RUSSIAN ARMY TO CONDUCT TRIALS OF FUTURE SOLDIER UNIFORM

The Russian Army announced its intention to start trials of a future, high-tech soldier system in April 2013. The military equipment sets, dubbed Ratnik, completed preliminary testing at the Alabino Shooting Range in Moscow, Russia, in September 2012. The infantry soldier system comprises of more than 40 components, including firearms and body armour, as well as optic, communication and navigation devices. The system is expected to be available in both summer and winter variants, while also catering for regular infantry, rocket launcher operators, machine gunners, drivers and scouts. Russia’s Defence Ministry had initially negotiated sale of Sagem-built Felin future infantry system with France for evaluation purposes in December 2011, but later decided to pursue domestic development, as part of the soldier military equipment (BES) programme.