Faster, more mobile, more precise. At the Alabino training ground near Moscow, continues the most spectacular competition of the International Army Games — the tank biathlon. This is a unique discipline, which combines military training with sports. Today, the teams crossed anti-tank ditches and fired on targets. Alexander Kotsyuba collected the most spectacular shots.
Tanks overcome obstacles at maximum speeds — every second counts. The track includes both anti-tank ditches and escarpments, to go through which is a special art. Multi-ton war machines rush past the stands and go to the next stage. Now the tank crews face the most difficult stage of the competition.
The target is one and a half km away. They need to hit it on the first try, otherwise, they get a penalty circle. Using a large-caliber gun, they fire on a target that simulates a flying helicopter. All that we see now... A solo race is taking place now, it will be the same in the relay race. We took everything from the gunnery and driving training courses. So, we didn't throw in anything “magical” in there. Everything is based on combat training. The guys who take first place are the best of the best.
Today is the halfway point of the army games. In seven days of the tank biathlon competitions, two Russian crews have been the leaders, followed by the tank crews from China, the Belarusians in third, and the Indian tank crews trailing just behind them in fourth. Mostly, it’s the T-72B3 Russian tanks that are participating in the competition. They have been modernized with an improved guidance system. Most teams also use them. The Chinese tank crews are the exception. They overcome obstacles using their own tanks — the Type 96B.
The International Army Games are held simultaneously between 28 specialties — in the sky, on land, and at sea. The biathlon is one of the most spectacular stages. Other stages include the Seaborne Assault, the Depth, the Keys to the Sky and even the Field Kitchen competition, in which Russian chefs are also the best. But the main battle is yet to come.
