Posted on 03/28/2022 3:05:50 AM PDT by tlozo
Waldemar Geiger reports in Soldat & Technik that the Ukrainian armed forces will shortly be equipped with up to 2,650 RGW90 anti-tank missile systems from German manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defense (DND).
The Ukrainian state bought the systems directly from DND and had them delivered to Ukraine. An export application was submitted by the manufacturer on March 18th. According to Die Welt, the approval was granted by the Ministry of Economics last weekend. According to the report, the weapon systems have already left the manufacturer's warehouse for Ukraine.
In the version currently available on the market, the RGW90 HH (HEAT/HESH) A2 uses a 90mm-caliber mono-shaped charge warhead to destroy armored vehicles among other targets: the weapon, weighing around 8 kg, can penetrate more than 600 millimeters of armor steel at a combat distance of 500 meters - with a hit probability of more than 90 percent on a 2.3-meter x 2.3 meter NATO standard target.
The RGW 90 (Recoilless Grenade Weapon) family of infantry weapon systems includes RGW 90HH (Heat-Hesh), RGW 90AS (Anti Structure) and RGW 90WB (Wall Breacher).
The RGW 90HH variant weighs 8.7kg and is used to destroy structural targets using an adjustable warhead at an effective range between 20 m and 500 m.
Weighing roughly 10kg, the RGW 90 AS variant is fitted with a two-stage warhead that can destroy hardened protective covers and hit the targets hidden behind cover. It has a range between 10m and 400m.
Armed with an explosively-formed ring warhead, the 174mm RGW 90WB weapon, weighing 13kg, can penetrate masonry structures and concrete or brick walls at ranges from 10 m to 100 m.
The Ukrainians are getting re supplied and mobilizing with some pretty effective modern weapon systems while Russia’s offensive is actually starting to run out of steam.
Good deal… go forth and grease ‘em, Ukes.
I can get a Class III license, I wish to buy one.
It is evident the Russian Air Force is not effectively interdicting weapons supplies coming in from Poland or Moldova.
Every arms manufacturer wants a field test of their gear under realistic conditions. Ukraine provides it.
The Ukrainians have long established smuggling traditions and routes in that area or so I’m told... By Ukrainians!
On another thread, you were asking about comparing various country’s arms contribution to the Ukraine. Although this is a sale, rather than a gift, it does show that Sweden punches well above its weight, in terms of its domestic arms industry.
Although small in population, they have a history as a bit of a regional military power in recent centuries. Being outside of NATO, they have tended look after their defense budget more than many NATO member states. And they make some good gear.
The NLAW is arguably the best in class missile, among those shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missiles. Javelin is a top tier product with superior range and optics, but NLAW packs the bigger punch - particularly effective in destroying hard targets, like the top of the line modern tanks, with modern countermeasures. NLAW is a joint Swedish/UK development, and Saab manufactures some in Sweden.
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was a Swede. The more economical but somewhat less effective anti-tank weapon (still plenty good for light armored infantry fighting vehicles, or general purpose vehicles) in this article is manufactured by Dynamite Nobel, also in Sweden.
Another contributor to the Ukrainian war effort that some might miss, is Turkey, which has one of the top ten arms industries on Earth. Famously, they have sold Bayraktar armed drones to the Ukraine, that have been effective against Russian armor (and were in the recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan as well). Those Bayraktars can fly about 100 miles, and carry four small missiles, each about a yard long and three inches in diameter, accurate enough to hit moving vehicles. Some speculate that one of those might have sunk the Russian landing ship Orsk recently at the port of Berdyansk.
“approval was granted by the Ministry of Economics last weekend.”
Hmmmmm
Zelensky - Self Defense weapons permitted.
Biden: Just for me. Not for thee.
Here you go: Demo
Every conflict is R&D for the next one
Yep. Sweden did a brisk business during WW2 selling weapons like Bofors AA guns to both sides and was a great source of steel for the Nazis.
These pocket wars, they’re great to test the latest weapons. They are good for future sales. If we can test them without getting involved the better off we will be. Look at the reports of all the new items being shown on Youtube. The arms business will always be with us, and there is always an abundance of cannon fodder available for testing. How far are we willing to go with it and at what cost? The arms race hasn’t ended, nor will it.
Noted - yeah, the Ukes even put out a catchy song about the Bayraktar drones, early on.
Taking out the fuel trucks for the tanks is almost as good as taking out the tanks, and a lot easier (in terms of the weapons needed.)
I’d imagine Ukraine is having fuel supply issues too, given the Russian hits on fuel depots.
I guess I should specify my question was about total deliveries, both sales and “donations”.
“my question was about total deliveries, both sales and “donations””
That one was too much for me to bite off, so I just took a nibble.
My feeling is that we could do much more, but we (the USA) are delivering a good bit, partly because we (Biden admin) were shamed/pressured into doing it by Allies and public opinion.
The total supply/support is key to the outcome. I’m sure that many in diplomatic circles are looking at throttling that flow as key leverage in negotiations. Ukraine’s suppliers will have a lot of influence on the outcome of negotiations, by reducing, or threatening to reduce the flow of arms and financial support, beyond some point they are not willing to support (like certain territorial claims, for example).
We will have to see how much will there is in the West to force a humiliating strategic failure on Putin, and to punish his aggression, to deter it in the future.
CNN reports:
“By March 7, less than two weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and other NATO members had sent about 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Since then, that number has certainly increased but an update has not been made public.”
“missiles” in their usage of the word, might possibly (probably) includes and anti-armor weapon, including an RPG round.
The Ukraine has requested 500 javelins per day from the USA, but the pre-war production rate was about 500 per month, so they would have to come out of inventory, while Lockheed Martin ramps up production.
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