Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) News:

TR1 wrote:http://bmpd.livejournal.com/458902.html

Airdropped Chapel Trucks....freaking retarded.

Would you prefer a priest or a political officer?

In the Armenian Army, most battalions have a priest. These people get great respect from the soldiers (even from the Atheists). In many Orthodox Christian countries, the Church is tightly connected to the country's history and culture. Even non believers and not practicioners recognize that.
These Priests could have stayed in their warm and cozy monasteries. Instead they have chosen to share the soldier's barracks or trenches. In tough times, the young soldiers need both military leadership (from officers) and spiritual leadership (from Priests).

Do not underestimate the positive effect these men with Black gowns have on the young lads.

Don't waste your breath on these heathens...

Priest is nice, airdropped chapel is stupid.

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201303220923-f2gd.htm

Nice video report, footage of Kitalov smart round used by Nona!

http://www.flamber.ru/files/photos/1211922554/1219692628_f.jpg

Air dropped Chapel is stupid?

What is the point of having a god if you don't have a box to keep him in?

http://zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=5951410

Tender for the modernization of 212 BMD-1 to BMD-2 level.
145 in 2013, and 67 in 2014.
Not sure how these numbers stack up with the previously identified tenders, but for sure the process (not this tender presumably) already started last year.

EDIT: Each vehicle costs 16 million rubles to modernize.

Supposedly in 2012 135 BMD-1s were modernized. Gives you an idea of how big the park is.

TR1 wrote:Supposedly in 2012 135 BMD-1s were modernized. Gives you an idea of how big the park is.

Hmmm..., any more details on the BMD-2 level enhancements weaponry,Comms,Armor, engine??

Follow up question, have the VDV received any new ATGM as of recent considering there complaint about what had happened during the Five-Day War?

AlfaT8 wrote:

TR1 wrote:Supposedly in 2012 135 BMD-1s were modernized. Gives you an idea of how big the park is.

Hmmm..., any more details on the BMD-2 level enhancements weaponry,Comms,Armor, engine??  

New radios, new turret (similar to BMD-2), complete Kapremont.
Not a huge modernization other than that.


Photos of the BMD-4M hulls under construction:

TR1,

Where are the new BMD-4M being produced? kurgan? Volgograd?

Kurganmash.

Part of the cost increase was due to production moving to Kurgan.

MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) – A hybrid combat vehicle that combines features of an airborne infantry fighting vehicle and a helicopter will be developed for the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) by 2030 to meet the demands of modern warfare, the military branch’s commander said Thursday.

“Armed conflicts of the 2020s-2030s will most certainly demand a combat module that would be something between an armored vehicle and a helicopter,” Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said.

“We are thinking about developing a hybrid of a light combat vehicle and an attack helicopter with a crew of three-four people,” the general said.

Interesting... thinking Ka-226T but instead of a simple box payload it has an IFV in its own right as a payload with a shell it can drive into to become a transport helo...

The Russian military is expected to acquire at least 1,000 BMD-4Ms under the current rearmament program by 2020, the army says.

Keep in mind that the 1,000 BMP-4Ms they are talking about would be of various modifications including IFV, APC, and other platforms sharing the same chassis and layout.

New BTR-82 armoured personnel carriers and Tigr (Tiger) armoured cars will in the future replace the outdated samples of tracked armoured vehicles in Russia’s Airborne Forces (VDV), Commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov said on Friday.

http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/947543.html

wut

Doesn't sound like it will be the entire VDV.


MOD got to Shamanov at least partially though. They are obsessed with turning the VDV into a wheeled force.

BTR-82 and Tigr will be helicopter mobile and could be used in Air Assault brigades flown in via helo...

Will be interesting to see how the force changes, but they will still need BMD-4M and air dropped armoured forces.

VDV is probably the force that most needs tracked armoured vehicles; no matter how they get there.

BTR-82 is way too heavy for helo-transportation.
Even the Tigr would be pushing it; maybe some configurations of a specially-modified version. Just about.

I have my doubts that they would risk using the Mi-26s in air-assault operations.

It sounds more like both will be replacing certain vehicles in the air-transportable role; when a VDV unit is transported from one airfield to another.
The only encouraging thing is that they stated that they will only be replacing obsolete vehicles.

flamming_python wrote:VDV is probably the force that most needs tracked armoured vehicles; no matter how they get there.

BTR-82 is way too heavy for helo-transportation.
Even the Tigr would be pushing it; maybe some configurations of a specially-modified version. Just about.

I have my doubts that they would risk using the Mi-26s in air-assault operations.

It sounds more like both will be replacing certain vehicles in the air-transportable role; when a VDV unit is transported from one airfield to another.
The only encouraging thing is that they stated that they will only be replacing obsolete vehicles.

I believe there was a discussion about turning the VDV in to a mobile helicopter force, and it was concluded that that was mental.

So on the issue, i would much prefer more BMD-3s, Spurt-SDs and above all BMD-4Ms than the introduction of the BTR-82, and as for the Tigr, it would be a welcomed addition for modernization purposes, but only if it can be parachuted in, so it would probably have to be a GAZ-29651 "Karatel" modernized to Tigre-M standards.

If the VDV turns into a wheeled mobile force they will be more restricted to roads and with that there mobility (freedom of movement) will be seriously hampered, overall a very  stupid idea.  

"they stated that they will only be replacing obsolete vehicles"
Hmm...have they stated (clarified) what they consider as being "obsolete"?

P.S: Has the VDV recieve any new ATGMs as of recent?

With DIRCMs fitted optical and IR guided MANPADS will not be so effective, and it is likely that heli landed forces can be used to secure an area where light transports can land their land vehicles... the MTA should be able to carry a couple of Tigrs or a BTR-82A. The An-70 could carry 2-3 BTR-82As or 4-5 Tigrs.

TR1 wrote:http://zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=5951410

Tender for the modernization of 212 BMD-1 to BMD-2 level.
145 in 2013, and 67 in 2014.
Not sure how these numbers stack up with the previously identified tenders, but for sure the process (not this tender presumably) already started last year.

EDIT: Each vehicle costs 16 million rubles to modernize.

Supposedly in 2012 135 BMD-1s were modernized. Gives you an idea of how big the park is.

This passed by me:

http://lenta.ru/news/2013/11/11/bmd2/

In 2014 more than 200 BMD-2 will be modernized, with 30 vehicles of the type to be delivered before the end of the year.
Vehicles will receive kapremont, and new equipment similar to the modernized BMD-1s: new radio R-168, stabilizer 2E36, nothing big.

I guess VDV realizes it will have to keep waiting for new vehicles due to the feet dragging in the past several years regarding BMD-4.

Assuming all the contracts were actually met, that's 212+135+200+30: 577+ revitalized BMDs by the end of 2014.

At the end of the day the VDV if anything is gaining strength, so the park of vehicles needing to be replaced with modern BMDs is huge. Someone is gonna make a loooot of money on it.

So BMD-4 is being withdrawn from service- current vehicles (sub 30 of them) are being sent to training units, likely to preserve BMD-4M life when they are delivered.

They are being replaced with the fresh BMD-2s for now.

TR1 wrote:So BMD-4 is being withdrawn from service- current vehicles (sub 30 of them) are being sent to training units, likely to preserve BMD-4M life when they are delivered.

They are being replaced with the fresh BMD-2s for now.

wut

flamming_python wrote:

TR1 wrote:So BMD-4 is being withdrawn from service- current vehicles (sub 30 of them) are being sent to training units, likely to preserve BMD-4M life when they are delivered.

They are being replaced with the fresh BMD-2s for now.

wut

BMD-4M has different chassis, so as resource and warranty on the BMD-4s runs out, MOD doesn't want to invest too much to keep em going.
So shove them into training units, so BMD-4M can stick to service units when they are finally delivered.

Makes sense I guess; I got scared that it the BMD-4 withdrawal included the BMD-4Ms there for a second.

Still wondering though what the point of replacing BMD-4s with BMD-2s though is. Why go to the trouble?

There is only several dozen of the BMD-4 is basically why, no point in keeping a "dead end" chassis in service. When they are near dead they can still be used as static training tools for BMD-4M units.

BMD-2 is the basis of the fleet so it is the logical (and only) go to replacement for now.