A captured Russian BRDM-2 armored vehicle with a UB-32 rocket launcher (Photo: Defense Express).
Images posted on social media show the Ukrainian military capturing a Russian BRDM-2 armored vehicle in the Donetsk region in the east of the country. The armored vehicle is equipped with a UB-32 rocket launcher, which is only used on military aircraft.
With the letter "Z" painted on its body, observers believe that this special armored vehicle has been used to increase firepower for pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine in battles with the main Ukrainian army.
The BRDM-2 is a 4x4 wheeled reconnaissance armored vehicle produced by the Soviet Union. It was first introduced to the public in 1966 during a parade in Moscow. The BRDM-2 has a crew of four, including the driver, co-driver, commander, and gunner. Because it was designed purely for battlefield reconnaissance, the BRDM-2 does not have the ability to carry troops.
The BRDM-2 weighs 7.7 tons, is 5.75m long, 2.37m wide and 2.3m high. The vehicle's armor has a maximum thickness of 14mm. This armored vehicle is equipped with a gun turret with a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and 500 rounds of ammunition. Some versions of this vehicle are also equipped with a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun.
With a 140 horsepower GAZ-41V-8 gasoline engine, the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 100km/h. In addition, with the ability to operate as an amphibious armored vehicle, the BRDM-2 can swim at a speed of about 10km/h.
UB-32 rocket launchers are often mounted on armored vehicles to increase firepower (Photo: Defense Express).
About UB-32, this is a rocket launcher commonly used in the Russian army and many other countries in the world. With the ability to launch 32 rockets at the same time, UB-32 launchers are often equipped on combat helicopters and ground attack aircraft of the Russian army.
In some conflict zones around the world, the UB-32 is also mounted on the back of pickup trucks or armored vehicles to increase firepower advantage.
The discovery of BRDM-2 armored vehicles equipped with UB-32 missiles shows that the Russian army is making efforts to improve old weapons to enhance combat capabilities.
Previously, on March 4, Defense Express posted images of Russian MT-LB armored personnel carriers equipped with 2M-3 anti-aircraft guns. This 25mm twin-barreled gun was previously only mounted on small warships, minesweepers and landing ships of the Russian Navy. Developed in the 1940s, this over 80-year-old naval gun can fire at a rate of 300 rounds per minute.
The fact that the MT-LB armored vehicle is equipped with a 2M-3 double-barreled naval gun shows that the Russian army has improved the design of the legendary armored vehicle in service, allowing it to attack and destroy enemy aircraft targets and provide more powerful support for infantry. However, some sources say that this improvement is proof that the Russian army has fallen into a serious shortage of weapons.
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