"Made in the USSR": which NATO countries are still using Soviet weapons

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Accession to NATO entails a transition to the standards of the alliance in the system of military ranks, organizational structure and, of course, weapons. But until now, many countries of Eastern Europe, despite membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, use the Soviet weapon.

During the Cold War, the USSR did not skimp on the supply of weapons to its allies on all continents. One of the most important directions of supplies was Eastern Europe, or rather the countries that were part of the Warsaw Pact Organization. Today, almost all of them are NATO members, but this fact does not prevent them from continuing to have in service Tanks, anti-aircraft missile systems, combat vehicles, machine guns and grenade launchers, made in the USSR. The use of Soviet weapons in any case also provides for the continuation of technical cooperation with Russia.



Up to the present time, a large number of Soviet weapons are in service with Bulgaria. So, the basis of its tank power is made up of Soviet tanks T-72 (531 tanks) and T-55 (400 tanks). The country's ground forces are also armed with about 300 Soviet-made BMP-1, 74 BRDM-2, 781 BTR-60, 192 BM-21 Grad, 506 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. The Air Force of Bulgaria is armed with 12 MiG-29s, Su-25K attack aircraft, Mi-14 and Mi-24 helicopters, Osa and S-300 air defense systems.

In the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, Soviet weapons are much less, but the Romanian ground forces, for example, have about 260 T-55 tanks, and the Czech air forces use Soviet Mi-24 helicopters and Russian Mi-171Sh. The Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters, MiG-29 fighters remain in service with the Slovak Air Force, while the ground forces of this country have practically got rid of Soviet equipment, only the Soviet-made anti-tank complexes "Malyutka", "Fagot", "Konkurs" remain and SAM "Strela-10". Hungary does without Soviet aircraft, but it has Mi-8, Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters in the Air Force, and 44 T-72M1 tanks, 260 BTR-80, 120 BTR-80A in the ground forces.


SAM S-300 at a military parade in Sofia, Bulgaria

Despite the difficult relations with Russia, Poland also does not get rid of weapons marked "Made in the USSR". So, the ground forces of this country have 237 BRDM-230 BRM-1K, 75 BM-21 "Grad", SAM "Kub" and 9K33 "Osa-AK". The Polish Air Force also remains in service with MiG-29 fighters and Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. Almost all anti-aircraft systems used by the Polish armed forces are also Soviet-made. In addition, the Polish army is armed with Kalashnikov machine guns, RPGs, Dragunov sniper rifle modernized for firing NATO cartridges.

Of course, gradually the Eastern European members of the North Atlantic Alliance are still getting rid of Soviet military equipment: this is understandable, because weapons are becoming obsolete, new, more advanced tanks, combat vehicles, and aircraft appear. But the acquisition of the same American or French tanks, for example, is associated with large financial costs, which the budgets of the countries of Eastern Europe are not yet able to bear. Therefore, many Eastern European states are now modernizing and reworking the weapons that they inherited from the USSR. In addition, a large number of Soviet weapons are sold by the countries of Eastern Europe to the developing countries of Asia and especially Africa.

At the same time, it is interesting that a number of member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are acquiring weapons from Russia. So, the most famous example of such an acquisition, which caused an international scandal, was the purchase by Turkey of the S-400 air defense system from Russia. In service with Greece are S-300 air defense systems, which were transferred to Athens by Cyprus, which in turn acquired anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.
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  1. +1
    3 September 2020 09: 04
    "Made in the USSR": which NATO countries are still using Soviet weapons

    Moreover, the aforementioned Bulgaria itself is the largest manufacturer and exporter of weapons and ammunition, made according to "Soviet templates" ...
    1. +5
      3 September 2020 09: 18
      Quote: Insurgent
      Moreover, the aforementioned Bulgaria itself is the largest manufacturer and exporter of weapons and ammunition, made according to "Soviet templates" ...

      Uh-huh ... and these ammunition are found in various places, including in the warehouses of militants in Syria (for them, BPs were purchased by the Saudis, after which they supplied their proxies).
  2. +3
    3 September 2020 09: 09
    And they will use it for a long time.
  3. +6
    3 September 2020 09: 11
    A couple of years ago, in Portugal, at an artillery range, I saw two batteries of Russian guns produced at the beginning of the last century. They are in excellent condition - even now in position. Ammunition is also available.
    1. -1
      3 September 2020 09: 15
      Quote: A. Privalov
      A couple of years ago, in Portugal, at an artillery range, I saw two batteries of Russian guns produced at the beginning of the last century. They are in excellent condition - even now in position. Ammunition is also available.

      There they are from belay From Spain, or what?
      1. +1
        3 September 2020 09: 42
        Quote: Insurgent
        There they are from. From Spain, or what?

        Portugal received them on account of the reparations owed to them. Guns and shells were stored somewhere by the Germans as captured. When they were divided and transported around the world, there was probably no one or no time to figure it out.
  4. +8
    3 September 2020 09: 14
    "Made in USSR" is a quality mark!

    I remember at the factory these strict men in blue coats and oversleeves with a measuring tool in their hands - try to do something not according to GOST ...
  5. +1
    3 September 2020 09: 20
    While Soviet weapons are being used ... but, as time goes on, everything will be gradually replaced. This is a natural process.
    1. 0
      3 September 2020 09: 47
      I agree that the demand for Russian weapons is simply off scale, as a result, Russia will surpass the USSR at times.
      1. 0
        3 September 2020 10: 20
        The members of the alliance are not the kind of partners who are free in their choice ... so it was, so it will be.
        We have other territories of influence / arms trade.
        1. 0
          3 September 2020 15: 11
          And what have the "members of the alliance" to do with it? There is poverty and grief, even shabby Azerbaijan in its power surpasses the armies of England and Germany combined, I am already silent about the key buyers of Russian weapons.
  6. BAI
    0
    3 September 2020 09: 23
    Yes, Ukraine can still have many more weapons.
  7. +1
    3 September 2020 09: 29
    In the former countries of the socialist camp, variations of T-55-72 tanks and Mi-8 helicopters remain mainly because they have colossal modernization potential and are inexpensive to maintain.
  8. +1
    3 September 2020 11: 21
    These are all trophies of NATO in the Cold War.
  9. 0
    4 September 2020 13: 25
    The author somehow did not decide to mention the Americans themselves? Who perfectly use the Mi-8/17 in Afghanistan, but do not shout about it at every corner
  10. 0
    8 September 2020 19: 37
    "Which NATO countries are still using Soviet weapons" - the answer is obvious, poor people!

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