What is armed, how equipped and what equipment is in service with Russian paratroopers (photo report)
Equipment and weapons
Parachutes
Amphibious units use parachute systems of two types: D-10 complete with a spare parachute and a more modern special-purpose system "Crossbow-2", which entered the Airborne Forces in 2012 year. The latter is part of the equipment of the reconnaissance subunits of the brigade.
D-10, used for mass operations, allows you to parachute from a height of up to four kilometers. This system provides a vertical drop rate of up to five meters per second, as well as a slight horizontal slide. Unlike the D-10, the special-purpose system "Crossbow-2", with the same landing height, allows you to plan for a distance of up to ten kilometers. Included with it is a container that can hold up to 50 kilograms of cargo.
Ulyanovsk paratroopers have already tested the “Arbalet-2 ″ on two large-scale exercises - in Belarus, as well as on Kotelny Island (the archipelago of the Novosibirsk Islands in Yakutia), as part of an airborne unit.
- At the Kotelny we were tasked to capture the airfield of the enemy during the landing. There was a strong wind with gusts up to 20 meters per second, temperature minus 32 degrees. However, the parachute system allows you to make a safe landing in such weather conditions. We have completed the task, everything went without injury and no complications, ”said the special-purpose reconnaissance machine gunner, senior lieutenant Ilya Shilov.
According to the paratrooper, “Crossbow-2 ″ is a very convenient, well-controlled system compared to the previous generation. With this system, Ilya Shilov made a 52 jump.
- To a lot of weight (the system itself - 17 kilograms, plus up to 50 kilograms cargo container) you get used to. In comparison with the D-10, using “Crossbow-2 ″ is like taking a ride on a Formula-1 machine instead of a regular car, says the reconnaissance machine gunner.
Gunshot weapon
The main weapon of the paratroopers - AK-74M. The old reliable one, as the military themselves say, was replaced by the PKM machine gun, the Pecheneg PKP light machine gun, the maximum continuous queue length of which is of the order of 600 shots. All models of small arms received new optics, guidance devices, both night and day.
After the formation of the reconnaissance battalion brigade as part of the 31, many special silent weapons appeared. This is a special sniper rifle (BCC), the Val machine gun, firing special 9-mm subsonic cartridges SP-5 and SP-6, which pierce body armor, or 6-mm steel sheet at a distance of 100 meters, and PB gun. Each special weapon also has different versions of optics.
Silent pistol
AS "Val"
In addition, the 12,7-millimeter NSV machine gun on the new machine gun, which allows firing not only at ground targets and enemy armored vehicles, but also at aircraft (most effective against helicopters) entered service with the brigade. This weapon is convenient for use in the mountains, in an equipped stationary position.
In the arsenal of paratroopers there is an 30-millimeter automatic grenade launcher on the AGS-17 “Flame” machine, intended for combat operations outside the shelters, in open trenches and behind natural folds of the terrain, the AGS-30 easier version and the RPG-7D3 manual anti-tank grenade launcher RPG-XNUMXDXNUMX as cumulative ammunition, and high-explosive fragmentation action.
- We also have the latest weapons, which work on the principle of "shot and forget." So, the Kornet anti-tank missile system, unlike the 9P135M launcher, which we had in service with earlier, has a more powerful rocket, better armor penetration. In addition, the "Cornet" controls the rocket on the laser channel, and the previous sample - the old-fashioned, wired system. Thus, the range of the anti-tank missile complex is limited only by the power of the main engine, ”explains the deputy commander of the 31 airborne brigade, guard Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Anokhin.
Steel arms
One of the most interesting specimens is a scout's knife. It can be used traditionally, as a combat blade. In addition, the knife can make one shot with a special cartridge that is located in the handle: to do this, you need to cock the trigger and remove the fuse. The distance at which the enemy can be hit is from five to ten meters. The sheath can be used for cutting wire, stripping wires.
A scout's non-shooting knife is used as a combat blade, including for throwing. In addition, recently in the brigade knives appeared "Maple", included in the complex survival. This is a military weapon, with a well-sharpened powerful blade. The sheath has a compass, can cut the wire; they are adapted for sharpening the blade and have additional special blades - saw and awl.
In addition, the handle has a survival capsule containing antacid, needles, a pin, a device for extracting fragments, hooks, matches, fishing line — everything needed to survive in difficult conditions until the paratrooper is found or he will not save himself.
Equipment
It depends on the tasks assigned to the paratrooper. Thus, the main weapon of the flamethrower is the light infantry flamethrower LPO with a whole set of various ammunition: from light-noise to thermobaric, high-explosive, smoke, aerosol. When there is no need to use a flamethrower, the warrior performs tasks like an infantryman - for this he has an AK-74M machine gun.
There are two kinds of snipers in the 31 brigade. A special sniper unit is available in the reconnaissance battalion: soldiers are trained in courses, they have a personal weapon. In the arsenal of such a sniper - special knives, sniper machine guns and rifles operating at different distances (from a kilometer and up), a pistol, rangefinders, a weather station. As well as a camouflage complex, the appearance of which varies, depending on the area.
The sniper, which operates in the combat line of parachute or assault landing units, is armed with a special SVDS rifle with a folding butt, which is specially designed for landing, with a day and night optical sight; silent pistol.
The machine gunner has the PKP Pecheneg machine gun, which replaced the PKM machine guns, with a combined optical device that helps fire both day and night. This weapon is for the destruction of both infantry and lightly armored vehicles. In a short period of time, a machine gunner can create a barrage of fire at the site, stop the enemy, give the commander the opportunity to orient, regroup his comrades.
Machine gun
The machine gunner is a “classic” paratrooper with a lot of cold arms, an AK-74M machine gun, a 1P29 Tulip aiming device, which allows you to observe the battlefield with a multiplicity of targets during the day, to operate in the active mode at night. In his arsenal - grenade launcher, binoculars.
In addition, all warriors have tactical glasses, gloves, special pads on their knees and elbows, a radio station that allows you to keep constant contact with the squad leader.
Brigade sappers received new mine detectors to search for Korshun non-contact mines (this device is capable of detecting explosive devices at a sufficiently large distance, behind walls of concrete and brick, barbed wire and metal mesh fences, under asphalt, and so on). In addition, the crew received modern IMP2-С compact mine detectors with settings for anti-personnel, anti-tank mine and any other object.
New lightweight, but more durable sappers costumes hold an explosion near an anti-personnel mine. A helmet with a special glass withstands a shot at close range of 9-mm PM.
Military equipment, which is in service with Russian paratroopers
Airborne fighting vehicle BMD-2
Caterpillar, floating, landing from airplanes of military transport aviation parachute-reactive method, the combat vehicle weighs 8,2 tons, cruising range up to 500 kilometers, speeds up to 63 kilometers per hour on land and up to 10 kilometers per hour on water (BMD-2 can also sail back, but much slower - at a speed of one and a half kilometers per hour). It has a variable ground clearance, which makes it possible to land from aircraft, and also improves the capabilities of the machine during camouflage on the ground.
The BMD-2 is armed with an 30-mm 2-42 automatic cannon, which was designed to destroy manpower, lightly armored vehicles and low-flying aerial targets. 7,62-mm machine gun is paired with it. In addition, to combat the enemy’s armored targets, the BMD-2 has an anti-tank guided complex.
The combat vehicle has an awning fixed on the sides for shelter and a camouflage net (in the winter it is white and in the summer it is green). The Ulyanovsk paratroopers modified the BMD: on each side of the vehicle, marching kits were attached to each vehicle. These are the boxes, where there is a stock of the most necessary things that may be required by the unit suddenly alerted. NZ includes a set of firewood, a stove, a gas stove, a tent, candles, batteries, a supply of ropes, a barb tool, shovels, pickaxes. All so that the paratroopers did not waste time on charges, but jumped onto the car and set off to complete the task.
BTR-D armored personnel carrier
The unified machine of the airborne troops. In addition to the fact that it transports personnel, it can be used for the transportation of any goods, the installation of almost any weapons.
There are at least three variants of the BTR-D in the Ulyanovsk brigade. The first is with a machine-gun-grenade launcher mounted on it. The paratroopers made their changes here: they invented a mounting system for a large-caliber machine gun and an AGS grenade launcher consisting of cables. This allows the soldiers on the move to conduct at the same time fire from two guns at once.
The second option, armed with anti-tank units - BTR-RD - has two launchers 9P135M1 (or 9K111-1 "Competition"). In the event that the armored personnel carrier is armed with the Competition, it is capable of destroying up to ten tanks. Ground "fighter" hits targets at a distance of four kilometers.
In the third version, the BTR-3D, the anti-aircraft and artillery unit ZU-23 was mounted. There is an option when the car carries the crew with a portable anti-aircraft missile system 9K38 “Needle”, which is capable of firing air targets flying at speeds up to 320 meters per second, and also if the enemy applies false thermal interference.
The base of all tracked vehicles is unified (the only difference is that armored personnel carriers have one more skating rink). Spare parts that may be needed for repair or restoration are the same.
On the basis of the BTR-D, the reconnaissance and fire control point of the battalion (battery) of the artillery of the Airborne Forces 1ВХNUMX was also designed. His task is to communicate with the Nona-C self-propelled artillery gun and fire control, so that these two machines are usually on the battlefield together.
"Nona-S"
120-mm self-propelled artillery 2С9-1М “Nona-S” is a unique even for today artillery system that combines the properties of different types of guns. Its purpose is direct fire support of airborne units on the battlefield.
"Nona-S" is capable of striking not only manpower and destroying the enemy fortifications, but also fighting against tanks. Special high-explosive fragmentation artillery shells can shoot at a distance of 8,8 kilometers. Their effectiveness is similar to howitzers 152-millimeter shells. Cumulative shells are also used to combat armored vehicles.
The car accelerates to 60 kilometers per hour on land and to 9 kilometers per hour afloat. It is equipped with a special system that performs independent calculations and provides data that must be entered for accurate shooting.
BTR-80
The three vehicles that entered the 31 Brigade after the reconnaissance battalion was deployed in it include the BTR-80, which in the near future will be replaced with a more modern BTR-82, adopted by the Russian army last year. The floating armored personnel carrier has an eight-wheel base, cruising range up to 500 kilometers. It is more mobile than the BMD - on the highway it speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour.
The main armament of the BTR-80 is the 14,5 millimeter heavy machine gun of Vladimirov. The BNT-82A has an 30-millimeter automatic cannon coupled to an 7,62-millimeter machine gun.
"Infauna"
The multifunctional complex of electronic warfare RB-531B "Infauna" is designed to protect automotive vehicles and personnel from being hit by radio-controlled mine explosive devices and melee weapons. "Infauna" in the automatic mode conducts radio suppression of means of detonation of radio-controlled mine devices in a radius of up to 150 meters. That is, the complex is able to cover a whole company of armored vehicles.
In addition, "Infauna" has cameras with launchers, which automatically record a shot from an anti-tank or a hand-held grenade launcher and shoot aerosol ammunition. Within two seconds they cover the paratroopers with a curtain.
The complex develops speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour. A big plus is that it can act as part of an electronic warfare unit, as well as engineering and sapper units. Infauna has a regime that allows you to accompany deminers. The machine follows them and, in close proximity, conducts radio suppression.
"Leer-2 ″
The mobile automated technical monitoring system for radio-electronic imitation and jamming of radio-electronic means “Leer-2” was created on the basis of the armored car GAZ-233114 (“Tigr-M”). This is a high-tech machine that conducts comprehensive technical control and assessment of the radio-electronic environment. “Leer-2 ″ is used for detecting and finding equipment of ultrashort-wave radio communications operating at fixed frequencies, as well as creating radio interference. Special equipment allows you to search by frequency, measure the parameters of the detected signals, to find them, register with reference to the coordinates of the terrain. On the highway, Leer-2 ″ accelerates to 125 kilometers per hour.
KAMAZ-5350
In the fleet of paratroopers there is a special car MTO-AM (maintenance workshop) based on the KamAZ-5350 "Mustang". This is an exit "car service", which can be engaged in repair and restoration of cars on the spot.
KAMAZ-43501 created specifically for the Airborne. This lightweight assault vehicle can “jump with a parachute,” for which it was made compact. It is the smallest in terms of payload "Mustang". The main use of the car - transportation of personnel, as well as the supply of material resources.
Already this year more modern Tigers will enter the brigade.
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