Sergei Bobylev/TASS
The Army-2018 international military-technical forum took place in Kubinka near the Russian capital of Moscow in the period from August 21 to August 26. Army-2018 put over 26,000 exhibits on display and featured over 150 events as part of its scientific business program. Over 65 official delegations from various countries and representatives of 118 foreign countries attended the event.
During the forum, Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport signed 15 contracts worth over $300 million (20.3 billion rubles ) with foreign customers.
“The sum of the export contracts signed by Rosoboronexport on the sidelines of the Army forum has topped 20.3 billion rubles. This relates to modern land forces’ military hardware, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, close combat weapons and many other items. The company’s order book now includes firm orders from Asian and African countries, and also from member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said, according to the company’s press office. “The documents signed at the forum seal the accords with the partners on the export of final Russian military hardware, its after-sale maintenance, repair and modernization.”
Additionally, the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet held a public display of weaponry, military equipment and specialized technologies in Kronstadt near St Petersburg. Over fifteen ships and auxiliary seacraft took part in the exhibition maneuvers in the water area around the main base of the Baltic Fleet. Furthermore, the Navy showcased the shore-based missile complexes Bal and Bastion, the Pantzir S1 air defense system and Iskander tactical missile system.
During the forum, the Russian military shwocased a number of its modern weapon systems and military equipment, including aircraft. Some of them are:
New Combat Module Of BTR-87 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier
The BTR-87 wheeled armoured personnel carrier got a new combat module armed with a 30 mm gun and Ataka anti-tank guided missiles. The module also includes the newest multichannel sights. The ammunition is isolated from the landing compartment.
IMAGE: rg.ru
Mil Mi-28NE ‘Night Hunter’
Russian Helicopters Group demonstrated the upgraded Mil Mi-28NE ‘Night Hunter’ attack helicopter. It is armed with new Khrizantema anti-tank missiles and the two-channel guidance system. These missiles allows to increase the range of striking the armor to 10 km. Additionally, the helicopter is furnished with modernized Ataka laser-guided missiles and features a possibility to use air bombs with a weight of up to 500 kg.
The Mi-28NE is capable of interacting with unmanned aerial vehicles and control them remotely, for which purpose the helicopter is equipped with special communications systems.
The modernized engine and blades increase the helicopter’s capacity and improve its performance in high mountainous terrain and in a hot climate. The cruising speed and aerobatic maneuverability are also increased.
Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS
Ratnik-3 Combat Outfit & Active Powered Hardsuit
Duuring the forum, Chairman of the Russian Ground Forces’ Military and Scientific Committee Alexander Romanyuta announced that an active powered hardsuit would be added to the third-generation Ratnik-3 combat outfit by 2025.
Accrding to Chief Designer for the Life Support System of the Soldier Combat Outfit at the TsNiiTochMash defense contractor Oleg Faustov, an active powered exoskeleton with integrated electric motors and a storage battery will allow servicemen to accurately hit targets with a machine-gun held with one hand.
“We have already held trials for the prototype of the active exoskeleton. It really enhances a serviceman’s physical abilities. For example, the tester was able to shoot from a machine-gun only with one hand and accurately hit targets,” Faustov said adding it will allow soldiers to carry more combat gear and armaments, move quicker and accomplish combat objectives more effectively
However, Faustov pointed out that the absence of a storage battery with the required characteristics still remains a major problem.
Marina Lystseva/TASS
Sosna-R (Pine) Short Range Air Defense Anti-Aircraft Missile System
The Sosna-R (Pine) Short Range air Defense anti-aircraft missile system, built on the chassis of the MT-LB caterpillar armored personnel carrier, is armed with 12 missiles with a laser beam guidance system making them insensitive to radar and optical means of suppression. The target designation can be carried out thourgh the use of a high-precision optoelectronic system and in the mode of the external target designation.
The system is capable of destroying any types of air targets including high-precision weapons and guided aircraft missiles to a maximum range of 10 km at a maximum altitude of 5 km. The vehicle has a crew of two people.
IMAGE: rg.ru
2C38 Derivation-Air Defense Anti-Aircraft Artillery Complex
The 2C38 Derivation-Air Defense anti-aircraft artillery complex has a 57-millimeter gun with a rate of 120 rounds per minute. It’s is capable of shooting down UAVs, cruise missiles, aircraft, high-precision weapons and missiles as well as other objects at altitudes up to 4,500 meters. Ground and navaltargets, like vehicles, ships and boats, can be engaged at a range of 6,000 meters. According to the Russian side, a robotic version of the C238 system can be developed in the future.
IMAGE: rg.ru
T-90M BMT
During a live firing demonstration, the Russian military presented a modernized version of the T-90 main battle tank – T-90M – nicknamed Proryv-3. The battle tank features a new turret design protected by Relikt Explosive Reactive Armor. The defensive measures also incude an RPG metal net to counter the threat of rocket-propelled grenades. The RPG net is mounted to each side and at the rear on the lower part of the turret.
The T-90M Proryv-3 is armed with one 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun able to fire standard ammunition and anti-tank guided missiles Refleks. Also, the battle tank has a remotely operated weapon station armed with an NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
The T-90M Proryv-3 uses a V-92S2 engine developing 1,000 hp coupled to a manual transmission with seven forward gears and one reverse. The battle tank’s maximum road speed is 60 km/h with, its maximum cruising range is 550 km.
T-14 MBTs and T-15 IFVs On Armata Platform
On August 22, the Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract with Russia’s main tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) for the production of 132 T-14 Armata main battle tanks and T-15 heavy infantry fighting vehicles both based on the Armata universal chassis system. According to Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko, the Armed Forces will get the first nine vehicles in 2018.
Visitors inspect Russian Armata tank in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow during the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017 on August 21, 2018. Image: AFP / Yekaterina ANISIMOVA AND Yekaterina ANISIMOVA
A new version of the T-15 IFV was presented at Army-2018. It has a new combat module with a 57-mm gun, which increased the firepower of the vehicle.
IMAGE: rg.ru
Sel 80-mm Multiple Launch Rocket System
ZASLON Science &Technology Center revealed its highly-mobile short-range 80-mm multiple launch rocket system “Sel” at Army-2018. The showcased system is mounted on the UAZ Cargo pickup. However, it can be installed on a wide range of chassis.
The system is equipped with 10 launching tubes and has the range of up to 6 km. It’s designed to engage manpower and light-armored vehicles, to carry out mine-laying, target acquisition, smoke screening and passive jamming (with special projectiles).
IMAGE: Mil.Press Today
Universal Armoured Engineering Vehicle
The Universal Armored Engineering Vehicle (UAEV) is developed to pave the way over rough terrain, to dismantle the rubble, to remove damaged equipment and to solve other engineering tasks in the combat enviroment. The UAEV is equipped with a bulldozer blade, a bucket, traction and auxiliary winch.
IMAGE: rg.ru
Video from Army-2018:
