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Two things are affecting their production capacity; sanctions and $$. Even before they invaded Ukraine in 2014, they had limited funds for anything. Their econo
by greedo 3y ago
Two things are affecting their production capacity; sanctions and $$. Even before they invaded Ukraine in 2014, they had limited funds for anything. Their economy is just too small to support their goals. Most of their design bureaus depended on foreign sales to stay alive. The only military branch that receives consistent funding is their nuclear systems.
And then when you combine the impact of sanctions, it becomes much more challenging. Most of their precision machinery is imported from Europe, and as spare parts start to be consumed, this will impact their production rates as well.
- selimthegrim 3y agohttps://wavellroom.com/2023/02/10/armata-the-story-is-over/ https://wavellroom.com/2023/02/10/armata-the-story-is-over/
- greedo 3y ago"Contracts were signed but Western machine tools and other technology were never supplied due to sanctions (the same story has now unfolded with Russia’s moribund automotive industry facing an uncertain future with the departure of Western and Far Eastern car manufacturers). " Pretty much what I said in my reply.
- ahoka 3y agoSure, and I can build bipedal military robots with space lasers in my garage. I just don’t have the funds at the moment. You can either bring a weapon to a fight or not.
- greedo 3y agoFunds affect everything; from design, tooling, to sustainment and continual improvement. If you don't think so, look at the US military circa 1989 and circa 1999. While there were qualitative improvements in those 10 years, the 1999 US military was much weaker because of huge cuts in military spending, AKA the Peace Dividend. Look at all the failed, truncated, or outright cancelled US military programs over the last 30 years. Crusader. Comanche. A-12. Seawolf. DDG-1000. B-2. F-22. EFV. GCV. These were all either shortsightedly gutted or cancelled when they didn't progress enough in development. Developing military gear is very hard, even when you have the world's largest military budget. Now imagine doing it with 5% of that GDP. That's how small Russia's economy is compared to the US. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Russia can't develop good weapon systems because their leader is a snot sucking wanna-be imperialist. They just can't develop AND produce them in the scale that they used to. Funds matter...
- ahoka 3y agoWell, keep thinking that. Russia is a failed state running on it's slowly dying Soviet momentum. There is no way to prosper within a mafia state. Most able engineers have left the country to Israel, US, Germany, etc. No budget can make yesmans and crooks innovate.
- greedo 3y agoHistory would argue that you're wrong about innovation. Witness Nazi Germany. They were able to develop weapons far advanced over their opponents during a total war. I agree with everything else you've said however.