NEW RELEASE

To call Russian Armed Forces a “Paper Tiger” would be a big mistake. To base future defense budgets on Russia’s recent performance on the battlefield would be an even bigger mistake. Hopefully after examining the information presented here, you will agree that the Russian Armed Forces were hampered primarily by (current) poor leadership. The systemic problems of corruption and embezzlement, nepotism, alcoholism, dependence on a defense budget with misguided priorities, dependence on a mercenary army (in what other country does the Minister of Defense own a Private Military Company?), lack of a professional military, an ill-conceived conscript program, fielding expensive high-tech weaponry that is difficult to maintain and a litany of other serious issues – but all could have been overcome with proper leadership.

Large Format (8 1/2 by 11 inches)  Printed in full color.

The Soviets (and now the Russians) produced so many variants of  tanks (including for export) in the last fifty years that it would be  impossible to include them all in one book. This book describes the  major variants used by the Russian military and shows the distinguishing  characteristics to make identification easier. The book includes  specifications such as how thick the armor is on the top of a T-72 tank  and what type of explosive armor has been installed on the different  tanks. We included a description of the types of ammunition (and number  of rounds) Russian tanks carry and how quickly the autoloader can load  the next round.
Bear in mind that as time goes by, Russian designers  continue to adapt existing tanks to increase lethality and improve  survivability. So, some features seen on newer models are eventually  incorporated on older tanks as a cost-saving strategy. Eventually  however, modification of older tanks becomes uneconomical and a complete  redesign is attempted. This is what we are seeing today with the advent  of the Armata modular platform. In an effort to simplify production and  reduce future costs, the Armata modular platform can accommodate  multiple vehicle types with very little modification. It remains to be  seen how successful this approach will be as manufacturing costs  continue to inflate at a time when existing tank inventory still offers  economical life-extension opportunities.
As far as Russian tank  tactics are concerned, we discuss some tactical vulnerabilities of the  Russian battalion tactical groups (BTG). For example, the Russian  regulars involved in the attack to capture Mariupol in Ukraine were  operating without the level of paramilitary support they enjoyed in the  eastern parts of Donbass Province. Without these light infantry, even  armored forces were unable to overcome the city’s defenders. Even the  tanks Russia used to support the final approach were only brought up  when all other options were exhausted and the separatists had cleared  enough of the structures to guarantee the tanks’ safety. This is further  evidence of tank deployment risk-aversion and over-reliance on  artillery and proxy infantry. In addition, Russian tanks often did not  chase retreating troops more than 30 kilometers before turning back.
Russians  rely heavily on artillery and MLRS rockets to bombard an enemy. In an  urban environment, forward observers have trouble calling for effective  fire and targeting is inaccurate; so, munitions are not as effective  against dispersed targets using mass-construction urban terrain as  cover. In the battle of Mariupol, a Russian tank battalion was committed  to the fight to capture the town, but a company of Ukrainian Army tanks  were able to defeat them.
Instead of executing combined-arms  maneuver (CAM) to overpower inferior Ukrainian forces, Russian BTGs  preferred to escalate contact, employ fires when possible and commit  tanks only after thorough reconnaissance. In many ways, BTGs epitomize  modern individual vehicle and soldier protection. BTG tanks and BMPs are  equipped with multiple active-protection systems and explosive reactive  armor, rendering U.S. individual shoulder-fired antitank systems  ineffective. The Ukrainian Army reported success using teams of tanks to  destroy Russian T-72B3 tanks on several occasions, but multiple hits  were required to defeat the T-72B3’s second-generation Kontakt-5  explosive reactive armor.
Bear in mind that the criteria for knocking  out a tank does not only depend on defeating its armor. It is quite  common to simply de-track the tank to disable it, but the tank can still  fight albeit from a compromised position. Another effective method of  eliminating the combat capability of a tank would be to destroy its  observation devices especially the gunner’s sights which would prevent  the tank from using its weapons. 

     TABLE OF CONTENTS

T-72A Main Battle Tank (1979) 

Armor Vulnerabilities T-72K

T-72B Main Battle Tank (1985) 

T-72B3 model 2011 (~2010) 

T-72B3M model 2016 (2014)

T-80 Main Battle Tank (1976)

T-80BVM Main Battle Tank (2017)

T-90 Main Battle Tank (1992)

T-90A Main Battle Tank (2005) 

T-90AM Proryv-2 Main Battle Tank

T-90M Proryv-3 Main Battle Tank (2019) 

T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank (2022)

2C2S Sprut-SD Airborne Light Tank (2005)

Sprut-SDM1 Light Amphibious Tank (2016)

2S42 Lotus Self-propelled Mortar (2020)

T-54/T-55 Main Battle Tank (1947-present) 

T-55A Main Battle Tank (1961) 

T-62 Main Battle Tank (1961)

Russian Tank Ammunition 

APFSDS-T

HEAT-FS 

HE-frag-FS

ATGW/ATGM

Guided Shell

Russian Tank Tactics 

Diagram of a Strongpoint of a Tank Platoon

Russian Tank Company Vulnerabilities 

Russian Tank Commander’s Sketch of a Defensive Position

Tank Fire Card 

Russian Tank Company Maneuvers 

 River Crossing Control/Organization 

 Enveloping Attack by a Reinforced Tank Company 

 Advance from A Holding Area

 Assault Formations 

 Breakthrough of the Hasty Defense Position

 Actions of a Tank Platoon in a Fire Ambush

 Action of a Motorized Rifle Squad and Tanks in a Village

 Trench for a Tank for Circular Fire 

Tandem Missile Warheads and Relikt ERA 

I decided to publish this book in January 2021 because the Worldwide Equipment Guide is no

longer available in print. To access the information you have to go to the website and search by

name or by country. If you don’t know the name, you could scroll through hundreds of entries,

but an alphabetical Table of Contents and flipping pages the old fashioned way makes more

sense. The book is printed in black and white because this book is almost 500 pages. Color

would be prohibitively expensive.

Rather than print thousands of pages, I thought I would just concentrate on Russian combat

vehicles. I wasn’t able to download every entry in the WEG, but I did get most of them. I did

not include Armata vehicles, Electronic Warfare vehicles or Surface-to-Air vehicles as I already

published those in separate books (see below). If there is a good response, I will publish all the

rifles, land mines, etc. from the WEG in another volume.

ARK-1M RYS Russian Artillery Locating Radar 

1V119 Russian Artillery Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle 

1V152 FIST Kapustnik-B Russian 8x8 Amphibious Command and Forward Observer

2A72 (ZPT99) Russian 30mm Autocannon 

2S3 Akatsiya (M1973) Russian 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) 

2S3M1 Russian 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) 

2S5 Giatsint-S Russian 152mm Self-Propelled Gun (SPG) 

2S9-1 Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) 

2S9-1M Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) 

2S19M1 (Msta-SM1) Russian 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) 

2S19M2 (Msta-SM2) Russian 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) 

2S23 Nona-SVK Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar System (SPMS) 

2S34 Hosta/Chosta Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) 

2S35-1 Koalitsiya-SV-KSh Russian 152mm Self Propelled Howitzer (SPH) 

BM-30 Smerch Russian 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System 

9K114 Shturm-S Russian Anti-Tank Guided Missile Carrier 

9S737 Ranzhir Russian 6x6 Mobile Command Center 

Vityaz DT-30PM Russian All Terrain Carrier 

Barnaul-T Russian Air Defense Command and Control System

BMD-1 Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMD-1K Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

BMD-1P Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMD-3 Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMD-KShM Russian Command Post Vehicle 

BMM-3 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Mobile Dressing Station 

BMP-1 Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMP-1D Russian Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMP-1P Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMP-2M Berezhok Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMP-3 Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BMP-3M Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 

BRDM-2 9P148 Russian Anti-Tank Guided Missile Carrier 

BRM-1 Russian Amphibious Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) 

BRM-1K Russian Amphibious Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) 

BRM-3K Rys Russian Amphibious Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) 

BTR-152 Russian 6x6 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-60 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-60PA (BTR-60PK) Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-60-R-145BM Russian 8x8 Command Post and Communication Center Vehicle 

BTR-70 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

BTR-80 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-80A Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-80K Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Command Vehicle 

BTR-82 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-D Russian Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

BTR-MD Rakushka Russian Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

DT-10PM Vityaz DT-10PM Russian All Terrain Carrier 

GAZ-2975 Tigr Russian Combat Support Vehicle / Light Utility Vehicle 

GAZ-3344 Russian Articulated All-Terrain Tracked Carrier 

Heidar-5 Russian 8x8 Armored Minelayer Vehicle

Khrizantema-S 9P157 Russian Anti-Tank Guided Missile System 

KMT-5M Russian Tank Mounted Mechanical Mine Clearing Device 

Kushetka-B Russian 8x8 Amphibious Command and Staff Vehicle 

Leer-3 Russian 6x6 Mobile Drone-Based Electronic Warfare (EW) System 

Listva Russian 6x6 Remote Controlled Mine Clearance Vehicle 

LUAZ-967 Russian 4x4 Amphibious Vehicle 

M1974-1 1V13 Russian Artillery Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle 

M1974-2A 1V14 Russian Artillery Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle 

M1974-2B 1V15 Russian Artillery Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle 

M1979-2A (1V17), M1979-2B (1V18) Russian Artillery Command and Recon 

MARS A-800 Russian Unmanned Ground Logistics Vehicle 

MAZ-537 Russian 8x8 Special Wheeled Chassis

MAZ-543 Russian 8x8 Special Wheeled Chassis 

MT-LB Russian Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

MT-T Russian Heavy Tracked Cargo Carrier 

P-40 (Long Track) Russian Mobile 3-D UHF Radar System 

PMM-2 Russian Self-Propelled Amphibious Floating Bridging and Ferry System 

PRP-4A Argus Russian Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle 

PU-12M6 Russian 8x8 Mobile Command and Control Vehicle 

R-149BMR Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Command and Signal Vehicle 

R-149MA3 Russian 8x8 Amphibious Command and Signal APC 

RKhM-2 Russian CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle 

RKhM-6 Povozka Russian CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle 

2S1 (Gvozdika) Russian 122mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)

SBA-60K2 Bulat Russian Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) 

2S9 NONA Russian 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar (SPM) 

SU-100 Russian Tank Destroyer

T-55AMV Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-64 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-64BK Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-72AK Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-72B Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-72B3 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-80BK (Ob'yekt 660) Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-80UK Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

T-90K Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) 

9A53-G Tornado Russian 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher 

Uran-6 Russian Multi-functional Robotic Mine-Clearing System 

IRM Russian Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle 

ZIL Karatel (‘Punisher’) 

 7 June 2020 This book provides a description and drawings of the following Russian missiles:
HYPERSONIC MISSILES
Objekt 4202 ("Avangard" HGV)
SS-N-33 Zirkon (3M-22 Hypersonic Missile)
SA-N-9 Gauntlet (Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal" ALBM)
LAND-BASED BALLISTIC MISSILES
SS-18 Mod 5/6 Satan (R-36M2 "Voevoda" ICBM)
SS-19 Mod 4 Stiletto (UR-100N ICBM)
SS-21 Scarab (OTR-21 "Tochka" SRBM)
SS-24 Scalpel (RT-23 "Molodets" ICBM)
SS-25 Sickle (RT-2PM "Topol" ICBM)
SS-26 Stone (9K720 "Iskander" SRBM)
SS-27 Mod 1 Sickle B (RT-2PM2 "Topol-M" ICBM)
SS-29 (RS-24 "Yars" ICBM)
SS-X-30 Satan-2 (RS-28 "Sarmat" ICBM)
SS-X-31 Saber (RS-26 "Rubezh" ICBM)
SS-X-32Zh Scalpel B (RS-27 "Barguzin" ICBM)
SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILES
SS-N-18 Stingray (R-29R "Vysota" SLBM)
SS-N-23 Skiff (R-29RMU2 "Layner" SLBM)
SS-NX-30 (RSM-56 "Bulava" SLBM)
CRUISE MISSILES
SSC-8 (9M729 GLCM)
SSC-X-9 Skyfall (9M730 "Petrel")
SS-N-19 Shipwreck (P-700 "Granit" ASCM)
SS-N-21 Sampson (RK-55 Cruise Missile)
SS-N-26 Strobile (P-800 Oniks 'Yakhont')
SS-N-27 Sizzler (3M54 "Kalibr" ASCM)
SS-N-30A (Land Attack Cruise Missile)
AS-15 Kent (Kh-55 ALCM)
AS-23A / AS-23B Kodiak (Kh-101 / Kh-102 ALCM)
There  are a lot of Russian ballistic and we can't show all of them in one  book. We will probably release a book on Russian Surface-to-Air missiles  next, then a book on Russian Air-to-Air missiles. 

This strategy is the basic strategic planning document defining the Russian Federation’s national interests and strategic national priorities, objectives, tasks, and measures in the sphere of domestic and foreign policy. It lists the threats to national security -- the set of conditions and factors creating a direct or indirect possibility of harm to national interests. It also discusses exploiting the resources of the world’s oceans and the significance of the Arctic in particular.

Edict No. 683 came into force when it was signed by Russian Federation President V. Putin in the Kremlin on 31 December 2015. The following are to be deemed no longer valid:

Russian Federation Presidential Edict 537 dated 12 May 2009 “On the Russian Federation's National Security Strategy Through 2020” (Sobraniye zakonodatelstva Rossiyskoy Federatsii, 2009, No. 20, Item 2444; and Point 27 of Attachment 1 to Russian Federation Presidential Edict 483 dated 1 July 2014 “On Amending and Deeming No Longer Valid Certain Acts of the Russian Federation President” (Sobraniye zakonodatelstva Rossiyskoy Federatsii, 2014, No. 27, Item 3754).

This is a comprehensive compilation of active Russian Military Aircraft with illustrations, specifications and dimensions.  Aircraft include:

Antonov   An-22A (Cock)   

Antonov An-26 (Curl)   

Antonov An-30 (Clank)   

Antonov An-72 (Coaler)   

Antonov An-124 (Condor)   

Antonov An-140   

Antonov An-148   

Beriev A-50 (Mainstay)   

Eurocopter AS350/AS355   

Ilyushin Il-20 (Coot-M)   

Ilyushin Il-22/M (Coot-B)  

Ilyushin Il-38N (May)   

Ilyushin Il-62 (Classic)  

 Ilyushin Il-76 (Candid)   

Ilyushin Il-78 (Midas)   

Ilyushin Il-80 (Maxdome)   

Kamov Ka-27 (Helix)   

Kamov Ka-50 (Hokum A)   

Kamov Ka-52 (Hokum B)   

Mil Mi-8 (Hip)   

Mil Mi-17 (Hip)   

Mil Mi-24 (Hind-D)   

Mil Mi-26 (Halo)   

Mil Mi-28 (Havoc)   

Mil Mi-35M   

MiG-29 (Fulcrum)   

MiG-31 (Foxhound)   

MiG-35 (Fulcrum-F)   

Myasishchev M-55 (Mystic-B)   

Sukhoi Su-24M2 (Fencer-B)   

Sukhoi Su-25 (Frogfoot)   

Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)   

Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)   

Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback)   

Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E)   

Sukhoi Su-37 (Flanker-F)  

 Sukhoi Su-57 (Felon)   

Tupolev PAK DA Stealth Bomber  

Tupolev Tu-22M (Blinder)   

Tupolev Tu-95 (Bear)   

Tupolev Tu-134 (Crusty)   

Tupolev Tu-154 (Careless)   

Tupolev Tu-160 (Blackjack)   

Tupolev Tu-214   

Tupolev Tu-214R    

Having published a book on China Surface Warships, I decided to take a look at the number of active ships in the Russian Navy and their condition.  I was able to pull together a lot of information. Not really sure how accurate it is, but it’s as accurate as I could find.  Whenever possible, I checked multiple sources and, of course, there are instances with slight variation, but by and large, most of it has been corroborated at multiple sources.  The ships are shown by category (battlecruisers, frigates, destroyers, etc.), but the table of contents also lists them by hull number.  I included lists of additional ships that also have been ordered, are already under construction or are now undergoing sea trials.  I decided the breakoff point for the book would be ships larger than 800 tons.  There are simply too many under that size to include them all.  The information in this book is merely a snapshot in time.  Warships are complex instruments that require a great deal of maintenance.  Warships are also constantly being upgraded.  New weapons and electronics are installed on a regular basis.  We will reprint this book next year as new information comes available.  If you find something that needs to be corrected or updated, please let us know at USGOVPUB.COM. 

This book was classified Secret in 1968 by the Soviet Union and was only recently published (in Russian) in the West. This is our translation of that book. We have no way of knowing whether this is in fact a training manual from that time or an example of KGB disinformation. Either way, it makes for some interesting reading, and many of the concepts applied here are still in evidence today.

The book is basically a training manual that describes the way the KGB undermined Russian émigré organizations and recruited agents from among the 12 million émigré Russians living outside the territory of the Soviet Motherland.

ОСНОВНЫЕ НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ И ОБЪЕКТЫ РАЗВЕДЫВАТЕЛЬНОЙ РАБОТЫ ЗА ГРАНИЦЕЙ was classified Top Secret in 1970 by the Soviet Union and was only recently published (in Russian) in the West. This is our translation of that book. We wanted to make it available to those interested in the subject as quickly as possible. Here is an example:

“……. Intelligence agencies need to collect materials characterizing the strength of the position of politics (of the target capitalist country) and the construction of social and economic forces on which it relies; ……………..

……. Information about the backstage activities of bourgeois parties and also to what extent this or that party is a conductor of foreign influence in the country, is of great importance to the Socialist states. Intelligence agencies of the socialist states should also receive information about political groups in the country, which can be relied on by the countries of the socialist commonwealth when carrying out their own political activities. …………

……. Information on members of the Government and prominent political figures should also be obtained in order to determine how they feel about policies or the possibility of an agent-based approach to compromise (if necessary). …….”

Spetsnaz is one of those books you can’t put down till you have read the entire thing.  Written by the Department of Defense (actually the Marine Corps), it gives unique insight into how the Russians train and fight. The examples in the book where Spetsnaz carried out actual clandestine operations is amazing.  Looking at what they were doing back in the 1990’s, it’s no wonder folks are concerned.