On August 24, Ukraine celebrated two anniversaries at once: 27 years of independence of the country and the 100th anniversary of the first declaration of statehood. In honor of what a large-scale military parade was held in Kiev, which was called the “March of the new army”. Interest in the event was fueled by the promise of demonstrating the latest Ukrainian military equipment developed by the country's military-industrial complex in recent years. Some especially ardent representatives of the nationalist camp declared on the eve that Moscow would shudder from the power of the Ukrainian army that they had seen. The latter turned out to be an obvious exaggeration, for nothing new and especially impressive was shown at the parade. However, first things first.
What was shown to Ukrainians on August 24
By Ukrainian standards, the event was really very large: 4.5 thousand servicemen of the armed forces, the National Guard, the SBU, the State Border Service and other formations, as well as 250 units of various vehicles took part in it. Together with the Ukrainian soldiers on Khreshchatyk, the military of the NATO member countries passed in a festive order, which has already become a kind of tradition in Ukraine. In addition to ground equipment, aviation also took part in the parade; viewers could see combat and transport aircraft in the capital's sky, including the newest An-178.
The military equipment shown in the parade was mainly represented by old Soviet models restored and modernized at Ukrainian enterprises: T-72 and T-64 tanks, Gvozdika, Acacia, Msta and Hyacinth tanks, BMP- 1 and BMP-2, towed artillery.
Among the parade's new items are the T-84-120 Yatagan tank, Verba and Alder MLRS, the Bogdan self-propelled artillery gun on the Bogdan wheeled chassis, the Grom-2 tactical missile system. Also in large numbers were shown armored "Varta", "Kozak", "Dozor" and others. This type of military equipment began to appear en masse in the Ukrainian army only in recent years.
Tank T-84-120 "Yatagan". This combat vehicle is hard to call new: it was developed by the Kharkov Design Bureau of the KMDB named after Morozova specifically to participate in the tender for the Turkish army. While this tank exists in a single copy and is used mainly during parades. The main difference between "Yatagan" from the Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian tanks is the separation of ammunition from the crew of the machine. The shots are in a special stern niche with expelling panels. The T-84-120 has a completely new automatic loader and a 120-mm cannon. The day before the parade, President Poroshenko announced the resumption of the T-84-120 program and the sending of the tank to state trials. "Yatagan" can be considered a really interesting development, which solved the main problem of Soviet and post-Soviet tanks - the separation of combat compartment and ammunition. By the way, during the final rehearsal T-84-120 stalled, and for his evacuation had to call the tractor.
MLRS "Alder". This is the newest missile system, which was put into service this spring. In fact, this is an attempt by Ukraine to create its own analogue of the Soviet MLRS "Smerch". The main component of any weapon of this type is a guided missile, which the Ukrainians were able to create in just three years. According to unconfirmed information, the maximum range of "Alder" will be 120 km, and the QUO - only 5 meters. Serial production of the complex will begin this year.
MLRS "willow". Another attempt to "give a new breath" to the old Soviet weapons, "Willow" - is the modernization of the famous system BM-21 "Grad". Its combat unit is mounted on the KrAZ-6322-010 chassis, the complex received new navigation and guidance systems. Unlike the Soviet predecessor, you can aim and control the fire directly from the cabin. An interesting feature of the "Willow" is the presence of a system of jacks (outriggers), on which the machine "hangs out" during the shooting, which greatly increases its accuracy. There is only one problem with this complex - it has not yet appeared in combat units.
SAU "Bogdana". Self-propelled artillery installation on the chassis of the KrAZ-63221. For the first time, it was demonstrated just a few days before the parade and immediately became the object of keen interest and criticism. In the shown installation, there is no automatic loader, a lot of questions also arise from the barrel of the Bogdana. At present, the ACS is in the testing phase, and we are not yet talking about the dates for the start of mass production. The self-propelled gun has a NATO caliber of 155 mm, its range of fire, according to the assurances of the secretary of the Ukrainian RNBO Turchynov, reaches 70 km.
OTRK "Thunder-2". The missile system, which is a continuation of the Ukrainian project "Sapsan", which was carried out at the end of the 2000s. At the parade a prototype was presented, because the rocket itself is still in development. At the end of last year her fire tests were conducted. The planned firing range will be 280 km. You can also add that the funds for the development of the rocket were allocated by Saudi Arabia. The creation of "Thunder" is engaged in the legendary design bureau "Southern".
An-178. The first flight of this transport aircraft took place in 2015, after which it was demonstrated at air shows at Le Bourget and Farnborough, where it was warmly received by the expert community.
Of the new parade, it is worth noting the Zoo-3 radar produced by the Zaporozhye plant Iskra, as well as the Lviv Obolon-A artillery control complex, but to date these samples are practically not represented in combat units. The viewers were shown the American Javelin anti-tank complex, which only last year began to enter service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kievans and guests of the capital were able to see the newest Ukrainian second-generation anti-tank systems, the Stugna and the Corsair.
The political part of the holiday
The current parade is the last in this presidential cadence of Petro Poroshenko. Therefore, do not be surprised at its scope. As well as loud statements that made the Ukrainian commander in chief. In particular, he called on citizens of the country to completely sever all ties with Russia, and to exclude any prospect of returning "to the zone of Russian influence." “We are breaking all the ties that connected us with the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union,” Poroshenko said in his speech. At the beginning of autumn, he promised to submit to Parliament a bill that would enshrine the country's path to NATO and the EU in the Constitution.
"Cherry on the cake" of the celebration was the approval of the slogan of Ukrainian nationalists "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" as an official welcome to the MAT.
Ukraine did not show anything on its parade that could “shake its enemies”. Most of the presented equipment is simply restored and modernized Soviet samples. Newly advertised products are not yet commercially available, or even not accepted at all. But to expect another would probably be too naive. Four years ago, Ukraine did not have an army at all and the path that the country has covered during this period is a matter of respect.
