Russian Army/Ground Forces Discussion and Updates

Ananda

The Bunker Group
However nowhere does CIT, at least that I saw, indicate an anticipated ability to produce ~1k MBTs per year.
From the perspective of restoring combat capability and based on our estimated production rates, assuming hypothetically that combat operations end on Dec. 31 this year, Russia could produce nearly 1,000 new tanks within three years, 1,500 within five years, and 3,000 within ten years. However, this estimate does not account for potential increases in output, such as the possible resumption of T-80 tank production in Omsk.
I think the CIT report that being quote by Army Recognition (as 1000 production by 2028) is from this part. This is on end part of the article.

but increasing MBT production is more difficult then something like a Shahed. There are multiple potential bottle-necks, and while by peace-time post-Cold War standards UVZ is a massive tank plant, it also means that expanding that massive plant requires massive efforts and also time.
Agree on this, however it is also shown Russia manage to increase their production rate even on their current production infrastructure. I just don't buy all the talk from the so call Western Think Tank pundits that claim Russia MIC and other industrial capabilities goes downhill by the western sanctions and will not be able to recovered.

Yes it give them much hardship, but also shown Russia resiliances to find other way around to keep their MIC running and recovering without using western supplies.
 
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Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I think the CIT report that being quote by Army Recognition (as 1000 production by 2028) is from this part. This is on end part of the article.
Yeah, that's not the same thing though. It says 1000 new tanks within 3 years is ~333 per year. Not 1000 per year. 1500 within 5 clearly envisions 300 per year, as does 3000 within 10 years. None of these numbers are interesting, as they were all well known for a while.

Agree on this, however it is also shown Russia manage to increase their production rate even on their current production infrastructure. I just don't buy all the talk from the so call Western Think Tank pundits that claim Russia MIC and other industrial capabilities goes downhill by the western sanctions and will not be able to recovered.

Yes it give them much hardship, but also shown Russia resiliances to find other way around to keep their MIC running and recovering without using western supplies.
I think it's pretty clear Russia can produce thousands of armored vehicles of various types despite the sanctions and is unlikely to lose that ability any time soon.
 
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seaspear

Well-Known Member
I would not doubt that Russia will for some time produce various armoured vehicles whether brand new or heavily refurbished ,but numbers being produced are more emphasised than fit for purpose , with adequate sensors for all of these not a priority
 

swerve

Super Moderator
Yeah, that's not the same thing though. It says 1000 new tanks within 3 years is ~333 per year. Not 1000 per year. 1500 within 5 clearly envisions 3000 per year, as does 3000 within 10 years. None of these numbers are interesting, as they were all well known for a while.
300. ;) I think your fingers slipped.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I would not doubt that Russia will for some time produce various armoured vehicles whether brand new or heavily refurbished ,but numbers being produced are more emphasised than fit for purpose , with adequate sensors for all of these not a priority
Imagine they had the best sensors available to AFVs in the world today. Would it help much from the confines of a tank-shed? Are we seeing the kind of longer range engagements where marginal differences in sensors make a large difference? What I think the real issue is that Russia needs either an HAPC or HIFV, that it can mass-produce at scale, that will offer drastically better survivability.

300. ;) I think your fingers slipped.
It did, thanks.
 

wsb05

Member
What are the bottlenecks for increased tank production? They are installing new guns, engines, pneumatics and electronics.
I suspect they are not increasing new builds simply because of the availability of tanks to refurbish.
They probably simply need extra welders for modern turrets.
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
I don't believe this has been covered but there have been articles of an increase of twenty fold in H.I.V amongst Russian military forces ,reports that needles are used multiple times by by nurses treating wounded ,or that there was no testing of "recruits" from prisons into the Russian army
The clip below goes also into this
 

wsb05

Member
Imagine they had the best sensors available to AFVs in the world today. Would it help much from the confines of a tank-shed? Are we seeing the kind of longer range engagements where marginal differences in sensors make a large difference? What I think the real issue is that Russia needs either an HAPC or HIFV, that it can mass-produce at scale, that will offer drastically better survivability.



It did, thanks.
They will probably manufacture BMPT
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

BMP-3M deliveries continue. Nakidka thermal shrouds are mentioned and they are sometimes seen on the front lines, but I'm skeptical of claims that all newly delivered vehicles come with them. We also have some fresh footage of production, including what looks like some sort of command vehicle on the BMP-3 chassis.


A new BMP engine, the UTD-32T is being tested. A more powerful BMP engine is a prerequisite for heavier and better protected vehicles.


It appears Russia is upgrading BMD-2 hulls to carry extra armor kits. This may be the start of the BMD-2M upgrade program. This is similar to the BMP-2M but for the BMD-2, with extra armor, new FCS, Kornet ATGM. However it's also possible they will simply mount the extra armor.


Russia's new BTR-22 has shown up in Belarus during West-2205 exercises. The future of the type remains unclear.


The BT-3F has reportedly began state trials. This is an awkward conversion of the BMP-3 into an APC. Awkward because it retains the rear engine layout, meaning climbing in and out is difficult, and the interiors are cramped and awkwardly situated, though it does reportedly seat 12 dismounts. So presumably if you take a standard Russian assault squad of 6, you'd have plenty of space.


A photo of the Marine BMP that was under development some years ago has surfaced. The project is now likely dead. Reportedly it's a 2022 photo from UVZ.


There are reports that work on the Kurganets IFV are continuing.


Some BMP-1AMs in Chita. The type is definitely outdated even with all the upgrades, but it still represents a serious threat to most things on the Ukrainian battlefield, and is more capable than most troop transports used by both sides.


Work on the T-62 upgrade and refurbishment continues at a high pace.


The 155th MarBde is officially turning back into the 55th MarDiv. Note the unit is likely already a division in all but name.


The 71st Guards MRDiv has been formed.


Reportedly Belarus has booted up production of artillery shell components on Chinese equipment, likely for export to Russia.


Trials of a new Russian unmanned mine clearing vehicle called Belogor. Reportedly this vehicle can do anti-tank mines as well as anti-personnel. With large minefields to clean up in occupied areas Russia will need much mine clearing equipment to get the job done.


Deliveries of the new TOS-3 continue, all on the T-80 chassis.


Russia's new unmanned system forces reportedly include battalions and regiments. There's still no details on their org-structure.


Russian South MD forces using a laser imitator system called SLIB-177. It's taken Russia a while to make this part of their regular training.


Deliveries of Kornet ATGMs and Krasnopol'-M2 guided shells continues. While Krasnopol' is definitely inferior to the Excalibur, even in the M2 variant, it's available in much larger quantities meaning Russian command can strike far more targets with guided shells. It's interesting that upgraded Konkurs ATGM variants are also being delivered, presumably refurbished from storage.


Some leaked documents appear to reveal Russian MBT plans for the forseeable future. The production schedule for UVZ reportedly looks as follows;

2027 - 31 T-90M2s, 201 T-90Ms, and 58 T-90Ms modernized from older variants. (total 290)
2028 - 280 new T-90M and M2s, and 138 T-90Ms modernized from older variants. (total 418)
2029 - 253 new T-90M and M2s, and 147 T-90Ms modernized from older variants (total 400)
2030 - data is absent
From 2031 onward there are no plans for T-90M production only overhauls and upgrades. Perhaps those contracts haven't been signed yet. Or perhaps these production slots are meant for the T-14.

The plans also reveal the intent to upgrade ~300 T-72As into T-72B3s. You'll note that the annual totals exceed the 400 tanks per year that were previously cited as the maximum throughput of the main conveyor. It's possible that the recent expansions at UVZ has increased the throughput. It's also possible the 400 limit isn't a hard limit. The number don't surpass it by much. Lastly the plans may simply be over-optimistic.


UVZ has started pulling large numbers of T-72A hulls for some purpose. Up until now only relatively small quantities of T-72As were pulled for service. It's unclear if the intent is to turn them into the T-72B3s, or convert them into BMPTs, or even produce some sort of upgraded T-72A variant.


A recent video from the UVZ factor floor shows that despite some T-72s getting Relikt on the hull, plenty are going through the production line with K-5 on the hull. We also have sighting of a T-72 with Relikt on the hull and turret. This may be the future of the T-72B3M, or this might be what they intend to do to the older T-72As.


A new batch of BMPTs were recently handed over. We see minor changes to the ERA layout and rear ERA..


We have a look at changes to the T-80BVM armor layout from this war. The extra fuel tanks are replaced by extra ERA, and the ERA layout on the front hull and turret have been adjusted.


Some time ago the Shturm unmanned MBT program was revealed. We now have our first look at the prototype rolling around UVZ. It features an unmanned turret, a short-barreled 125mm main gun, and lots of extra ERA. We can also see the H-APC command vehicle for it. In my opinion the latter vehicle is more sensible than the assault tank, if produced as just an H-APC or H-IFV.


New T-80BVMs are being delivered. The type remains a workhorse in the war.


During Putin's visit to the Motovilkha artillery works, old 155mm versions of the Msta were pulled out for display. A 2S35 was also shown, and the future of that type also remains murky. I would have guessed they pulled these systems out because Msta-S and Msta-B were not available for display, but there are at least 80 Msta-S still in storage on recent satellite imagery. Recent satellite imagery suggests that the fatory in question has been recently expanded. It remains to be seen what the expanded production space is dedicated to.


A video of the 2S44 Giastint-K in action. It reveals some interesting details about the system design.


Planshet-M-IR artillery command vehicles on the Patrul' MRAP chassis are being delivered.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Russian National Guard exercises recently revealed they're gone back to operating heavy artillery and MBTs. They've also shown off their new Streit Group Spartan SUT amored cars... built on a Ford chassis. So US industry is now part of the supply chain for the Russian military. They even have a mortar variant called the 2B24 Deva, suggesting this is adapted for a Russian mortar system. Now it's possible the vehicle is misidentified, and we're looking at some sort of Chinese knock-off.


Moscow National Guard unit shows off their Streit Group Cobra LAMV. This is the second Streit Group vehicle we have seen in Russian service, the first was the Spartan SUT.


Russia reportedly intends to purchase the "new" Sarma 300mm MLRS with 12 TELs and 12 loaders ordered. This of course isn't a new system at all. It was previously presented under the name Kama, and it's one half of a BM-30 on a Kamaz chassis. In my opinion this is a road to nowhere, and the far more logical choice was a unified TEL for the Kalibr and Tornado-S. Note, the max range here is being described as 200kms which might indicate a new munition, as normal Tornado-S fires ~90kms, and previous Kama variants were listed with a range of 100kms.


A Courier UGV carrying a spool of fiber-optic cable for control and one carrying a laser system for mine clearing.


Russia continues testing of turrets for anti-UAV work. So far the results are unimpressive. We have HMGs, existing auto-cannon modules like the Spitsa turret, currently being used on Vystrel (also known as the BPM-97 Dozor) armored cars, and a ZU-23-2 upgrade.


Russia is testing a new MANPADS called Hermes (Germes). This is confusing because that's also the name of another missile system, but a surface-surface one.


Buk-M3 deliveries reportedly are continuing. Footage of them in service remains exceedingly rare, but what's more significant is that when we do see them, they don't carry a full combat load suggesting continuing shortages of SAMs.


A look at new Tor-M2 variants, with built-in EW, presumably for drone defense.


Russian troops at West-2025 are spotted with new Kvadrat and Sprint satcom terminals.


Russia's 83rd VDV Bde and 7th VDV division with the new RPL-20 LMG.


UVZ has gotten into producing armor kits and drone-cages for trucks. Here we have several different variants.


Fresh Kamaz trailer trucks delivered to the Russian ground forces with EW installed.


An entire column of Chekan armored trucks was recently spotted. The type appears to still be in production. The desert paint jobs suggests their destination isn't Ukraine.

 
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