The time of multi-million armies is coming to an end. Today, the outcome of the campaigns is decided by a relatively small group of professionals, and therefore the first place goes to the quality of training a fighter and his equipment. Despite the increasing use of electronics on the battlefield, its outcome, as before, is decided by people. The time when the fighter had at his disposal AK-47 and was protected only by body armor becomes history.
The advanced armies of the world attach particular importance to the personal armament of the fighter, his defense, communications and navigation on the battlefield. Similar developments are actively conducted in the USA, Great Britain, France, China and other countries. Russia, albeit with a delay, also began work in this direction. Starting from the middle of the last decade, the development of new Russian combat gear began. Dozens of defense enterprises took part in this project. The beginning of the massive supply of equipment complex in the army began in 2018.
State tests of new military uniforms started in 2012, she received the name "Warrior". Journalists immediately called this outfit a "kit of the soldier of the future." The military gave her a high rating.
A bit of history
Historical practice shows that the Russian military is not too fond of innovation. For example, the soldiers of the Red Army met the beginning of the Second World War in almost the same form in which their fathers fought in the First World War. The overcoat was slightly shortened, the shirts changed the style, but there were no major changes.
Almost the same situation was after the end of the war. New types of small arms were created, new tanks and aircraft appeared, and the form of the Soviet soldier remained almost the same. Serious changes occurred only during the first major conflict in which the Soviet army took part - the war in Afghanistan. The army has become much more body armor, which, by the way, the Americans began to use during the Vietnam War. There have been some other changes in equipment.
It should be honestly admitted that military suit and equipment have never been a top priority issue for the Russian command. Where the number of soldiers was more important, the number of tanks and guns was even more important. The convenience of the fighter was thought of last.
Leaders in the development of military equipment, of course, are the Americans. The United States has always sought to fight with maximum comfort, and therefore, in this country, traditionally, much attention is paid to the form of a soldier, the convenience of his weapon, the individual ration of food for a fighter and the provision of maximum comfort, even in a combat situation. It is possible that right now Russia will be able not only to catch up with the Americans, but also to create combat gear, at least not inferior to the best world models.
The concept of "Warrior"
New Russian equipment "Warrior" should improve the combat capability of the fighter, increase the level of its protection, mobility and significantly reduce the loss of personnel, through the use of new technologies and materials. "Warrior" is not only a new form of military personnel, but also a complex complex, including individual communications, a night vision device, a system of protection and the form itself. In total, the "costume of the soldier of the future" includes 10 different subsystems and 59 different subjects.
He must ensure the effective action of a fighter day and night, in all weather conditions. For the first time, the general public saw the “Warrior” at the MAKS-2011 aerospace show.
Equipment items
The complex includes:
- overalls made of special fire-resistant fiber, able to withstand the ingress of fragments;
- body armor of the sixth class of protection, reinforced with ceramic plates;
- a helmet made of special material that can withstand a shot of PM from five meters;
- the Strelets communication and target designation system, capable of transmitting information about the state of the soldier and his position to the command post;
- positioning system capable of solving problems of orientation of the fighter on the ground;
- power supply system;
- special safety glasses that can withstand small fragments;
- shields to protect the knees and elbows;
- water filters;
- personal fighter’s weapons with night vision or thermal imaging;
- special module for sniping;
- several different types of thermal sights: for large-caliber weapons, for routine observation, for reconnaissance;
- thermal sight "Shahin" - serves to ensure the shooting at any time of the day;
- collimator sight "Krechet" and night vision monocular "Lun";
- special backpacks of different types and sizes (10 and 50 liters), as well as a discharge vest;
- camouflage kits that provide low visibility in the infrared range;
- insulation for use in the cold season, a rug, a ventilated T-shirt, a raincoat, a balaclava, a cap, a mosquito net;
- tent and sleeping bag;
- heat source;
- battery for powering electronic devices;
- special headphones that can be used during the battle;
- knife "Bumblebee";
- the system of defining "one’s own — someone else's" (to be adopted after 2018).
The total weight of the "Warrior" complex is approximately 20 kilograms (not counting weapons and ammunition). This combat suit covers 90% of the body of a fighter, the body armor has numerous modifications. Another undoubted advantage of the "Warrior" is its modular design.
The developers have done everything possible so that the fighter did not feel inconvenience, even being in the outfit for 48 hours. The electronic components of the suit exchange information without using wires. Information about the location of the fighter is transmitted to the command post, so the probability of missing a soldier with such equipment is minimal.
Using the capabilities of the complex, you can give target designation to anti-aircraft or anti-tank complexes. Using a television sight, a fighter can fire from behind cover or from the hip. "Warrior" can use grenade launchers and sniper. For the complex are developing new types of small arms.
The saturation of the electronics and excellent communication system "Warrior" makes it possible to transform the tactical unit into a coherent whole. The Sagittarius complex allows the soldier to transmit not only text and voice messages to the command post, but also to broadcast video from the battlefield.
By many characteristics (weight and level of protection) "Warrior" surpasses foreign analogues. In particular, the "Warrior" surpasses its French counterpart, the FELIN complex, which recently planned to buy the Russian Defense Ministry.
You can also add that the average service life of one set of uniforms will be five years. The cost of one set is about 1 million rubles. The leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense promises to provide every military man with a similar suit by the end of this decade. But given the economic crisis in such promises hard to believe.
