"High cross-country ability and high maneuverability": the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation showed footage of the use of a mobile ATGM

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation demonstrated footage of the combat work of the calculation of one of the mobile anti-tank systems in the South Donetsk direction. The video was published in the Telegram channel of the military department. It depicts reaching the position of an armor-reinforced buggy and firing an anti-tank missile system (ATGM) at an enemy armored vehicle. On account of the crew of the car four destroyed armored personnel carriers and two enemy tanks.

"The high cross-country ability and high maneuverability of such units allow you to quickly move along the front line and take an advantageous position for a shot," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the military, tanks are the most difficult target for mobile ATGM calculations. To hit these armored vehicles, military personnel, using the advantage of speed, go to the side, where the armor is less thick. According to the Ministry of Defense, such mobile groups have made a significant contribution to repelling the recent attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Yuzhno-Donetsk direction.

Recall that on June 4, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to break through the front south of the capital of the DPR using tanks and other armored vehicles. The offensive for the enemy turned into heavy losses. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, under the blows of the Russian Armed Forces, only the 31st mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army lost more than 250 servicemen, 16 tanks, 24 armored combat vehicles, including three Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

Another unsuccessful attempt to wedge into the orders of the RF Armed Forces in the South Donetsk direction was made by the enemy on June 5. The total losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine then amounted to more than 1,5 thousand troops, 109 armored combat vehicles and 28 tanks. Of these, eight Leopard tanks manufactured in Germany and three French AMX-10 wheeled tanks.

Recall that in April, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the creation of special groups to combat Western-made tanks. Such military teams are familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the Leopard 2, Challenger, Abrams and Leclerc tanks and can apply this knowledge in practice.

"These are groups that will directly hunt for these systems, plus tankers are being trained here for a tank duel. But the main thing is tank hunters who will be waiting for them in a place where these tanks will not want to see us, "explained Yevgeny Arifulin, head of the Combat Training Center of the Russian Armed Forces.

"In real combat"

According to experts interviewed by RT, in the NVO zone, Russian servicemen are constantly experimenting with ways to deal with enemy tanks and other armored vehicles.

Previously, in order to increase mobility, ATGMs were most often installed on tracked platforms or transported in wheeled all-terrain vehicles. However, the footage demonstrated by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation proves that even such a small-sized car as a buggy can be adapted to combat multi-ton armored vehicles, says Sergei Suvorov, candidate of military sciences.

• Buggy "Kitten" produced by the Research Institute of Communication and Control Systems
• © mto.ric.mil.ru

"In principle, it cannot be said that the installation of ATGMs on buggies is something completely new and unusual. Here, probably, it is important that such a mobile transport has proven its effectiveness in real combat. But the calculation, of course, needs to act very quickly and avoid return fire, "Suvorov said.

According to the expert, the buggy is a convenient vehicle for flat terrain, where warm weather prevails for most of the year. The NWO zone is just such a territory.

Several buggy models are produced in Russia. One of them is "Barsik" produced by the Research Institute of Communication and Control Systems. It is a jeep, which, if necessary, can be transferred in the cargo compartment of the Mi-8 helicopter. The armament of the Barsik consists of a 120-mm mortar 2S12 "Sani" and a large-caliber machine gun "Kord".

Along with the "Barsik", the "Kitten" produced by the Research Institute of Communication and Control Systems and the "Tiger" developed by the Military-Industrial Company are known from army buggies. According to the Ministry of Defense, these machines showed "high and reliable operational and tactical and technical properties."

In addition, since 2019, the Chechen Republic has been producing its buggy model under the name "Chaborz". This car is equipped with brackets for attaching a machine gun and an automatic grenade launcher. "Chaborz" has already passed the "run-in" in Syria.

Before the special operation, buggies were equipped with airmobile units in motorized rifle battalions of the Southern Military District. The practical application of these formations began in February 2019. In addition to buggies, their armament consisted of anti-tank grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers "Flame" and mortar complexes "Sani".

As military observer Alexander Khrolenko said in an interview with RT, the buggy is a convenient means of destruction according to intelligence coordinates. And the spread of this transport in the troops is a consequence of the increase in the dynamics of modern combined-arms combat.

"Almost all equipment is now mobile, so ambush tactics are used much less often. It is most effective to rely on intelligence data, then reach a convenient firing line as soon as possible, shoot back and leave. I think that the crews of the buggy in the NWO zone act this way, "Khrolenko believes.

• Buggy "Tiger" produced by the Military Industrial Company (Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod region)
• © mto.ric.mil.ru

'Bold and decisive'

According to Sergey Suvorov, with certain advantages, the "generic disadvantage" of buggies is their poor security. To hunt for enemy tanks and armored vehicles in the NVO zone, armored platforms with ATGMs installed on them are often used.

At the end of May, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published footage of the combat use of the Fagot ATGM deployed on the BTR-D armored personnel carrier of the Airborne Forces. With the help of these weapons, the "blue berets" destroyed, in particular, the observation post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Approaching the distance of the enemy's line of sight, acting boldly and decisively, the paratroopers launched an anti-tank guided missile from the Fagot ATGM at the neo-Nazi observation post. In order to avoid return fire from the enemy, the paratroopers quickly collected, loaded onto the BTR-D and left for a safe area, "the Defense Ministry said.

• The calculation of the Fagot ATGM of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed the observation post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Currently, the Russian army is using the modernized Fagot complex with a calculation of three people. The firing range of the ATGM is from 75 m to 4 km, the rate of fire is one or two shots per minute, armor penetration is 600 mm.

Also, the military department has repeatedly demonstrated footage of the combat work of the Kornet ATGM calculations, which are part of mobile units in the NWO zone. With the help of this complex, the firing positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, armored objects, long-term firing points and various engineering structures are destroyed.

"The Kornet anti-tank missile system is designed to destroy modern and promising tanks equipped with dynamic protection, fortifications (pillboxes, bunkers, reinforced concrete bunkers), extended unarmored and lightly armored targets, hovering helicopters," the materials of the Russian Defense Ministry say.

"Cornet" is considered one of the most popular portable anti-tank systems in the world. The ATGM is equipped with a semi-automatic control system with missile guidance on a laser beam.

The cumulative warhead of the Kornet can overcome 1000-1200 mm of armor. The firing range of the ATGM complex is 100-5500 m. The upgraded version can hit targets at a distance of up to 8-10 km. In addition, this complex implements the principle of "fire and forget", allowing the carrier to leave the firing line immediately after the shot.

Another highly effective Russian anti-tank complex is the Sturm-S. It is an ATGM mounted on a multi-purpose light armored transporter-tractor MT-LB. The firing range of the upgraded version of the complex reaches 6 km.

"The servicemen praise the car for its speed, accuracy and squat silhouette, which allows you to covertly get close to the enemy and strike," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to Suvorov, Russian ATGMs have established themselves in the NWO zone as a reliable and powerful weapon. According to him, one missile is often enough to disable one tank, and a Soviet-made complex.

• Tank Leopard of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• © General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

"All tanks have vulnerabilities, mainly the side and stern. Of course, modern Western tanks should not be underestimated, but they, including the German Leopard, can be hit even by Soviet ATGMs, "Suvorov said.

Suvorov calls the Kornet the most effective ATGM in the world today. According to the expert, this anti-tank missile system is capable of penetrating even the frontal armor of Western tanks.

A similar point of view is shared by Alexander Khrolenko. According to the expert, the Kornet will become the main threat to Western tanks among domestic ATGMs.

The Cornet is our most powerful complex, especially its modernized version. However, our other ATGMs are capable of burning German Leopard and other Western tanks. By and large, "Cornets" were created for this, "Khrolenko concluded.