A Ka-52 “Alligator” helicopter. Portal/Sergey Pivovarov
- Russia has been struggling to break through Ukraine’s strong defenses since invading Ukraine in February 2022.
- Since then, it has used both modern and Soviet weapons to destroy Ukraine’s armed forces.
- Insider has compiled a list of the four most effective means Russia has used in the war so far.
Since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has had to adjust its combat strategy as its forces struggled to crush fierce Ukrainian resistance and suffered heavy casualties.
Since then, Russia has resorted to both modern and old Soviet military equipment to turn the tide back in its favor.
Insider took a look at four key military systems Russia has deployed, from Ka-52 attack helicopters to Lancet drones.
1. Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter.
A soldier inspects a Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter. Portal
The Ka-52 is one of the best and most maneuverable attack helicopters in the world.
It can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, which is about 186 miles per hour, and is armed with a 30mm cannon, according to Airforce Technology.
Depending on the location, it can also be equipped with VIKHR anti-tank missiles, ATAKA missiles, B8V-20 missile launchers and IGLA-V anti-aircraft missiles.
The aircraft’s coaxial main rotor increases its maneuverability and allows it to hover at higher altitudes than helicopters with a main rotor.
“Unlike the single main rotor design, which distributes power to both the main and tail rotors, all power from the coaxial rotors is used for vertical thrust. Therefore, no power is wasted on anti-torque or directional control,” the NASA server technical reports say. “The energy saved helps coaxial rotors achieve a higher hover altitude than single-rotor helicopters.”
The Ka-52 was a thorn in Ukraine’s side during its counteroffensive. The British Ministry of Defense described it as “one of the most important weapon systems” in its operations around Zaporizhzhia Oblast in southern Ukraine.
He is credited with destroying infantry fighting vehicles such as the US-made Bradley fighting vehicle and tanks such as the German Leopard 2.
But Russia’s Ka-52 fleet was decimated over the course of the war as Ukraine’s air defense systems, including U.S. Stingers, proved highly effective in countering the aircraft, Forbes reported.
2. Dense minefields
Ukrainian emergency services are examining an area of farmland and power lines for landmines. Portal
Ukraine’s counteroffensive was also hampered by Russia’s dense minefields, which forced some Ukrainian forces to abandon their Western armored vehicles and advance slowly on foot.
The scale of Russia’s minefields has made Ukraine the most heavily mined country on earth, with some soldiers digging up five mines per square meter in certain areas, said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
Danilov said the number of Russian mines was “insane” and stressed how important it was for Ukraine to save front-line soldiers.
“Our main task is to save the lives of our people at the front. We must understand that the enemy has prepared very well for these events and has mined a large number of territories,” he said, according to a report by CNN.
3. Lancet drones
Ukrainian soldiers shoot at Lancet drones Portal
Russia has also used small “kamikaze” drones such as the Lancet drone to attack Ukrainian armored vehicles, artillery units and other military equipment.
The Lancet, manufactured by a subsidiary of Russia’s Kalashnikov weapons maker, was first introduced in 2019.
Russia is currently using an improved version of the drone, known as the Lancet-3, to attack targets in Ukraine.
James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at the University of Southern Denmark, previously told Insider that this version has a larger payload and may allow first-person operations, increasing its accuracy.
The Lancet-3 has a range of about 25 miles, weighs about 35 pounds and has a cruising speed of about 70 miles per hour, Forbes reported.
Patton Rogers said the drones are most effective against targets such as older tanks, lightly armored vehicles and artillery systems.
4. Soviet aircraft bombs
Pioneers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine remove the unexploded FAB-500 aerial bomb in Kharkiv. Portal
Russia also uses Soviet-era aircraft bombs with modern weapons systems.
The Russian bombs pose a major challenge for Ukraine because it is difficult to intercept them, said Oleksiy Melnyk, a military expert at the Ukrainian think tank Razumkov Center.
The bombs, which weigh between 500 and 1,500 kilograms, or about 1,100 to 3,300 pounds, are only in the air for a short time and do not have propulsion systems like modern rockets, making them nearly impossible to shoot down, The New York Times reported.
According to the report, Russia has also modified some of the missiles so that they can glide over long distances.
NOW WATCH: Popular Videos from Insider Inc.
Is loading…