Russo-Ukrainian War: The M14 Battle Rifle

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A soldier from the 169th. Territorial Defense Battalion, 120th. Territorial Defense Brigade (TDB) trains with a M14 battle rifle sometime in 2025. M14 rifles first appeared in the hands of Ukraine's TDB units in 2022 and they came from Estonian and Latvian stocks of which Estonia provided up to 35,000 rifles. The M14 was accepted for U.S. Army service in 1957 with production commencing in 1959. The M14 was phased out of U.S. Army service starting in 1964 and by 1967, it was wholly replaced by the M16 assault rifle as the Army's main infantry weapon. Today, variants of the M14 are in limited use by some U.S. forces and the rifle remains in active service within the military forces over over twenty countries.

     The M14 is chambered for the 7.62x51mm cartridge and uses a gas-operated, rotating bolt action. The total length of the M14 is 3.7 feet with an empty weight of 9.2 pounds. The M14 is fed from a 20-round box magazine and with a full magazine, the M14 has a weight of 10.7 pounds. If need be, the M14 has guides for stripper clips, allowing the magazine to be reloaded without detaching it. 

     Stock, the M14 uses a rear mounted aperture sight and a barleycorn front sight. Also known as a pyramid sight, it consists of a triangular shaped sight rather than the more common post sight. Using the standard sights, the effective range is a little over 450 meters when firing the M80 ball cartridge. The maximum range of the M14 is 2.1 miles. Here, the M14 is fitted with a M1A SOCOM 16-style scope mount and the scope itself appears to be made by Athlon Optics but this isn't able to be confirmed with any certainty. The M14 has a rate of fire between 700 to 750 rounds per minute.

     Attached to the front of the weapon is a M1A Harris bipod while on the end of the scope is a micro-prism anti-reflection device (ARD). The purpose of the ARD is to cut down on sun glare as well as hide light reflection off the scope glass. The sling is not M14 issue as the operator has it looped around the stock's neck rather than connected to a metal loop on the underside of the buttstock (which could also be missing, hence how he has it secured). The soldier has also made a cheek pad by putting strips of material along the top of the buttstock and wrapping it with silver duct tape. Finally, the camouflage paint applied to the M14 is not standard and is one that has appeared on Ukrainian weapons on occasion. It is variation of “snake” style custom weapon camouflage patterns.

     As a note, the 169th. Territorial Defense Battalion has been renamed the 2nd. Territorial Defense Battalion and has a new unit patch. It is still part of the 120th. TDB.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A rather rare tank, still operational in 2026, is shown here in service with the tank battalion of the 10th. Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”. The tank is a T-72 Ural-1 and it represents the third model of the T-72 tank series which remains in active service in more modern versions around the world. Production began in 1976 as the Obiekt 172M1 (Object 172M1) and represented a modernization of the T-72 Ural and T-72 obr. 1975. In Ukrainian active service at the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022, the T-72 Ural-1 was non-existent and was only found in storage depots in various states of disrepair. However, the need for armor saw these tanks withdrawn from storage and brought up to operational service.

     Power for the 41-ton T-72 Ural-1 comes from a ChTZ V-46-6 12-cylinder, supercharged, liquid cooled multi-fuel engine generating 780 horsepower which is mated to a hydraulically assisted synchromesh transmission with a 7-speed planetary gearbox (6 forward, 1 reverse). On roads, the T-72 Ural-1 can attain a top speed of 37 miles per hour. Off-road, and terrain depending, the top speed is 22 miles per hour while in reverse, the T-72 Ural-1 can reach 3 miles per hour. With an onboard fuel capacity of 317 gallons, the maximum road range is 280 miles. With the addition of 105 gallons of external fuel in rear mounted drums, the road range is increased to 341 miles. Radio equipment includes the R-123M station and the crew utilizes the R-124 intercom system.

     The main armament is a thermal-sleeved 125mm 2A46 (D-81TM) smoothbore gun which is fitted to a gun mount that uses a 2E28 stabilizer. The mount permits 14 degrees of maximum elevation and 5 degrees of gun depression while the turret provides 360 degrees of traverse. The total ammunition load is 39 rounds of which 22 of them are kept in the hull floor mounted cassette autoloader. This permits the T-72 Ural-1 to have a rate of fire of between 7 to 8 rounds per minute. The gunner is provided with a TPD-2-49 gun sight that features TPD-K1 laser rangefinder (that replaced the TPD-2-49 coincidence rangefinder originally used with the gun sight, hence the same designation) along with a TPN-1-49-23 night sight, the latter allowing engagements out to .5 of a mile. Targeting is assisted with an analog FCS (Fire Control System). Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine-gun with 250 rounds of ready ammunition and 1,750 rounds of additional ammunition. The commander is provided with a 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine-gun on a ZU-72 pintle mount behind his cupola. Ready ammunition is 50 rounds with another 250 rounds available. Unlike the coaxial machine-gun that benefits from the main gun's stabilizer, the NSVT is not stabilized though it does have a K10-T collimator sight. 

     The 2A46 can fire a fairly wide array of 125mm round types. A typical APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) round is the 3BM15 which can penetrate 400mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 0 degree angle at 1.2 miles. At a 60 degree, slope, the penetration is 150mm of RHA. The 3BK14 HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) can go through 200mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope to a range of 1.9 miles. The 3OF19 HE (High-Explosive) round contains 11 pounds of explosive and can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles. The T-72 Ural-1 (nor the T-72 Ural) is not outfitted to fire tube-launched ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) such as the 9K119 Refleks (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper) and 9K120 Svir (a variant of the Refleks) or the older 9K112 Kobra (NATO reporting name AT-8 Songster). 

     For armor, the T-72 Ural-1 has a welded steel hull and a cast steel turret. Frontally, the upper glacis plate supports the equivalent of 205mm thick armor with a slope of 68 degrees. The turret front is heavily protected with 410mm of armor at the thickest point and tapering down to 310mm on the cheeks while the turret sides are 290mm thick. The hull sides are 80mm thick with no sloping while the hull roof and bottom are protected by 20mm of armor respectively.

     In 1984, the Ukrainians upgraded the T-72 Ural-1 (as well as the earlier T-72 Ural) by outfitting them with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) in an effort to improve survivability. Usage of the Kontakt-1 blocks required the smoke dischargers to be located on the left side of the turret rather than on the front of the turret. How many were modified isn't known and most ended up in storage, often stripped of Kontakt-1 blocks. The port for the TPD-2-49 rangefinder, located on the right side of the turret in front of the commander's cupola, is plugged as the equipment was removed. In at least one online source, this upgrade was called the T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984. It is likely the T-72 Ural-1 shown in the photograph is one of these tanks and this is because it retains the Luna-2A infrared spotlight and does not have any slat armor panels (see below). The camouflage pattern on the tank is actually a colorful decoration that was done by the tank crew in celebration of Easter.

     In the summer of 2023, a new upgrade of T-72 Ural-1 tank appeared in service with the tank battalion of the 22nd. Mechanized Brigade “Mykolaiv”. The T-72 Ural-1 obr. 2023 (again, not an official designation) can be externally differentiated from the T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984 in that the Luna-2A spotlight is removed and slat armor panels are added to the aft sides of the tank and to the rear of the tank. Another curious difference is that four of the tank's road wheels are taken from either T-55 or T-62 tanks and it is suggested this is because replacement components are scarce. It is believed that the TPN-1-49-23 night sight has been replaced with a more modern equivalent as well as the R-123M radio being replaced with a Libid-K-2RB digital radio set. Another addition believed to be incorporated into the new upgrade is a Basalt navigation system which can use both the Russian GLONASS navigation network as well as GPS.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The ZSU-23-4M1 Shilka SPAAG

Source: front_ukrainian on X™

     In its heyday, the ZSU-23-4 Shilka (meaning “Awl”) was a much feared SPAAG (Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun) as it was far superior to all anti-aircraft guns then deployed by Western forces. The ZSU-23-4 proved its worth during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, devastating Israeli Air Force aircraft who were flying low to avoid 2K12 Kub (NATO reporting name SA-6 Gainful) SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles). The ZSU-23-4 was not just lethal to low flying aircraft but also against ground targets. Some NATO country military doctrines at the time stated when infantry units engaged Soviet or Warsaw Pact armored columns, if a ZSU-23-4 was present, it was to be targeted and destroyed first. This is because its four 23mm cannons could decimate infantry with ease. Eventually, the ZSU-23-4 was eclipsed by more modern SPAAGs and in Russian service, the 2K22 Tunguska was its successor. Nevertheless, despite entering service in 1962, the ZSU-23-4 remains in active service with 25 countries, including Ukraine. As such, some countries have upgraded the ZSU-23-4 to better compete on the modern battlefield. These countries include Belarus, India, Iran, the Netherlands, Russia, and Ukraine. The photograph shows a ZSU-23-4M1, one of sixteen, that were upgraded by donations made through the Come Back Alive Foundation. This particular vehicle is in service with the 13th. Operational Brigade “Khartia”, a unit within the National Guard of Ukraine. The name of the vehicle is “Alligator” (“АЛІГАТОР”) and the crew has shot down four Russian Geran-2 drones as shown by the kill markers on the hull side.

     Power for the 20-ton ZSU-23-4 comes from a V6R-1 6-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine that develops 290 horsepower and this can push the ZSU-23-4 along roads to a maximum speed of 31 miles per hour and off-road, terrain depending, to a top speed of 19 miles per hour. 136 gallons of onboard fuel provide the ZSU-23-4 with a maximum road range of 280 miles but if moving off-road, the range drops to 186 miles.

     The ZSU-23-4 is built upon a GM-575 tracked chassis and the manufacturer in Russia was the Mytishchi Machine Building Plant. It has six road wheels per side and no track return rollers. The four man crew is protected by welded steel armor though it is not thick. The hull front and sides support 15mm thick armor while the turret has between 8mm to 9mm of armor protection. This makes the ZSU-23-4 vulnerable to most battlefield weapons. In fact, the 5.56mm M995 tungsten core AP (Armor Piercing) round can penetrate 12mm of armor at 100 meters so heavier calibers can threaten the ZSU-23-4 from much greater ranges. Other protective equipment include a overpressure NBC system and the ability to mount 81mm smoke grenade launchers. Communication equipment inside the ZSU-23-4 includes a digital R-123 system which has a maximum range of 31 miles. The driver is provided with a BMO-190 daylight periscope while the commander is provided with a TPKU-2 daylight periscope and a TKH-ITC infrared periscope.

     The sole armament of the ZSU-23-4 consists of the AZP-23 “Amur” weapon system which comprises four water-cooled 2A7 23mm autocannons. The turret provides 360 degrees of traverse while the stabilized mounting for the AZP-23 permits a maximum of 85 degrees of elevation and 4 degrees of depression. Each 2A7 autocannon has a maximum cyclic rate of fire between 850 to 1,000 rounds per minute which means with all four autocannons firing, the ZSU-23-4 can put 3,400 to 4,000 rounds per minute into the sky. In practice, 10 to 30 round bursts are fired at a time for a 400 round per minute sustained rate of fire. The reason for short bursts is because the ZSU-23-4 has a maximum of 2,000 rounds of ready ammunition (520 rounds for each top cannon and 480 rounds for each bottom cannon) and once expended, it takes 20 minutes to reload. Another reason for short bursts is to prevent barrel overheating. The effective direct fire range of the AZP-23 is 1.6 miles and a effective vertical firing range of 3.2 miles. Typical ammunition fired includes the BZT blunt steel core API (Armor Piercing Incendiary) round which can penetrate 15mm of rolled homogeneous armor at a 30 degree slope at 1,000 meters and the OFZT HE-T (High-Explosive Tracer) round. Often, the ammunition will be a mixture of AP and HE rounds to engage different target types. In addition to radar controlled automatic target engagement, the AZU-23 can be manually aimed and fired if the radar system fails or is jammed.

     The radar system in this upgraded ZSU-23-4M1 replaces the standard RPK-2 “Tobol” (NATO reporting name Gun Dish) fire control radar with a more modern set. While the specific performance parameters of the new radar have not been disclosed, a December 22, 2025 report on the website Zona Militar states that the effective radar range is “doubled” which would mean a 24 mile target detection range (the RPK-2 is 12 miles) and a tracking range of 22 miles (compared to 11 miles for the RPK-2). The ZSU-23-4's original fire control apparatus has been replaced with digital equivalents that reduces the engagement time from 12 to 18 seconds down to under 1 second. Also, the new radar permits simultaneous tracking of up to 20 targets.

Russo-Ukrainian War: PZL M28 Skytruck Gunship

Source: TF1Info.fr

     A dramatic screen capture from a video shot by a French TF1 media team for “Journal de 20 Heures” (“The 8pm News”) freezes the moment when an explosion of a Russian Geran-2 drone after being hit by the gunner bathes the aircraft in light. The story appeared on the news show on February 4, 2026 and follows a civilian crew flying a PZL M28 Skytruck equipped with a 7.62mm M134 minigun as they fly a mission to hunt down and destroy Russian drones.

     The PZL M28, built by PZL Mielec, is an improved variant of the original PZL An-28, a license built Antonov An-28 (NATO reporting name Cash) utility aircraft. PZL Mielec, today, is the only source for the An-28 and its derivatives. The PZL M28 first flew in the summer of 1993 and has remained in production ever since for both military and civilian customers. Crewed by two men, the PZL M28 can carry 17 paratroopers, 19 civilian passengers, or 5,071 pounds of cargo.

     Power comes from two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B turboprop engines, each delivering 1,100 horsepower and each driving a Hartzell 5-bladed, reversible, constant-speed propeller. 602 gallons of fuel provide an operational range of 989 miles at an altitude of 9,800 feet with an endurance of 6.2 hours. Maximum speed is 221 miles per hour with a cruise speed of 152 miles per hour. Stall speed is 75 miles per hour. The PZL M28 can attain an altitude of 9,800 feet in 6 minutes with a maximum ceiling of 25,000 feet. Total length of the aircraft is 43 feet, a height of 16.1 feet, and a wingspan of 72.5 feet.

     The M134 minigun, originally developed by General Electric in 1960, entered U.S. military service in 1963 and it remains in production in various forms to this day. It is a 6-barrel, air-cooled, electrically driven rotary weapon which is chambered for the 7.62x51mm cartridge. The six barrels allow for an unprecedented rate of fire (depending on setting, between 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute) by having one barrel firing, two barrels in the cartridge extraction phase, with the remaining three barrels being loaded with a round. As only one barrel is firing in a rotation cycle, it permits cooling of the other barrels. The M134 requires an external power source to drive the barrels with the most common being electric though pneumatic or hydraulic power sources could also be used. Muzzle velocity is 2,800 feet per second with a maximum range of up to 2 miles. The M134 is fed using M13 disintegrating linked belts pushed into the weapon via a feed chute. A delinker strips off the link prior to the round being fed into the M134. Ammunition belts are from 500 to 5,000 rounds each. Typical ammunition boxes hold 1,500-, 3,000-, and 4,400 rounds. Standard sights are iron post but optics can be fitted.

     In the screen capture, the M134 is using an electric drive, the power cable visible just ahead of the rear spade grips. The ammunition feed chute is seen forward of the power cable. The L-shaped mount directly fitted to the M134 is standard U.S. military issue but the rest of the mount is custom built to accommodate the weapon within the PZL M28. The aircraft in the news story has 150 kills of which 115 are confirmed. During the filming of the story, the gunner scored five victories against drones. The destruction of the drone that resulted in the image was close enough to the PZL M28 that, upon landing, the ground crew found shrapnel holes in the plane's fuselage from the detonation.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M1117 Guardian ASV

Source: B-AREV on X™.

     Beginning in March 2024, the M1117 Guardian ASV (Armored Security Vehicle) began to appear in service with the Ukrainian Army. Some 400 M1117 ASVs were part of  U.S. aid packages starting in December 2022 and as of January 31, 2026, 19 M1117 vehicles have been lost. Of these, 17 were completely destroyed while the remaining 2 were damaged and subsequently abandoned. The M1117 was developed by Cadillac Gage and was derived from their successful M706 Commando. Prototypes were completed in 1997 and following trials and acceptance by the U.S. Army, production commenced in 1999 with large numbers entering service by 2001. In 2019, the M1117 was placed on the MDL (Master Divestiture List), to be removed from the equipment inventory of units as they receive the new Oshkosh M-ATV. This Ukrainian vehicle was photographed sometime in April 2025.

     Power for the 13-ton M1117 comes from a Cummins 6CTA8.3 turbocharged, 6-cylinder diesel engine that generates 276 horsepower. This is paired to a Allison MD3560 transmission with a 7-speed gearbox (6 forward, 1 reverse). The motor provides the M1117 with a top road speed of 63 miles per hour and with 50 gallons of onboard diesel fuel, the maximum cruise range is 441 miles on roads at a speed of 50 miles per hour.

     For weapons, the M1117's Cadillac Gage UWS (Upgunned Weapons Station) turret is typically armed with a Browning .50 caliber M2HB heavy machine gun and a 40mm Mk.19 automatic grenade launcher. In this photograph, however, the turret carries no armament. The turret provides the armament with 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mounts offer 45 degrees of maximum elevation and a maximum of 8 degrees of depression. While the turret has both electro-mechanical traverse and manual traverse, the gun mounts are only manually controlled. With an operable traverse, the turret can turn 45 degrees per second. Total ammunition carried for the M2HB is 800 rounds of which 200 rounds are ready for use. The Mk.19 is provided with 600 rounds of which 100 are ready use. For aiming, the gunner is provided with either a M36E2 or M36E3 day/night periscope sight. There is the option to mount a M249 7.62mm machine-gun on a pintle mount fitted to the turret. As a note, the forward metal component seen on the left side of the turret is the protective cover for the Mk.19's ammunition feed system. There are firing ports for the crew's small arms in the left and right side doors.

     For the protection of the two man crew and up to eight passengers, the exact thickness and composition of the M1117's welded, hardened rolled homogeneous armor isn't available. However, from some performance metrics, educated assumptions can be made. The top deck of the M1117 can survive fragments from a 155mm shell at 15 meters which puts the protection to either STANAG 4569 Level 4 or STANAG 4569 Level 5 defense. The rest of the vehicle is said to be capable of surviving a 4 pound explosive detonation while the wheels (and one can imagine the underside of the hull) can take a 12 pound explosive detonation. On this information, the hull front, rear, and sides are STANAG 4569 Level 1 which provides armor protection against 5.56x45mm NATO up to 7.62x51mm NATO ball ammunition. The underside would be STANAG 4569 Level 2 defense against mines. The hull shape of the M1117 also helps mitigate some of the blast forces. This relatively weak armor against projectiles is why the M1117 can be fitted with IBD Deisenroth Engineering MEXAS 2C (Modular Expandable Armor System) applique armor. These composite armor ceramic tiles are composed of nylon covering the ceramic (whose composition can vary) behind which is a Kevlar backing. In conjunction with the MEXAS 2C, an interior spall liner can be fitted as well as a mine protection kit. MEXAS 2C increases the hull armor to STANAG 4569 Level 4 which can defeat up to 14.5x114mm API (Armor Piercing Incendiary) ammunition at 200 meters. Other defensive equipment include two M257, four-tube smoke grenade launchers on the turret, a central tire inflation system (CTIS), run-flat tires, and an optional overpressure NBC protection system.

     Other equipment includes a Braden 7.5 ton self-recovery winch in the front (this capacity can be increased using block and tackle), a rear clam-shell door to allow crew and passenger egress (or entrance), HVAC unit for crew comfort, an optional GPS system, and a AN/VVS-501 passive night vision periscope for the driver.

     This particular Ukrainian M1117 has been fitted with anti-drone cage armor and still supports its U.S. Army camouflage paint. The former Army unit the M1117 belonged to would have been told in the rectangular markings visible on the front of the vehicle's nose but they have been painted over. It appears the front port on the right side of the vehicle has suffered impact damage as the glass looks to be cracked.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Russian Sniper Decoy

Source: Military Informant

     The Russo-Ukrainian War is notable for the relatively widespread use of decoys with the Ukrainians making significant usage of decoys that mimic high value targets. Such targets include the M142 HIMARS, the MIM-104 Patriot, and NASAMS. Decoys which have seen deployment include artillery pieces, IFVs, tanks, missile batteries, and even decoy drones. The intent of decoys in the current battlefield in Ukraine is to lure in drones and cause the enemy to expend them on the decoys and not the actual weapon systems. However, they can also be used to deceive enemy intelligence in regards to troop disposition and strength. More rarely seen is the use of decoy soldiers and in this photograph, appearing in social media in March 2025, Russian soldiers have created a decoy sniper and set it up in a damaged building. Some may question the logic of expending the effort to create this decoy but Major John L. Plaster, USAR (Ret.) in his book The Ultimate Sniper provides the likely purpose: counter-sniping.

     As the name suggests, counter-sniping is the methodology of locating and eliminating an enemy sniper. Plaster devotes an entire chapter in his book on techniques that can be used to locate an opposing sniper and then engage him. One of these techniques is the use of decoys. The purpose of a decoy is to fool the enemy sniper into firing on it which then betrays his location and allows the counter-sniper to engage. This is because the counter-sniper positions his decoy and understands the likely avenues in which the enemy sniper may take the decoy under fire. As such, the counter-sniper actively surveils these avenues and if the bait is taken, he can quickly seek and eliminate the opposing sniper following the shot.

     However, Plaster makes it clear that decoys are no guarantee, stating “...do not forget that your opponent is a breathing, thinking human being with intelligence and determination just like you.” What this means is that no matter how much effort is put into making a realistic decoy, it may not fool the enemy sniper. Or the very decoy in question could be there to lure a counter-sniper. Plaster says that the sniper needs to assess the situation in that, does it make sense for a sniper to be located in the area. Also, he goes on to say that “if the shooting opportunity looks too good to be true, it probably is.” It should be pointed out since the mannequin generates no heat, in night operations where thermal imagers would be used, the decoy may not even be visible as it will match the background temperature.  To remedy that, somehow, the mannequin would need to have a heat source when the air temperature is cold. Another concern would be if a sniper is using quality optics, the crudeness of the “rifle” may be evident and thus the decoy would be ignored. A better option would have been to utilize a genuine, though non-functional, rifle for authenticity and and make it believable.

Russo-Ukrainian War: T-80BVM with "Hedgehog" Armor

Source: 6TV.ru

     Photographed in early December 2025, a Russian T-80BVM main battle tank shows off its new anti-drone protection which had been fitted to it by a Russian repair battalion. This type of defense has become known as “hedgehog” armor as it has a resemblance to the spines found on the upper bodies of hedgehogs. Personally, I prefer “toilet brush” armor. When first encountered in smartphone videos in 2025, the rolling “bushes” garnered a good bit of ridicule. Except, that ridicule has since dwindled. Why? That is because the “hedgehog” armor, despite how crazy it looks, works and works well. While mostly seen on Russian tanks, “hedgehog” armor is being applied to other tracked vehicles and even civilian vehicles which Russians utilize. Even some Ukrainian vehicles are adopting the defense.

     So, exactly what makes up “hedgehog” armor? Plain steel cabling. Steel cabling is made up of multiple strands of steel wire wrapped around a fiber or steel core. To make one section of “hedgehog” armor, all that is involved is taking a length of steel cable and unraveling the strands then arranging them into a “bush” so that the strands point outwards in multiple directions. The end of the cable is then welded or bolted down to the vehicle hull. Add more and more sections and the result is what is shown in the photograph. The sections overlap, creating a formidable defense against drones. From this side view of the T-80BVM, there are very few gaps a drone can target and those we do see, there are explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks visible which could defeat a FPV drone. The repair battalion encompassed the turret with a metal frame to which the sections are secured. Soft ERA bags can be seen (the light gray colored objects) above the tank's standard turret ERA.

     From a FPV drone operator's point of view, trying to tackle a “hedgehog” equipped tank is a serious problem. For one, the cameras used by FPV drones are not high quality. This is intentional as FPV drones are expendable and thus costs need to be kept low. Anyone who has viewed FPV drone attack videos knows how grainy the feed are. Now, couple the poor video quality and then add the need for the operator to find a gap in the “hedgehog” armor and exploit it. Any mistake and the FPV drone can get impaled on a strand, a strand can catch a part of the drone and damage it, or a strand can set off the FPV drone's warhead by striking it. If the target is actively moving, well, that exploitation chance diminishes even more. There are videos on social media which show Russian “hedgehog” tanks with Ukrainian FPV drones stuck in the strands. These tanks were ultimately defeated but it took a large number of FPV drones to accomplish the task where without the “hedgehog” armor, one or two drones would have been enough.

     “Hedgehog” armor is not without its disadvantages. For one, larger loitering munitions, the speed of attack makes the bendable strands less effective and sheer velocity can win the day. For example, the Russian ZALA Lancet's terminal attack speed is a little over 186 miles per hour. By comparison, the typical FPV drone musters only 62 miles per hour. Another problem is the weight the additional anti-drone defenses add to the vehicle. This added weight, which the vehicle's engine and drive train is not designed to cope with, leads to mechanical failures. In a Soldier of Fortune Magazine article from December 24, 2025 by A.R. Fomenko, he cites a Russian tank driver whose tank has a full “hedgehog” armor set up. The driver said that the added weight crippled his tank and that it was rare his tank made 6 miles before something in the drive train broke. When available, some “hedgehog” armor equipped tanks are moved by tank transporters to get them closer to the front before the tank has to drive on its own.

For further information on the T-80BVM, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/01/russo-ukrainian-war-t-80bvm-obr-2022.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The InterProInvest "Malyuk" Assault Rifle

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     A screen capture from a smartphone video showing a Ukrainian soldier armed with a InterProInvest (IPI) “Malyuk” bullpup rifle. The “Malyuk” (“Baby”) is a development of the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle but is also derived from a previous Ukrainian bullpup rifle, the “Vepr” (“Boar”). The “Vepr”, designed between 2001 and 2003, ended up being a victim of circumstances and did not enter service. Interestingly, the “Malyuk” rifle's development commenced in 2005 with the first prototypes appearing in 2008. It would no be until 2015 that IPI received any sort of feedback from the Ukrainian government following tests. Unlike the “Vepr”, the “Malyuk” actually achieved official adoption by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in 2019 and production continues through the Krasyliv Assembly Manufacturing Plant. As a note, the “Malyuk” is sometimes referred to as the “Vulkan” or “Vulkan-M”.

     As mentioned above, the “Malyuk” is a derivative of the AK-74 and it uses the AK-74's standard barrel (to include the mount and muzzle brake), bolt and bolt carrier, and uses much the same action which is a gas-operated, long-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt design. While the action is the same, the “Malyuk” uses its own gas tube (so it is not interchangeable with a AK-74) and removes the integral cocking handle from the bolt carrier (but otherwise, it remains as the AK-74). Instead, the “Malyuk” has a forward, sleeve mounted polymer charging handle. The handle can be mounted to accommodate left or right handed operators but the change requires disassembly of the rifle. To save weight, the “Malyuk” uses as much polymer components as possible and to enhance strength, some of the polymer parts have metal reinforcements embedded in them. The pistol grip is hollow while the top cover has multiple venting holes within it as further weight reduction measures. The buttpad can swivel and inside, there is a compartment for the standard AK-74 cleaning kit.

     The “Malyuk” can be chambered for one of three cartridges: 5.45x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 7.62x39mm. In the photograph, and based on the magazine design, the soldier is using a 5.56x45mm NATO configured “Malyuk”. The rifle can use 10-, 30-, or 45-round box magazines and if chambered for the Russian rounds, the “Malyuk” can use the same magazines as the AK-74. The maximum rate of fire is between 660 to 700 rounds per minute with an effective range in the region of 500 meters. Out of the box, the “Malyuk” is fitted with iron sights but does feature a Picatinny rail to allow for the mounting of optics. The soldier in the image appears to have a Aimpoint Comp™ M4s red dot reflex sight fitted with flip-up lens covers and he is also using a IPI produced suppressor. Also, attached to the rifle's right front side is a flashlight. The rifle's empty weight is 8.4 pounds.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A soldier belonging to Tactical Group Druzhkivka poses with a 9K310 Igla-1 (NATO reporting name SA-16 Gimlet) MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) surface-to-air (SAM) missile launcher. The word “Igla” in Russian means “needle”. Tactical Group Druzhkivka is a Territorial Defense Force unit that operates in and around Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast where MANPADS such as the Igla-1 are useful against UAVs and drones.

     The Igla-1, which first entered service in 1981, is actually a simplified version of the 9K38 Igla (NATO reporting name SA-18 Grouse) which appeared in service in 1983. The reason for this is that development of the 9K38 was taking longer than expected  and so it was decided to push a less complex system into the field to more quickly replace the aging 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) and 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-14 Gremlin) MANPADS.

     That this is a 9K310 Igla-1 is denoted by the 9M313 fire-and-forget missile protruding from the 9P322 fiber-glass launch tube with its distinctive aerospike mounted on a tripod attached to the nose. The later 9K38 replaced this with a longer aerospike attached directly to the missile's seeker head. The aerospike is used to reduce drag during flight. 

     The warhead has a weight of 2.6 pounds of which .9 of a pound accounts for the HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) payload. The missile has two fuzes, one that will detonate the warhead on a direct impact while the second will set off the warhead from a grazing hit on the target. The missile will also attempt to strike the fuselage of the target and to add to the lethality, there is a second charge that will set off any remaining solid fuel for the motor. The seeker head contains two detectors. The first is a cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) indium antimonide (InSb) detector for target detection and the second is a uncooled short wavelength infrared (SWIR) lead sulfide (PbS) detector which is used to identify decoy infrared flares. Onboard logic circuits evaluate what the detectors are registering and determine if it is the intended target or flares being deployed to confuse the missile. The missile is also resistant to the U.S. built AN/ALQ-144 series of infrared countermeasure devices.

     The solid fuel rocket motor can push the 9M313 missile to a maximum speed of Mach 1.9 while the missile has a operational range of 3.1 miles with a flight ceiling of 11,000 feet. The missile rolls as it flies, imparting stability and the single set of control surfaces is operated by electrically powered pistons, the energy received from a gas turbine within the missile that is fed by a gas generator. This same gas generator can shunt exhaust over the control surfaces if needed when the airspeed is too low for effective steering. The missile's reaction time is between 5 to 10 seconds and it is capable of engaging an oncoming target with an approach speed of 1,017 feet per second or a retreating target with an egress speed of 853 feet per second.

     The bulbous object the operator's left hand is holding contains a thermal battery but more importantly, it contains liquid nitrogen coolant that keeps the MWIR InSb detector in the seeker head at optimal temperature prior to launch. The Igla-1 can be fitted with the 1L14 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) to reduce the chance of friendly fire. The 9P519 grip stock, which also contains the 9B328 power supply unit, is detachable and can be detached from a spent launch tube and attached to a fresh one to launch another missile as long as the power supply has enough charge.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M1A1 AIM Main Battle Tank

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     The impact on tank protection due to the nature of drone warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian War is fully displayed here by a M1A1 Abrams MBT (Main Battle Tank) belonging to the 425th. Assault Regiment “Skelya”. On the turret front, lower front glacis, turret sides, and hull sides are blocks of Kontakt-1 ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor). The blocks are arranged in bolt-on metal frames which are then secured to the turret, hull, and in the case of the sides, to the standard M1A1 side skirt panels. The next layer of protection comes from the rubber panels that hang down almost to the ground on the sides and front of the tank. Another strip of rubber paneling is seen underneath the rearmost frame of ERA on the turret side. Cheap to make and fix to tanks and other armored vehicles, the panels provide a small measure of defense against HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) munitions and older anti-tank rockets. The third layer of defense, meant for drones specifically, is the collapsible metal frame seen over the tank. Shown deployed, the frame supports fishing netting (not fitted here) that serves to impede or defeat an FPV drone from striking the tank. Of interest, along the turret sides, there is framing for netting in front of the ERA. Framing for netting can also be seen on the rear of the tank's hull. As a note, the round object on the left front of the turret is a spare road wheel and the tank sports its original Australian Army three-tone camouflage pattern.

     The M1A1 seen here is former Australian Army. In 2006, the Australian Army purchased 59 M1A1 AIM (Abrams Integrated Management) tanks and replaced the Leopard AS1 then in service by 2007. In June 2022, Australia committed to a purchase of a large number of armored vehicles from the U.S. which included 75 modernized M1A2 tanks. On October 17, 2024, Australia announced it was providing Ukraine with a donation of 49 of its M1A1 tanks and by December 2025, all of them have been delivered. Of this total, it is not known how many are operational as a October 16, 2024 ABC Australia report by Andrew Greene stated some would have required repair and that those tanks may simply be sent to Ukraine for parts rather than be restored to operational readiness.

     It should be noted that the Australian M1A1 AIM, as well as the U.S. provided M1A1 SA tanks, do not feature the high-density depleted uranium (DU) mesh within the composite armor that makes up the tank's defense. The U.S. still restricts the export of M1 series tanks with DU mesh. Instead, the DU is replaced with either tungsten or titanium. This means the M1A1 AIM and M1A1 SA are more vulnerable to kinetic penetrator munitions in comparison to U.S. operated M1 series tanks.

     Power for the 61-ton M1A1 comes from a Avco Lycoming (Honeywell) AGT-1500 air-cooled gas turbine engine that develops 1,500 gross horsepower. This is paired to a Allison X1100-3B hydrokinetic, automatic transmission with a 6 speed gearbox (4 forward, 2 reverse). Steering is via hydrostatic T-bar. The maximum road speed is 41.5 miles per hour with a road cruising range of 289 miles. This relatively low range is due to the high fuel consumption of the engine despite the 505 gallons of onboard fuel carried. The engine is multi-fuel and for maximum efficiency, JP-8 fuel should be used. However, the AGT-1500 can run on standard diesel, gasoline, or even kerosene though performance will be impacted.

     The main weapon is the M256 120mm gun with the stabilized gun mount providing 20 degrees of elevation and 10 degrees of depression. The turret provides the gun with 360 degrees of traverse. A full turret traverse can be accomplished in 9 seconds while the maximum gun elevation can be achieved in under 1 second. Gun laying is electrohydraulic with a manual backup system. Gun loading is manual with a maximum fire rate of 6 rounds per minute. Firing is assisted using a mostly automatic digital ballistic computer. A total of 40 rounds are carried for the M256. As for ammunition, the M256 can fire any NATO compatible 120x570mm round. The M829A1 APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) is able to drill through 650mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope out to a range of 1.2 miles. The M830A1 HEAT-MP-T (High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multipurpose Tracer) has a maximum range of 1.6 miles and features a proximity fuse that is set prior to firing. The aluminum sabot is lighter than that fired by the M829A1, hence the longer range. In addition, the round is usable against armored targets, slow moving aerial targets (such as helicopters), hardened targets (bunkers and buildings), and light armored vehicles. Finally, the M908 HE-OR-T (High-Explosive Obstacle Reduction Tracer) is primarily utilized against hardened targets such as concrete blockhouses and buildings. The round is derived from the M830A1, replacing the sabot and fusing with a hard steel nose that allows the round to punch through concrete before detonating. Other munitions include the M1028 canister round filled with 1,100 tungsten balls (maximum effective range of 500 meters) and the M831 TP-T (Target Practice Tracer) round.

     Secondary armament consists of a coaxial M240 7.62mm machine-gun which is provided with 10,000 rounds of ammunition while the loader is also provided with a M240 outside his hatch on the turret along with 1,400 rounds of ammunition. The commander is provided with a M2 .50 caliber heavy machine-gun on the turret top along with a total of 900 rounds for the weapon. It can be operated from within the turret. Finally, there is provision for a 5.56mm M16A1 rifle with 210 rounds. In the photograph, the M2 is fitted but the loader's M240 is missing from the shielded gun mount.

     For protection, the M1A1 uses welded RHA steel armor on the turret and hull. The front of the turret and hull add composite armor arrays consisting of ceramic blocks set within resin between layers of RHA armor. The exact composition remains classified and neither has the specific protection capability of the M1A1 been released. What follows is a Soviet estimate as provided in Steven Zaloga's M1 Abrams vs. T-72 Ural: Operation Desert Storm 1991. From the front, the turret and hull provides 600mm of protection against APFSDS rounds and 700mm of protection against HEAT munitions. This estimate is based on the standard armor configuration that includes the DU mesh. Other protective features include two smoke grenade launchers (one on each side of the turret, with a total of 24 grenades), automatic Halon fire detection/extinguishing system, ammunition blowout panels (which shunt ammunition explosion forces outside the turret), two manually operated Halon extinguishers, overpressure NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system, M13A1 gas/particulate filter, M43A1 chemical agent detector, AN/VDR radiac nuclear agent detector, and 1 ½ quart of ABC M11 decontamination fluid dispenser.

     For other systems and equipment, the gunner is provided with a primary and auxiliary sight, azimuth indicator, elevation quadrant, and a M1A1 quadrant which assist in direct and indirect fire. There is also a integrated Hughes (Raytheon) built thermal imaging subsystem (TIS). The driver has three periscopes and one night vision periscope while the commander has six periscopes and his own weapon sight. The loader only has a single periscope. For communications, the M1A1 has either a AN/VRC-12 or AN/VRC-64 radio system. To permit infantry working with the tank to talk with the crew, there is a external interphone box at the rear of the tank which connects to the crew's own internal AN/VIC-1 interphone network (which has four stations, one for each crew member).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The DevDroid Droid NW 40 UGV

Source: @drone_wars_ on Instagram

     The Russo-Ukrainian War is seeing more and more the usage of UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) by not only the Ukrainian military but the Russian Federation as well. The majority are used for logistical missions and even casualty evacuation while some UGVs are utilized on area denial operations (by laying mines), support of aerial UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) sorties (as relay transmitters and/or electronic warfare platforms), and as seen here, equipped with weapons to support units in the field. The particular model pictured is what looks to be a prototype Droid NW 40, designed by the Ukrainian company DevDroid. That this is not the production Droid NW 40 is because the chassis is that of the Droid TW 12.7, another UGV offered by DevDroid which is equipped with a Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine-gun. Here, the armament system for the Droid NW 40 has been fitted for testing purposes.

     The Droid NW 40 is billed as a reconnaissance-strike UGV designed to engage light armored targets, soft-skin vehicles (meaning unarmored), infantry, defensive positions, and battlefield reconnaissance. To engage such target types, the Droid NW 40 is fitted with either the Ukrainian produced AGL-53 or the U.S. military's Mk.19 automatic grenade launcher. The latter have been in use by Ukrainian troops, having been supplied by Canada and the United States. Both fire the NATO standard 40x53mm grenade. In the photograph, the weapon is the AGL-53. For some of the grenade types available, see the link below about the Repkon Defence RDS-40 which lists out some of the more common munitions.

     The Droid NW 40 platform allows for a maximum firing range of .9 of a mile (1.5 kilometers). A total of 48 rounds of ammunition is carried in a can to the left of the weapon. Specific performance data on the AGL-53 isn't known but likely is similar to the Mk.19 with a 300 to 400 round per minute rate of fire. With no ability for the Droid NW 40 to be reloaded with ammunition without the UGV returning to its support base, the operator can fire single-shot or fire in very brief bursts. The combat module mounting permits a total of 270 degrees of traverse, maximum elevation of 65 degrees, and a maximum depression of 5 degrees. The combat module can rotate and elevate/depress 100 degrees every second. The operator manually aims and fires the grenade launcher or aiming can be conducted by entering coordinates. In the latter mode, the aiming tabulations will be calculated so that the grenade launcher can be aimed in order to strike the designated target.

     Power comes from an electric motor though DevDroid does not provide a maximum speed for the Droid NW 40 in their literature. The Droid TW 12.7 has a top speed of 4.3 miles per hour so the Droid NW 40 is likely in the same range. The Droid NW 40 has a maximum operational range of 31 miles on roads and off-road, the maximum range drops to 25 miles. Endurance-wise, the onboard batteries permit 120 hours of power assuming the Droid NW 40 is stationary (for example, as a static gun position) but if active in the battlefield, then the endurance is reduced to 12 hours.

     Operator vision comes from the optic suite seen below the barrel of the AGL-53. Besides the daylight cameras, there is a thermal imager that permits the Droid NW 40 to engage enemy targets at night as well as in low visibility conditions such as smoke, dust, and fog. Linkage to the Droid NW 40 can be accomplished using radio communication products such as Wi-Fi and Sine Link modules (from Sine Engineering). If required (or desired), the Droid NW 40 can be upgraded to utilize Starlink, LTE, or a Mesh network.

     As a note, the production Droid NW 40 uses the same tracks and drive train along with the middle section as the Droid TW 12.7. However, the battery compartments and other component covers situated on the sides of the UGV are longer and boxier than on the Droid TW 12.7 as the Droid NW 40 has a longer range and endurance.

For further information on the 40x53mm grenade types, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/02/russo-ukrainian-war-repkon-defence-rds.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The DeViRo Leleka-100 Reece UAV

Source: Reuters

     A soldier launches a DeViRo Leleka-100 reconnaissance UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) into the air for a sortie. The Leleka-100 (“leleka” means “stork” in Ukrainian) is not a new UAV and in fact, it first entered service (unofficially) with the Ukrainian military back in 2015 during the Donbas War. In 2020, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine began using the Leleka-100, the same year the UAV passed state acceptance trials. 2021 saw the Leleka-100 officially accepted into Ukrainian Army service. Besides being used by Ukrainian border guard units, the Leleka-100 is deployed by some artillery units (notably the 44th. Artillery Brigade “Danylo Apostol”) for the purposes of target acquisition and as a spotter for artillery fire adjustment.

     The construction of the Leleka-100 is a mixture of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and Kevlar materials with the UAV having a length of 3.7 feet, a wingspan of 6.5 feet, and a combat weight of 12 pounds. Power comes from an electric motor which drives a rear-mounted 2- or 3-bladed propeller. The Leleka-100 has a cruise speed of 43 miles per hour, an endurance of no more than 2.5 hours, and a maximum flight range of 62 miles. The maximum ceiling for the Leleka-100 is .9 of a mile (1,500 meters).

     In the nose is a 2-axis, gyro-stabilized gimbals-type camera mount. The mount allows any number of optical modules to be utilized. Examples include a PLCI Z30 daylight module with up to 20x optical zoom while for night operations, a PLCI infrared (IR) module can be fitted that has a fixed 4x optical zoom. Thermal imaging optics as well as high-resolution imaging modules can also be used depending on the mission.

     The Leleka-100 can be flown manually by an operator or the UAV can be pre-programmed with navigational data and it will fly fully autonomously. Data is relayed from the Leleka-100 to its ground station using an encrypted digital radio channel. The data sent back allows the operator to track the UAV on digital satellite maps and the same radio channel is used by the operator to assume control of the UAV if need be or the operator can utilize the camera module while the Leleka-100 maintains its flight parameters. However, the maximum range for both the radio channel as well as the HD video feed is 28 miles.

     The Leleka-100 is equipped with a EW (Electronic Warfare) suite developed by DeViRo which can detect intentional interference of the UAV's GPS. The two most common techniques involve blocking or jamming GPS operating frequencies or injecting false GPS data (spoofing) to make the drone go off course. If the attempts are detected, the suite will switch off the GPS and revert to its onboard inertial navigation system that is totally self-contained and thus immune to jamming or interference. Another self-preservation ability, set prior to a mission, is that if the radio channel is jammed, the Leleka-100 can carry on with its pre-programmed mission autonomously or it will abort the mission and return back to a programmed landing site for recovery.

     Getting the Leleka-100 airborne is via a bungee launcher while upon returning to its base, the UAV either lands on its belly or it can descend to earth using a parachute.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Baikal MP-155 Shotgun

Source: Anatolii Stepanov (Reuters)

     A soldier of the 49th. Assault Battalion Carpathian Sich “Oleg Kutsyn” on patrol somewhere in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 7, 2025. The vehicle in the background appears to be a Ukrainian Nissan Titan Warrior that was knocked out and subsequently stripped of usable parts.

     The soldier is outfitted for anti-drone duty as evidenced by his shotgun armament. From appearances, the shotgun is a Baikal MP-155 semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun. The MP-155, developed and built by the Russian Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, has been in production since at least 2014 and remains so to this day. A gas-operated weapon, the MP-155 holds four rounds in a tube magazine and has a weight of 7.7 pounds. An interesting feature of the MP-155 is that there is an interrupter which allows the operator to disengage the magazine feed to permit the hand loading of a round. This is useful when the need to fire a different type of shell from what is already loaded is required. It also means there is no need to fully empty the magazine in order to change ammunition. Other features include a field changeable barrel (meaning, a gunsmith is not required to effect the change) and the ability to mount optics or post sights. Out of the box, aiming is done using the perforated sighting bar that runs along the top of the MP-155.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 35D6M Radar Complex

     A screen capture from an informational video produced and released by the Ukrainian Air Force's 138th. Radio-Technical Brigade “Dnieper Ukraine” shows one of the brigade's 35D6M radar stations. The contrast between the base green paint on the radar complex and the brown of the fall/winter terrain emphasizes that this is a information production and not a shot of the complex in actual active deployment. Had it been, the 35D6M would have been easily spotted by Russian reconnaissance UAVs and targeted for destruction. The 35D6M is a modernization of the Soviet 19Zh6 (NATO reporting name Tin Shield) medium-range, 3D air defense radar which entered service in the early 1980s. The modernization program was undertaken by the Iskra Research & Production Complex, a part of Ukroboronprom, with the first 35D6M being delivered in the spring of 2021.

     According to Ukroboronprom, the modernization program updated the antenna apparatus, saw the installation of improved system and operating software, and the fashioning of a cabin that includes a total rework of the radar operator's stations and the fitting of a HVAC system. The complete details of the modernization isn't specified in articles, likely for operational security. Iskra took 19Zh6 radar complexes and completely took them apart. After the complete disassembly, all components were inspected and those parts that were to be re-used were refurbished before being reassembled with the updated parts as outlined above. It was said that the modernization of a single 19Zh6 into a 35D6M was not a quick process. The result is, again according to Ukroboronprom, a complex that has increased operational range, improved target data and trajectory acquisition, reduced maintenance requirements, and the extension of the complex's service life. As the various articles leave out the exact performance capability of the 35D6M, what follows are the specifications of the 19Zh6 radar.

     As mentioned, the 19Zh6 is a medium-range, 3D radar. The 3D (3 dimensions) means the radar provides the usual range and azimuth coordinates but adds the elevation coordinates and with all three, target tracking is far more precise. The radar itself uses a frequency-controlled, phased array antenna and it operates in the E- and F-band frequencies (2,850 to 3,200 MHz). Four transmitters generate overlapping wave patterns which improves altitude calculations. Pulse power is 3.2 kW as an average but can run as high as 350 kW. The Russian Wikipedia mentions the 35D6M as having a target detection range of 29 miles at low altitude and 108 miles at medium or high altitudes. There was no source provided with which to verify the data. Speaking of low altitude, the 19Zh6 and the 35D6M are optimized for low altitude target detection as the radar is resistant to active and passive jamming but is also able to filter out strong ground reflection (more often called clutter) from terrain, buildings, and other stationary objects. Finally, the radar is able to work effectively in all weather conditions. The radar antenna spins either at 5-6 revolutions per minute (rpm) or 10 to 12 rpm. The complex features BITE (Build-In Test Equipment) which permits rapid fault detection. The exact crew size for the entire complex isn't known but is likely between 7 to 10 men which would include at most 5 radar operators/technicians, at least two tractor drivers, and the remainder being mechanics to maintain the equipment. From the halt, it takes a trained crew 1 hour to bring the radar into action.

     The full 35D6M complex includes a 6BP power plant which houses two DGM 4-60-T0230-TS/400 diesel generators along with a PSTS-100 converter. The power plant sits inside a KP10 box body which is set on a MAZ-5224V 2-axle trailer chassis. The unit provides the power to the radar and its associated systems. The radar system and the 6II cabin sit on a MAZ-938 series 2-axle semi-trailer which has a maximum load capacity of 13.5 tons. The radar array is mounted on a 40V6M tower mast. The vehicle hitched to the MAZ-938 is a KrAZ-255V tractor. Besides the KrAZ-255V, the KrAZ-260V can also be utilized as a tow vehicle for both the semi-trailer and the 6BP.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Polaris MVRS 700 UTV

Source: @inukraine.official on Instagram

    In early March 2024, Russian Federation forces launched an attack near Lyman, Donetsk Oblast. The initial assault included tanks and IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and in the way was the Ukrainian 60th. Mechanized Brigade. In short order, the assault's first push was repulsed but the Russian forces were not done and a second assault was launched...with “golf carts”. The “golf carts” were Aodes Desertcross 1000-3 utility task vehicles (UTVs). Crammed with soldiers, the unarmored UTVs were quickly destroyed. Russia has purchased over 2,000 of the Desertcross UTV from China to issue to troops in Ukraine. The first confirmed appearance of them in Ukraine occurred in November 2023. Initially, they were utilized for rear-area tasks but in was not long before they were used in direct attacks on Ukrainian lines with the expected catastrophic results.

    Ukrainian forces also make use of UTVs to fulfill logistical, medical, and fast reaction roles. The advantages of UTVs are a smaller size, a quieter engine, and high speed. This makes them more difficult to both see and hear, even from reconnaissance drones, while the high speed enables the UTVs to move through terrain quickly. Of course, the main disadvantage is UTVs lack any sort of armor, leaving the driver and any passengers completely vulnerable to enemy fire. For logistical tasks, UTVs are used to resupply troops with ammunition, rations, etc. as well as transport soldiers to and from the front during rotations. Casualties can be evacuated to the rear using UTVs. The Ukrainians also use UTVs as as fast reaction units. For example, the 93rd. Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” uses UTVs fitted with Stugna-P ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). UTVs used in this role are like “fire brigades”, rapidly moving to sections of the front to engage enemy armor. As the Stugna-P has a maximum range of 3.4 miles (in daytime) and 1.9 miles (at night), these units have a measure of stand-off distance from the direct front lines though they remain vulnerable to FPVs and artillery fire. The screen capture here is from a Ukrainian soldier's smartphone video and shows one of the UTVs used by Ukrainian forces: the Polaris MVRS 700.

    The .8-ton MVRS 700 (Multiple Vehicle Reentry System) is powered by a Polaris 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI). The engine develops 45 horsepower (683cc) and is paired to a Polaris Variable Transmission with a 3-speed gearbox (2 forward, 1 reverse). This gives the MVRS 700 a top road speed of 42 miles per hour. Fuel capacity is 13 gallons and depending on how the UTV is driven, range can vary between 55 to 80 miles.

    The front rack of the MVRS 700 can carry up to 100 pounds while the rear box bed (which can be tipped) can hold 1,000 pounds. The maximum capacity of the MVRS 700 is 1,600 pounds. A trailer hitch on the rear of the UTV can tow up to 1,750 pounds. Run-flat Goodyear Tracker Mud Runner tires ensure limited mobility is retained after damage. In the front is a self-recovery winch with a 2-ton capacity.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The KPS-53AV Gun/Bomb Sight

Source: @qnesko007 on Instagram

     A screen capture from a video, taken from the weapon systems officer's (WSO or “Wizzo”) forward view from his cockpit, located in the nose of a Mil Mi-24D gunship (NATO reporting name Hind-D). Directly in front of him is the KPS-53AV gun/bomb sight system which takes up a good portion of his available cockpit space.

     The KPS-53AV is used by the WSO to aim the Yakushev-Borzov YakB-12.7 4-barrel rotary heavy machine gun mounted in a USPU-24 chin turret. In fact, the end of the YakB-12.7 can be seen just above the sight. The toggle on the left front side of the sight reads “ВКЛ СЧИСЛЕНИЕ” which translates as “On Counting” while the red triggers on either side of the unit have “ОГОНЬ” on them which means “Fire”. The angled KS-53 sight glass is in the center. The knobbed grip on the left side of the sight is used to traverse the chin turret (60 degrees to either side of the centerline) with the entire KPS-53AV swiveling to allow the WSO to track targets. On the right side, the other grip controls the elevation and depression of the YakB-12.7 (20 degrees and 40 degrees respectively). The KPS-53AV is stabilized and includes a VSB-24 analog ballistic calculator. Linked to a air pressure sensor and a angle-of-attack sensor mounted in a boom on the exterior of the helicopter (not visible in this screen capture), the calculator takes the data from the sensors and combines them with the ballistics of the YakB-12.7 to provide aiming correction. The KPS-53AV also has a range finder that can determine target distance but the WSO must manually input the size of the intended target. Built into the KPS-53AV is a PAU-457-2M gun camera which records engagements. The camera uses 16mm film and has a 8 frame per second shoot rate. The KPS-53AV is also used by the WSO to deliver unguided bombs. While the pilot has some control over the helicopter's weapons (and has his own sights), only the WSO can accurately conduct bombing runs. The pilot doesn't have a bomb sight though he can jettison the bombs in the cases of emergencies.

     The YakB-12.7 in the Mi-24D is provided with 1,470 rounds of ammunition and unlike most rotary weapons, the YakB-12.7 is purely gas operated and does not need an external motor to drive the barrels. The maximum rate of fire is between 4,000 to 5,000 rounds per minute so with such a ravenous consumption, the WSO will typically fire short bursts in order to conserve ammunition.

     To the left of the KPS-53AV is a radar altimeter which measures the height (altitude) of the helicopter above the ground immediately below it. A look at the reading and at the time of the screen capture, the helicopter was flying a little over 21 feet off the ground. To the right is the screen for a GPS. 

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4 ARV

Source: Arslom Xudosi

     Early on in the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Russian Federation forces were utilizing elderly equipment and this is evidenced here. Photographed on March 31, 2022, an abandoned Russian BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV) fell into Ukrainian hands, a soldier posing with the trophy. BTS stands for Bronetankoviy Tyagach Sredniy which translates as Medium Armored Tractor and the BTS line of ARVs started with the BTS-1 which was simply a T-54 tank with the turret replaced with a cargo platform. The BTS-2 appeared in service in 1955 and was essentially the BTS-1 but with a collapsible 3-ton capacity jib-crane and a rear mounted winch added to the hull.

     However, this particular vehicle, in some reporting, is said to be a BTS-4A when, in fact, it is not. It is a BTS-4 which does not use the T-54 chassis but instead, uses older T-44 chassis. The BTS-4A, like the BTS-1 and BTS-2, uses the T-54 chassis. The differences are very subtle as the final T-44 modernization, the T-44M, used a lot of components from the T-54 to include the tracks and running gear (idler, bogie wheels, and drive sprocket). From this left side view, the main indicator it is a BTS-4 and not a BTS-4A is the curved dip in the plate behind the front mudguard. On a BTS-4A, it would be flush with the rest of the fender. Another possible indicator of a BTS-4 is the reinforcement on the rear spade's edge. The BTS-4 entered Soviet service in 1965. As mentioned, the BTS-4 is built using the chassis of T-44 medium tanks. The T-44, whose design started in 1943, entered Soviet Army service in November 1944 though it did not participate in World War Two. The T-44 had a brief frontline service life with the T-54 entering service in 1948 and quickly replacing the older tank by the early 1950s. The last major model, the T-44M, appeared in 1961.

     The 31-ton BTS-4 is powered by a V-54-E diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower and this provides for a maximum road speed of 31 miles per hour. In first gear, the top speed is 4.3 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried (261 gallons worth) to give the BTS-4 an operational range of no more than 310 miles but if towing a tank, the range drops significantly to a maximum of 124 miles.

     Like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 is fitted with a collapsible jib-crane. In the photograph, the column portion of the crane is seen laying between the commander's cupola and the cargo platform. The column fits into a base on the right side of the vehicle and the assembled jib-crane has a traverse of 230 degrees. The boom arm is stored on the right side of the vehicle, along the hull side. Operation of the crane is completely manual. The total load capacity of the crane is 3.3 tons. At maximum extension (9.8 feet), the crane could hook lift a maximum of 2.8 tons while at minimum extension, it could manage 4.6 tons. Also like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 has a rear mounted winch (in the photograph, the apparatus between the open radiator grill and the spade) which has a maximum traction force of 25 tons. The winch is mechanically driven, being connected to the engine via a gearbox. By using block and tackle, the traction force can be increased to 50 or even 75 tons depending on the method used. Total length of the winch cable is 656 feet. Again like the BTS-2, a cargo platform is situated almost in the center of the BTS-4. It has fold-down sides (missing in the photograph) and has a maximum capacity of 4.4 tons. Usually, spare parts, additional tools, and other equipment would be carried. Other common equipment carried is four tow cables and at least two rigid tow bars. Finally, both the BTS-2 and BTS-4 have a rear mounted spade (sometimes referred to as a coulter in some sources). The spade, which is manually winched up or down, is used primarily to give the BTS-4 traction when conducting winching operations. Other equipment seen on the BTS-4 is night vision devices for the crew, a GPK-48 gyroscopic compass, a R-113 radio, and a wooden unditching beam (which, curiously, is secured to the snorkel in the photograph rather than the right hull side of the vehicle).

     Unlike the BTS-2, the BTS-4 added one new piece of equipment. This would be the long “chimney” snorkel which, here, is in traveling position. When in use, the snorkel would be hinged forward and secured to the raised commander's cupola. Without the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade through no more than 4.3 feet deep water. But, with the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade into as much as 16 feet deep water that permits it to cross water obstacles but also recover disabled vehicles from deeper depths.

     The BTS-4 has a crew of two, consisting of the commander (who doubles as the radio operator and crane/winch operator) and the driver (who is also a mechanic). As the hull is that of a T-44, the crew enjoys 90mm of frontal rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) with the upper glacis having a 60 degree slope angle and the lower glacis having a 45 degree slope. The hull sides have 75mm thick armor but lack any sloping. The rear of the hull supports between 30mm to 45mm of armor with the hull top having 20mm of armor and the hull bottom having only 15mm thick armor. The BTS-4 has no defensive armament and relies solely on small arms and any grenades carried by the crew.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4M Armored Recovery Vehicle

Source: Sofiia Gatilova (Reuters)

     Rolling through a Ukrainian town in Kharkiv Oblast in March 2025 is a upgraded BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV). The BTS-4 is the successor to the earlier BTS-2 that entered service in 1955 and utilized T-54 chassis. The BTS-4, on the other hand, used the chassis of the T-55, T-54, and even older T-44 medium tanks (the latter being surplus). The primary difference between the BTS-2 and the BTS-4 is that the BTS-4 added a large snorkel for deep wading. When not in use, the snorkel folds rearwards, laying across the back of the vehicle. The nomenclature of the BTS-4 is actually more granular when it was used in Soviet Army service. The BTS-4 used T-44 chassis, the BTS-4A utilized T-54 chassis, the BTS-4B used pre-production T-54-1 and T-54-2 tank chassis, the BTS-4M used T-55 chassis, and the BTS-4V series utilized T-62 chassis. Externally, they look much alike and the only real way to tell the difference without looking inside the vehicle is by the separation distance between the bogie wheels or other very minor differences. Typically, in Ukrainian Army service, the granular designation isn't always used. In 2020-2021, the Lviv Armored Plant (a part of Ukroboronprom) conducted an upgrade to BTS-4 vehicles in service with the Ukrainian Army.

     The 32-ton BTS-4 (assuming a BTS-4M) is powered by a V-54 diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower. This permits a top road speed of 31 miles per hour though speeds when towing a vehicle are lower with the tow speed being based on the weight of the tank or armored vehicle being towed. Enough onboard fuel is carried to permit a maximum operational range of 310 miles (unloaded). The Ukrainian BTS-4 upgrade increases the weight to 38 tons and replaces the V-54 engine with a more powerful one that develops 580 horsepower but because of the added weight, the maximum speed is reduced to 24 miles per hour. Additional fuel capacity is added in the form of two external fuel drums on the rear but how much additional range this provides isn't stated. The crew of the Ukrainian BTS-4 is three men as opposed to the standard two-man crew of the regular BTS-4.

     Because the BTS-4 is based on the T-55 tank, it shares the same cast steel armor profile. The front hull supports 100mm thick armor though with a 60 degree slope angle on the upper glacis and a 55 degree slope on the lower glacis, the effective armor thickness is higher. The hull sides support 80mm thick armor (without much angling) while the rear has between 20mm to 45mm of armor. The hull roof has 15mm thick armor and the hull bottom has 20mm of armor.

     As befitting a recovery vehicle, the Lviv Armored Plant upgrade swaps out the original BTS-4's 3-ton capacity crane with a new hydraulic driven crane capable of lifting up to 12 tons. The crane is fitted to the left side of the vehicle, the mounting point/turntable situated near the driver's hatch. When not in use, the crane is swung directly backwards along the top of the hull. On the hull front is a dozer blade which is used to clear obstacles, debris, or even dig out a defensive position. The primary winch, with block and tackle, is capable of pulling up to 100 tons. Total cable length is 656 feet. There is also a smaller, secondary winch that also has the same cable length. In the rear of the BTS-4 is a spade that can be deployed to stabilize the vehicle when conducting recovery tasks with the winch. Situated towards the center of the vehicle is a open cargo platform which is used for spare parts, tool boxes, supplies, and other equipment. There are also multiple storage boxes carried on the hull exterior as well as a unditching beam stored just above the rear spade. To assist in field repairs, there is a arc welding apparatus (including a generator) carried on the BTS-4 as standard equipment. From the Lviv Armored Plant, the upgraded BTS-4 includes the snorkel but in the photograph here, it has been removed. In Ukrainian service, the BTS-4 serves as a more economical supplement to the BREM-1 ARV which is derived from the T-72 chassis.

     To date, the Ukrainian Army has lost 19 BTS-4 vehicles with 14 destroyed, 4 damaged, and 1 captured by Russian forces. The Russians, which also utilize the BTS-4, have lost 27 to date with 18 being destroyed, 4 damaged, 4 abandoned, and 1 captured by Ukrainian forces. The Russians have also lost a single, more modern BTS-4V.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 2A65 Msta-B 152mm Howitzer

Source: Alexey Konovalov/TASS

     In a well-prepared position, a Russian crew of a 2A65 Msta-B 152mm howitzer ready a round for firing. Named after the Msta River that flows through Novgorod and Tver Oblasts in Russia, the 2A65 first entered service in 1987. The “B” stands for “buksiruemyi” which translates to “towed”. In 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that Russian artillery units had a approximate total of 400 2A65 howitzers. To date, the Russians have lost 131 documented Msta-B howitzers with 78 being destroyed, 17 suffering damage, one abandoned, and the remainder having falling into Ukrainian hands.

     Speaking of damaged, the 2A65 in the photograph has clearly endured its fair share. It is missing the left gun shield and the remaining shield is peppered with what could be shrapnel damage which has caused rust to start. The wheels have been removed and what one sees beneath the gun shield is the pneumatic drum brake system for the right wheel. Finally, the howitzer is missing the spring-operated rammer. This is the reason the soldier behind the loader wields a stout stick which he will use to ram the projectile and powder charge into the breech.

     The caliber of the 2A65 is, specifically, 152.4mm and with the muzzle brake, the barrel is 26.8 feet long. The combat weight of the 2A65 is 7.5 tons. The howitzer uses a split trail carriage (here, almost buried in fine grain dirt) and the mounting permits a maximum elevation of 70 degrees to a maximum depression of 3.5 degrees. Traverse is limited to 28 degrees without moving the entire howitzer. All adjustments to gun direction are manual. Just visible on the front of the howitzer is a circular hydraulic firing jack which is lowered to add stabilization to the howitzer, augmenting the spade on each end of the trailing arms. With a full crew of 11 men, a Msta-B can achieve a 5 to 6 round a minute rate of fire. Usually, the tow vehicle is a KrAZ-260 or Ural 4320 6x6 truck though any vehicle with a tow hitch and capable of hauling the Msta-B can be utilized.

     While the Msta-B can fire any legacy 152mm projectile used by older howitzers, it primarily fires more modern munitions. The main projectile is the OF45 HE (High-Explosive) round and with a maximum charge, it can be fired out to a range of 15.3 miles. Speaking of charges, the gunner can select from three types depending on the engagement range. They are: OF73 (short range), OF58 (standard charge), and OF72 (maximum charge). For additional range, the base-bleed OF61 projectile can be utilized and this achieves a maximum range of 18 miles. Other munitions include the OF23 which contains 42 HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) submunitions which can penetrate 100mm of conventional (not rolled homogeneous) armor, the HS30 EW (Electronic Warfare) round which creates interference, and the 2K25 Krasnopol base-bleed, fin-stabilized, semi-automatic, laser-guided munition. The latter, however, requires forward observers to effectively use the round (by “painting” targets with lasers) and the effective firing range is 12 miles. A panoramic sight is used for indirect fire while a second sight is used if the Msta-B has to engage in direct fire.

     The Ukrainian Army also utilizes the Msta-B with some 70 noted as being in service in the 2024 “The Military Balance” report issued by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Of these, to date, 8 have been lost with 3 destroyed, 2 damaged, 2 abandoned, and one captured by Russian Forces.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FV103 Spartan

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     Photographed around August 2024, a FV103 Spartan belonging to the 82nd. Air Assault Brigade traverses a muddy field. The FV103 is an armored personnel carrier (APC) and was part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family of vehicles. The CVR(T) program was developed by the British company Alvis PLC and spawned a number of vehicles based around a common chassis of which the FV103 was one. The FV103 Spartan first entered British Army service in 1978 and was used as a armored transport for specialist combat teams (artillery spotter teams, anti-aircraft missile teams, etc.) which is why the passenger capacity is limited to 4 personnel, not including the 3 man crew of commander, driver, and gunner. As part of the British military aid to Ukraine, decommissioned FV103 vehicles were provided to Ukraine in 2022 while crowdfunding by Ukrainian charities have also seen the procurement of additional FV103 Spartans between 2022 and 2023.

     The 9-ton FV103 was originally fitted with a Jaguar J60 4.2 litre, DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam), 6-cylinder, inline petrol engine but later, a Cummins BTA 5.9 litre diesel motor was installed. Assuming this is the primary engine used in Ukrainian FV103 APCs, the Cummins develops 190 to 195 horsepower. This is paired to a TN15X transmission made by the British company Self-Changing Gears. On roads, the FV103 can attain a top speed of 50 miles per hour and with 112 gallons of diesel fuel carried onboard, the FV103 has a maximum operational range of 300 miles.

     The FV103 is protected with welded, aluminum alloy armor plating. From the front, the steep slope of the FV103 provides the equivalent of 60mm thick protection and this is enough to shrug off rounds of up to (and including) 14.5mm heavy machinegun ammunition. However, the rest of the FV103 is not as heavily armored nor has the slope angle to bolster defense. As such, the remainder of the FV103 is only proof against 7.62mm assault rifle ammunition at a maximum. It should be noted that as the engine is placed in the right front of the hull, this offers another layer of protection that might increase crew survival. The only other defensive system are two banks of smoke dischargers, each bank with  4 launch tubes, on the front of the FV103's hull.

     Defensive armament consists of a single mount for a general purpose machinegun up to 7.62mm in caliber. In British service, this would have been a L43A1 FN MAG with 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The mount is attached to a No.16 cupola which allows for the weapon to be aimed and fired from within the FV103. The FV103 does not have gun ports for the personnel in the troop compartment to deploy their weapons.

     It is likely that FV103 vehicles sent to Ukraine were demilitarized, especially those purchased from private dealers authorized to sell ex-British Army vehicles. The FV103 was retired from British Army service in 1985. The commander has a total of 8 periscopes and a single monocular sight that offers up to 10x magnification. The gunner has two periscopes while each passenger in the troop compartment has a periscope and there is one in the rear door. Systems likely removed from the FV103 upon sale to the civilian market include the ZB 298 battlefield surveillance radar (if fitted), the Rank Precision Industries built passive night sight, and military radio sets.

     What the FV103 in the photograph is towing cannot be determined with certainty. The basis looks to be a single-axle dolly used for cargo box trailers but what is upon the dolly is not clear.

     To date, the Ukrainian military has lost 35 FV103 vehicles with 28 of them be destroyed, 3 damaged, 2 abandoned, and the final 2 vehicles having been captured by Russian forces.