Obsolete weapons for Ukraine
Swedish armored personnel carrier Pbv 302. Photo by the Swedish Ministry of Defense
Since 2022, foreign partners and patrons have regularly provided Ukraine with military-technical assistance in the form of various weapons, equipment and ammunition. It is noteworthy that this is not always about modern models. Some of the transferred products are very old and have long been morally and physically obsolete.
Armored direction
Already in the first months of military operations, Ukrainian formations faced the problem of large losses of armored vehicles. Foreign countries decided to help restore its fleet and began to transfer combat vehicles from their own units or storage bases. The first foreign armored vehicles of various classes arrived in Ukraine in the summer of 2022.
By now, Kyiv has received a significant amount of supplies from abroad. tanks various models. Among them, the M-55S medium tanks donated by Slovenia stand out. At the time of shipment, they were about 55-60 years old.
According to known data, the former Slovenian tanks were originally built in the sixties and seventies according to one of the variants of the T-55 project. In the nineties, they underwent a deep modernization with the replacement of some key units. After the upgrade, the tanks received the designation M-55S. The modernization increased firepower and some other characteristics, but protection and a number of other parameters remained at the same level.
British L119 gun that ended up in Ukraine. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
Ukraine also received a significant number of foreign armored personnel carriers. The oldest in this class are the M113 armored vehicles of several serial modifications. Some of the delivered APCs could have been built as early as the sixties - much earlier than other APCs that arrived in Ukraine.
Let us recall that the M113 is a tracked amphibious armored personnel carrier capable of transporting people and carrying weapons. It has long ceased to meet modern standards of armor protection, has limited capacity, etc. Nevertheless, such vehicles are still in service with various countries. One of the main reasons for such long-term use is the large number of armored personnel carriers produced, which will be extremely difficult to replace with modern equipment.
In May 2024, it became known that Ukraine would receive another model developed in the sixties - the Pbv 302 APC. Sweden decided to give all remaining vehicles of this type in the amount of about 200 units. Some of this assistance has already been transferred, and the remaining APCs are expected in the near future.
The tracked APC Pbv 302 was a good machine with fairly high combat qualities at the time of its appearance. However, it has long ceased to meet modern requirements. The main problems are related to the insufficient level of protection, maintenance issues and other factors. The presence of a 20-mm cannon does not change the situation in general.
Ukrainian MLRS BM-21 in the lens of a Russian UAV shortly before the strike. Photo Telegram / "Archangel Spetsnaz"
Artillery systems
Foreign partners also sent various things to Ukraine artillery systems, both towed and self-propelled. Barrel artillery and rocket artillery were transferred. Guns of different types and ages were supplied, and in this regard, some examples are of particular interest.
In May 2022, Portugal decided to transfer several American-made M114 howitzers to Ukraine. This system was developed in the early 114s, on the eve of the United States' entry into World War II. The MXNUMX is the oldest artillery system in service with Ukrainian forces.
It should be noted that Kyiv also received other old weapons, although not as old. For example, several dozen D-30 howitzers, developed in the early sixties, arrived from Eastern European countries. Great Britain supplied a hundred L119 howitzers, which had been in service since the early seventies. There were also deliveries of other systems developed in the second half of the XNUMXth century.
Despite their age, howitzers and guns of old types can still be used for their intended purpose. However, in terms of their main characteristics, they are often inferior to modern analogues. In addition, in the case of some models, there must be problems with the supply of ammunition.
MLRS RM-70 of Czechoslovakian production. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
Recently it became known that the Ukrainian artillery has received American-made M712 Copperhead guided missiles. These munitions should increase the probability of hitting targets and improve the effectiveness of barrel systems. However, one should not expect high performance. The M712 was developed in the early seventies based on the technologies of that time. In addition, the warranty periods for such missiles have already expired, and their operability is not guaranteed.
Rocket artillery
In 2022, Kyiv begged Washington for modern multiple launch rocket systems for a long time and soon got what it wanted. Other countries also supplied this class of equipment, but these were not always combat vehicles of current models. A number of foreign partners provided old equipment that they had on hand.
The main suppliers of MLRS were the Eastern European NATO countries. They shared the Soviet-style systems and ammunition for them. These were mainly the original BM-21 Grad MLRS and their various modifications. For example, the Czech Republic provided its version of such MLRS called RM 70. In addition, a large number of 122-mm rockets were taken from warehouses. Although the Grad retains significant combat potential, it cannot be called a new system, especially against the background of the latest Russian and foreign developments.
Military aviation
Some foreign countries have expressed their readiness to provide assistance to Ukraine in the field of combat aviationThey supplied various equipment, spare parts and ammunition. These were mostly outdated models, while modern developments made up a smaller part of the supplies.
Already in 2022, foreign countries began sending Soviet-made aircraft and helicopters to Ukraine. However, at best, these were machines built in the eighties, with limited potential and exhausted service life. Foreign partners also helped with the restoration of the remaining fleet.
It is known about deliveries of Soviet-style airborne weapons corresponding to the age of the transferred equipment. In addition, the US sent unguided Zuni rockets, previously removed from service. Ammunition of newer models is also supplied, but in fact these are products of fairly old production and often with expired shelf life.
Air defense
Similar trends were observed in the sphere of air defense systems. Foreign countries sent Kyiv various systems, from modern to the oldest. First of all, air defense missile systems and other products of the Soviet period were shipped, and not the newest ones. However, there were also more interesting deliveries.
Back in late 2022, it became known that the United States and other countries were going to transfer the MIM-23 HAWK air defense system to Ukraine. The first version of this system was developed in the late 1960s and entered service in XNUMX. Subsequently, the air defense system was repeatedly modernized, and new modifications appeared, but this process was completed several decades ago.
A MiG-29 fighter with an American-made AGM-88 missile. Photo Telegram / BMPD
It was later revealed that the Hawks were one of the latest modifications sent to Ukraine. However, these SAMs themselves were not particularly new and were based on an older platform. There were reports of combat use of such systems, but they did not achieve any particular success.
It is impossible not to mention the supplies of man-portable air defense systems. Already in February 2022, many countries expressed their readiness to transfer old Soviet-style MANPADS to Ukraine. For example, Germany found several thousand Strela-2M products in its warehouses. However, it soon became clear that a significant part of these MANPADS were unsuitable for operation and use. Due to violation of storage conditions, the systems became unusable, and the wooden containers rotted or became moldy.
For obvious reasons
It should be noted that foreign countries send not only old and obsolete weapons and equipment to Ukraine. The aid provided includes samples of different ages with different potential and remaining resources. However, it is the old products that best reveal some of the features of this entire "international program" of aid to Kyiv.
It is known that at the early stages, assistance to Ukraine was provided only at the expense of foreign armies' own reserves. Weapons and ammunition were taken from combat units and warehouses. At the same time, the "helpers" were in no hurry to share new and modern models, preferring to transfer to Kyiv only outdated and unnecessary products.
American HAWK SAM in Ukraine. Photo by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
This approach to providing assistance had several goals. First of all, it demonstrated the willingness of foreign partners to help Ukraine not only in words but also in deeds. In addition, the supplies showed loyalty to the "ideals of democracy." At the same time, the allocation of such assistance was practically free. The fact is that the equipment and weapons being written off and transferred were purchased in the distant past and, often, by previous authorities. Therefore, the current costs of providing assistance were expressed mainly in the payment for transportation.
It should be taken into account that many Eastern European countries do not have significant reserves of modern weapons and equipment. The basis of their armed forces is still the Soviet-style materiel, manufactured several decades ago. Over the past time, it has not been possible to carry out a full replacement, and now these countries have no choice. They can only transfer obsolete products to Kyiv, and not always suitable for operation.
During demilitarization
Thus, the desire to save money, limited opportunities and other factors led to very interesting results. As part of the aid, a lot of different weapons and equipment of old and obsolete types were sent to Ukraine. Under other conditions, they would have been disposed of or sent to a museum.
Nevertheless, it was decided to give this material part to a friendly regime for use in battles. The results of such a step were quite predictable. The Russian army destroys both old and modern weapons of the enemy at any opportunity and by various methods. Given the objective circumstances, one should not expect that the outdated models will last for long.
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