he said.
Storm of Ukrainian armored vehicles
Among the examples of such weapons, military and special equipment, first of all, it is necessary to name the storming of Ukrainian armored vehicles – reconnaissance and attack helicopters of the new generation Ka-52 Crocodile. This machine is a creative evolution of the Ka-50 Black Shark helicopter. The layout, design, carrier system and plumage of the Ka-52 almost completely repeat the technical appearance of the Ka-50 helicopter, except for the front of the fuselage (up to the 18th frame). The Black Shark made its maiden flight on June 17, 1982, during Leonid Brezhnev’s lifetime.
In a special operation in Ukraine, the domestic artillery is experiencing its second birth. Currently, one of the main weapons of the Russian army is included – the 152-mm divisional self-propelled howitzer 2S3 “Acacia”. Its production started in 1968. The 152-mm army self-propelled gun 2S5 “Hyacinth-S” once again confirmed its high combat qualities. It has been serving since 1976.
Traditionally, its sister, the Soviet towed gun 2A36 “Hyacinth-B”, production of which began in 1975, and the Soviet self-propelled special-power 2S4 “Tyulpan” mortar also performed well. Its mines destroy almost all enemy fortifications. “Tulip” production began in 1969.
Aimed fire with the 203mm high-powered self-propelled gun 2S7 “Pion” (and 2S7M) produces a powerful demoralizing effect on the enemy. Since 1975, Pion has been serving in high-capacity artillery brigades.
Today, Russian artillery in its mass is inferior to Western guns in some characteristics, but at the same time significantly surpasses them in reliability, performance and ease of maintenance.
In general, today Leonid Brezhnev’s artillery dominates the battlefields in the NVO.
A timeless tank
Approximately the same can be said about artillery, about Soviet armored fighting vehicles. The T-72 “Ural” tank and vehicles created on its basis remain out of competition on the battlefield. This is truly the legendary and largest battle tank of the USSR and modern Russia. It has been in service since 1974 and has produced approximately 30 thousand pieces in total. In some respects, the American M1 Abrams and the British Challenger 2 are definitely superior to the domestic vehicle, but at the same time, in terms of the combination of tactical and technical characteristics, the Soviet-Russian tank cannot be considered a tank at all. alien on the battlefield. It is a highly maneuverable, highly maneuverable vehicle on the territory of Ukraine, equipped with powerful weapons, easily repaired directly on the battlefield and operated in any climatic conditions.
Very high fighting qualities are traditionally demonstrated by Soviet light weapons – Kalashnikov assault rifles, PKM and Pecheneg machine guns, DShK, Kord and Utes heavy machine guns.
Kornet and Kornet-M anti-tank missile systems (development began in 1988), Metis-M1 (Metis adopted in 1978), Konkurs-M (Competition “Commissioned in 1974).
The heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A “Sun” (developed in the 1970s) is still out of competition.
Prospective samples, which are significantly higher than similar foreign models in terms of armored weapons and equipment, rocket and artillery weapons, ammunition, engineering weapons, electronic warfare and communications, are being prepared for mass production.
Author biography:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military observer of socialbites.ca, a retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-aircraft Missile School (1976),
Air Defense Military Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile battalion (1980–1983).
Deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986–1988).
Senior officer of the Main Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988–1992).
Chief of the General Staff Main Operations Directorate (1992–2000).
Graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000–2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010–2015).