Russian Photos (updated on regular basis)

[-Julik- 4.GdKp]

http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=23777...b_sort=0&cid=9

[Bro Jangles]

Ak-108 mechanism is better than Ak-101, than why Ak-108 isnt popular as Ak-101 ????

Or it is !!

has anyone adopted a counter balanced rifle?

any way to convert a Standard AK to a AK108 spec?

[manberries]

has anyone adopted a counter balanced rifle?

any way to convert a Standard AK to a AK108 spec?

That seems rather impossible to me, but I cannot say for sure. The AK-107/108 are radically new designs. Even the parts that AK's have shared in common since the birth of the AK-47 have now been changed to some degree. If there was a way to modify an old AK like an AK-74M to an AK-107 it would probably be more expensive than just buying a new weapon.

[-Julik- 4.GdKp]

Another great docu from 8.8.08 with interesting scenes from attacking russian SU-25.
http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=237724&p=2&sort=1&cid=1

[planeman]

8-14 (6-12) troops, + 1 BMP\BTR (APC)
1-2 PK
1-2 RPG (may be more)
1-2 SVD
all others - AK74 (+ GP25\30)
(from open sources)

Thanks.

So, two realistic dispositions might be:

8 man unit:
1 x SVD
1 x RPK-74
6 x AK-74

8 man unit:
1 x PKM
1 x RPG-27V
6 x AK-74

?

[JRT]

Thanks.


8 man unit:
1 x PKM
1 x RPG-27V
6 x AK-74

I am quite sure that one dude is not going to shoot enemy infantry with his RPG, nor is he likely to just sit back and smoke some Machorka while the rest of the squad is in killing business.

[GazB]

They may have a bigger military budget and maybe can afford those aircrafts? Russia is not in dire need of funds in some sectors as many view, and saying the pak fa isn't needed is not a good thought. So Russia and her smaller allies are stuck with jets that can be seen hundreds of km away while their jets are less the 100 km? Not the best idea.

I am not saying that stealth is useless or that Russia is poor, I just don't want to see them squander money on things they don't urgently need. There are lots of technologies they can invest money in that will bring economic benefit to Russia. Raising life expectancy, raising standard of living are more important than having the latest flashest aircraft. The aircraft they have in service now are only just below adequate for the job. Give them upgrades and get the Mig-35 and Su-35 into service and the Russian AF will be much more capable than it has ever been. The PAK-FA will be the icing on the cake.

At the end of the Day the only countries they really need PAK-FAs to use against like NATO, the US and China, such conflicts will be resolved by nukes not fighter planes... and hopefully such conflicts can be avoided.

Question about the M-55, is it true that one of it's roles was infact to intercept and destroy high flying unmanned recce ballons during the Cold War?
Any idea what weapons it carried to fill this role if this is true? I'd imagine an internal cannon would be adequate right?

That was the M-17. It was single engined and had a sensor on its nose to detect and track balloons. It had a gun turret behind the nose on the aircrafts back I believe armed with very special 23mm cannon shells. These rounds could not be fired at lower level or even during rain because their fuses were so sensitive so that they would blow up on impact with a balloons outer surface and blow a hole in it. The whole purpose of the M-17 was to shoot down balloons. When the balloons stopped coming they changed to a twin engine model (M-55) and were looking at using it for high altitude recon and for collecting intel over the battlefield.

Thanks.

So, two realistic dispositions might be:

8 man unit:
1 x SVD
1 x RPK-74
6 x AK-74

8 man unit:
1 x PKM
1 x RPG-27V
6 x AK-74

From a recently posted TOE:

Total staff: 2901 in / s (248 officers, 730 sergeants, soldiers, 1928)

Personal firearms:
5.45-mm AK-74M -1183
5.45 mm AKS-74U machine - 1178
7.62-mm automatic AKM with PBS - 6
9-mm automatic AS - 54
9-mm pistols P-Ya - 432
7.62-mm pistols PSS - 31

as well as:
7.62-mm sniper rifles SVD-S - 33
9-mm sniper rifle VSS - 8
5.45-mm machine guns RPK-74M - 30
7.62-mm machine guns PKP - 35
RPG-7V2 - 81
RPO-A - 180

The new Pecheneg which I assume is designated PKP seems to be replacing the PKM and the RPK in some roles.
The RPG-27V is a single shot disposable weapon so that operator will probably also have an AK too.

[sepheronx]

So are they going to replace the AK-74? Or just keep going with it? How bout RPG? Are they going to replace it with something new?

As for the PAK FA, I just see it as a usefull tool for defending the nation, and not aggressive. Aggressive from industrial nations will be against other nations that don't have an army or arms capable to fight back with nuclear weapons. And for that matter, won't have stealth. But seeing that a lot of nations are going to get the F-35 cause it is a cheap stealth 5th gen, then kind of questions us on why Russia decides to continue with the non stealth. But lets say they make a stealth version of the Flanker, then that is fine, as it would still take a proven plane with the cost effectiveness behind it, and make it usefull in almost all rolls.

[GazB]

But lets say they make a stealth version of the Flanker, then that is fine, as it would still take a proven plane with the cost effectiveness behind it, and make it usefull in almost all rolls.

Stealth is a classic example of the laws of diminished returns. You can get any aircraft and spend 1 million dollars and reduce its radar cross section by 10%. The problem is that to reduce it by another 10% will cost $100 million. To reduce it by another 10% it will cost a billion etc etc. Reducing a RCS by 10% might reduce the detection range of the aircraft by other radars by 10%. Reducing it by 20% might reduce the detection range by 15%. Reducing it by 30% (for a billion dollars) might reduce the detection range by 22%. Making a Flanker harder to spot with a few shaping changes and some RAM is a good idea but trying to make it a 5th gen fighter is pointless. 90% of the things the Russian AF needs fighter aircraft for however they will not need stealthy aircraft. Stealth is a tool, but shouldn't be the only tool. For example stealth is a waste of time for an A-10 like plane or a helo. The threat for those types of aircraft used in those types of roles does not include radar guided weapons.

[Cobra_Commander]

As for the PAK FA, I just see it as a usefull tool for defending the nation, and not aggressive. Aggressive from industrial nations will be against other nations that don't have an army or arms capable to fight back with nuclear weapons. And for that matter, won't have stealth. But seeing that a lot of nations are going to get the F-35 cause it is a cheap stealth 5th gen, then kind of questions us on why Russia decides to continue with the non stealth. But lets say they make a stealth version of the Flanker, then that is fine, as it would still take a proven plane with the cost effectiveness behind it, and make it usefull in almost all rolls.

If PAK FA is intended to counter the F-22 then its probably more heavier and possibly quite more expensive than the F-35. So maybe thats the reason why MiG has continued developing their own 5th gen. aircraft called "Light Multi-function Frontal Aircraft" which would serve as the F-35's counterpart. I'm not sure though if this program is as realistic as the PAK FA since there are very few info available about it.

[JRT]

That was the M-17. It was single engined and had a sensor on its nose to detect and track balloons. It had a gun turret behind the nose on the aircrafts back I believe armed with very special 23mm cannon shells. These rounds could not be fired at lower level or even during rain because their fuses were so sensitive so that they would blow up on impact with a balloons outer surface and blow a hole in it.

I wonder if the fuse was the same used in 23x152mm HE-T round. I remember from early 2000's the guys gunning with ZU-23-2's in light rain and tracer rounds popping 50 metres after they left the muzzle on raindrop impact. It sure was a sight.

The HE round without tracer didn't have that same feature.

[GazB]

I wonder if the fuse was the same used in 23x152mm HE-T round. I remember from early 2000's the guys gunning with ZU-23-2's in light rain and tracer rounds popping 50 metres after they left the muzzle on raindrop impact. It sure was a sight.

The HE round without tracer didn't have that same feature.

Haven't checked to make sure, but would suspect that it was aviation gun 23mm rather than army gun 23mm. That means think of a 14.5 x 114mm round necked out to a 23mm round with electrical ignition. The 23mm round for the ZU series is much higher velocity and much more powerful and percussion primed.
These days of course the 30mm is standardised to the 30 x 165mm round army navy and airforce, though the AF and Navy still use electric priming I believe.

[alexz]

So, you are radical russian nationalist after all

Lenin - Mordvin/Jew

Dzerzhinsky - Polish

Trotski - Jew

Stalin - Georgian

Khrushchev - Ukrainian

Brezhnev - Ukrainian

Andropov - Jew

And at last, tada-a-a-a-a, Gorbachev- russian

I hope you understand my sense of irony. I just hate any kinds nationalism or phobias.

Andropov was a Jew?
Damn, he was a nasty dude.

[K-5]

Eltzin was Russian, that worked out just great...
-
T-62M from Ossetia. Author unknown (to me):

[jackehammond]

M-55?
more info.

Dear Members,

The original M-55 was designed to shoot down high altitude CIA reconn balloons. It has a turret behind the pilot.

Jack E. Hammond

.