Ukraine Defence Forum

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The Ukrainian army began to use the Soviet 100-mm anti-aircraft gun KS-19. The KS-19 gun was developed in 1947 and is designed to fight large, high-altitude air targets; it can also be used as an anti-tank weapon. Anti-aircraft systems KS-19 took part in all modern conflicts in Africa and the Middle East. In the Persian Gulf War, according to some versions, the guns were able to hit the Panavia Tornado 200 aircraft. From 1948 to 1955, 10,151 KS-19 guns were manufactured, and now Ukraine has about 173 guns of this type. The KS-19 guns can fire independently and with guidance from the SON-9A Globus radar. To cool the gun, a special ice tank can be used. The firing range of the gun against high-altitude targets is 15 km, the reach limit along the horizon is 21 km, and the rate of fire is 15 rounds per minute. The transition time from the traveling to the combat position is 5 minutes, the calculation of the gun is 7 people. Currently, the KS-19 anti-aircraft complex is in service with a number of countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East.

 

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Mobile air defense of Ukraine, installation of 3 Maxim machine guns. The Ukrainian army continues to create mobile air defense units equipped with homemade military equipment to fight Russian drones. Footage of another makeshift anti-aircraft gun has surfaced. An installation was installed on the platform of the car, consisting of three 7.62 mm Maxim machine guns at once. We will not describe the Maxim machine gun, since this has already been done many times. The combat rate of fire of such an installation is 250-300 rounds per minute. Sighting range up to 2300 meters. The maximum range of a bullet is 3900 meters.

 

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Unusual hybrid tank T-64 of Ukraine. An unusual hybrid of military equipment based on the T-64 tank was seen in the Ukrainian army. It is not know why the T-64 tank was so altered. The turret was removed from the tank and everything is protected by blocks of dynamic protection "Contact-1". Perhaps the tank will be some kind of breakthrough assault tank, since the turret has been removed and everything is covered by protection, the purpose of the vehicle is not clear. Perhaps the tank will be used as a military evacuation of damaged equipment. The armament of the tank is only a machine gun.

 

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Details about the American Stryker armored personnel carrier of the Ukrainian army. The Ukrainian army received American Stryker armored personnel carriers. Four vehicle versions were transferred, Stryker M1126, reconnaissance Stryker M1127, M1133 medical armored vehicle and M1132 Stryker with LWMR minesweeper. In total, 15 different combat vehicles were created on the basis of the Stryker armored personnel carrier. The Stryker armored personnel carrier was created in 2002 on the basis of the Canadian LAV III armored personnel carrier. The main advantages of the armored personnel carrier are high mobility in dry terrain and comfortable living conditions for the crew and troops. Disadvantages, low survivability of the undercarriage, cars often broke down, required frequent replacement of tires. The car was used in Iraq and the reviews on it are contradictory. According to Colonel Robert Brown, the car is well protected from small arms and RPG rounds, thanks to the all-round protection of the lattice screens. According to a special report by the US military, the car is unreliable, has low firepower, design flaws and a tendency to roll over. Apparently, ratings were given to vehicles without additional armor and weapons. In Ukraine, the Stryker M1126 armored personnel carrier will have to face the Russian BTR-82A and the Stryker is vulnerable in this confrontation. The fact is that the Stryker M1126 armored personnel carrier delivered to Ukraine is armed with a 12.7-mm M2 Browning machine gun, or a 40-mm Mk19 grenade launcher can also be mounted with a 7.62-mm M240 machine gun. The armament of the BTR-82A is a 30-mm gun and it can hit the Stryker armored personnel carrier at a distance of up to 2000 meters. The Stryker armored personnel carrier is also equipped with powerful weapons, a 30-mm and 105-mm M68A2 cannon, but they were not delivered to Ukraine, the vehicles also come without additional armor. Initially, the Stryker armored personnel carrier was created for use in low-intensity conflicts. The crew of the car is two people and up to nine landing people. The weight of the Stryker M1126 is 19 tons, the speed on the highway is up to 97 km / h. Power reserve 531 km.

 

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Details about the British AS-90 self-propelled guns of the Ukrainian army. Ukraine began to use the British 155-mm AS-90 self-propelled guns, in total about 32 self-propelled howitzers were received. The self-propelled guns were created by Vickers in the 1980s and are intended to replace the British Abbot self-propelled guns and the US M109 self-propelled guns. The self-propelled guns have been modernized several times, some of them remain in the service of Britain, but their replacement is already planned. The licensed production of the tower from the AS-90 self-propelled guns is in Poland, it is installed on the AHS Krab self-propelled guns, which we previously talked about. The AS-90 is equipped with an advanced fire control system. The gunner's workplace is equipped with an optical and panoramic sight and a set of electronics. There are means of communication and navigation, a ballistic computer and a radar for determining the speed of a projectile. The hull and turret of the self-propelled guns are welded from armor plates up to 17 mm thick, which provide protection for small arms and shell fragments. The AS-90 self-propelled guns were used in Iraq, where it proved to be not bad. The main weapon of the AS-90 is the L31 155mm rifled howitzer. Ammunition installation 48 shells. SPG rate of fire: maximum rate: 3 shots per 10 seconds, for several minutes, average rate: 2 shots per minute for 60 minutes. The self-propelled gun has a 7.62 mm machine gun. The range of fire with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile reaches 24.5 km, with an active-reactive projectile up to 30 km. The maximum speed of a 45-ton armored vehicle on the highway is up to 55 km / h. Power reserve - 420 km. The average price of the British AS-90 self-propelled guns is about 2.7 million dollars.

 

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In Ukraine, they showed a combat module with a PKT machine gun. In Ukraine, they showed a remote-controlled ground combat module based on a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun. The model of the device and who produces it are not reported, in appearance the combat module does not look like a handicraft, apparently its production has already been established. The maximum firing range of the combat module is 3800 meters. Rate of fire up to 800 rounds per minute. The model name and manufacturer are not reported.

 

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Overview of the captured American M18A1 mine of the Ukrainian army. A Russian soldier showed a captured American M18A1 "Claymore" mine of the Ukrainian army, the mine, together with the M57 launcher, was removed by Russian sappers. The M18A1 "Claymore" anti-personnel mine of directional action was adopted in 1960, the mine turned out to be successful, was used in many wars and was copied by many countries. In the USSR, they also began to produce a mine called MON-50, in which the balls were replaced with cylinders and the angle of expansion of the striking elements of the mine was changed. The body of the mine is made of plastic and the convex side is set towards the enemy. 700 steel balls with a diameter of 5.5 mm are placed along the convex edge of the mine, which ensures effective destruction of manpower at a distance of up to 50 meters. A simple sight on the body of the mine allows it to be aimed in the direction of the destruction of manpower. The detonation of the mine is carried out using an electric wire and a remote control, while the operator must be at least 15 meters behind the mine. Mine weight 1600 grams, C4 explosive.

 

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A video of the workplace of the operator of the Ukrainian IRIS-T air defense systems of German production has appeared. The German IRIS-T air defense system is a cross between the Russian Buk-M3 air defense system and the TOR air defense system. The launch range of the IRIS-T SLM missile is 40 km, the reach in height is 20 km.

 

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Overview of German Leopard 1 tanks preparing for the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army. Denmark and Germany will transfer 80 Leopard 1 tanks removed from storage to Ukraine, the tanks will arrive by June 1, and then the offensive of the Ukrainian army will apparently begin. Judging by the number, these tanks will soon be the main figures in military reports. The Leopard 1 tank began to be developed in 1956 by France and Germany, the French constantly reduced their participation in the development and the tank put into service in 1965 can be called German. The tank was designed for battles with Soviet T-55 and T-64 tanks at medium distances. Judging by open data, the tank's armor is weak and breaks through from short distances even with conventional infantry fighting vehicles and almost all types of anti-tank systems. The frontal armor of the tank is from 25 to 70 mm, for comparison, in the T-72M tank it is up to 410 mm. Perhaps in Ukraine, the armor of the tank will be reinforced with dynamic protection units. Based on this, the main strategy of the tank is to work from behind ambushes and from a long distance. The tank went through seven upgrades, the last one was in 1987, the tank received the A5 index, and Ukraine will receive this version. In 1994, 5 tanks met with three Serbian T-55 tanks, as a result of the battle, all T-55 tanks were damaged, one Leopard tank was damaged. Canadian versions of the Leopard 1 tank with reinforced composite armor were in the 2000s in Afghanistan, they were praised for their rate of fire and aiming accuracy, but were criticized by the engines due to erratic operation in dust and at high temperatures. The tank is equipped with a British L7A1 semi-automatic licensed 105 mm gun and, depending on modification, 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine guns. The crew of the tank is 4 people. Power plant with a capacity of 820 hp provides a maximum speed of up to 65 km / h with a power reserve of up to 600 km. Tank weight up to 42 tons.

 

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Review of Anglo-French cruise missiles Storm Shadow/SCALP of the Ukrainian Army. To carry out the counteroffensive, Britain supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles. The Anglo-French Storm Shadow cruise missile began to be developed in 1994 on the basis of the Apache cruise missile developed in France. The missile was put into service in 2001, the French version of the missile is designated by the abbreviation SCALP-EG. The missile is equipped with a turbojet engine and has a flight speed of up to 960 kilometers per hour. That is, the distance from Kyiv to Belgorod, it can fly in about 20 minutes. The missile was used in Iraq and Libya, the target destruction rate was 97% according to the Italian Air Force, it is worth noting that air defense almost did not work there. In 2018, it was reported that all eight missiles launched from Tornado aircraft were shot down by Syrian air defense forces, this information was denied by the Pentagon, but later the Russian Ministry of Defense showed fragments of missiles. The missile is programmed before launch, taking into account the air defense data and the target. The missile flies autonomously along the route to the target, at an altitude of 30-40 meters, guided by GPS data and cartography, close to the target, the missile gains altitude and then goes into a dive. Climbing is intended to achieve a higher probability of identifying the target with a thermographic camera, climbing may not be applied, but the accuracy of the missile is reduced. You should not expect any significant changes from the supply of missiles, like all cruise missiles, they are easy to shoot down if the area is covered by modern air defense systems, with luck, a cruise missile can even be shot down with MANPADS. The range of the rocket is approximately 560 km when launched from an aircraft, the mass of the rocket is 1300 kg, the mass of the warhead is 450 kg. The cost of the Storm Shadow missile is €850,000 as of 2011.

 

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Charging and firing the American self-propelled guns M109 of the army of Ukraine.

Published footage of the crew of the American 155-mm self-propelled howitzer M109 of the army of Ukraine. The video shows the process of preparing a howitzer for a shot by the crew of the Ukrainian army. Earlier, Ukraine received M-109 howitzers of different versions from Latvia, Norway, Great Britain and Italy. Howitzers began to be produced in 1962 and were delivered to many countries of the world. Over the years, the howitzer has been upgraded many times, the latest version being the M109A7. The howitzer uses separate cartridge loading charges. The rate of fire of the howitzer is up to 4 rounds per minute.

 

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Details about Danish Caesar 8x8 howitzers received by Ukraine.

The first footage from one of the 19 155-mm Caesar self-propelled guns transferred by Denmark to Ukraine on the Tatra T815 chassis has been published. In 2017, Denmark ordered these self-propelled guns from France, but the self-propelled guns could not be received for a long time, as they corrected defects associated with the gearbox, gun barrels and general design adjustments. On January 19, 2023, the Danish Minister of Defense announced that a decision had been made to transfer all 19 self-propelled guns to Ukraine. At the same time, the minister admitted that the ACS ordered by Denmark on the Tatra T815 chassis had structural defects, Ukraine was informed about this. Differences between the Danish CAESAR self-propelled guns on the Tatra T815 chassis and the French, an automated gun loading system and an armored cabin. The calculation of self-propelled guns was reduced from five to 3 people, the ammunition load was increased from 18 to 36 shells. The mass of self-propelled guns has increased from 18 to 32 tons. The Caesar 8x8 self-propelled guns are equipped with a 410 hp Tatra V8 engine.

 

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Overview of the American boats Sea Ark Dauntless of the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has published footage of exercises with the landing of a river assault using American boats Sea Ark Dauntless. The Sea Ark Dauntless high-speed patrol boat is manufactured by US Watercraft and is used by the US Navy to protect naval bases and operations of landing and sabotage forces. The US has 117 of these boats, but they are being replaced with newer models. The 11m aluminum boats can be armed with two 7.62mm M240 machine guns or two 12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns. Some models of boats can be equipped with grenade launchers. Sea Ark Dauntless type boats are capable of taking on board seven people and are equipped with two engines with a total power of 850 hp. and two Hamilton water cannons. The boat develops speed up to 85 km/h.

 

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Overview of Ukrainian UJ-22 UAVs attacking Moscow on May 30. A large-scale Ukrainian UAV attack took place today at 4 am on Moscow and the Moscow region. According to the latest data, 32 UAVs of various models were involved in the attack. One of the used UJ-22 Airborne UAVs manufactured by the Ukrainian company Ukrjet. The UAV is made of carbon fiber and equipped with a communication system with two independent data transmission channels. The UAV can fly at an average speed of 160 km/h, at a range of up to 800 km, with a maximum flight altitude of 6000 meters and a takeoff weight of 85 kg. UAV payload weight 20 kg. Flight time up to 14 hours. As it turned out, part of the drones carried an industrial shaped charge KZ-6 with a warhead mass of 1.8 kg. As a result of the attack, 19 UAVs were reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses, 10 UAVs fell on their own in the fields, and 3 UAVs crashed into residential buildings. The remains of the UAV are studied by specialists and local residents who took them as souvenirs. As a result of the UAV attack, none of the residents in Moscow was seriously injured, two people sought medical help.

 

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Overview of Turkish armored cars Otokar Cobra 2 of the Ukrainian army. Turkish armored vehicles Otokar Cobra II began to use the Ukrainian army. The multi-purpose tactical armored vehicle Cobra II was developed by Otokar and was first introduced in 2013. The armored car was developed on the basis of a prototype Hummer XM-1211 armored vehicle, with which the American company AM General tried to replace Hammer armored vehicles in the US Army. The armor of the vehicle provides protection against bullets of various calibers, fragments and explosive devices weighing up to several kilograms, depending on the configuration. The exact level of protection is not disclosed. Vehicle armor can be reinforced with overhead modules; vehicles were delivered to Ukraine without additional armor. The first version of the armored vehicle was very popular and was purchased by many countries, only weak armor was noted, this was corrected in the second version of the armored vehicle. Strengthening armor protection led to a strong increase in curb weight - this parameter reached 18.5 tons, the first version of the Cobra armored vehicle weighed only 6 tons. The vehicle can be fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm Browning machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Some of the vehicles were equipped with remotely controlled combat modules. The car is equipped with ABS, tire inflation system, video cameras and air conditioning. The armored car is equipped with an engine with a capacity of 360 to 400 hp and has a speed of up to 110 km / h, a cruising range of 700 km. Part of the armored vehicles can float. The five-wheel version of the car can accommodate up to 11 people.