OUR ARMOR IS STILL STRONG

Military-industrial courier. March 17 - 23, 2004. Mikhail Khodaryonok

The seventh volume of the "Russia's Arms and Technologies. XXI Century" encyclopedia is devoted to armored vehicles, which have been in service with the Land Forces since the second half of the XX century until now. Recent military conflicts have proved the fact that the tank and other armored vehicles were still forming the mainstay of the Land Forces and will continue to be their main striking power in the foreseeable future.

The tank is one of a few types of weapon systems capable of performing its missions effectively under nuclear attack. General analysis of military-political situation in the world indicates that there is a high probability of local armed conflicts near Russian borders. To a large extent, it is the task of the Land Forces to ensure the state's military security and to repel any attack on the homeland. Consequently, the role of the armored vehicles in this is high and will continue to rise. At the beginning of the XXI century, the tank continues to be a versatile weapons system in service with the Land Forces. In other words, the armored shield of the state has not lost its significance and in the near future there will be no alternative to the tank and to the armored forces. In the XXI century, the armored forces will receive the unique designs of armored vehicles, including non-traditional layout and weapons. This volume describes different types of armored vehicles, science-intensive special-purpose systems and technological advances widely used to enhance firepower of new and old tanks and improve their protection. The book contains information about fire-control systems, weapons stabilizers, principles of construction of bullet-proof and cannon-proof armor, active and passive protection methods, navigation devices, as well as vehicle maintenance, repair, storage and scrapping equipment. A section is devoted to research organizations, manufacturers of armored vehicles and their components, as well as to maintenance and repair organizations. Alike the previous volumes, this one uses a Classifier of Items of Supply adopted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which is compatible with similar Classifiers used by NATO and some other countries. The Armored Vehicles volume of the encyclopedia shows the capabilities of Russia's defense industry complex in developing, producing and upgrading a whole spectrum of armored vehicles and associated equipment. Vneshtorgbank sponsors the publication.