MOSCOW, July 29 (Sputnik) — The Russian Airborne Forces expect to receive 80 combat vehicles by the end of 2015, Commander of the Airborne Forces Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said Wednesday.
"By the end of the year, it is left to obtain 50 [BMD-4M] airborne combat vehicles and 30 [Rakushka] armored personnel carriers," Shamanov said at a press conference.
In 2015, Russian Airborne Forces began a planned rearmament of units supplied with combat vehicles. Forces are expected to receive over 1,500 BMD-4M and more than 2,500 Rakushka vehicles by 2025.
The BMD-4M is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, an updated version of the BMD-4 with a new engine and running gear, among other features.
The Rakushka armored transporter is a multirole vehicle designed specially for airborne troops.
