"His among strangers." Part 2
In 80-ies, not only the Air Force, but the US Army were interested in studying Soviet military equipment, methods and tactics of its use. As well as training their ground units against the enemy, using Soviet combat regulations and tactics of warfare.
To do this, the National Training Center of the US Army - Fort Irvine, in the central part of the Mojave desert, created the “32 Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment” - a special military unit (OPFOR - Opposing Force) designed to imitate a Soviet military unit at the exercises.
OPFOR is armed with samples of Soviet-made military equipment ( Tanks T-72, T-62, T-55, BMP, BRDM, military vehicles, etc.), as well as Sheridan and BTR M113 tanks camouflaged as Soviet and Russian military equipment. The personnel of the so-called motorized rifle regiment are dressed in Soviet military uniforms.
Created on the basis of the American Sheridan light tanks and the M113 armored personnel carrier, the imitations of Soviet combat vehicles look quite grotesque.
Initially, the source of Soviet military equipment was “Middle Eastern trophies,” and later the arsenal was replenished with supplies from the countries of the former Eastern Bloc and the CIS.
By the time of the collapse of the communist regimes in the Warsaw Pact member countries, there were hundreds of fairly modern T-72 main battle tanks at that time.
Soon, some of them found themselves at the test sites and in the training centers of NATO countries, where they carefully checked their security, firepower and driving performance. To a greater extent this applies to the T-72 of the former GDR and Poland.
Having satisfied curiosity about the T-72, the Americans were not fully informed about the Soviet main battle tank T-80 with a gas turbine engine. Before the collapse of the USSR, there was not a single T-80 abroad, even the most loyal allies under the Warsaw Pact, despite repeated requests, were not supplied with these combat vehicles.
However, in 1992, through the Russian organization Spetsvneshtekhnika, one T-80U and one ZRPK 2C6М Tunguska with the corresponding ammunition were sold to the UK. Later, the British transferred these cars to the Americans. The price of $ 10,7 million, paid for disclosing the secrets of the most modern of our machines, can be considered a penny. A little later, in 1994, four T-80s were sold in Morocco, and according to unconfirmed reports, they also ended up in the United States. In any case, they did not enter the Moroccan armed forces.
Since 1996, T-80 tanks have been supplied to the armed forces of Cyprus, Egypt and the Republic of Korea. In total, 80 tanks of T-80U and T-80X tanks with Agave-2 thermal imagers and Shtora optical-electronic countermeasures were supplied to South Koreans.
In addition to tanks, the military of the Republic of Korea received 70 BMP-3 and 33 BTR-80. Russian-made combat vehicles are used by the South Korean army during combat training to designate enemy vehicles.
Koreans speak highly of the Russian armored vehicles, celebrate its excellent maneuverability, mobility and reliability. Currently, BMP-3, T-80U and BTR-80A are intensively exploited during various bilateral exercises with the US Army. And very often, the American units on the Abrams and Bradley “smash” successfully.
The collapse of the USSR and the whole "Eastern Bloc" turned into a real feast for US technical intelligence services. American "experts" were able to familiarize themselves with most of the models of military equipment and weapons of the former USSR. The only exceptions were the “forces of strategic deterrence,” and that only partially.
The Yuzhnoye Design Bureau and the Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant, located in eastern Ukraine, made a major contribution to the development of the Soviet Union during the Soviet era. missile strategic and space technology. There is no doubt that very soon after gaining independence, the authorities of the "independent" were introduced to all the materials and developments of interest from "Western experts".
Yes, and the other now “independent” republics of the former USSR did not shun trade in the once-secret military equipment. One of the largest deals was the purchase by the United States of Moldova 22 fighter MiG-29.
All acquired MiGs were delivered to Wright-Patterson air base with C-17 aircraft at the end of 1997.
Apparently, these machines entered service with the Flight Division of the Detachment 353rd Test and Evaluation Group. Unofficially, it is referred to as "Red Eagles". According to unconfirmed information by US officials, there are several Su-27 fighters in service with the Red Eagles.
This time the Su-27 was “of Ukrainian origin”, the first Su-27 came to the USA in the middle of the 1990's. Later, two Su-27 (single and twin) were bought in Ukraine by the private company Pride Aircraft. The aircraft were repaired and certified in 2009.
The situation was similar with helicopter technology. The US military highly appreciated the Soviet transport and combat Mi-8 for their reliability, versatility and high performance. Shock armored Mi-24, carrying powerful weapons, became for them a real "scarecrow".
To imitate the teachings of Soviet combat helicopters, the Americans applied Soviet identification marks to their vehicles and altered the appearance.
Bell JUH-1H
Several Bell JUH-1H and QS-55 companies from Orlando Helicopter Airways underwent re-equipment. French helicopters SA.330 Puma, which “depicted” the Mi-24А, were also used.
Helicopter target QS-55
Converted SA.330 Puma
The US military were able to familiarize themselves with the present Mi-24 in the middle of the 80, after in Libya the Libyan Mi-25 (export version of the Mi-24) fell into the hands of the French.
Another Mi-24 was captured by US forces in the Persian Gulf 1991.
After the unification of Germany, all the "crocodiles" that were part of the Air Force of the GDR, were at the disposal of the Americans. Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters regularly participate in various military exercises where they "fight" for the "bad guys."
Mi-24 flies to Fort Bliss, 2009 year
Google Earth snapshot: Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters in Fort Bliss
A lot of combat aircraft equipment of Soviet manufacture is in the hands of American private owners. The number of cars that are in flight condition, today exceeds two dozen.
Google Earth snapshot: Migi private owners, Reno-Sid airfield, Nevada
Soviet combat aircraft are widely represented in various aviation museums and memorial sites of air bases.
Google Earth snapshot: the MiG line-up at the Pima Aerospace Museum near Davis-Montan Air Base
Google Earth Snapshot: MiGs at Fallon Memorial Site
Naturally, in addition to aircraft from Eastern European countries, the United States also received electronic intelligence and Defense, in which the Americans were particularly interested.
However, the authorities of the “new democratic Russia” also did not lag behind in the matter of trade and acquaintance of the “potential partners” with their modern army weapons.
The most blatant fact of such cooperation was the delivery of elements of the C-1995PS to the USA through Belarus in 300 "for familiarization". Later, the missing parts of the complex were purchased by Americans in Kazakhstan.
Google Earth snapshot: elements of the C-300PS complex at the US landfill
Later, in 1996, a contract was concluded with Cyprus for the supply of two divisions of a more modern version of the S-300PMU-1 air defense system. The actual recipient was Greece, which is a member of NATO. There were also delivered Tor-M1 air defense systems.
C-300PMU-1 on about. Crete
There are C-300PMU-1 also in Slovakia and Bulgaria. There is no doubt that the Americans had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with these air defense systems. It is clear that the export options of the complex have a number of differences from those that protect the sky of our country, but in any case, this “acquaintance” allows us to identify weak points and work out countermeasures.
From the middle of the 90, various C-300 SAM systems were sold to the PRC. As a result, this led to the fact that our "Chinese friends" successfully copied the Russian complex and established its mass production. Currently, the Chinese air defense system FD-2000 is actively offered on the foreign market, being a direct competitor to the C-300.
Similar story occurred with the Su-27 and Su-30 fighters. After the end of the license agreement, the production of aircraft at the aircraft factory in Shenyang continued. The Chinese responded to all claims with polite smiles. Not wanting to spoil relations with the "strategic partner", our leadership is "swallowed."
Not so long ago, information appeared that the People's Republic of China wants to buy in Russia new S-400 SAM systems and Su-35 fighters. Moreover, the discussed volumes of supplies of equipment are very small. There is every reason to believe that everything will happen again ...
The deal concluded with the United States in 1996 by Zvezda-Strela enterprise, brokered by the Boeing company, for the supply of Russian X-31 supersonic anti-ship air-launched missiles.
PKR X-31
X-31 was used by American fleet as a target, designated M-31, for the development of measures to counter supersonic anti-ship missiles of Soviet and Russian production. The tests took place in an atmosphere of secrecy, but, according to leaked media reports, not one of the missiles of the first batch was shot down. Based on the test results, a decision was made on the need to strengthen the air defense of American warships in the near zone.
Special mention deserves the naval theme. From a technical point of view, there was nothing in the military fleets of the countries of Eastern Europe that would have aroused the special interest of Western specialists.
The exception was made by the rocket boats of the 1241 "Lightning" project (according to the NATO classification - Tarantul-class corvettes).
5 missile boats of the project 1241RE were part of the Navy GDR. After the unification of Germany, one of the rocket boats of the 1241 project that previously belonged to the Navy of the GDR was transferred to the USA in November 1991. Where was used as a trial vessel under the name Nr. 185 NS 9201 "Hiddensee". He was assigned to the US Naval Research Center in Solomon, Maryland.
The ship has undergone detailed testing and research. American specialists highly appreciated the combat and driving performance of the rocket boat, its survivability and simplicity of design. A Soviet-built missile boat “Lightning” was characterized as one of the most high-speed and deadly ships of this class in the world.
Google Earth snapshot: 1241 “Lightning” missile boat at “USS Massachusetts Memorial” exposition
Excluded from the list of US Navy in April 1996, in October 1996 delivered as a memorial in the port of Fall River at the pier of the Massachusetts Memorial Museum "USS Massachusetts Memorial".
After being decommissioned from the Soviet Navy, aircraft-carrying cruisers of the 1143 project, Kiev, Minsk and Novorossiysk, were sold abroad at the price of scrap metal. These warships had a great resource and could, with proper maintenance and repair, could remain in the fleet for a long time.
One of the main reasons for the cancellation of these still fairly new ships is called, besides insufficient funding, the imperfection and low combat characteristics of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft Yak-38.
However, this statement does not withstand criticism, aircraft-carrying cruisers could have been mothballed until better times, with subsequent repair, modernization and re-equipment, as happened with the Admiral Gorshkov.
Currently, the former Soviet aircraft carrying cruisers Kiev and Minsk are used in the PRC as attractions.
The history of the aircraft carrier Varyag is indicative, which at the time of the collapse of the USSR remained unfinished at a shipyard in Nikolaev at 67% technical readiness. In April, 1998 was sold to China for $ 20 million.
In 2011, it turned out that China was completing the completion of the ship, making it its first aircraft carrier. Completion was carried out at the shipyard in Dalian.
The aircraft carrier "Liaoning" during sea trials
25 September 2012, the port of Dalian hosted the ceremony of adopting the first aircraft carrier of the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army of China. The ship was named "Liaoning".
In the entire history of mankind, starting from ancient times, the military of all countries sought to study the methods of warfare and the weapons of the enemy. In our time, this trend has only worsened. The collapse of the USSR and the liquidation of the Warsaw Pact Organization provided our “Western partners” with an unprecedented opportunity to familiarize themselves with the previously inaccessible technologies of the Soviet military-industrial complex and weapons models. At the same time, despite the statements about “cooperation and partnership”, they themselves are not in a hurry to share military and technological secrets. Our country continues to be viewed by the "West" as a potential adversary, and recent events are proof of this.
Rapprochement with China, which is rapidly growing economically and militarily, can also have negative consequences in the long run. China does not need a strong Russia at all; it is much more convenient for him to see our country as a weak raw materials appendage and unsettled territory.
In a rapidly changing world, Russia needs to pursue a balanced and cautious policy in the field of military-technical cooperation. The pursuit of quick, short-term profits can turn into big losses in the future. It should be remembered that our country has no allies except its army and navy.
Based on:
http://www.testpilot.ru
http://gurkhan.blogspot.ru
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org
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