#Putin

When the subject is the future of infantry, the conversation inevitably turns to one thing: Powered, armored exoskeletons. Since the publication of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers in 1959, the concept of an armored suit with enhanced mobility from an internal power source has fascinated military futurists, quickly solidifying as a military fiction staple, and even appearing repeatedly in official “future soldier” concepts from armies and companies around the world.

A concept for an advanced suit of powered personal armor was unveiled late last month at the Moscow Prototyping Center, sporting hexagonal modular armor panels, full face helmet with mocked up information display, and a bullpup rifle. The suit, revealed to the internet via a YouTube video from Russian government funded RT-subsidiary Ruptly, was more conceptual mockup than prototype, evidenced by its engraved polymer “display” insert, stylized armor, and non-functional gun and mechanism. The Ruptly video is embedded below:

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of famous AK family of rifles, was born on November 10, 1919. So in 2019 it will be 100 years since M. Kalashnikov was born. To celebrate the 100th birthday of the ingenious firearms designer, Russian president Vladimir Putin has recently (10/4/2016) issued an executive order about organization of celebration of Kalashnikov’s birthday.

Found this random photo of Putin wielding a PP-2000. It has a vertical grip with a large weapon light underneath. It is a somewhat new weapon that came out in 2004. It is a 9mm smg made by KBP Instrument Design Bureau.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kalashnikov factory and inspected the new AK-12, AS-1 and the latest version of the AK-74M. What is really interesting is that Kalashnikov appear to be making transparent magazines.