Russia Develops New Anti-Tank Ammo Using Captured Ukrainian Leopard 2 Tank and M2A2 Bradley IFV.

Using captured German Leopard tanks and US Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Russia is developing new anti-tank ammunition. By studying these war trophies, Russia’s state arms manufacturer, Rostec, has announced the development of a new line of upgraded tank shells based on the analysis of captured Western armored vehicles. Russia preparing also a hypothetical escalation in the Ukrainian Theater.
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Tested M2A2 on exhibition across Russia (Picture source  X/@TheDeadDistrict + Army Recognition)

Bekhan Ozdoev, the industrial director of the Russian state corporation Rostec, overseeing conventional weapons, ammunition, and special chemistry, announced that the company is developing a new range of upgraded tank shells based on an extensive study of captured Western armored vehicles, as reported by TASS.

He further stated that Rostec would produce new ammunition whenever Russia’s adversaries develop new tanks with improved protection."Rostec will create new ammunition, multiplying their efforts by zero." This development follows Russia's success in destroying three US-origin Ukrainian Abrams tanks in under a week last month. One of these tanks was disabled by a single shot from a Russian T-72B3.

The Russians argue that this validates their theory that these Western tanks are merely "empty tin cans."

While Moscow's forces haven't captured any Abrams tanks yet, footage released last year showed captured German-origin Leopard-2 tanks and US Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). Military analysts noted that the captured adversary platforms are used for reverse engineering and studying military secrets.

In late February, Russia paraded a captured Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley IFV. The vehicle reportedly was transported to Moscow by train. Social media posts suggested it arrived in the capital city for the American-supplied IFV to be transferred to a military museum. Based on several photos, the M2A2's hull seems to have been used for testing, with visible targets and identified holes corresponding to 30mm shells.

According to Oryx, a Dutch open-source intelligence website tracking equipment losses on both sides, Russia has captured approximately 131 tanks, 82 Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 123 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and 98 Armoured Personnel Carriers thus far.

Developing countermeasures after studying equipment collected from the combat zone is common practice. As Rostec's chief noted, capturing cutting-edge war machines from the West enables Russians to develop tank shells capable of piercing through these tanks and armored vehicles when deployed by adversaries. However, since decoding rival defense technology takes years, there's a good chance it will take several years before these shells are ready for Russian forces. In addition to efforts to develop tank shells that could neutralize Western-origin vehicles, Russia has been working on controlled detonation shells for its Terminator BMPT tank-support vehicle. Rostec State Corporation has completed tests of controlled detonation shells and a remote control system for their detonation time for the Terminator BMPT, said Bekhan Ozdoev in an interview with TASS.

"This is a very promising direction, and such work is ongoing. For example, a 30-mm high-explosive shell shot with a remote-controlled fuse was created. A remote control system for detonation time has been developed for combat vehicles, providing command detonation of the projectile at the right point in the flight trajectory. Last year, state tests as part of the BMPT were completed: they confirmed the correctness of engineering calculations," Ozdoev said.

These 30mm-oriented tests aim to provide a new type of shell suitable for penetrating Western tank armor on the two 30mm cannons of the BMPT "Terminator."

 BMPT leading the way of a Russian tank column (Picture source Telegram )

The BMPT "Terminator" is a heavily protected tank support combat vehicle based on the T-90 tank, developed by the Uralvagonzavod business, a division of Rostec state corporation. Its main armament includes automated 30 mm 2A42 cannons and four attack-T supersonic guided missiles. The vehicle also features a machine gun paired with automatic guns and two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers in armored compartments. Equipped with a highly automated fire control system, the BMPT ensures effective detection and defeat of targets day and night. It's comprehensive protection and significant ammunition ensure the capability to engage numerous targets. Adding high-explosive shells would enhance the vehicle's overall capability, particularly as Russia seeks to advance into Ukraine after its pyrrhic victory in Avdiivka.

Defense News April 2024