Arms race: what combat systems will Russia and the United States receive in 2021
The unofficial arms race between Washington and Moscow will continue in 2021. At the same time, the military budget of the United States will amount to a gigantic $ 740,5 billion. How can our country respond to this, which is forced to spend incomparably smaller amounts on defense?
First of all, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the expenses for the development of the nuclear triad at the Pentagon will grow by 18% compared to last year. $ 29 billion will be allocated for the development of new ICBMs, B-21 Raider strategic stealth bombers, Project Columbia nuclear submarines, long-range cruise missiles equipped with a nuclear warhead. The US Air Force will receive an additional 93 fifth-generation F-35 fighters worth $ 9,1 billion, 7 C-130J heavy transport aircraft and 17 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs worth $ 108 million.
The US Navy will have over $ 2021 billion in 23. With this money, they will receive 9 warships and 1 Virginia class nuclear submarine. The construction of a new USS Saipan (LHA 9) America-class UDC is expected, and the Pentagon has the right to conclude a contract for the construction of 3 San Antonio-class amphibious assault ships and two Columbia-class nuclear submarines. Naval Aviation will receive 8 P-8 Poseidon aircraft, as well as new aircraft and helicopters totaling $ 18,545 billion. The American ground forces are relying on precision and hypersonic weapons, combat lasers, and unmanned aerial systems. They will continue to purchase UH-60L / M / V Blackhawk, AH-64E Apache and MH-47G Ghinook helicopters, Stryker upgrade armored vehicles, M1 Abrams tank, Bradley and M109, M-SHORAD, MSE missile, Javelin, Hellfire, Patriot and ATACMS, etc.
Russia's budgetary capabilities are immeasurably less than the United States, but Moscow also has something to oppose to Washington's military might.
"Sarmat"
This year, the first delivery of Sarmat ICBMs to our Strategic Missile Forces is expected, which should gradually replace the R-36M2 Voevoda. This is a terrible weapon capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 18 thousand kilometers, separated by a warhead with individual guidance units, and is able to overcome the enemy's missile defense system. In 2021, preparations will take place for placing a new ICBM on combat duty, which will take place in a year, and its flight tests.
"Zircon"
Another effective deterrent should be the Zircon hypersonic missile. Initially, it was supposed to replace the outdated P-700 Granit anti-ship missile, but now its range of applications has increased. Due to the speed of Mach 8, it cannot be intercepted by existing missile defense systems, therefore equipping the Russian naval forces with "Zircons" dramatically increases their combat capabilities in comparison with the NATO fleet, turning American aircraft carriers into large floating targets. In addition, hypersonic missiles can also hit enemy ground targets.
Tu-160M / M2
The Soviet strategic missile carrier received a new youth thanks to deep modernization. Updates affected the NK-32-02 engine, which was developed back in 1987, onboard equipment and control systems. The modernization of the power plant to the NK-32-02M2 version will allow the "White Swan" to reduce fuel consumption and increase the flight range by 1650 kilometers. Also on the "strategist" will be used a new on-board defense system "Redut-70M", navigation radar DISS-021-70, navigation system NO-70M, communication system S-505-70, astronavigation system ANS-2009M, space navigation receiver A737DP and etc. State tests of the bomber will begin this year.
SAM S-500 "Prometheus"
The successor to the Triumph is the fifth generation of Russian air defense systems. The range of the promising air defense system is 600 kilometers, so Prometheus will be able to intercept ballistic missiles even outside the atmosphere. One complex will be able to simultaneously conduct up to 10 flying targets, it will even be capable of hypersonic missiles. Completion of work on the S-500 is expected by the end of 2021.
Su-57
The Russian fifth generation fighter is our answer to the American F-35. The plane was created using of technologies "Stealth", making it unobtrusive on radar, as well as supersonic cruising speed. Su-57 is designed to destroy air, ground and surface targets. The Russian Aerospace Forces are waiting for only 76 such fighters, and in 2021 they will receive 4 aircraft, and in subsequent years, production will grow to 15 aircraft.
T-14 "Armata"
A promising Russian tank is of interest to many foreign buyers. It is also created with the use of "stealth" technologies, can be used as a command vehicle for the so-called network-centric warfare. Perhaps its only significant problem is its rather high price. In the case of signing export contracts, the volume of its production will increase, which will lead to a decrease in production costs. This will make the "Armata" a more affordable tank for purchase and subsequent maintenance.
2S35 "Coalition-SV (-KSH)"
This interspecific artillery complex has already entered our troops last year. A 152 mm cannon with a rate of fire of more than 10 rounds per minute and with the possibility of remote firing control makes the 2S35 "Coalition-SV" a very serious weapon that has not lost its relevance on the battlefield to this day. In 2021, an increase in the production of this promising artillery complex is expected.
TOS-2 "Tosochka"
The heavy flamethrower system is a formidable weapon in the hands of the RF Ground Forces. TOS-2 is mobile, thanks to the use of a wheeled chassis from "Ural-63706", and has armor that protects against small arms. Unlike TOS-1 and TOS-1A, it is controlled automatically, equipped with navigation equipment, and the charging system has been modernized.
Uranus-9
Russia also does not stand still in the development of robotic weapons. This weapon is equipped with a 30-mm 2A72 automatic cannon, a 7,62-mm machine gun, "Shmel-M" rocket-propelled flamethrowers and an anti-tank missile system. Uranus 9 has been tested in Syria, where many comments have been identified. The developer took note of them and fixed them. Currently, work is underway on "Storm" and "Companion", military robotic systems of the middle and heavy classes.
As you can see, Russia also has something to respond to challenges from the United States, despite the significant difference in "weight categories."
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- JSC 766 UPTK, JSC Central Research Institute Burevestnik, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
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