Test by combat: which Russian weapons were most effectively used during the special operation

Almost all the equipment that is in service with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation demonstrated its best qualities during a special military operation.

This opinion was expressed by experts interviewed by RT. 

“Real combat use, especially in difficult conditions, allows you to check the reliability and quality of military products.

If we talk about SVO, then some samples had flaws, moreover, constructive ones.

However, otherwise, almost all the equipment of our army showed itself from the best side, ”said military expert Yuri Knutov in an interview with RT.

A similar view is shared by military observer Sergei Ishchenko.

In a conversation with RT, he noted that both new samples of products of the Russian defense industry and modernized Soviet weapons demonstrated high efficiency during the special operation.

Aviation in action

Of the specific samples of equipment that deserved the highest ratings, experts named the Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and attack helicopter, the Su-35 heavy fighter, the T-72BZ main battle tank, the Solntsepyok self-propelled flamethrower, the Buk-M3 air defense system and "Tor-M2", as well as almost all artillery systems, including MLRS.

The Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and attack helicopter has been mass-produced at the Progress plant in Primorsky Krai since 2008.

In recent years, the Russian industry has been modernizing the fleet of these machines, taking into account the experience of the Syrian operation.

"Alligator" is one of the most advanced combat vehicles of army aviation in its class.

Its main advantage is its high maneuverability, which allows it to take an advantageous position for an attack, evade enemy pursuit and conduct air combat at low altitudes.

The maximum takeoff weight of the Ka-52 is 11.3 tons, the fuselage length is 13.8 m, the cruising speed is 250 km/h, the practical range is 455 km, the combat load is 2 tons. The helicopter is armed with a 30-mm 2A42 cannon with 460 rounds , can use various types of bombs and missiles, including precision-guided munitions under the code "Product 305" (light multi-purpose guided missile - LMUR) with a range of 14.5 km.

“Rotorcraft of the latest generation Ka-52 are successfully used in the course of a special military operation of the RF Armed Forces to suppress the strongholds of units, destroy accumulations of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the Ministry of Defense says.

Among the vehicles of operational-tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which is used in a special operation, the Su-35S demonstrated outstanding performance, as Sergey Ishchenko noted.

The aircraft is equipped with a wide arsenal of high-precision weapons: aerial bombs, unguided projectiles of the S-8, S-13, S-25 families, anti-radar ammunition, and air-to-air missiles.

Also, the high combat capabilities of the fighter are provided by electronic equipment, including the Irbis-E radar.

The station is guaranteed to detect and capture air targets at a distance of up to 200 km, and under certain conditions - up to 350-400 km.

• Combat work of the Su-35S in the NWO zone

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in the zone of the NMD, the crews of the Su-35S counteract air reconnaissance, enemy air defense, cover the bombers and attack aircraft of the Aerospace Forces, and strike at ground targets.

In mid-November, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that during one of the sorties, a Su-35S pilot promptly detected and destroyed a Ukrainian aircraft, as well as a target illumination and missile guidance radar for S-300 air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As Ishchenko noted, aviation in the special operation zone is forced to act with an adjustment for the enemy's air defense systems.

Nevertheless, the Su-35S "proved itself well both in intercepting enemy aircraft and in attacking ground targets."

From tanks to MLRS

According to experts, despite the very respectable age, the T-72BZ tank and its modernized version, which has been supplied to the troops from the workshops of Uralvagonzavod, have shown their best side.

The tasks of the crews of these combat vehicles include the destruction of manpower, armored vehicles and fortifications of the enemy.

For reconnaissance and fire adjustment, tankers use information received from UAVs.

According to experts, the improved T-72BZ is equivalent to its predecessor in terms of firepower, but surpasses it in firing accuracy, security and driving performance.

According to Rostec, the T-72B3M is equipped with a new fire control system, which includes an aiming system with a modern thermal imager and a ballistic computer that automates the process of preparing a shot and significantly improves shooting accuracy.

“The guided weapon system on the modernized T-72B3 destroys targets with a guided missile from a standstill and on the move, day and night at ranges up to 5 thousand meters with a probability close to 100%.

And the automatic target tracking system ensures an increase in the accuracy of shooting at moving targets and significantly reduces the time for preparing a shot, ”the state corporation’s website says.

In addition to tanks, the TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system is of great importance for defeating enemy positions on the line of contact, according to Ishchenko.

“TOS-1A operates in combat formations of supported troops from open and closed positions.

The high accuracy of salvo fire at an area target is ensured by direct sighting (aiming) of the launcher at the target, automated guidance to a firing range of several kilometers, ”the materials of the Russian Defense Ministry report.

"Solntsepyok" strikes with unguided thermobaric-type rockets at ranges up to 6 km.

In one volley, a self-propelled gun can release 24 ammunition, covering an area of ​​up to 40 thousand square meters with fire.

m.

Thermobaric projectiles form an aerosol cloud of a combustible substance that mixes with air and ignites.

After detonation, the fiery mixture is able to “leak” behind any obstacle.

As Yuri Knutov explained, the Solntsepyok, like other flamethrowers, is intended mainly for the elimination of manpower in engineering structures, including well-fortified long-term firing points.

In addition, the charge power of TOS-1A missiles is enough to destroy almost any equipment and destroy fortifications.

“I would call the conditional disadvantage of the Sunshine the need for its careful cover and camouflage: the flamethrower is vulnerable, as it works in close proximity to enemy positions and can hypothetically be easily detected.

This is a very formidable weapon, but it is far from always possible to use it safely, ”explained Knutov.

Of the rest of the ground equipment of the RF Armed Forces, experts noted the good work of Russian self-propelled and towed artillery of various calibers.

According to Ishchenko, the MLRS line of 122, 220 and 300 mm calibers demonstrated high efficiency.

“These are modernized Grad, Hurricane, Smerch.

They are relatively easy to operate, but more importantly, very mobile and more accurate than their Soviet predecessors.

But there are not many such cars yet.

I think that this situation will improve,” Ishchenko believes. 

"Serious Exam"

Of the air defense systems, according to experts, the Buk-M3 and Tor-M2 air defense systems demonstrated the greatest effectiveness during the air defense.

According to Yuri Knutov, these complexes have shown themselves well in intercepting enemy MLRS missiles, including HIMARS, and drones.

“The appearance of HIMARS in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has become a very serious test for our air defense.

Nevertheless, the crews of the Buk-M3 very successfully mastered the interception of American missiles.

To date, HIMARS shells are no longer a particularly difficult target, ”Knutov emphasized.

The Buk-M3 cover is provided by the Tor-M2 crews - they are responsible for the safety of the air situation in the near radius.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, they have "countless numbers of downed enemy missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles" on their account.

At the same time, as Knutov noted, the special operation showed that the high quality of equipment in the theater of operations must necessarily be supported by the effectiveness of intelligence and work within a single information circuit.

Only in this case can the potential of its combat use be fully revealed.

“The difficulties that the RF Armed Forces face are mainly due to problems with the compatibility of communications equipment, the lack of UAVs and military equipment in certain sectors of the front.

However, as far as I can judge from public information from meetings with the participation of the president, all these issues should be resolved as soon as possible, ”summed up Knutov.