Armament of Russia and the USA: comparison. The army of Russia and America: modern weapons

Russia (USSR) has always been an adversary for the Western world. For six decades now, our military doctrines have been focused on conducting military operations against each other. Accordingly, the armaments of Russia and the United States were also evaluated. Comparison of defenses and striking power was the driving force behind the development of science and economics. Russia is the only country in the world that can technically wipe the United States off the face of the earth, and also has comparable military potential.

For decades, without entering into direct confrontation, countries in combat conditions experienced all types of weapons, except ballistic missiles. Antagonism is not exhausted. The ratio of the US and Russian armies, unfortunately, is an indicator of political stability on the planet. Comparing military vehicles of both countries may be a thankless task. The two powers have different doctrines. Americans crave world domination, and Russia has responded symmetrically in all ages.

Statistics are biased

Information regarding the defense sector is always classified. If we turn to open sources, it is possible to theoretically compare the armaments of the United States and Russia. The table provides dry figures borrowed only in Western media.

Based on these data, Russia has no chance of confrontation with America. However, the real picture is a little different. A simple comparison gives nothing. It all depends on the training of personnel, as well as on how effective the equipment and weapons are. So, in southeastern Ukraine, the loss of military equipment is 1: 4 in favor of the militias, although the armament is the same.

Numerical strength and mobilization reserve

The army of Russia and the USA are practically comparable in numbers. However, the US military is 100 percent staffed with professional military personnel. High level of material and technical equipment. The United States has significantly greater mobilization opportunities. There are 120 million people fit for military service across the ocean, we have only 46 million. Every year, 4.2 million young people reach the military age in the United States and only 1.3 million in Russia. In a war of attrition, Americans will be able to make up for losses more effectively. Nevertheless, Pentagon experts over the past decade have significantly lowered the bar of strategic capabilities of their armed forces. If earlier they were designed for the simultaneous conduct of two full-scale warriors, then after 2012 the General Staff declares the possibility of confrontation in only one conflict.

Fighting spirit

Another thing is the quality of the fighters. Hollywood and the Western media have formed the image of an invincible and invulnerable marine with an unbending will among the world community. A recent event is connected with recent Crimean events. In the spring of 2014, NATO sent a detachment of ships to the Black Sea to intimidate Russia and demonstrate support for Ukraine, which was suffering from the "aggressor" of Ukraine. Among the warships of the "friendly powers" was the Donald Cook missile-guided destroyer. The ship maneuvered near the territorial waters of Russia. On April 12, the Su-24 front-line bomber, without standard weapons, but equipped with on-board (and not any special) electronic warfare equipment, circled the ship. As a result of this maneuver on the destroyer, all electronic equipment left the standing position. The result of the demarche: 27 sailors (a tenth of the crew) filed a petition for dismissal from service because of the threat to their lives. Imagine the picture: in the morning of January 26, 1904, the crew of the cruiser Varyag, in the face of the upcoming battle with the Japanese detachment of cruisers, writes to the commander a letter of resignation! The reason is a threat to life. This is incomprehensible to any military unit.

At the beginning of this year, a similar situation occurred with the crew of the cruiser Vicksburg. The attack simulated the Su-34. There was no electronic impact on the ship. The Americans were not even able to use the air defense system. The result of a flight over the ship: a request for the resignation of two dozen sailors.

Our tanks are fast

During the Cold War, the doctrine of the land strategy of the Soviet Union provided for the achievement of tank units of the Atlantic coast within four days. The reserve has remained. Tracked combat vehicles still remain the basis of the striking power of fighting on land. The tanks of Russia and the United States are approximately equivalent in combat qualities, but many experts agree that a direct confrontation will be in favor of the Americans in a 1: 3 ratio. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the top overseas models are ten times more expensive than Russian counterparts. The American army is armed with 1970 Abrams tanks of the latest modifications - M1A2 and M1A2SEP. 4800 units of earlier versions are in reserve. In Russia, until new T-14 tanks enter the troops, the most modern models will remain T-90 of various modifications, of which there are about five hundred in combat units. 4744 gas turbine T-80s are modernized in accordance with modern requirements and equipped with the latest defense and weapons systems.

An alternative to the expensive T-90 is the latest version of the T-72B3. How many of these tanks are in service, there is no exact information. At the beginning of 2013, there were 1,100 of them. Every year, Uralvagonzavod modernizes at least three hundred units. In total, about 12,500 T-72 different versions are listed on the balance sheet of the defense department. In combat-ready units, our army retains a double advantage over the US Army and its NATO allies (!). New tanks will consolidate this superiority. The Americans expect the Abrams to remain in service until 2040.

Armor for infantry

Russia has 15,700 armored personnel carriers (9,700 of them in service), 15,860 infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles (7,360 in service), and 2,200 armored reconnaissance vehicles. The Americans have more than 16,000 armored personnel carriers. Bradley combat-ready infantry fighting vehicles - about six and a half thousand. American technology is better protected.

Heavy weapons

Artillery is still the queen of the fields. Russia has four-fold superiority in self-propelled artillery and in multiple launch rocket systems, and two-fold superiority in towed artillery systems. Experts talk about higher professional training of military personnel of the American army. Indeed, heavy weapons require competent specialists. On the other hand, the domestic armed forces have weapons that have no analogues in the West and are not expected in the near future. This, for example, the heavy flamethrower system "Sun" or the multiple launch rocket system "Tornado".

Airplanes First

The nominally American Navy has an overwhelming (more than fourfold) superiority over the Russian. However, American technology is becoming obsolete, and replacement is late. U.S. Air Force combat aircraft in operation have double superiority. One of the arguments is the fact that in Russia there are only a few 4 ++ aircraft and there is no fifth generation, and the United States already has hundreds, more precisely F-22 - 195 units, F-35 - about seventy. The Russian Air Force can counter them only 60 Su-35S. It should be borne in mind that the F-22 is discontinued due to the high cost of manufacture and operation. The tail mount and fire control system are criticized. F-35, despite the colossal PR campaign, is far from the fifth generation. This car is pretty raw. It is possible that the advertised invisibility for radars is another myth. Manufacturers do not allow measuring the effective dispersion surface.

The production of new aircraft in Russia is growing at an unprecedented pace. In 2014, more than 100 combat aircraft were built, not counting export copies. There are no such indicators anywhere in the world. In the United States, combat aircraft are produced annually:

• F-16 - no more than 18 units (all for export);
• F-18 - about 45 units.

The Russian Air Force is annually replenished with the following modern aviation systems:

• MiG – 29k / KUB up to 8 units;
• Su – 30M2 up to 6 pieces;
• Su-30CM not less than 20;
• Su – 35 up to 15 units
• Su-34 not less than 20.

It should be remembered that information on the number of cars produced is classified. Actual production volumes can be much higher. Su-35, Su-27 and MiG-31BM, armed with powerful radar and R-37 missiles with a launch range of 300 km, allow these models to significantly reduce their lag in front of the F-22 Raptor fighter. With the aircraft F-15, F-16 and F-18, they can handle without any problems.

Guard over the far frontier

The presence of long-range strike aircraft distinguishes the armaments of Russia and the United States. Comparison of the power of heavy bombers and missile carriers standing on alert is provoking nervous tremors among Western generals. And for good reason. The numbers may not be impressive. American long-range aviation is represented by three types of bombers:

• B-52N: 44 in service, 78 in reserve;
• B-2A: 16 units in the ranks, 19 in storage;
• V-1VA: 35 in service, 65 in reserve.

Russian strategic aviation is worthy, not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively superior to its “partner”, despite the fact that it does not have machines like the B-2 in service. The subsonic “stealth” bomber is difficult to control and ineffective in combat use. Domestic long-range aviation is represented by the following machines:

• Tu-160: all 16 aircraft in service, production resumption planned;
• Tu-95MS: 32 are on constant combat alert, 92 are in storage;
• Tu-22M3: 40 in service, 213 in reserve.

Of particular concern is the placement of the Tu-22 at Crimean sites. Armed with high-precision x-32 missiles with a range of up to 1000 km, the aircraft is capable of hitting any object in the North of Africa and throughout Europe. Without armament, after nine hours, the aircraft will land at the Libertador airbase in Venezuela. After another half hour, he will be equipped with ammunition and ready for departure.

Helicopters

An armada of rotorcraft for various purposes complements the armaments of Russia and the United States. Comparison of the size of this type of technical equipment is also far from in our favor. True, about half of the claimed list of American cars are currently operational. The Pentagon has paid for the delivery of about three hundred Mi-17s to support its activities in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past ten years. Better recognition of the quality of the product and can not be desired. These machines can be added to our asset. The Russian Helicopters concern for the domestic market annually produces more than 300 aircraft. Two thirds are for the armed forces.

Air Defense Forces

Conducting a large-scale ground operation is unthinkable without air support. In this case, the leading role is played by the air defense system. The air defense system of Russia is recognized as the most effective in the world. The combat power of anti-aircraft gunners is based on S-300 systems of various modifications and the S-400 system. To protect the compounds from attacks from the air in the near field, the Mobile Armor-C1 installations are intended. NATO experts unequivocally agree that in the event of an air attack on Russia, the air defense system will destroy up to 80% of the enemy’s aircraft, including the latest cruise missiles flying to the target with an envelope around the terrain. The American Patriot system cannot boast of such indicators. Estimates of our experts are more modest, they call the figure 65%. In any case, the enemy will be dealt irreparable damage. Complexes based on the Mig-31BM have no analogues in the world. The aircraft are armed with air-to-air missiles with a range of 300 km. According to the latest report by the analytical agency Air Power Australia, in the event of a large-scale military conflict between Russia and the United States, the probability of the survival of American aviation is completely excluded. Appreciation of opponents is worth a lot.

Rocket umbrella

It is no secret that in a hypothetical war with Russia, Americans expect to deliver the first quick global strike using high-precision non-nuclear weapons. Russia is now quite reliably protected from possible aggression in the future. Under the cover of a missile defense umbrella, a comprehensive re-equipment of the armed forces is planned until 2020. The latest technology and weapons are entering the troops at an increasing pace. By this time, samples of a new generation will appear, which will reduce the possibility of direct armed confrontation between the two superpowers to almost zero.

And here we have something

At the same time, domestic aviation is capable of practically attacking enemy ground targets with impunity. This is facilitated by the latest electronic warfare systems. Electronics does not allow you to approach the aircraft at a dangerous distance: the rocket either goes away, changing the flight path, or is eliminated at a safe distance. The prototype of the system was first tested in combat conditions during the conflict in South Ossetia in 2008. Our armed forces lost 5 aircraft, although the opposing side took out containers from under the missile launchers of Buk missiles.

On the ocean

What Russia is clearly inferior to overseas partner in is the power of the naval forces. By the power of the surface component of the Navy of America have an overwhelming superiority. The renewal of the domestic fleet mainly concerns ships of the near sea zone. The Americans are also superior in the number of nuclear submarines (they do not build others): the submarine with a nuclear power plant has 75 in the USA, 48 in Russia. The US has 14 submarines with ballistic missiles and one more in Russia.

In fairness, it is worth noting that the Americans do not have submarines armed with anti-ship cruise missiles, similar to our 949A Antei. For these purposes, they are re-equipping strategic missile carriers such as the Ohio. A positive aspect is the adoption of the domestic multi-purpose and strategic submarines of the 4th generation. An essential trump card is the deployment of strategic missile carriers under the ice of the Arctic. In these positions, they are unattainable for the enemy.

Nuclear deterrence forces

This clause is subject to strict compliance with the strategic arms limitation treaty. A nuclear shield, and it’s also a nuclear club, consists of three components:

• Strategic missile forces.
• Submarines with intercontinental ballistic missiles.
• Strategic Aviation.

The nuclear weapons of the United States and Russia are roughly equivalent. Americans have more charges in long-term storage. But the basis of our immunity is not only new models of ballistic missiles that can break through any missile defense system, but also practically invulnerable ground-based complexes, as well as railway installations under development. Of course, the most frightening argument of military superiority over other powers is the nuclear weapons of Russia and the United States. Comparison of the appearance of ballistic missiles can cool hotheads. A terrible dream of American warriors is the “Perimeter” autonomous retaliatory strike system, or, as they call it, “Dead Hand”. The name of the updated version is classified.

More recently, in terms of the number of deployed charges, we have achieved parity and even a slight advantage. According to experts, at the end of 2014, the number of nuclear weapons of the two countries is expressed in the following figures:

• There are 528 deployed carriers in Russia and 794 in the USA.
• The deployed carriers have warheads: in Russia - 1643, in the USA - 1642.
• The carriers of everything (deployed and non-deployed) in Russia are 911, in the USA - 912.

By the end of 2017, both sides of deployed carriers should have no more than 700 and warheads no more than 1,550. In addition, no more than one hundred carriers may be in reserve. Analysts on the other side of the ocean admit that in peacetime at current levels of rapidly deployed nuclear weapons, the US offensive forces do not have the ability to deliver a surprise attack on Russia's nuclear deterrence forces. This situation will continue in the coming decades.

Russian navy, army are being updated intensively. Naturally, the same processes take place in the American armed forces. The priority of our strategy is the defense of borders, and this gives us significant advantages.