Vasily Yelistratov, head of the Department for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies of the Russian Defense Ministry, said that the experience gained during the special operation makes it possible to improve the weapons of the Russian army.

“I can say one thing: the guys are working selflessly, well, we are getting all the necessary information in the form of feedback in order to make weapons systems even more efficient and smarter,” the military leader said in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the International Military technical forum "Army-2022".

According to experts interviewed by RT, more than six months after the start of the special operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation received a fairly rich combat experience, which in a short time will significantly increase the combat capabilities of Russian equipment and weapons.

“Almost all the weapons systems that our army has have undergone combat testing in Ukraine.

I think that the experience gained has created a groundwork for both creating fundamentally new models and modernizing the weapons that are in operation, ”said military observer Alexander Khrolenko in a conversation with RT.

"Multidimensional Protection"

Prior to his appointment as head of the AI ​​Technology Development Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Yelistratov worked as the head of the research department of the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School and was involved in the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies into equipment for the needs of the Airborne Forces.

In an interview with RT in June 2019, during the Army forum, Yelistratov spoke about the creation of new simulators and the Mars tracked robotic complex (RTC), which is able to independently analyze the environment, perform transport tasks and evacuate the wounded from the battlefield.

The weapons forum this year was also not without premieres in the field of robotics.

In particular, Rostec demonstrated at the Army a modification of the BMP-3, popular in the Russian troops, with an unmanned control function.

  • BMP-3 with unmanned control function

The experimental vehicle is equipped with the Sinitsa module, which consists of a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon, a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun and a 100-mm 2A70 gun, which can be used to launch anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).

Remote control of the unmanned BMP-3 is carried out using a remote control like a conventional game joystick.

According to the state corporation, the robotic infantry support vehicle can be used "in dangerous and difficult situations where the risk to personnel is too high."

Recall that the BMP-3, like other types of Russian armored vehicles, are used by the Russian Armed Forces in a special operation.

Based on the results of the application, in the near future the car will receive additional protection in the form of grilles and armored screens.

This modernization will be carried out by Kurganmashzavod.

Earlier, additional protection equipment began to appear on the BMP-2, which are also used by the Russian Armed Forces in combat operations in Ukraine.

The repair and restoration units of the Russian army began to install them.

Specialists install modules that allow them to withstand shelling from large-caliber machine guns.

On top of them, anti-cumulative screens are mounted to deal with ammunition from hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers (RPGs).

Also, on the BMP-2, updated in the field, the protection of the 30-mm rapid-fire cannon, coaxial machine gun and guided weapon system has been improved.

Despite the increase in mass, the machines retained the ability to swim through water obstacles.

Currently, the domestic defense industry is modernizing the BMP-2 fleet.

So, at the forum "Army-2022" JSC "103rd Armored Repair Plant" received an order from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for a major overhaul and improvement of the capabilities of this equipment.

The upgraded BMP-2Ms are getting new Berezhok combat compartments with 30mm cannons, Kornet anti-tank missile systems and automatic grenade launchers.

  • BMP-2M with fighting compartment "Berezhok"

  • RIA News

  • © Evgeny Odinokov

In addition, the Russian army should receive improved T-90M Proryv tanks.

The contract for their production was awarded to the general director of Uralvagonzavod, Alexander Potapov, at Army-2022.

Serial production of the T-90M began in February 2021.

In May of this year, a batch of these vehicles was sent to Ukraine directly from Uralvagonzavod.

"Breakthrough" is distinguished by an increased level of security and reliability of all types of onboard equipment.

The T-90M has a more powerful engine and a new target detection system.

If necessary, the tank can operate in network-centric combat operations.

According to Alexander Khrolenko, the experience gained during the special operation dictates the need to strengthen the protection of all types of armored vehicles, but without compromising their maneuverability.

“Our engineers and military, of course, are striving to strengthen the protection of the tank and increase the situational awareness of the crew.

As far as I understand, domestic tanks are equipped with multi-layered, multi-dimensional protection, means of intercepting enemy shells, warning systems about getting under the enemy’s sights, ”explained Khrolenko.

At the same time, according to the expert, far from the newest models, including, for example, the T-62M tank, may well be widely used in the conditions of the SVO.

This year, this machine was first presented at the "Army" in a radically updated form.

The tank received the latest surveillance system, the Kontakt dynamic protection complex, which covers the side projections, and anti-cumulative lattice screens.

The basis of the strike power of the T-62M is the 115-mm gun 2A20 (U-5TS) "Hammer" with a laser rangefinder, which is built into the gunner's sight.

In a RT commentary, military expert Sergei Suvorov praised the presented T-62M model.

“The T-62M tank with a new surveillance system, shown for the first time on the Army, aroused great interest among the public.

I would not make predictions about how he will prove himself in combat conditions.

But I can say that this is the vehicle our army needs,” says Suvorov.

  • Tanks at the Army-2022 forum

  • RIA News

  • © Mikhail Voskresensky

Another unusual development designed to enhance the degree of protection of tanks and other armored vehicles is the project of a striker mine trawl demonstrated at Army-2022.

Its authors are specialists from the Military Educational and Scientific Center of the Ground Forces.

They suggest mounting the trawl to the front of the tank.

With the help of strikers crashing into the ground, the device will destroy mines on its way, carrying out a continuous cleaning of the area from explosive objects.

As one of the developers of the trawl explained in an interview with RT on the fields of Army-2022, in modern combat conditions, the advancement of columns of military equipment is often difficult due to the abundance of minefields.

At the same time, specialized mine-clearing equipment, as a rule, is not enough.

Unmanned revolution

Another important experience gained in the special operation is the massive use of drones of various types.

Moreover, the nature of hostilities in Ukraine requires that light tactical UAVs be expendable.

It is known that in the NMD, the Russian military uses KUB and Lancet kamikaze drones, as well as the Orlan-10 tactical UAV - including for pinpoint strikes against the enemy, heavy platforms Pacer (Orion), small-sized devices with domestic UAV400T thermal imagers and ordinary civilian copters.

“The drones in service with the RF Armed Forces showed themselves well in the special operation, but for sure, as is usually the case, some shortcomings were also identified.

Most likely, they will be modernized, they will receive new equipment and weapons, ”says Khrolenko.

In addition, Russian troops use ordinary civilian copters in the special operation.

As VGTRK reporter Alexander Sladkov said earlier in a RT commentary, the need for copters in the Russian army is very high.

According to him, one motorized rifle regiment needs three large vehicles, nine medium ones and 27 small ones.

Such UAVs often fail, and therefore their deliveries should be massive and continuous.

Russian troops mostly get copters from volunteers.

However, as Khrolenko says, the situation is changing, and Russian industry is adapting to the demands of the military.

For example, at Army-2022, the Kalashnikov concern demonstrated the ZALA 421-24 quadrocopter.

The drone is able to stay in the air for more than 30 minutes at an altitude of up to 1.5 km.

According to the developer, the device is invisible to the enemy and is resistant to the effects of electronic warfare (EW).

According to Sergei Suvorov, in modern conditions, not a single, even insignificant, action of the armed forces is unthinkable without the large-scale use of drones.

“UAVs not only carry out reconnaissance at various distances, identifying enemy positions, firing points, and armored vehicles.

Their use allows you to adjust the fire, record the results of strikes, in general, conduct reconnaissance faster, attack and evade return fire, ”the expert emphasized.

A similar point of view is shared by Khrolenko.

According to him, along with the new drones, the Russian Armed Forces should also receive more advanced electronic warfare equipment.

“The special operation showed very well how important not only UAVs are, but also the means to counter them.

First of all, these are mobile electronic warfare systems that will jam control signals and burn out their electronics, ”summed up Khrolenko.