What Ground Weapons Define Russia’s Military Power Today?

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By Jennifer Geer Published
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What Ground Weapons Define Russia’s Military Power Today?

© Vyacheslav Argenberg / Moment via Getty Images

Russia’s military has taken severe losses during the ongoing war with Ukraine. Not only has the loss of human life been costly, but Russia has also lost an estimated 8,768 tanks, 18,333 artillery systems, and 17,222 armored fighting vehicles.  Although Russia is the second most powerful military in the world, second only to the United States, the nation has had considerable setbacks since invading Ukraine in 2022. 24/7 Wall St. wanted to take a closer look at Russia’s ground forces including its tanks and artillery.

To determine Russia’s oldest and newest modern tanks and artillery, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of Russian military vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft. We organized this information chronologically to identify the oldest and newest models. We also incorporated details from Military Factory regarding the year each was introduced, its type and top speed, how many units were produced, and included armament.

Why We’re Covering This

Константин Алыш (Konstantin Alysh) / CC BY 4.0 DEED / Wikimedia Commons

Tanks have played a significant role in global warfare for over 100 years. Even with modern innovations and new technologies, tanks still play an important role today, particularly in Russia’s recent war with Ukraine. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s military equipment provides insights into this ongoing conflict.

Here is a look at the tanks and artillery of the modern Russian military:

43. KS-19

100-mm anti-aircraft gun KS-19 in Saint Petersburg Artillery museum

One half 3544 / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • Type: 100mm towed anti-aircraft gun
  • Year introduced: 1950
  • Total units produced: 5,000
  • Top speed: Towed
  • Armament: 100mm main gun

42. MT-12 / 2A19 (Rapira)

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 100mm towed anti-tank gun
  • Year introduced: 1955
  • Total units produced: 7,500
  • Top speed: Towed mph
  • Armament: 100mm main gun

41. T-55

John Harwood / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1958
  • Total units produced: 50,000
  • Top speed: 31 mph
  • Armament: 100mm D-10 rifled main gun, 7.62mm machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun

40. T-62

  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1961
  • Total units produced: 22,750
  • Top speed: 28 mph
  • Armament: 115mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun

39. D-30 / 2A18

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 122mm towed field howitzer
  • Year introduced: 1963
  • Total units produced: 12,000
  • Top speed: Towed
  • Armament: 122mm main gun

38. BM-21 (Grad)

  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 1964
  • Total units produced: 4,000
  • Top speed: 47 mph
  • Armament: 122mm rocket launcher tubes

37. 9K52 Luna-M (Frog-7)

Balcer~commonswiki / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 8×8 mobile battlefield rocket launcher
  • Year introduced: 1965
  • Total units produced: 3,000
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: Tactical battlefield rocket with conventional, chemical, or nuclear warhead/payload

36. ZSU-23-4 (Shilka)

  • Type: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
  • Year introduced: 1965
  • Total units produced: 6,500
  • Top speed: 31 mph
  • Armament: 23mm AZP-23 automatic cannons, SA-16 or SA-18 surface-to-air missiles

35. T-64

VoidWanderer / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1966
  • Total units produced: 13,000
  • Top speed: 43 mph
  • Armament: 125mm D-81T smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun

34. M-240

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Heavy-class mortar system
  • Year introduced: 1970
  • Total units produced: 1,500
  • Top speed: Towed
  • Armament: 240mm caliber mortar

33. SA-6 / 2K12 (Gainful / Kub)

Srđan Popović / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1970
  • Total units produced: 500
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 9M336 medium-range guided missiles

32. 2S3 Akatsiya (SO-152) / (M1973)

Zimin.V.G. / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 152mm self-propelled artillery
  • Year introduced: 1971
  • Total units produced: 4,093
  • Top speed: 39 mph
  • Armament: 152mm D-series howitzer, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

31. 2S1 Gvozdika (M1974)

  • Type: 122mm self-propelled artillery
  • Year introduced: 1972
  • Total units produced: 10,100
  • Top speed: 38 mph
  • Armament: 122mm 2A18 main gun barrel

30. SA-8 (Gecko) / 9K33 OSA

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1972
  • Total units produced: 1,735
  • Top speed: 50 mph
  • Armament: 9M33 surface-to-air missiles

29. T-72 (Ural)

Tayebeh Dalaei / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1972
  • Total units produced: 25,000
  • Top speed: 42 mph
  • Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

28. 2A36 Giatsint-B (Hyacinth)

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 152mm Towed field gun
  • Year introduced: 1975
  • Total units produced: 4,000
  • Top speed: Towed
  • Armament: 152mm main gun

27. 2S4 / SM-240 Tyulpan

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Self-propelled mortar
  • Year introduced: 1975
  • Total units produced: 435
  • Top speed: 28 mph
  • Armament: 240mm Perm Machine Construction Works 2B8 mortar, 7.62mm PKT general purpose machine gun

26. BM-27 (Uragan / 9P140)

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 1975
  • Total units produced: 1,500
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 220mm rockets in self-contained tubes

25. 2S7 Pion / Malka

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 203mm tracked self-propelled howitzer
  • Year introduced: 1976
  • Total units produced: 1,000
  • Top speed: 31 mph
  • Armament: 203mm main gun

24. SS-21 (Scarab) OTR-21 Tochka

Владислав Фальшивомонетчик / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Ballistic missile launcher vehicle
  • Year introduced: 1976
  • Total units produced: 2,000
  • Top speed: 47 mph
  • Armament: Ballistic missile capable of HE, FRAG, or nuclear/biological warhead types

23. T-80 (MBT)

  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1976
  • Total units produced: 5,500
  • Top speed: 43 mph
  • Armament: 125mm main gun, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

22. 2S5 Giatsint-S (Hyacinth)

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Self-propelled artillery vehicle
  • Year introduced: 1978
  • Total units produced: 1,330
  • Top speed: 39 mph
  • Armament: 152mm main gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun

21. SA-10 (Grumble) / S-300

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Anti-aircraft mobile defense system
  • Year introduced: 1978
  • Total units produced: 3,000
  • Top speed: 38 mph
  • Armament: S-300 long-range surface-to-air missiles

20. SA-11 (Gadfly) / 9K37 Buk

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1979
  • Total units produced: 650
  • Top speed: 38 mph
  • Armament: Gadfly or Grizzly surface-to-air missiles

19. SA-13 (Gopher) / 9K35 Strela-10

  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1979
  • Total units produced: 1,000
  • Top speed: 38 mph
  • Armament: Grail or Gremlin surface-to-air missiles

18. 2S9 Nona

  • Type: Self-propelled artillery vehicle
  • Year introduced: 1981
  • Total units produced: 1,050
  • Top speed: 50 mph
  • Armament: 120mm 2A60 mortar, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

17. SA-19 (Grisom) / 2K22 Tunguska

Пользователь / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Self-propelled air defense system
  • Year introduced: 1982
  • Total units produced: 600
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 30mm autocannons, SA-19 surface-to-air missiles

16. SS-25 / SS-27 / RT-2PM (Sickle / Topol)

Vovan / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Mobile intercontinental ballistic missile carrier vehicle
  • Year introduced: 1985
  • Total units produced: 100
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: Intercontinental ballistic missile

15. SA-15 (Gauntlet) / 9K330 Tor

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1986
  • Total units produced: 550
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 9M330 surface-to-air missiles

14. 2A65 MSTA-B

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: 152mm Towed howitzer
  • Year introduced: 1987
  • Total units produced: 3,000
  • Top speed: Towed
  • Armament: 152mm main gun

13. SA-12 (Gladiator / Giant) / S-300V

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 1988
  • Total units produced: 600
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: Gladiator surface-to-air missiles

12. TOS-1 (TOC-1)

Kirill Borisenko / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 1988
  • Total units produced: 650
  • Top speed: 37 mph
  • Armament: 220mm rocket launcher pack

11. 2S19 MSTA

  • Type: Self-propelled artillery vehicle
  • Year introduced: 1989
  • Total units produced: 1,000
  • Top speed: 37 mph
  • Armament: 152mm 2A64 howitzer main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

10. BM-30 (Smerch) / 9A52-2

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 1989
  • Total units produced: 550
  • Top speed: 37 mph
  • Armament: 300mm 9M55 or 9M528 rockets

9. T-90

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 1995
  • Total units produced: 2,055
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

8. 2S34 Chosta

2S34+Chosta | 2022_07_18_Ukraine_Shield_of_Europe_exhibition_4_2S19_2S34_Chosta_self-propelled_mortar_002
Public Domain / Flickr
  • Type: Self-propelled howitzer
  • Year introduced: 2003
  • Total units produced: 30
  • Top speed: 37 mph
  • Armament: 120mm 2A80 main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

7. SA-22 (Greyhound) / Pantsir-S1

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Self-propelled anti-aircraft system
  • Year introduced: 2003
  • Total units produced: 32
  • Top speed: 50 mph
  • Armament: 57E6 surface-to-air missiles, 30mm 2A38M automatic cannons

6. SS-26 (Stone) / 9K720 Iskander

  • Type: Mobile short-range battlefield missile launcher
  • Year introduced: 2006
  • Total units produced: 250
  • Top speed: 47 mph
  • Armament: Iskander-M or Iskander-E missiles

5. SA-21 (Growler) / S-400 Triumf

Соколрус / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Surface-to-air missile system
  • Year introduced: 2007
  • Total units produced: 195
  • Top speed: 40 mph
  • Armament: 40N6 / 48N6 / 9M96 anti-aircraft missiles

4. 9A52-4 Tornado

  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 2011
  • Total units produced: 56
  • Top speed: 56 mph
  • Armament: 122mm, 220mm, or 300mm rocket launch tubes

3. KAMAZ Tornado-G

Mike1979 Russia / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
  • Year introduced: 2014
  • Total units produced: 151
  • Top speed: 62 mph
  • Armament: 122mm rocket-launching tubes

2. T-14 (Armata)

rusm / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Type: Main battle tank
  • Year introduced: 2016
  • Total units produced: 45
  • Top speed: 50 mph
  • Armament: 125mm 2A82 smoothbore main gun, 30mm autocannon, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

1. 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV

Vitaly V. Kuzmin / Wikimedia Commons
  • Type: Self-propelled artillery vehicle
  • Year introduced: 2018
  • Total units produced: 20
  • Top speed: 37 mph
  • Armament: 152mm 2A88 howitzer, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
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