Thanks for the interesting answer. What were the unreliable atgms in questions? I infer from your answer that the bmd-4m will be expected to attack armour directly as a primary function then?
The primary function of the BMD-4M will be transport of troops, and direct-fire support of dismounted infantry. They, being much newer, will be much more capable of engaging armored targets.
There is also the question of the Sprut-SD which is title as an SP anti-tank gun, but is really a light tank, and is definitely a major capability boost for the VDV.
I have been baffled by the AT weapons purchases of the past decade or more...the small numbers of any one type etc. as well as the buying of different tank hunters from the 9p149 to the 9p157-2 to the 9p162, and then the recent kornet extended range in the concealed mount (fire and forget as they said it was).
Russian military purchased handfuls of Kornet ATGMs (for dismounted infantry and pintle-mounted heavy weapons), a few Ataka ATGMs (helo-mounted only so far), and Khrizantema ATGMs (on a BMP-3 chassis). It's a fairly logical distribution. Now one might argue it would be better to develop a unified ATGM for multi-platform use. But they went the specialization route. The new Kornet-M on the Tigr platform has not been purchased so far.
Is this because they are having a problem deciding on a solution or lack of funds or because they are struggling to find a cost effective solution to modern armour? Or is it because these are stop gaps until the new MBT without the apfsds penetrator length limitations is fielded? If it is the latter, I would have thought that that was a major doctrine shift, with mbts becoming the primary tank killers.
It's a problematic situation undoubtedly. I suspect that the next-gen medium tracked platform family will include an ATGM carrier similar to the Shturm-S and the Khrizantema, and the Kornet-M which you mentioned above will be the motorized ATGM for light brigades.
I was surprised you said that t-62ms took on t-72bs and came out on top. I would be grateful if you have my more info on that, or knew where I could read up on it? I assume you read the tanks of August by CAST? I dont recall seeing that in there so I would like to read up on that. Thanks again for your interesting answer.
The Tanks of August mention the incident on page 66, but they don't elaborate on it, instead citing the loss of one T-62M commanded by Lt Neff for unknown causes. I'll see if I can find the source. Iirc I encountered the details in Red Star. But if you google "second lieutenant Neff T-62" in Russian many results come up.
Details of the incident, in Russian, here:
Ðîññèéñêèå "ìóçåéíûå" Ò-62 âîåâàëè ïðîòèâ ìîäåðíèçèðîâàííûõ ãðóçèíñêèõ Ò-72 » Ìîðäîâèÿ. Ñàðàíñê. Íîâîñòè. Ñàìûå îïåðàòèâíûå.
Basically a tank platoon under command by 2nd Lt. Neff, using T-62Ms, took up positions in support of an MRBtln. A Georgian T-72 rolled out into an intersection 100m away, with a platoon sized support element (~20 infantry with some RPGs). The Lts tank fired and destroyed the T-72 in one shot, in the side. Another of the tank platoons tanks fired on the infantry killing reportedly 10 of the Georgian soldiers with a frag round.
Lt Neffs tank was later lost to two RPG shots, once they advanced further into the city.