The Loadout Room
Professional Gear Reviews
Russia appears to be using its invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to put the AK-12, the most promising model in the AK series, through real-battlefield testing. According to news reports, the Kalashnikov Concern is tweaking its AK-12 rifle according to the experience gained in Russia’s “special military operations” in Ukraine. CEO Vladimir Lepin states […]
Russia has used the “Z” symbolism on its tanks and military vehicles. But, as our Editor-in-Chief Sean Spoonts pointed out, these markings have different meanings and allow Russian forces to recognize each other on the battlefield. The Letter “Z” represents the Eastern Military District and also covers other interpretations like “Za pobedy,” which means “for […]
Ukrainian Ground Forces are taking advantage of all the weaponry supplied by ally nations, including the HIMARS (specifically provided by the US). But, as HIMARS proved to be Russia’s biggest threat on the ground, the Russian military is reportedly looking for ways to counter this high-capacity missile launcher. About two days ago, Ukraine targeted various […]
Iran is expected to supply Russia with “hundreds” of drones, some of which will be able to carry weapons for use in the conflict in Ukraine. Iran is also preparing to train Russian forces on operating these drones as early as July. The Iranian government is preparing to supply Russia with up to several hundred […]
In an apparent attempt to further escalate tensions in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised Belarus that they will supply nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles to Minsk to bolster their arsenal further. The nuclear-capable version was confirmed to be given to Belarus. During a meeting in St. Petersburg, Putin had told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that […]
Turkish defense firm and drone maker Baykar has donated three Bayraktar TB2 drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A crowdfunding project was initially going to buy these crewless aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, in the spirit of camaraderie, they decided to give the three drones free. Serhiy Prytula initiated the Ukrainian crowdfunding project. Hetitled “The People’s […]
“History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.” – Ronald Reagan. The Wisdom of The Gipper When Vladimir Putin started this war in February, I’m not quite sure if he entirely anticipated the actual cost to his country in blood and treasure. He likely thought his massive army would […]
The Ukraine Weapons Tracker Twitter account recently spotted a rare Ukrainian S-300V1 long-range air defense system driving toward the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk. While it is not known how many of these SAMs the Ukrainians have in operational status, it is known that they do not have a lot of these units as these […]
Following Ukraine’s struggles going up against Russian artillery in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has requested more heavy weaponry from its Western allies to defeat the war. Specifically, the Ukrainian Government requested more NATO-standard multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), howitzers, and tanks to help their forces repel further Russian advances in Severodonetsk. The request was made through […]
There has been no shortage of Ukrainian ingenuity throughout the four months that the invasion had been raging on. In another instance of Ukrainian creativity, a group called “Car4Ukraine” had been building battle vehicles for the Ukrainian forces in an attempt to contribute to the war effort. The Ukrainians needed to be creative as they […]