GarryB Sat Jul 22, 2017 2:21 pm
A brand-new heavy flame-throwing system will enter service with the Russian Armed Forces in the next few years. Based on Armata and wheeled version most likely on bumerang
Armata division would have Armata based pinochio, Boomerang division will have Boomerang based Pinochio, Kurganets division will have Kurganets based Pinochio...
The "used in parallel" comeback is flawed.
How is it flawed?
There is a valid point about Russia'a obsolete and shrinking MBT/IFV force. Also it is highly mismanaged when you have stored BMP-2s and active BMP-1s.
The Russians/Soviets have a long history of keeping top quality gear in storage and doing exercises and training on older vehicles to reduce costs and wear and tear on newer equipment. It also means using up old ammo stocks first.
Even older vehicles are generally given upgrades so their performance is at least similar to some of the newer stuff and not totally obsolete.
In an exercise it wont matter much if the troops are delivered by BMP-1 or BMP-2. In real combat the BMP-2 has better protection, but otherwise it is not that different... both are a new level above riding in the back of a truck.
You can explain about the mismanagement because you have complete information about where the photo was taken and when and what resources they had to hand and which they chose to actually use.
I would suggest the rocket fuel used in the rounds the 73mm gun of the BMP fires would be time limited and need to be used up before the 30mm cannon shells of the BMP-2.
They made the BMP-3 in tiny numbers so the idea that they don't need the BMP-1 anymore is just absurd because as I said the heavier gun armament of the larger calibre was found to be useful so they incorporate a larger calibre weapon in the underproduced BMP-3. In absence of BMP-3s it would make sense to use BMP-1s to simulate the availability of the heavier gun during exercises. In addition to using up old ammo stocks...
Worn out BMP-1s can be scrapped and replaced by ones from storage. Worn out BMP-3s need upgrades and overhauls which is expensive because there are too few of them in the first place.
But what would they know about management of such things...