Russia Showcases New Arctic Military Vehicles at Red Square Parade

On May 9th 2017, Russia showcased its new Arctic military hardware during its Victory Day parade in Red Square. In addition to new bases and upgrades to current bases in the Arctic, Russia is adding a fleet of new vehicles that can run in -50 degree Celsius temperatures. In an article on Russia Beyond The Headlines, Alexander Vershinin talks about the fleet of vehicles Russia is developing for possible military operations in the Arctic.

In addition to the already well-known Armata tanks and S-300 air-defense systems, the Russian military will demonstrate new hardware for Arctic conditions at the Victory Day parade on May 9.

“For the first time the general public will see air defense military hardware such as the Tor-M2DT anti-aircraft missile system and the Pantsir-SA combined anti-aircraft missile and artillery system, as well as support vehicles,” said Ground Troops Commander-in-chief, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, during a meeting with journalists in early April.

This equipment is capable of defending Russian territory in difficult Arctic conditions where roads do not exist and the vast distances make proper supply lines nearly impossible.

Until now, the Arctic has never been a theater of military operations, but possible battles in the tundra and among the glaciers would be very difficult due to the region’s inhospitable climate.

The biggest problems in the Arctic are off-road maneuverability for vehicles and their ability to function in low temperatures. First, winter temperatures in the Arctic can drop to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 Fahrenheit). In such conditions conventional equipment stalls, parts seize up as lubricant thickens, rubber becomes brittle as glass and electronics fail.

Steve Schneider

Steve Schneider is the website and graphic design specialist for Richardcyoung.com and Youngresearch.com. Steve customizes and creates all of the images and political cartoons on our websites.