Exciting new Russian weapons on view at Army-2016

Drel aerial bomb 

This 540 kg glide cluster bomb is intended to hit targets at a distance of 30 km (20 miles). Infra-red and radar-guided, it is effective for destroying enemy armoured vehicles, command posts and power units. It can function despite natural and man-made interference.

Drel aerial bomb. Source: Dmitry Reshetnikov/TASS

Soratnik robot

This robotic system is designed to provide fire support to troops which are patrolling and guarding a violence-hit area. The robot is remotely controlled and, with further upgrades, (the Kalashnikov concern is now working on these) will potentially not require any human intervention at all. The tracked chassis robot can be fitted with light firearms. The basic version is equipped with an AK-74M assault rifle and a Dragunov sniper rifle.

Soratnik robot. Source: Press Photo

Floks self-propelled artillery system

Russia’s first self-propelled artillery system, the ‘Floks’ comes with a 120 mm gun. It combines the functions of a long-range weapon, a howitzer and a mortar. It can fire at enemy positions at distances from 100 metres to 10 km (110 yards to 6 miles). The system has a remote combat module with a 12.7-mm Kord machine-gun installed on its roof.

Floks self-propelled artillery system. Source: Ladislav Karpov/TASS

Uran-9 attack robot

This robot conducts reconnaissance missions and provides fire support for troops. It can also be effectively used in counterterrorist operations. It is equipped with a 30 mm automatic gun, a 7.62 mm machine-gun, as well as ‘Ataka’ anti-tank guided missiles. Each comprises four combat vehicles: a reconnaissance robot or a fire support robot, a mobile post, and two power tugs.

Uran-9 attack robot. Source: Ladislav Karpov/TASS

The robot system can operate at a distance of 3 km (2 miles) from its operator. Five of these robots will come into service with the Russian armed forces by the end of 2016.

Gibka-S air defence vehicle

The system is intended to protect military units from enemy aircraft fire at low and super low altitudes (1,600 and 500 feet respectively). It is fitted with the newest portable surface-to-air missile system, the ‘Verba’. A total of eight missiles can be mounted on the vehicle.

Gibka-S air defence vehicle. Source: Press Photo

RPK-16 light handheld machine-gun

The new RPK-16 for 5.45 mm cartridges is an upgrade of the Soviet RPP-74 machine-gun.This model has a Picatinny rail, making it possible to fit it with any type of sights, from night to thermal to collimator to optical sniper sights.

The gun’s designers said the machine-gun could be used to fire single shots and hit 20-cm-diameter targets from a distance of 300-400 metres (its technical and tactical characteristics state that the machine-gun can hit enemy personnel at a distance of 800 metres). The machine-gun has a lighter 96-round drum magazine and now weighs just 4.5 kg.

RPK-16 light machine rifle at the Kalashnikov pavilion. Source: Grigoriy Sysoev / RIA Novosti

Vikhr reconnaissance robot

The ‘Vikhr’ reconnaissance and strike robot has been built on the base of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. The system, which can operate on a tracked or wheeled chassis, is equipped with a 30 mm gun, a 7.62 mm machine-gun, as well as Kornet-M guided anti-tank missiles.

In its automated mode, the robot can detect, capture and track targets, with the decision to fire still taken by the module operator. The HD camera and thermal imager with which it is fitted allows the ‘Vikhr’ to operate at any time of day or night.

Vikhr reconnaissance robot. Source: Dmitry Reshetnikov/TASS

BT-3F amphibious armoured personnel carrier

The new amphibious armoured personnel carrier can accommodate up to 12 paratroopers and can withstand fire from the 14.5 mm KPVT large-calibre machine-gun from a distance of 200 metres. On its roof, the BT-3F has a remote combat module with a 7.62 mm machine-gun fitted with a television and a thermal sight.

The turret of the APC will, in future, be able to accommodate a 12.7 mm or a 14.5 mm machine-gun as well as a 30 mm or 40 mm grenade-launcher.

BT-3F amphibious armored personnel carrier. Source: Press photo

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