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Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
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Following a visit of the Russian defense minister to Iran on September 21, 2023, Russia showed interest in purchasing an Iranian-made Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile to compensate for the heavy use of missiles in the conflict in Ukraine, and manufacturing delays in the Russian defense industry.
On October 5th, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence released a video showcasing the intense conflict known as the "Artan" operation against Russian occupiers in Crimea. The video provides detailed insights into a nighttime special mission carried out by Ukraine's GUR, according to Valentyna Romanenko's report in Ukrainska Pravda.
According to The Drive on October 4, 2023, recent video footage circulating on Twitter unveiled a unique mobile air defense missile system in action in Southern Ukraine against a Russian drone. This system appears to combine the AIM-132 Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) mounted on a High Mobility Transporter (HMT) by Supacat, both supplied by the United Kingdom. The video showcases the system's exceptional agility, even when engaging lower-flying targets at shorter ranges.
Russian volunteers are now using Chinese plywood to build drones, which are then shipped to Russian soldiers for deployment over Ukrainian cities. It was found that using plywood as a framing material reduces the manufacturing costs of these drones by 10-15%. If this approach gains approval from the Russian government, it could potentially increase production to meet rapid deployment needs. According to a Russian source, the main advantage of this design is its flexibility, allowing the creation of frames of different sizes for various applications.
Spain confirmed on October 5, 2023, that it will supply Ukraine with an additional six launchers for Hawk anti-aircraft missile systems. The announcement followed discussions between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The supply is intended for Ukraine's air defense and the protection of its critical infrastructure.
On 5 October 2023, the Russian state-owned company Rostec officially announced the start of deliveries of the first batch of 2S40 Phlox 6x6 120mm self-propelled mortars to the Russian armed forces, which will most likely be transferred to units stationed in Ukraine. These deliveries follow the successful completion of the final testing phase in August 2023, marking the formal adoption of this vehicle for active service within the Russian Army.
As reported by Ukrinform on October 5, 2023, Canadian military trainers have been actively engaged in imparting tactical urban warfare skills to Ukrainian defenders as part of Operation UNIFIER. The 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, representing the Canadian Armed Forces, demonstrated their proficiency in tactical urban warfare during Rotation 16. These training exercises took place in the southeast of England, offering Ukrainian recruits valuable insights and expertise. Operation UNIFIER, an initiative by the Canadian Armed Forces, has been dedicated to supporting Ukraine's Security Forces.
As reported by Praise the Steph on September 30, 2023, Ukraine has recently expanded its military capabilities through the reception of numerous ex-British Army FV432 armored personnel carriers (APCs) from the United Kingdom and various non-governmental organizations. These FV432 vehicles, which belong to the FV430 family, have been put into active service with the 22nd Special Purpose Battalion of the Ukrainian Separate Presidential Brigade, featuring the 2021 standard pixel camouflage pattern.
As reported by the Odessa Journal, Nibulon has announced on its website the delivery of the initial unit of the GCS-200 tracked demining platform, courtesy of Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions. Nibulon is set to receive a total of four of these cutting-edge demining machines, with each capable of clearing an area equivalent to a football field in a single day. Their primary purpose is to eliminate explosive threats, restore agricultural land for economic purposes, and ensure the safety of civilian infrastructure.
On October 3, 2023, as reported by Chuck Pfarrer, Ukraine reportedly employed another affordable FPV drone to target and destroy a Russian military asset, specifically a BM-21 Grad rocket launcher. Modern warfare is currently undergoing a substantial transformation, exemplified by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as the Ukrainian military has effectively incorporated First Person View (FPV) kamikaze drones into their operations. This strategic shift carries significant implications for military strategy, technological advancements, and new challenges on the battlefield, as evidenced by numerous articles on our website.
According to ABC Australia on October 2, 2023, Electro Optic Systems (EOS), an Australian defense company, has recently completed the production of its Slinger anti-drone systems intended for use in Ukraine. As previously reported on September 8, 2023, EOS is poised to supply Ukraine with a total of 160 Slinger anti-drone systems. Among these, 110 units are designated for mounting on M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), while the remaining 50 will be installed on Bushmaster APCs by the Ukrainian firm Praktyka.
As reported by Ouest France on September 30, 2023, the French company CEFA (Conception et Études de Fabrication d'Armements) is set to supply Ukraine with 8 EFAs (Engin de Franchissement de l’Avant - Frontal Breaching Engine) self-propelled pontoon bridges and 8 SDZ mine clearance vehicles. These systems, sourced from the former engineer park, will be soon delivered. Ukraine has previously received a range of AVLB (armored vehicle-launched bridge) vehicles, including 34 Biber vehicles (29 from Germany and 5 from the Netherlands), 2 M-3 Bridge and Ferry systems from the Netherlands, and 18 M60 AVLB vehicles from the United States.
According to the French Ministry of Defense (MoD) on September 30, 2023, France, in collaboration with defense company Nexter, a part of KNDS, will provide Ukraine with six additional CAESAR 6x6 155mm self-propelled howitzers. These new additions are set to supplement the existing fleet of 18 CAESARs, previously delivered by the French army, and the 12 units directly acquired by Ukraine from KNDS. In addition to these, Ukraine has also received 19 CAESAR 8x8, which were supplied by Denmark.
In a significant move amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the US M1A1 Abrams tanks that were delivered to Ukraine to boost Ukraine's armored capabilities. This decision has been met with both anticipation and analysis regarding the tank's potential impact on the Ukrainian battlefield.
According to La Croix on September 28, 2023, Ukraine recently held a two-day defense industry exhibition in Kyiv on September 27th and 28th, 2023. The event aimed to attract foreign investments to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities. A significant outcome was the French Arquus Defense's commitment to establish a repair workshop in Ukraine, primarily focusing on maintaining and refurbishing French-made Véhicules de l'Avant Blindés (VAB) armored vehicles supplied to Ukraine, with the goal of ensuring their long-term operational readiness.
According to information on Russian social media on September 26, 2023, to address the challenges posed by unexploded ordnance in the territory of Ukraine currently controlled by Russia, the DST-Ural factory in Chelyabinsk constructed the MT-1 remote-controlled mine clearance vehicle, utilizing the chassis of a standard tracked loader, the PG-20. This prototype was developed in August 2022 to conduct mine-clearing operations in the Donetsk region, which has been heavily affected by the use of mines since the onset of the war, as noted by Sergei Bytsenko, CEO of "Special-Purpose Engineering Machines."
In a tweet dated September 27, 2023, from The Dead District account, the footage shows a UAV taking down a World War 2-era D-44 howitzer. This Stalin-era towed gun is still in operation among Russian forces, highlighting the use of equipment dating back to 1944.
According to a tweet by Patricia Marins dated September 27, 2023, Omsktransmash, a Russian defense company, has ramped up production of T-80BVM main battle tanks. This is part of a broader initiative where the company has taken approximately 180 old T-80 tanks from depots for modernization. The company plans to deliver these upgraded units throughout the year, releasing them in batches of 20 to 30 units every 40 to 60 days.
According to Serhiy Prytula on September 27, 2023, Ukrainian soldiers associated with the Mutant group, a unit that is part of the Security Service of Ukraine, have employed crowdfunded First Person View (FPV) drones to neutralize a Russian BMP-T Terminator Fire Support Combat Vehicle near the village of Spartak in the Donetsk region, a region known for being the scene of night-time operations by these by these heavily armed vehicles.
According to the Sofia Globe on September 27, 2023, in an unconventional procedure, Bulgaria’s Parliament voted behind closed doors that day to supply unserviceable S-300 missiles to Ukraine.
In a recent video circulating on the social media platform Telegram, a German-made Marder 1A3 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) donated by Germany to Ukraine appears to have been hit by a missile or to have run over a mine on the frontline. Remarkably, due to the robust armor of the Marder 1A3, the crew and accompanying infantrymen emerged unscathed.
On September 25, 2023, information shared on Russian social media revealed that Russians had initiated the dissemination of guidelines and strategies for exploiting potential vulnerabilities in American-made Abrams Tanks. These guidelines include specific instructions on where to target the tank and which weapons to employ, such as the Kornet anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). This development came just after the anonymous confirmation of the presence of US-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks in Ukraine, which were likely to participate in Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.
On September 25, 2023, as reported by The New York Times, a pair of US officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to the absence of formal announcements, confirmed the delivery and the presence of an undisclosed quantity of M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks in Ukraine. This revelation follows an earlier Army Recognition report from August 8, 2023, which outlined the initial delivery of Abrams tanks during the early autumn season. The tanks in question are of the older ex-U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 variants, chosen for their quicker availability compared to the more modern A2 iteration.
According to Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, on September 21, 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces initiated field testing of the Ironclad unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). This versatile UGV will perform a range of combat missions, including storming enemy positions, reconnaissance operations, and delivering military fire support. Central to its capabilities is the Shablya M2 combat module, equipped with a thermal imaging camera for enhanced situational awareness.
On September 20th, 2023, social media was abuzz with a video that appeared to capture cruise missiles soaring over Crimea. The missiles depicted in the video closely resemble the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-to-ground missile. During this event, missiles targeted and struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in Crimea, coinciding with a leadership meeting.
