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Top 10 Russian Military Technologies Even The West Are Scared Of by hamzeiy: 9:15pm On Nov 14, 2016 |
www.businessinsider.com/the-7-scariest-weapons-russia-is-developing-right-now-2015-8 on November 25, 2015 INTRODUCTION Russia is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of military equipment in the world and their products are widely used. They are the only nation other than the US, to have every possible kind of military equipment from long range bombers to next generation submarines. Their weapons feature in basically every local and international conflict and are typically used against their western counterparts. Some of the Russian weapons are superior to their western equivalents, some inferior and the others, on-par. There are a few Russian weapons which actually have no Western equivalent till date. This article covers the top 10 weapons used by the Russian military. The list is made to ensure an even distribution of Russian army, navy and air force weapon systems of the present and future. 10. PANTSYR S1 Developed as a platform to counter the American A-10 and Ah-64 attack aircraft, the Pantsyr S1 is a successor to the deadly Tungushka . The Pantsyr S1 is classified as a SPAAG-M ( Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – Missile) since it is mounted on a self propelled platform, the Kamaz 8×8 truck and has both guns and missiles to engage its targets. It provides the high altitude, long range engagement capability of SAMs combined with low-altitude short range engagement capability of AA guns. It has 6 SAMs and dual 30 mm autocannon on each side of the turret for a total of 12 missiles and 4 guns. It has Passive Electronically Scanning Array (PESA) radars, electro-optical and Infrared sensors to detect and engage targets. S400 missile launcher unit being escorted by a Pantsyr S1 The 2 dual 30 mm guns can fire at a rate of 2500 rpm each and a total of 1500 rounds of ammunition are carried on board. The maximum engagement range of these guns is 4 km and they can shoot down targets flying as low as a few meters. The 57E6 SAM has a range of 20 km and can engage targets up to an altitude of 15 km . The Pantsyr S1 is commonly deployed to protect strategic missile batteries like S400 and ICBMs from attacks by hostile aircraft and cruise missiles. It can be effectively used as a part of a networked battery or a standalone system. A naval variant is under development and will be used on future warships of the Russian Navy. Read more Pantsyr S1 : Russia’s deadly short range air defense system 9. KRASUKHA-2/4 AND RICHAG-AV ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEM Krasukha-2 The Krasukha is a highly mobile and powerful electronic warfare system mounted on an 8×8 Baz truck, designed for offensive and defensive electronic warfare. The Krasukha-2/4 are designed to jam enemy drones, AWACS, reconnaissance aircraft and satellites in order to disrupt the enemy’s C4I (command, control, communications , computer & information) infrastructure. They can also jam the fire-control radars on board fighter jets and missiles, thus preventing them from launching attacks. By doing so, it is possible to create a great deal of confusion and neutralize the technological superiority of western drones and electronic warfare aircraft. The Krasukha-2 is often deployed to defend high value assets like Iskander ballistic missile batteries by jamming enemy AWACS and drones from as far as 250 km away, thus preventing the enemy from getting a lock on the target’s position. The Krasukha-4 is designed to neutralize enemy Lo-orbital satellites and ground based radars as far as 300 km away. This allows them to render an enemy’s satellite useless, without the need to physically shoot them down using conversational anti- satellite weapons. Together, they can prevent the enemy from obtaining a clear picture of the battlefield and getting target co-ordinates to launch missiles. In a modern conflict, information is king. By denying the enemy, information of your precise location by blinding them, you immediately gain an upper hand. That is the intention of these systems. Richag-AV on Mi-8 A close up of one of the antenna The Richag AV is a powerful jamming system intended for use against hostile radars and sonars. It is designed to primarily defend friendly assets from enemy missiles which are guided by radar, by jamming them from hundreds of kilometers away. A variety of platforms like helicopters, ships, aircraft and ground vehicles can be used to mount this system. It can also act as an Electronic Support Measures (ESM ) asset and collect data about enemy radars passively. The Russian military has currently ordered 18 such systems mounted on the Mi-8 helicopter and 3 have been delivered as of now. The helicopter platform makes it versatile and allows it to be deployed from any location due to the flexibility of the platform. Operating as a part of offensive forces, they can jam enemy air defense systems to clear a path for invading forces. 8. ‘ADMIRAL GORSHKOV’ CLASS FRIGATE Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia hasn’t designed and built a single major warship which had capabilities on par with western destroyers like the Arleigh Burke or Daring class. They focused on smaller frigates and corvettes to rebuild their navy and rightly so, as their economy didn’t support the construction of expensive warships. However, things are different now and Russia is finally able to build a class of frigate with cutting edge sensors and an extremely powerful weapon load which puts it on par with the latest western frigates. The Admiral Gorshkov class of guided missile frigates, which incorporate the best weapons and sensors that the Russian industry can produce, is set to be the mainstray of the future Russian fleet. It is interesting to note that its superstructure is made form carbon fibre in order to make the ship stealthy and reduce its radar cross-section. It has a 4 face multi-function AESA radar which can search and track aerial and surface targets as well as provide guidance to the SAMs. This is complemented by a volume search radar which is uniquely mounted on top of the main radar itself. This prevents interference and allows both radars to have unobstructed search capability. Submarine detection capability is provided by the bow mounted and towed array sonars along with the embarked Ka-27 ASW helicopter. The following armaments are carried by these ships to engage surface, underwater, aerial and land targets. 1 × 130mm A-192M gun 2 × 8 UKSK VLS cells for P-800 Oniks (300-500 km range) 4 × 8 Redut VLS cells for 9M96E series (40-120 km range) 2 × Palash CIWS 2 x 4 330mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK anti-torpedo/anti-submarine torpedoes 2 × 14.5mm machine guns A total of up to 15 units have been planned and 4 are presently under construction. Each of the major Russian fleets will receive 3-4 frigates of this class to complement the existing ships and enhance the blue water capability of the Russian Navy. 7. ARMATA COMBAT VEHICLE FAMILY T-14 tank The Armata is a very ambitious combat vehicle project meant to produce a family of armoured vehicles to replace thousands of low-tech soviet-era tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery guns and much more, with a smaller number of high-tech equivalents. The most significant feature will be the use of a common platform for all these vehicles, in order to simplify logistics and production. Only 4 vehicles in the family have been unveiled as of now and the others will be unveiled in the coming months. T-14 Main Battle Tank (MBT) Equipped with a 125 mm main gun and a 7.62 mm secondary gun, this tank is a revolutionary Russian design, placing emphasis on crew safety and comfort for the first time. The 3-man crew sits in an isolated and protected compartment inside the tank hull and the gun is in an unmanned turret. It features a high degree of automation and has a new active protection system, the Afganit, which is controlled by the 4 radar panels on the turret. T-15 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) The T-15 IFV has a 30 mm cannon, 7.72 mm co-axial machine gun and 4 Kornet anti-tank missiles mounted along the sides of the turret. It provides an unusually high level of protection for the 9 embarked troops and shares many features with the T-14 tank. It is meant to complement the T-14 in battle. 2S35 Koalitsiya 152 mm Self Propelled Howitzer (SPH) The new 2S35 SPH features an unmanned turret for its 152 mm gun, similar to the T-14 tank. The powerful gun has an auto-loader system for a high rate of fire and the 152 mm shells have a range of around 30 km. The small crew of 3 men is enough to operate this system due to its high degree of automation and around 60 shells are carried on board. T-15 Heavy IFV Kurganets-25 2S35 These vehicles will form the backbone of the Russian army armoured divisions in a decade or so, when a majority of the ageing Soviet- era hardware is retired. 6. KIROV CLASS BATTLECRUISER Developed as platform capable of sinking US Navy carriers using its long range cruise missiles, the Kirov class cruisers are the largest surface combatants in service at present. It is also the only surface combatant to be nuclear-powered , thereby giving it unlimited range. The Kirov class would have topped the list if it had been upgraded with the latest electronics and missiles. It is currently fitted with cold war era radars and missiles and long overdue for an upgrade. One ship, Admiral Nakhimov is currently undergoing a major refit and the remaining 2 are expected to follow suit in the next few years. Only the Pyotr Veliky is in active service as of now. Firing the Granit anti-ship missle The main strength of this ship lies in its offensive punch of 20 Granit anti-ship missiles, which have a 700+ km range and a 750 kg warhead. They are going to be replaced by 80 UKSK vertical launchers for Onyx anti-ship missiles and Kalibr-NK land attack cruise missiles after the refit. The Onyx has a 300-500 km range and are fitted with a 300 kg warhead whereas the KalibrNK has a 2500 km range and a 450 kg warhead. They are more modern than the Granits and will be more effective due to the larger numbers available. The ships fitted with a battery of 96 SA-N-6 Surface to Air missiles, which have a 100 km range and provide area air defense. It is expected to be replaced by 128 long range 9M96E1 SAMs of the S400 family. The sensors of the ship are expected to undergo a major upgrade, but the details are not available as of now. Although old, these 252 m long and 28,000 ton displacing ships are here to stay. They will be the main power projection asset of the Russian Navy and will be deployed to counter US Navy carriers in Russian areas of interest. 5. ONYX ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILE Popularly known as Yakhont (export version) or BrahMos (Indian version), the Onyx is the most important anti-ship missile in the Russian arsenal. It is capable of being launched from ships, submarines, aircraft and even trucks, thus allowing it to be widely deployed. The ramjet powered Onyx is meant to primarily engage large warships and sink them with its 300 kg semi-armour piercing warhead. The main strength of this missile is its high speed of mach 2.5-3 , which allows it to penetrate most existing air defense systems with ease. It is said to have a range of 300-500 km , depending on the flight path. Bastion-P Russia primarily fields the Onyx for coastal defense in the form of the Bastion-P , which carries 2 such missiles per truck. A battery of these missiles can defend the coastline from attack by sea. These missiles have been displayed alongside Su-33 and Su-34 fighters during airshows, and they are said to be capable of being fired from these aircraft. Russia’s new Admiral Gorshkov class frigates are expected to be armed with 16 Onyx. The Yasen class submarines recently test fired the Onyx missile, and they are expected to be equipped with 16-32 of these missiles. The Indian version, BrahMos, has an additional land attack capability and is also being integrated with the Su-30Mki. 4. SU-30 FAMILY (SU-30/34/35) The word ‘Sukhoi’ is now synonymous with the Su-27/30 series due to its extreme popularity all over. Developed to counter the F-15, the Su-27 design has evolved over the decades into one of the most powerful fighter aircraft in the world. The current variants, the Su-30/34/35 will form the backbone of the Russian Air Force in the next few decades. The main strengths of these fighters are their exceptionally long range and large payload. Su-30SM Su-34 Su-35S The Su-30SM is a twin-seat multi-role fighter which is in service with the Russian Air Force and the Navy. It has a tandem twin-seat arrangement and a long range of 3500 km. In an air-to-air mode, it is capable of carrying 12 missiles, usually a combination of R-77, R-27 and R-73. It is currently deployed in Syria to protect Russian assets in the region. The Su-30 family is very popular around the world and countries like India and China operate them in hundreds. The Su-35 can do whatever the Su-30SM can do, but it is a single-seater and carries more fuel as well. It has the Iribis-E hybrid PESA radar as it’s primary sensor and is very unique in having wing-mounted L-band radars for detecting low-observable aircraft. The RuAF plans to acquire around 100 of these fighters. China is the first export customer of this potent jet and Indonesia is expected to order them too. The Su-34 is a long-range heavy tactical fighter-bomber, which can carry out precision strikes against heavily defended targets and defend itself with its significant air-to-air capabilities. It has a unique side-by-side seating arrangement, massive payload of 12 tons and a 4000 km range. It has excellent electronic warfare capabilities which are enhanced by externally mounted jammers. It has proven its worth in Syria, where it is currently engaged in a long bombing campaign. 3. TU-160 ‘BLACKJACK ‘ AND TU-22M3 ‘ BACKFIRE’ Russia is the only country other than the US to possess long-range strategic bombers. Both the swing-wing, supersonic bombers, were developed during the height of the Cold War and the Tu-22 and Tu-160 remain frontline aircraft even today. Tu-22M2 carrying 2 Kh-22 anti-ship missiles under it’s wings The Tu-22 was designed for long range bombing and maritime strike mission. Projected as a carrier-killer, the Tu-22M used long-range Kh-22 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to counter the US Navy’s large aircraft carriers during the cold war and still retains the capability. It has a variable sweep wing design, is capable of supersonic flights and can carry 24 tons of bombs/cruise missiles in its internal bays and under the wings. These aircraft have seen action over Chechnya, Georgia and most recently over Syria, where they launched dozens of long- range cruise missiles. Of the 497 aircraft originally built, 150 remain in service as of today with the Russian Air Force and Naval Aviation. There are plans to upgrade some of the existing aircraft to M3M standard and fit them with a wide array of precision guided munitions. The Tu-160 was built as a long-range strategic bomber, designed to fly at supersonic speeds. It’s used as a Strategic Missile Carrier and it’s primary duty is to carry and fire long range cruise missiles like the Kh-101, from a standoff distance. It’s Mach 2 speed, 12,300 km range and a 40,000 kg payload make it a very formidable platform. It has the distinction of being the largest and heaviest combat aircraft in the world. The Russian Air force has 16 aircraft in service, and its production is expected to resume as the RuAF plans to procure a further 50 aircraft. It recently saw it’s first combat mission, when it fired cruise missiles at targets in Syria. It’s primary weapon from now on would be the Kh-101, which can fly at an altitude of 50 m for 3000+ km and hit its targets with great accuracy. 2. YASEN CLASS SSN/SSGN The Yasen class was designed to replace the Victor class SSN with an SSGN that could counter the newest American submarines. This 13,800 ton SSGN holds the distinction of being the most heavily armed attack submarine in the world, with its 32 vertically launched cruise missiles and 38 torpedoes. The cruise missiles can be a combination of the long-range Kalibr-NK land attack missiles or Onyx anti-ship missiles. This allows the Yasen to engage a large number of surface, land and sub-surface targets. K-329 Sevrodvinsk These submarines feature a high level of automation, which allows them to have a crew of just 90 men! It’s primary sensor is the large spherical array sonar in the bow. It is complemented by 4 wide aperture arrays and a towed array sonar. If you notice the tail, the ‘teardrop’ shaped towed-array sonar housing which was so distinctive of the Akula class, has now been eliminated. This submarine will be followed by a smaller and improved class called the Yasen-M, incorporating the latest weapons and sensors. Read more about it here 1. S-400 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM Developed as a successor to the successful and widely deployed S300 air defense system, the S400 offers significant increase in capabilities. commonly mistaken to be a missile, the S400 refers to a whole family of radars and surface to air missiles, which work in unison to form a lethal air defense system. It is said that the system is capable of detecting, tracking and engaging stealth fighters and bombers. The system deploys 4 types of SAMs in order to intercept a variety of targets ranging from fighter jets, cruise missles and UAVs to tactical and intermediate range ballistic missiles. Each launch truck employs 4 launch tubes. The missiles in use are 9M96E – Range of 40 km. 4 missiles per tube. 9M96E2 – Range of 120 km. 4 missiles per tube. 48N6DM – Range of 250+ km. 1 missile per tube. 40N6- Range of 400 km. 1 missiles per tube. large enough numbers. Despite these hindrances, Russia is catching up in areas where it previously lagged in such as micro-electronics and working towards reducing it’s imports. They will remain the #1 weapons exporter in the world along with the US for the foreseeable fu |
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