Equipment¶
The Rakutanian People's Armed Forces are equipped in the Late Continental-bloc (1980s) pattern, modernized through the 2010s but conceptually unchanged. The doctrinal commitment is to quantitative mass over qualitative depth — the RPAF has chosen to continue mass-producing modernized late-Cold-War platforms rather than develop a successor generation, and procurement decisions consistently favor the cost of mass over the price of cutting-edge.
Full structured equipment data is in data/equipment/rakutania.json. The canonical Rakutanian rifle squad in tabletop play is detailed in the Fireteam Rulebook §8.3.1 — 9-man squad with AEK-pattern rifles (Carbine 10 baseline; SL Carb 11 / Lead 12), RPK light machine gun (Crew 12), RPG-7 launcher (Demo 10). This stat block is the gameplay-tested representation of the conscript-quality Rakutanian rifle squad.
Small arms¶
The AEK-971 balanced-action assault rifle in 5.45×39mm is the distinctive Rakutanian small-arms choice. The balanced-action mechanism reduces felt recoil and improves controllability during full-auto fire — a doctrinal fit with the conscript-infantry-as-mass-firepower model. The AEK-971 replaced the older AK-74M as the standard service rifle over the 2010s modernization tranche. Domestic production at Shirvangrad State Arsenal.
The all-AK small-arms posture distinguishes the RPAF from ESA partner CSAT (which has the AR-95 bullpup in priority formations); Rakutania has kept the Continental-bloc small-arms family intact and now produces the AEK-971 as the modern standard.
| Role | System | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service rifle | AEK-971 (5.45×39mm) | Balanced-action; Shirvangrad State Arsenal |
| Carbine | AEK-971S | Vehicle crews, airborne, SOF |
| Compact carbine / CQB | AKS-74U | Retained for rear-area and security roles |
| Designated marksman rifle | SVD-M (7.62×54mmR) | Squad designated marksman |
| Sniper rifle | SV-98 (7.62×54mmR) | Battalion-and-above sniper teams |
| Anti-materiel rifle | ASVK (12.7×108mm) | Kord-rifled |
| Sidearm | PYa "Yarygin" (9×19mm) | Standard sidearm |
| Squad automatic / LMG | RPK-74M (5.45×39mm) | One per squad |
| General-purpose MG | PKM (7.62×54mmR) | PKP "Pecheneg" in priority formations |
| Heavy MG | NSV and Kord (12.7×108mm) | Tripod and vehicle mount |
All ammunition is Continental-bloc-pattern caliber: 5.45×39mm rifle, 7.62×54mmR machine gun and DMR/sniper, 9×19mm pistol, 12.7×108mm heavy. No Western-pattern calibers in service.
Infantry support weapons¶
| Role | System |
|---|---|
| Underbarrel GL | GP-25 / GP-34 (40mm) on the AEK-971 |
| Automatic GL | AGS-30 "Plamya" (30mm) |
| Disposable light AT | RPG-22 / RPG-26 |
| Reusable AT | RPG-7V2 (standard); RPG-29 "Vampir" (priority formations) |
| ATGM, man-portable (bulk) | Konkurs-M (legacy) + Metis-M1 (mid-tier) |
| ATGM, man-portable (priority) | Kornet-EM (priority formations and SOF only) |
| ATGM, vehicle-mounted | Konkurs on BMP-2; Kornet on modernized BMP-2M and BTR variants |
| MANPADS | Igla-S (modern); Igla (legacy in second-line) |
| Light mortar | 82mm 2B14 "Podnos" |
| Heavy mortar | 120mm 2S12 "Sani" (towed) |
| Heavy SP mortar | 240mm 2S4 "Tyulpan" (Strategic Reserve) |
Soldier kit¶
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Body armor — plates | Level III |
| Body armor — soft | Level II |
| Helmet | Level II |
| Night vision | Gen 2 for Active Line; none for second-line and reserves |
| Squad radio | 6b29 handheld |
| Optic on service rifle | Iron sights default for conscript issue; 1P78 Kashtan 2.5× optic in priority formations; reflex/holographic sights for SOF |
| IFF / blue-force tracker | None — Rakutanian conscript infantry does not field a networked BFT; coordination relies on voice procedure and runner; capability gap relative to WDP peers |
Armored vehicles¶
The active armored fleet is late-Cold-War Eastern-bloc — produced domestically through Continental-bloc-pattern licensed-production lines. No major modernization transition underway (CSAT is modernizing toward newer platforms; Rakutania has kept the mass-production model and is incrementally upgrading rather than replacing).
| Role | System | Inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Main battle tank | T-80U (modernized) | ~2,800 |
| Tracked IFV | BMP-2 / BMP-2M (priority formations) | ~3,500 |
| Wheeled IFV/APC | BTR-80A (30mm autocannon variant) | ~4,000 |
| Legacy wheeled APC | BTR-70 / BTR-60 | Second-line and Border Guards |
| Reconnaissance | BRDM-2 modernized; BMP-2 RECCE; BMP-1KSh command-and-staff | — |
| MRAP / mine-protected | Limited; Typhoon-K equivalent in Border Guards Karesh-frontier areas | — |
| Light tactical vehicle | UAZ-3163 "Patriot"; GAZ-2330 "Tigr" | — |
| Medium logistics truck | Ural-4320 / Ural-5323 | — |
| Heavy logistics truck | KamAZ-6350 | — |
| Engineering vehicle | IMR-3M (T-80-derived); BREM-1M ARV | — |
| Specialty mobility | MT-LB multipurpose tracked carrier | substantial fleet in second-line formations and Northern Tribal-Area garrisons |
The T-80U is the doctrinal mainstay of the armored force — modernization tranches through the 2010s have upgraded fire control, ERA, and engine reliability but the platform is conceptually late-CW. No modern domestic MBT programme exists; the RPAF has chosen to invest in continued mass production of the modernized T-80U rather than transition to a new platform.
Artillery¶
Rakutanian artillery is the largest in Sierra by piece count and the doctrinal centerpiece of the RPA.
| Role | System |
|---|---|
| Towed howitzer — light (122mm) | D-30 (reserve and second-line) |
| Towed howitzer — medium (152mm) | 2A65 "Msta-B" — principal towed system |
| SP howitzer — tracked (152mm) | 2S19 "Msta-S" — division-level asset; ~300 |
| MLRS — medium (122mm) | BM-21 "Grad" — the iconic RPAF battlefield instrument; battalion-and-division level |
| MLRS — heavy | BM-27 "Uragan" (220mm) + BM-30 "Smerch" (300mm) — division-and-above; Strategic Reserve |
| Tactical ballistic missile | 9K79 "Tochka" (legacy) + 9K720 "Iskander" (modern) — Strategic Reserve; conventional payload only per canon |
| Coastal anti-ship missile | Bal-E + Bastion-P — Boreal coast batteries |
Air defense (ground-based)¶
| Role | System |
|---|---|
| Long-range SAM | S-300V4 (bulk) + small S-400 allocation |
| Medium-range SAM | Buk-M2 (mass) + Buk-M3 (priority formations) |
| SHORAD | Tor-M1 / Tor-M2 + Pantsir-S1 |
| MANPADS | Igla / Igla-S — squad and platoon level |
The procurement philosophy favors mass over cutting-edge — the bulk of the long-range SAM force is S-300V4 rather than S-400. The S-400 allocation is reserved for the highest-value strategic targets (Shirvangrad, principal industrial regions).
Aircraft¶
| Role | Platform (equivalent) |
|---|---|
| Heavy interceptor | MiG-31BM |
| Multi-role fighter (modern) | Su-30SM |
| Multi-role fighter (modernized legacy) | Su-27SM3 |
| Tactical strike fighter | Su-34 |
| Close air support | Su-25SM |
| Strategic bomber (conventional only) | Tu-22M3 "Backfire" |
| Maritime patrol (Navy) | Tu-142 / Il-38 |
| AEW&C | A-50U (~3 aircraft) |
| Strategic ISR | Tu-214R + Su-24MR tactical recon |
| Electronic warfare | Su-24MP + Il-22M |
| Strategic transport | Il-76 (~24 aircraft) |
| Tactical transport | An-26 / Il-112V / An-12 |
| Aerial tanker | Il-78 (~4 aircraft) |
The Tu-22M3 long-range bomber is the country's principal conventional strategic strike asset — Rakutania holds no nuclear weapons per Sierran Conflict canon, so the LRAC strike force is conventional-only.
Helicopters¶
| Role | Platform |
|---|---|
| Attack (modernized) | Mi-28N "Havoc" |
| Attack (modern) | Ka-52 "Alligator" (limited fleet) |
| Attack (legacy reserve) | Mi-24V "Hind" (substantial fleet retained) |
| Medium transport | Mi-17 "Hip" |
| Heavy lift | Mi-26 "Halo" (~12 aircraft) |
| Anti-submarine (Navy) | Ka-27 / Ka-29 |
| SOF | Mi-8MTPR special-ops variants |
Naval vessels¶
Built principally by Karrud Estuary Shipyards. The fleet operates Continental-bloc-pattern surface combatants, conventional diesel-electric attack submarines (SSK only — no nuclear-powered boats, no SSGNs, no SSBNs), and the substantial coastal defense infrastructure.
| Class (equivalent) | Type | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Kirov-class | Heavy guided-missile cruiser | 1 |
| Udaloy-class | Guided-missile destroyer (ASW) | 4–6 |
| Sovremenny-class | Guided-missile destroyer (AShM) | 2–3 |
| Krivak-class | Frigate (legacy) | 6–8 |
| Modernized frigate | Frigate (modern) | 4–6 |
| Steregushchiy / Grisha | Corvette | ~10 |
| Tarantul-class | Fast-attack missile boat | ~15 |
| Kilo-class (Improved Kilo / Lada equivalent) | SSK conventional attack submarine | 12–15 |
| Ropucha-class | Landing ship (LST) | small fleet |
| Mine warfare / MCM | Various | 6–8 |
| Icebreaker | Various | 2–3 |
See Navy for full structure.
Unmanned systems¶
| Role | Platform (equivalent) |
|---|---|
| MALE strike/ISR | Orion (domestic; smaller fleet than CSAT's Orion-E export programme) |
| Tactical ISR | Orlan-10 + Eleron-3 (down to brigade level) |
| Loitering munition | Lancet (fielding accelerated for the Continuation War) |
| Counter-UAS | Limited; emerging capability |
Defense industrial base¶
| Firm | Specialty |
|---|---|
| State Defense Production Authority (SDPA) | Unified defense industrial organization; oversees all military production |
| Karrud Tank Production (KTP) | Main battle tanks (T-80U modernized variants; future tranches funded through 2030) |
| Shirvangrad Steel and Armor (SSA) | IFV / APC production (BMP-2 family, BTR-80A family, MT-LB) |
| Shirvangrad State Arsenal | Small arms (AEK-971 production; AK-74M licensed production retained for export and reserve issue), ammunition (5.45×39, 7.62×54R, 9×19) |
| Rakutanian Aircraft Production (RAP) | Combat aircraft (Su-/MiG-pattern modernization and licensed production), helicopters (Mi-/Ka-pattern), transport |
| Karrud Estuary Shipyards (KES) | Naval combatants (cruiser modernization, destroyer/frigate production, Kilo-class submarine production) |
| Federal Munitions Authority | Small arms ammunition, artillery shells, mortar bombs, rocket motors, cruise missiles |
| Rakutanian Air Defense Industries (RADI) | Surface-to-air missile systems; radar; air defense electronics |
The defense industrial base has been prioritized through the sanctions era at the cost of broader industrial development. The RPAF's equipment is dated by WDP standards but produced in substantial quantity domestically — a deliberate trade-off of qualitative depth for quantitative mass.
Major equipment Rakutania cannot produce domestically and must import (principally through ESA / CSAT channels): modern semiconductors, certain specialty metals, modern optronics. The WDP sanctions regime has substantially restricted these inputs since the 1980s; the impact is visible in the qualitative gap with WDP-peer formations.
The country is a net defense exporter principally to CSAT (within ESA), to UTSR (limited), and to the PRK and various non-aligned states. Export volumes are smaller than CSAT's; the planned-economy model produces less surplus available for export.
Equipment philosophy¶
Rakutanian equipment design philosophy is Continental-bloc-pattern modernized: prioritize mass, reliability under conscript operation, ease of maintenance, and operability with the broader Continental-bloc-pattern equipment family. Accept lower per-unit performance versus WDP equivalents in exchange for higher production volumes and lower operator-training requirements.
This philosophy aligns with the country's strategic posture and force structure. Mass armor and artillery operated by conscript-quality personnel require equipment that can be produced quickly, maintained simply, and operated by personnel with limited training. The trade-off is qualitative — Rakutanian equipment is consistently a generation behind WDP peer equivalents — but quantitative — the RPA operates more equipment than peer WDP forces.
The current war is testing this trade-off. Early operations favored the Rakutanian quantity advantage; subsequent operations have increasingly favored WDP quality. The strategic lesson, if the war ends without complete Rakutanian collapse, will be a significant force-structure debate within the regime.