Potemkin Villages: Top Of The Kremlin's Most Failed Weapons

31.10.2025, 08:09 charter97.org

Potemkin Villages: Top Of The Kremlin's Most Failed Weapons31.10.2025, 8:41 1,898 The experts made the ranking.The other day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the alleged "successful test" of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone, once again demonstrating to the world the Kremlin's "military might." Analysts pointed out that the value of such a development is psychological and political, but in no way about changing the nuclear balance.The Russians have developed quite a few similar weapons that are not capable of being effective in modern conditions and increasing the Kremlin's military status. The publication UNIAN has compiled a rating of Russia's most failed weapons, which includes both combat vehicles and missile systems.No. 10: Su-75 "Shah i Mat" (Checkmate) In 2021, the Russians unveiled a new development, the Su-75 "Shah i Mat" fifth-generation Checkmate fighter. It was announced in Russia as an alternative to the American F-35 and F-22.The Su-75 was expected to make its first flight in 2023, but this has not yet been realized. U.S. analyst Caleb Larson noted in an article for 19FortyFive that the fighter is not flying anywhere, and probably "won't fly anywhere in the near future."The Su-75 was supposed to interest foreign markets, primarily states that do not have access to Western military equipment, the analyst said. However, the Russians have yet to present an actual model, and data on the project's progress is limited to statements. The Russians' ability to complete the project successfully and launch the Su-75 into the skies has also diminished due to anti-Russian sanctions imposed because of the invasion of Ukraine.#9: PAK DA subsonic bomber ("Izdelie 80") The Russians have announced the creation of a counterpart to the U.S. B-2 stealth bomber, the PAK DA subsonic bomber ("Izdelie 80").It is worth noting that back in 2021, the Russian Federation agreed on the general outlines of the future PAK DA strategic bomber. Despite this, the timing of its creation remains uncertain - earlier tests were planned for 2022. However, the development itself has been ongoing since 2009 and is still only on paper, despite substantial investments in the development of strategic aviation of the Russian Federation, as evidenced by the documents of the private intelligence company Dallas.Analysts point out that without advanced stealth, such a bomber would make no sense, as it would be no better than the existing Tu-95, Tu-22M3 or Tu-160.#8: Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicle The development of the 25-ton BMP (family) began in the 2010s, with the first prototype unveiled in 2013. The vehicle made its debut during the May 9, 2015 parade and since then this development has "shone" only at various public events and parades.The Russians announce that the Kurganets-25 BMP will take a place in the unified modular triad of Russian BMPs along with the Boomerang wheeled platform and the Armata-based heavy BMP.The vehicle is still at the preliminary testing stage as of May 2025.#7: the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (TSCV) The Russian Terminator tank support combat vehicle (TSCV), unlike the aforementioned weapons, has already been realized and is even participating in the Russian-Ukrainian war.Despite the loud statements, the realization of BMPT "Terminator" is not a "breakthrough" of the Russians. The publication writes that the "Terminator" armed with two 30-mm guns is no better than a conventional T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M tank with a 125-mm gun. Besides, the vehicle is expensive and difficult to produce.No. 6: Project 22160 patrol ships The new Russian ship Sergei Kotov, Project 22160, Ukraine was able to sink in March 2024 with the help of MAGURA V5 surface drones.The publication writes that the ship was "the apotheosis of naval infirmity." This is indicated by the small displacement, resulting in insufficient seaworthiness and inability to accommodate modular weapons, while the hull design, which was supposed to be "innovative," has led to the fact that the speed characteristics of the project's ships are inferior even to the armored deck cruiser Boyarin, erected more than 100 years ago.No. 5: Avangard guided missile system The Avangard guided missile system is based on a hypersonic guided missile system launched to the target using an intercontinental ballistic missile UR-100N UTTH.It's task is to overcome U.S. missile defense, but this weapon does not strengthen Russia's nuclear arsenal, but reduces its capabilities. All because the UR-100N UTTH intercontinental ballistic missile is capable of hitting the enemy with six nuclear charges, while in the case of the Avangard the number drops to 1."Given the fact that today no country in the world can intercept a massive attack by conventional ICBM ballistic warheads, the development of the Avangard made no sense," the author says.#4: Burevestnik strategic cruise missile Captain of the 1st rank in the reserve, former deputy chief of staff of the AFU Navy Andrey Ryzhenko explained in an interview with UNIAN on October 27 that the Burevestnik by its design is a typical subsonic cruise missile similar to the Kh-101 or Kalibr. Its difference from cruise missiles is the use of a miniature nuclear reactor instead of the classic fuel-burning turbojet engine.The expert explained that even if such a reactor is successful, the missile remains subsonic, so it cannot avoid interception by modern air defenses.Analysts believe that the Burevestnik is too slow, weak, expensive and vulnerable to be developed by the Russians.No. 3: Poseidon nuclear torpedo Vladimir Putin announced the "successful test" of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone on October 29, and announced its development as early as 2018.This is an extremely expensive project. It is assumed that this development is a "reincarnation" of Stalin's T-15, which was designed to thermonuclear charge to the shores of the United States underwater.In the presence of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), the parties in a war will destroy each other before the "Poseidon" even reaches the shores of the enemy's deployment, analysts note. Therefore, the development is considered rather pointless.No. 2: the laser complex "Peresvet" The Peresvet complex was created to prevent the deployment of a grouping of intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons, as Defense Express analysts wrote. The Russians also said that the complex was allegedly capable of countering reconnaissance satellites in orbit.The Russians have traditionally claimed that the Peresvet allegedly "has no analogs" in the world. However, analysts point out that laser weapons have a number of disadvantages, in particular the effect of energy dissipation in the atmosphere, dependence on weather conditions and the like.No. 1: T-14 Armata main battle tank The Russian T-14 Armata main battle tank is considered no better than the old Soviet designs, which can only defend against outdated second-generation anti-tank missile systems.The problem with the development is that the Russians have equipped it with a twelve-cylinder X-shaped A-85-3A engine, which is considered unreliable. In addition, its price is impressive - according to various estimates, it reaches about 8 million dollars. Some people suggest that this tank is nothing but an "illusion".PATREONSupport the website Write your comment You can support the website Charter97.orgMULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.Address: ul. 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