We can hardly imagine a battlefield without the “god of war” - cannon artillery. In World War II, it was artillery fire, and not bombs and small arms fire, that accounted for the largest number of casualties. However, since then guided missiles have come onto the scene, and strike aircraft have begun to play a significant role. How does field artillery fit into new military concepts?
PzH2000: German style. The PzH2000 armored howitzer manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is considered one of the most advanced self-propelled guns in the world based on all its indicators.
In 2013, among the news of the Russian military-industrial complex, one of the notable events was the presentation of promising Russian self-propelled artillery systems. It was reported that at the Russian Arms EXPO exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, two new products were presented - a deeply modernized 152-mm self-propelled howitzer 2S19M2 and the long-awaited Coalition-SV. The modernized Msta-S (2S19M2) is equipped with a programmable set of loading mechanisms, a modernized guidance and fire control system, which made it possible, in particular, to increase the system’s rate of fire to ten rounds per minute (which is comparable to the rate of fire of one of the most advanced self-propelled guns to date - the German 155 mm PzH2000).
Faster on wheels
As for the “Coalition-SV” - the long-awaited ultra-long-range self-propelled howitzer - little is known about it, but the main thing is that the system will still be single-barrel, unlike the prototype shown back in 2006 (and which graced the cover of one from the “PM” numbers). The firing range will reach 70 km, and it is planned to use some new ammunition, corrected according to GLONASS coordinates.
It is clear where technological progress is heading. Barrel artillery is trying to keep up with the innovations of modern warfare by means of instant counter-battery warfare and reconnaissance systems that make it possible to identify enemy artillery positions almost online and deliver a neutralizing strike.
ARCHER: shoots quickly, drives away quickly
ARCHER is a multi-purpose self-propelled 155 mm artillery mount made in Sweden, mounted on a wheelbase. Fully automatic loading ensures a high rate of fire.
For this purpose, the range and rate of fire are increased, and the accuracy of the ammunition is increased. A self-propelled artillery mount must quickly complete its task, inflicting maximum damage to the target and perform a counter-fire maneuver as quickly as possible. An interesting point was the presentation of the Coalition-SV in two versions - one on a tracked platform (presumably on the promising Armata platform), the other on a KamAZ wheeled vehicle chassis.
The latter option is reminiscent of one of the newest Western artillery systems - the Swedish Archer self-propelled gun, which is based on a three-axle Volvo A30D chassis. Equipped with a fully automatic loading system, the Swedish gun (155 mm FH77 howitzer) is capable of firing 20 shells in 2.5 minutes and leaving a position at a speed of up to 70 km/h, which is inaccessible to tracked vehicles.
Let's leave the guns at home
Despite the fact that barrel artillery weapons are being created and improved in almost all militarily developed countries of the world, discussions have been ongoing in military science for several decades about the future of this type of weapon. Already the tactics of the German blitzkrieg provided for the actual abandonment of self-propelled and towed artillery systems: German strategists relied on the rapid introduction of tank forces into the breakthrough and their advancement to the maximum distance deep into the enemy’s defenses with the support of aviation. At the same time, World War II became the finest hour of cannon artillery, which played a huge role, for example, during the siege of cities or the suppression of defense in depth.
Subsequently, the question of the advisability of cannon artillery for the American army, which, as is known, participates in conflicts exclusively far from its own territory, became especially acute. The Americans relied on the development of CAS - close air support for troops fighting on the ground - and after World War II they decisively reduced the number of artillery barrels in service.
British-made M777 towed howitzer
It is lightweight and can be transported using a helicopter or tiltrotor.
The apotheosis of this approach was the landing of thousands of troops of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division in Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan) on November 25 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. This group was not assigned a single artillery piece for fire support. They were to conduct all combat operations exclusively with the help of small arms and air support.
It is clear that in conditions of a highly mobile war, especially in the absence of a front line, it is quite difficult for artillery to keep up with lightly armed ground forces, but, for example, for attack helicopters this does not pose any problem at all. In addition, guns - both towed and especially self-propelled - have considerable weight and dimensions, and transporting them to the other side of the world is a separate and expensive logistics problem.
Experiments with mortars
However, everyone, including the American military, understands that the conditions of the conflict in Afghanistan cannot be considered a model for all times. A large group of military personnel can rely only on small arms only when their own or allied aviation completely dominates the air (and the enemy does not have or no longer has an effective air defense system) and when there is a large group of friendly forces somewhere nearby, ready to help.
If for some reason the aviation does not keep up (for example, it is busy in another operation), you have to rely on your own strength. To ensure that these forces still existed, the American command tried to more widely introduce mortars, both light and 120 mm, instead of guns and howitzers. However, the same Afghan experience showed the dubiousness of such a decision: during Operation Anaconda (the assault on the Tora Bora complex in 2002), American troops had a hard time, especially when the Taliban rained down fire on them from the Soviet 122-mm howitzer D-30. The radius of action of the gun was twice the radius of action of 120-mm mortars. In addition, the accuracy of fire from mortars is significantly inferior to that of conventional guns.
Already in Iraq, a kind of renaissance of artillery took place - in battles with the Iraqi army, which was armed much more seriously than the Taliban. In Iraq, 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled guns were actively used, the effectiveness and rate of fire of which was noticeably increased with the help of improved automation and the work of reconnaissance units that provided fire adjustments. In particular, according to American data, during the assault on Baghdad, the artillery of the 3rd Infantry Division alone destroyed about 500 vehicles, 67 fortified points and up to 3,000 enemy troops.
Self-propelled gun ARCHER (Sweden)
Gun: FH77 BW Caliber: 155 mm Ammunition: 20 shells Vertical guidance angle: 0−700 Range: up to 50 km Crew: 3−4 people
Air guns
Since a complete abandonment of artillery is not possible, especially if the enemy is not lightly armed militants, one of the directions for improving modern artillery is to lighten it with an eye to air mobility. In particular, the already mentioned Swedish Archer self-propelled gun on a wheeled platform is designed to fit into the dimensions of the cargo compartment of the new A400M military transport aircraft.
Another example of movement in the same direction was the M777 towed howitzer manufactured by the British BAE Systems. This 155-mm gun, which replaced the American-made M198 howitzer in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, is smaller in size and 42% lighter than its predecessor with comparable parameters.
The M777 weighs just over 4 tons and can be transported both on a truck and on aircraft: the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor and the CH-47 helicopter. Such parameters are achieved through the use of titanium as a structural material. The howitzer is equipped with a modern fire control system, which ensures that the weapon quickly determines its own coordinates in space and aims at the target, as a result of which the M777 can be deployed to fire as soon as possible after unloading from the transport vehicle.
M109 Paladin: Hammer of Iraq
In the war that led to the capture of Baghdad and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the role of cannon artillery increased. In particular, the US Army used the M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer.
Luxury projectile
Of course, the effectiveness of a gun depends not only on high mobility and a perfect fire control system, but also on the properties of the ammunition. Both Archer and M777 are compatible with the XM982 Excalibur 155mm guided active-rocket projectile. The projectile has a bottom gas generator, which creates jet thrust and makes it possible to increase the firing range to 60 km. Excalibur is equipped with a combined control system - inertial and GPS coordinates. This precision-guided munition has a circular deflection of only 10 m (compared to a minimum of 150 m for the most accurate conventional rounds).
Nothing is known for sure about the Russian analogue - a projectile guided by a global positioning system (in our case GLONASS) and developed for the SV Coalition, however, Russia is armed with guided projectiles of the Krasnopol type (152 and 155 mm) and " Whalers" (120 and 122 mm). At the final stage of the flight, the trajectory is corrected using aerodynamic control surfaces, but correction requires laser illumination of the target. In other words, even if a gun is firing at a target that is out of sight of the gun crew, someone must get within line of sight of the target and aim the laser beam at it. This method of guidance, in addition to everything, unmasks reconnaissance assets.
MSTA-S: development continues
The Russian self-propelled 155-mm gun is designed to destroy tactical nuclear weapons, artillery and mortar batteries, tanks and other armored air defense and missile defense vehicles.
So, guided or adjustable ammunition is the way that should help cannon artillery maintain its place on the modern battlefield, eliminating its disadvantage of not being very accurate compared to guided missiles and laser-guided bombs. The problem, however, is the too high cost of guided ammunition, and this in turn deprives artillery of such a beneficial advantage as the low cost of shots. The cost of one Excalibur-type projectile is $85,000, while “regular ammunition” costs about $300.
While for the Americans and their allies the question of the advisability of using cannon artillery was especially relevant in connection with the “expeditionary” style of operation of their forces, for Russia it has never been so pressing. Artillery has always played an important role in the strategy and tactics of the domestic armed forces, but, be that as it may, its further development cannot be carried out aside from the changes that are taking place in the military-technical sphere these days. The point is that the improvement of guns and ammunition should be carried out in close connection with the development of information systems that cover all participants in combat operations on the ground and in the air and make it possible to obtain intelligence data online and instantly use it to deliver precise strikes.
At the training ground in Luga near St. Petersburg, in honor of the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery, massive strikes were carried out from cannon and rocket artillery weapons.
Missile forces and artillery are the types of ground forces necessary to achieve fire superiority over the enemy. The tasks of missilemen and artillerymen include the destruction of armored vehicles, defensive structures, military installations and infrastructure. Rocket troops and artillery are intended to participate in offensive and defensive operations.
Since the Middle Ages, when European armies began to use cannons, artillery began to play a key role in the theater of war. Combat success largely depended on the quantity and quality of guns that were in service with the ground and naval forces. Almost at all times, personnel losses from artillery shells exceeded 80%.
Russian artillery has come a long way from the mattresses (as the Turkic-speaking peoples called the guns), used in the defense of Moscow from the Tatars in 1382, to high-precision systems capable of destroying targets at a distance of tens of kilometers. Artillery typically provides fire support to infantry, reducing the risk for soldiers of not returning from combat. For this, the artillerymen were nicknamed the gods of war. Large-scale ground operations are doomed without artillery preparation.
Domestic artillery made a huge leap in the 1930s and during the Second World War. However, later the leadership of the USSR relied on missile technology, and modern models of field artillery began to enter the troops only in the 1970s. Experts believe that, to some extent, the inertia of those years continues to influence the current state of Russian artillery.
Don't get caught in fire
Rocket forces and artillery are a single branch of the military, but consist of very different types of military equipment. The Iskander and Tochka-U operational-tactical missile systems, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, have the greatest striking power. Such weapons are necessary to destroy large military targets (for example, military bases, concentrations of armored vehicles, command centers) that are out of reach of artillery guns.
- Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems
- RIA News
Iskander is considered one of the main achievements of Russian design thought. According to the known tactical and technical characteristics (TTX), the complex is designed to destroy any large ground targets, as well as aircraft and surface ships. NATO officers believe that the range of the R-500 cruise missile, which is in the Iskander-K arsenal, is not 500 km, as stated by the manufacturer, but 2-2.6 thousand km. That is why any movement of complexes in the direction of the western borders of the Russian Federation causes such a big stir in Europe and the USA.
The Second World War gave a powerful impetus to the development of domestic multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), which are used to destroy the enemy in a certain square. In the 1960s, the legendary BM-13 Katyusha was replaced by the 122 mm BM-21 Grad. Currently, the Russian army is armed with the Uragan (220 mm), Smerch (300 mm), Tornado (122 mm and 300 mm) MLRS and the Buratino (220 mm) and Solntsepok (220 mm) systems, which have become famous in Syria. mm).
In the 1970s, the prevailing trend in world artillery was the abandonment of towed installations in favor of self-propelled guns and howitzers. Towed artillery, which had been widely used on wide land fronts for several centuries, began to become a thing of the past. Nowadays, artillery requires significantly greater mobility to achieve fire superiority, break through defenses, and conduct offensive operations.
Modern weapons can destroy towed, slow-moving howitzers in just a few minutes. In conditions of intense combat in open areas, in order not to come under enemy fire, the artillery installation must change position after a salvo, preferably within a minute. In this regard, the main role, in addition to the MLRS, is given to the self-propelled artillery unit (SPG), which externally resembles a tank with an enlarged turret, but is equipped with a more powerful and long-range weapon.
The Russian Ground Forces are armed with self-propelled guns 2S7 "Pion" (203 mm), 2S7M "Malka" (203 mm), 2S5 "Gyacinth-S" (152 mm); self-propelled howitzers 2S3 (2S3M) “Akatsiya” (152 mm), “Msta-S” (152 mm), 2S1 “Gvozdika” (122 mm), 2S34 “Khosta” (120 mm); self-propelled guns "Vena" (120 mm), "Nona-SVK" and self-propelled anti-tank systems 9K114 "Sturm-S" (130 mm) and "Konkurs" (135 mm).
Coalition forces
Russian artillery continues to operate Soviet equipment and its modernized models. Military expert, former Colonel of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Mikhail Khodarenok stated that the inertia of Soviet times, combined with the depression of the 1990s, continues to influence the state of artillery. “Unfortunately, domestic artillery as a whole is slightly behind Western models in terms of firing range and accuracy,” said RT’s interlocutor.
- Self-propelled artillery unit "Coalition-SV"
- RIA News
“Russia has new artillery systems that correspond to advanced models, but so far there are not many of them in the armed forces. The task is to rearm the artillerymen. For example, the German 155-mm howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000 may be the best self-propelled gun in the world. It is superior to almost all of our systems that are in service today. Who would win in modern combat? Who conducts reconnaissance more accurately and who knows how to shoot further. The bulk of our artillery units are still equipped with the Akatsiya self-propelled gun,” Khodarenok said.
According to him, the Russian army needs to keep up with the latest trends: the abandonment of towed artillery, the transition to guided missiles and mines. Khodaryonok noted that all these requirements were embodied in the 152-mm self-propelled gun "Coalition-SV". The index "SV" means "ground forces". Analysts suggest that, having achieved success on the ground, the developers of the “Coalition” Central Research Institute “Burevestnik” and “Uralvagonzavod” will release a version for the Navy with the index “F”.
According to the published tactical and technical characteristics, the Coalition is significantly superior to the fairly modern Msta-S self-propelled gun, which was put into service in 1989. We are talking about the firing range (40-70 kilometers versus 25-29 kilometers), ammunition (70 rounds versus 50), rate of fire (up to 23 shots versus 10 per minute), highway speed (up to 90 km/h versus 60 km/h) h). Moreover, the Coalition is controlled by three people, and the crew of the Msta-S installation is five people.
Also, the promising Russian self-propelled guns are superior in performance characteristics to their Western counterparts: the American M109A6 Paladin and the aforementioned German PzH2000. The Coalition was first demonstrated at the Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015. In the future, they plan to equip the vehicle with the Armata tracked platform. The first batch of “Coalition-SV” should go to the troops of the Western Military District.
Alexey Zakvasin
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. The armament of the Russian army today is very modern, developed, has reserves 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 of a 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, and a more modern model has been adopted. This is “Strizh”, developed jointly with special forces officers. In terms of its technical characteristics, the pistol surpasses the world famous Glock. Another pistol that the army of new Russia adopted in 2003 was the 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. The fighter is equipped with the latest Irbis-E weapons control system. 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 vehicles are presented in the form of highly mobile, cargo-passenger, multi-purpose, specially protected and armored vehicles.
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 tank armament outnumbers that of 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 of the Russian army in this category are 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. The GP-25 and GP-30 underbarrel grenade launchers 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 the former USSR, SP-5 and SP-6 cartridges are used for shooting (pierces an 8 mm thick steel plate 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 zones, small missile and anti-submarine ships, missile, anti-sabotage boats, large and small landing ships, nuclear submarines, minesweepers, and 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, over the specified years, new weapons and various technical means should be developed 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.
In this section you can get acquainted with various types of artillery, both domestic and created in other countries. We have prepared materials about the history of creation and characteristics of various weapons, their combat use. You will be able to get acquainted with the main trends in the development of modern world artillery.
Artillery is a branch of the military that uses relatively large-caliber firearms to destroy enemy manpower, its technical means and material objects. Artillery troops appeared in Europe in the 13th century. The first artillery pieces were distinguished by their large weight and size and were used to storm enemy cities. Only several centuries later did military artillery begin to be used during land battles.
Around the same period, artillery began to be used in naval battles, and soon guns became the main weapon of warships. Only in the last century did the role of cannons in naval battles begin to decrease; they were replaced by torpedo and missile weapons. However, even today artillery pieces are in service with almost any warship.
Russian artillery appeared somewhat later; the first memories of it go back to the 14th century. The first information about the manufacture of artillery pieces in Russia dates back to the 15th century. Regular Russian artillery units appeared already in the era of Peter the Great.
In the middle of the 19th century, a real revolution took place in artillery - rifled and breech-loading guns appeared, which increased the efficiency of the use of artillery and turned this type of military into one of the main ones on the battlefield. A little later, unitary ammunition for artillery guns was developed, which significantly increased their rate of fire.
The “finest hour” of artillery was the First World War. Most of the losses in this conflict were caused by artillery fire. Artillery was used especially widely by opponents in major conflicts. During this war, new types of guns were widely used: mortars, bomb throwers, and the first examples of anti-aircraft artillery appeared.
The importance of artillery increased further during World War II. The role of mortars and anti-tank artillery has increased significantly, and new types of artillery weapons have appeared: rocket artillery and self-propelled artillery units (SPG). On our website you will find information about the most famous examples of Soviet and German artillery of that time.
We have collected information about the best self-propelled guns of that period, including Soviet and German self-propelled guns.
During the same period, missile weapons began to develop rapidly, including anti-aircraft systems. Development of such weapons continued after the end of the conflict. Today, air defense systems are the basis of the air defense of any country in the world. Russia has enormous achievements in this area, which it inherited from the Soviet period.
Our country can develop and produce anti-aircraft missile systems of any modifications, designed to destroy air targets at different distances. Russian air defense systems are the most famous brand on the global arms market. Modern anti-aircraft missile systems are capable of destroying air targets at distances of hundreds of kilometers, and can even shoot down ballistic warheads and satellites. In this section you can learn about the latest air defense systems, both domestic and those created by designers from other countries, as well as the latest trends in the development of this type of weapon.
For hundreds of years, artillery was an important component of the Russian army. However, she reached her power and prosperity during the Second World War - it is no coincidence that she was called the “god of war.” An analysis of a long-term military campaign made it possible to determine the most promising areas of this type of troops for decades to come. As a result, today modern Russian artillery has the necessary power both to effectively conduct combat operations in local conflicts and to repel massive aggression.
Legacy of the past
New models of Russian weapons trace their origins back to the 60s of the 20th century, when the Soviet army leadership set a course for high-quality rearmament. Dozens of leading design bureaus, where outstanding engineers and designers worked, laid the theoretical and technical basis for the creation of the latest weapons.
The experience of previous wars and analysis of the potential of foreign armies have clearly shown that it is necessary to rely on mobile self-propelled artillery and mortar launchers. Thanks to decisions made half a century ago, Russian artillery has acquired a substantial fleet of tracked and wheeled missile and artillery weapons, the basis of which is the “flower collection”: from the nimble 122-mm Gvozdika howitzer to the formidable 240-mm Tulip.
Barrel field artillery
Russian barrel artillery has a huge number of guns. They are in service with artillery units, units and formations of the Ground Forces and represent the basis of the firepower of marine units and internal troops. Barrel artillery combines high firepower, accuracy and accuracy of fire with simplicity of design and use, mobility, increased reliability, flexibility of fire, and is also economical.
Many samples of towed guns were designed taking into account the experience of the Second World War. In the Russian army, they are gradually being replaced by self-propelled artillery pieces developed in 1971-1975, optimized for performing fire missions even in conditions of a nuclear conflict. Towed guns are supposed to be used in fortified areas and in secondary theaters of military operations.
Samples of weapons
Currently, Russian cannon artillery has the following types of self-propelled guns:
- Floating howitzer 2S1 “Gvozdika” (122 mm).
- Howitzer 2SZ "Akatsia" (152 mm).
- Howitzer 2S19 "Msta-S" (152 mm).
- 2S5 "Gyacinth" gun (152 mm).
- 2S7 “Pion” gun (203 mm).
A self-propelled howitzer with unique characteristics and the ability to fire in the “burst of fire” mode 2S35 “Coalition-SV” (152 mm) is undergoing active testing.
The 120-mm self-propelled guns 2S23 Nona-SVK, 2S9 Nona-S, 2S31 Vena and their towed counterpart 2B16 Nona-K are intended for fire support of combined arms units. The peculiarity of these guns is that they can serve as a mortar, mortar, howitzer or anti-tank gun.
Anti-tank artillery
Along with the creation of highly effective anti-tank missile systems, significant attention is paid to the development of anti-tank artillery guns. Their advantages over anti-tank missiles lie primarily in their relative cheapness, simplicity of design and use, and the ability to fire around the clock in any weather.
Russian anti-tank artillery is moving along the path of increasing power and caliber, improving ammunition and sighting devices. The pinnacle of this development was the 100-mm MT-12 (2A29) “Rapier” anti-tank smoothbore gun with an increased muzzle velocity and an effective firing range of up to 1,500 m. The gun can fire the 9M117 “Kastet” anti-tank missile, capable of penetrating armor up to thick behind dynamic protection. 660 mm.
The towed PT 2A45M Sprut-B, which is in service with the Russian Federation, also has even greater armor penetration. Behind dynamic protection, it is capable of hitting armor up to 770 mm thick. Russian self-propelled artillery in this segment is represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled gun, which has recently entered service with paratroopers.
Mortars
Modern Russian artillery is unthinkable without mortars of various purposes and calibers. Russian models of this class of weapons are extremely effective means of suppression, destruction and fire support. The troops have the following types of mortar weapons:
- Automatic 2B9M "Cornflower" (82 mm).
- 2B14-1 “Tray” (82 mm).
- Mortar complex 2S12 “Sani” (120 mm).
- Self-propelled 2S4 “Tulpan” (240 mm).
- M-160 (160 mm) and M-240 (240 mm).
Characteristics and Features
If the “Tray” and “Sleigh” mortars repeat the designs of the models of the Great Patriotic War, then the “Cornflower” is a fundamentally new system. It is equipped with automatic reloading mechanisms, allowing it to fire at an excellent rate of fire of 100-120 rounds per minute (compared to 24 rounds per minute for the Tray mortar).
The Russian artillery can rightfully be proud of the Tulip self-propelled mortar, which is also an original system. In the stowed position, its 240-mm barrel is mounted on the roof of an armored tracked chassis; in the combat position, it rests on a special plate resting on the ground. In this case, all operations are performed using a hydraulic system.
Coastal troops in the Russian Federation as a branch of independent forces of the Navy were formed in 1989. The basis of its firepower is made up of mobile missile and artillery systems:
- "Redoubt" (rocket).
- 4K51 "Rubezh" (missile).
- 3K55 "Bastion" (missile).
- 3K60 "Bal" (rocket).
- A-222 "Bereg" (artillery 130 mm).
These complexes are truly unique and pose a real threat to any enemy fleet. The newest "Bastion" has been in combat duty since 2010, equipped with Onyx/Yakhont hypersonic missiles. During the Crimean events, several “Bastions”, demonstratively placed on the peninsula, thwarted plans for a “show of force” by the NATO fleet.
Russia's newest coastal defense artillery, the A-222 Bereg, operates effectively against small-sized high-speed vessels moving at a speed of 100 knots (180 km/h), medium surface ships (within 23 km from the complex), and ground targets.
Heavy artillery as part of the Coastal Forces is always ready to support powerful complexes: the Giatsint-S self-propelled gun, the Giatsint-B howitzer gun, the Msta-B howitzer gun, D-20 and D-30 howitzers, and MLRS.
Multiple launch rocket systems
Since the Second World War, Russian rocket artillery, as the legal successor of the USSR, has a powerful group of MLRS. In the 50s, the 122 mm 40-barrel BM-21 Grad system was created. The Russian Ground Forces have 4,500 such systems.
The BM-21 Grad became the prototype of the Grad-1 system, created in 1975 to equip tank and motorized rifle regiments, as well as the more powerful 220-mm Uragan system for army artillery units. This line of development was continued by the long-range Smerch system with 300-mm projectiles and the new Prima divisional MLRS with an increased number of guides and increased-power rockets with a detachable warhead.
Procurement is underway for a new Tornado MLRS, a bi-caliber system mounted on the MAZ-543M chassis. In the Tornado-G variant, it fires 122-mm rockets from the Grad MLRS, being three times more effective than the latter. In the Tornado-S version, designed to fire 300-mm rockets, its combat effectiveness coefficient is 3-4 times higher than that of the Smerch. The Tornado hits targets with a salvo and single high-precision rockets.
Flak
Russian anti-aircraft artillery is represented by the following self-propelled small-caliber systems:
- Quad self-propelled gun "Shilka" (23 mm).
- Self-propelled twin installation "Tunguska" (30 mm).
- Self-propelled twin launcher "Pantsir" (30 mm).
- Towed twin unit ZU-23 (2A13) (23 mm).
The self-propelled guns are equipped with a radio instrument system that provides target acquisition and automatic tracking and generation of guidance data. Automatic aiming of guns is carried out using hydraulic drives. "Shilka" is exclusively an artillery system, while "Tunguska" and "Pantsir" are also armed with anti-aircraft missiles.
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