On May 9th, Russia held its annual Victory Day parade, and now we’re learning more about some of the equipment that was on display, including some high-tech hypersonic missiles. It’s not just the Russians with new mil-tech, of course. The French are launching their new Jaguar fighting vehicle, while another French company is testing rifle equipment that can “hear” enemy movement. With global tensions strained, these mil-tech displays are being more hotly watched.
Russia shows off new supersonic missile, stealth jet, and other tech
At Russia’s Victory Day parade, most of the equipment was slow-rolled down the road, which may have caused many to miss what was arguably the most important reveal. Towards the end of the parade, two MiG-31 jets raced through the sky. If you looked closely, you would have seen large, white missiles attached to their bottom fuselage. These missiles are believed to have been Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
MiG-31 with what is believed to be a Kinzhal hypersonic missile/YouTube/DefenseUpdate
The Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet was also on display. Some have mocked this jet as a sort of “off brand” F-22A, owing to its strong resemblance to the American stealth jet. How the Sukhoi Su-57 will stack up performance wise is unknown, but expect the 5th generation military jet space to get crowded over the next few years, with Russia, China, and South Korea debuting jets to rival American air superiority.
A T-50 prototype for the Su-57/Wikipedia/Dmitry Zherdin
The Russians also showed off their already-battle tested Uran-6 and Uran-9 unmanned combat vehicles. Both have already been put into action in Syria, and hint at what the future of warfare might look like. The Uran 6 is designed for minesweeping duty, while the Uran 9 resembles a miniature tank, cannon included, allowing it to provide firing support.
Ural 6 /Wikimedia Commons/МО РФ
Meet the Tank-Auto Mashup, the French Jaguar
Have you ever wondered what the lovechild of a Humvee and a tank would look like? Probably not, but if so, the answer is the new French Jaguar fighting vehicle. This 6X6 armored car combines the maneuverability and speed of an automobile with the armor and weaponry of a small tank. Once in service, the Jaguar will perform anti-tank and reconnaissance roles.
French EBRC Jaguar
The Jaguar will be replacing a few French combat vehicles that are now viewed as borderline obsolete. This includes the AMX-10RC, the ERC 90 Sagaie reconnaissance vehicles, and the VAB ‘Mephisto’ tank destroyer. With the growing threat of Russia to the East, France is looking to modernize its military. The French plan to purchase 248 Jaguars by 2025.
French Guns May Soon Come With Ears
On the battlefield, it can be difficult to determine where gunfire is coming from. Over the years, various weapons contractors have been developing “shot-spotting” technology that can help pinpoint where enemy gunfire is coming from. However, French firm Metravib is working on a shot spotting solution that can be mounted right on a rifle.
PEARL system by Metravib / Youtube/ArmyReco
PEARL system by Metravib / Youtube/ArmyReco
The PEARL system is able to detect shock waves that are generated by small arms fire. Such shock waves radiate out from the muzzle point much like sonar waves. Using advanced acoustic sensors, the PEARL system can actually work backward, tracing them to their point of origin. Most importantly, however, soldiers won’t have to carry around heavy, clunky equipment for such capabilities. Instead, the sensors can be mounted right on the gun.
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