Ratnik (russian: Ратник; Warrior) is a Russian future infantry combat system. Some components, including the communication systems and night vision technologies, have extremely limited military distribution. It is designed to improve the connectivity and combat effectiveness of combat personnel in the
Russian Armed Forces
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (, ), commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military forces of Russia. In terms of active-duty personnel, they are the world's fifth-largest military force, with at least two m ...
. Improvements include modernised body armour, a helmet with a special eye monitor (thermal,
night vision
Night vision is the ability to see in low-light conditions, either naturally with scotopic vision or through a night-vision device. Night vision requires both sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range. Humans have poor night vi ...
monocular, flashlight), communication systems, and special headphones. It includes 10 subsystems and 59 individual items.
An improved "Sotnik" system is expected in 2025.
History
The Ratnik was first to be reported to be used during the
Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
In February and March 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. This event took place in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity and is part of the wider Russo-Ukrainian War.
The events in Kyiv th ...
in 2014.
There were also reports that Russian troops have tested Ratnik components in combat operations.
In August 2019, it was reported that Ratnik has been tested by soldiers from Belarus, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
In July 2021, Russian troops deployed to Tajikistan to work alongside Tajik forces are equipped with at least 200 sets of Ratnik.
Components
The Ratnik gear is a system of modern protective and communication devices, weapons and ammunition. It consists of a helmet, body armour; a one-piece coverall; hearing protection; protective glasses; a protective set for knees and elbows; a grenade launcher, submachine gun or assault rifle; sniper rifle, ammunition; a combat knife, as well as 24/7 reconnaissance means; a day and night sighting system; a small-size binocular; optical and thermal weapon sights, etc. Ratnik gear is paired up with
EMR camouflage
EMR (); in English Universal Camouflage Colourway, is a military camouflage pattern in use by the Russian Armed Forces. It is sometimes referred to by the unofficial nicknames RUSPAT and Digital Flora.
Designed and introduced in 2008, the EMR ca ...
.
As well as these, the system comprises a universal shelter, a multifunctional knife, a signal lamp, a watch, winter and summer two-side camouflage sets; an autonomous heat source; a backpack, an individual water filter; a small entrenching tool, breath protection devices; means of radiological and chemical control; a medical kit, and filtering clothes.
The "Strelets" ("Musketeer") system provides voice and video communication. The system includes a
GLONASS
GLONASS (russian: ГЛОНАСС, label=none, ; rus, links=no, Глобальная навигационная спутниковая система, r=Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, t=Global Navigation Satellite System) is ...
navigation module so that a squad leader can see the location of each soldier on his small, book-sized, computer. With this computer, he also can give orders to his squad, and send videos and photos to headquarters. As well as this, each soldier has their own smaller telephone-sized tactical computer. The Strelets command, control, and intelligence (C2I) system was operated in the
Syrian conflict to send target data to strike aircraft. The use of the Strelets in conjunction with the
Su-24M
The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. The aircraft has a variable-sweep wing, twin-engines and a side-by-side seating arrangement for its crew of two. It was ...
frontline bomber provides almost 100% accuracy.
Ratnik protects almost 90% of a soldier's body. The main body armor with plates, designated 6B45 '6Б45', is rated at protection class 6, according to
GOST R 50744-95, and weighs 7.5 kg (with the Assault variant weighing up to 15 kg). The main body armor fully protects from
7.62×39mm
The 7.62×39mm (aka 7.62 Soviet, formerly .30 Russian Short) round is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge of Soviet origin. The cartridge is widely used due to the worldwide proliferation of Russian SKS and AK-47 pattern rifles, as ...
rounds from assault rifles, and
7.62×54mmR
The 7.62×54mmR is a rimmed rifle cartridge developed by the Russian Empire and introduced as a service cartridge in 1891. Originally designed for the bolt-action Mosin–Nagant rifle, it was used during the late tsarist era and throughout t ...
from sniper rifles, including the increased penetration of hardened rounds, and can survive hits from repeated shots in these calibers conducted at close range. It is claimed that the 6B47 helmet protects a soldier's head 40 percent more than NATO analogs.
The plates inside the vest, designated Granit 'гранит', are removable from the 6B45 (6Б45), with the inside of the vest being lined with Kevlar for additional protection. These plates are shaped similarly to the "Shooter" variant of the
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
Small Arms Protective Insert
The Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) is a ceramic ballistic plate used by the United States Armed Forces. It was first used in the Interceptor Body Armor, a ballistic vest. It is now also used in the Improved Outer Tactical Vest as well as t ...
. The 6B43 was an early iteration of the 6B45 that was initially produced as part of the Ratnik program which had removable Kevlar inserts.
Variants of the Ratnik Program body armor were designed for different purposes including the 6B46 (6Б46) - a lighter-weight, para-droppable design aimed at replicating the popular small form factors and utility of the 6B48 (6Б48) - created for tank crews and issued in 2016.
Although the 6B46 (6Б46) was issued as part of the initial Ratnik program, there is not much evidence of them being used by units in the field, with the first mass use seen in public occurring during the Slavic Brotherhood 2019 joint international exercise in
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
.
The weight of the full Ratnik infantry system with the special thigh and shoulder bulletproof shields is 19–20 kg. Basic Ratnik gear (for engineers and medics) weighs 15 kg (without thigh and shoulder guards). Ratnik gear is made of a special fabric that prevents troops from being detected by infrared devices.
Russia’s
TsNIITochMash
TsNIITochMash (russian: ЦНИИТОЧМАШ) is a Russian industrial design bureau which is a major designer and producer of weapons for the Russian military and MVD National Guard. The name is an initialism for Central Scientific - Research Ins ...
(part of the
Rostec
Rostec ( rus, Ростех, p=, r=Rostekh), officially the State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product Rostec (russian: Государственная корпорация по ...
defence conglomerate) has developed more powerful 7N39 ‘Igolnik’
5.45×39mm
The 5.45×39mm Cartridge (firearms), cartridge is a Rim (firearms), rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge. It was introduced into service in 1974 by the Soviet Union for use with the new AK-74. The 5.45×39mm gradually supplemented and then ...
cartridge and its 7N40 variant, with an increased density of fire and bullet penetration during its work on the Ratnik soldier gear. Russia’s holding company Shvabe has developed a new, lighter version of the thermal night vision weapon sight, which is to complement the soldier’s field combat gear Ratnik. Russia’s holding company Shvabe also created the technology increasing aiming distance.
Production history
Prototype Ratnik kits were initially distributed to selected units in the Ground Forces in 2013 according to Oleg Martyanov, a member of
Russia's Military-Industrial Commission, which acts as the government's liaison with the defense industry. Initially only elite troops will receive the
AK-12
The AK-12 is a Russian assault rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm designed and manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash), making it the fifth generation of Kalashnikov rifles.
The Kalashnikov Concern also offers a variant of the AK- ...
as part of the Ratnik system, while the rest of the Ground Forces will continue using the
AK-74M
The AK-74 ( Russian: , tr. ''Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1974 goda'', lit. 'Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1974) is an assault rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974. While primarily associated with the Soviet ...
into the 2020s.
For the Russian Navy and
Engineer Troops
Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics be ...
, the
bulletproof vest
A bulletproof vest, also known as a ballistic vest or a bullet-resistant vest, is an item of body armor that helps absorb the impact and reduce or stop penetration to the torso from firearm-fired projectiles and fragmentation from explosions. T ...
is combined with a
life vest
A personal flotation device (PFD; also referred to as a life jacket, life preserver, life belt, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suite that is worn by a ...
, so that soldiers and sailors who are thrown into the water won't drown. All
Naval Infantry
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
units were equipped with Ratnik gear as of November 2016.
Serial deliveries and batch production of Ratnik began in the first half of 2015. About 300,000 Ratnik sets have been delivered as of December 2020. Russia’s Ground Forces and the Navy’s coastal brigades are practically fully equipped with the Ratnik combat gear in March 2019. 18,000 sets delivered in 2019 in basic, commander, sniper, machine-gunner, gunner and tank man versions and 18,000 more in 2020. A new version for mountainous-desert terrain begun to be delivered in July 2021. Work was carried out in 2021 to include mini-and micro-UAVs, wearable robotic complexes, as well as exoskeletons. The Novosibirsk Instrument Making Plant has developed augmented reality glasses that are integrated into the Ratnik. The estimated cost of one set of glasses is over 500 thousand rubles, or $6,000 USD, $2,000 more than a second generation Microsoft Hololens. 2022 Ratnik deliveries were reportedly completed ahead of time.
List of individual components
Combat Uniform Items
* VKBO Layer system - a multilayer system manufactured by BTK Group designed for use at temperatures from + to .
* 6Sh122 Masking Suit (6ш122) - a reversible combat oversuit designed for concealment in a variety of environments
Combat Equipment
* 6B45/6B43 (6Б45/6Б43) - Primary body armour system for infantry units
* 6B46 (6Б46) - Plate carrier style armour system for light-weight units
* 6B47 (6Б47) -
Aramid fibre
Aramid fibers, short for aromatic polyamide, are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic-rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in marine cordage, mari ...
helmet system rated for small arms fire. Includes two covers that allow the helmet to be jumpable, one white and one in the standard EMR (Digital Flora) pattern.
* 6B48 (6Б48) Ratnik-ZK - Primary body armour system for tank and AFV crews
* 6B49 (6Б49) Ratnik-BZK - Anti-fragmentation suit in standard EMR (Digital Flora) pattern.
* 6Sh116/6Sh117 (6ш116/6ш117) - Load bearing equipment with a variety of utility and magazine pouches to suit the various weapons of the Russian Military, includes a 7-litre 'butt pack' and 25-litre patrol backpack.
* 6Sh118 RAID Pack (6ш118) - 60-litre backpack designed for carrying large equipment and for long deployments.
* GSSh-01-01 (6m2-1) - Active hearing protection with radio cable.
Accessories
* 6B50 (6Б50) - Dust and impact goggles
* 6B51 (6Б51) - Knee and elbow protection based on an improved version of the Russian-made
Splav 'X Pads'
* 6Sh122 Gloves (6ш122)
* VKBO Summer boots
* Faradei Winterised boots
* 6E5 Light Shovel
* 6E6 Multitool
* 6Sh120 Shelter system
* 6E4-1 Watch
* FSS-014 Light - light system that can be mounted to 6B47 (6Б47) helmet
* NF-10 Individual water system
* 1PN140 and 1PN141 night and thermal vision sights
Users
*
*
*
*
Gallery
File:6B45 bulletproof vest - InnovationDay2013part1-61.jpg, 6B45 ballistic vest.
File:6B46 vest - InnovationDay2013part1-62.jpg, 6B46 tactical vest.
File:6B47 helmet - InnovationDay2013part1-56.jpg, 6B47 military helmet.
File:6Sh117 load bearing vest. - InnovationDay2013part1-63.jpg, 6Sh117 all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment.
File:Helmet monitor tsniitochmash35.jpg, 1PN139 thermographic monitor, and protective headgear from the 6B49 suit.
File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (524-09).jpg, NPI-2 wearable GLONASS receiver for the soldier.
File:MAKS Airshow 2013 (Ramenskoye Airport, Russia) (524-06).jpg, 'Sagittarius' commanding officer tablet computer.
File:Shakhin thermal imaging scope.jpg, 1PN140 'Shakhin' or 'Shahin' (Шахин) thermal optic for rifle mount
References
{{Future soldier programmes
Military equipment of Russia
Future soldier programs