The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation intends to fill the Russian troops with a wide range of drones of various sizes and purposes.

Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko announced this in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda.

"Complexes with UAVs of various types and purposes are now being equipped with military formations in all types and branches of the Russian army, as well as troops that are not included in the types and branches of troops, from tactical to strategic levels," said Krivoruchko.

According to him, the Russian army has already received samples of the first complexes with medium-range reconnaissance and strike UAVs and loitering ammunition (kamikaze drones), which are now "being successfully tested in combat conditions."

"Strike with Surgical Precision"

In early December, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov, in an interview with leading Russian news agencies, said that a number of drones produced by the state corporation's enterprises had already been baptized by fire.

“There are already small unmanned vehicles.

For example, Kalashnikov drones took part in hostilities in Syria.

They have proven themselves well and the Ministry of Defense acquires them with pleasure.

And not only reconnaissance, but combat.

They may not be that big in terms of power, but they are effective drones, ”Chemezov said.

In the Kalashnikov concern, the development and production of UAVs is carried out by the Izhevsk company ZALA AERO.

In the lineup there is a strike drone "KUB-UAV" 1.2 m long, capable of carrying a payload weighing 3 kg.

The device is capable of speeds over 100 km / h.

“The unmanned strike system delivers a special load according to the target coordinates, which are set manually or from the image using a load.

"The advantage of the system: high accuracy, hidden launch, noiselessness, ease of use," says the ZALA AERO website.

The company's materials also mention the 12-kilogram kamikaze drone "Lancet-3", which looks like a smaller version of a cruise missile.

The X-shaped aerodynamic design allows him to maneuver and attack a moving target.

The radius of destruction of the UAV is estimated within 40 km, the range of speeds is 80-110 km / h.

“The novelty from ZALA AERO has received the name“ Lancet ”not only because of its external design, but also because of its high accuracy.

This drone can fly tens of kilometers and deliver an impact with surgical precision.

Moreover, all this action can be observed online: unlike the CUB-UAV, the Lancet has a television guidance channel.

The drone does not lose video contact with the operator until it comes into contact with the target, ”ZALA AERO experts say.

As Krivoruchko explained, the use of small-sized unmanned aerial vehicles "has become firmly established in practice and today has become an everyday event."

  • Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko

  • RIA News

  • © Kirill Kallinikov

In addition to strike functions, the Russian army uses small drones for optical-electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare (EW), relaying communications, cargo delivery and target designation security for guided munitions.

“The widespread use of small-sized UAVs allows many times to reduce the consumption of ammunition to destroy targets, to increase the flexibility and efficiency of the use of artillery,” Krivoruchko stressed.

In addition, the military attaches great importance to the development of large-size unmanned systems.

Today, the arsenal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation includes three such drones: "Pacing" ("Orion"), "Altius" and "Outpost". 

They were also used during hostilities, striking with small-sized homing ammunition.

According to Krivoruchko, the use of these UAVs with small aircraft shells showed their high efficiency.

“The development of small-sized guided bombs and missiles is nearing completion, prototypes of which are already being tested in the army;

they will also go into series starting next year, ”Krivoruchko said.

In addition, by the end of 2021, the RF Armed Forces may receive complexes with universal drones of long range and duration of flight, which can strike both with standard tactical aviation ammunition and specialized delivery vehicles.

This will allow Russian troops to destroy stationary and mobile enemy targets.

  • Heavy UAV "Altius"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev noted that the widespread use of unmanned aircraft has become a worldwide trend.

Thanks to the development of UAVs, the Russian army can solve many combat missions, reducing the risk to the life and health of military personnel.

“In Russia, unmanned aviation has been developing for about 20 years, as actively as in the whole world.

The newest unmanned systems, including small-sized products, will enter service in the near future.

Basically, they will perform reconnaissance and strike functions.

Such a technique is in demand and is very necessary, "explained Kornev.

"A wide range of nuclear weapons"

Another significant novelty, which in the near future will replenish the arsenal of the Russian army, will be a complex with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) RS-28 "Sarmat".

This weapon belongs to the fifth generation and will come to the Strategic Missile Forces formations to replace the R-36M2 Voevoda.

Works on "Sarmat" are at the final stage.

“I would like to note that today the Sarmat missile throw tests have been completed with a positive result.

In the near future we will start flight tests of this missile system, ”Krivoruchko said to Krasnaya Zvezda.

The flight test stage will be carried out at the test site in the Krasnoyarsk Territory near the village of Severo-Yeniseisky. 

The main advantages of the Sarmat missile are its colossal energy capabilities.

This 200-ton liquid-propellant rocket has an unlimited flight range.

The RS-28 will also be equipped with the Avangard hypersonic winged unit.

"Sarmat" will be equipped with a wide range of powerful nuclear weapons, including hypersonic ones, and the most modern missile defense penetration systems.

High security characteristics of launchers and great energy capabilities of using the complex in any conditions, ”said earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dmitry Kornev offers the possibility of installing "Sarmat" on a unique liquid propulsion system and the latest fuel mixture.

“Most likely, the range of the Sarmat with incomplete combat equipment is 20 thousand kilometers, that is, twice as much as that of the Voevoda.

Adopting such a noticeable enhancement of our nuclear forces and hypothetically could the Americans reconsider their approach to START III, ”said Kornev.

In the comments of RT, ex-chief of staff of the Strategic Missile Forces, retired Colonel-General Viktor Esin Assessing that the Sarmat is significantly superior in performance to the Voevoda, although it is being developed on the basis of this missile.

According to the expert, there is every reason to assert that the RS-28 will be invulnerable to modern and advanced military defense systems.

"Sarmat" will be able to strike not only through the North Pole, but also through the South Pole.

In addition, it will have new combat equipment, current anti-missile defense systems.

These capabilities will significantly increase the reliability of nuclear deterrence, which is being carried out by Russia, ”summed up Yesin.