For more than six centuries, Russian artillery has been the country's main firepower. The first guns under Dmitry Donskoy were foreign, but already in the XV century the production of domestic guns was established. To organize this defense enterprise (the so-called “cannon hut”) Aristotle Fioraventi , a famous foundry and architect, was involved.
Russian masters learned a lot from foreign experts, and then surpassed them. The guns of that time, in addition to their fighting qualities, were often real works of art, they were cast by real artists, such as the legendary master Chokhov.
The regular artillery of Russia, like many other branches of the army, was established by Peter the Great. The autocrat commanded the bombing company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment for 11 years, his efforts contributed to the training and organization of gunners, which was manifested in many brilliant victories of Russian weapons.
During the Second World War
war Soviet artillery was the most powerful in the world.
With the development of reactive technologies, an opinion arose that guns as a means of defeating manpower and enemy equipment were outdated. After the Korean War, there were no cases of large-scale use of large artillery units for a long time, but time has shown that their role is undeservedly underestimated.
Modern Russian artillery is organizationally combined with missile forces. The missile and missile defense functions include the destruction of point and area targets at small and medium distances using conventional ammunition and special charges.
The experience of military operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya showed that aviation, despite its advantages, as a rule, performs only a third of the tasks of remotely destroying targets, the rest of the work falls to the share of artillery. Regardless of the meteorological conditions and time of day, guns can produce accurate shooting. It is also important that the cost of an artillery shot is incomparably lower than a missile launch.
Accuracy of fire is provided by guidance ACS, which in its modern form provides for fully automated topographic reference and navigation orientation. The use of computer technology significantly reduces the consumption of ammunition and increases the effectiveness of the combat use of fire weapons.
Russian jet artillery began its history with the Katyusha guards mortar, which proved its crushing strength during World War II.
The Iskander operational-tactical systems in service today are capable of hitting small targets protected by electronic countermeasures. Their range exceeds 280 kilometers.
Russian artillery is divided according to its functional purpose and technical base into cannon, howitzer, anti-tank, mortar, including support, control and intelligence units. It also includes anti-tank missile systems, large-caliber rocket launchers, tactical missiles of short and medium range.
The organizational structure, by which the Russian Artillery is organized, provides for the separation of command functions between ground headquarters, coastal naval air forces, airborne forces, border guards (mainly mortar units) and internal troops.
Personnel for the Russian artillery are trained by nine military special educational institutions across the country, including the cadet corps.