Having Nothing to Lose is the New Wealth.

Russia is reactivating its T-62 tanks. 

During Kavkaz 2016, the Russian 58th Army was ordered to reactivate T-62 variants in storage and bring them back up to a standard where they could be used in actual operations and combat. 

Russia started supplying T-62Ms to Syria the following year... 

During Vostok 2018, units from the Central and Eastern Military Districts were ordered to bring about two companies worth of T-62 tanks out of storage and reactivate them. Those tanks were then transported all the way to the Western Military District using Russian Railways. Work carried on after Vostok until a battalion of tanks had been overhauled. Later on that year, those tanks were also sent to Syria. Some were pressed into combat still bearing Russian camouflage and their "H22-0-0"  Russian Rail Transit Markers. 

The aim of such exercises were to check Russia's capabilities to fight a total war on the Western front: How long would it take to reactivate old tanks in storage/mothballs in various Russian Military District and what are the best procedures to do so. Additionally, how fast could those units be brought up to the West to reinforce Russian units fighting along its Western borders (the West is almost always the aggressor in Russian wargames). A secondary objective was to supply the SAA with "new" armour to replenish their ranks decimated by years of attrition. Under an agreement between Moscow and Damascus, it is Russia's responsibility to train and equip the SAA. 

While the T-62M is an old tank by any standards, it is good enough for the type of war the Syrian Army prosecutes on its soil: After all, it was good enough to prosecute Russia's counter-insurgency operations in the Caucasus until fairly recently!

The story doesn't stop there, however: While the T-62 no longer appears on the Russian Army list of hardware (it was still present on said list in 2020!), teams of mechanics in all military districts are still working on them in order to reactivate them. We are not talking about a large scale operation, here: Only a handful of storage depots and armouries are involved. But it means that men working in those units are regularly practicing the art of overhauling older tanks and returning them back to operational status. This skill is a precious strategic asset for the Russian army: While it currently operates 2850 tanks, Moscow still holds 10,000 older T-72, T-80 and T-90 in reserve! In a modern war of attrition, the winner could probably be the one side that can keep supplying men and hardware to the frontline!

Some of those overhauled tanks end up in Syria. But some seem to be used in Russia itself for the purpose of (logistics) exercises: Tanks are rapidly mobilised, assembled at the nearest Railway Hub and are then moved from one Military District to another. It seems Moscow is upgrading 150 T-62M to a newer higher standard (T-62M3) and that this handful of modernised tanks will remain in that role for the foreseeable future. What remains of T-62 in the Russian inventory will most probably be slowly reactivated and sent to Syria. 

So... What does it take to overhaul a tank that has been stored for some time? Well, it depends on how long the tank was left idle, to be honest! The T-62 that were reactivated in the Caucasus in 2016 had barely been in storage for a couple of years. The ones being overhauled in the other Military Districts may have been mothballed for several years longer. 

The rust on the body of a tank is usually superficial. Nevertheless, the gun and breach are usually thoroughly checked for corrosion and pitting. 

The drivetrain is drained of all fluids and disassembled. The engine is checked for water and dirst ingress. Hydraulic and oil lines are pressurised and tested. All perished seals are replaced. The whole assembly is then cleaned and reassembled. 

The electrics/electronics are thoroughly checked but they are fairly resilient in older Soviet (legacy) tanks as connections are usually tin coated against corrosion and oxydation. 

Optics and glass are checked for moss, pitting and vitricolous lichens.

KDT Laser Finder and Volna Fire Control Systems are taken out of their crates and checked and dessicated. Luna IR projectors are checked. All corroded parts are cleaned or replaced. 

It is hard thorough work and as said above, the longer the tanks have been mothballed, the longer it takes to bring them back to operational status: Russia doesn't have bone dry deserts to store its reserve vehicles. But it seems that on average, a team can bring a T-62 variant back to life inside of 7 working days. 

Russian soldier wearing Adidas (Moskva) sneakers during combat in the Second Chechen War.

Donbass, 2014 - a nurse temporarily holds an AK-74 as she assists a wounded pro-Russian militant out of a Soviet-era Lada car in front of a hospital in the war torn city of Slovyansk, Donetsk Oblast.

Russian Federation Marine with a new version RPG scope on his AK-74M.

Below is a demonstration of using the PGO-7V scope with 5.45mm ammunition.

A strung up Russian FSB agent.

Batle of Grozny, Republic of Ichkeria.1994

Russian soldiers shooting AGS-30′s during live fire training.

Coming for the weekend like...

Russian soldiers in Syria cheering on a comrade who happens to be caught in the middle of a sand storm (Shamal).

U.S. and Russian soldiers hanging out in Syria.

After Typhoon Maysak (2015) went through Vladivostok, a floating dock brock free and crashed into some submarines belongong to the Russian Pacific fleet.

LIBYA: Russia and the Wagner Group continue to be involved in both ground and air operations in Libya

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U.S. Africa Command has mounting evidence that Russia, through the Wagner Group, continues to position military equipment in Libya capable of conducting kinetic operations there.

Overhead imagery shows Wagner forces and equipment on the front lines of the Libyan conflict in Sirte.

"Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by delivering supplies and equipment to the Wagner group," said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, AFRICOM director of operations. "Imagery continues to unmask their consistent denials."

It is assessed that the Russian Federation continues to violate UN Security Council Resolution UNSCR 1970 by actively providing military equipment and fighters to the front lines of the Libya conflict.

As AFRICOM has documented in a series of media releases, the U.S. assesses that Russia supplied Wagner forces operating in Libya with fighter aircraft, military armored vehicles, air defense systems, and supplies, further complicating the situation and increasing the risk for miscalculation leading to continued and needless violence in Libya.

"Imagery reflects the broad scope of Russian involvement," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Hadfield, AFRICOM deputy director of intelligence. "They continue to look to attempt to gain a foothold in Libya."

The latest imagery details the extent of equipment being supplied to Wagner. Russian military cargo aircraft, including IL-76s, continue to supply Wagner fighters. Russian air defense equipment, including SA-22s, are present in Libya and operated by Russia, the Wagner Group or their proxies. Photos also show Wagner utility trucks and Russian mine-resistant, ambush­protected armored vehicles are also present in Libya.

"The type and volume of equipment demonstrates an intent toward .sustained offensive combat action capabilities, not humanitarian relief, and indicates the Russian Ministry of Defense is supporting these operations," said Gering.

In May, U.S. Africa Command reported at least 14 Mig-29s and Su-24s had been flown from Russia to Syria, where their Russian markings were painted over to camouflage their origin. The aircraft were then flown into Libya, a violation of the UN arms embargo. U.S. Africa Command assesses that the warplanes are being actively flown in Libyan airspace.

U.S. Africa Command previously provided photographic evidence that Wagner has laid landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in civilian areas in and around Tripoli without regard to safety of civilians.

U.S. Africa Command has continued to document how Russia uses Wagner Group as a proxy in Libya to establish a long-term presence on the Mediterranean Sea.

"Russian involvement is evident--which the Kremlin lies about every time they deny it," said Col. Chris Karns, AFRICOM director of public affairs.

The U.S. supports a political solution in Libya and encourages all parties to adhere to the UN arms embargo.

The commander of a Russian Army T-80BV firing a 12.7mm NSV heavy machine gun during the First Chechen War.

NEWS: New evidence of Russian aircraft active in Libyan airspace

--------------- Russian aircraft delivered to Libya in late May are being actively flown in Libya.

These Russian aircraft are being used to support private military companies (PMCs) sponsored by the Russian government. U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) has photographic evidence of a Russian aircraft taking off from al-Jufra, Libya. A MiG-29 was also photographed operating in the vicinity of the city of Sirte, Libya.

"Russia's sustained involvement in Libya increases the violence and delays a political solution," said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Bradford Gering, USAFRICOM director of operations. "Russia continues to push for a strategic foothold on NATO's southern flank and this is at the expense of innocent Libyan lives."

In late May, USAFRICOM reported that at least 14 MiG-29s and several Su-24s were flown from Russia to Syria, where their Russian markings were painted over to camouflage their Russian origin. These aircraft were then flown into Libya in direct violation of the United Nations arms embargo.

“We know these fighters were not already in Libya and being repaired,” said Col. Chris Karns, director of USAFRICOM public affairs. “Clearly, they came from Russia. They didn’t come from any other country.”

Russia's introduction of manned, armed attack aircraft into Libya changes the nature of the current conflict and intensifies the potential of risk to all Libyans, especially innocent civilians.

"There is concern these Russian aircraft are being flown by inexperienced, non-state PMC mercenaries who will not adhere to international law; namely, they are not bound by the traditional laws of armed conflict," Gering said. "If this is true and bombing occurs, innocent Libyan lives are at risk."

As the number one arms dealer in Africa, Russia continues to profit from violence and instability across the continent. Russian government backed PMCs, such as the Wagner Group, are active in sixteen countries across Africa. It is estimated that there are about 2,000 Wagner Group personnel in Libya.

“Russia has relentlessly stuck to a narrative of implausible denials in the media,” said Karns. “It’s difficult to deny facts. Russian interference and masking of activity in Libya is visible and delaying progress. Progress the people of Libya deserve.”

Super Powers Flexing

While we are just starting to see Russian aircraft flying over US territory again like during the cold war, the two super powers have been confronting each other all over Syria.

Here we can see a US convoy being blocked by the Russians. This lead to a US MaxxPro vehicle attempting to overtake the Russians and instead experienced blown radiator.

Operation Mount Hope III

June 1988, the 160th SOAG received a short-notice directive to recover a Russian made Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter from a remote location in Chad.

At midnight on June 11, 1988, two MH-47s flew 490 miles at night without outside navigational aids to the target location, the Ouadi Doum airfield in northern Chad.

The first Chinook landed and configured the Mi-24, while the second hovered overhead and sling loaded it for return to Ndjamena.

A surprise sandstorm slowed the return trip, but less than 67 hours after the arrival of the C-5 in Chad, the ground crew had the Mi-24 and Chinooks aboard and ready for return to the U.S.

Operation Mount Hope demonstrated incredible teamwork by aviation, ground, and support personnel. Their efforts resulted in the unit’s ability to strike deep and accomplish the mission.

A Russian FSB officer ready to embark on a Mil Mi 8 helicopter with his service dog, early 2000's.

NORAD intercepts Russian bombers in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on June 10th, 2020.

Getting some real Cold War vibes here.