Russian Army/Ground Forces Discussion and Updates

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
It is common to find Caucasians in the VDV and Spetsnaz?
The VDV not in particular. Spetsnaz is a loaded term. There is SpN GRU, SpN MVD, etc. I'm not up to speed on the staffing situation in SpN GRU, but there are units of Troops of Interior/National Guard that are heavily Chechen or Caucasian.

Weird in what way?
They're still not fully converted from the Soviet Troops of Interior who fielded heavy mech formations and MBTs. It's not unusual for SOBR units which are something halfway between a police SWAT team and an FBI tactical team to nonetheless have mortars and RPGs. Counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucuses have often involved MVD forces using vehicle-mounted heavy weapons to engage insurgents. Additionally there are various MVD units that are under local command from the regional MVD authorities which are in close coordination with civilian regional authorities. This leads to things like "Chechen" MVD SpN formations.

Some troops of interior are basically law enforcement units. And some are essentially military light infantry formations. But often they have similar names, and service members can transfer between them relatively freely. This leads to situations like police SWAT teams being used to hold cities in Ukraine, and a BTR showing up to raid a tax-evading business.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group

Pro Russian telegram put this Belarusian MLRS as potential next Russian MLRS in Ukranian fronts. Seems this is to answer Russian Smerch deficiency against more modern US MLRS like HIMARS.

This war clearly shown with all development that Putin's try to put in Russian Army inventory, they're lacking on keeping up in tech on the area that usually Soviet stronger trade. MLRS and Artilleries.
 

swerve

Super Moderator

Pro Russian telegram put this Belarusian MLRS as potential next Russian MLRS in Ukranian fronts. Seems this is to answer Russian Smerch deficiency against more modern US MLRS like HIMARS.

This war clearly shown with all development that Putin's try to put in Russian Army inventory, they're lacking on keeping up in tech on the area that usually Soviet stronger trade. MLRS and Artilleries.
I think they're failing to keep up with two particular aspects: precision & real time targeting. They used to see rocket launchers as area bombardment weapons. The Ukrainians have demonstrated the effectiveness of precision guided long range rocket artillery with good intelligence on target locations.
 

STURM

Well-Known Member
We have to bear in mind that it's not HIMARS per see but HIMARS together with GPS guided rounds and a strike/recce capability which includes not only Ukrainian UASs but also external help including possibly satellite imagery.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I think they're failing to keep up with two particular aspects: precision & real time targeting. They used to see rocket launchers as area bombardment weapons. The Ukrainians have demonstrated the effectiveness of precision guided long range rocket artillery with good intelligence on target locations.
Russia has Tornado-S and has used them in this war. So the precision rocket artillery aspect is present. Possibly they don't have enough of them/are running out of supplies (the Polonaise isn't really Belorussian, it's a Chinese system so presumably quite a lot of ammo could be sourced that way). It's also possible this is just nonsense. The problems with real time targetting are there but I don't see how purchasing the Polonaise helps.


Pro Russian telegram put this Belarusian MLRS as potential next Russian MLRS in Ukranian fronts. Seems this is to answer Russian Smerch deficiency against more modern US MLRS like HIMARS.

This war clearly shown with all development that Putin's try to put in Russian Army inventory, they're lacking on keeping up in tech on the area that usually Soviet stronger trade. MLRS and Artilleries.
I don't think it shows this at all. Russia's biggest artillery re-armament came in GPV 2020 when Russia received ~180 new Msta-SM and upgraded ~350 old MstaS to the M1 standard. During this same time Russia received ~5-10 btlns of Tornado-G, and some Tornado-S MLRS, a couple of btlns of Nona-SVK and a couple of btlns of 2S34 Hostas to replace towed mortars, as well as a significant number of upgraded 2S3s and 2S9s. The Koalitsiya-SV howitzer (2S35) has neared completion and is reporetedly the closest to being mass-produced out of all the next-generation systems Russia had planned. This was the largest re-armament. Russian re-armament since 2020 has actually slowed, and the focus has somewhat shifted away from artillery. Iirc in 2021 Russia didn't receive any upgraded Msta-S, and only 1 btln of new Msta-SM (though this war seems to have led to a resumption of the upgrade program). Presumably the plan was to start small quantity induction of the 2S35, while most combat ready units had a mix of new and upgraded 2S19s. There were also plans to experiment with a new 8-gun battery structure (presuambly the contract soldier BTG would take one 8-gun battery). And the current MRDs are fielding mixed artillery groups (2 battery howitzers one battery MLRS), so possible one 8-gun battery would replace the two 6-gun batteries of legacy cannons.
 
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Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

It appears that as an element of wartime secrecy many Russian defense plants have started using old photos of deliveries for illustration purposes rather then current photos that actually provide proof. As a result the deliveries are often claimed but not supported by photographic evidence. On the flip side so far none of the deliveries look outside what one would generally expect.

The Russian military has received a fresh batch of 2S7M Malka howitzers. Note these are Soviet-produced howitzers that are being pulled from storage and upgraded. They've also received a batch of TOS-1As and 2S19M2s.


During Putin's birthday UVZ showed off a new T-90M, with apparently upgraded sights.


Footage of T-14s has been unusually common from Kazan, and the footage is apparently them at a training ground. This has led to speculation that they're being prepared for war.


Motovilikha is reportedly now working around the clock and has drastically increased production of Tornado G and S MLRS.


The AMN-590951 MRAP has been sighted in Russian units. As supplies of BTRs and BMPs are strained, with vehicles pulled from storage being in less then stellar conditions, easier to manufacture armored cars/trucks and MRAPs are likely to become more prevalent. Personally I would much rather ride to war in one of these then a BMP-1 pulled from storage.

 

STURM

Well-Known Member
1666805687289.png

It would appear that the Russians have finally gotten around to issuing troops with a common camo pattern; the EMR which first appeared years ago and which the "green men" in the Crimea wore. As recently as a few years ago; during exercises we saw troops from the same unit wearing the VSR and Flora [both 1990's designs and worn in Chechnya and Georgia]; as well as the Soviet era TTsKO [for quite a while the Ukrainians used a derivative of this pattern as their issued camo] and one piece KLMK.

Interestingly we have yet to see the Partizan pattern worn in the Ukraine.

1666806456522.png
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
View attachment 49796

It would appear that the Russians have finally gotten around to issuing troops with a common camo pattern; the EMR which first appeared years ago and which the "green men" in the Crimea wore. As recently as a few years ago; during exercises we saw troops from the same unit wearing the VSR and Flora [both 1990's designs and worn in Chechnya and Georgia]; as well as the Soviet era TTsKO [for quite a while the Ukrainians used a derivative of this pattern as their issued camo] and one piece KLMK.

Interestingly we have yet to see the Partizan pattern worn in the Ukraine.

View attachment 49797
This isn't accurate. Russia issued a common pattern to troops starting in iirc 2010, and the pattern hasn't substantially altered since then. The situation with the current war hasn't improved, it's gotten worse. We see more and more units wearing non-standard patterns. For volunteers, irregulars, and LDNR mobilized personnel this makes sense, but we're seeing line units in nonstandard uniforms. The current mobilization has only made the situation worse.
 

STURM

Well-Known Member
This isn't accurate. Russia issued a common pattern to troops starting in iirc 2010, and the pattern hasn't substantially altered since then.
This is the EMR a digital pattern and which we see a lot of in the Ukraine. Over the past few years we've been seeing more of it but many units were still issued with the 1990's VSR and Flora.

We see more and more units wearing non-standard patterns. For volunteers, irregulars, and LDNR mobilized personnel this makes sense, but we're seeing line units in nonstandard uniforms..
These are variations of the U.S.woodland pattern; some are private purchase and some were actually official issue.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Russia has a new T-72 variant, it's still called the B3 so this is the T-72B3 mod'22. It finally got the automated armored doors for the sightbox, additional ERA around the gun mask, and additional ERA over the front of the tracks. There are also some additional ERA tiles on the turret roof, and some strange new sensors on the turret.


A look at continuing T-90M production.


The B-18 has been sighted in the metal. This is a GABTU designation for a BMP-2 with an Epokha turret. It's possible that this is the plan for some of the BMP-2s in storage. It's also carrying the additional armor package. There are questions about the Bulat missiles, the light ATGMs in the module, and the effectiveness of the LShO-57, a low-velocity 57mm auto-cannon, a new and unproven weapon.


T-14s are still rolling around, reportedly it's a training ground in Kazan.


Another batch of TOS-1As was reportedly handed over. While the deliveries look a little too frequent to make sense, we don't really know what "batch" means.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

A look at BMP-3 and BTR-MDM production at Kurganmash. With losses in the current war, BMP-3 orders are assured for some time to come. I think we even see a BMP-2 there.


New T-72B3mod'22s arrive. They have even more protection, and finally armored doors for the sight box. There's only so much you can do with a T-72 hull and turret, and this is pushing those limits.


T-14 live fire in Kazan, their training continues.


BRM-1KM upgrades continue. There's an argument to be made to ditch the BMP-1AM completely, and just put BRM-1KMs in line units.


Deliveries of Tornado-G and Tornado-S continue.

 

TayJG

Member
Update.

A look at BMP-3 and BTR-MDM production at Kurganmash. With losses in the current war, BMP-3 orders are assured for some time to come. I think we even see a BMP-2 there.


New T-72B3mod'22s arrive. They have even more protection, and finally armored doors for the sight box. There's only so much you can do with a T-72 hull and turret, and this is pushing those limits.


T-14 live fire in Kazan, their training continues.


BRM-1KM upgrades continue. There's an argument to be made to ditch the BMP-1AM completely, and just put BRM-1KMs in line units.


Deliveries of Tornado-G and Tornado-S continue.

Generally, this topic is something that I have been wondering about. What would you say the Russian military industry is producing per month (or generally) in terms of tanks, IFV's and artillery (in terms of type and amount produced)?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Generally, this topic is something that I have been wondering about. What would you say the Russian military industry is producing per month (or generally) in terms of tanks, IFV's and artillery (in terms of type and amount produced)?
I would expect 200-300 MBTs per year, with 2000+ light armor vehicles, but this is everything from proper APCs/IFVs, to MRAPs, armored cars/trucks, etc.
 

TayJG

Member
I would expect 200-300 MBTs per year, with 2000+ light armor vehicles, but this is everything from proper APCs/IFVs, to MRAPs, armored cars/trucks, etc.
Yeah it's interesting, I feel like the expectation of a lot of people who follow this war is that Russia has zero production of any military equipment because of sanctions. What do you think about that?

Also what kind of MBT and IFV's do you think Russia is still producing?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Yeah it's interesting, I feel like the expectation of a lot of people who follow this war is that Russia has zero production of any military equipment because of sanctions. What do you think about that?
They're clearly wrong. We've seen a lot of footage of new production.

Also what kind of MBT and IFV's do you think Russia is still producing?
The same as before the war, T-90M, BMP-3, BTR-82A, Tigr-M, and an assortment of MRAPs and armored cars/trucks.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Russia is updating soldiers' tactical kit based on the experience of this war. Particularly noteworthy is the new individual first aid kit. The one Russian soldiers were being issued previously was woefully inadequate.


A train full of AMN-590951s for the Russian Armed Forces. Note they're coming equipped with turrets standard, unlike the Tigr.


A video of this armored car, with interiors.


Center MD has received their first batch of T-90Ms. If there is any sense, this is the 90th TD, which both took losses in Ukraine and was riding outdated T-72As with K-1 added.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Kurganmash is continuing the same work as it was doing pre-war, BMP-3s, BTR-MDMs, BMP-2Ms, etc. While we've seen several interesting things including a BMP-2 with an Epokha module and extra armor, there is no sign that we're going to see any such thing on the battlefield any time soon. There is also no sign that the Kurganets or at least the Manul BMP-3 variant are going into production. Note Kurganmash has gone to a 24/6 (yes 6 not 7, not a typo) production schedule and cancelled all time off for their employees.


BMP-2M work in Scheglovskiy Val, Tula.


The 103rd repair plant continues work on T-62s and BRDM-2s.


Another T-90M delivery. Production appears unaffected by sanctions at this point for at least this type.


Some of the new T-90Ms have K-1 tiles on the front bottom of the tank.


A unit in center MD took delivery of T-90Ms, I'm suspecting this is the 90th Tanks. They took losses in Ukraine and their current fleet is T-72As with K-1 added.


The 61st Armored Repair Plant in St. Petersburg, working on T-80s.


Footage of a very large AMN batch being handed over.


Deliveries AMN-509951s and Z-STS continue to the VDV. BMDs are clearly relatively scarce and with this increase in size as well as losses taken this is likely what the future of the VDV looks like.


The 55th Motor-Rifles in Tyva also took delivery of the AMNs. For them this is an upgrade though, since they were previously riding Tigrs.


A new Tayfun-K MRAP has show up, looking like some of its components have been standardized with the Z-STS, namely the armored glass.


Russian MoD took delivery of a new railroad bridge assembly. These are used to set up temporary rail crossings. I suspect we will also see delivery of new pontoon bridges, since quite a few were lost in Ukraine.

 
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