RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS TO RECEIVE NEW COMBAT VEHICLES AND PARACHUTES
RIA Novosti
MOSCOW, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - In 2005, units of the Russian Airborne Troops will be equipped with a new BMD-4 airborne combat vehicle, which does not have analogues in the world, announced Commander of Airborne Troops Alexander Kolmakov at a press conference in Moscow.
"To the content of Russian paratroopers, a new combat vehicle has been developed and adopted for the deployment in Russian airborne units this year," he revealed.
He said that the new combat vehicle did not have foreign analogues because in addition to advanced technical features and high combat capabilities, the vehicle has airborne capabilities.
"In general, all Russian-made combat vehicles for airborne units have this capability, in contrast to foreign armies," he emphasized.
Mr. Kolmakov told the journalists that special alloys had been used in the design of BMD-4, and as a result the vehicle turned out to be both powerful and light.
"This combat vehicle has all required performance characteristics. It is amphibious, light and well armed. Like its predecessor, BMD-3, it has a hull made of special alloys and a turret, but features a lot of modifications. In addition, it is equipped with a 100-mm gun," Mr. Kolmakov explained.
He said that the deployment of BMD-4 would significantly increase combat strength of Russian airborne units.
Mr. Kolmakov also announced that in 2005 two airborne regiments would be equipped with D-10 parachutes.
"Initially, we planned to equip only one regiment with new D-10 parachutes, but we are currently considering allocation of additional funds to equip two airborne regiments with these systems," he said.
Mr. Kolmakov added that new parachute systems had been already tested and had performed well.
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