Russian Airborne Forces To Get Flying Combat Vehicles By 2030

The Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) will receive a new hybrid combat vehicle by 2030, the Russian military branch’s commander announced yesterday.

This hybrid combat vehicle combines features of an airborne infantry fighting vehicle and a helicopter to meet warfare demands.

“Armed conflicts of the 2020s-2030s will most certainly demand a combat module that would be something between an armored vehicle and a helicopter,” Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said. “We are thinking about developing a hybrid of a light combat vehicle and an attack helicopter with a crew of three-four people.”

The airborne forces also has plans to procure advanced BMD-4M airborne fighting vehicles and Rakushka armored personnel carriers, as well as BTR-82 armored personnel carriers equipped with a 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannons, Shamanov added.

In the near future, the airborne forces are also looking forward to introduce advanced tactical command-and-control (C20) system, dubbed Andromeda.  

The Andromeda-D is as a division-to-soldier system, with stationary points for commanders down to battalion, and vehicle-mounted systems for tactical units. The system has passed troop testing and has been put in service with the 76th Guards air assault division, based in Pskov.