Russian and post-Soviet Airborne

[SGT G]

Impressive.

[Sgt.Raven]

Detailed update on modern-day Russian Airborne (English version):
http://warfare.ru/?linkid=2241&catid=239
"VDV"- Vozdushno-Desantnie Voiska (Russain: ВДВ, Воздушно-Десантные Войска), direct translation "Aero-Descending Troops".

[maverik]

Paratrooper if you can tell me what is that huge scope the Co-pilot looks out of in the first video? Also does the Russian military not use glass paneled instruments?

[Sgt.Raven]

Paratrooper if you can tell me what is that huge scope the Co-pilot looks out of in the first video? Also does the Russian military not use glass paneled instruments?

1) (Ground) target acquisition device.
2) It does on newer fighter planes.

Since the fall of USSR and following years of disintegration of defense industry, plus corporate theft, neglect, bureaucracy, outright moronism, etc, 1970-s "tube" is a better option than "hole in the floor".

[VB]

1) (Ground) target acquisition device.

You guys need something to tell you where the ground is?

[Sgt.Raven]

You guys need something to tell you where the ground is?

Ouch!
On a second thought, I guess so.
My job was to plunge out of the door when told so.
Whatever hole or tube they were using, it worked well though...

[z0phi3l]

Had a cool WTF moment when I realized in the first video jumpers were going out both the front door and tailgate at the same time

All in all lots of cool stuff there

[CR6]

I'm always blown away when I see the 1930s footage of Russian troopers crawling out on the !@$# wing of the aircraft while in flight and sliding off to airborne glory.

[Sgt.Raven]

There is a nice thread about Gurkha soldier's bravery in 'Stan, where at one point he was fighting with bipod.
Reminded me a scene from "9th Company", Russian movie, based on event, which took place in 1989.
I didn't want to hijack the thread, so posting it here.

A little about the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417397/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_9th_Company

In this (condensed and re-edited) episode Paratroopers were attacked by "Black Arabs": sandmonkeys-volunteers, Osama's buddies.
I'll post another episode with "locals" in their "eternal" rags and with equally eternal AKs.
Screw sandmonkeys; then and now!

[Sgt.Raven]

Classic sandmonkeys in classic ambush.
Once again: f*ck sanmonkeys, then and now!

[RH]

1st off...the 1st Russian airborne video...Kicks ass, and the music rocks!

As for your last post...seems like an interesting movie.

[ArticPara]

In the 80's we trained to fight you, sure glad it didn't come to that. It would have been a hell of a battle.

[Recon133]

Very cool videos! Thanks for posting

[Mortarman11c]

I bought a copy of 9th Company at a gun show two years ago. Definitely a movie that should have gotten more play. of course it's in Russian, but you can follow along with the subtitles..........

[Cameroon]

In the 80's we trained to fight you, sure glad it didn't come to that. It would have been a hell of a battle.

Yeah no kidding.

That front door exit would spook me big time. I "know" I'll clear the engines but I'd still rather go out the back just in case.