Defence Notes

Shvabe upgrades laser imager

3rd September 2021

Upgraded Russian imaging system is expected to deliver 3-10x magnification.

Air Warfare

Russian prototype Il-112V aircraft crashes near Moscow

17th August 2021

The new Il-112V military transport aircraft has crashed in a forested area outside the Kubinka airfield, near Moscow, during a training flight.

Land Warfare

Russian Armed Forces receives another batch of Arctic tanks

27th July 2021

Omsktransmash has completed a delivery of its T-80BVM as part of an ongoing Russian modernisation programme.

Air Warfare

Rostec reveals new alpine helicopter

22nd July 2021

Rostec presented its new model of the Ka-226T helicopter during MAKS-2021

Tanks

2S25 Sprut-SDM1

Programme Background The Sprut-SDM1 is an upgraded version of the Sprut-SD, a mere 30 of which were produced for the VDV between 2006 and 2010 ...

Fighter - multirole

Su-57 (Russia)

Programme Background The T-50 prototype was shown for the first time at MAKS 2011. Serial production began in August 2018 after a contract was awarded ...

Tanks

T-14 Armata (Contracted)

Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

APCs/IFVs - tracked

T-15 Armata (Contracted)

Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

Tanks

T-14 Armata (Forecast)

Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

APCs/IFVs - tracked

T-15 Armata (Forecast)

Programme Background The first contract for 132 Armatas was signed by the Russian MoD in 2015. This will comprise sufficient T-14, T-15 heavy IFV and ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

BAS-750

The BAS-750, or БАС-750, is a rotary-wing UAS unveiled at Army 2022 by Russian Helicopters. Described as a multifunctional UAV, it can host various payloads to complete several mission ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

Loshtina-GUS

In May 2017, Rostec unveiled a new-generation military satellite-on-the-move system for communications, called Loshtina-GUS. The system is based on Rostec’s R-444-D radio relay system and ...

Tanks

2S25 Sprut-SDM1

Developed by Kurganmashzavod, the 2S25 Sprut-SDM1 is a 125mm-armed tracked self-propelled antitank gun developed to meet the requirements of the Russian Army's Air Assault Forces ...

Self-propelled rocket launchers

Zemledelie ISDM

The Zemledelie ISDM (Remote Engineering Mining System) is a truck-mounted MLRS that is specifically designed to sow minefields. Consisting of 50 122mm launch tubes mounted on ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

R-430

The R-430 radio relay system consists of several types of cross-country communication vehicles that support protected networking and communications in dense electronic threat and jamming ...

Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

BAS-200

Manufactured by JSC Russian Helicopters, which is part of Rostec, the Bas-200 is a rotary-wing UAS that was first presented at MAKS 2021.  Capable of ...

Pistols

Makarov PM/PB/PMM

The Makarov PM is a compact service pistol, adapted for military and police use in 1951 and still widely used in Russia, former Soviet republics ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

Korsar

The Korsar, or Corsair, is a UAS intended for round-the-clock air reconnaissance, delivering kinetic strikes and carrying payloads. In 2018, plans for the Korsar included upgraded ...

Military helicopters - light/training

Chetak

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chetak was the last version of the Alouette III (which first flew in February 1959) to remain in production. More ...

Tanks

T-14 Armata

The 125mm-armed T-14 Armata is the latest MBT to be developed for the Russian Army.  In late 2013, UVZ began trials of early prototype/pre-production models ...

Self-propelled mortars

2S42 Lotos

The 2S42 Lotos (Lotus) is a self-propelled artillery system that is being developed by Rostec subsidiary TsNIITochMash to replace the Russian VDV airborne forces' and ...

APCs/IFVs - tracked

T-15 Armata

The T-15 Armata heavy IFV was first seen publicly during rehearsals for the May Day 2015 parade in Moscow. The T-15 has a diesel power ...

Military helicopters - multirole

Ka-226T

Kamov’s Ka-226 is a further development of the company’s Ka-26 line of utility helicopters. However, the design has been heavily modernised, and the military Ka-226T ...

Military helicopters - multirole

AW189

Launched in June 2011, the AW189 is the latest-generation, twin-engine, 8t-class helicopter designed to answer the market demand for a versatile, affordable multirole platform. The ...

Bomber

Tu-160M

The Tu-160M is the modernised variant of the original Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber (see separate entry) developed in the 1980s for the Soviet Air Force. It ...