Russian Army/Ground Forces Discussion and Updates

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Russia has received another batch of 2S34 Mal'va SP howitzers. This is essentially a wheeled Msta, that should properly be called Msta-K or SK. Quantity is unclear, though it's likely either a battery of 6 or a btln of 18.


The TOS-3 has made it's first public appearance. It looks a lot like a TOS-1A externally but you can tell the difference by the longer rocket pack with a smaller quantity of rockets. A closer look suggests it hasn't solved the TOS-1 problem, requiring the crew to exit the vehicle and put up the support mechanism for the launch packet.


A BMD-4M with roof cage and up-armor kit. Reportedly this is now how they will be delivered. This implies the resumption of production but of course doesn't guarantee it.


Another batch of BMP-3s got handed over. The type remains a big piece of Russian efforts, and increasing production of BMPs is probably the biggest component in whether Russia can move away from Soviet stockpiles as those run dry.


In addition to extra armor kits, Russia is apparently now making Nakidka and EW standard for BMP-3M production. Note, we don't have good evidence to support the claim just yet, but the EW piece is quite likely to be true and the Nakidka is at least plausible.


The BT-3F APC on BMP-3 chassis is up for state trials. Given that it's a relatively simple vehicle it's likely to pass. However the layout looks terrible, repeating the ergonomic issues of the BMP-3 itself. And of course without extra armor kits it's protected on a level comparable to an M113, with worse ergonomics. It probably beats MT-LBs and BMP-1s converted into APCs, but it's not a great choice. I think Russia should be shifting to re-worked BMP-3 layout, namely the Manul (not Dragun). If they really want an APC, they can do it on that basis, but at that point might as well make them all IFVs. I can only guess the reason they're not doing this is that they would have to retool the production line and that would require halting production. On the flip side, I'm not sure why they can't simply build a new factory from scratch. The Manul variant existed pre-war for some time, and they've built other factories from scratch during the war.


Russian ground forces have received a batch of Planshet automated artillery systems. They link data from UAVs and counter-battery radars, and the system reportedly involves 8 Atlet MRAPs as carriers, or alternatively can be infantry carried in pelican cases. It's not clear if they're being delivered on the Atlet chassis. Curiously enough this system can apparently also work for SHORAD to coordinate information. How exactly this works is unclear. It's also not clear if this is the first batch. One source implies this is a new thing, another that this has been used in the war already.


The UMZ-G minelayer, on T-90M chassis, was seen on a trailer in Tver'. It's possible the type is going to war. Russia actively uses remote minelayers on all kinds of chassis, including jeeps, trucks, Desertcross buggies, etc.


T-62M, upgraded at the 61st Plant heading through Novokuznetsk. Despite their age and initial use as erzats artillery, they are now being used as MBTs alongside newer tanks. They're still a minority in the Russian tank fleet, but unless something changes drastically in Russian MBT production, they're here to stay for many more years.


T-72B3s also heading westward from possibly the same 61st Plant. Previously it wasn't seen working on T-72s, but of course anything is possible. Alternatively these might be tanks from line units in the Far East being sent to the front.


An interesting look at the T-14 without the exterior coverings, showing off portions of the hull and the turret.


A trail full of new T-90Ms with the new roof cage.


An interesting modification of the ERA layout to the T-72B3 upgrade.


An interesting photo of the Sokol missile, a project for a Russian barrel-launched fire and forget missile meant for upgraded tanks, and the T-14. So far the project is in OKR status, no word on progress or trials. Reportedly it retains beam-riding capability on top of other methods.


The Lipetsk plant that was originally involved in production of the S-300V hulls is now also producing Tor-M2 hulls, suggesting increased production of the type.


The Kalashnikov concern, an umbrella company, has shipped more 9M333 missiles for the Strela-10M3. This creates an interesting contrast where Russia and Ukraine are both using Strela-10M3s but Ukraine is down to old Jordanian re-exported missiles, and Russia on the other hand is using upgraded new missiles.


Russian production of Kurier unmanned ground drones is picking up. They were debuted around Berdychy west of Avdeevka, and are a volunteer project.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Russian ground forces continue to be the main focus of the war effort in Ukraine and as such they continue to receive large quantities of kit. But the war has also had negative effects, in that many more ambitious programs are put in the back burner in favor of things that can be produced quickly and in bulk. I will do a separate post about what was shown at Army-2024, both for lenth and time reasons.

For armored vehicles we have continued production of BMP-3s and T-90Ms. Not covered by reports but undoubtedly still happening in the background must be BTR-82A production, possibly the AT variant. Meanwhile tanks continue to be pulled from storage from old T-90 variants to T-62s and even T-54s sometimes. There's still no standardization there, with some going as Soviet T-62Ms or MVs, with K-1 added, others getting roof cages like the 72s and 80s, and others even getting thermal sights. T-72B3 and T-80BVM deliveries also continue, with new rubber sheeting added for protection of some sort.

During a recent Kurganmash visit we got sight of a BMD-4M batch with extra armor and a unique roof cage design. It's all being discussed as new production, including "towed guns" but Rostech in the past, but I wouldn't be surprised if these were damaged vehicles from early in the war being remanufactured or overhauled and repaired and then sent back out. If these really are new vehicles, this would be idiotic. For the current war a BMP-3M is much better then a BMD-4M. The only advantage the latter has is that it's airdroppable, which obviously isn't going to be useful here. We do have at least two separate batches delivered, but either way it's murky.

On a side-note I'm curious about the BMD-2. Russia has, in the 2000s, converted some BMD-1s into BMD-2s by simply manufacturing new turrets. If there are BMD-1s in storage, this could presumably be repeated fairly easily. One could even install 6MB-06 turrets like the BMP-1AM. They're likely not airdroppable, but that doesn't really matter. I also wonder if the spate of BMD-2s we saw in the recent fighting in Kursk might be fresh deliveries from storage.

An interesting sidenote, it appears BREM-1M production is continuing. ARVs are in short supply, especially with the balooning of the Land Forces, and the current war, so this makes sense. No word on volume, nor on whether they're remanufactured MBT hulls or new-builds. They are a war-time upgrade, carrying smoke launchers and extra ERA in addition to the regular ERA side-skirts.


Some mod'22 T-90Ms, though we've seen updated variants since then.


BMPTs keep getting spotted in small quantities at UVZ but we're not seeing them on the front anymore. It's unclear what the status of the vehicle is.


And the Bumerang is apparently still undergoing state trials. Here it is in a climate testing chamber at the 21st NIII VAT.


UVZ has apparently been testing some sort of new vehicle. Many have speculated that it's an HAPC or HIFV prototype on the T-90 chassis. Some have compared the engine noise to the T-14 and concluded that it uses the same engine. But in reality we don't have any good information, and UVZ has many strange prototypes that could be on the road for the purpose of testing some specific system with no intention of putting the vehicle in question into production. The Russian military does badly need HAPCs/HIFVs so if anything it would make sense. But sense is not always to be had.


A design for adding Kornets to the BMP-3 has shown up in the internet, and I can see some sense in being able to elevate the ATGMs, but really even adding them to the current Bahcha-U like the Berezhok does would be an improvement.


And roof cages are envisioned as a permanent fixture of armored vehicles for the forseeable future, Rostech is developing a new radar mast that is hardened and can mount through the roof cage.


More and more places are joining the new trend of manufacturing K-1 tiles in various facilities. The tiles are easy to make and can be added to basically any MBT. However the question of the filling is open.


Some of the BTR-82ATs and BMP-1AMs in Russian service are receiving frames for their 2A72 autocannon. The cannon in question is notorious for vibrations at high rates of fire, making it so that it can only be effectively used in short bursts. However this seems to be a volunteer effort rather then a centralized upgrade.


Russian ground forces have reportedly received another batch of 2S43 Mal'va howitzers, the second one (ever?). Russia currently only produced two howitzers, both self-propelled, the Msta-SM and the Mal'va, both using the Msta howitzer. Production pace of both types is very slow, and doesn't even come close to compensating for losses. Why Russia hasn't rebooted production of towed guns is beyond me especially since quantities in storage are definitely shrinking. Of course Russia hasn't even exhausted stockpiles of old SP howtizers, as witnessed by these 2S7s and 2S5s, and even 2S19s.


Meanwhile there is one category of armored vehicles Russia seeming mass produces, that's armored cars and MRAPs of various types, most notably the Typhoon family from Kamaz of which the Z-STS is in my opinion a member due to commonality in many of the armored components and design, even if the automotive part is different. We also have some Ural-VV, a pre-war MRAP for the MVD and a continuing production of the Chekan armored trucks. These were initially made for Wagner specifically but it looks like deliveries are continuing to the reguar armed forces.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
A new ground forces radar called the Irbis has show up. The first ones were reported in use by battlegroup North. The description suggests that it's more than a counter battery radar, being intended to also detect drones for friendly EW and air defenses. It's the second new counter-battery system seen in this war, the first being the Yastreb-AV. Irbis is also the name of the radar on the Su-35S fighter jets, and it's unclear if this system is in any way related.


On the UAV front Russia is upgrading the Kub series of loitering munitions. They, like the Lancet, were in limited service pre-war, but unlike the Lancet they haven't done particularly well in this war. It remains to be seen if this changes but their deliveries continue anyways.

Russia is also testing satellite guidance for UAVs, which might have a pretty substantial impact of the ability of Russia to operate them over Ukraine, especially as Ukraine's air defenses run short.

Last but not least, Belousov, Russia's new MinDef, claims Russia now produces 4000 FPV drones daily. Unclear if this is only official production or volunteer-sourced systems too.


One of the new systems that seems to be getting more common is the Kurier series of ground-based drones. These are small tracked drones that can carry a single weapon system, an EW kit, or some useful cargo. They were developed by private parties and have been getting supplied to the armed forces by donations.


Other small scale but interesting innovations include a computer for the AGS-17 and AGS-30 belt-fed grenade launchers. Reportedly they are tied into the sights and allow for accurate targetting of moving vehicles. The effectiveness of this against armored vehicles is probably low, but much of front line logistics for Ukraine uses unarmored vehicles where even a near-miss from this can cause substantial damage.


Russia is continuing to expand production of artillery and mortar shells. A new production variant of the 120mm mortar shells has started showing up.


There are reports Russia is working on a longer ranged Iskander variant, with a range of closer to 1000 kms, which would make sense given both the current war and the dismantling of many arms control treaties. Some suggest the intent is to be able to use them off of the existing TELs whichw would be wise. Repeating the Iskander-Bastion idiocy would be unfortunate.


For drone-defense Russia has been testing new systems. One is the well known 2S38 Derivatsiya, but the other two are new. One is a towed quad-machinegun array with EO guidance called Anklav (Enclave). The other is the Rapira, a MRAP-mounted machinegun system with radar guidance.


Attempts to develop an alternative to the Chinese Desertcross continue with the Plastun-TT system undergoing testing.

 
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