Russian military to replace outdated hardware with new vehicles

New BTR-82 armoured personnel carriers and Tigr (Tiger) armoured cars will in the future replace the outdated samples of tracked armoured vehicles in Russia’s Airborne Forces (VDV), Commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov said on Friday. He said he planned next week to visit the KAMAZ plant in Naberezhnye Chelny to get familiarised with new models of wheeled vehicles produced by the plant. “They want to show their new products within the framework of the Typhoon R&D project,” said the VDV commander. Several airborne units are planned to be transferred to BTR-82, and intelligence units are to be adapted to the Tigr cars. “But their airdrop tests should be carried out yet,” Shamanov said. According to him, the VDV command will address all of these issues in 2014. Shamanov on Thursday arrived in Ulan-Ude to inspect the 11th separate air assault brigade prior to its transfer to the Airborne Forces. The commander signed acts on the transfer to the VDV of the 11th (Ulan-Ude) and 83rd (Ussuriisk) air assault brigades, and the act on the transfer of the 56th brigade (Kamyshin) will be signed in Moscow. On Monday, these documents will be sent to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces for approval. The material and technical equipment of the 11th Air Assault Brigade in Ulan-Ude will be significantly improved after it joins the Airborne Forces, said Shamanov. According to him, “the fact that the training and resource base over the past 3.5 years has been maintained by the enthusiasm and sponsorship funds that were scarce, certainly takes its toll. It is necessary to revamp the material base to make it meet modern requirements.” He added that the new units joining the VDV will be manned and equipped in accordance with the troops’ tasks. “There will be new tasks, because the Airborne Forces will be prepared for engagement, including as an independent grouping,” Shamanov said.