'Ratnik' gear will make Russian troops fully-fledged soldiers of the future
19 March 2014, 15:49 -- The Russian Army will soon start the mass purchases of the next generation soldier gear 'Ratnik'. The gear comprises more than 40 components, including firearms, body armour, and optical, communication and navigation devices, as well as life support and power supply systems, and even knee and elbow pads. The gear will make Russian troops the fully-fledged soldiers of the future, capable of carrying out the personally given orders. It also boosts the effectiveness of the units operating in local conflict areas, for example, against terrorists.
Although the 'Ratnik' gear is made up of dozens of components and weighs a total of 20 kilos, one can take it off in a matter of seconds. Editor-in-Chief of the National Defence magazine, Igor Korotchenko, claims that the gear has been perfectly adapted to meet the Russian Army requirements.
'The Russian Army most battle-worthy units, those of contract soldiers, professionals, will be the first to use the gear. 'Ratnik' relies heavily on the use of GLONASS satellite navigation system, on Russian-made transceivers, radio sets. All the gear parts, including firearms, night vision devices etc. are Russian-made'.
50 Russian production facilities are engaged in producing the 'Ratnik' gear, whose framework is a 'breathing' synthetic overall that one can wear for two days without taking it off. The fabric of polymeric compounds protects the soldier against open fire and minor splinters, and makes them invisible to infrared cameras. The body armour has been patterned on the Soviet Army prototype, tested in Afghanistan in the 1980s. We have more on that from an officer who witnessed those events of more than 35 years ago.
'Soviet bulletproof vests consisted of two fabric protective panels (30 layers of aramid fabrics) and 25 protective plates (13 front plates and 12 rear plates). Plates were made of titanium and had a thickness of 6.5 mm. Whenever approaching Kandahar or another dangerous place, truck drivers would normally roll down the windows and hang up the vest, so one half of it would be inside the truck cab, while the other one, outside. The vest was a reliable protection if the truck was fired at from afar, but sub-machinegun bullets easily pierced the vest if the vehicle was fired on from close quarters'.
The new armour body is made of ceramic plates and Kevlar, rather than titan, so it can effectively resist even a sniper rifle bullet. The 'Ratnik' modification for seamen also has the function of a life-jacket.
The 'Ratnik's' multilayer helmet with a multifunctional device of composite materials is no comparison, of course, to the ordinary WWII bulletproof helmets. The modern-day helmet boasts a built-in video camera to record the fighting as it goes on, and a video monitor, combined with the rifle sight, so the soldier could aim from any position. But no decision has been made yet on the assault rifle, says Editor-in-Chief of Arsenal Otechestva, or Motherland's Arsenal, magazine, Victor Murakhovsky, and elaborates.
'We have to choose between the new Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle and the AEK-971 assault rifle of the Kovrov Mechanical Plant. The problem now is that the rifle should be offered in different modifications, namely for mechanized infantry, for tank crews, paratroopers and task forces. The rifle also needs a set of sights to it, to fire at daytime and at night'.
The expert council of the Military Industrial Commission will have the final say. The council is due to meet in May.
The Russian Army will soon start the mass purchases of the next generation soldier gear 'Ratnik'. The gear comprises more than 40 components, including firearms, body armour, and optical, communication and navigation devices, as well as life support and power supply systems, and even knee and elbow pads. The gear will make Russian troops the fully-fledged soldiers of the future, capable of carrying out the personally given orders. It also boosts the effectiveness of the units operating in local conflict areas, for example, against terrorists.
Although the 'Ratnik' gear is made up of dozens of components and weighs a total of 20 kilos, one can take it off in a matter of seconds. Editor-in-Chief of the National Defence magazine, Igor Korotchenko, claims that the gear has been perfectly adapted to meet the Russian Army requirements.
'The Russian Army most battle-worthy units, those of contract soldiers, professionals, will be the first to use the gear. 'Ratnik' relies heavily on the use of GLONASS satellite navigation system, on Russian-made transceivers, radio sets. All the gear parts, including firearms, night vision devices etc. are Russian-made'.
50 Russian production facilities are engaged in producing the 'Ratnik' gear, whose framework is a 'breathing' synthetic overall that one can wear for two days without taking it off. The fabric of polymeric compounds protects the soldier against open fire and minor splinters, and makes them invisible to infrared cameras. The body armour has been patterned on the Soviet Army prototype, tested in Afghanistan in the 1980s. We have more on that from an officer who witnessed those events of more than 35 years ago.
'Soviet bulletproof vests consisted of two fabric protective panels (30 layers of aramid fabrics) and 25 protective plates (13 front plates and 12 rear plates). Plates were made of titanium and had a thickness of 6.5 mm. Whenever approaching Kandahar or another dangerous place, truck drivers would normally roll down the windows and hang up the vest, so one half of it would be inside the truck cab, while the other one, outside. The vest was a reliable protection if the truck was fired at from afar, but sub-machinegun bullets easily pierced the vest if the vehicle was fired on from close quarters'.
The new armour body is made of ceramic plates and Kevlar, rather than titan, so it can effectively resist even a sniper rifle bullet. The 'Ratnik' modification for seamen also has the function of a life-jacket.
The 'Ratnik's' multilayer helmet with a multifunctional device of composite materials is no comparison, of course, to the ordinary WWII bulletproof helmets. The modern-day helmet boasts a built-in video camera to record the fighting as it goes on, and a video monitor, combined with the rifle sight, so the soldier could aim from any position. But no decision has been made yet on the assault rifle, says Editor-in-Chief of Arsenal Otechestva, or Motherland's Arsenal, magazine, Victor Murakhovsky, and elaborates.
'We have to choose between the new Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle and the AEK-971 assault rifle of the Kovrov Mechanical Plant. The problem now is that the rifle should be offered in different modifications, namely for mechanized infantry, for tank crews, paratroopers and task forces. The rifle also needs a set of sights to it, to fire at daytime and at night'.
The expert council of the Military Industrial Commission will have the final say. The council is due to meet in May.
Boris Pavlischev
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