It's bad to be a prophet in your own country. but alas, the, what has been said repeatedly before, it happened.
Rosoboronexport, through the words of CEO Alexander Mikheev, spoke about the "huge export potential" of the Boomerang platform. Yes, the very, which was so impressive in parades, which is the newest, not having, superior and so on in the text.
I translate: by analogy with the Su-57, MiG-35 it means, that the Ministry of Defense refused to buy Boomerangs for the Russian army.
Respectively, the car went to develop any markets, except domestic. Well, really, why do we need this "Boomerang", if BTR-82A copes with its tasks perfectly? Or it’s not that, that mountain VPK gave birth to another mouse, but in something else?
There are no complaints against the military-industrial complex. Judging by articles in the media and TV coverage, every year we invent something so deadly, which has no analogues in the world, advanced and so on. Then the joyful cries subside and the usual routine sets in.. That is, it turns out, that several years and billions of rubles were taken away in vain, nobody needs this invention. And first of all, it doesn’t need that, who ordered, that is, the Ministry of Defense.
And then the familiar song about “the presence of huge export potential” begins already painfully.
I will quote Mikheev about, that "fighting vehicles, built on the basis of this platform, ready to take the countries of Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia and the CIS ".
This he said about the Boomerang..
But with other products, everything is exactly the same.. Take the same Su-57, which recently, in reports on the rehearsal of the May air parade, was again called "unparalleled in the world".
But here yes, it really is. Su-57 has no analogues in the world, because it is the only fifth generation fighter, which no one needs and is not interested in.
Chinese Chengdu J-20 is in demand, American F-35 sold worldwide, but the Su-57 ... Alas.
No, of course, the, what do Peru think about acquiring 3 (THREE) Su-57 and Vietnam are considering buying ...
Huge export potential, I agree.
And if it were an isolated case ...
Not so long ago we discussed the MiG-35 deal, which was ordered simply by a deafening series in 6 (SIX!!!) machines. I dont know, were there any more sensitive slap in the history of MiG, I think, no. but the fact: the plane was not in demand at all and not needed. Six copies - this is just for impressions to potential buyers. Well, the corresponding accompaniment in the form of a phonogram with a song about export potential.
offensive, the car is clearly good. But… Africa, Asia… CIS…
However fall from heaven to earth. And on earth we have a "Boomerang". Which is shown in parades with 2015 of the year, and that was about to go into a series.
However no.
At first, they covered themselves with the high cost of the car.. Yes, this is a very serious argument, why the destroyer with the cost of an aircraft carrier, why armored personnel carrier, which weighs like a tank in money?
The right answer is no need.
But last year, when the complete rejection of the entire order really loomed, "Boomerang" suddenly fell in price! General Director of the manufacturing company "VPK" Alexander Krasovitsy made a sensational statement: an opportunity to reduce the cost of "Boomerang" by about three times.
Well this is not surprising, everyone and even the janitor Uncle Seryozha should have earned. because, as it became clear from the "analytical investigation", absolutely ALL component manufacturers overestimated the cost of their products several times.
Really, and what little things? The budget will stand ...
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The budget could not stand it. Boomerang has been tested, but backstage, obviously, hinted, that the tank on wheels in terms of cost is not needed. Need an armored personnel carrier.
As I understand, the evil general came to the leadership of the military-industrial complex and began to twist his hands, nodding to Armata, which also "has no analogues in the world" and also stands as a fighter.
And most importantly - also purchased in volumes, which certainly do not promise profits to manufacturers. Because in the expensive business of developing and producing modern military equipment, the main thing is that? Correctly, serial production.
If the same MiG-35 or “Armata” drive a series of not individually, and dozens (aircraft) and hundreds (tanks), then the cost will be ... Well, it just will be.
Generally, the leadership of the "military-industrial complex" hinted, management understood, and the Boomerang has fallen in price before our eyes. logically, because if our army needs an armored personnel carrier, it’s not at all for the price of “Almaty”.
However, the advent of the Boomerang into the Russian army did not happen.. Even despite the drop in selling prices, almost three times.
And here, too, there is logic.
What made it so cheap, no one speaks. But actually there are few options. Or due to lower selling prices for components in that case, if they were really unscrupulously overpriced, either due to the configuration. That is, the installation of cheaper components and equipment.
by the way, here is a living example. Again, the Su-57.
The estimated price of the Su-57 was announced in 100 millions of dollars. The normal price in the world market for such an aircraft, and abruptly there were deals. The French last year sold the Rafali Indians to 218 million euros apiece, and “Rafal” - by no means the Su-57, even in principle.
Our Su-35, who are Rafale’s classmates, go to China by 75 millions of dollars.
And suddenly last summer, the Department of Defense signs a long-term purchase contract 76 Su-57 po 32 million dollars per unit.
That is a fighter 5 generation comes at a price two and a half times lower than the fourth-generation fighter. Nonsense? Not that word.
Very strange deal figure, even if you consider, that "for myself", "In the name of the interests of the motherland" and all the rest is absurd.
Yes, for the Soviet and now Russian (because she is all from the USSR) price / quality ratio was one of the best in the world. That is, good performance characteristics and combat performance were perfectly combined with a low price by world standards.
BMP? In the region of a million dollars. BTR? If we talk about the BTR-82A, the 563 thousands of dollars, while "for yourself" in terms of even cheaper will be, because about 28 million rubles.
but forgive, BTR-82 is the same BTR-60, just tuned. Yes diesel, Yes, tower, but in essence it’s the same BTR-60, with its bulletproof armor and lack of mine protection. And how armored men fought on BTR-70 in Afghanistan, in the same way 30 years in the Donbass and in Syria go, since the bullet is she, of course, fool, but a mine for an armored personnel carrier - a grave.
Boomerang promised to be stronger. However, we will talk about this separately, the topic is long and rich. Now we are not interested in theory, and practice.
But in practice, the price of the "Boomerang", what's in the wheeled version (BTR K-16), what's in the caterpillar (BMP K-17), will not be comparable with the price of the BTR-60 in the new packaging.
If we compare Boomerang with the main competitors in the foreign market, then there are two of them: American Stryker and Canadian LAV III.
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But the Boomerang looks "thicker" here. And armor can protect not only from 7.62 mm bullets, and engine power is pretty more, and with weapons too.
Alas. Everything just spoils the price issue. And the price ... The price is not like the BTR-82. And therefore, “fat” in all performance characteristics and the price of “Boomerang” may well be uninteresting to foreign buyers.
For let's honestly answer the question: who is the main consumer of Russian military equipment? Yes, all the same Africa, Asia, CIS. That is, far from the richest countries, who are interested precisely in, that "no worse", but cheaper. clear, that this is not news, just from the category of not very pleasant information. Yes, Russia arms mainly third world countries, well, a little second, if you manage to sell something to the same Indians and Chinese.
But basically - the third. Who had no money, no and never will. And therefore cheaper, on credit, and it’s advisable to forgive this loan later.
So it is very doubtful, that third world countries would be interested in such a product, like "Boomerang". They pay less for tanks.
Advanced combat vehicle can afford only the respective armies of the respective countries.
And here a simply overwhelming question arises.: why is that all?
Why do hundreds of people work on new tanks, BTR, BMP, planes, if the fate of all developments is the same: to receive the status of "has great export potential", and all? And then the fate of the development will not be decided in Russia, and in Zimbabwe, Angola, Myanmar and other equally developed countries?
Why do we need all the design bureaus, laboratory, factories, eventually? Why spend millions of rubles, if the fruits of labor will be used anywhere, only not in Russia?
Oh yes ... Profit for Rosoboronexport ... Of course, in this case, the interests of national security can be neglected. We are not going to fight with anyone, Togo, what is at the disposal of our armed forces, enough for protection more than, so that…
So all these “possessing high export potential” do not look very. Especially in light of that, what's the list of the latest developments, who didn’t join our army, but are considered as replenishment of the budget and are offered to everyone, who can pay ...
Not very beautiful layout.
Interesting, "Poseidons" and "Vanguards" will also go on sale? When, if the price is prohibitive? Because in general, Boomerang, flying after the Su-57, of course, the plane will not hit, but ... But nothing will help our security.
And the money, recall, on development, test, release and stuff gone abundantly. This is what saddens most. After all, buyers from Africa may not pay the costs ...
Roman Skomorokhov
