The main types of small arms in the Russian army. Armor-piercing modern weapons of Russia
New Smith & Wesson Combat Magnum revolvers
At the SHOT Show 2017, the famous American gun manufacturer presented two new revolvers called Combat Magnum.
The new Model 66 Combat Magnum revolver is made on the basis of a medium-sized "K" frame (K-frame) made of stainless steel, shoots .357 Magnum cartridges. Like other S&W K-frame revolvers, the new Model 66's cylinder holds 6 rounds. The barrel length is 69.85 mm, the total length of the weapon does not exceed 203.2 mm. The barrel is made with an under-barrel case for the extractor rod. The front sight is replaceable, with a red insert. The rear sight is adjustable. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is 9.
The Model 69 Combat Magnum fires .44 Magnum cartridges and has a larger L-frame that is stronger than the K-frame for firing high-power cartridges. The drum holds 5 rounds. Barrel length, sights and MSRP are identical to the Model 66.
New items from the Kalashnikov Concern
The Kalashnikov Concern is working on prototypes of new versions of hunting carbines - Los-10 and Bars-5. This weapon replaced the Los-7-1 and Bars-4-1 carbines previously announced at the Moscow International Exhibition “ARMS & Hunting - 2016”. The new Los-10, the main difference from the 7-1 model is the design of the bolt, received a muzzle thread for the DTK, a Picatinny rail in basic version, “straight” stock and single-row magazine.
In addition to these models, the Kalashnikov Concern is developing a new version hunting self-loading carbine Red deer, small-caliber carbine BI-7-2 KO and a new hunting repeating carbine MP-142K, built on the basis of a modular concept with interchangeable barrel blocks of various calibers and/or different lengths.
In the online store of the Kalashnikov Concern, the MMG 9-mm submachine gun PP-19-01 Vityaz-SN has appeared for sale, despite the fact that on the online store page it is called “Bison-2”. The price of this product is 24,000 rubles.
In the price list with recommended prices, available on the official website of the concern from January 20, 2017, information appeared on the 7.62-mm carbines Saiga MK isp.030 with a barrel length of 415 mm and Saiga MK isp.033 with a barrel length of 336 mm . The price for both the standard and shortened versions is 28,700 rubles, while the price for the 5.45 mm carbine released in 2017 under the same designation Saiga MK isp.030 is 37,700 rubles.
How to clean a weapon
With this video, the Ibis Hunting and Weapons channel opens a series of reviews in which it will try to answer the questions: how to properly clean a weapon? How, when and how often should you clean? What cleaning tools are needed, and what cleaning chemicals should be used? What accessories are needed? How to avoid damaging your weapon with inept cleaning? In addition, on the “Ibis Hunting and Weapons” channel you will find high-quality reviews of weapons and new products from weapons exhibitions. Update:
Quite strange in our age of computer and information technologies that some types of weapons that have been around for many years still do not seem to have solved all their technical problems. It is quite clear that the problems have not yet been solved assault rifles. Some of them, created in the 90s, were subject to many criticisms, which led to their premature replacement. The first was the licensed Spanish CETME automatic rifle, which was replaced by the German G36, which is currently being replaced again by a new model.
The French army has begun to receive new assault rifles that will replace the FAMAS bullpup rifle, which has been in service since the late 70s. The HK416F rifle, created by the German company Heckler & Koch, was chosen as a replacement (the numbers indicate compatibility with NATO standards with magazines from M4 and M16, the letter F means France). A total of 117,000 rifles will be purchased, and deliveries will take place from 2017 to 2028. Initially, the contract provided for the supply of 102,000 rifles; an increase of 15,000 units was due to the needs of reserve units. About 93,000 rifles are intended for the army, almost 10,000 for ground units of the navy and air force. The contract also includes 10,767 HK269F 40x46mm grenade launchers, accessories, ammunition, spare parts and technical support for 15 years.
The Heckler & Koch HK416 rifle was chosen by France; most of the rifles will go into service with the ground forces
In June 2017, the first two units French army received their NK416 rifles, which will replace the current bullpup FAMAS rifle, which has been in service since the late 70s
The Army will receive 5,300 rifles in 2017, then will receive 10,000 rifles per year from 2018 to 2023, with deliveries cut in half in the final five years of the contract. The army's share will make it possible to arm the entire personnel of the combat units of the ground forces, which is 77,000 military personnel, as well as those who are not included in these units, plus personnel of reserve units. First two army units received HK416F in June of this year: the 1st Sniper Regiment received a batch of 150 rifles and the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion received a batch of 250 pieces.
Regarding the new elements: compared to the previous FAMAS rifle, the new model has a magazine for 30 rounds versus 25; the HK416F rifle also has a mirror-symmetrical design, that is, it easily adapts to both right-handers and left-handers, which cannot be said about the “clarion” (French horn, unofficial name FAMAS), which was produced in two different options; the butt adapts to the size of the soldier. Four Picatinny rails are mounted on the receiver plate, which allows the installation of additional systems, for example, a 40-mm HK269F under-barrel grenade launcher, also of double-sided design, a handle with a bipod, optical sights etc.
FAMAS rifle of the FELIN complex
The HK416F rifle will be produced in two versions: 38,505 units for infantry units will be purchased in the standard HK416F-S version with a 14.5-inch barrel, and the remaining 54,575 units under the designation HK416F-C (Court - shortened) will be equipped with an 11-inch barrel. Currently, most infantry units are armed with the FAMAS FELIN rifle, adapted to the FELIN combat equipment of the French army. In order to preserve the capabilities of the FELIN complex, these units will keep their old assault rifles in service for some time, as the Army plans to release kits to adapt the new rifle to the next phase of the FELIN program around 2020.
The French army plans to modernize a total of 14915 HK416F-S rifles in 2020-2021, work will be carried out at the unit level. At a time determined by the command, the troops will receive new FELIN 2.0 combat equipment, which is a further development of the current system, with a special emphasis on mobility and modularity, as well as weight reduction.
The NK433 rifle, easily adaptable for both right-handed and left-handed people, can be equipped with a 40-mm NK269 under-barrel grenade launcher, also of a “double-sided” design, since it can open to the right or left side
The Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle, however, is still considered a successful platform. The last known contract was concluded with Lithuania for an improved version of this rifle under the designation G36 KA4M1. Improvements are mainly related to ergonomics: new stock, receiver guard and sight rails. Lithuania also purchased a new NK269 underbarrel grenade launcher of a “double-sided” design. The Lithuanian army has already received a number of G36 rifles; A contract from 2016 worth 12.5 million euros provides for the delivery of a publicly undisclosed number of rifles and grenade launchers in 2017.
Germany has finally decided to replace this G36 assault rifle, which was adopted in the mid-90s. In April 2017, the German Defense Procurement Office opened the System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr competition. Applications were supposed to be submitted by the end of May, but there was no official information from applicants. The projected number of rifles should be about 120,000; the choice will be made next year, while production should start in mid-2019 and run until early 2026, the contract value is estimated at 245 million euros.
Little is known about the requirements for the new rifle: weight without magazine 3.6 kg, two barrels of different lengths, double-sided rifle, barrel life of at least 15,000 rounds, receiver life twice as high as average. Oddly enough, the requirements say nothing about caliber, which allows applicants to offer weapons of both NATO standards, 5.56x45 and 7.62x51, although the first of them is apparently preferable.
The German armed forces' need for a new assault rifle is about 120,000 units. The document doesn't say caliber, but all known contenders will likely focus on 5.56mm
Among the contenders we will undoubtedly find three national solutions offered by Heckler & Koch, Rheinmetall and Haenel. One can only guess how many foreign applicants, such as FN and SIG Sauer, may try their luck in this competition, given irresistible desire the German parliament to keep the money in their country.
In February 2017, Heckler & Koch introduced its new modular assault rifle NK433, which combines some developments and best characteristics rifles G36 and NK416, but at the same time its cost is lower than the cost of NK416. It refers to a gas-operated weapon with a short-stroke gas piston, made separately from the bolt frame, and locked by an optimized bolt with 7 lugs. The barrels are modular, quick-release and made in six configurations with lengths of 11, 12.5, 14.5. 16.5, 18.9 and 20 inches; The barrels, chromed inside, are made by cold forging. Self-lubricating sliding parts of the bolt made it possible to minimize the maintenance of the weapon.
At the request of the Bundeswehr, the NK433 rifle has a three-position fire mode switch: “on safety,” “single” and “automatic”; the rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute. The adjustable gas outlet allows the installation of a muffler. The standard magazine corresponds to NATO STANAG 4179, however, using a special kit, the NK433 rifle can be equipped with a G36 magazine. The lower receiver can be replaced with a G36 or AR-15 style receiver, allowing the user to maintain the same habits acquired with the previous weapon, thereby reducing the amount of combat training.
The rifle has a right-folding buttstock with a length-adjustable shoulder rest and a height-adjustable cheek rest. Shooting can be carried out with the butt folded; Replaceable grip pads allow you to adapt it to the size of the shooter’s hand. The receiver is made of aluminum, equipped with a NAR (NATO Accessory Rail) standard STANAG 4694, the receiver has a Picatinny/NAR guide at the 6 o'clock position. At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions we will find Nkeu adapters. The N&K company offers a shot counter, information from which can be downloaded from a short distance using radio frequency identification technology. In addition to the 5.56 mm caliber variant, the new rifle from N&K is also available in the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge (7.62×35), the 7.62×39 mm version is designated NK123, while the 7.62×51 mm version is designated NK231.
The latest development from Heckler & Koch HK433, whose modular concept allows you to adapt it to the habits of G36 or M4 users
Rheinmetall and Steyr Mannlicher have teamed up to take part in a competition to replace the German G36 rifle and offer it the RS556 model (Rheinmetall - Steyr 5.56), which is a further development of the STM-556 carbine. presented by the Austrian arms company in 2012. The lower receiver is the same as the AR15 rifle, however, modified for left-handed use. The rifle is equipped with a more reliable and significantly less sensitive to contamination system with a short stroke of the gas piston. The piston acts on a rod, which moves the bolt carrier rearward, and is locked by the rotary bolt. The bolt carrier parts are made of steel, while the upper and lower receivers are made of aluminum.
The rifle is available with five barrels of varying lengths and does not require any tools to change them. These solutions are inherited from the Steyr AUG model. The rifle has a four-position gas regulator, which can operate in normal mode, in difficult operating conditions mode, in firing mode with a silencer, and in completely blocked gas exhaust. The telescopic polymer stock has 7 length adjustment positions. In addition to the 5.56 mm caliber option, models chambered for .300 AAC Blackout and 7.62x39 mm cartridges are also offered.
Rheinmetall's RS556 rifle is similar in many aspects to the AR-15 family
The third German applicant, Haenel (although owned by the Emirati company Tawazun), offered another rifle based on the AR15 in the competition to replace the G36. The operating principle of the Haenel Mk 556 model automation is based on the removal of powder gases from the barrel bore. The stock also resembles that of the M4, with five barrels of varying lengths available.
A three-position safety-translator of firing modes allows you to fire single shots and continuous bursts. Depending on the customer’s choice, two options for positions are offered: fuse-single-automatic, respectively, at 0°-60°-120° or at 0°-90°-180°. The trigger force is 3.2 kg, all controls and adjustments are suitable for both hands. The receiver is equipped with four NAR guides, and folding mechanical sights are also installed.
The Bundeswehr's contract for a new assault rifle attracted the attention of Rheinmetall, which teamed up with Steyr Mannlicher to offer the RS556, a modification of the STM-556
The last known buyer of the latest development from Accuracy International - the AMHS338 assault rifle chambered for the 338 LM cartridge - was Lithuania.
While everything is more or less clear with the three German applicants, little is known about possible foreign applicants. In principle, all major manufacturers of small arms are able to present interesting solutions. Another unclear point concerns the possible common system between France and Germany, proposed by France at the end of 2015, when the NK433 rifle had not yet been “released.”
Another competition, albeit of a significantly smaller scale, was announced in Germany in January 2017. This time a new rifle became necessary for the forces special operations. The Defense Acquisition Agency has identified a requirement for 1,705 rifles, to which five more must be added for evaluation testing and another 40 for acceptance testing, meaning the winner will have to supply a total of 1,750 rifles. As for the requirements for the rifle, some of them are known: a rifle chambered for 5.56x45 mm with a short stroke of the gas piston, a barrel life of at least 10,000 rounds, a receiver three times longer. The rifle must be adapted for right-handed and right-handed use and be equipped with STANAG 4694 guides on the receiver and receiver so that additional devices can be installed, for example, a laser module, a flashlight and other devices. The weapon must be compatible with a silencer and must be less than 900 mm in length without a silencer, Weight Limit without magazine and optics should not exceed 3.8 kg.
Rheinmetall will undoubtedly offer their RS556 model for this competition, however, Heckler & Koch should offer their NK416A5 or NK416A5 models, while Haenel's participation is still in question. As with the above-mentioned competition, little is known about foreign applicants who might take part in the German competition. German Special Operations Forces (KSK) units began receiving the new Haenel RS-9 .338 LM sniper rifle in 2016, designated G-29 by the Bundeswehr. The length of the weapon is 1275 mm, the barrel length is 690 mm, with the butt folded, the total length is reduced to 1020 mm.
The KSK special forces chose the Steiner Military 5-25×56-ZF sight, to which an Aimpoint Micro 1-2 red dot sight is attached for close-range shooting. In June 2017, special forces began to receive the B&T Monoblock suppressor, specially created for the 338 LM caliber. It adds another 222 mm to the length of the rifle and another 652 grams to its weight, which without accessories is 7.54 kg.
Just recently it became known that the new G95 assault rifle (HK416A7) will replace the G36KA1/A2/A4 automatic rifles. The new weapon will go into service with special operations forces units of the ground forces and naval special forces.
Another country that has recently chosen the .338 LM for its snipers is Latvia, which purchased an undisclosed number of Accuracy International AHMS rifles in late 2016. This is a big breakthrough in terms of accuracy and range, since before this Lithuanian snipers were armed with semi-automatic rifles of 7.62x51 mm caliber.
While remaining in the sniper world, some young participants joined historical brands. For example, the Austrian Ritter & Stark with its modular rifle SX-1 Modular Tactical Rifle, available in 7.62x51 300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges, and the Italian Victrix, whose portfolio includes four bolt-action rifles, Pugio under 7.62x51, Gladius chambered 7.62x51, .260 Remington and 6.5 Creed, Scorpio chambered .338 LM and .300 Win, and Tormentum chambered .375 and .408 Cheytac, were recently acquired by Beretta. Staying true to Beretta, Poland recently purchased 150 Sako M10 modular rifles chambered for the .338 LM cartridge.
Beretta, after starting production of the ARX200 rifle chambered for 7.62×51 mm, has already delivered the first batches to the Italian army
Beauties from the Beretta stable, inherited from Victrix (from top to bottom): Victrix Scorpio, Victrix Tormentum, Victrix Pugio
As for assault rifles, Beretta supplies its ARX-200 battle rifles to the Italian army. These 7.62x51mm rifles will allow Italian combat units to improve their combat capabilities compared to the previous 5.56mm Beretta ARX-160 rifles. Beretta should soon begin development of a semi-automatic version of the ARX-200, which will become a pure marksman rifle in the company's portfolio (the lowest level of marksmanship in the classification adopted by the US Ground Forces).
A significantly improved version of the Bren 2 of the original Bren assault rifle has been adopted by the Czech Army, which is currently receiving its first batches
Bren 2 in different configurations: (top to bottom) 14" barrel, 11" barrel and 8" barrel
Many armies are adopting new rifles. At the end of last year, the Czech army received the first batch of CZ Bren 2 assault rifles. 2,600 were ordered, 1,900 with a 356 mm barrel and 700 rifles in a shortened configuration with a 280 mm barrel. Also at the end of 2016, Dutch naval special forces received his SIG MCX short-barreled carbines, becoming the first among the special forces to switch to the .300 Blackout caliber; new carbines will replace submachine guns in close combat. Among the ammunition included in the contract, you can find not only standard cartridges and cartridges with subsonic bullets, but also lead-free thin-walled bullets that help avoid ricochet when working in confined spaces.
At the beginning of January 2017, the Turkish army received the first batch of 500 MRT-76 7.62x51 mm assault rifles from MKEK; in accordance with the contract, 35,000 rifles will be manufactured by two companies, MKEK will produce 20,000 pieces, and the KaleKalip company will produce 15,000 pieces, respectively. At the IDEF 2017 exhibition, MKEK presented its new assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45 mm MRT-55 (Milli Piyade Tiifegi - national infantry rifle), which comes in two versions, standard with a barrel length of 368 mm and shortened (MRT-55K) . The new rifle features a short-stroke gas system similar to the AR-15; it was developed to meet the needs of Turkish special forces; at the end of 2016, 20,000 rifles were ordered.
In addition, a version of the MRT-76 rifle with a 508 mm long table was presented, designated KNT-76 (Keskin Nisanci Tiifegi - sniper rifle); a version of the KAAN-717 carbine with a 305 mm barrel was also shown. As for Russia, it is very active in the small arms market. For example, Venezuela is building a plant in Maracay to produce Russian assault rifles AK-103 and AK-104, as well as 7.62x39 mm cartridges which should open in 2019.
The family of automatic weapons produced by Israel Weapons Industries is a further development of the Galil assault rifle. Photo of Galil ACE models 21, 22 and 23 (top to bottom). An Israeli company recently signed an agreement with Indian Punj Lloyd to create a joint venture for the production of small arms of various calibers
India has always been and remains one of the main potential customers for small arms. Its small arms market is worth several billion dollars. The Indian Ministry of Defense recently issued a request for proposals for the procurement of a limited number of 7.62 mm assault rifles, submachine guns and pistols for the Air Force special forces.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg of contracts aimed at re-equipping the Indian armed forces. Foreign companies are merging with local firms. You don’t have to look far for an example; in May 2017, the Israeli company IWI created a joint venture with Punj Lloyd, known as Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems, for the joint production of small arms. India's historical opponent, Pakistan, is also in search of new small arms to replace its G3 and Toure 56 rifles in 7.62x51 mm and 7.62x39 mm calibers. In search of potential contracts, several contenders, including FN, CZ, Beretta, are closely monitoring all that is happening in the country in the field of small arms.
In conclusion, a small summary table: 
Russian Federation were formed in 1992. At the time of creation, their number was 2,880,000 people. Today it reaches 1,000,000 people. Not only is it one of the largest armed forces in the world. Armament Russian army today it is very modern, developed, has stockpiles of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction, a developed system for countering enemy attacks and redeploying weapons if necessary.
The army of the Russian Federation practically does not use foreign-made weapons. Everything needed is manufactured in the country. All military equipment and weapons are the result of research by scientists and the functioning of the defense industry. The army is governed by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation through military districts and other governing bodies. Also, a General Staff has been created to manage the Russian Armed Forces, whose tasks are defense planning, conducting mobilization and operational training, organizing reconnaissance operations, etc.
Armored vehicles
Military equipment and weapons of the Russian army are constantly being modernized. This happens with vehicles such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles. They are intended for combat operations on various types of terrain, and are also capable of transporting a combat detachment of up to 10 people and overcoming water obstacles. These vehicles can travel both forward and backward at the same speed.
Thus, at the beginning of 2013, the BTR-82 and BTR-82A entered service with the Russian army. This modification has an economical diesel generator set and is equipped with an electric drive with a stabilizer for controlling the gun and a laser sight. The designers improved reconnaissance capabilities, and the fire extinguishing and fragmentation protection systems were improved.
There are about 500 BMP-3s in service. This equipment and the weapons with which it is equipped have no equal in the whole world. equipped with mine protection, have a durable and sealed body, providing all-round armor to protect personnel. The BMP-3 is an air transportable amphibious vehicle. On a flat road it reaches speeds of up to 70 km/h.
Russian nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons have been adopted since the times of the USSR. This is a whole complex that includes ammunition itself, carriers and means of transportation, as well as control systems. The action of the weapon is based on nuclear energy, which is released during the fission or fusion reaction of nuclei.
New today is the RS-24 Yars. Development on it began under the USSR in 1989. After Ukraine refused to develop it jointly with Russia, all design developments were transferred to MIT in 1992. The design of the Yars rocket is similar to the Topol-M. Its difference is a new platform for breeding blocks. The Yars has an increased payload, and the hull is treated with a special compound to reduce the impact nuclear explosion. This missile is capable of performing programmed maneuvers and is equipped with a complex to counter missile defense systems.
Pistols for the army
Pistols in troops of any kind are used for close combat and personal self-defense. This weapon became widespread due to its compactness and light weight, but the main advantage was the ability to fire with one hand. Until 2012, pistols in service with the Russian army were mainly used by Makarov systems (PM and PMM). The models are designed for 9 mm cartridges. The firing range reached 50 meters, the rate of fire was 30 rounds per minute. Magazine capacity: PM - 8 rounds, PMM - 12 rounds.
However, the Makarov pistol is recognized as obsolete; more modern model. This is “Strizh”, developed jointly with special forces officers. According to their own technical specifications the pistol is superior to the world famous Glock. Another pistol that the army adopted new Russia in 2003, there was an SPS (Serdyukov self-loading pistol).
9-mm cartridges with small ricochet bullets, as well as armor-piercing and armor-piercing tracer bullets were developed for it. It is equipped with a special spring to speed up the change of the double-stack magazine and two safety valves.
Aviation
The armament of the Russian Army in terms of aviation allows it to provide protection and attack on the enemy, as well as carry out various operations, such as reconnaissance, security and others. Aviation is represented by airplanes and helicopters for various purposes.
Among the aircraft, it is worth noting the Su-35S model. This fighter is multifunctional and highly maneuverable; it is designed to strike moving and stationary ground targets. But its main task is to gain air supremacy. The Su-35S has engines with higher thrust and a rotary thrust vector (product 117-S). It uses fundamentally new on-board equipment - the aircraft's information and control system ensures the maximum degree of interaction between the pilots and the aircraft. Installed on the fighter latest system weapons control "Irbis-E". It is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 30 air targets, firing at up to 8 targets without interrupting observation of ground and air space.
Among helicopters, the KA-52 “Alligator” and KA-50 “Black Shark” should be noted as modern weapons of the Russian army. These two combat vehicles are formidable weapons; so far no country in the world has been able to create and oppose equipment that matches them in terms of tactical and technical capabilities. "Alligator" can operate at any time of the day or night, under any weather and climatic conditions. The “Black Shark” is designed to destroy various armored vehicles, including tanks, as well as to provide protection for ground facilities and troops from enemy attacks.
Vehicles
The Russian army is equipped with vehicles for various purposes on a large scale. Automotive technology presented in the form of a highly mobile, cargo-passenger, multi-purpose, specially protected and armored vehicle.
The Tiger STS, which was adopted by the Russian army, has proven itself especially well. The vehicle is used for reconnaissance operations, monitoring the enemy, transporting personnel and ammunition, patrolling high-risk areas, and escorting mobile columns. It has high maneuverability, a large range, and good visibility for firing.
For the rapid transfer of equipment, ammunition and personnel in large quantities, the KRAZ-5233BE “Spetsnaz” is used. The vehicle is designed for work in harsh climatic conditions (from - 50 to + 60 degrees), has high cross-country ability - it can overcome water obstacles up to 1.5 m deep and snow covers up to 60 cm high.
Tanks
Tanks are armored fighting vehicles and are used by ground troops. Today, the Russian Army uses the T-90, T-80 and T-72 models. Modern weapons tanks outnumber the United States Army.
The T-80 has been supplied to the army since 1976, since then it has undergone several modifications. Used to support firepower to destroy people and various objects (for example, fortified firing points), to create defensive lines. It has multi-layer armor and increased maneuverability. Equipped with a 125-mm cannon coaxial with a machine gun, a Utes machine-gun complex, a smoke grenade launch system, as well as an anti-tank missile control system.
The T-90 tank, especially the T-90SM modification, can be safely positioned as the latest weapon of the Russian army. Equipped with an improved fire extinguishing system, an air conditioning system has been added, and it is possible to hit moving targets with high accuracy while moving. In all respects it surpasses tanks such as the Abrams or Leopard.
Machine guns in service with the army
The most famous weapons of the Russian army are And although they have no grace or beauty, they have earned popularity for their simplicity and ease of use. This machine gun dates back to 1959, when it was first adopted by the USSR army. In recent years, starting from 1990, AK-74M models with a rail for mounting various types of sights have been produced for the army. In it, the designers were able to realize the dream of a universal machine gun. But no matter how universal it may be, history does not stand still, and technology develops.
Today, the modern weapons of the Russian army in terms of machine guns are represented by the AK-12 model. It does not have the disadvantages of all types of AKs - there is no gap between the receiver cover and the receiver itself. The design makes the machine convenient for use by both right-handers and left-handers. The model is compatible with magazines for AKM and AK-74. It is possible to mount an under-barrel grenade launcher and various types of sights. The shooting accuracy is almost 1.5 times higher than that of the AK-74.
Grenade launchers in Russian troops
Grenade launchers are designed for various purposes and are divided into several types. Thus, they distinguish easel, automatic, manual, multi-purpose, under-barrel and remote-controlled. Depending on the type, they are intended to destroy enemy troops, moving and stationary targets, and to destroy unarmored, lightly armored and armored vehicles.
New small arms The Russian army in this category is represented by the RPG-30 “Hook” grenade launcher. It is a disposable weapon and entered service with the troops in 2013. It is double-barreled and contains two grenades: an imitation grenade and a 105-mm live grenade. The simulator ensures the activation of the enemy’s defense functions, and the combat grenade directly destroys the target that remains unprotected.
We cannot ignore such modern weapons of the Russian army as the GP-25 and GP-30 under-barrel grenade launchers. They are equipped with Kalashnikov assault rifles of the AK-12, AKM, AKMS, AKS-74U, AK-74, AK-74M, AK-103 and AK-101 modifications. Underbarrel grenade launchers GP-25 and GP-30 are designed to destroy living and non-living targets and unarmored vehicles. The target firing range is about 400 m, the caliber is 40 mm.
Sniper rifles
Sniper rifles, used as small arms by the Russian army, are divided into several types, or rather, have different purposes. To eliminate single camouflaged or moving targets, a 7.62 mm SVD is used. The rifle was developed back in 1958 by E. Dragunov and has an effective range of up to 1300 meters. Since then, the weapon has undergone several modifications. In the 90s was developed and put into service with the Russian Army (SVU-AS). It has a caliber of 7.62 and is intended for airborne units. This rifle has automatic firing capability and is also equipped with a folding stock.
For military operations that require the absence of noise, VSS is used. Despite the fact that the Vintorez sniper rifle was created in former USSR, SP-5 and SP-6 cartridges are used for firing (pierces a steel plate 8 mm thick from a distance of 100 m). The effective firing range is from 300 to 400 meters, depending on the type of sight used.
Russian naval forces
The naval armament used by the army of the new Russia is quite diverse. Surface ships provide support for submarine forces, transport landing troops and cover landings, protect territorial waters, the coastline, search and track the enemy, and support sabotage operations. Submarine forces provide reconnaissance operations and surprise attacks on continental and maritime targets. Naval aviation forces are used to attack enemy surface forces, destroy key facilities on its coastline, and intercept and prevent enemy air attacks.
The Navy includes destroyers, patrol ships of the far and near sea zone, small missile and anti-submarine ships, missile, anti-sabotage boats, large and small landing ships, nuclear submarines, minesweepers, landing boats.
Defense production
After the collapse of the USSR, the defense industry experienced a sharp decline. However, in 2006, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the State Arms Development Program for 2007-2015. According to this document, new weapons and various technical means to replace the old one.
The development and supply of new and modernized weapons and equipment is carried out by such enterprises as Russian Technologies, Oboronprom, Motorostroitel, Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, United Aircraft Corporation, Russian Helicopters OJSC, Uralvagonzavod, Kurgan Engine Plant" and others.
Most research centers and design bureaus developing weapons for the Russian army are strictly classified, as are defense industry enterprises. But the defense industry today provides jobs for many large and medium-sized cities of the Russian Federation.
The Kalashnikov assault rifle is a symbol of the second half of the 20th century. For many years, designers have tried to create something worth attention, as trouble-free and reliable. However, in most cases, the result was another modification of the AK-47. after 1995 the situation changed somewhat. Russian designers have developed several noteworthy rifles. In this article, we will look at the new weapons of Russia, which are going to be put into service with the military forces.
A short preface
Since 1949, the most popular and sought-after weapon almost all over the world is the Kalashnikov assault rifle. However, abroad, except for the Makarov pistol, AK-47 (and its modifications), as well as Simonov carbines, they did not know anything else. After the collapse of the USSR, the situation changed a little. Gunsmiths got to work and developed several promising models of small arms. It is safe to say that the Russian Army will be equipped with new machine, which will replace the obsolete AK-47 and its modifications. Of course, the Russian defense industry is unlikely to tell all its secrets about what weapons the army will be equipped with and when. Nevertheless, today something is known about the AN-94 assault rifle, a silent sniper rifle and other developments of Russian gunsmiths. In this article we will try to look at new types of pistols, rifles and machine guns.
Russia's newest weapons
In fact, the number of projects being developed in the field of the Russian defense industry is simply enormous. These are nuclear submarines of the Akula project, support for Terminator tanks, the Ajax supersonic aircraft and much more. But in one case we are dealing with aircraft, in the other with heavy ground equipment. We are more interested in the development of small arms, for example, the AN-94, which is fundamentally different from the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The Ministry of Defense says that soon the AN will completely replace the AK-47/74, as well as the AKM. Kalashnikov himself had a rather negative attitude towards the new small arms of the Russian infantry, but today this machine gun can be considered a standard. The essence of the new development is that the firing efficiency, compared to the AK, has been increased by 1.5-2.0 times. Along with this, demands were made for reduced returns. With all this, Russia’s new weapons had to be no less reliable and trouble-free under any circumstances.
Detailed description of AN-94
We can say with confidence that this is the most modern weapons. For example, the butt, as well as the forend, are made of polymers, which makes the weapon more convenient and lighter. The gas tube under the barrel is a guide lever with a rigid mount. It is noteworthy that it uses the principle of a biased blowback pulse, which is also known as SIS. The essence of such a system is that during recoil the receiver and barrel move separately from the bolt and bolt frame. The AN-94 is equipped with a 4x optical sight to improve shooting accuracy while moving. The standard sight is also made with fundamental differences from the Kalashnikov assault rifle. It is graduated at 1 km. Another innovation is the ability to install 40 mm. The latter can fire both live and light-sound projectiles. But the most important thing is to say about reliability. It is increased by more than 150% compared to the AK-74. In practice, the first failure occurs after 40,000 shots.
New Russian small arms
(ASVK) was developed in the early 2000s. This weapon is fundamentally different from its analogues in that the firing range has been slightly increased, and it has also become possible to hit enemy personnel wearing body armor. The gunsmiths also had a third goal - to provide the sniper with the ability to hit protected, small-sized objects (enemy shelters, MRKs, radars, satellite communication antennas, etc.). All this became a prerequisite for the creation of a large-caliber sniper rifle with powerful cartridges (caliber - 12.7 mm). Of course, the mass of the weapon in this case was more than 13 kilograms. Without sight and magazine - 12 kg. What is worth noting is the presence of a top rail, which allows you to install various optical and night sights. If there is a need to destroy lightly armored enemy equipment and infantry at a distance of up to 2 km, then the ASVK is used. This new Russian small arms allows you to conduct targeted fire from cover.
Sniper rifle (SV-8)
This small weapon was developed in 2011. Today the SV-8 is one of the best sniper rifles. It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that all developments took place in strict secrecy; the official announcement was made only in 2011. This is a fairly light weapon, weighing only 6.5 kilograms and with dimensions of 1025 x 96 x 185. The firing range, so to speak, is standard - 1.5 kilometers. 5-round magazine. Currently, the Ministry of Defense plans to replace the SVD and OSV-96 with the SV-8, which is much more reliable and trouble-free, as well as accurate. Soon it is planned to put the SV-8 into serial production and completely replace the obsolete SVD. Therefore, if we consider new weapon developments in Russia, it is definitely worth mentioning the new model sniper rifle.
Machine gun "Kord"
If we talk about modern machine guns that are used by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, then we cannot fail to mention the Kord. Despite the fact that development began in the 90s, the final version was received only in 2007. It is noteworthy that the machine gun can be installed on the T-90S tank. The firing range against ground targets is 2 km, against air targets - 1.5 kilometers. Currently there are a huge number of modifications. For example, there are tank machine guns, as well as infantry ones on bipods and infantry machine guns, etc. High versatility means that the Kord can be used for almost any purpose. If you use bullets with a tungsten core, you can significantly improve the armor penetration rate, so hitting lightly armored enemy vehicles will not be difficult. In addition to all this, the Kord can be equipped with an optical or night sight, which makes this Russian weapon truly universal. The latest developments don't stop there, so let's move on.
About the AK-12 in detail
Along with providing the Russian army with new uniforms, the question of changing small arms arises. Today there is a lot of talk about the “Ratnik” equipment. In addition to new armor, soldiers will also receive a machine gun. According to preliminary data, it will be an AK-12. Let's take a closer look at what kind of weapon this is and what its features are. As the name suggests, the developer of this assault rifle was the Kalashnikov concern, so the caliber of the bullet will be exactly the same as that of the AK-47. The most fundamental difference from its predecessor is the reduced weight. The designers managed to reduce the weight of the weapon by 0.1 kg. Some may think this is a ridiculous number, but it is not. In addition, the trigger mechanism has been improved. From now on, you can pull the bolt with one hand, and there is no need to carry out this activity after each magazine change.
AEK-971, or the main competitor of the AK-12
Today, the new model of the Kalashnikov assault rifle has a serious competitor. The designers from Kovrov used a fundamentally new design, which significantly reduces the recoil of the weapon. Shooting, due to lower recoil, is smoother, but the weight is slightly greater than that of the AK-12. But if we compare in general, the accuracy of fire of the two models is almost the same. Although the power of the AK is somewhat greater. It is impossible not to notice that the AEK-971 has such a significant advantage as a new firing mode - short bursts. But the AK-12 also has this capability, however, there are some differences. However, both on the one hand and on the other, it is said that it would be good to adopt both models and experimentally determine which is better in real combat conditions. Newest anyway military weapons Russia will be put into service in 2015 along with the Ratnik kit.
Something else about the newest
As noted a little above, today there are a huge number of projects that the best gunsmiths of the Russian Federation are working on. However, no one is in a hurry to share their secrets. For example, today it is known that the so-called “Drone” will soon enter service. It is already known that this will be a combat vehicle, but there have been no confirmations or denials from the Ministry of Defense. Nevertheless, we can expect that Russia will have a new weapon (“Dron”), but when this will happen and under what circumstances will remain a mystery until the last. It is quite possible that this will be secret weapon RF, and it will only be used in the event of direct aggression.
Conclusion
So we've only looked at some newest weapons Russia. Photo the latest developments you can see in this article. Today, revolvers, pistols, machine guns, grenade launchers and machine guns are constantly being developed. They are trying to introduce all this into service. Nevertheless, the question of making bullets is often raised head on. If a weapon is developed with a caliber that is not manufactured on the territory of the Russian Federation, then in most cases it is not put on the assembly line. A striking example of this is the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which has been intensively used for more than 40 years. Despite all its reliability and unpretentiousness, it is time to replace this weapon with something newer, more powerful and accurate. That, in principle, is all that can be said on this topic. Now you know what Russia’s new weapons look like and what they should be.
The Ministry of Defense is deciding on what weapons to equip the latest “Ratnik” combat equipment, choosing between AK-12 assault rifles from the Kalashnikov concern or AEK-971 from the Degtyarev Kovrov plant. While this issue is under consideration, “Ratnik” is armed with modernized samples of time-tested weapons, we read further about what kind of weapon these are.
According to the developer, the Kalashnikov concern, the kit, which received the code “Kit”, will increase the combat capabilities of the machine by 1.5 times. Gunsmiths calculated this indicator based on the criterion “frequency of defeat” at a range of up to 300 meters at any time of the day and in different climatic conditions.
The body kit includes several key elements. This is a new muzzle brake-compensator.
It reduced recoil and virtually eliminated the flash when firing. Infrared laser target designator. Its beam can only be seen through a night vision device. Ergonomic handle and length-adjustable stock. The receiver cover and forend are equipped with Picatinny rails. With it, you can install a collimator sight, a flashlight and a vertical handle on the machine gun for holding the weapon with your second hand.
The new modernization kit for the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle, according to the developers, will make this proven, but no longer modern weapon suitable for use with the Ratnik.
Large-caliber sniper rifle ASVK (Kovrov)
This rifle is a further development of the KSVK large-caliber sniper rifle. Like its predecessor, the ASVK is designed to fire 12.7 mm cartridges. Depending on the type of ammunition, a rifle can hit both manpower and lightly armored enemy vehicles.
Compared to the previous model, ASVK is lighter - about 9 kilograms versus 12.5. However, such relief was provided by shortening the barrel. And this, in turn, led to a decrease sighting range, it is 1200 meters (KSVK hits 1500 meters).
ASVK is a five-shot bolt-action rifle. It is made according to the bullpup scheme, when the trigger is located in front of the magazine and the firing mechanism of the weapon.
Upgraded sniper rifle SVDM
The main innovation of the modernized SVD is the folding bipod. The main option for sniper shooting is from a prone position. In such cases, you always have to put something under the weapon or hold it under the forend with your second hand. The bipods solved this problem; they are height adjustable.
The receiver cover has a Picatinny rail on which modern optical sights can be mounted, including - foreign production. Previously, the SVD's mounting strip was located on the side and standard sights PSO-1, 1PN93 and some others were attached to it.
A new adjustment mechanism has appeared at the “cheek” of the butt. With its help, the shooter can adjust the height and position of the “cheek” to individual characteristics.
However, the main advantage of the new rifle is its heavier barrel. Due to its thickness, it was possible to increase the accuracy of fire when overheated.
Submachine gun "Vityaz"
PP-19-01 “Vityaz” became a continuation of the “Bison” line of submachine guns, which were created by order of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs since 1993. New sample was designed taking into account the requirements received from the special forces detachment of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs "Vityaz". It also received its name from the special forces.
“Vityaz” is designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov AKS-74U assault rifle, the unification of parts is 70%. In particular, the trigger mechanism, receiver and safety are identical to AK parts.
"Vityaz" is unpretentious in terms of the use of ammunition. The submachine gun can be loaded with both Russian 9x19 mm cartridges, including 7N21 cartridges with an armor-piercing bullet, and foreign Parabellum cartridges of the same caliber.
The choice of 9-mm ammunition is due to the fact that the Vityaz is intended for use in urban areas and indoors, that is, in an environment where there is a high probability of ricochet. In this case, the 9x19 mm caliber turned out to be the most optimal - compared to 5.45 mm caliber bullets used in machine gun cartridges, the ricochet of nine-millimeter bullets is much less.
Sniper rifle SV-98
The SV-98 was developed on the basis of the 7.62 mm Record-CISM sports rifle. One of the key differences between this weapon and the SVD is the manually reloadable bolt.
This design provides greater bullet speed when fired, since the energy of the powder gases is not spent on pushing the piston of the bolt frame (as in SVD and Kalashnikov assault rifles), but is entirely aimed at pushing the bullet out of the barrel.
The rifle comes with a low-noise firing device. It is not capable of completely drowning out the sound of a shot, but it can blur its sound portrait so that the enemy does not guess the type of weapon used.
Initially it was assembled on a wooden bed. In the new version, the rifle is assembled on an aluminum stock. Thanks to this, it has become immune to climate change. Rifles with “wood” are already in service with Russian security forces; they have been used in real combat operations.
The sample shown in the photo is experimental; testing is currently ongoing.
