Russo-Ukrainian War: Russian T-80BVN, Central Military District

Source: Evgeny Biyatov, Sputnik Media Bank

     A Russian T-80BVN belonging to a unit within the Central Military District, operating somewhere near Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast on September 28, 2024. One of five such military districts in Russia, a good number of its subordinate units have been deployed to Ukraine. This includes elements from the 2nd. and 41st. Guards Combined Arms Army and the 25th. Combined Arms Army.

     The crew of this particular T-80BVN have added a sizable anti-drone cage to the turret, portions of which overhang the front and rear hull. The camouflage netting obscures much of what comprises the cage though through the gap, one can see lengths of chain hanging down. These have become a common method for anti-drone defenses as the chains, with their weight, have the capability of breaking the rotors and/or rotor pylons of FPV drones. The cage uses fencing elsewhere with the chains forming a portion of the cage that allows the commander and gunner to enter and exit the tank. Shorter lengths of chain hang down from the bottom edges of the front facing portion of the cage (visible in another photograph of the same tank).

     Along the sides of the tank is a long strip of rubberized material (most often conveyor belts) which is a simple form of appliqué armor which provides a small measure of protection to the turret ring. The T-80BVM does have rear mounted slat armor as standard but here, the crew has added more slat armor panels and it appears that they have created a raised anti-drone cover over the engine deck but the camouflage netting covers much of it. Barely visible are rubber panels, with heavy netting, secured to the edges of the turret's front mounted Relikt explosive reactive armor panels.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Knocked Out Russian BTR-82A

Source: Reddit.

     A knocked out Russian BTR-82A IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), photographed sometime in the late spring or early summer of 2024. Of note is the Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks placed as best possible on the turret, hull front, and sides of the vehicle. ERA is not something the BTR-82A is normally fitted with, hence the haphazard placement. The crew also added slat armor, a single (and scorched) panel seen on the right side and another just visible on the left side near the driver's hatch. Despite all the added defense, it did not stop the BTR-82A from being put out of action. The BTR-82A is an improved version of the similar looking BTR-80A and it first appeared to the public as a prototype in 2009. By 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially accepted the BTR-82A for service.

     Power for the 16-ton 8x8 wheeled BTR-82A comes from a KamAZ-740.14-300 diesel engine that develops 300 horsepower and is paired to a fixed-ratio, manual transmission. This permits the BTR-82A to obtain a top road speed of 50 miles per hour. Off-road, the speed is lower though cross-country performance is assisted by a central tire inflation system (CTIS) and heavy duty shock absorbers. The BTR-82A is amphibious and can achieve a top water speed of 6 miles per hour in calm water. Rear-mounted water jet provides propulsion. Enough fuel is carried to permit a maximum cruise range of 435 miles.

     The primary armament is a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon mounted in a unmanned turret. The 2A72 uses a dual-feed and typically has a combination of AP-T (Armor-Piercing Tracer) and HE-I (High-Explosive Incendiary) ammunition to permit the gunner to engage different target types. Total ammunition capacity for the cannon is 300 rounds. The HE-I ammunition has an effective range of 1.2 miles (and against slow, low-flying aircraft,  2.5 miles) while the AP-T ammunition can defeat up to 25mm of armor at a 60 degree slope from a maximum range of .6 of a mile. Fitted co-axially is a 7.62mm PKTM machine-gun which is provided with 2,000 rounds. The weapons are fitted to a 2-plane, electro-mechanical stabilizer with the turret providing 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount offers 70 degrees of elevation and 5 degrees of depression. Traverse speed of the turret is up to 6 degrees per second. The gunner is provided with a TKN-4GA-01 day/night sight and FCS (Fire Control System) which permits engagement from the halt or on the move. The commander is provided with a TKN-AI surveillance camera, that includes a laser rangefinder, for locating targets out to a maximum range of 1.9 miles. On each side of the BTR-82A's hull are three firing ports for the crew and/or passengers to utilize their small arms.

     The BTR-82A has improved laminate armor over the BTR-80A's hardened steel but what thickness (or equivalent) it has isn't fully known. It is very likely on par with STANAG 4569 Level III armor protection which means it can defeat up to 7.62x54Rmm API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) ammunition at 30 meters and 155mm shell fragments at 60 meters. As for mines, it can protect the vehicle's occupants from mines with up to 18 pounds of explosive. Additional protection to the crew of  three (commander, driver, and gunner) and passengers (up to 7 infantrymen) is provided by interior spall liners and a reinforced, multi-layer floor along with blast resistant seats. Finally, an automatic fire suppression system equips the BTR-82A as well as a 902V Tucha 81mm smoke grenade launcher system with six launchers mounted on the turret front. 

     Other equipment includes a R-168-25-U2 digital radio system with encryption, Trona-1 topographic orientation system (which taps into independent satellites for navigational data) to enhance the vehicle's navigation system which uses the Russian GLONASS global positioning system (and can also use the NavStar GPS), APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) to permit the BTR-82A to function with the engine off, heating/air-conditioning system, bilge pump, and a NBC system (using over-pressure).

Russo-Ukrainian War: T-80BVM obr. 2022

Source: Reddit.

     A Russian T-80BVM obr. 2022 belonging to the 67th. Motorized Rifle Division (the unit's tactical symbol is on the side of the turret), displaying a rather extensive array of passive and active defenses. It is being transported by what looks to be a KamAZ-65225 tank transporter and was photographed sometime in January 2025. The T-80BVM is a modernization of the T-80BV which first appeared in service with the Soviet Army in 1985. The first T-80BVM made its public debut in 2017.

     Power for the 46-ton T-80BVM comes from a GTD-1250TF gas turbine engine that develops 1,250 horsepower and can propel the T-80BVM along roads at a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour and off-road, up to 34 miles per hour terrain depending. The GTD-1250 consumes fuel at a very high rate and had a much higher production cost in comparison to a standard diesel engine. Thus, the T-80BVM has a maximum cruise range of 208 miles (via 290 gallons of onboard fuel) and as such, the tank is often equipped with two external fuel tanks (total of 195 additional gallons) to increase the range to 310 miles. The engine is paired to a manual planetary transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). The external fuel tanks are secured to racks on the rear of the tank and here, they are not present.

     The main armament is a 2A46M-5 (or 2A46M-4 in some sources) 125mm smoothbore cannon which is mounted to a 2-axis, electro-hydraulic 2E26M stabilizer. The turret provides for 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount allows for a maximum of 14 degrees of elevation and up to 5 degrees of depression. As with most Russian tanks, the cannon is provided with a updated Korzina automatic loader which is fed from a carousel that sits beneath the turret at the bottom of the hull. It holds 28 rounds of ammunition and with it, a rate of fire between 4 to 6 rounds per minute is possible. A further 17 rounds of ammunition are carried, kept both in the turret and hull, along with 6 Refleks-M missiles (see below). Accuracy is aided by a 1A45T Irtysh fire control system (FCS). The gunner is provided with a stabilized Sosna-U sight which incorporates a day sight, thermal sight, laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer. Some late T-80BVM may utilize the PNM-T sight which is Sosna-U alternative built from wholly Russian components. Typical ammunition used includes APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HE (High-Explosive), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds plus the 9K119M Refleks-M tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper). The 3BM59 “Svinets-1” APFSDS round can penetrate around 315mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at 1.2 miles. At a 0 degree slope, the 3BM59 can penetrate 540mm of RHA at the same range. The 3BK31 HEAT round can penetrate 350mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope at a range of 1.9 miles.   The 3OF26 HE round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles while the Refleks-M can attain a range of 3 miles and drill through a maximum of 700mm of armor at a 90 degree slope after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) thanks to its tandem charge warhead. The gunner provides the guidance to target using a modulated laser beam. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun while mounted on the turret near the commander's hatch is a NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine-gun. 1,250 rounds of ammunition are available for the PKT while a total of 300 rounds are carried for the NSVT of which 50 rounds is ready ammunition.

     For protection, the T-80BMV uses composite armor on the hull and turret with the cheeks of the turret having additional defense called Combination K which consists of a cavity filled with ultra-porcelain ceramic rods arranged in a matrix. This gives the turret front the equivalent of 550mm of steel armor. The front glacis plate uses a sandwich-style of composite armor consisting of an outer layer of 80mm thick steel which is backed by 105mm of glass-reinforced plastic then a 20mm thick base layer of steel armor. This gives the front hull of the T-80BMV the equivalent of over 500mm of armor. In addition to the base armor, the T-80BMV utilizes Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks on the upper front hull, turret front, hull sides, and the top of the turret. Cage armor is fitted to the rear of the tank hull, offering a measure of protection to the engine compartment from HEAT munitions. The T-80BVM can be fitted with 4S24 Karkas ERA and this is the case here in the photograph in the form of large metal blocks on the turret sides and here, unusually, on top of the side Relikt ERA. The crew has added rubber and mesh appliqué armor to the turret sides and front plus ad-hoc bar armor to the rear area of the turret. In addition, the crew has created a large anti-drone cage consisting of metal framing with what looks like chicken wire. Additional defense comes from a 902B Tucha smoke grenade launcher system consisting of two banks of four launcher tubes on the turret sides. The T-80BMV can also be fitted with active protective systems such as Arena but it is not standard. Atop the anti-drone cage are antenna for drone jammers, added there by the crew rather than it being standard.

     Other systems of the T-80BVM include a TVN-5 night sight for the driver, internal crew intercom system, TKN-4S Agat-MR day/night sight & TKN-3M day sight for the commander, automatic fire suppression system, PDT-7151 auxiliary sight, DVE-BS turret roof mounted meteorological sensor, R-168 series VHF radio station, and a ZETS-11-2 NBC protection system (Nuclear Biological Chemical). 

     The T-80BVM obr. 2022 specifically uses Kontakt-5 ERA on the turret roof to provide for more protective coverage and cage armor is added to the rear of the hull and turret (though only the rear hull piece appears intact). Another feature of the T-80BVM obr. 2022 is the removal of the rear side cage armor and replacing it with Relikt ERA panels. Finally, Relikt ERA is built into the tank's front mud guards. Some T-80BVM obr. 2022 tanks may have elderly 1PN96MT-02 thermal gun sights due to shortages of the Sosna-U.

Russo-Ukrainian War: VCC-2 APC, "Donechchyna" Battalion, National Police of Ukraine

Source: National Police of Ukraine.

     Operating somewhere in Donetsk Oblast is this VCC-2 armored personnel carrier (APC), in service with the special forces “Donechchyna” Battalion of the National Police of Ukraine. Such units are, more or less, similar to SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) teams within many police forces in the U.S. Such personnel are trained to deal with high risk threats that regular police officers are not equipped to handle. Like SWAT teams, Ukrainian National Police special forces units receive additional training in heavy weapons, usage and deployment of armored vehicles, and other tasks and skills which are above the regular training of rank and file policemen. The VCC-2 is an Italian variant of the U.S. M113 APC and to date, a little over ten VCC-2 have been received from Italy as part of the country's military aid packages.

     The biggest modification was replacing the M113's Chrysler 75M engine and Allison TX-200-2A transmission with a more powerful General Motors 6V53 Model 5063-5299 6-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine and paired it with a Allison TX-100-1 transmission with a 8-speed gear box (6 forward, 2 reverse). This drive train is the same as used in the M113A1. This gives the VCC-2 a top road speed of 40 miles per hour and in being amphibious, the top water speed is 3 miles per hour in calm water. Propulsion in water is via the VCC-2's tracks. 95 gallons of internal fuel provide for a maximum cruise range of 317 miles. The VCC-2 uses fiberglass fuel tanks in the rear of the vehicle with dual fuel lines into the engine for a measure of redundancy if there is a problem with one of the fuel tanks. The fuel system, along with rearranging the interior of the troop compartment, reduces the troop capacity to six men (instead of eleven). The crew of the VCC-2 consists of the commander, driver, and the gunner.

     For protection, the VCC-2 retains the welded hull consisting of the same rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminum armor of the M113. From the front, armor thickness is 38mm at a slope between 30 degrees (lower front) and 45 degrees (upper front). The sides, which have no sloping, support between 31mm to 44mm while the rear of the VCC-2 has 38mm of armor with a 9 degree slope (upper rear) and 8 degrees of slope (lower rear). The top of the hull has 38mm thick armor while the bottom has 28mm of armor. To boost the level of protection, the VCC-2 has appliqué steel armor between 5mm to 6mm thick fitted directly onto the front and sides of the vehicle. The VCC-2 can shed up to 12.7mm ball ammunition (which is not armor-piercing) at 200 meters.

     For armament, the gunner is provided with a open-topped turret which, here, supports a Browning M2A1 12.7mm heavy machine-gun. On each side of the VCC-2 are two firing ports which allow soldiers within the troop compartment to utilize their small arms. Just above the firing ports are bullet-proof vision blocks. A fifth firing port is located in the drop-down rear ramp which makes up the majority of the back of the VCC-2.

     The commander's cupola is on the left side of the roof, behind the driver's hatch, and even with the gunner's cupola/turret on the right. He is provided with five M17 periscopes but the gunner's cupola limits the commander's field of view. The driver has four M17 periscopes and a single, fully traversable M19 infrared periscope for night driving. All of these vision devices are as the M113. Further Italian modifications include two roof-mounted exhaust fans to evacuate smoke from the interior and updated electrical systems.

     Ukrainian modifications include a rather intricate camouflage paint scheme and fitted to the roof towards the left rear are five antennas for drone jammers.

Sources:

http://web.tiscali.it/stefano67/vcc2.htm

http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m113.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The PARS-S "Stepashka" EW Rifle

Source: Telegram

     Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian electronic specialist, poses with a trophy Russian PARS-S “Stepashka” anti-drone rifle. This example was captured from Russian forces late in 2024. Designed and built by the Russian company RUSGEOCOM, the PARS-S is just one of a number of Russian drone jamming EW (Electronic Warfare) apparatus. The PARS-S is meant for deployment by infantrymen, giving them a measure of defense against Ukrainian FPV drones. Beskrestnov was involved in the dissection of the captured PARS-S in order to determine the EW rifle's capabilities. A similar looking EW rifle (made by LokMas), the “Ступор” (“Stupor”), entered the market in 2017 and some found their way into Russian service though in at least one 2022 encounter with drones operated by the Ukrainian 30th. Mechanized Brigade “Konstanty Ostrogski”, the “Stupor” failed to down any of the drones.

     The PARS-S first appeared in 2023 and has a combat weight of 21 pounds and it can be deployed with mobile infantry, being carried via a nylon strap by a EW operator, or set up in a static position using a tripod. RUSGEOCOM promotional material states the PARS-S can jam any consumer drone model out of the box but can be upgraded to tackle FPV drones. In fact, the rather large size of the PARS-S is because inside, there is enough internal space to fit up to four additional antennas which could operate against multiple drone frequencies. Output of the power supply is 50 watts which permits an endurance of up to 2 hours of operation. This capacity is assumed to be with a single antenna. Maximum range, in ideal conditions, is 7 miles.

     However, when the large outer casing was opened to examine the PARS-S' innards, it was found that some of the internals had been built in China and was evidence that Chinese manufacturers were (and are) supplying Russian military industry with components despite sanctions. This is proof that despite them, China is circumventing sanctions. Another discovery was the poor quality of the installation of the internal parts. Beskrestnov noted that instead of utilizing more robust and secure means to install critical components, voluminous amounts of polyurethane construction foam (that has adhesive properties) was utilized to secure parts such as the battery packs and the antenna. In addition, the placement of the components was without rhyme or reason. With such shoddy internal construction, there is some question on how well the PARS-S can withstand the rigors of the front line battlefield over a period of time. In addition, it casts some doubt on RUSGEOCOM's claims on the capabilities of the PARS-S.

Photograph via Telegram. 

Russo-Ukrainian War: The VSSM Vintorez Suppressed Sniper Rifle

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

     A soldier of the 46th. Airmobile Brigade posing with captured Russian VSSM Vintorez 9mm sniper rifle. VSSM is the romanized abbreviation for Vintóvka Snáyperskaya Spetsiálnaya Modernizirovat (Special Sniper Rifle Updated). Interestingly, the Ukrainian Army ceased using the original VSS (introduced in 1981) in 2014 due to the lack of ammunition but the VSS and VSSM remains in service with Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) units.

     As mentioned, the VSSM falls into the 9mm caliber rifle class but it uses a uniquely Russian rimless 9x39mm round. The round is derived from the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge case. To put it simply, it is the 7.62x39mm case resized to fit a 9.2mm bullet. It is specifically designed to be subsonic and used in suppressed weapons, such as the VSSM. The VSSM is usually fired using the 9x39mm SP-5 subsonic round which uses either a hardened steel or tungsten tip in order to defeat body armor. The SP-5 round has a maximum muzzle velocity of 1,050 feet per second and can defeat NATO standard body armor at a range of 400 meters (.2 of a mile) which is the weapon's optimal engagement range. The integral suppressor of the VVS and VSSM works by having a dual-chamber arrangement where propellant gasses from the fired round are both cooled down and their pressure lowered within the chambers until the sound signature of the exiting gas is greatly reduced to the point that it does not have the sound signature of regular caliber battle rifles. Usually, the VVSM is fed from a 10-round box magazine but here in the photograph, it uses the 20-round box magazine of the similar AS Val (Avtomát Spetsiálny; Special Automatic). The VSSM is select fire with a 30 rounds per minute effective rate of fire in semi-automatic and double that in full automatic. Without a scope and ammunition, the VSSM has a weight of 5.7 pounds.

     The VSSM differs from the VSS in that the latter's wooden stock is replaced with a metal stock which has adjustable cheek and shoulder pads. Another difference is that the VSSM uses a integral picatinny-style rail for mounting optics whereas optics for the VSS need to be fitted using side mounts. Speaking of optics, the VSSM can use most of the Soviet/Russian military scopes to include the PSO-1, PSV, PSO-1-1, and PO 4X34 daytime sights or the MBNP-1 and NSPU-3 night scopes. Finally, it can mount the KOP-2 daylight/low-light scope. The night scope here, however, appears to be a civilian make rather than military issue. With a PSO-1-1 scope, the weight of the VSSM goes up to 7.5 pounds (without ammunition).

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Modified T-80U

Source: 12th. Brigade Public Affairs

     A T-80U main battle tank belonging to the Tank Battalion, 12th. Special Forces Brigade “Azov”, National Guard of Ukraine. An evolution of the T-80A, the T-80U first entered service in 1985 and through 1999, received modernization to keep it competitive. The T-80U was, for the most part, a brand new tank rather than being an upgrade to existing T-80 tanks as was the case with the earlier T-80B and T-80A which appeared in 1978 and 1982 respectively.

     Power for the 50-ton T-80U comes from a GTD-1250 3-shaft gas turbine engine that develops 1,250 horsepower and can propel the T-80U along roads at a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour and off-road, up to 30 miles per hour terrain depending. The GTD-1250, while powerful and reliable (as long as maintenance is rigidly followed), consumes fuel at a ravenous rate and has a much higher production cost in comparison to a standard diesel engine. Thus, the T-80U has a maximum cruise range of 208 miles (via 290 gallons of onboard fuel) and as such, the tank is often equipped with external fuel tanks (total of 195 additional gallons) to increase the range to 273 miles. The engine is paired to a manual planetary transmission with a 5-speed gearbox (4 forward, 1 reverse). To conserve fuel but still power the tank's systems, a GTA-18 auxiliary power unit (APU) is provided.

     The main armament is a 2A46M-1 125mm smoothbore cannon which is mounted to a 2-axis, electro-hydraulic 2E42 stabilizer. The turret provides for 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount allows for a maximum of 14 degrees of elevation and up to 5 degrees of depression. As with most Russian tanks, the cannon is provided with a Korzina automatic loader which is fed from a carousel that sits beneath the turret at the bottom of the hull. It holds 28 rounds of ammunition and with it, a rate of fire between 4 to 6 rounds per minute is possible. A further 17 rounds of ammunition are carried, kept both in the turret and hull, along with 6 Refleks missiles (see below). Accuracy is aided by a 1A42 or 1A45 Irtysh fire control system (FCS), 1V517 or 1V528-1 ballistic computer, 1G46 laser rangefinder, and a GPK-59 azimuth indicator. The gunner is provided with a TPN-4S day sight and a T01-K01R Buran-PA stabilized night sight. Typical ammunition used includes APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HE (High-Explosive), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds plus the 9K119M Refleks-M tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper). The older 3VBM20 APFSDS round can penetrate around 300mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at 1.2 miles. The 3VOF36 HE round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles while the Refleks-M can attain a range of 3 miles and drill through a maximum of 700mm of armor at a 90 degree slope after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) thanks to its tandem charge warhead. The gunner provides the guidance to target using a modulated laser beam. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun while mounted on the turret near the commander's hatch is a 12.7mm heavy machine-gun (either a DShK or NSVT). 1,250 rounds of ammunition are available for the PKT while 300 rounds are carried for the heavy machine-gun.

     For protection, the T-80U uses composite armor on the hull and turret with the cheeks of the turret having additional defense comprised of semi-active, filled cells (NERA or Non-Energetic Reactive Armor) backed by steel plate and resin. The effect is that upon penetration by a shaped charge jet, the shock wave is disrupted by the filler, reducing the effectiveness of the penetrator. In addition to the base armor, the T-80U utilizes Kontakt-5 ERA blocks on the upper front hull, turret front, hull sides, and the top of the turret. This layered protection gives the T-80U's front hull the equivalent of 620mm thick armor against kinetic rounds and 1,100mm of armor against HEAT rounds. The turret front, with its additional defense, provides for 780mm of equivalent armor against kinetic rounds and 1,320mm of protection against HEAT. Additional defense comes from a 902B Tucha smoke grenade launcher system consisting of two banks of four launcher tubes on the turret sides. The T-80U can also be fitted with active protective systems such as Shtora-1 and Arena.

     Other systems of the T-80U include a L-2AG Luna infrared spotlight, OU-3GKU infrared searchlight, ZETS-11-2 NBC protection system (Nuclear Biological Chemical), R-173 radio, R-174 and GRR-5 radio receivers, and a snorkel kit for fording water obstacles.

     The T-80U pictured here has undergone some modifications with the main change being the removal of the Kontakt-5 ERA and replacing it with Ukrainian designed and produced Nizh (“Knife”) ERA blocks. This has necessitated some changes, namely the removal of the Luna spotlight (normally to the right of the gun on the turret face) and the shifting of the Tucha launch tubes towards the rear of the turret sides. Another difference from the T-80U is the usage of what look like side armor from a T-80BVM tank. If so, then it would consist of Relikt ERA. The crew has added heavy netting around the turret which serves as appliqué armor, providing a small measure of defense against HEAT munitions. Interestingly, the turret modifications give it the appearance of a T-90 tank turret. No heavy machine-gun is fitted but the mount can be seen near the commander's hatch.

Russo-Ukrainian War: AASM 250 HAMMER ASM

     Secured to one of the four wing pylons of a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-25M1 Grach (“Rook”; NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a AASM 250 HAMMER ASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire 250 Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range Air-to-Surface Missile). More simply called Hammer, the AASM is a French designed, all-weather smart weapon which first entered service with both the French Air Force and Naval Aviation in 2007. The AASM is actually a kit which is fitted to existing free-fall bombs, turning them into guided missiles. The AASM kit can be fitted to 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 kilogram bombs (hence the number in the designation). France, as part of its military aid to Ukraine, has provided Ukraine with around fifty AASM systems per month in 2024.

     The standard AASM (and likely the type provided to Ukraine) consists of a hybrid guidance system which combines a inertial navigation system (INS) with a global positioning system (GPS). This system is held within the finned nose-cap that is secured to the head of the bomb. The INS utilizes motion/rotation sensors whose input goes into a computer which constantly calculates the AASM's position, orientation, and speed. As such, it is essentially a fire-and-forget munition. However, the AASM can be fitted with a enhanced guidance suite which adds infrared homing. Without the infrared capability, the AASM can hit a target within 10 meters of the aim point. With the infrared homing, this improves to a single meter. A third option replaces the infrared homing with laser guidance system that permits on-target hits and can even allow the AASM to strike mobile targets. The second set of nose fins can rotate their angle, permitting the AASM to maneuver.

     Attached to the back of the bomb body is a  “range extension kit” which consists of a solid-fuel rocket motor and a “aerodynamic unit” consisting of four fins. When dropped at altitude, the AASM can achieve a maximum range of 43 miles but if dropped at low altitude, the range diminishes to a maximum of 9 miles.

     Assuming the usage of a U.S. Mk. 82 250 kilogram bomb (which the AASM can be fitted to), the payload is usually 196 pounds (89 kilograms) of Tritonal explosive. This results in a blast radius of 80 meters by 30 meters with a lethal area stretching out to 2,400 square meters with fragments having speeds of between 1,700 to 5,458 miles per hour.

     To date, in Ukrainian service, the Hammer is being launched from not only the Su-25 but also from Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) using modified pylons.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FGM-148 Javelin

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

     The ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) shown here in the hands of a soldier of the 5th. Detachment, Special Operations Center “Omega” was an absolute game changer during the opening months of the Russo-Ukrainian War which commenced on February 24, 2022. The weapon? The FGM-148 Javelin. The effectiveness was so great that it spawned the image of “Saint Javelin” (the Virgin Mary cradling a Javelin) and saw Russian tanks sprout the so-called “cope cages” (raised slat armor over the turret top) in a vain attempt to deal with the missile. Ukraine had received over 8,000 Javelin systems by February 2023 with the majority being delivered by the United States. The FGM-148 entered service with the U.S. military in 1996 and was the replacement for the M47 Dragon ATGM.

     What makes the Javelin effective is two-fold. The first is that the missile is capable of using what is called a “top attack” engagement profile. This means the missile strikes the target from above. On most tanks, the armor thickness of the top of the hull (front and rear) as well as the top of the turret is thin and thus relatively easy to penetrate. The second is that the Javelin is a fire-and-forget weapon. Once the gunner obtains a target lock, upon launch, the missile guides itself to the target.

     The Javelin is a two-part system. The main part, which is reusable, is the CLU (Command Launch Unit). The CLU is fitted with a day sight which provides 4X magnification but for night operation, the CLU has a 4X magnification thermal sight which is very sensitive to infrared radiation. The night sight also has a 12X magnification to enable the operator to identify the potential target. Once the target is identified and is to be engaged, the operator switches to a 9X magnification FOV (Field of View) for the missile's seeker. Here, the operator sets his aim and the target information is transmitted to the missile's guidance system. Once the operator sets the lock after depressing a launch trigger, the missile fires after a very short delay. The CLU has a weight of 14 pounds and a loaded missile tube is 35 pounds. The tube is single-shot and once fired, the CLU is detached from the spent tube and secured to a new one.

     The 127mm missile uses a solid fuel rocket motor which permits an effective range of 1.6 miles when used by a dismounted tank hunter team (usually two men) or, if the launcher is mounted on a vehicle, up to 2.95 miles of effective engagement range can be achieved. The 19 pound, contact fuzed warhead consists of a tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) payload. The first charge is designed to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), permitting the second charge to strike the target's armor underneath. The Javelin is said to be capable of penetrating at least 760mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) after ERA. This is well able to defeat nearly all modern main battle tanks. Though the Javelin often uses its top attack ability, it can be fired directly at targets such as fortifications or if a armored vehicle is too close to permit a top attack. Maximum altitude for a top attack is 490 feet and for direct attack, 200 feet.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Damaged Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1 Radar System

Source: Ukraine_Defence (Instagram)

     On October 23, 2024, a joint mission between the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and Special Operations Forces located and targeted a Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1 long-range, high-altitude surveillance radar situated near Cape Tarkhankut, Crimea. The photograph shows the result of the  drone strike. Meaning “Approach”, the Podlet system entered Russian service in 2018 (at a cost of $5.5 million U.S. dollars per unit) and it is designed to detect fast moving targets flying at low altitude. As such, the Podlet plays a key role in providing advance warning to Ukrainian cruise missile attacks (which usually fly at low altitudes) and the system is able to support air defense missile systems such as the S-300 (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) and S-400 (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler). Alas, as shown, Podlet is not infallible and so far, the Ukrainians have destroyed three Podlet radar vehicles and damaged two others (which includes this one).

     The actual extent of the capabilities of the Podlet's radar suites are not completely known though with the capture of a complete Podlet system in Syria in late 2024, the Podlet's performance may soon be revealed. What is known is that the main detection radar of the Podlet K1 is a 3-coordinate, S-band, phased-array radar which utilizes a circular scan search pattern. It is believed that the maximum detection range is 186 miles (in optimal conditions) and can reach an altitude of 6 miles. The Podlet also has two IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) arrays below the main radar array. One operates in the international standard SIF Mark XII (Selective Identification Feature) (utilized by NATO military aircraft and civilian aircraft) while the other operates in the Russian IFF national standard. Finally, there is a antenna which functions as a counter to electronic jamming, allowing the main detection radar to maintain operability in EW (Electronic Warfare) environments.

     The Podlet is usually supported by a generator truck to provide power and a C2 (Command and Control) vehicle to deliver target data to subordinate air defense units and command. Podlet is a primary component of Russian air defense in the Russo-Ukrainian War, being capable of tracking Ukrainian cruise missiles such as the R-360 Neptune and Western supplied cruise missiles such as the British Storm Shadow.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Captured Russian KamAZ-53949 Linza

Source: Natalia Kravchuk, ArmyInform

     A former Russian KamAZ Linza ambulance now in service as a command vehicle by the 117th. Mechanized Brigade. The Linza (“Lens”) had actually been captured in April 2022 in Kyyanytsia, Suny Oblast after its Russian crew caused the vehicle to overturn during a sharp turn (due to the high center of gravity of the vehicle). For a time, it was used as an ambulance by the Ukrainians until it was refitted as a command vehicle and provided to the signal company of the 117th. Mechanized Brigade late in 2024.

     The 15.5-ton Linza is a variant of the KamAZ-53949 4X4 Typhoon-K MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle. Power comes from a KamAZ built Cummins 6ISBe 350 P-6 diesel engine paired to an automatic mechanical transmission with a 6-speed gearbox. Maximum road speed is 62 miles per hour with enough fuel carried to provide for a maximum cruise range of 621 miles. The Linza can be upgraded with a more powerful 450 horsepower engine. Off-road performance is enhanced with a CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System) and terrain depending, up to 25 miles per hour can be achieved.

     The crew of 3 (driver, commander, and medic) and up to 10 wounded are protected by the equivalent of STANAG 4569 Level 4 defense. This is made possible by a sandwich-type armor comprised of steel alloy armor plating with an external ceramic layer. As such, the Linza can shrug off up to 14.5x114mm API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) ammunition at 200 meters and can shed 155mm artillery fragments from as close as 25 meters. Against mines, the Linza has a V-shaped bottom hull and the protection is on par with STANAG 4569 Level 3 defense. This means it withstand blasts from up to 22 pounds of explosive. Crew are provided with blast resistant seats. Run-flat tires permit the Linza to travel up to 31 miles with a blown out wheel. Further protection comes from a automatic fire suppression system.

     The Linza is primarily for immediate first aid and transport out of the battle area to rear area triage locations. It is not normally armed. As such, it is fairly limited in standard onboard medical equipment. It does, however, have a small crane at the rear of the vehicle to assist with loading stretchered casualties. Enough room is available for four stretchers and up to six seated wounded. Up to 2.2 tons of supplies and equipment can be carried if no casualties are present.

     The Ukrainians modified this Linza by creating five workstations for personnel with each station equipped with a laptop, small desk, monitor, and a radio. Two Starlink satellite systems are utilized, one being the Starlink Mini for communication while the Linza is on the move and the standard Starlink equipment which is deployed when the Linza is stationary. Communication transmissions are encrypted. Typically, the workstations (except for the communication unit commander's station) are manned by personnel from units within the brigade such as drone operations (mainly reconnaissance), air defense, EW (Electronic Warfare), and artillery in order to coordinate actions and forward data up to higher echelon units as well as to subordinate units within the brigade.

Primary Sources:

https://armyinform.com.ua/2025/01/09/shtab-na-kolesah-zatrofeyena-rosijska-linza-stala-brygadnoyu-komandno-shtabnoyu-mashynoyu/

https://roe.ru/eng/catalog/land-forces/armored-vehicles/kamaz-53949/

Russo-Ukrainian War: D-30 (2A18) 122mm Howitzer

Source: Reuters

     A gunner of the National Police of Ukraine with his D-30 122mm howitzer somewhere in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, January 12, 2025. Designated the 2A18 but far better known as the D-30, the howitzer first accepted for Soviet Army service in 1960 and even today, remains a mainstay in artillery units of over 60 nations. While Russia no longer produces the D-30, it is currently license-built in Egypt, Iraq, and Sudan. In 2020, the Russian Army had 4,570 D-30 howitzers in service compared to only 129 examples in the Ukrainian Army. As of January 13, 2025, Russia has lost 114 D-30 howitzers while Ukraine has lost 16.

     The D-30 replaced the World War II era M-30 122mm howitzer with the D-30 reaching artillery units within Soviet Army divisions and regiments starting in 1963. The D-30 is distinctive in that it uses a tripod carriage which, when deployed, permits 360 degrees of traverse for the howitzer. This also provides a low profile, making the D-30 less conspicuous. Usually, the D-30 is deployed on even ground and once a position is selected, a hydraulic jack underneath the carriage center is lowered to the ground which lifts the howitzer. Once this is complete, the wheels are raised (in the photograph here, they have been removed to reduce the size of the D-30) and the movable two stabilizer legs are deployed and secured. The jack is then lowered so that the stabilizer legs touch the ground. The mount for the howitzer permits 70 degrees of elevation and 7 degrees of depression. It should be mentioned that if the barrel is pointed directly over one of the stabilizer legs, gun elevation is limited to 22 degrees. This is to prevent the D-30 from being displaced due to imbalance. In action, the D-30 weighs a little over 3 tons. When in traveling position, the D-30 is towed by its barrel, the tow ring underneath the muzzle brake. Maximum tow speed on roads is no more than 50 miles per hour. Usually, the D-30 is towed by a 6x6 truck though any vehicle capable of towing at least 3 tons can handle the D-30.

     The D-30 uses a semi-automatic, vertical sliding-wedge breech. By semi-automatic, it means when the howitzer is fired, the empty cartridge case is automatically ejected from the breech which then remains open, allowing a new projectile to be loaded. This permits a skilled crew (usually 6 to 8 men) to fire between 10 to 12 rounds every minute though a more sustainable rate is 5 to 6 rounds per minute. Recoil is reduced by way of a multi-baffled muzzle brake and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system mounted above the barrel. The muzzle brake accounts for half of the recoil reduction though the overpressure caused by firing the D-30 is about twice that of comparable caliber guns. As such, it is a danger to unprotected crew and often, gunners use very long lanyards to enable them to fire the D-30 from a distance to reduce the effects of the overpressure wave.

     The D-30 can fire a wide array of ammunition. The two most common projectiles are the 3OF56 HE-Frag (High-Explosive Fragmentation) and BK-6M HEAT-FS (High-Explosive Anti-Tank Fin Stabilized) munition. The 3OF56 has a nearly 9 pound payload of A-IX-2 explosive and can use a number of fuzes, to include the common RGM-2. The maximum range is 9.6 miles. If using a RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile), such as the TF ER BB XM09 (made by Yugoimport), that range increases to 13.4 miles. As the D-30 was designed for direct engagement (another reason for the low profile), the BK-6M round (with 3.5 pound A-X-1 explosive filler) can, with a full charge, reliably penetrate 400mm of armor at a little under 1,000 meters (.6 of a mile). For indirect fire, a PG-1M panoramic telescope is most often used (supplemented with a K-1 collimator) and for direct fire, a OP4M-45 telescopic sight.

Russo-Ukrainian War: BMP-2, 141st. Mechanized Brigade

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A Ukrainian BMP-2 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) belonging to the 141st. Mechanized Brigade, late autumn 2024. This particular example had been updated by the Zhytomyr Armored Vehicle Factory back in 2021 though it is missing the side skirts. The crew has added a anti-drone cage on the turret and lashed a log unditching beam to the back of the vehicle (a common practice). The BMP-2 is one of the most common IFVs in the world with over 35,000 having been built since 1979 (including variants). It first entered service in 1980 in the Soviet Army and is the successor to the original BMP-1.

     The typical power plant for the 14-ton BMP-2 is a UTD-20 series, water-cooled, 6-cylinder diesel engine that develops 300 horsepower which is paired to a manual transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). This provides a maximum road speed of 40 miles per hour and, terrain depending, up to 28 miles per hour off-road. Being amphibious, the top speed in calm waters is 4 miles per hour using its tracks as propulsion. 122 gallons of fuel are carried which provides for a maximum cruise range of 342 miles.

     For armament, the 2-man turret is fitted with a 2A42 30mm autocannon, a co-axial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun, and pintle mount on the turret roof for a 9M113 Konkurs (“Contest”; NATO reporting name AT-5 Spandrel) ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile). The Shipunov 2A42, which uses a gas-operated action, has a rate of fire between 200 to 300 rounds per minute or 550 to 800 rounds per minute depending on the gunner's selection. The two most common rounds are the 3UOF8 HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and the 3UBR6 APBC-T (Armor-Piercing Ballistic Cap Tracer). The 3UBR6 can penetrate 20mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at .4 of a mile but can reach 1.2 miles in effective range though the penetration value drops significantly. The 3UOF8 has a maximum range of 2.5 miles. The 2A42 uses a dual feed so the weapon can utilized mixed ammunition. The turret provides for 360 degree of traverse while the 2E36-1 2-plane, stabilized gun mount allows up to 75 degrees in elevation (and 5 degrees of depression), allowing for engagement of low flying aircraft (a 1PZ-3 scope is provided for the commander in this task). The usual ammunition load is 160 rounds of armor-piercing and 340 rounds of high-explosive. The PKT is provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The gunner is provided with a BPK-1-2 binocular sight with low light capability, a TNPT-1 designator, and a FG-126 infrared searchlight (mounted co-axially with the cannon). For the Konkurs, four missiles are carried and the aiming is fully manual. Finally, there are seven firing ports (three per rear side; one in the left rear entry/exit door) for use by occupants in the troop compartment.

     The BMP-2 uses welded steel alloy armor to protect the 3 man crew and up to seven infantrymen with the front hull supporting between 16mm to 25mm thick armor but thanks to the slope angle, the equivalent is 30mm to 46mm. The turret has 20mm thick armor all around but with the angled turret, the equivalent is 28mm. Most BMP-2 turrets have 6mm thick appliqué armor added to them with similar plating on the hull sides. The side armor of the BMP-2 is approximately 13mm thick but benefits little from sloping. Frontally, the BMP-2 is said to be able to withstand standard 23mm armor-piercing rounds while the sides can protect against 7.62x39mm armor-piercing bullets. Other protective systems include a GO-27 radiological/chemical detector, a PAZ overpressure NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system, fire suppression system, and two turret mounted Type 902V Tucha smoke grenade dischargers with three tubes for 81mm grenades per discharger.

     For communication, the BMP-2 is equipped with either a R-123M or R-173 radio. Other systems include a GPK-59 gyrocompass, TNPO-170A periscope (for the driver), TNPO-170A periscopes for the firing ports, OU-3GA2 infrared searchlight on the turret for the commander, TNP-165A designator (for the commander), TKN-3B binocular day/low light sight (for the commander), and a TVNE-1PA night vision scope.