https://sputniknews.in/20240102/military-innovations-of-2023--what-to-expect-from-defence-tech-in-2024-6065628.html
Military Innovations of 2023 & What to Expect From Defence Tech in 2024
Military Innovations of 2023 & What to Expect From Defence Tech in 2024
Sputnik India
Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the world, multiple countries, including Russia and India, led the innovations in the military domain in 2023. Sputnik India looks back at some of the most unique weaponry of the outgoing year.
2024-01-02T20:24+0530
2024-01-02T20:24+0530
2024-01-04T18:38+0530
volodymyr zelensky
sergei shoigu
vladimir putin
russia
india
ukraine
indian air force (iaf)
rostec
indian navy
indian army
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Multiple weapons platforms with cutting-edge technology marked their debuts in 2023, with Russia in particular deploying its state-of-the-art defence hardware in Ukraine where the Eurasian sovereign state is conducting a special military operation against the forces of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.Moscow's long-time strategic partner India wasn't to be left far behind in the domain of military equipment as New Delhi upgraded its arsenal in the wake of the Indo-Pacific becoming the focal point of global geopolitics.Interestingly, both production and exports of Indian arms and ammunition hit an all-time high in 2023.As per India's Defence Ministry (MoD), the South Asian country recorded military exports worth INR 16,000 crore ($1.95 billion) during the ongoing financial year. These statistics are $360 million higher than the exports of the last fiscal.Against this backdrop, Sputnik India looks at the defence innovations of 2023 and what the future holds for military tech in 2024.Upgraded Lancet DroneIn November 2023, Ukraine's Armed Forces chief General Valerii Zaluzhny admitted that Lancet was turning out to be a nightmare for the Kiev regime's soldiers before underlining that countering the Russian-origin Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) was becoming quite difficult.His statement regarding the highly sophisticated Russian drone came only days after the British Ministry of Defence described the Lancet as one of the most lethal and effective new weapons systems that Moscow was using in Ukraine in 2023.The Lancet drone's effectiveness in the combat operations in Ukraine earned praise from Rustem Klupov, a Russian military veteran of the wars in Afghanistan, and Chechnya.Orlan-30 DroneRussia unveiled its brand new drone, Orlan-30, to conduct reconnaissance operations at the Aero India 2023 expo in Bengaluru city of India's Karnataka state in February 2023.The Russian Ministry of Defence mentions that the drone is equipped with a laser target designator that illuminates enemy targets, helping the UAV's artillery to destroy them with far more accuracy than its previous version, Orlan-10.Having a flight endurance of up to six hours, an operational radius of 300 km, and an altitude flight range of 300 to 3,500 meters, the Orlan-30 is a genuine threat to Western drones, especially when considering that it also carries high-precision aerial bombs.Malva Self-Propelled Wheeled HowitzerBesides developing modern offensive and defensive drone technologies, Russia's self-propelled wheeled howitzer "Malva" created quite a buzz among military watchers across the world.The Malva successfully underwent trials in July before Russia's state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec put forth its capabilities."The onboard equipment set facilitates gun feeding and ensures automatic fire direction. Moreover, the gun has a self-contained power generating unit to ensure electricity supply at the firing position," Russia's state-run defence manufacturer added.Among its key specifications is its ability to move as far as a thousand kilometers on public roads which is not possible for similar military platforms produced by the West.Poseidon — A Nuclear-Powered TorpedoThe first batch of Russia's nuclear-powered Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs) Poseidon gained attention in January 2023, after videos of the torpedoes were released by state media.The Poseidon drones are capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads, making them far deadlier as far as striking a wide array of targets is concerned.Last summer, the Russian Navy conducted the maiden trials of the nuclear-capable UUVs from its nuclear-powered submarine Belgorod.The Poseidon torpedoes are capable of functioning from a depth of 1,000 meters and have a top speed of 130 km/h, making them potential game changers in case of underwater warfare.RS-28 Sarmat Nuclear Missile:Unofficially called the "Satan II" by Western media outlets, the RS-28 Sarmat is Russia's next-gen intercontinental ballistic missile that was deployed in combat by the Eurasian sovereign state's armed forces on 1 September 2023.With the RS-28 Sarmat having the ability to deliver a 10-tonne warhead anywhere in the world, including the Earth's North and South Poles, the nuclear missile is set to form the backbone of Russia's "deterrence" power.The missile's unveiling caused great unease in the Western world with US Senator Roger Wickers highlighting that America does not possess a weapon that can counter the Sarmat, thus making it defenseless against the nuclear missile.3M22 ZirconThe 3M22 Zircon is Russia's next-generation anti-ship hypersonic missile based on the scramjet technology which entered combat duty in Ukraine in January 2023.Alongside the Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles and the Avangard glide vehicle, the Zircon forms the core of Moscow's hypersonic arsenal.With its hypersonic speed, which is nine times above the speed of sound, tracking the Zircon is a nightmare for the enemy's air defence systems, making it an extremely potent weapon, including against NATO's so-called technologically superior projectiles.The Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that the Zircon, which has a range of a thousand kilometers, can destroy any missile system in the world.Furthermore, Russia is equipping its warships with Zircon, with the frigate named Admiral Gorshkov being the first one to be armed with the rocket."This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'. I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats," Putin said last January.Kavro Doma 360The Kavro Doma 360 is the first-ever "rifle-rated ballistic helmet" developed by India's private sector defence manufacturer MKU.The company which is based in Kanpur city of India's Uttar Pradesh state has the ability to withstand bullets fired from various rifles and guns, including AK-47 MSC, M193, M80.The Kavro Doma could prove to be a lifesaver for Indian soldiers involved in anti-insurgency operations in Kashmir and the Northeast where the casualty rate among troops is high given that they confront terrorists with alarming regularity.Akash MissileDubbed India's "Iron Dome" system, the Akash missile has gained substantial prominence in the international arms market after its developer, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), confirmed that a single rocket engaged and destroyed four aerial targets simultaneously.The development came during the Astrashakti exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) last month.The DRDO pointed out that India was the first country to accomplish such a feat.Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedo (HWT)The Varunastra is a heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the DRDO and produced by India's state-run defence manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).In the first such demonstration of the torpedo, the Indian Navy conducted trials of Varunastra in June, where it successfully struck an undersea target, meeting all parameters of the test.The Indian Navy has already started its induction and Varunastra is expected to become the lynchpin of its anti-submarine torpedo fleet in all vessels.What to Expect From Defence Tech in 2024Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) J.S. Sodhi opined that the year 2023 was important for the Indian military as the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force announced the setting up of cyber-specialist units to counter the growing threat of cyber warfare in the realm of modern warfare.Sodhi reckoned that the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make In India' initiatives have paid rich dividends which have resulted in defence exports worth INR 16,000 crores ($1.95 billion) to 85 countries, thus heralding India's presence in the global market of arms manufacturers.
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Military Innovations of 2023 & What to Expect From Defence Tech in 2024
20:24 02.01.2024 (Updated: 18:38 04.01.2024) Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the world, multiple countries, including Russia and India, led the innovations in the military domain in 2023. Sputnik India looks back at some of the most unique weaponry of the outgoing year.
Multiple weapons platforms with cutting-edge technology marked their debuts in 2023, with Russia in particular deploying its state-of-the-art defence hardware in Ukraine where the Eurasian sovereign state is conducting a special military operation against the forces of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Moscow's long-time strategic partner India wasn't to be left far behind in the domain of military equipment as New Delhi upgraded its arsenal in the wake of the
Indo-Pacific becoming the focal point of global geopolitics.
Interestingly, both production and exports of Indian arms and ammunition hit an all-time high in 2023.
As per India's Defence Ministry (MoD), the South Asian country recorded military exports worth INR 16,000 crore ($1.95 billion) during the ongoing financial year. These statistics are $360 million higher than the exports of the last fiscal.
On the other hand, the overall value of defence goods manufactured in India touched INR 100,000 crore ($12.01 billion), the highest ever registered in India.
Against this backdrop, Sputnik India looks at the defence innovations of 2023 and what the future holds for military tech in 2024.
In November 2023, Ukraine's Armed Forces chief General Valerii Zaluzhny admitted that Lancet was turning out to be a nightmare for the Kiev regime's soldiers before underlining that countering the Russian-origin Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) was becoming quite difficult.
His statement regarding the highly sophisticated Russian drone came only days after the British Ministry of Defence described the Lancet as
one of the most lethal and effective new weapons systems that Moscow was using in Ukraine in 2023.
The Lancet drone's effectiveness in the combat operations in Ukraine earned praise from Rustem Klupov, a Russian military veteran of the wars in Afghanistan, and Chechnya.
"The Lancet, which can hit targets 40-50 km away, depending on weather conditions, is a very powerful and accurate weapon system. It combines accuracy, range and the power of a destructive charge. Depending on its mission, it can be equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. And this 'tandem' warhead is used against armored targets," Klupov told Sputnik.
Russia unveiled its brand new drone, Orlan-30, to conduct reconnaissance operations at the Aero India 2023 expo in Bengaluru city of India's Karnataka state in February 2023.
The Russian Ministry of Defence mentions that the drone is equipped with a laser target designator that illuminates enemy targets, helping the UAV's artillery to destroy them with far more accuracy than its previous version, Orlan-10.
Having a flight endurance of up to six hours, an operational radius of 300 km, and an altitude flight range of 300 to 3,500 meters, the Orlan-30 is a genuine threat to Western drones, especially when considering that it also carries high-precision aerial bombs.
Malva Self-Propelled Wheeled Howitzer
Besides developing modern offensive and defensive drone technologies, Russia's self-propelled wheeled howitzer "Malva" created quite a
buzz among military watchers across the world.
The Malva successfully underwent trials in July before Russia's state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec put forth its capabilities.
"The howitzer is capable of implementing multi-round simultaneous impact (when multiple shells are fired and achieve the same target simultaneously)," Rostec said in a statement in July.
"The onboard equipment set facilitates gun feeding and ensures automatic fire direction. Moreover, the gun has a self-contained power generating unit to ensure electricity supply at the firing position," Russia's state-run defence manufacturer added.
Among its key specifications is its ability to move as far as a thousand kilometers on public roads which is not possible for similar military platforms produced by the West.
Poseidon — A Nuclear-Powered Torpedo
The first batch of Russia's nuclear-powered Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs) Poseidon gained attention in January 2023, after videos of the torpedoes were released by state media.
The Poseidon drones are capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads, making them far deadlier as far as striking a wide array of targets is concerned.
Last summer, the Russian Navy conducted the maiden trials of the nuclear-capable UUVs from its nuclear-powered submarine Belgorod.
The Poseidon torpedoes are capable of functioning from a depth of 1,000 meters and have a top speed of 130 km/h, making them potential game changers in case of underwater warfare.
RS-28 Sarmat Nuclear Missile:
Unofficially called the "Satan II" by Western media outlets, the RS-28 Sarmat is Russia's next-gen intercontinental ballistic missile that was deployed
in combat by the Eurasian sovereign state's armed forces on 1 September 2023.
With the RS-28 Sarmat having the ability to deliver a 10-tonne warhead anywhere in the world, including the Earth's North and South Poles, the nuclear missile is set to form the backbone of Russia's "deterrence" power.
The missile's unveiling caused great unease in the Western world with US Senator Roger Wickers highlighting that America does not possess a weapon that can counter the Sarmat, thus making it defenseless against the nuclear missile.
The 3M22 Zircon is Russia's next-generation anti-ship hypersonic missile based on the scramjet technology which entered combat duty in Ukraine in January 2023.
Alongside the Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles and the Avangard glide vehicle, the Zircon forms the core of Moscow's hypersonic arsenal.
With its hypersonic speed, which is nine times above the speed of sound, tracking the Zircon is a nightmare for the enemy's air defence systems, making it an
extremely potent weapon, including against NATO's so-called technologically superior projectiles.
The Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that the Zircon, which has a range of a thousand kilometers, can destroy any missile system in the world.
Furthermore, Russia is equipping its warships with Zircon, with the frigate named Admiral Gorshkov being the first one to be armed with the rocket.
"This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'. I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats," Putin said last January.
The Kavro Doma 360 is the first-ever "
rifle-rated ballistic helmet" developed by India's private sector defence manufacturer
MKU.
The company which is based in Kanpur city of India's Uttar Pradesh state has the ability to withstand bullets fired from various rifles and guns, including AK-47 MSC, M193, M80.
The Kavro Doma could prove to be a lifesaver for Indian soldiers involved in anti-insurgency operations in Kashmir and the Northeast where the casualty rate among troops is high given that they confront terrorists with alarming regularity.
"This helmet could change the way the Indian Army conducts its operations against terrorists in Kashmir because it can stop bullets and shells from piercing the heads of soldiers, which could prove to be a boon, especially in jungle warfare," Major General (Retd) G.D. Bakshi told Sputnik India.
Dubbed India's "Iron Dome" system, the Akash missile has gained substantial prominence in the international arms market after its developer, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), confirmed that a single rocket engaged and destroyed four aerial targets simultaneously.
The development came during the Astrashakti exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) last month.
The DRDO pointed out that India was the first country to accomplish such a feat.
"India became the first country to demonstrate the capability of engagement of 04 aerial targets simultaneously at 25 km ranges by command guidance using a single firing unit. The test was conducted by the IAF using Akash Weapon System," the DRDO wrote on X, previously Twitter.
Varunastra Heavyweight Torpedo (HWT)
The Varunastra is a heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the DRDO and produced by India's state-run defence manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
In the first such demonstration of the torpedo, the Indian Navy conducted trials of Varunastra in June, where it successfully struck an undersea target,
meeting all parameters of the test.
The Indian Navy has already started its induction and Varunastra is expected to become the lynchpin of its anti-submarine torpedo fleet in all vessels.
What to Expect From Defence Tech in 2024
Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) J.S. Sodhi opined that the year 2023 was important for the Indian military as the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force announced the setting up of cyber-specialist units to counter the growing threat of cyber warfare in the realm of modern warfare.
"Moving ahead in 2024, the Indian Armed Forces will see a greater synergy amongst the three Services and increased combat preparedness as a two-front war on its eastern and western borders seems to be a reality with each passing year," the defence expert expressed.
Sodhi reckoned that the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make In India' initiatives have paid rich dividends which have resulted in defence exports worth INR 16,000 crores ($1.95 billion) to 85 countries, thus heralding India's presence in the global market of arms manufacturers.
"The Global Partnership in Artificial Intelligence International Conference held in New Delhi in December 2023 was a clear signal that India has realised the importance of AI in civil as well as military life," the former Indian Army officer summed up.
