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2020-12-13

Russia Demos New Wheeled Multipurpose Armoured Vehicles

Military Industrial Company LLC (VPK LLC, Russia) has developed a whole range of new multipurpose wheeled armoured vehicles. All of them were created on an initiative basis by the company. One of these attractions is a new generation of light armoured vehicles of the Strela family.

Strela (Arrow) has a 4x4 wheel arrangement designed to transport people and various cargoes with the required level of bullet (mine) protection. The family also plans to create a number of modifications: a command vehicle, a special vehicle buggy, a floating armoured vehicle, a medical vehicle and a number of other vehicles. Carrying capacity of the Strela family vehicle is up to 1,000 kg.

The basic light armoured multi-purpose vehicle of the family has a gross weight of 4.9 tonnes. The armoured hull provides ballistic protection by Level 2 according to the STANAG 4569.

A powerful diesel engine (200 hp) in conjunction with a mechanical six-speed gearbox provides high dynamic qualities of a light armoured vehicle. On the highway, Strela is capable of accelerating to a maximum speed up to 155 km/h. Cruising range for control fuel consumption is up to 1,000 km. At the request of the customer, the vehicle can be equipped with an automatic transmission.

VPK has also developed a protected amphibious vehicle Strela. It is able to overcome water obstacles at a speed of 5-6 km/h without preparation.

The interior of the vehicle, depending on the modification and type of seats installed, can accommodate up to eight people, including the driver. One of the samples of the Strela light armoured vehicle took part in the Kavkaz-2020 strategic exercises in September this year.

Alexander Krasovitsky, General Director of VPK LLC, said: “Another new development of the designers of VPK is the SBM VPK-233136 TIGR (Tiger) special armoured vehicle performed by Buggy. This vehicle was designed to meet the requirements of customers in terms of creating high-speed reconnaissance and assault vehicles of high cross-country ability, capable of making deep raids behind enemy lines. The Buggy was created on the basis of the chassis of a SBM VPK-233136 special armoured vehicle with the installation of a YaMZ-5347-24 turbodiesel, developing a maximum power of 240 hp, combined with an automatic gearbox. The vehicle is capable of a maximum highway speed of over 140 km/h.”

The Buggy is equipped with brackets for the installation of a 12.7 mm 6P58 KORD heavy machine gun and three 7.62 mm PKP Pecheneg (or PKM) machine guns, as well as stowage’s for placing three RPG-26 anti-tank rocket grenades (or RShG-2 assault rocket grenades), two Igla-S (or Verba) portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) and magazine-boxes with ammunition for machine guns, 400 rounds of ammunition for a 12.7 mm machine gun and 4,000 rounds for 7.62 mm machine guns. Moreover, it has anti-traumatic seats to accommodate five crew members, including the driver.

Improved Usability

A characteristic feature of another new development of VPK, the VPK-59095S VPK - Ural multipurpose armoured vehicle is that it is created on a two-axle chassis of the Ural-53099 vehicle, using used and mass-produced units and assemblies of army multi-purpose vehicles. This significantly reduces the overall cost of the product, improves usability and lowers operating costs.

Krasovitsky added: “The chassis has a dependent spring suspension, however, as the first off-road runs of VPK-Ural multipurpose vehicle showed, the vehicle has a good ride.”

The VPK - Ural armoured vehicle is designed to carry 12 people in full gear, including the driver. At the same time, they are housed in a single volume armoured hull, providing level 2 ballistic protection according to STANAG 4569 and level 2b mine protection according to STANAG 4569. Optionally, the level of ballistic protection can be increased to level 3-4 by installing hinged armour screens.

The VPK - Ural multipurpose vehicle is equipped with the YaMZ-536 Russian made turbodiesel, developing a power of 360 hp. and an automatic transmission. A 14-tonne vehicle on the highway is capable of a speed of at least 120 km/h. Its armored hull provides protection against 7.62 mm armor-piercing bullets and is capable of withstanding the detonation of an explosive device under the bottom or a wheel with a capacity of up to 6 kg in TNT equivalent.

The large reserve volume, high security of the VPK - Ural armoured vehicle facilitates the use of this vehicle as a base for the installation of various equipment and its use as an electronic warfare machine, C2, armoured medical vehicle, etc.

Reference Text/Photo: http://milindcom.ru

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