Russian army to be armed with new weapon

The Russian army will test the new automatic grenade-launching complex Balkan in 2008.

This weapon designed by the Moscow-based enterprise Federal Scientific Center Pribor is exhibited at the show of arms and military hardware MVSV-2008, which currently takes place in Moscow.

Six units of the new 40-mm grenade-launching complex Balkan and 20,000 cartridges to it have already been delivered to Russia’s ground troops this year, in accordance with the state defense order. The new launcher will replace its predecessor, AGS-30 Plamya, Life.Ru reports.

Balkan overcomes Plamya on the range (up to 2.5 instead of 1.7 kilometers), on its battling capacity (owing to a larger caliber) and on the capacity of the explosive substance.