Russian airborne tank units participate for the first time in Slavic Brotherhood exercise


The recently formed tank units in Russian Airborne Troops will participate for the first time in Russian-Serbian-Belarussian Slavic Brotherhood exercise, Lieutenant-General Alexander Vyaznikov, head of the exercise and Airborne Force deputy commander for peacekeeping and collective operations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization rapid deployment force, said.


Russian airborne tank units participate for the first time in Slavic Brotherhood exercise
The BMD-4M is a "warhorse" of the Russian airborne troops (Picture source: Russian MoD)


In addition, the Slavic Brotherhood-2018 involves military units on new combat vehicles, such as BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles. A total of four such machines will participate in the exercise. The Slavic Brotherhood-2018 joint tactical exercise takes place on the Rayevsky proving ground in Krasnodar Territory from 18-28 June.

The BMD-4M and BTR-MDM are advanced high-speed amphibian vehicles equipped with advanced hi-tech weapon systems. The vehicles will boost the combat and fire capabilities of the Pskov-based large unit. The BMD-4M airborne fighting vehicle has a 100mm gun-launcher with an automated ammunition stowage that stores 34 high-explosive/fragmentation rounds and four Arkan (NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber) missiles, a 30mm automatic gun with an ammunition load of 500 rounds and a 7.62mm machinegun. The main gun has a firing range of 5.5 km (against armored vehicles) and 7 km, depending on the type of a target.


 

Russian airborne tank units participate for the first time in Slavic Brotherhood exercise