Saturday, December 24, 2016

Russian Airborne soon to have an "Airborne Armored Assault Regiment"


via TASS
MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian Airborne Troops will receive a battalion set of modern infantry fighting vehicles (BMDs), the Russian Defense Ministry's press service said on Saturday.
"A battalion set of modern BMD-4M will be solemnly handed in the city of Ryazan to a military unit of Russian Airborne Troops based in the Tula Region. Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov, Russian Airborne Troops commander, will take part in the event," the press service said.
"After receiving 30 military vehicles, the Airborne Troops will have an assault regiment armed with BMD-4M military vehicles and Rakuska BTR-MD (armored personner carriers)," the defense ministry noted.
This is a bit concerning.  Not because the Russians are improving their airborne vehicles.  That's to be expected.  They've been at this for decades.
 What I find troubling is that we're no closer to fielding a comparable vehicle after doing away with the Sheridan Airborne Tank so many years ago.

I understand the need to embrace the possible now and to build on it but the Polaris MRZR is a poor substitute for armored transport.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't expect a war with Russia (in my opinion we should still be seeking to work with them where we can) its still a capability that I desire the 82nd had.  

What level of combat these vehicles are capable of taking part in is beyond me but its certainly more capable than having paratroopers running around in modified civilian ATVs.

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