FX.co ★ Russia’s military-industrial complex

The Russian's military-industrial complex is being constantly updated. In October 2015 the world became suddenly aware that Russia possesses sophisticated long-range cruise missiles. The message was spread by the country's Caspian Flotilla in the most no-nonsense, matter-of-fact way possible, as its warships successfully obliterated a number of Daesh targets in Syria by launching Kalibr-NK missiles from hundreds of miles away. While many of this new cruise missile's parameters still remain classified, apparently it has an effective range of 350 kilometers when deployed against naval targets and can hit assets on the ground from a distance of up to 1,500 kilometers.

Russia's Armed Forces are now equipped with Ratnik personal combat uniform kits. Ratnik is considered to be the uniform of the future. The first batch of Ratniks was shipped to the Armed Forces in 2015 following a series of field tests, with up to 70,000 kits expected to be supplied each year. The Ratnik gear comprises more than 40 components, including firearms, body armor, and optical, communication and navigation devices, as well as life support and power supply systems.

The latest modification of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile complex has been successfully launched from a military site in Russia's north. The system might become the backbone of the announced reincarnation of the “nuclear train” program. The three-stage Yars missile is Russia's newest mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) complex. The system was first tested in 2007. Though most of its characteristics are classified, open information suggests that it can deliver at least four thermonuclear warheads weighing 300 kilotons each to a target located 11,000 kilometers away. Yars is expected to replace previous generation Topol missiles.

The Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighter, adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2015, has been deployed against the radical Islamists in Syria from the beginning of Russia's anti-Daesh campaign there. In 2016 the Russian aircraft contingent deployed at Hmeymim Airbase was further bolstered by four Sukhoi Su-35S super maneuverable multirole fighters. The impressive combat performance of these aircraft has already attracted the attention of many prospective buyers from around the globe.

The Russian Defense Ministry has for the first time fully revealed the new Armata tank in the run-up to the Victory Day parade in Moscow. Armata is actually a tracked platform capable of hosting a tank, APC, artillery piece and missile launcher. The Armata medium tank is a cutting-edge vehicle with an unmanned turret armed with a brand new 125 mm smoothbore cannon, which is the most powerful gun of its kind to date in terms of muzzle energy. A crew of two can operate the tank. It is fully computerized and equipped with a wide variety of sensors and other electronic systems that allow for network-centric warfare.

In honor of Russian Aerospace Force Day, the Russian Ministry of Defense has released its first official footage of the fifth-generation stealth aircraft, the PAK FA Sukhoi T-50. The Russian army will see the first samples of the new weapon after 2022. India Government was extremely interested in the aircraft.

The world's newest 8×8 APC Boomerang debuted during the May 9 Victory Day Parade in Red Square signalled a break from previous wheeled APCs made in Russia. 8×8 APCs are now mandatory for armed forces around the world, especially those pretending to be modern. This is because 8×8's are well-suited for paved roads during urban combat and afford lots of visibility from gun sights, periscopes, viewing slits, hatches, and even mounted cameras. 8×8 APCs are also at the forefront of the ongoing “modular” revolution in military affairs, where a single vehicle type is upgraded to suit a specific mission. Furthermore, 8×8 APCs today support varying combinations of weapons and protective measures. For these reasons, 8×8's are now ubiquitous, manufactured in at least 20 different countries.

Ballistic missile submarines are the most survivable part of a country's nuclear deterrent. The Russian Navy's first Project-885 Yasen-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, K-329 Severodvinsk, is set to deploy on its first combat training mission. The new submarine recently completed operational testing after being accepted into service in June 2014. Prior to that, the boat had been undergoing pre-delivery sea trials since September 2011.

Infantry fighting vehicle Kurganets-25, created on the basis of the average unified platform, will be the first domestic BMP with separation of the crew from the module with arms and ammunition. It is possible that over time, this BMP will receive weapons, whose work will be based on new physical principles, was reported today in the press service of the department of industry, transport, communications and energy of Kurgan region. “In the foreseeable future, Kurgan-25 will receive our old friend – 30-mm 2A42 automatic gun with ammunition of 500 rounds. This is the only thing that will connect the latest military vehicle with its predecessors, the press-service notices. – For ammunition it will be developed a new range of projectiles, including “smart”, programmed for explosion at the desired point. This will significantly increase the possibility of combat with manpower of the enemy.

The Tigr (Tiger) is a family of Russian off-road vehicles, developed in the early 2000s and produced beginning in 2004 at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, part of the Military Industrial Company. The vehicle is produced in a variety of configurations, and is available for both civilian and military use. Another advantage is good observability and a high level of protection for the crew. The vehicle also perfectly performs for long marches in the desert conditions. The Tigr also has decent self-protection capabilities. The vehicle can carry different types of weapons, from a machinegun to anti-tank missile launchers.