Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

HighGround

Senior Member
Registered Member
I'm surprised that there hasn't been any mention of the AM-17 being adopted:




It was originally a Soviet prototype, known as the
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, and languished in a factory collection for decades. The Dragunov MA was created around the time of the competition for what became the AKS-74U, and it is generally believed that the competition was biased to ensure the victory of the Kalishnikov design. The MA was in a separate competition, for a polymer lightweight rifle.

The MA prototype extensively used polymers in the receiver and stock, which reduced weight. The construction of the upper receiver also allowed for easy and reliable scope mounting. The fire selector was more ergonomic than the AK.

It could have been conservatism, favourtism, or maybe the required polymers were too advanced for the Soviet Union of the 1970s. But it was not selected for any production at the time, and was shelved away.

After being rediscovered this century and adapted to modern production, it became the AM-17:





It is being deployed initially to policing and special forces, and people who need shorter rifles. A similar group as to who used the AKS-74U. The AKS-74U has been out-of-production since 1993 or so, so replacement production is needed. [And the AKS-74U has a number of detractors].

Not the most important story, not like aircraft production. But there are observers who say the design is superior to the AK. If the AM-17 is successful, perhaps the design will replace the longer rifles eventually. It's an interesting procurement story, in any case.
I don't really understand the point of AKS-74U or its successor to be honest. It's really weird gun with quite a few downsides. If you need firepower, Russia has no shortage of specialized weapons with big or special rounds. If you need a compact weapon... a PP-19 is way better.
 

gelgoog

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
I don't really understand the point of AKS-74U or its successor to be honest. It's really weird gun with quite a few downsides. If you need firepower, Russia has no shortage of specialized weapons with big or special rounds. If you need a compact weapon... a PP-19 is way better.
It can penetrate most kinds of body armor with its rifle round, unlike SMGs which use pistol rounds.
 

sheogorath

Major
Registered Member
Just bumped into this video of the VKS's command transport fleet doing an excercise. Lots of HQ footage of some soviet classics, including Tu-134 and Tu-154B2 which I thought were long gone, though the video is from 2021 but recently uploaded.

 

Surpluswarrior

Junior Member
VIP Professional
I don't really understand the point of AKS-74U or its successor to be honest. It's really weird gun with quite a few downsides. If you need firepower, Russia has no shortage of specialized weapons with big or special rounds. If you need a compact weapon... a PP-19 is way better.

It's a valid question.

The AKS-74U was unpopular among groups that were issued it as an infantry rifle.

It really only found a niche among vehicle drivers, and people that needed to sling a compact rifle.

You could use a 9mm SMG in those roles, but it would not always be the ideal firearm. Imagine you are in 1980s Afghanistan. The 74U would use the same ammunition as rifle / LMG sections. This is key. Same magazines. Most of the same maintenance equipment. Could be repaired by the same armourers.

Also, as pointed-out above, it is superior at countering body armour.

The role that the AKS-74U fills is a real one, but the 74U was not the ideal firearm for the job. Hence the development of the AM-17. I have read that some Russian pilots were issued 9mm SMGs. The AM-17 would be a more suitable firearm for escaping back to friendly lines.
 

didklmyself

Junior Member
Registered Member
Just bumped into this video of the VKS's command transport fleet doing an excercise. Lots of HQ footage of some soviet classics, including Tu-134 and Tu-154B2 which I thought were long gone, though the video is from 2021 but recently uploaded.

Why does this video look so AI-esque?
 

Soldier30

Senior Member
Registered Member
The operation of the protective system of the Russian T-90M Proryv tank, filmed from a first-person perspective. The tank is equipped with the Shtora-1 optical-electronic countermeasure system. When the laser rangefinder installed on the enemy's ATGM is detected, the system is activated automatically. Examples of operation are also at the end of the video. The tank's turret rotates and the 902 Tucha launcher fires an 81-mm 3D17 aerosol munition. The 3D17 munition creates a smoke screen at a distance of about 300 meters from the tank. The smoke screen with metal particles camouflages the tank. The length of the smoke screen is 30-45 meters, the height is from 4 to 8 meters. The tank protection system with the 902 Tucha installation was developed in the 1980s, it has been tested by time but already needs to be modernized, since it does not protect against all ATGMs. In 2021, a new system based on 76 mm ammunition was developed, but there is no data on its adoption into service. The Russian protection system 902 "Tucha" is produced in several versions: 902A, 902B, 902V, 902G and 902U.

 

HighGround

Senior Member
Registered Member
It's a valid question.

The AKS-74U was unpopular among groups that were issued it as an infantry rifle.

It really only found a niche among vehicle drivers, and people that needed to sling a compact rifle.

You could use a 9mm SMG in those roles, but it would not always be the ideal firearm. Imagine you are in 1980s Afghanistan. The 74U would use the same ammunition as rifle / LMG sections. This is key. Same magazines. Most of the same maintenance equipment. Could be repaired by the same armourers.

Also, as pointed-out above, it is superior at countering body armour.

The role that the AKS-74U fills is a real one, but the 74U was not the ideal firearm for the job. Hence the development of the AM-17. I have read that some Russian pilots were issued 9mm SMGs. The AM-17 would be a more suitable firearm for escaping back to friendly lines.
The only role I can see it be viable in is as a vehicle crew weapon. The shortened barrel and foldable stock are genuinely useful.

However, for law enforcement, counter-terrorism, or even special forces it's really a flawed weapon IMO. Idk if you guys have actually seen or fired a Krink (as they are called), or a full size AK. But the weapon has compromises. It's very loud, the recoil and handling isn't great. These are serious issues.

Russia has a variety of firearms and ammo types for special roles. Specifically the SR-3/M seems like an ideal firearm that blends suppression, firepower, and compactness. Granted, I've never fire 9x39mm so I don't know how it compares to the Krink, but I doubt it's worse.

Really, how often do we encounter body armor, and if we do, there are other weapons we can use to defeat it.
 

gelgoog

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
The SR-3 Vikhr is good for close quarters combat against armored targets. But the thing is you need a different ammo caliber than what everyone else is using.
 

Soldier30

Senior Member
Registered Member
Footage of a Russian homemade robotic platform armed with the Konkurs-M ATGM. The homemade robot is also equipped with a small-sized electronic warfare system, the model is unknown. The robotic platform is equipped with thermal imaging command and telemetry channels for controlling the tracked platform and launcher guidance drives. Two secure channels are used to transmit video images from the 9K111M4 ATGM and from the platform control cameras. This robot can hit armored targets at a range of up to 4 kilometers, with armor up to 800 millimeters, protected by dynamic protection. The operating time, model, price and other characteristics of the robotic platform are not reported.

 

Soldier30

Senior Member
Registered Member
FPV drones "Ovod-S" with homing have entered the Russian troops, about 4000 in September. Despite the skepticism of many viewers, the production of drones has been established. We publish footage from the production of these drones and an interview with the developers at the end of the video. In the video, you can see how the homing system "Square" works. The drone is also equipped with a new cheap projectile for drones, it was shown earlier. The homing system uses technical vision and neural network, for the drone to recognize objects. The guidance system allows you to attack any targets, the accuracy of its use is about 90%. When the operator sees a target, he presses a button and the drone flies to the target even under the influence of electronic warfare. The drone "Ovod-S" has a remote detonation and self-destruction function, as well as a multi-stage protection system when equipping the warhead. The Ovod drone exists in different modifications, the combat load of the drone is about 3.5 kilograms, the flight range is about 8 kilometers at a speed of 150-180 km / h, the flight time is 8-10 minutes. The price of the Ovod drones is from 40 to 69 thousand rubles. Or from $ 411 to 710

 
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