Shot in the dark
“Wow.” a word on the tip of my tongue when a senior intelligence officer, private soldier of contract service Damon, Barone told me about the system CRCC “Sagittarius”. Damon is an ordinary Russian guy, just his father was a Spaniard. But CRUZ stands for “a complex intelligence, control and communication”. The system complements the set of equipment “Warrior”, the latest military uniforms of Russian soldiers.
Strelets me truly amazed. It can be used to destroy the enemy, even blindly. For example, in the pitch dark. Or through the dense foliage.
– On the panel of coming enemy coordinates. And not only the longitude with the latitude, but also altitude above sea level – explains a scout showing a small-sized smartphone a device with a screen. – Knowing own position in space, and the data here are displayed – you can figure out where to turn and what angle to hold the machine to hit the target. This, of course, aerobatics. If given a chances to get increase.
– And where are the coordinates of the enemy? – I ask.
– One of the fighters would have found him, explains Damon. – Though it may be, for example, a drone. Data is sent over the internal network, it’s just a matter of minutes.
Shooting blindly into battle may not be necessary, it is just a demonstration of the capabilities of the complex. The ability to combine the eyes and ears of the units in a single network, to know the whereabouts of the soldiers and instantly give them orders – it’s worth it. In combination with equipment of the “Warrior” CRCC “Sagittarius” is able to turn our soldiers into soldiers of the future. No exaggeration.
To lose the vest in two seconds
BMP, roaring, moving into position. From its bowels on the go pour boys in camouflage and is similar to ski glasses. Changing position, they are firing, falling, jumping, rolling and sinking… They squeeze out the simulated enemy lines and rushing forward, not giving the enemy time to recover. We arrived at the suburban landfill Alabino, to see how the outfit “Ratnik” is helping the soldiers of the motorized infantry formations to solve problems. In this case study. Nearby to the shooting range is also rattling shots – here are the machines that are soon to become the combat component of “Warrior”.
Automatic is not chosen, is the study of the characteristics of the different samples. But they are all on the accuracy of fire, accuracy, rate and other parameters of the head superior to what was in our army before. There, right on the lawn, laid out the elements of “Warrior”. It’s amazing how everything is thought out. Take, for example, camouflage kit. There are colors for spring and summer, it’s darker, there lighter for fall. Clothing one to change the time of the year is enough to turn the fabric inside out. Or headphones… They are designed so that allow you to keep in radio contact during the fight and at the same time protect the soldier from hearing the sound of explosions and gunfire. But the voice of the friend next to you will hear I won’t have to ask again: “And? What did you say?”. Kevlar helmet is much lighter than all previous ones.
In the spring, during a trip to Syria, I had to wear a helmet the old model, there is nothing to compare. Helmet “Warrior” seemed only slightly heavier than the baseball. It has mounts for a flashlight and night vision device, and he attached one strap and a comfortable, contoured chin hitch. The armor is also lighter then previous – ballistic configuration it weighs 7.5 kilograms. A version of the assault (12 kg) has the highest degree of protection, can withstand a shot from the SVD rifle from ten meters, and armor piercing bullets. To change the configuration of the jacket, enough to just change the panel. System of Velcro allows you to adjust the “armor” so that they almost do not impede movement.
What struck me the most is the ability to get rid of the vest in 2 seconds. This is not a figure of speech, pull and the vest falls apart right at you.
For the first time the equipment is introduced flaps to protect the knees and elbows, says senior expert of the military-scientific Committee of the Land forces major Artem Borisov.
Also for the first time in the outfit has a multi-knife “bumblebee”, there are saws for wood and metal, pliers and other tools. Glasses can protect from debris and other damaging elements. In the life support system includes a filter for water purification at 15 litres. The lantern can be mounted on the helmet and to operate in different modes, including pulse. In General, much has changed. That’s just the shape of the shovels remained the same. We tried to improve it, studied different options. But came to the conclusion that the form that was optimal. However, the metal chose other, so that the shovel is easier. I asked one of the soldiers – contract employees about their impressions of “Warrior”.
In the old form too served and did not complain, he said. – But this is easier and more convenient. Everything you need is there, all the little things like a knife or flashlight attached very great. But the most pleasing knee pads. Sometimes to shoot from one knee falls, and the asphalt scattered glass. Now we can not even think.
Point on the map
CRUZ “Sagittarius”, which I mentioned above, this add-on “Warrior”. The system is equipped with only special forces. But perhaps in the not too distant future, a single virtual network will cover entire battalions and even divisions.
In fact, “Sagittarius” is a few small boxes with electronics, which, in a protective case mounted on a tactical vest. While Damon, Perone explained that here the battery, and here the processor, I have not noticed anything. Attention was drawn only antenna, like halves of ping-pong on his shoulders. One antenna associated with the GPS satellites and GLONASS, the other connects to the internal network – it is protected by the most difficult codes to break it is almost impossible.
Damon, Barone brings to the eyes the binoculars and looks at a target in the distance.
Before the target 504 meters, he says. Turns out it wasn’t just the binoculars and dalemere-goniometer. It calculates distance, coordinates, altitude above sea level. With it, you can even take a photo and immediately send it across the network to the tablet commander.
– Suppose the branch is located on the frontline, says Damon, Parone. – I see an enemy sniper, but to destroy for some reason can’t. Wood, for example, prevents. Then with the help of this binoculars define the coordinates of a sniper and hand to the commander. On his tablet, the map and dots personnel. And he sees who it is most convenient to eliminate the sniper. Or he can with one movement of the finger to transmit the coordinates to the drone or artillery. All of the sniper.
– And to talk among themselves you can?
– Of course, Barone pulls out a pouch compactly folded headphone with microphone. But there exist situations when talking is not possible. And then you can communicate text messages. How to write text messages. But if I, for example, wounded, I just press one button, and the commander on your tablet it will appear. Enough to flip the coordinates to the nurses, they will quickly find and help. After all, if the wounded to search long, as you know, not make it. Meanwhile the soldiers had finished shooting. They were removed from the machines, miniature cameras installed at the request of the cameramen. The black steel trunks camera looked completely foreign objects.
But in the future, perhaps, the most complicated electronics will become an integral part of small arms. Futurists are already eyeing and “Warrior” and the complex “Sagittarius”. They believe that someday the internal network units will be connected not only soldiers, but also the means of defeating the enemy. And then the precision aiming will calculate computer, and destroy the enemy blind you with a single shot.
