Cate's Research-Investigation Bureau

  Image is taken from Rostec video presentation. The Central Scientific Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITOCHMASH) of the Rostec State Corporation has completed acceptance tests of the 120-mm self-propelled artillery piece "Lotos", Index 2S42. - The combat vehicle has accomplished the specified tactical and technical characteristics,   "Rostec" . The testing phase, including 57 testing points, made it possible to evaluate the performance of all internal components, mechanisms and instruments of the weapon system.  During the tests "Lotus" covered 400 km and fired 14 shots. The military representation at TsNIITOCHMASH signed an official document on the compliance of the prototype of the SPG with working design documentation and readiness for preliminary tests.  SPG "Lotos" has a mass of no more than 18 tons, maximum speed - 70 km / h, engine power - 450 hp, cruising range - not less than 500 km.  The combat crew consists of four p...

  T-80BV-RM 'Object 219M' Based on the number of tanks of T-80B's and T-80BV's in-tank Park of the Russian Federation and the accumulated scientific and technical grazed to maintain the required level of combat readiness of armoured forces at a minimum strategy manager of funds by the specialists of JSC "Spetsmash" at the end of the first decade of the 2000s has developed a new modernization order of tanks T-80B and T-80BV. The prerequisites justifying this decision were: The presence of the T-80BV tank reserved for modernization by weight of about 2 tons. Ability to temporarily increase the power of the engine from 1250 HP to 1400 HP. The emergence of a computerized power plant control system The groundwork for a new-generation fire control system based on a digital information and control system Proven, unified with other tank designs of dynamic protection, as well as the development of a combination of dynamic, active and individual protection The appearanc...

  Vesna-K BMP-3 Gunner sighting system Vesna-K. Vesna-K view from gunners position. Vesna-K view from commanders position. ( Vesna-K screen duplicates output for both gunner and commander ) A video showcasing the early Vesna-K system(view 1st image for reference)

Combined sights of the gunner-operator 1K13-2 and "Sozh" used on the BMP-3 IFV   1K13-2 --- T ank sight-targeting device "Bug". Application: KUV 9K116-3 ("Fable"), AV Kliver (TKB-799), BTR-90 "Rostok" (BO 675-sb.120-01), experimental T-72M1 tank

 Ka-50 on-board electronics  Hatches are only opened when the maintenance of both electronics and the mechanical systems has to be done.  Taken from: ArmyLV

  In 2004, the T-90A (Object 188A1) tank joined the Russian armed forces. It included many fire control system upgrades, a new welded turret, and improved mobility. The T-90A Obr. 2004 tank was fitted with a T01-K05 Buran-M Obr. 2004 3rd generation night vision sight, which improved over the previous T01-K01 Buran-PA sight from the T-90 Obr. 1992. --Picture of T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2004-- In 2005, the tank received an upgrade for the sight, which became T01-K05 Buran-M Obr. 2005, with noticeable differences in the sight's housing. --Picture of T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2005-- --Picture of T-90A diagram with Buran-M Obr. 2005-- --Picture of two T-90As, one with Obr. 2004 and one with Obr. 2005 Buran-M sights-- Above: T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2004 sight, and behind it, T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2005 sight. In 2006, the T-90A had to be brought to more modern standards, so the production of this model with new second-generation thermal imaging sight began. The sight was named ESSA, wh...

Some may think this is the Puma IFV, and you are not wrong, but also not right. The ACV at its time was the first attempt at an IFV role and a first attempt to become the new "M113" with a universal role, the ACV had plans to be installed with the following turrets: The general specs of the ACV-Puma are different per chassis, in total there are 3 basic chassis models. The main difference is the length, weight and engine power. The one that isn't on the picture is the ACV-Puma 1A5 (I call it that since there no official name) the reason for this is because of the usage of the Leopard 1A5 turret. This was proposed by KMW (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) around the 1990s. It was using the in-house Puma development hull and was intended to use the surplus 1A5 turrets on this chassis (around this time the leopard 2's were already in service and leopard 1's were going out to get scrapped or sold) However, this came with a flaw, it didn't really make the puma an IFV, but an...

 The BMP-2M had many variants, ranging from BMP-2M with Combat Module B05YA01 "Berezhok" to BMP-2M with Combat Module "Bakcha-U" to more uncommon variants that never saw the light of being accepted into the Russian Armed Forces. BMP-2M with L-shaped support arm and additional armour protection on the sides One of the more unknown variants was the BMP-2M with an automatic grenade launcher. The firing capabilities were enhanced by installing a different weapon system. A 30mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher is mounted in the turret rear on an L-shaped support arm with a vertical elevation mechanism. The AG-17 had the option to be controlled by 2 crew members. The gunner had the ability to aim the weapon system through his primary sight which was also linked to the main 30mm 2A42 gun. The commander also had access to the AG-17 but could control it through his 1PZ-13 sight, which had ranging markers that allowed the automatic grenade launcher to fire up to a maximum ran...

IPM1 Images from Operation Desert Storm Provided by: Nighthawk767

  The picture shows T-90A tanks that belong to the latest T-90A upgrade batch from 2010. These are the so-called "T-90A with PTK" or "Object 188A2". Their difference is that they were equipped with a software and hardware complex for the interaction of the automated process control system. This allowed better communication between different tank crews. The actual upgrade batch of T-90A's with this system stayed relatively unknown, while only appearing several times during training in the South of Russia. It's unknown how many T-90A Obr.2010 have actually been made and sent to the Russian Armed Forces.  According to GRAU Index, 2 T-90A variants exist with the "ПТК" System. Main Battle Tank T-90A (with  software and hardware complex PTK-T-2 ) 1. - digital PTK antenna. Installed in the rear of the turret behind the commanders remote controller heavy MG. 2. - normal communication antenna. The photo shows only the spring input, which is only available f...

A mobile radar system for detecting aerodynamic and ballistic objects at low, medium, and high altitudes. The radar is developed and manufactured by the Almaz-Antey air defense concern. The FIRST public display of the 96L6E radar took place at the MAKS-2001 air show in Ramenskoye. State tests of the 96L6E radar were successfully completed in 2005. The 96L6-1 radar was adopted by the Russian defense Ministry by Order of the Minister of defense in 2008. Serial production of the radar has been carried out by the Lianozovsky electro-mechanical plant (JSC NPO LEMZ) since at least 2007. In October 2011 NPO LEMZ decided to extend the State testing of the 96L6AP antenna post for 2012  Radar 96L6E "all-Altitude detector" in the deployed position.

2S14 Zhalo-S prototype tank destroyer   2S14 Zhalo-S (Kubinka Tank Museum) The 2S14 Zhalo-S was a prototype tank destroyer, made in the mid-’70s. The Zhalo-S was using the BTR-70 chassis. Instead of a high caliber heavy machine gun, it was armed with an 85-mm 2A62 gun with an inbuilt automatic autoloader. The tank weighed 12tons and was powered by 2 engines( ZMZ-4905 ) totaling 240hp. The vehicle was able to reach a speed of 80km/h on the road and 10 km/h in the water. As previously mentioned, the chassis was the same as the BTR-70 featuring 9mm or armor on the front and 7mm on the side and rear. The 2A62 gun (a modified version of the D-44) was shooting up to 15 rounds per minute(4 second reload), but the penetration was considered too poor for modern warfare, due to the most powerful shells not having an adequate performance compared to other vehicles made during that time.  Schematic of 2S14 Shalo-S The Russian marine corp in the mid-70s was armed with the out-dated PT-76, ...

  Shown at an exhibition in Omsk in 2001. ERA  blocks are located on the side and frontal parts of the hull and turret together with rubber fabric and lattice screens.  Additional protection significantly increases the survivability of the BMP-3. Advertising information of those years stated that the BMP-3 with the "Karkas-1"/"Karkas-2" was capable of withstanding the impact of HEAT grenades (RPG) with armour penetration up to 550 mm.  Also, reactive armour blocks increase the armour's resistance to damage from bullets of 14.5 mm calibre. Only known image of a BMP-3M swimming with the additional armour package. Further topic on BMP-3 ERA package

Chinese tank crew losing front roadwheel on their ZTZ-96B MBT while clearing obstacle hill at Kubinka, Tank Biathlon Incident 2016