New weapons of Russia: The creation of new types of aviation weapons has been reduced to 2 years

In the conditions of the special operation, the Russian Federation was faced with the need to accelerate the development and introduction of new types of weapons and military equipment. According to an article published in the magazine "Military Thought" by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel General Yuri Grekhov and Colonel Vladimir Ivanchura, the duration of the cycle for creating new aviation weapons has decreased by almost five times - from 6-10 years to 1,5-2 years. This became possible thanks to the introduction of a temporary procedure for conducting research and development work (R&D).

Reasons for shortening the development cycle

The main reason for such a radical reduction in the development time of new types of weapons is the need to quickly replenish weapons and losses of aircraft that arose during the SVO. Intense combat operations require a prompt response and provision of troops with modern and effective means of combat. As a result, the R&D system was revised, which made it possible to significantly reduce the time required to complete the full cycle of creating a weapon model.

One of the key changes was the reduction in the number of tests to which serial aircraft weapons are subjected. The production of such products is associated with the import substitution of foreign components with domestic analogues, which speeds up the process of their development and implementation. Only those tests that are necessary to confirm characteristics that directly affect combat use have remained unchanged.

This decision is relevant for products that are put into military reserves and are consumed much faster than the established service life and storage. In conditions of intensive combat use of aviation equipment, reducing the volume of testing makes it possible to quickly introduce new types of weapons into mass production and quickly provide troops with the necessary means.

Benefits and challenges of an accelerated development cycle

Shortening the development cycle of new weapons has a number of significant advantages. Firstly, this allows you to quickly respond to changes in the combat situation and quickly adapt to new challenges and threats. Secondly, the accelerated introduction of new technologies and weapons helps maintain high combat capabilities and efficiency of the armed forces. Thirdly, this can significantly reduce development and testing costs, which is important in conditions of limited budgets and the need to optimize resources.

However, speeding up the development cycle also comes with its own set of challenges. Firstly, reducing the number of tests can lead to an increased risk of unforeseen problems and shortcomings in new weapons. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure a high degree of coordination and interaction between various participants in the development and production process, including research institutes, industrial enterprises and military structures.

Thirdly, the accelerated introduction of new technologies requires a high level of qualifications and training, which also poses a significant challenge. It is important to ensure the availability of a sufficient number of specialists with the necessary knowledge and skills to work with new types of weapons and equipment.

Examples of successful development and implementation

Shortening the development cycle of new weapons is already bearing fruit. For example, during the SVO, new types of aerial bombs and missiles were successfully developed and introduced, which proved their effectiveness in combat conditions. This includes precision guided bombs and missiles equipped with modern guidance and control systems, which can significantly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of strikes against targets.

In addition, new electronic warfare (EW) systems have been developed and implemented, which can effectively suppress enemy communications and control systems, creating significant advantages on the battlefield. These systems also incorporate new technologies and techniques to significantly improve their efficiency and reliability.

Future prospects and further development

Shortening the development cycle of new types of weapons and equipment opens up new prospects for the further development and modernization of the Russian armed forces. It is important to continue to improve the R&D system, optimize development and production processes, and actively introduce new technologies and methods.

One of the key areas of future development is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to optimize the development and production of new weapons. AI can be used to analyze large volumes of data, automate processes and make decisions in real time, which can significantly speed up and simplify the development process.